Conservation Collection: Botswana

On arrival at Kasane we will be met and driven into Chobe National Park for our stay at Chobe Game Lodge. This afternoon enjoy a leisurely cruise on the Chobe River, no Chobe safari is complete without experiencing the beauty of the River and its incredible wildlife by boat. The boats are specifically designed to ensure each passenger can take in the magnificent views in complete comfort from any seat. Return to the lodge for a private and intimate dinner with our group. (D)

Today we will spend a full day with the Elephant Without Borders team on an immersive and educational trip to the Chobe Enclave – an area where communities and wildlife have lived side by side for many years.

This region of the Chobe District has support from the tourism industry but is primarily reliant on farming. This traditional activity is threatened by the presence of elephants and other wildlife that can wipe out entire fields of crop in one night. We will learn about how these farmers, with the help of NGO’s like Elephants Without Borders, combat this issue and aim to live in harmony with the wildlife in the area. (B)(L)(D)

Today, relax at the lodge and enjoy early morning and afternoon game drives in the national park.

Morning game drives set off as soon as the park opens, giving us the best chance of tracking predators while they are still active. The afternoon drives depart late afternoon, only returning at park closure time after sunset, thus maximising the time we spend in the park. The drives follow the course of the Chobe River as our experienced guide interprets the bush signs and tracks in search of the resident wildlife.

Elephant encounters are common and huge herds of buffalo abound. The ever-present impala and the majestic giraffe are both common residents, while sightings of the puku antelope are also on offer. Predators are plentiful in the northern region of Chobe, and where lion, wild dog and leopard are frequently seen. (B)(L)(D)

Enjoy a morning game drive before flying into the heart of the Okavango Delta to Xugana Island Lodge. Spend the afternoon exploring the channels and waterways of the Delta by either mokoro (the traditional means of transport in the Okavango Delta, much like a dugout canoe) or motorboat.

This evening we will be joined by a senior researcher from WildCru, a wildlife conservation and research organisation based within the Zoology Department at Oxford University. (B)(L)(D)

Spend the next two days exploring the Okavango Delta in depth.

Experience Africa on foot; our experienced guide will also take us on a guided nature walk through surrounding islands, giving us the chance to view nature up close and personal.

Navigate the Delta’s myriad channels by motorboat as we pass hippo pods and scan for wildlife on the riverbanks. Night game drives provide a rare opportunity to spot seldom seen nocturnal species.

Glide through the shallow channels and floodplains of the Okavango in a mokoro to truly immerse yourself in our surroundings. Our experienced guide will point out interesting flora and small fauna such as reed frogs. (B)(L)(D)

Fly from the Delta to Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. Settle into the lodge and enjoy an afternoon game drive looking for wildlife in the area. (B)(L)(D).

Today we are in for a special treat as we journey to Nxai Pan National Park for a full day exploring and searching for ‘Botswana’s Secret Migration’, a recently re-discovered zebra migration that travels from Chobe National Park to Nxai Pan. It’s a total return journey of 1,000km making it Africa’s longest migration. (B)(L)(D)


 

Enjoy morning and afternoon safari activities searching for the park’s abundant wildlife including lion, zebra, wildebeest, leopard, cheetah, hyena, impala, kudu, jackal, and caracal, to name a few.

In the afternoon take a one-hour helicopter flight across the vast Makgadikgadi Pans National Park over the salt pans searching for migrating zebras by air. The scale and beauty of this ancient, dry lake and its inhabitants can only be fully appreciated from above. (B)(L)(D)

Enjoy one final morning game drive before we take a light aircraft flight back to Maun for your onward arrangements or if you would like to extend your journey, speak with one of our destination specialists. (B)