Travel to Botswana: Walking with Elephants

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Walking with Elephants

			DAYS: 8 GRADE: I, Tented camps, optional walking define PRICE: From $7550 per person (Includes Local Air) HIGHLIGHTS: Walking with elephants Victoria Falls Okavango Delta Moremi Reserve ACCOMMODATIONS: Hotels/Lodges Wilderness Camp MEALS: As noted  [B-Breakfast, L-Lunch,   D-Dinner] SEASON: Year-round Prices, Departure Dates and Included Services Send to a Friend Print this Itinerary

Begin your African experience at the thundering Victoria Falls, where the scenery is matched by the variety of activities. Then continue into Botswana to meet elephants in their natural habitat. Walking with elephants will leave you in awe of these intelligent giants. Discover their world as you join them on a morning stroll and learn about these majestic creatures, from the coarse hair of their tails to their curious trunk.  This itinerary offers the best of the Okavango Delta camps; spend two nights at a water camp, where mokoros are poled through feathery papyrus, and three nights at a land camp, where game drives reveal predators such as leopard, lion, and cheetah.

DAYS 1-2 :  VICTORIA FALLS
One of the world's seven natural wonders, the stunning Victoria Falls are twice as high as the Niagara Falls. Stand in the spray during an early morning or late afternoon visit when the light glows through the incredible mist. During your stay in Victoria Falls you have the option to take your first game drive in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, enjoy a visit to a local village, fish for tiger fish, or book one of the many adventure activities that the area is known for (at additional cost). Options include white water rafting on the Zambezi (age limit 15 years), microlight flights, bungee jumping, and jet boat excursions. Overnights on the banks of the Zambezi at Sussi Lodge. [BLD] 

High concentrations of plains game attract the big cats

DAY 3 :  OKAVANGO DELTA
Depart Victoria Falls by road this morning and cross the border to Botswana. After clearing customs in Kasane, board a light aircraft flight into the heart of the Okavango Delta. Staff at Stanley's Camp celebrate your arrival and welcome you with a traditional African song and dance before taking you to the camp, set in an amphitheater of ebony and sausage trees in 260,000 acres of untamed African bush. Situated on a private concession neighboring the Moremi Game Reserve, this area is superb for viewing a wide variety of predators and plains game, including the largest buffalo population in Botswana. Stanley's Camp has eight classic safari tents on raised wooden platforms, each with a private en suite bathroom. Dinner is served on a wooden deck overlooking the floodplain, where guides will regale you with stories of the African bush and occasionally elephants and other wildlife come through camp. Activities include a relaxing ride in a mokoro (traditional dug out canoes), gliding through feathery beds of papyrus looking for large and small animals and enjoying the variety of bird life. Game drives at night offer good opportunities to see nocturnal species including bush babies and genet. Overnight at Stanley's Camp. [BLD]

	Be awed by these intelligent giants

DAY 4 :  WALKING WITH ELEPHANTS
Become part of the elephant herd this morning as you get an close-up look at these astounding creatures. Rescued by the Living with Elephants Foundation, you'll meet Jabu, Thembi and Morula, who will use their trunks to get to know you. After introductions, join the elephants as they follow their morning routine, which may include bathing, a refreshing mud bath, and of course, eating! Feel the soles of their feet, the roughness of their skin, and watch the muscles in their trunks as they trumpet. Learn about elephants teeth, what they eat, and the challenges faced by Botswana's growing elephant herds. You will be surprised at the individuality of each elephant as you get to know them better. After the walk, enjoy a bush breakfast and then return to camp for an afternoon activity. Overnight at Stanley's Camp. [BLD]

You never know what wildlife is resting quietly around the next bend...

DAYS 5-7 :  MOREMI RESERVE, CHIEF'S CAMP
A charter flight takes you from Stanley's Camp to Chief's Camp this morning, where you are welcomed by rangers and transferred in an open 4x4 vehicle to the lodge. The camp is located on Chief's Island in the exclusive Mombo Concession of the Moremi Game Reserve. Chief's Island is renowned as one of the best spots in Botswana for game viewing and is often featured in wildlife documentaries. You have excellent opportunities to see predators such as lion, leopard and cheetah, as well as plains game and even rhino.  Accommodations at Chief's Camp are in twelve permanent tents, each cooled by a ceiling fan and with a private deck for wildlife viewing. Dinner is served under the stars, and the swimming pool offers a great place to cool off after a morning game drive. Overnights at Chief's Camp. [BLD]

DAY 8 :  END OF SAFARI
After breakfast, transfer by light aircraft to Maun where you connect with onward flights. [B]

Note: Continue your adventure into the Kalahari Desert for a nose to whiskers experience with meerkats on our San Camp Extension.

Questions? Ask Our Program Directors.

. C o n t a c t Julia Nesbitt 1(800)345-4453