| Duration: | 10 Day(s) - 9 Night(s) |
| Tour Category: | Adventure Tours |
This short nature- and wildlife-focused route explores the thundering waters of Victoria Falls, the continually moving wildlife of northern Botswana within the broad vistas of the Linyanti with its wooded deciduous forests and the crystal-clear waterways and fertile green islands of the Okavango Delta.
Staying in private wilderness areas and with a diverse range of activities, we follow the fault lines of northern Botswana, covering these unique and wild areas from the air, by vehicle, on foot and in a mokoro, ensuring a close connection with nature and spectacular game viewing. A visit to the iconic and resurgent Savute Channel is included.
Brief Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Livingstone, Guided tour of Victoria Falls and then road transfer to The River Club or Toka Leya Camp, Livingstone.
Days 2, 3 & 4: Road transfer to Kasane for a river boat cruise in the Chobe National Park and then drive to Linyanti Adventurer Camp, Linyanti concession
Days 5, 6 & 7: Fly to Khwai Adventurer Camp, Khwai Concession, North Eastern Okavango Delta
Days 8 & 9: Fly to Xigera Mokoro Trails, Moremi Game Reserve/Okavango Delta
Day 10: Fly to Maun
This exciting route takes the time to explore the changing areas, stunning beauty and continually moving game of northern Botswana: from walking on islands in the jewel of the Kalahari, the Okavango Delta, to the diverse, wildlife-filled Linyanti concession, with its seasonal elephant herds.
The camps are located in a range of different habitats to maximise the best possible game viewing through all times of the year. Accommodation varies with a combination of serviced camping in private concession areas and a Wilderness Safaris lodge in Zambia.
DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1: The River Club, Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, Livingstone, Zambia
After arrival in Livingstone, you will be met by a representative and transferred directly for a guided tour of 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 103 metres into the basalt depths of the sheer Zambezi Gorge.
The River Club lies dreaming in dappled shade on the Zambian banks of the Zambezi River, 18km upstream from the world-famous Victoria Falls. Its main area is a well-appointed Edwardian-style house, with a comfortable lounge, large dining room, impressive library and wide veranda on which breakfasts and teas are taken.
Manicured lawns (where midday meals are often served) spread out beneath the trees and a croquet court is an ideal venue for a Pimm's-soaked croquet game. The pool has been built to seem part of the river itself and a secluded deck with hammocks and loungers provides respite. Meals can also be enjoyed on occasion in the summer house or gazebo.
Ten luxury thatched chalets overlook the Zambezi River and have en-suite facilities including a bath, shower, toilet and basin. All the rooms have fans and air conditioning (hot and cold). The rooms are all completely open in the front, giving guests uninterrupted views of the Zambezi.
OR
Day 1: Toka Leya Camp, Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, Livingstone, Zambia
After arrival in Livingstone, you will be met by a representative and transferred directly for a guided tour of 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 103 metres into the basalt depths of the sheer Zambezi Gorge.
Toka Leya Camp is situated on the banks of the Zambezi River in the eastern sector of the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, some 12 km up from Victoria Falls. The camp consists of 12 safari-style tents, each en-suite with a view of the magnificent Zambezi River and some of its islands. The camp's dining and bar area is set beneath a shaded canopy of trees overlooking the River and a swimming pool.
Days 2 - 4: Chobe River Boat Cruise and Linyanti Adventurer Camp, Chobe/Linyanti
After a full breakfast, we leave Zambia and enter the Chobe National Park in Botswana by way of the Kazungula border, a point where the four countries of Botswana, Zambia, Namibia and Zimbabwe meet.
Enjoy a leisurely shaded boat cruise along the Chobe River, with a light lunch. This boat cruise offers a unique opportunity to observe puku, large herds of elephants, numerous pods of hippos and large crocodiles, as well as enjoy fantastic views of other general game and diverse birdlife.
