This itinerary will offer you a true Botswana Okavango Safari, in remote regions, with the excitement of sleeping under the stars (in luxury), and viewing the iconic Delta from the air during helicopter transfers.
Cost: ZAR 44 115 per person sharing
Day 1
Arrive at Maun Airport where you will clear customs and collect your luggage.
You will be met in the Arrivals Hall and escorted to the light aircraft for your 35 minute flight into Khwai Private Reserve airstrip.
Khwai Private Reserve is a large private concession positioned between the Moremi Game Reserve, the Chobe National Park and the Khwai River. It is a meeting point for nomadic herds of elephant and buffalo, lion, leopard and wild dog, fiercely defending their territories, as well as giraffe, kudu, sable and other antelope dotted across the plains.
At the airstrip, your Guide will meet you and will drive you to Elephant Pan Camp, some one hour away.
Elephant Pan Camp is set amid the sandy mopane forests in the drier interior of Khwai Private Reserve. It’s a laid-back destination where the wildlife that flocks to the waterhole on the fringes of the Camp offers guests a front-row seat to thrilling sightings.
Set around a waterhole in the heart of the dry mopane forest, Elephant Pan is stylishly simple with guest accommodation in eight tents overlooking the waterhole with its big elephant action. In the morning, you’ll open your tent flaps straight on to the trumpeting elephant in the waters below, spend your siesta watching herds splash and snort, and fall asleep to antelope grazing just outside your canvas walls. This isn’t a place for those looking for opulence and extravagance; it’s a private piece of big-game Africa, where the wildlife encounters are authentic, intimate and always wild.
Of the eight tents, one is a family tent. The tent interiors offer stylish simplicity, with lots of character. Each tent has twin beds, which can easily be made into doubles, mesh nets and an electronic safe to store valuables, along with a luggage rack and wardrobe. Each tent is solar powered, with international plug points. A gas geyser pumps constant hot water to the en suite bathroom and shower.
At the heart of the Camp there is a dining deck and lounge area from where you can view the comings and goings at the waterhole. There is a splash pool from where you may watch the wildlife passing by. Meals are wholesome and tasty. Wi-Fi is available.
During your stay, all meals, all meals and local drinks, guest laundry, daily activities, along with conservation fees and VAT will be included.
Day 2
Both the green and dry seasons in Khwai have their own charms. When the rains fall from December to March, the area floods and you’ll find astonishing numbers of hippo, elephant and buffalo, accompanied by a rainbow-coloured array of water birds. The rains do however scatter the wildlife far and wide, and you may need to travel a little further on game drives during these months to spot the wildlife. Winter - a scorching desert sun (lucky for some) and the seasonal waterholes evaporate, whilst smaller ones dry up completely. At Elephant Pan, the water remains, and animals flock to the last droplets of water, and there’s drama aplenty between predator and the unlucky prey.
Tonight you will stay at Skybeds.
Each Skybeds “room” is actually a three-story raised platform, overlooking the wildlife-spotted plains of Khwai. Charmingly rustic yet perfectly stylish, you’ll find a bathroom with flushing loo on the first floor, a dressing area, and the ultimate cherry on the top floor, an enormous double bed, draped in white linens and a feather duvet and completely open to the stars.
With such spectacular skies overhead, you could be forgiven for forgetting about what’s happening down below. But keep one eye on the ground, for the Skybeds overlook a busy waterhole. In one night guests have seen wild dog, lion, elephant and hyena – and that’s just the beginning. This is likely to be one of the wildest and most wonderful safari experiences you’ll ever have.
Day 3
Today you will be flown by helicopter to Mokolwane Camp, 15 minutes away.
Mokolwane Camp is located within the remote Xudum concession in the south-western Okavango Delta.
It is a small, relaxed Camp in one of the largest, and almost untouched, parts of the Okavango Delta. Set amongst a sprinkling of Mokolwane palms, in the Xudum concession (NG29), you’ll find it tucked away in 180 000-hectares of wilderness. Teeming with herds of elephant and all the Okavango predators, with so much space and so much action, it’s no surprise that National Geographic and Netflix filmmaker Brad Bestelink has chosen to base himself here. This is leopard country. These territorial cats love it here so much, that the area boasts the third highest density recorded anywhere in Africa. Mokolwane, being the only camp for miles around, is a great place to breath in the stillness and solitude.
At Mokolwane you’ll find 7 charming tents, hiding 10 feet above the ground amongst the shady bows of fig, jackalberry, ilala palm and wild mangosteens. Elephants love it here, with a buffet of palm nuts, berries, and wild fig to feast on as they drip off these tree giants.
Each room, with an en-suite bathroom and comfortable interiors, emanates an earthly charm. Set on the Matsebi river system you’ll find yourself amongst the shade, enjoying spectacular views which turn emerald as the floodwaters roll in.
Accommodation & Amenities
Days 4 and 5
Mokolwane Camp is open year-round, with each season offering its own type of wildness. The annual floods reach the concession in around April or May, and the water stays in this area until the end of September.
