Ultimate Botswana
A luxury escorted safari of Botswana & two nights at the spectacular Victoria Falls
- 25 November 2020
- 2 March 2021
- 4 November 2021
- 2 March 2022
Bestowed with the gift of diamonds, Botswana is one of Sub-Saharan Africa’s richest and most stable countries and offers the traveller astonishing natural beauty, wide open spaces, and some of the most unique and unrivalled wildlife viewing in the world. This exclusive tour will explore the bounty of natural treasures on offer in both the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park and our days will be full of activities including game drives, canoe safaris, bush walks and birdwatching. We will fly between lodges to avoid long overland journeys and to maximise our time spent in the luxury surrounds or our private reserves.
Our first week is spent in the Okavango Delta to fully discover this diverse area of northern Botswana where a wealth of wildlife can be seen on drives, walks and traditional mokoro rides. Known as the jewel of the Kalahari Desert, the Okavango Delta is all that remains of an ancient super lake that was once fed by the Okavango River; today it is the largest inland delta in the world. From the Okavango Delta we fly to the Chobe River whose exotic banks boast one of the densest populations of wildlife on the African continent. There can be few natural wonders as synonymous with Africa’s raw wilderness as the great Chobe River and our three night stay here is a fitting finale to our Botswana visit. Teeming with life, the National Park sprawls across some 11,000 kilometres of lush African bush, and is home to elephants, prides of leopard and lion, huge groups of buffalo, waterbuck, roan, eland, sable, giraffe, and, if you are lucky, one of the rare puku, can also be seen. In the river itself watch out for hippo and crocodile, and keep your binoculars at the ready for spotting a rich selection of bird life. Next we fly to Kasane and traverse to neighbouring Zimbabwe where our final two nights are spent at the Victoria Falls Hotel, one of Africa’s most famous and our base to explore the wonder of the Falls.
Botswana has maintained a policy of low-impact tourism, ensuring that the wilderness remains pristine and, in the company of just sixteen or so fellow travellers you will be able to truly immerse yourself in the untamed world of wild Africa and enjoy game viewing at its best. Added to this, we have personally selected the finest luxury lodges and accommodations; all ideal places to unwind after the eventful days and from which to enjoy the wonderful African hospitality.
Useful links & Travel Advice
Please find a selection of useful websites to refer to for information from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, on visa requirements, NHS travel health advice and other useful travel tips.
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What to Expect
Whilst each tour is different based on the season, weather conditions and wildlife sightings, the extracts below are from a previous tour report and will provide you with an insight into what you can expect from this Botswanan adventure.
5th March 2020 – Moremi Game Reserve:
This morning our first sighting was two hippos that actually ran away from the vehicles – this is a lesser visited area and so the animals are not so used to hearing/seeing the safari vehicles – and a jackal surrounded by ground hornbills with large red beaks. Then Baba, our driver, spotted a giraffe with a very young baby walking some distance away… this was a very special moment as the baby was very young and the mother was very protective, watching us all the time. Next, during our stop for morning tea the guides told us that they had been informed that the two male lions they had been searching for in this area had moved to another place and asked if we would like to go and find them. Of course, we all agreed! En-route we saw lots of giraffe, buffalo and more hippo before arriving in the area where the lions had been sighted earlier. With information from another driver we found one of the two males and then we saw the second male followed by a mother, daughter and son. This turned into a very exciting situation as these three had strayed into the two male’s territory and eventually there was a big standoff between the older male and the younger male. The mother and young male stood their ground. They made noises and watched each other whilst the older male chased off the younger male. The guide explained the two males would not hurt the two females as they might need them for mating. After the situation settled down, we drove back to the camp where we were met with hot towels and a delicious brunch. What what an amazing experience!
