14-day Botswana Wildside

Summary

14-day Botswana Wildside

From: NZD3,480* per person sharing

This camping safari is just that, with nights spent wild camping in Botswana’s iconic parks and reserves. For remaining nights, you will stay in designated camping sites that have hot showers and flush toilets. This itinerary allows you to experience the Okavango Delta by traditional dug-out canoe and the abundant wildlife of Moremi Game Reserve, Savuti and Chobe National Park, before finishing with wonderful views of Victoria Falls. You will also spend a night at Khama Rhino Sanctuary where your entrance fees go directly to supporting this community run Rhino conservation area.

DEPARTS: JOHANNESBURG on Sunday at 06:30am
ENDS: LIVINGSTONE – ZAMBIA on Saturday at +/-08:00am

Highlights
* Khama Rhino Sanctuary – game drive
* Okavango Delta – mokoro excursion
* Moremi Game Reserve – game drives
* Savuti – game drives
* Chobe National Park – game drive and river cruise
* Victoria Falls – adventure activities

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 Sunway.

The BT14 Johannesburg start saves you the cost of flights to Maun and includes an opportunity to see rhino.
The BT13 Maun start clients join the BT14 group in Maun on day 2 and eliminates the drive from Joburg to Maun.

Overnight: 4 nights on safari we stay at designated campsites in national parks and towns. Formal campsites have hot and cold showers, laundry facilities & telephones.
7 nights we “camp wild” without fences in the wilderness areas. On these nights the crew will erect a bucket shower (with hot water off the fire) and a pit latrine (with seat!).
2 nights at a lodge in Livingstone with en-suite rooms and air-conditioning.

Meals: 13 breakfasts, 11 lunches and 8 dinners will be provided by the Sunway crew, prepared at the vehicle and eaten around the campfire except the last 2 breakfasts at the lodge in Livingstone.

Transport: For the majority of this safari you travel in a custom-built 4WD Land Cruiser with 12 forward facing seats (of which 8 are “window” seats). Roll up canvas sides allow you to feel part of the bush. For the first two days from Johannesburg to Maun we use custom-built Sunway Safari trucks with 12 forward facing seats; or (on 10% of tours) Mercedes Sprinter minibuses with 12 forward facing seats and air conditioning.

Limited participation: An essential part of your safari is some participation. From putting up your tent to packing the truck in the morning – it’s all part of your adventure and when everyone puts in a little effort the trip will run smoothly. Your tour leaders will do all the meal preparation, but we do ask the clients to help (on rotation) with the washing up. If there are 9 or more clients on the tour, then a supply vehicle and camp assistant travel with the group through the national parks (days 6-11). The camp assistant will help with meal preparation and washing up and make your life a little easier!

Highlights

Maun
Chobe River Front
Serowe
Livingstone, Zambia
Moremi Game Reserve
Savuti, Chobe National Park

Botswana
Okavango Delta
Zambia

Tour Summary

From: NZD3,480* per person sharing*All prices shown are for low season, per person, on a twin share basisDuration: 14 daysDeparts from: JohannesburgEnds in: Livingstone, ZambiaDestinations: Botswana, ZambiaExperiences: Scheduled Departures, Adventure CampingGroup Size: Scheduled departures. Minimum 4 people. Maximum 12 people.

Map

Full Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1 : Serowe

[camping -LD]
Departing Johannesburg at 06:30am we head north into Botswana. We pass Serowe, birthplace of Botswana’s first president, Sir Seretse Khama, on our way to the Khama Rhino Sanctuary. This 4300 hectare reserve situated on the Kalahari sandveld, has several natural waterholes and provides prime habitat for white rhino, zebra and wildebeest. We take our first game drive around the open grassland of Malema and Serowe Pans.

Day 1: Breakfast is not included
Day 1: Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 1: Dinner provided by tour leaders with the help of the group

Includes:                    Entrance to Khama Rhino Sanctuary
Overnight:                  Campsite - good ablution facilities with hot showers.
Distance/time:          630km, ± 7½ hours, excluding border formalities & stops for sightseeing & lunch

Destination: SeroweAccommodation: Khama Rhino Sanctuary

Day 2 : Maun

[camping BL-]
We drive through the Kalahari to Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta. Situated on the banks of the Thamalakane River, Maun is a bustling frontier town where we prepare for the delta excursion. After setting up camp we have a relaxing afternoon at the swimming pool.

Day 2: Breakfast provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 2: Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 2: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant

Includes:                    -
Overnight:                  Campsite - good ablution facilities with hot showers, swimming pool, restaurant & bar
Distance/time:          450km, ± 6½ hours, excluding stops for sightseeing

Destination: MaunAccommodation: Audi CampType: Lodge

Day 3 – 4 : Okavango Delta

[camping Dx2]
Our local guides will take us deep into the heart of the Okavango Delta on mekoro (dugout canoes). The delta forms as water flows from the Angolan highlands out over the Botswanan flat Kalahari Desert sands creating a delicate, green oasis for birds & wildlife. We will camp wild on remote islands in this amazingly dynamic environment & enjoy bush walks, bird watching & swimming in the clear water. Camping with our local guides we learn more about their lifestyle & culture.

