Botswana Classical Lodge Safari

August 16, 2017August 16, 2017admin

Summary of this Budget Safari Package

An upmarket Classical Lodge Safari, providing extra comfort and style, at a great price!

This small group safari is conducted in a custom-built 4×4 Land Cruiser, travelling with eight clients at most. The 3 to 4 star lodges and luxury tented camps visited on this unforgettable journey through Botswana, make for a unique and comfortable African adventure.

Explore Botswana’s crowning wilderness gems on open 4×4 game drives and boat cruises, taking in the breathtaking scenery and spotting an abundance of wildlife and birds. Fly into the Okavango Delta to experience the prestigious Moremi Game Reserve and private Khwai Concession Area, before visiting the famous Savuti Channel and Chobe River areas of Chobe National Park, and finishing at the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls!

Itinerary for this Tour

Day 1 – 3: Moremi Game Reserve & Khwai Concession Area – Botswana

This Botswana Classical Lodge Safari begins in Maun, the closest town to the world-famous Okavango Delta.

The safari kicks-off with a short tour briefing, before boarding a small aircraft for our flight into the delta. Landing in the Okavango Delta your guide is there to meet you and transfer you to our first game lodge in the Khwai Concession area. Driving to the lodge in Khwai, which borders on Moremi Game Reserve, we get our first taste of game viewing in the untamed bush. The award-winning Moremi Game Reserve is rated as one of the best protected areas in Africa. This prestigious reserve offers outstanding scenery and hosts incredibly diverse ecosystems, including prolific birdlife and high concentrations of wildlife.

Our first lodge stands in a mopane forest overlooking a natural pan, in the Khwai Concession area. Settle in and sit back on the thatch-roofed deck to watch the wildlife and birds drawn to the pan in the late afternoon.

We spend the first few days of our wildlife safari exploring Moremi Game Reserve and the Khwai Concession in open 4×4 safari vehicles. Moremi is the only part of the delta that is an official protected area. The reserve covers about a third of the Okavango Delta, incorporating both wetland and savannah habitats on the eastern side of the delta. Here, we enjoy outstanding game viewing year-round with sightings including lion, buffalo, leopard, elephant, cheetah, African wild dog, zebra and a variety of antelope species. Red lechwe, tsessebe, wildebeest, impala and sitatunga are all found in the reserve. More than 400 bird species have been recorded in the area, amongst them, the African fish eagle, saddle-billed stork, crested crane, slaty egret and sacred ibis.

The community owned and run Khwai Concession covers over 1815km² of beautiful wilderness on the north eastern edge of the Okavango Delta, with Moremi Game Reserve to the southwest and Chobe National Park to the northeast. The Khwai Community Reserve is dominated by mopane woodlands and runs along the Khwai River where hippo, crocodile, buffalo, red lechwe and plenty of other animals and birds are commonly spotted. The concession is a good place for seeing Africa wild dogs and leopards, as well as spotted hyenas.

Meals included: Dinner (x 3), Breakfast (x2) & Lunch (x2)
Includes: Light aircraft flight, game drives & national park entry fees
Tented Lodge: exclusive private tented bush lodge, bordering Moremi Game Reserve / twin-share permanent tented lodge with en suite facilities.
Travel: Short (20 minute) flight in a small aircraft & morning and afternoon game drives (about 4hrs each)
Optional Activities: Okavango Delta Helicopter Flight (own expense)

Day 4 & 5: Savuti Channel – Botswana

On day four we head north after breakfast, making our way to the Savuti region of Chobe National Park. After standing dry for about three decades the Savuti Channel once again flowed into Savuti Marsh in 2010, reviving the dry western region of Chobe Park. The resurgence of this ephemeral channel has spurred the growth of lush grasses and vegetation, attracting large numbers of herbivores, abundant birdlife and numerous predators.

We spend the next two days watching wildlife on the acacia studded plains and on the banks of the Savuti Channel. Savuti is renowned for its exceptional game viewing, especially its rewarding predator sightings. Lions, wild dogs, leopards and spotted hyenas are often seen here, along with elephants, buffalos and other large mammals.

