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Highlights... Victoria Falls, exceptional wildlife viewing.
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Day 1 Victoria Falls
Scheduled flight from Johannesburg’s OR Tambo Airport to Victoria Falls Airport, where you will be met by our representative for your transfer to The Victoria Falls Hotel, just 20 minutes' drive away.
Popularly known as the grand old lady of the Falls, the hotel is situated in the Victoria Falls National Park, a world heritage site. The Edwardian-style five-star hotel, built in 1904, combines the charm of the old with the convenience of the new. Set in lush tropical gardens with lily ponds, palm trees and semi-tropical shrubs, it provides the tranquillity and seclusion that many guests seek. The famous Victoria Falls are just a ten-minute walk away using the hotels private pathway, and the smoke that thunders (Mosi-O-Tunya) is clearly audible and visible from this luxurious landmark.
Day 2 Victoria Falls
After breakfast this morning you will be collected from the hotel for a Guided Tour of the Falls, which lasts some 2 hours. This leaves the rest of the day to enjoy a number of activities or excursions.
Day 3 Chobe
This morning you will be transferred to Botswana’s Kasane Airport, where a Muchenje Safari Lodge driver will be waiting to transfer you to the Lodge, 45 minutes away.
Muchenje is situated on the western border of the Chobe National Park, within the Chobe Forest Reserve, far from the bustle of Kasane town. Muchenje Safari Lodge lies on an escarpment edge, overlooking the Chobe River and its floodplains. The main lodge area comprises a dining area, bar, reception, curio shop, a game viewing platform and a library. The swimming pool is built amongst natural rock formations, taking advantage of the African views and providing a tranquil setting for guests to relax during the heat of the day. Meals are served table d'bush, wholesome and plentiful, yet well presented.
Your first game viewing activity will take place this afternoon.
Day 4 Chobe
Muchenje offers the most diverse safari activities to be found in the Chobe area. Game drives are conducted in open Land Rovers with professional guides and because Muchenje falls outside of the Chobe National Park, night drives are possible and offer guests an opportunity to see some of the lesser known nocturnal creatures of Africa.
River Cruises offer guests the chance to experience game viewing on the Chobe River. Drift noiselessly past a bathing herd of Elephants or enter the Hippo's world of Crocodiles and amazing birdlife. Another option is a walking safari - explore the bush on foot studying animal behaviour, plants, insects as well as big game! Muchenje's guides carry a fire arm for your personal protection. For guests seeking some traditional Botswana culture, visit an elder's home to get a glimpse into the tribal life of Botswana.
Day 5 Linyanti
Today you will be transferred back to Kasane Airport, for your light aircraft charter flight to Lagoon Camp, 45 minutes away.
Lagoon Camp is situated on the shady banks of the Kwando River, in a private wilderness area amongst African Ebony and Marula trees, and includes 80 kilometres of river frontage, wonderful floodplains, and woodlands to the west of the Kwando River.
The rooms are spacious and airy, with huge shade net windows that let all the natural light in, and those spectacular views. A thatch roof helps keep everything insulated. Each room has a sundeck, lounge area, and a large changing area that continues through to the bathroom. Little reminders of the safari days gone by: Persian carpets, comfy leather chairs, and a claw-foot bath. But it all comes with the mod-cons: indoor and outdoor showers, solar hot-water with a backup electric element for the odd cloudy day.
Days 6 and 7 Linyanti
At Lagoon Camp, the activities concentrate on open vehicle game drives and boat cruises. A special feature of Lagoon Camp is the river boat experience. The flow of the river enables the boat - a double decker - to drift with the flow in silence - perfect for bird watching and game viewing. Game walks are on offer but are at the guides' discretion due to the concentrations of Elephant. Lagoon Camp offers off road and night game drives, allowing guests to see the fascinating nocturnal wildlife in the area.
