Wild Botswana
Suggested Itinerary
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Overview
Botswana is a land of dramatic and diverse landscapes ranging from the lush, green floodplains and islands of the Okavango Delta to the dry, dusty Kalahari Desert and the endless expanses of the Makgadikgadi Salt Flats. This journey takes you through all of these areas, giving you a wonderfully contrasting range of areas to see whilst staying in camps that complement each other to make for a superb safari adventure.
Starting ...
Botswana is a land of dramatic and diverse landscapes ranging from the lush, green floodplains and islands of the Okavango Delta to the dry, dusty Kalahari Desert and the endless expanses of the Makgadikgadi Salt Flats. This journey takes you through all of these areas, giving you a wonderfully contrasting range of areas to see whilst staying in camps that complement each other to make for a superb safari adventure.
Starting in a game-rich private concession of the Okavango Delta, you will enjoy superb big game viewing in this vast, private wilderness. Lions, leopards and wild dogs stalk the plains searching for their prey whilst the delta’s abundant avian life fills the air with a chorus of birdsong. Here, you can see Africa’s majesty and savagery play out before your very eyes – a truly memorable safari experience.
Heading south, you will spend some time exploring the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, with its surprisingly abundant game, which is more concentrated during the wetter, summer months. You will also be able to spend some time with the indigenous San Bushmen and learn how they live and thrive in this harsh environment. Finally, the itinerary heads out to the Makgadikgadi Salt Flats to enjoy their stark beauty from the wonderfully located lodge. Trips to the famous Baines’ Baobabs are on offer here, whilst an evening gazing up at the starry African sky is always a wonderful way to round off a day.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
Suggested Itinerary
This is a suggested itinerary. Our experts have all travelled widely in the region and will be happy to tailor any of our itineraries to suit your tastes, or build a trip from scratch.
DAY 1: MAUN - OKAVANGO DELTA
DAY 1: MAUN - OKAVANGO DELTA
On arrival into Maun, you will collect your luggage before being met and escorted to the charter area to await your flight to the Okavango Delta. A short flight will take you to the private concession where your camp is located and staff from the camp will be waiting to transfer you in a game viewing vehicle. A relaxing afternoon will be followed by a late afternoon game drive and dinner at the camp.
DAY 2: EXPLORE THE OKAVANGO DELTA
DAY 2: EXPLORE THE OKAVANGO DELTA
Your first full day in the delta affords a chance to enjoy some of the excellent big game viewing that the area is renowned for. Morning and late afternoon game drives are broken up by a delicious lunch and an afternoon relaxing in the spacious surrounds of your tent or the main area of the camp. After a long day exploring, enjoy dinner beneath the stars and a nightcap next to the roaring campfire before retiring to the comfort of your tent.
DAY 3: EXPLORE THE OKAVANGO DELTA
DAY 3: EXPLORE THE OKAVANGO DELTA
A second day in the delta provides the opportunity to experience an alternative activity on offer from the camp: guided walks, mokoro canoe safaris, flat-bottomed boat trips and fishing trips (seasonal) for those keen to try their hand at angling. However you choose to spend your time on safari, you can be assured of a wonderful time in the company of your expert guides.
DAY 4: OKAVANGO DELTA - CENTRAL KALAHARI GAME RESERVE
DAY 4: OKAVANGO DELTA - CENTRAL KALAHARI GAME RESERVE
After enjoying a final morning activity in the Okavango Delta you will take breakfast in the lodge before transferring to the airstrip for a flight down to the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. There, you will be met and transferred to your camp arriving in time for a late lunch. Tau Pan was the first permanent camp inside the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, famous for its breathtaking night skies, beautiful scenery and dramatic cloud formations. The afternoon can be spent exploring the plains of the Kalahari with your guide, searching for the iconic black maned Kalahari lions.
DAY 5: EXPLORE THE CENTRAL KALAHARI GAME RESERVE
DAY 5: EXPLORE THE CENTRAL KALAHARI GAME RESERVE
Botswana is renowned for being a big game viewing destination and whilst this is doubtless true, there are many other activities to enjoy. One of the most fascinating is spending time with the indigenous San Bushmen of the Kalahari. These fascinating people, living on the margins of modern society, have unique ways of living in the harsh desert environment and a walk or two with them gives you some insight as to how they live in the searing heat and bone-dry conditions for which the area is renowned.
DAY 6: EXPLORE THE CENTRAL KALAHARI GAME RESERVE
DAY 6: EXPLORE THE CENTRAL KALAHARI GAME RESERVE
Reaching the mid-way point of the trip calls for a gentler day, perhaps rising later and heading out for brunch on the expanses of Tau Pan. This is a wonderful way to leisurely experience safari whilst enjoying delicious food in a spectacularly beautiful location. A game drive back to camp may spring some surprises as the desert animals scurry around seeking shelter from the heat of the noon. An afternoon relaxing in camp and enjoying the stunning views out to the Kalahari Desert is a great way to spend some down time in Botswana.
