Activities: Safari
As one of the most developed and progressive countries in Africa, Botswana has much to offer travelers. The Okavango Delta, a labyrinth of islands, flood plains, and waterways best explored by dugout canoe, teems with wildlife like hippos, elephants, crocodiles, zebras, and giraffes.
East of Okavango is Chobe National Park, a huge stretch of flat, dry land that boasts the greatest variety of animals in Botswana, including lions, wildebeest, cheetah, hyena, buffalo, jackal, and warthog. On this trip you can choose either park, or go to both!
The best time to visit is August-October, but anytime March-November is great. Nights are surprisingly cold during the dry season, so take along a warm sweater. Many of the Okavango Delta camps are closed at the height of (the southern-hemisphere's) summer, December-March, when it's very hot and when there are short daily thunderstorms.
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 01: Johannesburg, SA - Maun, Botswana - Okavango DeltaArrive Johannesburg International Airport. Upon clearing Customs and Immigration, you are met by our representative and assisted to your light aircraft transfer to Maun. (flight not included) Here, you are met by lodge guides and transferred to your camp for check-in.
Botswana’s magnificent Okavango Delta is a maze of lagoons, lakes and hidden channels covering an area of over 16,000 square km in the wet season and shrinking to less than 9,000 square km in the dry season. Trapped in the parched Kalahari sands the fresh water oasis attracts wildlife that depends on the permanent waters of this unique wilderness. Camp Okavango is situated on the remote Nxaragha Island in the heart of the permanent Okavango Delta, assuring a year-round water wilderness experience. This afternoon, enjoy game viewing activities with your lodge naturalist guide.
Dinner
Camp Okavango
Day 02: Okavango Delta
Guided nature walks on the various islands of the Delta allow for opportunity to track some of the larger species that inhabit this water wilderness or explore the Okavango by mokoro (canoe) or powerboat Bird-watching opportunities are outstanding, and fishing for bream and tiger fish is also offered as an activity at the camp.
This afternoon, enjoy game viewing activities with your lodge guide.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Camp Okavango Day 03: Okavango Delta - Xugana Island
After breakfast transfer to Camp Okavango airstrip for flight to Xugana and land transfer to the lodge for check-in.
Xugana means “kneel down to drink” in the local dialect. Xugana Lagoon has, for thousands of years, been a safe haven for the Bushman people who lived in the pristine water world. Xugana Lagoon is the permanent Delta, a world of crystal clear waterways winding through vast reed and papyrus beds, opening unexpectedly onto tranquil lagoons, home to bream, catfish and fighting tiger-fish and fringed by secret wooded islands, haven for the magnificient bird and wildlife that inhabit the Delta. The lagoon is widely accepted as being the most spectacular permanent water site in the Okavango Delta. This afternoon, enjoy game viewing activities with your lodge guide.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Xugana Island Lodge
Day 04: Xugana Island
Enjoy a full day of guided activities with your lodge guide.
Wilderness walks give you the chance to see the Delta denizens such as the Sitatunga and Red Lechwe antelope, crocodile and hippo. Cool off in the unique swimming pool that allows guests to swim in the clear fresh water of the lagoon protected by a heavy metal cage, designed to deter “Fat Albert”, the long-time resident crocodile from joining in. Relax on a peaceful boat ride back across the lagoon at sunset for a lifelong memory of the African sunset.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Xugana Island Lodge
Day 05: Xugana Island - Chobe National Park
After breakfast, boat transfer to Xugana airstrip for flight to Kasane where you are met by a representative for land transfer to Chobe Game Lodge for check-in.
Chobe Game Lodge, the only permanent game lodge situated within the Chobe National Park, is Botswana's premier venue to explore the Chobe National Park & Chobe River. Chobe's wildlife roams in abundance and diversity. It is home to the largest concentration of elephant in Africa and during the dry season these herds, as well as large herds of buffalo, congregate along the fertile flood plains of the Chobe River. Magnificent sightings of lion, wild dog, puku, red lechwe, sable, giraffe and roan antelope are also frequent in the area.
Game drives are conducted in open sided 4x4 vehicles ensuring maximum visibility. Game viewing on the Chobe River is conducted by small, shallow draft and highly manoeuvrable boats piloted by expert boatmen. Resident professional guides offer slide shows, star gazing presentations, garden and river walks and walking safaris in the nearby Kasane forests.
This afternoon, enjoy game viewing activities with your lodge guide.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Chobe Game Lodge
Day 06: Chobe National Park
Enjoy a full day of guided activities with your lodge guide. Words cannot capture these colors, the smell of elephants in thick Acacia, the sound of concentrated buffalo herds on open green plains, the atmosphere of golden red sunsets accompanied by the cry of the Chobe Game Lodge Fish Eagle, nor the excitement of a close encounter with a Lion pride.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Chobe Game Lodge
Day 07: Chobe - Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe - Depart
After breakfast, transfer to Kasane airstrip for your road transfer to Victoria Falls Airport to make your onward connection.
Breakfast
Departure Dates
Depart any day! Contact an iExplore Adventure Consultant for details.Prices
2010 Prices:January 1 to June 30
$4,195 per person double occupancy based on two persons traveling together
$3,995 per person double occupancy based on four persons traveling together
$4,695 for single person traveling alone
$895 single room supplement
July 1 to November 30
$5,495 per person double occupancy, based on 2 persons traveling together
$5,295 per person double occupancy based on 4 persons traveling together
$7,495 for person traveling alone
$1,595 single room supplement
Prices for your dates of travel may vary- please contact iExplore for an exact quote. Quoted prices are based on current rates of exchange, tariffs and taxes as of September, 2009. iExplore reserves the right to increase tour prices to cover increased costs, tariffs and taxes received after prices are published, and to reflect fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. iExplore is under no obligation to give breakdown costs involved in any package.
Inclusions:
· Airport meet and assist in Johannesburg
· Scheduled land transfers
· 6 nights (3 camps/lodge) twin-bedded accommodations with private bath (flush toilets/showers)
· Meals on a full-board basis
· Game viewing activities (non-exclusive)
· Park entrance fees
Exclusions:
· International airfare and airport taxes
* Flights Johannesburg/Maun and Victoria Falls/Johannesburg.
· Meals, unless otherwise indicated
· Items of a personal nature
· Gratuities and portage
· Travel insurance
· Visas (if required)
These trips are priced assuming two travelers. Surcharges for solo travelers and discounts for groups, if any, will be applied. Prices assume itinerary is purchased "as is". Minor changes to hotels or hotel add-ons to the beginning or the end of the existing itinerary can be made at no extra charge. Any customization requiring us to start with a new base itinerary will require a non-refundable upfront planning fee of $250 that is creditable towards the final trip price.
Group Discounts
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All prices are in US dollars and do not include international airfare, unless otherwise noted.
Prices displayed are based on the lowest season base price and assume double occupancy. Prices are shown in U.S. dollars and may or may not include administrative fees, taxes, meals, airfare (where applicable) and Single Supplements. Cancellation penalties, blackout dates and other restrictions may apply.
