16 Night Leopard Safari
Additional note: As the safari starts at 07h30 on Day 1, you will need to overnight in Maun the day before it starts, and this also gives you the opportunity to purchase drinks for your safari.
Day 1: Hainaveld area, Bushman Experience (180 kilometres, approximately 4 hours).
You meet your guide and fellow safari enthusiasts at 7.30 this morning at a pre-arranged spot. The itinerary takes you some 180 kilometres (on most gravel or sandy roads) to a private game farm which is on the northern border of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Here you set up camp and get the full safari briefing from your guide.
This afternoon you participate in a fascinating nature walk led by local San (Bushmen) trackers. They share their intricate knowledge of the bush and give you an insight into their unique and intriguing culture.
Overnight camping.
Day 2: Central Kalahari Game Reserve, camping in Passarge Valley (120 kilometres, approximately 5 hours).
A sunrise wake-up call this morning, as your Safari takes you into the largest Reserve area in Botswana – the vast Central Kalahari.
The next four days will be spent exploring this pristine wilderness – which is more thirst-land than full desert, and is home to a surprising variety of wildlife (some of which can be seasonal).
You will spend 2 nights each in two different areas, to allow you to fully enjoy this most unique of Reserves. Here you get to savour the vast open spaces, marvel at the clear night skies and the uninterrupted beauty of the area on extensive game drives.
This is true adventure camping - as water and communications are limited and you travel as a self-sufficient group.
2 Overnights camping is in a private designated campsite with fixed and bush ablutions. Passarge area.
Day 4: Central Kalahari Game Reserve, camping in Deception Valley.
Continue your exploration of the Central Kalahari this morning as you enjoy a game drive from Passarge Valley to the Deception Valley area.
2 Overnights camping is in a private designated campsite with fixed and bush ablutions. Deception Valley area.
Day 6: Maun, comfortable lodge (340 kilometres, approximately 6 hours).
You have an early morning game drive before packing-up camp for the return drive to Maun. No doubt you will enjoy the chance to freshen-up at the Lodge.
You may also choose to participate in a scenic Delta flight (some 45 minutes in duration), this afternoon – an excellent and unique way to enjoy the area and also to do some aerial wildlife spotting. This is an option activity and has to paid directly in Maun (cash only).
Tonight you overnight at your lodge in Maun, with dinner for your own account.
Day 7: Okavango Delta, camping (60 kilometres, approximately 2 hours).
This morning your adventure takes you to the southern tip of the Okavango Delta – a truly special area. Once you have reached the edge of the Delta, you meet your polers from the local community with their mekoro (traditional dugout canoes). As you spend the next 2 nights camping on an island in the Delta, you will need to pack just what you require for this section of the Safari, as you leave your main luggage with the vehicle (which is safely secured). Therefore you need just a small back pack and your hand luggage with you.
Travelling by mokoro (plural is mekoro) you wend your way in near perfect quiet – staying to the reed and papyrus trimmed channels. Enjoy the landscape from a truly unique perspective, as you spot birds, frogs and a number of larger species, such as antelope and crocodiles.
Spend two days exploring this wonderful area by mokoro and guided nature walks on the islands and floodplains of the Okavango.
2 Overnights camping with bush ablutions on a small island.
Day 1: Hainaveld area, Bushman Experience (180 kilometres, approximately 4 hours).
You meet your guide and fellow safari enthusiasts at 7.30 this morning at a pre-arranged spot. The itinerary takes you some 180 kilometres (on most gravel or sandy roads) to a private game farm which is on the northern border of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Here you set up camp and get the full safari briefing from your guide.
This afternoon you participate in a fascinating nature walk led by local San (Bushmen) trackers. They share their intricate knowledge of the bush and give you an insight into their unique and intriguing culture.
Overnight camping.
Day 2: Central Kalahari Game Reserve, camping in Passarge Valley (120 kilometres, approximately 5 hours).
A sunrise wake-up call this morning, as your Safari takes you into the largest Reserve area in Botswana – the vast Central Kalahari.
The next four days will be spent exploring this pristine wilderness – which is more thirst-land than full desert, and is home to a surprising variety of wildlife (some of which can be seasonal).
You will spend 2 nights each in two different areas, to allow you to fully enjoy this most unique of Reserves. Here you get to savour the vast open spaces, marvel at the clear night skies and the uninterrupted beauty of the area on extensive game drives.