The diverse landscape is scattered with herds of elephant and large numbers of predators. With virtually no other people around you will be able to enjoy remarkable game drives in the company of exceptional guides.
Mokolwane highlights:
The eco-system here is diverse. For birds and wildlife, it is a playground of open grasslands, fertile floodplains, crystal clear lagoons, reeded islands, riverine and mopane forests, creating a wonderfully varied landscape for them to live in. Open savannahs give way to small expanses of floodplain, and leadwood thickets, mangosteens, marulas, sausage trees and wild sage punctuate the wilderness.
Between 5,000 to 10,000 elephants are in the concession at various times of the year and the buffalo herds that come through are also in large numbers. Giraffe and zebra are joined by wildebeest, and all the antelope from kudu, lechwe, bushbuck, tsessebe, to name but a few. There is therefore a lot of predator action in the concession with a high density of resident leopard competing with strong populations of lion, wild dog, hyena and cheetah for prey.
The smaller species like bat-eared fox, side-striped and black-backed jackal, African wild cats, honey badgers, Meerkat and mongoose are also frequently seen in abundance. As night falls, enjoy sightings of all the nocturnal creatures, from porcupine, aardwolf, aardvark, civet and genet. This is an exciting concession for bird lovers too. From wattle cranes, Pel’s fishing owl, martial eagles, to huge flocks of Quelea preyed on by falcon, there’s plenty to tick off on the bird list.
Day 6
Today you will be transferred by helicopter from Mokolwane Camp to Maun Airport (30 minutes), in time to check in for your onward flight.
INCLUDED IN THIS ITINERARY:
Cost: ZAR 44 115 per person sharing
Day 1
Arrive at Maun Airport where you will clear customs and collect your luggage.
You will be met in the Arrivals Hall and escorted to the light aircraft for your 35 minute flight into Khwai Private Reserve airstrip.
Khwai Private Reserve is a large private concession positioned between the Moremi Game Reserve, the Chobe National Park and the Khwai River. It is a meeting point for nomadic herds of elephant and buffalo, lion, leopard and wild dog, fiercely defending their territories, as well as giraffe, kudu, sable and other antelope dotted across the plains.
At the airstrip, your Guide will meet you and will drive you to Elephant Pan Camp, some one hour away.
Elephant Pan Camp is set amid the sandy mopane forests in the drier interior of Khwai Private Reserve. It’s a laid-back destination where the wildlife that flocks to the waterhole on the fringes of the Camp offers guests a front-row seat to thrilling sightings.
Set around a waterhole in the heart of the dry mopane forest, Elephant Pan is stylishly simple with guest accommodation in eight tents overlooking the waterhole with its big elephant action. In the morning, you’ll open your tent flaps straight on to the trumpeting elephant in the waters below, spend your siesta watching herds splash and snort, and fall asleep to antelope grazing just outside your canvas walls. This isn’t a place for those looking for opulence and extravagance; it’s a private piece of big-game Africa, where the wildlife encounters are authentic, intimate and always wild.
Of the eight tents, one is a family tent. The tent interiors offer stylish simplicity, with lots of character. Each tent has twin beds, which can easily be made into doubles, mesh nets and an electronic safe to store valuables, along with a luggage rack and wardrobe. Each tent is solar powered, with international plug points. A gas geyser pumps constant hot water to the en suite bathroom and shower.
At the heart of the Camp there is a dining deck and lounge area from where you can view the comings and goings at the waterhole. There is a splash pool from where you may watch the wildlife passing by. Meals are wholesome and tasty. Wi-Fi is available.
During your stay, all meals, all meals and local drinks, guest laundry, daily activities, along with conservation fees and VAT will be included.
Day 2
Both the green and dry seasons in Khwai have their own charms. When the rains fall from December to March, the area floods and you’ll find astonishing numbers of hippo, elephant and buffalo, accompanied by a rainbow-coloured array of water birds. The rains do however scatter the wildlife far and wide, and you may need to travel a little further on game drives during these months to spot the wildlife. Winter - a scorching desert sun (lucky for some) and the seasonal waterholes evaporate, whilst smaller ones dry up completely. At Elephant Pan, the water remains, and animals flock to the last droplets of water, and there’s drama aplenty between predator and the unlucky prey.
- Enjoy morning and afternoon game drives through the 200,000 hectare private concession.
- Spend time in the ground level hide alongside the waterhole.
- Take a game walk with one of the informative guides (seasonal).
- Be part of the KPR Ranger Experience and spend time tracking predators, capturing data, patrolling and visiting conservation projects. This activity is at an additional cost and proceeds from this experience go back into the conservation efforts in the concession.
- Visit Khwai Village to learn about local culture, history and traditions of the local community. You’ll visit the Kgotla, Pre-Primary School, basket weavers and meet a traditional healer.
Tonight you will stay at Skybeds.
