13 DAY BOTSWANA DESERT AND DELTA ADVENTURE EXPLORER

Trip Description

13 DAY BOTSWANA’S DESERT & DELTA ADVENTURE EXPLORER

Itinerary  Overview                                                                            

Botswana is considered Southern Africa’s premier game viewing destination. The remote wilderness, limited access for visitors and abundant game make for an exceptional wildlife safari. This tour is the essence of why we started running holidays. Embark on a trip into the vast lands of the Kalahari Game Reserve and experience Chobe River Front for its massive elephants roaming along the Chobe River to drink water. The spontaneous thrill-seeker will love this short safari as it lets you experience the wild through a camping trip right smack into the heart of Botswana. Grab the opportunity to witness game up-close and personal in an exciting adventure.

Deception Valley is the course of an ancient river that once flowed in the wetter times - thousands of years ago. The river may have been a tributary of the vast ancient lake that once covered much of the central plateau, or may have been part of the lake at one time, but now it a place of waving grass where herds of springbok and gemsbok gather. This adventure was invented to target nature-loving travellers who want to escape from modern distractions will enjoy this 12 nights in safari experience in the Desert and the Delta. While travelling with African Dwarf Frog Safaris, the accommodations throughout the safari are meru tents en suited with a private shower and toilet set by our professional safari crew, leaving the Guests with ample time to enjoy nature. At breakfast around the fire, the sounds of the previous night and the tracks of the various animals that may have passed through the camp can be used as clues in planning the day’s exploration of the surrounding bush, and by night the day’s sightings can be recollected with a drink by the fire under the starry African sky. Lunch in the dining tent (typically buffet-style) and dinner under the stars (typically three courses) are both served by experienced and friendly camp staff. A fully-stocked bar is on offer and there are always cold drinks, tea, coffee and drinking water available throughout the day. This departure is a non-participatory adventure as our committed and dedicated safari crew will do the camp chores; thus erecting the tents, collecting fire wood, cooking and doing laundry.

Trip Highlights:

Duration: 12 Nights / 13 Days

2 Nights Deception Valley

3 nights Central Kalahari Game Reserve

1 night Maun

3 Nights Moremi – game viewing

3 Night Chobe –game viewing/ boat cruise                                                                                                        

All inclusive: meals, activities, tented camping accommodations and drinks.

Type of accommodation: mobile en-suit tented camping and lodging

Minimum: 2ppl        Maximum: 8ppl            COST: $6,300.00 - (for 2p, excl. tickets)

• NB: Luggage Soft sided duffel bag / 20kg maximum inclusive of hand luggage

Trip Daily Activity:

Day 1                                                                                                MAUN

Arrive in Maun international airport where African Dwarf Frog Safari Tours representative will meet you at the terminal and transfer you to where you will be accommodated. Maun is the gateway to one of the best wildlife experiences you will ever have, a safari in the unforgettable Okavango Delta.

You will be staying in a lodge for 1 night on bed & breakfast basis. Lunch & dinner at (own expense), after checking into the lodge that afternoon you may take a scenic flight over the Okavango delta or mokoro, dug-out canoe (Own expense),which is optional. [Lodging -LD]

Day 2 & 3                                                                 DECEPTION VALLEY - CKGR

You will explore the area for the next two days, enjoying game drives and participate in a nature walk led by a local San tracker. They will share intricate bush knowledge and give you an insight into their unique and intriguing culture. You will also do game drives to explore the area, home to a fascinating variety of desert specialised wildlife such as oryx, springbok and eland as well as predators including lion, brown hyena and cheetah.

This magical place in the vast Kalahari has perplexed weary wanderers for many years. This ‘waterless oasis’ known as Deception Valley, was named after the riverbed which evokes the illusion of containing water. For centuries when thirsty travellers saw the promising fold of Deception Valley on the horizon they would rush towards it deliriously. Once they reached the riverbed they would recognise the depth of the deception caused by a dry riverbed that has not seen much water for the past 15.000 years.  [African Dwarf Frog Safaris meru tent camping Bx2, Lx2, Dx2]

Days 4, 5 & 6                                      CENTRAL KALAHARI GAME RESERVE 

As the sun rises we head toward the pristine desert of the largest game reserve in Botswana. The next three days will be spent exploring the undeveloped wilderness of the northern region of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Camping is in a private designated campsite with bush ablutions. The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is Botswana’s biggest reserve and is situated in the middle of the Kalahari Desert. This is pure, untrammeled wilderness. The inhospitable desert habitat doesn’t support the wide variety of safari animals found in greener destinations – but sightings in this arid landscape are special.

Big herds of desert-adapted antelope, such as springbok and oryx, can be seen walking along the dunes. Predators are easy to spot on the plains. The Kalahari black-maned lions are particularly stunning, and cheetah thrives in this open country. Lucky visitors might even come across brown hyenas or a solitary honey badger. Central Kalahari has very seasonal wildlife viewing. The best time is in the wet months, from December to March, when animals gather around the pans in Deception Valley. Some of the roads can become difficult to navigate during this time. April and May, at the end of the rains, are perhaps a good compromise. They offer good wildlife viewing in better weather conditions.

[African Dwarf Frog Safaris meru tent camping - Bx3, Lx3, Dx3]

Day 7                                                                                               MAUN

Leaving the CKGR, you will start making your way towards the drier regions of the delta where you will camp and refresh before proceeding into the reserve the next day. In the afternoon, you will have the option of taking a 45 minute scenic flight over the Delta – or a 30min flight in a helicopter with no windows and doors, allowing magnificent views from above. The flight over the Okavango gives you an eagle’s eye perspective of the area and it is even possible to spot large game animals such as Elephant, Giraffe and Hippopotami. You will spend the night at a designated lodge just in the outskirts of Maun with permanent ablution facilities.

Days 8, 9 & 10                                           3^rd BRIDGE- MOREMI GAME RESERVE

Morning of Day 8, you will enter the Moremi Game Reserve, one of the best wilderness areas of Botswana which covers swamp and dry areas. The next three days will be spent searching for the wide variety of wildlife and birds that this area is renowned for while absorbing the sounds and beauty of this region. Game drives in the early morning as the sun rises and in the late afternoon as the sun sets will be the norm. After your morning game drives, you will return to camp for lunch and a siesta. On Day 12 you will move campsites to explore a different area of this diverse park. Camping will be in private designated campsites with bush ablutions.

We have 3 nights in the Moremi Game Reserve; we will camp at 3^rd Bridge in the private campsites in the area. We will have time to explore the various habitats. We spend our time on game drives watching the plentiful wildlife including wild dog, elephant, hippo, buffalo, lion & other game. Moremi Game Reserve is rated as one of the leading wildlife areas of the world and we take our open 4WD safari vehicle to Moremi for fantastic game viewing! Grasslands, floodplains, forests, lily lagoons and winding water channels combine to form a variety of game viewing habitats. [African Dwarf Frog Safaris meru tent camping - Bx3, Lx3, Dx3]

Days 11, 12 & 13                                                    CHOBE NATIONAL PARK

The Chobe River flows lazily along the northern boundary of the Chobe National Park attracting some of the largest herds of elephant in Africa. In the early morning we search for game on the flood plains of the Chobe River. The late afternoon game viewing sun-downer cruise is a highlight as we see the mighty elephant herds returning to the Chobe River to quench their thirst. We camp at Kasane on the Chobe River for night 11, 12 & 13. [African Dwarf Frog Safaris meru tent camping – Bx3, Lx3, Dx3] Today it is the last day with African Dwarf Frog Safari Tours arrangements.