Day 3, 4: Breakfast provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 3, 4: Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 3, 4: Dinner provided by tour leaders with the help of the group

Includes:                    Entrance to Okavango Delta, mokoro excursion, morning and afternoon game walks with local guides
Overnight:                  Day 3 & 4: Wild camping – basic facilities with bucket shower. You will need to bring a towel.
Day 5 Maun: Campsite - good ablution facilities with hot showers, swimming pool, restaurant & bar
Distance/time:          2 hour 4WD transfer into the Delta
Optional Activities:   Scenic flight over the Okavango Delta (+/-USD95-120) pp depending on number of people in each aircraft)

Destination: Okavango DeltaAccommodation: Okavango Delta Camp

Day 5 : Maun

We return to Maun in the late afternoon of day 5 and have time for an optional (own expense) game flight over the Okavango, which will reveal a different aspect of the delta.

Day 5: Breakfast provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 5: Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 5: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant

Includes:                    Entrance to Okavango Delta, mokoro excursion, morning and afternoon game walks with local guides
Overnight:                  Day 5 Maun: Campsite - good ablution facilities with hot showers, swimming pool, restaurant & bar
Distance/time:          2 hour 4WD transfer into the Delta
Optional Activities:   Scenic flight over the Okavango Delta (+/-USD95-120) pp depending on number of people in each aircraft)

Destination: MaunAccommodation: Audi CampType: Lodge

Day 6 – 7 : Moremi Game Reserve

[camping BLD]
We have 4 nights in these conservation areas with 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 rates as one of the leading wildlife areas of the world and we take our open 4WD vehicle into Moremi for fantastic game viewing! Grasslands, floodplains, forests, lily lagoons and winding water channels combine to form a variety of game viewing habitats.

Day 6, 7, Breakfast provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 6, 7, Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 6, 7, Dinner provided by tour leaders with the help of the group

Includes:                    Entrance fees, morning and afternoon game drives in open 4WD game viewing vehicle
Overnight:                  Wild camping – basic ablutions with bucket shower
Distance/time:          350kms ± 8½ hours, excludes game drives & stops for wildlife viewing (Maun – Savuti)

Destination: Moremi Game ReserveAccommodation: Moremi CampType: Mobile Camp

Day 8 – 9 : Savuti, Chobe National Park

[camping BLD]
Moving north over the sand ridge and into the Mababe depression we arrive at the Savuti Marsh. This open grassland area attracts herds of zebra and wildebeest, which in turn draw the large lion prides for which Savuti is famous. We camp wild in the central Chobe National Park at either Savuti or Zwei-Zwei.

Day 8, 9: Breakfast provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 8, 9: Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 8, 9: Dinner provided by tour leaders with the help of the group

Destination: Savuti, Chobe National ParkAccommodation: Savuti CampType: Mobile Camp

Day 10 : Chobe River Front

[camping Bx1 Lx1 Dx1]
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 “sundowner” cruise is a highlight as we see the mighty elephant herds returning to the Chobe River to quench their thirst.

Day 10: Breakfast provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 10: Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 10: Dinner provided by tour leaders with the help of the group

Includes:                    Entrance fees, morning and afternoon game drives in open 4WD game viewing vehicle & sunset cruise on Chobe River
Overnight:                  day 10 wild camping – basic ablutions with bucket shower
Distance/time:          150kms ± 5½ hours, excludes game drives & stops for wildlife viewing (Savuti – Chobe)

Destination: Chobe River FrontAccommodation: Chobe CampType: Mobile Camp

Day 11 : Chobe River Front

[camping Bx1 Lx1]
We camp at Kasane on the Chobe River for night 11.

Day 11: Breakfast provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 11: Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 11: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant

Includes:                    Entrance fees, morning and afternoon game drives in open 4WD game viewing vehicle & sunset cruise on Chobe River
Overnight:                campsite - good ablution facilities, hot showers, swimming pool, bar & restaurant
Distance/time:          150kms ± 5½ hours, excludes game drives & stops for wildlife viewing (Savuti – Chobe)

Destination: Chobe River FrontAccommodation: Thebe River Lodge and CampsiteType: Lodge

Day 12 – 13 : Livingstone, Zambia

[lodge Bx2 - -]
Overnight for 2 nights in Zambia near Livingstone town on the banks of the Zambezi River. Enjoy a spectacular walk through tropical vegetation to the very edge of the “Mosi oa Tunya” or “the smoke that thunders” - Victoria Falls. Opportunities to white water raft on the mighty Zambezi River, bungi jump, or take a “flight of angels” (own expense).

Day 12: Breakfast provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 13: Breakfast provided by the lodge
Day 12, 13: Lunch will be an own expense meal
Day 12, 13: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant

Includes:                    Entrance Fees to see the Victoria Falls
Overnight:                  Adventure Village Rooms – twin en-suite, hot showers, swimming pool, bar & restaurant
Distance/time:          85kms – 1 hour, excluding border formalities (which can take 2 to 4+ hours)
Optional Activities:    White water rafting, sunset cruises, scenic flights & many more