We've selected six of the best wildlife areas and exclusive tented camps and lodges in South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia. Choose two or more and create the safari of your dreams!

Few parts of Africa can match the mystique of Botswana's Kalahari Desert. Its unique and striking environment, and its vastness and isolation, leaves a lasting impression on all visitors. In addition to exploring its fragile ecosystem, you can experience the cultural richness of the indigenous San (Bushman) people, who live in complete harmony with their environment. From Jack's Camp, an elegant, traditional East African–style camp (the best in the Kalahari!), you'll explore the saltpans on quad bikes and take a walk with a Bushman and learn how the San people have survived for centuries in this harshly beautiful environment.

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore the expansive Makgadikgadi Salt Pans of the Kalahari Desert, search for the elusive brown hyena, roam the pans on quad bikes, and walk with a Bushman!

Other "Build Your Own" Private Adventures:

• South Africa: Cape Town: Between Mountain & Ocean Private Adventure
• South Africa: Kruger National Park, "Big Five" Heaven!" Private Adventure
• Botswana: Okavango & Linyanti Flying Safari Private Adventure
• Namibia: Exploring the Sand Dunes of Sossusvlei Private Adventure
• Namibia: The Skeleton Coast Private Adventure
• Zambia: Kafue National Park Private Adventure
• Mozambique: Bazaruto Archipelago Private Adventure
• Malawi: Lake Malawi Private Adventure
• Overview: "Build Your Own Southern Africa Dream Trip!"

DAY 1 ~ To Makgadikgadi National Park

From Maun, take a light aircraft transfer across the vast expanse of northern Botswana to Makgadikgadi National Park with its endless vistas of rolling golden grasslands. The camp staff will meet you at the airstrip and take you the short distance to Jack's Camp, a permanent camp offering a chance to explore and understand the Kalahari. The Makgadikgadi is a relic of one of the world's largest super-lakes, dried up thousands of years ago as a result of the continued shifting of the earth's crust. Theories as to how and when this vast geographic phenomenon was formed vary. Our aim is to attempt to unravel some of the mysteries while providing the sophisticated traveler a first-class safari.

Jack's Camp offers a traditional East African 1940s safari-style experience and is comfortable and stylish. It recently underwent extensive remodeling and now offers the comfortable amenities associated with a permanent structure—flush toilets, electricity, and hot and cold running water.

Lunch, Dinner…Jack's Camp

DAYS 2-3 ~

You'll spend two full days exploring the fragile ecosystem in this part of the Kalahari Desert. When the Pans are dry, we use motorized four-wheel-drive quad bikes to travel where conventional vehicles cannot and to guard against scarring the Pan's crust. Venturing far into the middle of the Pans, you are able to explore remote archaeological sites, periodically discovering sites never before documented such as fossil beds of extinct giant zebra and hippo. You'll get an in-depth interpretation of the geology, archaeology, and anthropology of the Kalahari and Makgadikgadi.

The Makgadikgadi is also one of the most important wetland sites remaining in Africa. In the wet season, the Pans fill with water, attracting flocks of flamingo and other migratory birds. The area is also the only place in Southern Africa, depending on the season, where one is able to see a migration of tens of thousands of wildebeest and zebra followed by predators. Other desert species include gemsbok, rare brown hyena, springbuck, and meerkat (several families of meerkats have been habituated to human presence).

Many of the guides are fully qualified zoologists/geologists, often working on Ph.D. research. As such, they are most able to convey all the nuances of the desert and the adaptations of its inhabitants. Game drives are conducted in four-wheel-drive vehicles and walks guided by a bushman (San) guide are also an option.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner each day…Jack's Camp

DAY 4 ~ Depart

Return to Maun after breakfast by light aircraft to connect with your homeward-bound flight.

Breakfast...

Stay a Little Longer

You may wish to combine this trip with one of our regular group departures in Africa, or other individual travel on your own. Please call us for the details.

Air Travel

Airfare is not included in the land cost of our trips. For air reservations, we recommend you contact the airlines directly, either by phone or the Internet. In addition, many travelers elect to use their "frequent flyer" miles when traveling with us. But please check with our staff before purchasing or obtaining your tickets, so we may verify your arrival and departure schedule.

Activity Level

Mountain Travel Sobek trips are designed for flexible, energetic people who like to be active and intellectually involved, and have a spirit of adventure and a positive attitude. These trips are all relatively easy in nature, and all the activities are optional.

If you are not optimally conditioned, we recommend that you start a training program at least three months before departure, gradually increasing the intensity and duration. If your health is questionable or your physical stamina is limited, please discuss other trip options with us.

Your Guide

Each camp is staffed by local resident guides who possess an intimate knowledge of the region and the specific area. Their close familiarity with the wildlife, geography, history, and traditions are the key to a superb, informative experience—one you just can't get on your own. In their friendly company, you will truly learn, enjoy, and share their passion for the country they call home. You'll be in good hands with them every step of the way.

What's Included

• air transfers between Maun and Jack's Camp
• transfers to/from airstrip and Jack's Camp
• accommodations at Jack's Camp
• services of camp guides and staff
• ground transportation
• game drives and activities as noted in the itinerary
• park entrance fees
• basic medical and evacuation insurance

What's Not

International airfare to Maun and return; optional tips to camp guides and staff; insurance other than basic medical and evacuation insurance noted above (we strongly recommend you purchase the supplementary trip insurance offered by Mountain Travel Sobek, which includes trip cancellation insurance); excess baggage charges; airport taxes (if any); cost of medical immunizations; visas; and items of a personal nature (sodas, alcoholic beverages, laundry, phone calls, etc.).

Payment & Cancellation Policy

(This differs from regular Mountain Travel Sobek trips.)

