OVERVIEW
Highlights
- Central Kalahari
- Okavango Delta
- Chobe Game Reserve
BOTSWANA’S LUSH GREEN SEASON IS ALL ABOUT THE PROLIFIC GAME & BIRD LIFE…
The green season is Botswana’s most productive and colourful time, offering natural experiences travellers would miss during the dry busy tourist season. There’s an explosion of new life as the young offspring are still small and it will be a treat to watch their comical and endearing antics as they learn to face life.
Botswana is committed to small-scale eco-conscious travel and in keeping with that ethos, we will stay in small traditional classic safari mobile camps and lodges with minimal footprints on the land and wildlife.
We charter flights between safari locations to maximise your time and comfort by avoiding long drives over rough dirt roads. The views from the air are also pretty amazing.
CHEETAH VIEWING IN THE KALAHARI
Intermittent showers in the Kalahari mark a time of dramatic change, with the arrival of migrating wildlife. High concentrations of game and expansive open vistas allow some of the best cheetah viewing in southern Africa. This is also the best time for photography in the Kalahari, where clouds and rainbows provide dramatic backdrops to your wildlife images.
THE SPECTACULAR WILDLIFE OF THE OKAVANGO DELTA
The wetland system, with grassy plains and pans, of the Okavango Delta are also superb for wildlife viewing. Huge herds of elephants are common, as are zebra, giraffe, leche, waterbuck, impala and hippos just to name a few.
WILDLIFE VIEWING AT CHOBE NATIONAL PARK
Chobe National Park is one of the best wildlife viewing areas in the whole of Botswana, if not all of southern Africa. Our lodge overlooks the Chobe flood plain within the Chobe Forest Reserve, and has wonderful views of the Chobe River, Caprivi Strip and the seasonal flood plains.
Bird watching is also at it’s best as migrant species from Europe, Asia and other parts of Africa are in abundance. Even non-birders will get caught up in the excitement.
We will only be taking (up to) 14 travelers so you will enjoy unimpeded views and intimate wildlife encounters, not to mention personalised service from our Botswana naturalist leaders.
Itinerary
Day 1 - 3 | Maun – Central Kalahari Desert | You will arrive at Maun Airport. Patrick Bates - Operations Manager of Coates Wildlife Tours, along with representatives from LCS and Moremi Air, will meet you at the airport. You will board your flight aircraft and fly to Tau Pan in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. The flight is about 60 minutes depending on the planes used. On arrival at the desert airstrip, your guides will meet you and drive to the desert lodge. After a cool drink and orientation, relax in camp or enjoy a short afternoon game drive and sundowner near Tau Pan. We will give a quick welcome talk and chat about the itinerary in the evening, before you sit down to the first night's dinner in the bush. Tau Pan sits on top of an ancient sand dune ridge and commands fantastic views over the Kalahari. The peace and quiet are astounding. From the camp, you can enjoy game drives morning and afternoon, and a walk with your bushman tracker, who will teach you how the San live off the land and survive in such harsh conditions. Desert species found in the Central Kalahari include oryx, springbok, the elusive brown hyena, bat-eared fox and the black-maned Kalahari lions. Accommodation: Tau Pan Camp http://www.kwando.co.bw/tau-pan Day 1 - D / Day 2 & 3 - BLD |
Day 4 - 6 | Central Kalahari Desert - South Eastern Okavango Delta | On Day 4, you will fly to the Santawani airstrip on the southeastern border of the Moremi Game Reserve. You will meet your guides from Rra Dinare camp and drive to your tented camp. After freshening up, lunch and an orientation chat, you can go on an afternoon game drive to explore the new surroundings, or relax and enjoy watching wildlife grazing on the floodplain. On days 5 and 6, you have two whole days to explore the southeastern Delta. We will follow the Gomoti river and look for animals coming down to drink, as well as grassland and woodland areas. During the heat of the day, you can enjoy lunch and a siesta at camp. It is also possible to enjoy a peaceful mokoro trip on the waterways of the Gomoti if the flood waters have reached the river by Feb/March time; this is dependent on the rainfall and direction that the flood waters take. Southern Moremi offers a typical wetland system with grassy plains and pans surrounded by well-developed mopane forests and riverine woodland. Large breeding herds of elephants are common, as are lechwe, waterbuck, impala and hippos. One can also hope to see buffalo, giraffes, bushbuck, lions, wild dogs, leopards, cheetahs, black-backed and side-striped jackal, zebra, wildebeest and tsessebe. The birdlife includes water birds as well as dry land birds. Accommodation: Rra Dinare Camp https://www.kwando.co.bw/rra-dinare BLD |
