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Botswana is Africa the way you’ve always imagined it—wild, free, and ruled entirely by nature. Our deluxe safari focuses on the “best of Botswana,” including arguably its most enticing attraction: the pristine Okavango Delta, where one of Africa’s great rivers fans out into the sands of the Kalahari. You’ll explore its meandering waterways and crystalline lagoons in a mokoro (a fiberglass canoe poled by local boatmen), enjoy phenomenal birding, game viewing by vehicle, and exhilarating bush walks. You’ll also explore the fragile ecosystem of the central Kalahari in little-visited Deception Valley and admire the vast, stark beauty of the desert. All nights are spent in deluxe permanent tented camps that are guaranteed to redefine your notion of “camping,” while a first class safari staff prepares delicious, innovative meals (you don’t go to Africa for the food, but it doesn’t hurt if it’s fabulous). Charter flights cut down on the wear and tear of long road travel, maximize time for game viewing, and provide unique perspectives of roaming wildlife—from the air!

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Active exploration of the largest inland delta in the world—by foot, mokoro, and 4-wheel-drive vehicle—and an encounter with the fragile ecosystem of the Kalahari in Deception Valley!
  
• Travel by mokoro in the pristine wetlands of the Okavango Delta, the world's largest oasis
  
• Bask in the comfort and exclusivity of well-appointed tented camps in private areas of Botswana's finest private concessions.
  
• Charter flights provide unique bird's eye views of the wildlife and eliminate long drives
  
• Optional visit to astounding Victoria Falls

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Day 1 - Arrive in Maun, Botswana, and fly to Deception Valley in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Overnight in Kalahari Plains Camp.

Day 2 - Game viewing in Deception Valley, one of the best places to observe the wildlife of the fragile Kalahari ecosystem, which includes herds of golden springbok gazelle, gemsbok—the giant oryx of southern Africa, red hartebeest, eland, greater kudu, and a number of smaller antelopes. Predators include cheetahs and wild dogs.

Days 3-4 - Fly to the Okavango Delta, Africa’s most pristine wilderness wetland. Float the waterways by mokoro, a unique way to travel: traditional boatmen pole you through narrow channels that cut through mats of floating papyrus and water lilies, then paddle you across lovely deep-water lagoons. You’ll also explore the islets on foot: birding at this water camp is incredible (Pel’s fishing owl, slaty egret, wattled crane); wildlife includes lechwe antelope, elephant, lion, leopard, and buffalo.

Days 5-6 - Fly to Ketumeste Trails Camp in the Selinda Spillway section of the Delta, where concentrations of wildlife make for exciting game drives.

Days 7-8 - Overland transfer to a permanent tented camp in Linyanti Game Reserve, part of the greater Chobe ecosystem and noted for its large herds of elephant, rare roan and sable antelope, red lechwe, and sitatunga; wild dogs are common. Here you’ll go on game drives (including night drives to search for nocturnal animals, as well as big cats on the prowl!). Other activities include game and birding walks.

Day 9 - Fly to Kasane, transfer overland to Livingstone, Zambia. Visit the nearby world-famous Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world!

Day 10 - Fly home, or join one of our extensions in Southern Africa.

Prefer a private adventure?
Ask about our Okavango & Linyanti Flying Safari and Kalahari Desert Private Adventures, as well as other private adventures in Southern Africa.

Photo Credits
©Robyn Savage (MTS guest); ©Dylan Hiroms (MTS staff)