Each Skybeds “room” is actually a three-story raised platform, overlooking the wildlife-spotted plains of Khwai. Charmingly rustic yet perfectly stylish, you’ll find a bathroom with flushing loo on the first floor, a dressing area, and the ultimate cherry on the top floor, an enormous double bed, draped in white linens and a feather duvet and completely open to the stars.
With such spectacular skies overhead, you could be forgiven for forgetting about what’s happening down below. But keep one eye on the ground, for the Skybeds overlook a busy waterhole. In one night guests have seen wild dog, lion, elephant and hyena – and that’s just the beginning. This is likely to be one of the wildest and most wonderful safari experiences you’ll ever have.
Day 3
Today you will be flown by helicopter to Mokolwane Camp, 15 minutes away.
Mokolwane Camp is located within the remote Xudum concession in the south-western Okavango Delta.
It is a small, relaxed Camp in one of the largest, and almost untouched, parts of the Okavango Delta. Set amongst a sprinkling of Mokolwane palms, in the Xudum concession (NG29), you’ll find it tucked away in 180 000-hectares of wilderness. Teeming with herds of elephant and all the Okavango predators, with so much space and so much action, it’s no surprise that National Geographic and Netflix filmmaker Brad Bestelink has chosen to base himself here. This is leopard country. These territorial cats love it here so much, that the area boasts the third highest density recorded anywhere in Africa. Mokolwane, being the only camp for miles around, is a great place to breath in the stillness and solitude.
At Mokolwane you’ll find 7 charming tents, hiding 10 feet above the ground amongst the shady bows of fig, jackalberry, ilala palm and wild mangosteens. Elephants love it here, with a buffet of palm nuts, berries, and wild fig to feast on as they drip off these tree giants.
Each room, with an en-suite bathroom and comfortable interiors, emanates an earthly charm. Set on the Matsebi river system you’ll find yourself amongst the shade, enjoying spectacular views which turn emerald as the floodwaters roll in.
Accommodation & Amenities
- 7 canvas style tents, lifted 10-feet above the ground (6 twins, 1 family)
- En-suite facilities, including indoor showers, flush toilets and hot and cold running water
- Mosquito nets over the beds; ceiling fan
- Wi-Fi is available in the rooms
- Communal dining area, on a raised wooden platform
- Enjoy leisurely meals, with spectacular views!
- With open skylines, enjoy exceptional star gazing opportunities
Days 4 and 5
Mokolwane Camp is open year-round, with each season offering its own type of wildness. The annual floods reach the concession in around April or May, and the water stays in this area until the end of September.
The diverse landscape is scattered with herds of elephant and large numbers of predators. With virtually no other people around you will be able to enjoy remarkable game drives in the company of exceptional guides.
Mokolwane highlights:
- Enjoy morning and afternoon into evening game drives exploring the beautiful yet diverse ecosystems.
- Wind your way along crystal clear channels on mokoro (seasonal), floating between the water lilies and the papyrus reeds.
- Wildlife sightings from your very own deck.
- An abundance of birds, for the avid twitchers.
- Experience a thrilling scenic helicopter flight over the Okavango Delta.
The eco-system here is diverse. For birds and wildlife, it is a playground of open grasslands, fertile floodplains, crystal clear lagoons, reeded islands, riverine and mopane forests, creating a wonderfully varied landscape for them to live in. Open savannahs give way to small expanses of floodplain, and leadwood thickets, mangosteens, marulas, sausage trees and wild sage punctuate the wilderness.
Between 5,000 to 10,000 elephants are in the concession at various times of the year and the buffalo herds that come through are also in large numbers. Giraffe and zebra are joined by wildebeest, and all the antelope from kudu, lechwe, bushbuck, tsessebe, to name but a few. There is therefore a lot of predator action in the concession with a high density of resident leopard competing with strong populations of lion, wild dog, hyena and cheetah for prey.
The smaller species like bat-eared fox, side-striped and black-backed jackal, African wild cats, honey badgers, Meerkat and mongoose are also frequently seen in abundance. As night falls, enjoy sightings of all the nocturnal creatures, from porcupine, aardwolf, aardvark, civet and genet. This is an exciting concession for bird lovers too. From wattle cranes, Pel’s fishing owl, martial eagles, to huge flocks of Quelea preyed on by falcon, there’s plenty to tick off on the bird list.
Day 6
Today you will be transferred by helicopter from Mokolwane Camp to Maun Airport (30 minutes), in time to check in for your onward flight.
INCLUDED IN THIS ITINERARY:
- Air charter from Maun Airport to Elephant Pan Camp
- 1 Night at Elephant Pan in an en-suite Tent
- 1 Night at Skybeds
- All meals, local drinks, guided activities, laundry and conservation fees
- Helicopter transfer from Elephant Pan Camp to Mokolwane Camp
- 3 Nights at Mokolwane Camp in an en-suite Tent
- All meals, local drinks, guided activities, laundry and conservation fees
- Helicopter transfer from Mokolwane Camp to Maun Airport
- Travel and medical insurance
- Regional flights to and from Maun Airport
- Visa requirements (none for SADC members)
- Gratuities and items of a personal nature