We then depart by road for the Linyanti region. This interesting drive exposes the group to the rural way of life along the northernmost tip of Botswana and also affords views across the Chobe and Linyanti Rivers into Namibia's Caprivi Strip. The last part of the road journey is a game drive as we approach the Linyanti, where our pre-erected Linyanti Adventurer Camp is situated. This part of the Linyanti is famed for its myriad of changing landscapes, from riverine to savannah and from forest to plains.
The Linyanti region's life-giving perennial waters attract herds of wildlife that walk well-worn game paths to slake their thirst in the dry season. Predators follow in their footsteps and, coupled with the area's diversity of habitat, make for exciting game viewing.
Days 5 - 7: Khwai Adventurer Camp, Okavango Delta
After breakfast, we drive to the airstrip for a light aircraft transfer to Khwai Adventurer Camp.
Khwai Adventurer Camp is located in a private concession just north of the Khwai River above the Moremi Game Reserve. The Khwai Concession is one of the most diverse areas in northern Botswana which seldom disappoints when it comes to producing extraordinary wildlife experiences. The life source for this area is the Khwai River - the northernmost "finger" of the Okavango Delta alluvial fan, which provides vital sustenance to numerous animals.
Over time, the Khwai area has metamorphosed into a wide range of exciting wildlife habitats - some of the most varied to be found in the entire Okavango Delta: a blend of forests, floodplains, wetlands and grasslands. The narrow Khwai Channel is home to large mammals such as hippos and crocodiles with buffalo and red lechwe often seen grazing along the fringe. The beautiful gallery riverine woodland found along the river provides further sanctuary to birds, primates and leopards. Elusive roan antelope often come to the river to drink. Activities focus on day and night game drives, nature walks and seasonal mokoro excursions.
Away from the river, there is a wonderful mix of acacia and leadwood trees of varying sizes that abuts into mopane woodland. The latter, together with the permanent presence of water, attracts large numbers of elephants to the area. Larger predators include lions, wild dogs and spotted hyenas, while birdlife found here is just as varied thanks to the colourful palette of habitats.
Days 8 - 9: Xigera Mokoro Trails, Okavango Delta
We fly by light aircraft to the water-filled paradise of the remote Xigera area, within the Moremi Game Reserve. Xigera is the ultimate Okavango Delta experience, with serene waters flowing through innumerable channels around remote islands and a profusion of plant and animal birdlife.
There is no better way to experience the Okavango than to travel through it by mokoro, walking and camping out on a vegetated island - all essential elements of the Xigera Mokoro Trails. The experience is aimed at highlighting the permanently flooded inner Delta, in the serene waterways and on the islands of trees and bush.
Activities include mokoro and walking safaris on remote islands, which enable up-close encounters with an excellent diversity of birdlife (including Pel's Fishing-Owl), frogs and some game species, some specially adapted to water, such as the familiar red lechwe. Walking activities vary in length and duration depending on the season, especially in the months when the Okavango is at peak flood (June, July and August) where walks become shorter as more islands are flooded.
Day 10: Transfer to Maun Airport
Bid farewell to the adventure as we transfer by light aircraft to Maun Airport.
Discoverer Exploration Includes:
Accommodation on a per person sharing basis, all meals from dinner on Day 1 to the end of the scheduled safari, a reasonable amount of soft drinks, mineral water, fruit juice, house wine and beer, as well as local spirits such as gin and Amarula while on safari, National Park fees, laundry (excluded at Deception Valley Adventurer Camp on the Botswana Summer Encounter), road transfers, scheduled activities and all internal charters on a seat-rate basis.
Discoverer Exploration Excludes:
Flights (other than specified in the detailed safari itinerary), visas, compulsory comprehensive insurance, all relevant entry and departure Government taxes, all personal purchases (including curios, spirit liquors, telephone calls, etc.), gratuities, laundry at Deception Valley Adventurer Camp on the Botswana Summer Encounter, optional extra activities, pre and post safari tours, all other travel arrangements pre or post the safari and any new Government taxes, levies, fuel or industry increases which are beyond our control.
Notes:
Many of our guides are also skilled photographers and can assist you in taking away amazing wildlife photographs. They are also available to lead private safaris and specialist trips.
