Chobe & Moremi Mobile Safari in Botswana

March 4, 2019March 4, 2019admin

Summary of this Budget Safari Package

This mobile camping safari takes guests on a tour of Botswana’s world renown wildlife reserves. Chobe National Park, home to the largest herds of elephant in Africa, is first up. We explore the Savuti area and the Savuti Channel, famous for the many large predators, on wildlife viewing drives before moving our camp on to Moremi where we explore the Khwai floodplains and the Okavango Delta.

This tented camping safari is fully-serviced and offers comfortable accommodation in spacious dome tents with ‘al fresco’, en-suite facilities. The support crew deals with all the cooking, chores and camp arrangements, leaving you free to simply enjoy the experience of being in the bush, watching wildlife and birds, and enjoying the beautiful landscapes. With a maximum of six guests per vehicle, all guests are guaranteed a window seat on wildlife viewing drives.

Re-create the early days of safaris on this mobile, tented camping safari in Botswana.

Itinerary for this Tour

Day 1: Kasane to Chobe National Park, Botswana

On arrival at Kasane Airport, we are greeted by our guide and companion for the next ten days. Our first game viewing excursion is an afternoon boat trip on the Chobe River. Chobe is well known for its huge elephant populations and the Chobe River is a popular gathering place for the herds. In the wet summer season, the birdlife is spectacular as the migrant bird population is in full colour and with over 450 species having been identified it is extremely prolific. This is also the season when antelope start to drop their young. Look out for wallowing hippos and crocodiles as you cruise along the river.

After our thrilling boat cruise, we return to camp to relax before dinner is served. Our evening is spent around the campfire, under starry skies chatting with our fellow travellers.

Meals: Snack Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Mobile Camping

Day 2: Chobe National Park, Botswana

Today we go game viewing in our open safari vehicle, cameras at the ready for the next exciting shot. We venture on to the Chobe Floodplains which from the riverside may seem deserted but get into the long grass and the plains come alive with buffalo and elephant herds. Look out for wild dog, lion, leopard, bushbuck, puku, giraffe, cheetah, zebra …… It’s unlikely you will be disappointed.

No safari is complete without a stop for sundowners as we watch the sun sink in the west. In the dry season, the buffalo herds kick up lots of dust which makes for a magical sunset photograph. Back at camp we tuck into a welcome dinner and an evening relaxing around the campfire.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Mobile Camping

Day 3 & 4: Savuti Area of Chobe National Park, Botswana

Today we travel south-west to explore the Savuti area of Chobe. Savuti is described as an enchanting place with vast quantities of wildlife roaming the area. The impressive landscape is covered with lush vegetation and marshlands. It wasn’t always like this – until recently the Savuti Channel was dry and the animals relied on artificial waterholes. This fascinating channel runs for 100 kms from the Chobe River to Mababe Depression, where it creates a small marsh. Unsurprisingly Savuti means ‘unpredictable’ a fitting description for this channel that flows like a river and then, inexplicably, dries up. It is thought that these events are caused by the movement of tectonic rock plates beneath the Kalahari Desert. Although the water is flowing now, who’s to say when it will dry up again – it could be ten years or a hundred years – nature will take its course.

Around November and December and then again between February and April the Zebra migrate with many lion prides hot on their heels. The zebra move from the river in the north to the lush grasslands in the south of Chobe. Birdlife is also amazing, with Secretary Birds and Kori Bustards often seen around the Savuti Marsh. Summer migrants and water birds include Abdim’s Storks, Carmine Bee-eaters, Fish Eagles. Red-billed Queleas, which gather in their thousands, are a spectacular sight as they wheel and turn in unison.

This fascinating landscape includes the Gubatsa Hills, which were formed millions of years ago during volcanic movement. These hills rise to a height of about 90 meters out of an otherwise completely flat landscape.

We spend two days traversing this amazing landscape on morning and afternoon wildlife viewing drives with our guide. Evenings are spent around the campfire in true safari style.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Mobile Camping

Day 5 & 6: Khwai Area of Moremi, Botswana

Today, after breakfast, we break camp and head for Moremi Game Reserve south-west of Chobe National Park. The protected ecosystems of Moremi are among the richest and most diverse in Africa. Large tracts of the reserve are covered in Mopane, known as ‘Cathedral Mopane’ as its arched branches resemble the arches of a Gothic Cathedral. One of the success stories of Moremi Game Reserve is the reintroduction of rhino which was wiped out by poaching, so the reserve can now boast that it is home to the Big 5 of Africa. Moremi is chock full of diverse wildlife and birdlife ensuring exciting sightings on game drives.

There is an option (own expense) to take a two-hour Mokoro excursion. The mokoro is a traditional dug-out boat, which is poled through the waterways of the Okavango by local ‘gondoliers’. The mekoro has become a symbol of the Delta and is a popular way to view the game from a different perspective. Imagine gliding through the papyrus in this tranquil environment, the peace disturbed only by the sounds of the wild. This memorable experience should surely not be missed.

Whilst we have been enjoying a memorable day on Day 5 our camp has been on the move and on our return to our camp in its new location we find it ready and waiting for our arrival.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Mobile Camping

Day 7 & 8: Okavango Area of Moremi, Botswana

The Okavango Delta is spread over an area of between six and fifteen thousand square kilometres of Kalahari Desert. Its existence is due to the Kavango River which flows from the Angolan Highlands, across Namibia’s Caprivi Strip and into the harsh Kalahari Desert. The area is characterised by many small islands, however Chief’s Island, originally the hunting grounds of Chief Moremi, is a much larger tract of land and a popular spot for the wildlife when the water rises. The Okavango oasis in this otherwise dry area is known for its superb wildlife, with large populations of mammals and excellent birding, particularly in the breeding season. A Botswana treasure, the Okavango Delta has been named one of the natural wonders of the world and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It is estimated that there are over 200 000 mammals in and around the Delta, but some of them do not make this their permanent home. Many leave when the summer rains arrive in search of fields of grass to graze and trees to browse, then make their way back as winter approaches. We take leisurely game viewing drives during our time here, as well as a boat tour of the delta, which is great for photo opportunities.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Mobile Camping

Day 9: Maun, Botswana

We take our usual early morning game drive this morning but head towards the exit of the National Park, as this Botswana, Chobe & Moremi Mobile Camping Safari begins to wind down. We leave the park behind and make our way to our camp for our last night on safari. This camp is intentionally rustic, but that doesn’t mean that comfort and cleanliness has been compromised. The intimate camp can only accommodate 16 guests in the eight dome tents set on wooden decks. Each tent has en-suite facilities with showers, a handbasin and a chemical toilet. They are fitted with solar lights, twin beds with comfortable mattresses, pillows, linen and towels. There is a separate lounge area, where guests may play games, birdwatch or just relax with fellow guests.

We spend the rest of today enjoying the camp facilities and dining with our fellow travellers.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Rustic camp

Day 10: Maun, Botswana

After breakfast today we transfer to Maun where there is time to do some shopping before we transfer to the airport. Maun has become the tourism capital of Botswana due to its proximity to the Okavango Delta. It is the third largest town in Botswana and is a mix of modern buildings and African huts. The town boasts shopping malls, banks, restaurants and bars. There is an opportunity whilst here to take a scenic flight over the Okavango Delta (own expense). This is a chance to see the delta from a different perspective as the serpentine channels are revealed cutting through the marsh and spilling into lagoons overflowing with pods of wallowing hippo. The view from the air highlights the majesty of this area teeming with wildlife – a panorama that could not be fully appreciated from the ground.

All too soon it’s time to head to the airport as this mobile camping safari comes to an end.