Search for Wildlife in the Desert & Delta

As one of the first US companies to operate trips in Botswana (since 1982), we’ve scouted and carefully honed our exclusive itineraries to give you Botswana’s very best. Witness the continent’s classic big wildlife, see the thirsty pans of the Kalahari Desert, take a mokoro canoe ride through the laced wetlands of the Okavango Delta, and track game at night, all based out of Africa’s premier deluxe tented camps.

Activities

Game viewing by 4-wheel-drive vehicle, boat travel, night drives, optional bush walks; minimum age 12

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!
• Bask in the comforts and exclusivity of well-appointed tented camps in Botswana’s finest private concessions
• Charter flights provide unique bird’s-eye views of wildlife and minimize travel time and eliminate long drives!
• Visit awe-inspiring Victoria Falls
• Travel by mokoro in the pristine wetlands of the Okavango Delta, the world's largest inland delta

2010 Prices
$5,495 (2-8 members)
$1,300 internal airfare
$1,200 single supplement

Duration: 10 days Start Location: Maun, Botswana End Location: Livingstone, Zambia Best time to go: January - March, May - December

Itinerary

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  Day 1 : Arrive in Maun – Deception Valley

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

• Day 2 : Deception Valley

  Game viewing in Deception Valley, one of the best places to observe the wildlife of the fragile Kalahari ecosystem, which includes herds of springbok, gemsbok, red hartebeest, ostrich, and a number of smaller antelopes. Predators include cheetahs, lions and wild dogs.

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  Days 3 - 4 : Okavango Delta

  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 red lechwe, elephant, lion, leopard, and buffalo.

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  Days 5 - 6 : Khwai

  Fly to Khwai in the norther tip of Moremi game reserve.

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  Days 7 - 8 : Linyanti Private Game Reserve

  Fly 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.

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  Day 9 : Livingstone – Victoria Falls

  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 : Depart

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

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  Kalahari Plains Camp

  Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana

  Located in a remote part of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, this camp offers some of the best summer wildlife viewing opportunities in Africa. Each Meru-style, en-suite tent is raised off the ground to catch the breeze and offers its own viewing deck for sleeping under the stars.

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  Jacana Camp

  Okavango Delta, Botswana

  Jacana is located on a beautiful island in the delta, with five en-suite, Meru-style walk-in tents built on wooden decks. The dining room lies between two huge fig trees, with a plunge pool, cozy bar, and lounge area below.

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  Xigera Camp

  Okavango Delta, Botswana

  Nestled in a magnificent riverine forest, Xigera (pronounced Keejera) consists of ten luxurious tents built on raised wooden platforms with en-suite facilities and outdoor showers. Each tent offers superb lagoon views.

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  Tubu Tree Camp

  Okavango Delta, Botswana

  Built in the traditional style on raised wooden platforms, these comfortable tents offer picturesque vistas from private decks. The main dining, lounge and pool areas also boast panoramic views, and a large marula tree lends its shade to an outdoor pub area.

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  Savuti Camp

  Linyanti Game Reserve, Botswana

  This intimate camp's seven large en-suite tents face the Savute Channel, a famous waterway whose waters returned in 2008 after 25 dry years, offering front-row seats to view game that congregates here.

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  Duma Tau Camp

  Linyanti Wildlife Reserve, Botswana

  Spacious luxury tents lie in the shade of a mangosteen grove and overlook a hippo-filled lagoon. Each tent features an en-suite bathroom and an outdoor shower, and the main area offers a dining room, pub, lounge and pool.

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  Toka Leya Camp

  Livingston, Zambia

  Overlooking the Zambezi River and shaded under the canopy of jackalberry and waterberry trees, Toka Leya offers spacious, Safari-style tents with expansive wooden decks, climate control, and beautiful views.

Properties shown are representative of the accommodations we use on this trip, may not be inclusive of all accommodations we use, and are subject to change.

Expert leadership is the key to an exciting, unforgettable experience. Our trips feature gifted leaders for whom leading trips is a true vocation. Besides showing you wonders you’d never find on your own, they make sure everything runs smoothly and safely without a hitch. They are knowledgeable about all aspects of your trip, and take great pleasure in sharing their insights with you. More than just guides, they positively elevate your experience by being teachers, companions, and the best of friends. You’ll be in good hands with them every step of the way.

photo credits: ©Robyn Savage / MTS