The area has a well-earned reputation for big game herds, especially in winter, with many hundreds of elephant, buffalo herds into the thousands and numerous hippo pods - scattered in the ox bows and river channels. These vast herds attract the big predators in large numbers. Night drives allow guests a chance to see the nocturnal species such as Civet, Large- and Small-spotted Genet, Honey Badger, and Spring Hare. Nocturnal birding, especially Owls, is also excellent here. Lagoon Camp also delivers the specials such as aardwolf, aardvark, honey badger, cerval, caracal and selous mongoose quite regularly.
Day 8 Okavango Delta
After a morning activity and brunch, you will be chartered from Lagoon Camp to Splash Camp, 40 minutes away. Splash Camp is a luxurious safari camp located in a prime game viewing area with excellent guides and great views over a large pan in front of camp. This location in the Okavango Delta is prime – there is permanent water and a magnificent wilderness area in excess of 1,700 square kilometres, bordering the Moremi Reserve. It encompasses a wide diversity of habitats, ranging from the clear Delta waters with reed-lined lagoons and channels, to open grasslands, mopane woodlands and palm-fringed islands.
Lunch will be served after your arrival, followed by an afternoon activity and dinner.
Days 9 and 10 Okavango Delta
Due to the location of the camp, Splash is able to offer power boating, mokoro (dugout canoe) trips, walks and game drives all year round. A Splash is in a large private concession game drives can operate both off road and at night. The presence of permanent water ensures year round game viewing and also allows mokoro trips in shallow water throughout the year. Splash has a double-deck pontoon boat which allows guests to get very close to birds and animals for up-close photography and game viewing. Well-trained, armed guides will also conduct game walks through the islands of the Delta and transfer their knowledge to their guests.
Day 11 Nxai Pan
You will be chartered from Splash Camp to Nxai Pan Camp, 40 minutes away. Nxai Pan National Park lies just north of the Maun-Nata road and adjoins Makgadikgadi Pans National Park on its northern border. Nxai Pan Camp is the only permanent camp in the Nxai Pan National Park and is located on the western edge of the fossil pan from which it takes name, facing open grasslands.
The Pan itself is lake bed about 40 sq. km in size. The landscape is largely covered by grassland and dotted with clusters of umbrella acacia trees and mopane woodland in the north. During the rains from November to April the pans become covered in grass which is a landscape very similar to the Kalahari.
Day 12 Nxai Pan
Activities at Nxai Pan Camp include Game drives in open 4 x 4 vehicles, historical tours to Baines Baobabs and Pandamatenga Cattle Trail, as well as a Bushmen interaction and nature walks.
The biggest draw to the Park are the zebras that migrate by the thousands to the area to drop their young – the second largest land animal migration in Southern Africa, during the summer after the rains have fallen. The pan is also known for its huge springbok population, wildebeest, elephants and large groups of giraffe. Activities include a day trip to Baines’ Baobabs, which have changed little in the 150 years since Thomas Baines immortalized them in his paintings. Another favourite is the bushman walk where guests learn how the San used to hunt, gather food and collect water.
Day 13 Maun
After an early morning activity and breakfast, you will be air chartered to Maun Airport (30 minutes), where you will check in for your regional flight back to OR Tambo Airport.
Scheduled flight from Johannesburg’s OR Tambo Airport to Victoria Falls Airport, where you will be met by our representative for your transfer to The Victoria Falls Hotel, just 20 minutes' drive away.
Popularly known as the grand old lady of the Falls, the hotel is situated in the Victoria Falls National Park, a world heritage site. The Edwardian-style five-star hotel, built in 1904, combines the charm of the old with the convenience of the new. Set in lush tropical gardens with lily ponds, palm trees and semi-tropical shrubs, it provides the tranquillity and seclusion that many guests seek. The famous Victoria Falls are just a ten-minute walk away using the hotels private pathway, and the smoke that thunders (Mosi-O-Tunya) is clearly audible and visible from this luxurious landmark.
Day 2 Victoria Falls
After breakfast this morning you will be collected from the hotel for a Guided Tour of the Falls, which lasts some 2 hours. This leaves the rest of the day to enjoy a number of activities or excursions.
Day 3 Chobe
This morning you will be transferred to Botswana’s Kasane Airport, where a Muchenje Safari Lodge driver will be waiting to transfer you to the Lodge, 45 minutes away.