10th March 2020 – Savute, Chobe National Park:
We woke to see two lionesses and eight cubs at the water hole, one was ‘contact calling’ as the male had done yesterday. After breakfast we started our morning game drive and the same two lionesses and eight cubs walked alongside us for a good five minutes before they wandered into the long grass. We continued on and were treated to sightings of maribou stork, wildebeest, zebra, guinea fowl and ostrich before driving to the location where someone had spotted a lone lioness. And there she was sitting virtually under a bush, very difficult to spot with just the tufts of her ears showing. She was watching a group of zebra that had one young. The zebra were on alert as they can smell and sense trouble. Two ostrich wandered through and eventually the zebra wandered off in the opposite direction….the lioness was still watching. Continuing on we saw a tawny eagle, waterbuck and many more birds and we drove along the now dry Savute Channel, stopping at a higher elevation on one of the nine hills for refreshments.
Botswana Accommodation
We have sourced the best available accommodation for this the itinerary.
Itinerary
Day 1 - London to Maun, Botswana.
Fly by scheduled indirect flight to Maun.
Day 2 - Moremi Game Reserve.
Arrive into Maun and take a scheduled charter flight to the Moremi Game Reserve. Transfer to Camp Moremi, our base for the next three nights. (L, D)
Days 3 & 4 - Moremi Game Reserve.
Situated in the east of the Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve ranks as one of the most beautiful reserves in Africa. It covers more than 4871 square kilometres of pristine wilderness, and the varied terrain includes savannah, winding waterways, and dense forest. This diverse ecosystem supports an incredibly wide spectrum of wildlife, ranging from large herds of buffalo, wildebeest and zebra, to the rare Sitatunga and Lechwe antelope, lion, cheetah and packs of wild dog in the open grasslands. The birdlife is prolific and includes most of the 550 bird species recorded on Botswana’s national bird list. (B, L, D)
Day 5 - Xugana Lagoon, Okavango Delta.
Today we fly by scheduled charter flight to Xugana Lagoon and on to the Xugana Island Lodge where we spend three nights. (B, L, D)
Days 6 & 7 - Xugana Lagoon.
Situated in the north-western corner of Botswana, the Okavango Delta is a World Heritage Site as it is the largest inland delta in the world. The magnificent Okavango River sprawls out over the dry sands of the Kalahari Desert forming this flourishing waterlogged oasis featuring countless meandering waterways and crystal clear lagoons studded with water lilies, as well as fertile floodplains and reeded islands inhabited with abundant wildlife. The Okavango Delta stretches over 15,000 square kilometres. Visitors can enjoy a number of wonderful activities such as game viewing, fishing, bird watching or taking an authentic guided Mokoro excursion through this wetland paradise in a traditional dugout canoe. Commonly spotted animals include lion, rhino, leopard, giraffe, hippos, elephants, crocodiles and countless species of bird. (B, L, D)
Day 8 - Savute, Chobe National Park.
Our next stop is Savute. We fly by scheduled charter flight to Savute and transfer to Savute Safari Lodge where we will be staying for the next three nights. (B, L, D)
Days 9 & 10 - Savute
Savute lies in the heart of Botswana’s beautiful Chobe National Park. This dynamic wilderness is a sweeping expanse of savannah brooded over by several rocky outcrops which guard a relic marsh and the dry channel that was once its lifeline. The Savute goes through wet and dry cycles, where wild dogs hunt in the dry river channel where crocodiles swam only twenty years ago. Visitors to this spectacular area can spot abundant wildlife including a variety of birds, elephants, antelope, lion prides, black-backed jackal, bat-eared foxes, tsessebe, kudu, hyena, cheetah Cape buffalo herds, and thousands of migrating zebra and wildebeest. (B, L, D)
Day 11 - Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
The final stop on our wonderful journey is the stunning Victoria Falls. We fly to Kasane Airport and transfer by road to the luxurious Victoria Falls Hotel for our two night stay. (B, D)
Day 12 - Victoria Falls.
We take a guided tour of the Falls which form the largest single curtain of falling water on earth (on average the curtain is 92 metres deep). The Victoria Falls’ 500 metre plume of spray can be seen from as far as 70 kilometres away. The sound of the water can also be heard from kilometres away and up close this muted ‘thunder’ becomes a roar. In full flood, over 550 million litres of water per minute cascade over the brink. The vast width of the Falls, extending 1708 metres, allow for many safe vantage points from where you will be able to get different views of the roiling water as it crashes into the gorge and whose constant spray maintains the rain forest. The forest is an attraction on its own with many of the trees marked to help identification. These include fig, mahogany, date palm, milkwood and ebony. The bird life is prolific and species that may be seen include the colourful sunbird and large trumpeter hornbill. This evening we enjoy our farewell dinner at the hotel. (B, D)
Day 13 - Victoria Falls to London.