Day 7 - 9 | Okavanga Delta – Chobe | On Day 7, you will say goodbye to the Rra Dinare team and fly to Kasane airport (approx. 60-90 min flight). Upon arrival in Kasane, you will be met by representatives from Muchenje Lodge and drive one hour on a tar road through the park to the lodge, arriving in time for lunch and an afternoon activity. Muchenje Safari Lodge provides some of Botswana's finest safari accommodation in Chobe. Situated on the western edge of Chobe National park, Muchenje offers unique, prolific game experiences. This is one of Botswana's best wildlife viewing areas, if not all of Africa! Accommodation is in twin/double chalets overlooking the Chobe floodplain, and activities include game drives into Chobe National park, a boat cruise on the Chobe River, and nature walks. Northern Chobe is famous for its vast elephant & buffalo herds, puku, kudu, Chobe bushbuck, and hippos, as well as diverse bird life. One could also hope to see lions, leopards, wild dogs, giraffes, waterbucks, zebra, and impalas. On Day 8, you can enjoy a choice of game drives, relax at the lodge or take a visit to a local village. On Day 9, you will be transferred to Kasane for a 3-hour boat cruise on the Chobe river (packed lunch included). Then take a private tour of the biodiversity centre in Kasane, followed by a lecture on the Chobe area's current conservation and environmental issues. You will arrive back in Muchenje mid to late afternoon. Accommodation: Muchenje Safari Lodge http://www.muchenje.com BLD |
Day 10 - 12 | Chobe – Victoria Falls | On day 10, you will drive from Muchenje back to Kasane in the morning to meet your road transfer to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. The drive from Kasane to Victoria Falls is approx 1 - 1.5 hours (depending on the border crossing). Ilala Lodge is in the heart of town and is within easy walking distance of the Falls. Accommodation is in standard twin ensuite rooms on a B&B basis. In the morning on Day 11, guests can visit one of the largest, most spectacular waterfalls in the world at their leisure. (Entrance fee currently USD 30 per person payable direct at the park entrance). Victoria Falls has many activities for the energetic traveller and for those who want to relax, including Helicopter flights over the falls, short game drives and African market shopping. (All activities are at an additional cost and can be organised at the Ilala Lodge activities desk). In the late afternoon, there will be a sunset cruise on the Upper Zambezi river with drinks and snacks, before a farewell riverside BBQ to celebrate the last night of your safari and reflect on the sightings and experiences In Botswana. Day 12 – Transfer from Ilala Lodge to Victoria Falls Airport for your onward flight. Time TBC once flight details are confirmed. Accommodation: Ilala Lodge http://www.ilalalodge.com Day 10 & 12 - B / Day 11 - BD |
availability
Please contact us
Inclusions
- Fully escorted tour
- Meals as per itinerary (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner)
- Twin share accommodation in camp chalets, safari camp and lodge
- Porterage on arrival
- Meet and greet at Maun Airport
- 9 days with a naturalist guide
- Game viewing & activities as per itinerary
- Tipping on tour
- National Park Fees
- Internal flights and ground transport
- Beverages where indicated in accommodation information
- Complimentary laundry service at Tau Pan Camp & Muchenje Lodge
- Porterage on departure
Trip Reviews
Please click here to read ‘12 Days in Botswana‘, a short recap of Patrick Bates’ first visit to Botswana and his experience on tour in 2020.
“Alex was exceptional in every way and went well beyond the call of duty in every respect. His good humour, energy and interpersonal skills made for an exceptional experience.”
“The Botswana tour was magnificent – all that I could have hoped. I really enjoyed the structure of the tour with the variety of accommodation types, and although not a camper, I found that experience quite good – despite the rain. I thought the boys did an amazing job with the food at the mobile camp. It was good to meet Tom, and our guide Alex was superb. Thank you for stitching together such a fantastic trip.”
“The more often I talk about the trip with you the more I realise how very much I enjoyed it and how much I absorbed. You gave me much happiness and that is the greatest gift of all so thank you.”
“A wonderful tour, so well organised, seemed to get more exciting as the days went on. Easy camping at the Delta was a great contrast to the luxury rooms at Tau Pau and Chobe. All the accommodation was great and fun to need a security guard to show us to our rooms after dark. The kitchen staff were all excellent. Enjoyed the very special African concerts.”
[Tour Highlights] “The total experience of being in Botswana and staying in very special accommodation and being able to see so many birds and animals.
Patrick was very organised and so helpful. The local guides were very knowledgeable and informed and so willing to help. Alex was outstanding.”