Muchenje is situated on the western border of the Chobe National Park, within the Chobe Forest Reserve, far from the bustle of Kasane town. Muchenje Safari Lodge lies on an escarpment edge, overlooking the Chobe River and its floodplains. The main lodge area comprises a dining area, bar, reception, curio shop, a game viewing platform and a library. The swimming pool is built amongst natural rock formations, taking advantage of the African views and providing a tranquil setting for guests to relax during the heat of the day. Meals are served table d'bush, wholesome and plentiful, yet well presented.
Your first game viewing activity will take place this afternoon.
Day 4 Chobe
Muchenje offers the most diverse safari activities to be found in the Chobe area. Game drives are conducted in open Land Rovers with professional guides and because Muchenje falls outside of the Chobe National Park, night drives are possible and offer guests an opportunity to see some of the lesser known nocturnal creatures of Africa.
River Cruises offer guests the chance to experience game viewing on the Chobe River. Drift noiselessly past a bathing herd of Elephants or enter the Hippo's world of Crocodiles and amazing birdlife. Another option is a walking safari - explore the bush on foot studying animal behaviour, plants, insects as well as big game! Muchenje's guides carry a fire arm for your personal protection. For guests seeking some traditional Botswana culture, visit an elder's home to get a glimpse into the tribal life of Botswana.
Day 5 Linyanti
Today you will be transferred back to Kasane Airport, for your light aircraft charter flight to Lagoon Camp, 45 minutes away.
Lagoon Camp is situated on the shady banks of the Kwando River, in a private wilderness area amongst African Ebony and Marula trees, and includes 80 kilometres of river frontage, wonderful floodplains, and woodlands to the west of the Kwando River.
The rooms are spacious and airy, with huge shade net windows that let all the natural light in, and those spectacular views. A thatch roof helps keep everything insulated. Each room has a sundeck, lounge area, and a large changing area that continues through to the bathroom. Little reminders of the safari days gone by: Persian carpets, comfy leather chairs, and a claw-foot bath. But it all comes with the mod-cons: indoor and outdoor showers, solar hot-water with a backup electric element for the odd cloudy day.
Days 6 and 7 Linyanti
At Lagoon Camp, the activities concentrate on open vehicle game drives and boat cruises. A special feature of Lagoon Camp is the river boat experience. The flow of the river enables the boat - a double decker - to drift with the flow in silence - perfect for bird watching and game viewing. Game walks are on offer but are at the guides' discretion due to the concentrations of Elephant. Lagoon Camp offers off road and night game drives, allowing guests to see the fascinating nocturnal wildlife in the area.
The area has a well-earned reputation for big game herds, especially in winter, with many hundreds of elephant, buffalo herds into the thousands and numerous hippo pods - scattered in the ox bows and river channels. These vast herds attract the big predators in large numbers. Night drives allow guests a chance to see the nocturnal species such as Civet, Large- and Small-spotted Genet, Honey Badger, and Spring Hare. Nocturnal birding, especially Owls, is also excellent here. Lagoon Camp also delivers the specials such as aardwolf, aardvark, honey badger, cerval, caracal and selous mongoose quite regularly.
Day 8 Okavango Delta
After a morning activity and brunch, you will be chartered from Lagoon Camp to Splash Camp, 40 minutes away. Splash Camp is a luxurious safari camp located in a prime game viewing area with excellent guides and great views over a large pan in front of camp. This location in the Okavango Delta is prime – there is permanent water and a magnificent wilderness area in excess of 1,700 square kilometres, bordering the Moremi Reserve. It encompasses a wide diversity of habitats, ranging from the clear Delta waters with reed-lined lagoons and channels, to open grasslands, mopane woodlands and palm-fringed islands.
Lunch will be served after your arrival, followed by an afternoon activity and dinner.
Days 9 and 10 Okavango Delta
Due to the location of the camp, Splash is able to offer power boating, mokoro (dugout canoe) trips, walks and game drives all year round. A Splash is in a large private concession game drives can operate both off road and at night. The presence of permanent water ensures year round game viewing and also allows mokoro trips in shallow water throughout the year. Splash has a double-deck pontoon boat which allows guests to get very close to birds and animals for up-close photography and game viewing. Well-trained, armed guides will also conduct game walks through the islands of the Delta and transfer their knowledge to their guests.