This is true adventure camping - as water and communications are limited and you travel as a self-sufficient group.
2 Overnights camping is in a private designated campsite with fixed and bush ablutions. Passarge area.
Day 4: Central Kalahari Game Reserve, camping in Deception Valley.
Continue your exploration of the Central Kalahari this morning as you enjoy a game drive from Passarge Valley to the Deception Valley area.
2 Overnights camping is in a private designated campsite with fixed and bush ablutions. Deception Valley area.
Day 6: Maun, comfortable lodge (340 kilometres, approximately 6 hours).
You have an early morning game drive before packing-up camp for the return drive to Maun. No doubt you will enjoy the chance to freshen-up at the Lodge.
You may also choose to participate in a scenic Delta flight (some 45 minutes in duration), this afternoon – an excellent and unique way to enjoy the area and also to do some aerial wildlife spotting. This is an option activity and has to paid directly in Maun (cash only).
Tonight you overnight at your lodge in Maun, with dinner for your own account.
Day 7: Okavango Delta, camping (60 kilometres, approximately 2 hours).
This morning your adventure takes you to the southern tip of the Okavango Delta – a truly special area. Once you have reached the edge of the Delta, you meet your polers from the local community with their mekoro (traditional dugout canoes). As you spend the next 2 nights camping on an island in the Delta, you will need to pack just what you require for this section of the Safari, as you leave your main luggage with the vehicle (which is safely secured). Therefore you need just a small back pack and your hand luggage with you.
Travelling by mokoro (plural is mekoro) you wend your way in near perfect quiet – staying to the reed and papyrus trimmed channels. Enjoy the landscape from a truly unique perspective, as you spot birds, frogs and a number of larger species, such as antelope and crocodiles.
Spend two days exploring this wonderful area by mokoro and guided nature walks on the islands and floodplains of the Okavango.
2 Overnights camping with bush ablutions on a small island.
Day 9: Community campsite outside Moremi Game Reserve (50 kilometres, approximately 2 hours).
Today you leave the channels of the Okavango Delta, and travel northwards to the drier edges of the Delta to the border of the famed Moremi Game Reserve. As these areas are not fenced there is excellent chance of some wildlife sightings.
Overnight at a private community campsite.
Day 10: Western Moremi Game Reserve (3rd Bridge / Xakanaxa area, 80 kilometres, approximately 4 hours including game viewing).
During the course of the morning you enter the Moremi Game Reserve itself, which is known as one of the best wilderness areas in Botswana. As it covers both wet and dry areas, it offers an excellent variety of habitats and wildlife (including some great birding).
You spend the next couple of days exploring the area and enjoying some great game viewing. The game drives take place in the very early morning as the sun rises and in the late afternoon as the sun sets. After your morning game drives, you return to camp for lunch and a siesta.
2 Overnights at a private Community campsite.
Day 12: North-East Moremi Game Reserve / Khwai Concession, camping.
The Safari continues towards the northern border of the Moremi today and the Khwai area of the Reserve. Enjoy an extensive game drive as you traverse this area.
Overnight at a private campsite.
Day 13: Southern Chobe National Park (Savute / Zwei Zwei, 120 kilometres, approximately 5 hours).
Today you travel into the famed Chobe National Park, known for its diverse and striking landscapes. As you continue your search for wildlife, you now traverse the drier region of Savuti where elephants dot the plains. This is also an area known for its predators and you have the chance of seeing lion, leopard and cheetah.
Overnight in a private campsite.
Day 14: Northern Chobe National Park (170 kilometres, approximately 6 hours, including game drives).
This morning the itinerary takes you further northwards to the Chobe River (the northern-most boundary of the Chobe National Park). Here you can follow the course of the river, and see numerous buffalo, elephant, plains camp, baboon and birds.
2 Overnights camping at a private site.
Day 16: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (100 kilometres, approximately 3 hours, including border crossing).
Start the morning early with a short game drive, before the transfer through to the town of Victoria Falls. Most visitors to Zimbabwe require a visa, which can be purchased (in cash, US Dollars) at the border post.
This afternoon there will be time to visit the Victoria Falls and shop for curios. Dinner will be at your own expense at the lodge.
Overnight at comfortable lodge on a bed and breakfast basis.
Day 17: End of Safari
Your Safari adventure officially finishes after breakfast this morning. You may wish to extend your stay, or participate in some of the many adventure activities on offer.