DAY 7: CENTRAL KALAHARI GAME RESERVE - MAKGADKIGADI PANS
DAY 7: CENTRAL KALAHARI GAME RESERVE - MAKGADKIGADI PANS
Breakfast follows a final morning exploring the Kalahari with your guide before being transferred back to the airstrip for your flight across to the Makgadikgadi Pans for the final leg of your trip. You should arrive in time for lunch and the afternoon break. Later, an evening drive along the pans can teach you more about their history as a super lake before drying out to create the shimmering salt flats they are today.
DAY 8: EXPLORE THE MAKGADIKIGADI PANS
DAY 8: EXPLORE THE MAKGADIKIGADI PANS
The famed Baines' Baobabs immortalised in the paintings of explorer Thomas Baines are one of the area's most iconic sights and a trip out to see them is a great way to spend a day. A picnic lunch will be taken along so you can enjoy a full day out. Towering high above the salt pans, these trees were a navigation point for old explorers and make for a fantastic photo opportunity; their sheer size offering an interesting contrast to the otherwise flat expanses of the surrounding area.
DAY 9: EXPLORE THE MAKGADKIGADI PANS
DAY 9: EXPLORE THE MAKGADKIGADI PANS
Your final full day in Botswana can be spent exploring the pans further with your guide and enjoying the surprisingly good game viewing (especially during the summer months). Of course, you may also wish to spend some time relaxing in camp and enjoying the tranquillity of the area before your day of travelling tomorrow; and no trip here would be complete without an evening spent stargazing with your guide pointing out the constellations of the Southern Hemisphere which are crystal clear in the cloudless sky.
DAY 10: MAKGADIKIGADI PANS - MAUN
DAY 10: MAKGADIKIGADI PANS - MAUN
Enjoy a final morning exploring the pans before returning to the camp for brunch. You will then be transferred to the airstrip for your light aircraft flight to Maun and onward flight arrangements where your tour ends.
SUGGESTED ACCOMMODATION
Nxai Pan Camp, Makgadikgadi Pans Region
Nxai Pan Camp overlooks an active waterhole on the edge of the Nxai Pan. The main half-moon shaped, thatched building houses the dining room and lounge, which are furnished with couches and an open bar flowing out to the viewing deck and the inviting pool. The nine free standing thatched rooms are connected to the main area by wooden walkways and one of the rooms is large enough to accommodate a family. Solar power keeps the ceiling fans cooling the spacious sleeping and seating areas and the en-suite bathrooms offer plenty of vanity space and refreshing outdoor showers. Enjoy nature walks, game drives and perhaps a day trip to the famous Baines' Baobabs.
Tau Pan Camp, Central Kalahari Game Reserve
Tau Pan was the first permanent camp inside the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, famous for its breathtaking night skies, amazing scenery and dramatic cloud formations. The camp is situated on the edge of the beautiful Tau Pan and commands stunning views of the permanent Tau Pan water hole and the endless Kalahari horizon. There are nine suites, including one family suite, all of which command stunning views of the surrounding area. They are all extremely comfortable, stylish and cleverly adapted to the surrounding environment running on solar power. The main guest areas consist of a cosy dining room, lounge, a viewing deck, a swimming pool, library and curio shop. This is one of the best game viewing areas in Botswana and not many people seem to be aware of this so, visitors are few. Activities include game drives in open 4x4 vehicles, stargazing and guided walks with a San bushman who are happy to answer any questions you have from family life to bush survival. As Tau Pan is an ecologically sensitive national park, no night drives or off-road driving is permitted.
Splash Camp, Okavango Delta
Located in the heart of the Okavango Delta, within the private Kwara Reserve, the area is locally referred to as Splash due to the network of waterways and channels found across this prime location. The abundance of freshwater no doubt makes it one of the best locations for game viewing in the country. All accommodation sits on a raised decking around a pan, which draws game year-round. Each of the 12 ensuite rooms have private verandas with lounge furniture and magnificent views. The camp also boasts an onsite plunge pool, bar, lounge, orientation centre and curio shop. Your stay is fully inclusive of activities and meals and breakfast is served near the fire pit each morning.
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Accommodation listed here is intended as a guide only, to give you a taste of what we can do. Our experts can tailor any aspect of this itinerary and accommodation to suit your budget and tastes.
GUIDELINE PRICE & WHAT’S INCLUDED
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WILD MILES
ACCOMMODATION
Wild Miles Club
When you book a trip with Wild Frontiers you are awarded points, which are based on the return distance from London to the arrival city of your trip. Points are awarded for all our holidays, including both our escorted group tours and tailor-made trips. When you accrue points, you will qualify for the following discounts on all future bookings:
| Blue | More than 10,000 points | 2.5% discount |
| Bronze | More than 30,000 points | 5% discount |
| Silver | More than 45,000 points | 7.5% discount |
| Gold | More than 60,000 points | 10% discount |
This itinerary is aimed to give you an idea of what we can offer. The price shown above is per person, based on two people travelling outside of peak periods. As this itinerary is only a suggestion and can be tailor-made to suit your interests and budget, your final price may differ.
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