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!

A safari in Botswana has a wonderfully authentic, old-Africa feel to it. Hordes of tourists simply do not exist here, and often you feel like you have the entire wilderness to yourself! We stay in private concessions so it's likely the only people you'll see are from your camp (camps usually accommodate about 15 people). This safari focuses on two major areas of wildlife: the wetland paradise of the Okavango Delta and Linyanti Wildlife Reserve, both with high concentrations of big game and excellent bird life. You'll spend two nights at an intimate deluxe tented camp in each area. And while we use the word camp, they are hardly rustic: expect to be pampered beyond your wildest dreams, with luxurious en suite bathrooms, beds with crisp linens, and all the amenities of a fine hotel. Charter flights between the camps maximize your time for game viewing.

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Active exploration of the largest inland delta in the world—by foot, mokoro, and 4-wheel-drive vehicle

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: The Kalahari Desert 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 ~ Maun – Okavango Delta

From Maun, fly by charter aircraft into the heart of the celebrated Okavango Delta, where one of Africa's great rivers fans out into the sands of the Kalahari. Transfer to your deluxe tented camp for an unforgettable two-night stay. Accommodations in the Okavango are at one of several deluxe tented camps. Each features large and roomy tents with en suite bathroom facilities, often with private outdoor showers. We'll set you up in the camp that is most ideal for your group size and for the time of year you'll be there.

Lunch, Dinner…Deluxe tented camp

DAY 2 ~ Okavango Delta

The Okavango, a great inland marsh similar to Florida's Everglades, is one of the most pristine and unique wilderness areas of Africa. Here the Okavango River spreads out through a sea of grass. Reeds and papyrus filter out the sediments of the Angola floods, leaving crystal clear waters to flow through channels covered with water lilies. Bird life is fantastic: the magnificent fish-eagle is a common sight, as are a wide variety of storks, herons, ibises, and other water birds, including pygmy geese, African darter, African jacana, and malachite kingfishers. Larger wildlife is interesting, too: lechwe stamp through the grassy shallows while sitatunga take shelter in the reeds (both are types of antelopes); hippos and crocs glide through sparkling waters.

To explore the Delta, we board eco-friendly fiberglass dugout canoes, modeled on the traditional African wooden canoes called mekoro (we don't have to cut down a huge old tree to make them), and paddle into its maze of meandering waterways. (Mokoro is the singular form, mekoro, the plural.) It's a unique way to travel—expert boatmen pole us through narrow channels that cut through mats of floating papyrus, then paddle us across lovely deep-water lagoons. We enjoy fishing as well as wildlife viewing, and we explore the larger Delta islands on foot—an opportunity to stalk lechwe, sitatunga, or the rare and beautiful fishing owl.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner…Deluxe tented camp

DAYS 3-4 ~ Linyanti Private Game Reserve

Transfer to the airstrip and take a charter flight to the Linyanti Private Game Reserve, to the northeast of the Okavango Delta. Transfer to your deluxe tented camp, searching for wildlife along the way. Accommodations are in one of several camps of the same caliber as the camps in the Okavango.

This area is rich in game—there are excellent hippo pools, plenty of elephant, sable and roan antelope, and it's great lion country. This is elephant country par excellence; it's possible to see large congregations coming down to the river to drink and bathe, and it's great fun to watch their social interactions.

Other wildlife is abundant here, too, either along the Savuti Marsh or in the wooded hills behind: lion, leopard, kudu, sable, and roan antelope are all resident species. We'll search for reclusive predators such as the African wildcat, civet, and the beautiful long-legged serval cat. Another specialty is the beautifully marked Chobe bushbuck. Bird life on the Linyanti marsh is always spectacular: storks catch thermal currents, herons, egrets, waterfowl, hornbills, kingfishers, and lilac-breasted rollers are always in abundance; seasonally, we can find colonies of gaily-colored white-fronted and carmine bee-eaters. Here we are outside Chobe National Park, so we will have the area all to ourselves. In addition to superb game viewing aboard our safari vehicle, we may be able to go on game drives at night in search of nocturnal animals. Lions and leopards are most active at night, so we will have a good chance to observe the big cats on the prowl (water levels permitting).

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner each day…Deluxe tented camp

DAY 5 ~ Depart

Transfer to the airstrip and depart on charter flight back to Maun.

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 camps
• transfers to/from airstrip and camps
• accommodations
• services of camp guides and staff
• 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 this tour.

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.