Tonight we stay at a tented camp in the Savuti region of Chobe, surrounded by the unspoilt African bush.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (x 3)
Includes: Entrance fees, morning and afternoon game drives in open 4WD game viewing vehicle
Mini Meru Serviced Camp: twin camp beds with linen and en suite chemical toilet and bucket shower with hot water off the fire / towel provided.
Travel: 350kms (about 8½ hours, excluding game drives & stops for wildlife viewing)

Day 6 & 7: Chobe National Park – Botswana

Day six sees us travelling further north to the Chobe River region of Chobe National Park. Travelling through remote wild landscapes, we proceed to Kasane in the far northeastern corner of Botswana. Our next lodge is located on the banks of the Chobe River, near Chobe National Park.

Waking up early on day seven we set off on a game drive in Chobe National Park, taking in the scenic bush environment as we search out Africa’s classical wildlife species.

During the hottest part of the day we return to the safari lodge for lunch (own account) and a rest. Later, we embark on a game viewing boat cruise, along Chobe River. Chobe is famous for its superb boat-based game viewing and bird watching, with the river attracting an abundance of creatures. On our laid-back cruise we get to soak up the peaceful scenery and spot elephants, hippos, crocodiles, buffalos and all kinds of antelopes. Bird watchers can expect rewarding sightings too, with birds including African fish eagles, plovers, kingfishers, African skimmers and many more.

After watching a magnificent sunset display over the riverine bush we return to the lodge for a relaxing evening.

Meals included: Breakfast (x 2)
Includes: Entrance fees, game drive & Chobe River boat cruise
Safari Lodge: twin rooms with en-suite facilities, swimming pool, restaurant, bar & WiFi available
Distance/time: 440kms (about 6½ hours, excluding game drives & stops for wildlife viewing)

Day 8: Victoria Falls – Zimbabwe

On day eight we have breakfast at the lodge and leave Chobe behind. Travelling east, we cross the border into north-western Zimbabwe and make our way to Victoria Falls.

We visit the falls on foot, with a local guide who tells us more about the local history, fauna and flora. Visiting the biggest sheet of falling water in the world, we marvel at the spectacular natural wonder known as ‘The Smoke that Thunders’. At about 1700m wide and 108 metres at its tallest, Victoria Falls is an awe-inspiring spectacle sending up a massive spray of mist as it plummets into the Batoka Gorge!

Tonight we eat out at a local restaurant (own expense), celebrating our journey through Botswana together.

Meals included: Breakfast
Includes: Entrance fees to Victoria Falls
Guest Lodge: twin rooms with en-suite facilities / swimming pool, restaurant, bar, telephone & free WiFi
Distance/time: 100kms (about 1.5 hours, excluding border formalities)
Optional Activities: Sunset cruises, scenic flights & many more

Day 9: Victoria Falls – Zimbabwe

This morning after breakfast at the lodge our Botswana Classical Lodge Safari comes to a close.

With so many things to do at Victoria Falls, we highly recommend spending some extra time here to embark on optional adventure activities.

Meals included: Breakfast

Tour Accommodation

This safari includes 3 to 4 star lodge accommodation at carefully selected establishments. The lodges have been chosen for their high levels of service and comfort, as well as their unique locations and the game viewing opportunities offered.

Guests stay in en-suite rooms, except for the two nights in central Chobe when tented-rooms are used. The permanent meru-style tents feature twin camp beds with linen and have en-suite facilities (chemical toilet and bucket shower with hot water off the fire).

Tour Transport

This affordable luxury safari is conducted in a custom-built 4×4 Land Cruiser. Every client is guaranteed a window seat on the 12-seater vehicle, as a maximum of 8 clients are catered for per trip. The spacious 4WD Land Cruiser provides a comfortable journey, with 12 forward facing seats in four rows and trailer for luggage. A solid roof and back offer protection from the sun and help keep the dust out.

The flight from Maun to the Khwai airstrip is conducted in a small, light aircraft (usually a 4-12 seater Cessna or Caravan). Due to the bush landing luggage limits are strictly adhered to on the air transfer.