Day 11 Nxai Pan
You will be chartered from Splash Camp to Nxai Pan Camp, 40 minutes away. Nxai Pan National Park lies just north of the Maun-Nata road and adjoins Makgadikgadi Pans National Park on its northern border. Nxai Pan Camp is the only permanent camp in the Nxai Pan National Park and is located on the western edge of the fossil pan from which it takes name, facing open grasslands.
The Pan itself is lake bed about 40 sq. km in size. The landscape is largely covered by grassland and dotted with clusters of umbrella acacia trees and mopane woodland in the north. During the rains from November to April the pans become covered in grass which is a landscape very similar to the Kalahari.
Day 12 Nxai Pan
Activities at Nxai Pan Camp include Game drives in open 4 x 4 vehicles, historical tours to Baines Baobabs and Pandamatenga Cattle Trail, as well as a Bushmen interaction and nature walks.
The biggest draw to the Park are the zebras that migrate by the thousands to the area to drop their young – the second largest land animal migration in Southern Africa, during the summer after the rains have fallen. The pan is also known for its huge springbok population, wildebeest, elephants and large groups of giraffe. Activities include a day trip to Baines’ Baobabs, which have changed little in the 150 years since Thomas Baines immortalized them in his paintings. Another favourite is the bushman walk where guests learn how the San used to hunt, gather food and collect water.
Day 13 Maun
After an early morning activity and breakfast, you will be air chartered to Maun Airport (30 minutes), where you will check in for your regional flight back to OR Tambo Airport.
Click on the images below for more details on each of the properties in the Classic Botswana Safari
Included:
• Scheduled flight from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls Airport
• Road transfer from Victoria Falls Airport to the Victoria Falls Hotel
• 2 Nights at the Victoria Falls Hotel in a Central Deluxe room on a bed and breakfast basis
• Road transfer to Muchenje Safari Lodge
• 2 Nights at Muchenje Safari Lodge in an en-suite chalet, fully inclusive basis
• Road transfer to Kasane Airport
• Air charter from Kasane to Lagoon Camp
• 3 Nights at Lagoon Camp in an en-suite tent, fully inclusive basis
• Air charter from Lagoon Camp to Splash Camp
• 3 Nights at Splash Camp in an en-suite tent, fully inclusive basis
• Air charter from Splash Camp to Nxai Pan Camp
• 2 Nights at Nxai Pan Camp in an en-suite tent, fully inclusive basis
• Air charter from Nxai Pan Camp to Maun Airport
• Scheduled flight from Maun to Johannesburg International Airport
Not Included:
• Travel and medical insurance
• Additional meals, activities and drinks whilst in Victoria Falls
• Visa requirements
• Gratuities and items of a personal nature
• Scheduled flight from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls Airport
• Road transfer from Victoria Falls Airport to the Victoria Falls Hotel
• 2 Nights at the Victoria Falls Hotel in a Central Deluxe room on a bed and breakfast basis
• Road transfer to Muchenje Safari Lodge
• 2 Nights at Muchenje Safari Lodge in an en-suite chalet, fully inclusive basis
• Road transfer to Kasane Airport
• Air charter from Kasane to Lagoon Camp
• 3 Nights at Lagoon Camp in an en-suite tent, fully inclusive basis
• Air charter from Lagoon Camp to Splash Camp
• 3 Nights at Splash Camp in an en-suite tent, fully inclusive basis
• Air charter from Splash Camp to Nxai Pan Camp
• 2 Nights at Nxai Pan Camp in an en-suite tent, fully inclusive basis
• Air charter from Nxai Pan Camp to Maun Airport
• Scheduled flight from Maun to Johannesburg International Airport
Not Included:
• Travel and medical insurance
• Additional meals, activities and drinks whilst in Victoria Falls
• Visa requirements
• Gratuities and items of a personal nature
