BEST OF BOTSWANA - 11 NIGHTS

AT A GLANCE

PRISTINE WILDERNESS AREA

SUPERB BIG-GAME VIEWING

GREAT PHOTOGRAPHY

DIVERSITY OF HABITATS

TRULY REMOTE AND WILD

ITINERARY OVERVIEW

This 11-night itinerary visits some of the top wildlife destinations in Botswana. You will begin at Chitabe on the south-eastern edge of the world-renowned Okavango Delta. The area is famed for its big-game viewing and you will have great sightings here as you view the wildlife from the comfort of a vehicle. At Xigera, you will be in the heart of the Okavango Delta and will explore the secret channels by both boat and mokoro. Vumbura Plains will give you great game viewing together with diverse activities before you head north to DumaTau camp where you will explore the Linyanti floodplain.

DAY 1

You will depart OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg late morning on a scheduled flight to Maun. On arrival at Maun International Airport, you will be met and assisted with boarding your light aircraft transfer to Chitabe Camp. This short flight will give you your first views of the Okavango Delta. You will arrive at Chitabe in the mid afternoon and have time to settle in to your room before the afternoon safari departs.

Here, the focus is on 'land' activities as the water in the Okavango Delta does not always push down as far south as Chitabe. The area is famed for its great sightings of big game and is renowned for being one of the best places to view the endangered Wild Dog.

You will return to camp after dark and dinner will be enjoyed under the African night sky.

ACCOMMODATION: CHITABE CAMP

DAYS 2 AND 3

A typical day at Chitabe will see you being woken at first light. This is the most productive time from a game-viewing point of view. The early morning also offers great light for the photography enthusiasts.

After a quick cup of tea or coffee and a light snack you will head out in an open game-viewer on your morning safari. This will be led by an experienced ranger. Depending on what you encounter on your safari, you will return to the camp around 10h00 at which time you will enjoy a sumptuous brunch. You will have some time to relax during the heat of the day before meeting again around 15h00 for high tea. The afternoon/evening safari departs directly from tea and returns after dark. Dinner will be enjoyed upon your return to the camp.

ACCOMMODATION: CHITABE CAMP

DAY 4

After a morning safari and breakfast at Chitabe Camp, you will board a light aircraft for your short flight across the Okavango Delta to Xigera Camp. Xigera is located on an island in the heart of the delta and here you will explore the mysterious waterways of this spectacular area.

You will arrive at Xigera in time for your afternoon activity. Here the focus is on water activities and depending on the water levels of the Delta when you visit, most of your safari activities will be in either a boat or a mokoro. You will return to the camp just after sunset and have some time to freshen up before dinner.

ACCOMMODATION: XIGERA CAMP

DAY 5

Today will be spent exploring the waterways around Xigera Camp. At Diverse Africa, we typically recommend a 3-night stay at a lodge as a minimum, however we believe that at a camp like Xigera where the focus is on water activities, two nights is sufficient.

ACCOMMODATION: XIGERA CAMP

DAY 6

After a morning activity and brunch, you will boat to the Xigera airstrip where you will board a light aircraft for your flight to Vumbura Plains Camp. You will arrive at Vumbura in the mid-afternoon and have time to settle in to your room before the departure of the afternoon safari.

Vumbura Plains is ideally located on the north-eastern side of the Okavango Delta and offers a variety of activities both on water and on land. On the day of your arrival at Vumbura, you will have time for an afternoon safari activity before returning to the camp for dinner.

ACCOMMODATION: VUMBURA PLAINS CAMP

DAYS 7 AND 8

A typical day at Vumbura Plains will see you being woken at first light. The main area of the lodge looks east across a floodplain and the views at dawn are spectacular as the sun slowly paints the eastern horizon orange whilst the mist rises off the cool water of the Okavango Delta. You will enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and some light snacks as dawn breaks. You will then head out on a morning safari activity before returning to the camp around 10h00 for a substantial brunch. During the heat of the day you can either relax on the main area or alternatively take a refreshing dip in your private plunge pool.

The afternoon safari activity departs after high tea and you will return to the camp shortly after sunset for dinner.

ACCOMMODATION: VUMBURA PLAINS CAMP

DAY 9

After a morning safari activity and brunch at Vumbura Plains, you will be transferred to the Vumbura airstrip where you will board a light aircraft for your flight to DumaTau Camp. On arrival at the DumaTau airtsrip, you will transferred in an open vehicle to the lodge which is located on the edge of the Linyanti floodplain.

You will arrive at DumaTau in the mid-afternoon and have time to settle in to your luxury tent before heading out on your afternoon safari. Boat activties are offered at DumaTau, but the main focus here is on game-drives as you explore the Linyanti floodplain as well as the world-renowned Savuti Channel.

ACCOMMODATION: DUMATAU CAMP

DAYS 10 AND 11

A typical day at DumaTau will see you being woken at first light. After a quick cup of tea or coffee and a light snack, you will venture out on your morning safari activity. As with Chitabe, the Linyanti area is regarded as being a great area in which to see Wild Dogs. If you are lucky, you may come across them as they dart through the woodlands in search of their prey. Your return to camp is dependent on what you see. Once back at camp, you will enjoy breakfast overlooking the Linyanti River before having some down time before the departure of the afternoon safari.

The afternoon safari departs after high tea and you will return to the camp shortly after sunset for dinner.

ACCOMMODATION: DUMATAU CAMP

DAY 12

After a morning safari and brunch at DumaTau Camp, you will be transferred to the airstrip and board a light aircraft transfer which will take you to either Maun or Kasane where you will make your onward connections.

COMBINE THIS ITINERARY

To make the most of your time in Southern Africa why not combine this itinerary with Victoria Falls either at the start or end of your trip. Alternatively, if you are looking for a totally contrasting experience within Botswana, you can combine it with a few days in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.