Classic Botswana

June 24 USA / Johannesburg, South Africa

Depart from the USA on your international flight to Johannesburg.

June 25 Johannesburg

Arrive Johannesburg and transfer to the Southern Sun O.R. Tambo International Airport Hotel for dinner and overnight.

June 26 Johannesburg / Maun, Botswana / Camp Kalahari

Early-morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Maun. We then transfer to chartered bush planes (our mode of transportation between all of our camps) for the flight to Camp Kalahari, located on the edge of an ancient super lake and adjacent to the Makgadikgadi National Park. Upon arrival we have time to settle in before embarking on a late-afternoon game-watching activity.

June 27 Camp Kalahari

Today we go in search of the desert-adapted wildlife that survive in this harsh environment; meerkats, aardwolves, oryx, and springbok among them. This is also our only opportunity to spot the rare brown hyena. The birdlife here is varied as well, and the species we hope to spy include white-backed and lappet-faced vultures; several types of hornbills; tawny and martial eagles; ostriches; lanner and red-footed falcons; and red-crested and northern black korhaans. In addition to our guided game safaris in open 4x4 vehicles, weather permitting we have the chance to drive ATV vehicles across the endless pans and accompany bushman trackers on foot as they take us to Chapman’s Baobab—a historic tree used by Livingstone, Selous, and other early explorers—as they explain their folklore and way of life en route.

Jun 28 - Jul 1 Chitabe

Chitabe is situated on one of the most beautiful of the Okavango Delta’s islands. During our time here we explore the region, a combination of open floodplains, wooded islands, and lagoons harboring an outstanding assortment of African wildlife. Game viewing is excellent and, accompanied by local guides, we ride in open 4x4 vehicles or go on foot in search of buffalo, elephants, lions, leopards, reedbucks, lechwe, zebras, and hippos. Wild dogs are also a possibility here. In addition to the customary morning and afternoon game drives and walks, we may also have the option of night safaris, using spotlights to seek out rare nocturnal species.

Jul 2 - Jul 4 Seba

Overlooking a perennial lagoon with prolific birdlife and resident pods of hippo, Seba Camp offers well-appointed, spacious tents, each with en suite bathroom and a private deck with magnificent vistas of the water and the host of wildlife passing by. It is the perfect water activity camp, and one of the only Okavango camps that offers foot safaris, mekoro (dugout canoes), and boating trips. Aboard mekoro, silently glide through the tranquil Okavango waterways amid numerous delta creatures. Along with a large elephant population, a seasonal abundance of game graces the area, including giraffes, zebras, impalas, wildebeest, tessebe, and lechwe. Lions frequent the greater area and herds of buffalo are also occasional visitors. Birding is exceptional as well, with the possibility of sighting malachite kingfishers, white-browed coucals, and rufous-bellied herons among the over 380 species recorded in the area.

Jul 5 - Jul 8 DumaTau

DumaTau’s spectacular game-viewing opportunities are the perfect conclusion to our Botswana safari. We spend three full days here, in the private Linyanti Wildlife Reserve, which borders the western boundary of Chobe National Park. The camp is built on raised boardwalks under a shady grove of mangosteen trees, overlooking a large hippo-filled lagoon on the Linyanti waterways. The source of the Savuti Channel is close to DumaTau, and game drives along it are one of the highlights here.

The Linyanti Reserve consists of 1,250 square kilometers of unspoiled wilderness and is totally uninhabited by humans. It supports a wide variety of species, but it is most noted for its very large elephant population. Herds of elephants congregate near the waterways and lagoons and at the water holes located along the Savuti Channel. The area is also home to large numbers of impalas, lechwes, kudus, zebras, giraffes, sitatungas, sables, roans, waterbucks, and buffalo. With such diverse prey, all of the major predators—lions, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs, and hyenas can regularly be sighted here. Nocturnal species include bush babies, spring hare, aardwolf, and serval. The birding is spectacular with such Okavango specialties as slaty egrets, white-rumped babblers, and wattled cranes, in addition to the bushveld species.

Activities are varied as we explore by water, 4x4 vehicles, and occasionally on foot. The many hides along the Savuti Channel and the banks of the Linyanti River also provide a chance to enjoy wildlife viewing close up and away from a vehicle.

Jul 9 - Jul 10 DumaTau / Maun / Johannesburg, South Africa / USA

On our last day here, time permitting, we embark on one final game drive before returning to Maun where you meet your flight to Johannesburg and connect to your homeward flights arriving in the US the next day.