Travel to Botswana: The Great Wilderness Journey

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The Great Wilderness Journey

			DAYS: 11 GRADE: I define PRICE: $6780 per person (Includes Local Air) HIGHLIGHTS: Okavango Delta Linyanti Savuti Chobe Victoria Falls Livingstone Zambia ACCOMMODATIONS: Hotels/Lodges Deluxe Camp MEALS: As noted  [B-Breakfast, L-Lunch,   D-Dinner] Prices, Departure Dates and Included Services Send to a Friend Print this Itinerary

At the turn of the century, explorers and adventurers made their way leisurely across the dusty paths of Africa, allowing the great continent to seep into their souls. Our luxury mobile safari takes time to experience and explore Botswana's contrasts and extremes from the watery Okavango Delta to the open plains of Linyanti. In the company of skilled naturalists we'll explore by game drives, mokoro, and flights over large expanses of the extensive Botswanan landscape. Overnights are in private concessions and small camps where lantern lit meals are accompanied by innumerable stars.

The elusive Sitatunga hides in tall papyrus making it an exciting find.

DAYS 1-3 :  JACANA CAMP, OKAVANGO DELTA

After arrival in Maun you'll meet your other group participants and your guide for the scenic flight into the Okavango Delta. The Okavango Delta represents survival at the other extreme: abundant water, sunlight and soil combine to form a paradise bursting with life. The contrast becomes amazingly clear as we move from desert to delta, from dry sand to water world.

Our base of exploration for the next three nights is Jacana Camp, situated in a permanently flooded region of the private Jao concession of the Okavango Delta. A true water camp, it represents the essence of the Delta, with year-round mokoro safaris as well as island bush walks and, water level permitting, motorboat cruises. This area is densely populated with sitatunga antelope as well as red lechwe. Big game can be found here as well including elephant, lion, leopard and buffalo. Overnights at Jacana Camp. [BLD]

DAYS 4-6 :  KETUMETSE TRAILS CAMP, OKAVANGO DELTA
Transfer from the water world of Jacana Camp to the game-rich plains of Ketumetse where the Delta joins the Selinda spillway. Our Premier campsite, with unique walk-in hexagonal meru tents has been erected prior to our arrival under the shade of leadwood trees with each tent taking advantage of the spectacular views over the floodplains. Activities concentrate on the open herd-filled plains where the seasonal congregations of wildlife make the perfect setting for nature walks and canoeing safaris.  Exclusive day and night game drives are possible along with seasonal 'catch and release' fishing for anyone interested. Overnights in our Discoverer Campsite at Ketumetse Trails [BLD]

	Elephants at a watering hole are the perfect backdrop for sundowners.

DAYS 7-9 :  LINYANTI TRAILS CAMP, LINYANTI CONCESSION
After breakfast, we fly by light aircraft to the private Linyanti Concession and then drive to our private Discoverer campsite, which is elegantly set up under massive African ebony and knobthorn acacia trees overlooking panoramic vistas of the Linyanti Swamps. The landscape changes from the Okavangos floodplains to savannah habitat with sweeping views, creating a paradise for a high diversity of wildlife and bird species. The first afternoon activity concentrates on exposure to different plains game, such as roan and sable antelope and their predators, the lion and leopard with the endangered wild dog as an incredible bonus. Activities include game drives in the private northern sector of the Concession, exploring a range of habitats, from riverbanks to scrub and forest, which reveal a myriad of game en route to slake their thirst from the river. There is also a game drive to a private deck for lunch, then a siesta in hammocks and an afternoon canoe trip all before taking an evening drive back to camp! We canoe on the Linyanti River for an amazing close-up view of the elephant herds. To complete the experience, on the third day we enjoy a full activity to the Savuti Channel, with lunch at a private hide overlooking a waterhole. This day is specifically tailored to enjoy the seasonal and migratory movements of wildlife within the Linyanti and Savuti systems. [BLD]

Stand in the mist created by the wall of water that is the Victoria Falls.

DAY 10 :  CHOBE RIVER BOAT CRUISE, CHOBE NATIONAL PARK AND LIVINGSTONE, ZAMBIA
After a short morning drive and breakfast, we depart by light aircraft to the northern Chobe region of Chobe National Park. This area is famous for its vast herds of elephants and other unique species such as the elusive puku and Chobe bushbuck that move to the river in the hottest hours of the day. Enjoy a river cruise in a shaded catamaran-styleboat. Leave Botswana and enter Zambia by way of the Kazungula border, a point where the four countries of Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia meet, to stay at Sussi Lodge, in Livingstone. [BLD]

DAY 11 :  VICTORIA FALLS AND DEPART
Enjoy a guided tour of the Victoria Falls, one of the seven Natural Wonders of the World. At 1708 metres wide, it is the largest curtain of water in the world and drops more than 100 metres into the sheer Zambezi Gorge. Transfer to Livingstone Airport to bid farewell to the adventure. [B]

Questions? Ask Our Program Directors.

. C o n t a c t Rachael Garrett 1(800)345-4453 C o n t a c t Lyndsay Harshman 1(800)345-4453