After breakfast transfer to Victoria Falls airport for your return indirect flight to London. (B)
Day 14 - London.
Arrive London.
Dates and Prices
Prices per person based on double occupancy| 25 November to 8 December 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Price | |
| Twin | £9995 | |
| Single | £12495 | |
| 2 to 15 March 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Price | |
| Twin | £10095 | |
| Single | £12695 | |
| 4 to 17 November 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Price | |
| Twin | £10295 | |
| Single | £12895 | |
| 2 to 15 March 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Price | |
| Twin | £10395 | |
| Single | £12995 | |
Tour Reference Code: LABOTSW
PRICE INCLUDES: Economy class scheduled air travel • 11 nights accommodation (3 nights at Camp Moremi, Moremi Game Reserve, 3 nights Xugana Island Lodge, Okavango Delta, 3 nights Savute Safari Lodge, Chobe National Park, 2 nights Victoria Falls Hotel, Victoria Falls) • Meals as listed (B - breakfast, L – lunch, D – dinner) • Excursions & game drives as listed • Tour Manager • Local guide/s • Gratuities • Transfers • Airport taxes.
Not Included: Travel insurance, visas, optional activities.
NB. Due to restrictions on the domestic flights, the total luggage allowance is 20 kilos per person and only soft-sided travel cases are permitted.
Botswana Accommodation
We have sourced the best available accommodation for this the itinerary.
What to Expect
Whilst each tour is different based on the season, weather conditions and wildlife sightings, the extracts below are from a previous tour report and will provide you with an insight into what you can expect from this Botswanan adventure.
5th March 2020 – Moremi Game Reserve:
This morning our first sighting was two hippos that actually ran away from the vehicles – this is a lesser visited area and so the animals are not so used to hearing/seeing the safari vehicles – and a jackal surrounded by ground hornbills with large red beaks. Then Baba, our driver, spotted a giraffe with a very young baby walking some distance away… this was a very special moment as the baby was very young and the mother was very protective, watching us all the time. Next, during our stop for morning tea the guides told us that they had been informed that the two male lions they had been searching for in this area had moved to another place and asked if we would like to go and find them. Of course, we all agreed! En-route we saw lots of giraffe, buffalo and more hippo before arriving in the area where the lions had been sighted earlier. With information from another driver we found one of the two males and then we saw the second male followed by a mother, daughter and son. This turned into a very exciting situation as these three had strayed into the two male’s territory and eventually there was a big standoff between the older male and the younger male. The mother and young male stood their ground. They made noises and watched each other whilst the older male chased off the younger male. The guide explained the two males would not hurt the two females as they might need them for mating. After the situation settled down, we drove back to the camp where we were met with hot towels and a delicious brunch. What what an amazing experience!
10th March 2020 – Savute, Chobe National Park:
We woke to see two lionesses and eight cubs at the water hole, one was ‘contact calling’ as the male had done yesterday. After breakfast we started our morning game drive and the same two lionesses and eight cubs walked alongside us for a good five minutes before they wandered into the long grass. We continued on and were treated to sightings of maribou stork, wildebeest, zebra, guinea fowl and ostrich before driving to the location where someone had spotted a lone lioness. And there she was sitting virtually under a bush, very difficult to spot with just the tufts of her ears showing. She was watching a group of zebra that had one young. The zebra were on alert as they can smell and sense trouble. Two ostrich wandered through and eventually the zebra wandered off in the opposite direction….the lioness was still watching. Continuing on we saw a tawny eagle, waterbuck and many more birds and we drove along the now dry Savute Channel, stopping at a higher elevation on one of the nine hills for refreshments.
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Book with Confidence
Speak to one of our advisors on 020 7752 0000