I. Payment
At time of reservation: $800
120 days prior to departure: 25% of Land Cost ($747.50)
90 days prior to departure: Balance of Land Cost

II. Cancellation
If written notice of cancellation is received:
Cancellation Fee will be:
From time of reservation until
90 days prior to departure $800
89 to 60 days prior to departure 50% of Land Cost ($1495)
59 days or fewer prior to departure 100% of Land Cost

Note on Itinerary

This itinerary has been carefully designed for optimal value. You may wish to combine this tour with another or add extensions at the beginning or end of your trip. However, if you wish to customize this tour, other terms and conditions apply (ask us about information on customized adventures). Travel Agent commissions or any type of other discounts do not apply to custom tours.

Although we will do our best to adhere to the itinerary schedule as listed, it is subject to change. Please read the Limitation of Liability and Booking Conditions in the four-page Participant Information Form. You can find all this information on our website.

Limitation of Liability

“Mountain Travel Sobek” is defined to include its owners, agents, directors, officers, employees, representatives and affiliates (collectively “Mountain Travel”). Except for the Alaska Discovery Inn, some small craft and some vans in Alaska, Mountain Travel does not own or operate any entity that provides goods or services for your trip including, for example, ownership or control over hotels or other lodging facilities, airline, vessel, bus, van or other transportation companies, local ground operators, providers or organizers of optional excursions, food service or entertainment providers, etc. All such persons and entities are independent contractors. As a result, Mountain Travel is not liable for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any such person or entity, or of any other third party. Without limitation, Mountain Travel Sobek is not responsible for any injury, loss, or damage to person or property, death, delay or inconvenience in connection with the provision of any goods or services occasioned by or resulting from, but not limited to, acts of God, force majeure, acts of war or civil unrest, insurrection or revolt, strikes or other labor activities, criminal or terrorist activities of any kind, overbooking or downgrading of accommodations, structural or other defective conditions in hotels or other lodging facilities, mechanical or other failure of airplanes or other means of transportation or for any failure of any transportation mechanism to arrive or depart timely, dangers associated with animals, marine life or vegetation of any sort, dangers incident to recreational activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming, kayaking, sailing, canoeing, rafting, hiking, bicycling, rock climbing, etc., sanitation problems, food poisoning, lack of, access to or quality of medical care, difficulty in evacuation in case of a medical or other emergency, or for any other cause beyond the direct control of Mountain Travel. In addition, participants release Mountain Travel from its own negligence and assume all risk thereof. On advancement of deposit to Mountain Travel, the depositor therefore agrees to be bound by the above recited terms and conditions. These are partial conditions. Your participation is contingent on your signature on the full list of terms specified in the four-page Participant Information Form, which you can find on our website (or call us at 1-888-687-6235 and request a copy).

Arbitration

Any dispute concerning, relating or referring to these Terms and Conditions, to any literature concerning this trip, or the trip itself, shall be resolved exclusively by binding arbitration in San Francisco, California, according to the then existing rules of the American Arbitration Association. Such proceedings will be governed by substantive California law without regard to the California Arbitration Act.

Conditions of Participation

Your participation on a Mountain Travel Sobek trip is subject to the conditions stated in the four-page Participant Information Form, which includes the Agreement and Release from Liability and the Booking Conditions. Specific information on payment and cancellation policies is also contained within this document, as well as in our current catalog and on our website. We urge you to read this information carefully, and to call us at 1-888-MTSOBEK (687-6235) if you have any questions.

Why Mountain Travel Sobek is Your First Choice for Adventure

Mountain Travel Sobek is the pioneer in active adventure travel. No other adventure travel company can lay claim to that title. We were the first to take Americans trekking in Nepal, raft the wild rivers of Africa, and open up many previously inaccessible corners of the world to curious travelers. We set the standard for adventure travel and have a strong reputation for excellence that we do everything we can to maintain. Since we are the leading adventure company, we have a lot to live up to, so we make sure we provide safe, quality trips and the best customer service to our passengers.

References

Don't take our word for how great our trips are. We'll be happy to provide you with references of satisfied past travelers. Just give us a call at 1-888-MTSOBEK (687-6235).

Questions?

Feel free to call us at 1-888-MTSOBEK (687-6235) if you still have any questions or concerns. We're here to help you.

Note on Itinerary

Although we will do our very best to adhere to the itinerary schedule as listed, it is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control. Please read the Limitations of Liability and Booking Conditions in the four-page Participant Information Form.

This itinerary has been carefully designed for optimal value. You may wish to combine this tour with another or add extensions at the beginning or end of your trip. However, if you wish to customize this tour, other terms and conditions apply (ask us about information on customized adventures). Travel Agent commissions or any type of other discounts do not apply to this tour.

Conditions of Participation

Your participation on a Mountain Travel Sobek trip is subject to the conditions stated in the four-page Participant Information Form, which includes the Agreement and Release from Liability and the Booking Conditions. We urge you to read this information carefully, and to call us if you have any questions.

Note on Services

We often use local suppliers who provide services that may include transportation, equipment, logistic support, and other services (hotels, restaurants, etc.). We do not own or operate these independent suppliers. We work with service providers who share our commitment to safety and quality, and work closely with them to develop itineraries unique to Mountain Travel Sobek.

Ready to go? Signing up is easy!

Just call us at 1-888-MTSOBEK (687-6235) or make a reservation request online. Immediately after we receive your deposit, we will request your preferred dates. Upon confirmation (usually within four business days), we will send you a packet with all the information you need to get ready for your trip, including clothing recommendations, suggested reading lists, and other details.

Approximately 30 days before your departure, we'll send you detailed, step-by-step instructions, with emergency contact numbers, a detailed map, and other important information. Upon arrival at your destination, you will be met by your in-country host who will help orient you and describe what to expect in the week to come.