S E E U S O N T H E W E B AT wildlifeworldwide.com 55 Africa / Botswana Highlights of Botswana & Victoria Falls 12 days London to London Day 1. Depart London Depart London for Livingstone, flying via Johannesburg. Day 2. Victoria Falls [B, L, D] On arrival you will be met for a guided tour of Victoria Falls before transferring to Shakleton’s on the Zambezi River (near the village of Mwandi) for the night. (You will need an extra night or so to explore this wonderful area in more detail, perhaps spending time with working Elephants, birdwatching on the wooded islands amid the Zambezi, maybe canoeing or even white-water rafting. You will find some suggestions for the Victoria Falls area on pages 74 & 75.) Days 3 to 5. Chobe National Park & Linyanti Concession [B, L, D] Enter Chobe National Park in Botswana by way of the Kazungula border, a point where Botswana, Zambia, Namibia and Zimbabwe meet. Chobe is particularly famous for its vast herds of Elephants. Enjoy lunch on a river cruise before flying into Linyanti where you spend three nights at a tented camp. The Linyanti region’s lifegiving perennial waters attract considerable herds of animals that walk well-trodden paths to quench their thirst in the dry season. Predators follow in their footsteps and, coupled with the area’s diverse habitat, make exciting game-viewing. Days 6 to 8. Okavango Delta [B, L, D] The long but interesting drive west into the Okavango Delta gives the perfect introduction to the varying habitats of a dry and flat northern Botswana. Spend three nights at Lechwe Island Camp, located in the south-western sector of the Selinda private concession, in a seasonally flooded portion of the Okavango Delta. Activities here include game drives by day and night around the wooded islands, open plains and the seasonally flooded channels surrounding the camp. Experiences here are magnified on nature walks, with naturalist guides to talk about tracking, traditional uses of plants and some of the smaller invertebrates and other species not usually noticed from a vehicle. Canoeing is also on offer at certain times of year. Days 9 & 10. Moremi Game Reserve [B, L, D] Fly by light aircraft to the water-filled paradise of the private Xigera area, within the Moremi Game Reserve. Wildlife-viewing is by both mokoro safaris and on foot, and close encounters are possible with both Sitatunga and Red Lechwe. There is also an excellent birdlife (including Pel’s Fishing Owl), frogs and a myriad of species adapted to water. Day 11. Homeward [B] Transfer by light aircraft to Maun for your homeward flight via Johannesburg. Day 12. Arrive home Delta & Zambezi Fly-in 11 days London to London This luxury safari visits small camps and lodges in the Okavango heartland, the rivers and plains of northern Botswana, and Victoria Falls. Day 1. Depart London Depart London for Maun flying via Johannesburg. Days 2 & 3. Okavango Delta [B & L on day 3 only, D] On arrival transfer by light aircraft to Kwara Camp, deep in the clear permanent waters of the Okavango. The water experience, either fishing, on a mokoro, or exploring the channels and rivers by boat, is spectacular. Days 4 & 5. Okavango Delta [B, L, D] From Kwara you fly north to Lebala at the edge of the massive Kwando concession. Enjoy day, and night drives across the wide open plains which envelope the camp. Days 6 & 7. Kwando River [B, L, D] Transfer to the tranquil atmosphere of Lagoon Camp. Set on an oxbow lagoon, the camp is remote with its own resident family of Hippo. For many months of the year you’ll see Elephants drinking from the water next to the camp and witness the huge herds of Cape Buffalo that keep close proximity to the Kwando River. Days 8 & 9. Victoria Falls [B, L, D] End your safari by flying to Livingstone, Zambia and staying for two nights at Songwe Village, situated 150 metres above the Zambezi on the lip of Batoka Gorge. Days 10 & 11. [B day 10 only] Return home on the overnight flight via Johannesburg. Cost per person: Jan to 20 Mar £2,795 21 Mar to May & Nov £3,195 Jun to 18 Jul, 19 Aug to Oct £4,395 19 Jul to 18 Aug £4,650 Single supplement: Available on request What is included: Flights, transfers, meals as indicated, guided activities Accommodation: Lodges Departure dates: Daily, throughout the year Camping in the Okavango Brown Hyena with cubs Cost per person: Jan & Feb, Apr to Jun, 1 Jul to 18 Jul, 25 to 31 Dec £2,795 1 to 20 Mar, 19 Aug to 14 Dec £2,895 21 to 31 Mar, 19 Jul to 18 Aug £3,050 15 to 24 Dec £3,295 Single supplement: Available on request What is included: Flights, transfers, meals as indicated, guided activities Accommodation: Lodges Departure dates: Daily, throughout the year Kalahari Extension ideas 3 nights Edo’s Camp Edo’s, in the western Kalahari, is one of the few places where the San Bushmen still reside. It is also home to White Rhino and there will be opportunities to track them on foot. Jack’s, and San Camps Both on the outskirts of the Makgadikgadi Game Reserve. Blue Wildebeest and Burchell’s Zebra are on migration from February to early April. Brown Hyena, Aardwolf and Meerkat are seen year-round.

56 F O R R E S E R V A T I O N S C A L L U S O N 0845 130 6982 Tailor-made Botswana Our tailor-made fly-in safaris are designed to be the ultimate in flexibility... you can add or remove nights at any of the locations and the safari can depart on any day of the year. We only give a suggested itinerary below, but this is your trip and the choice is yours. There are two standards of lodge - ‘Classic’ and ‘Premier’, both of which has been tried and tested and comes highly recommended! All the lodges have large tented rooms on raised wooden decking (except Little Vumbura), and each has en-suite facilities with flushing toilets and hot and cold running water. Each also has a lounge and dining area and all have exceptional naturalist guides. Most have plunge pools. They are luxuriously furnished and none accommodates more than 18 guests with a number limited to ten or fewer. A typical day consists of a morning activity followed by brunch, siesta and then an afternoon and/or evening activity. Specific activities vary from camp to camp, but may include walks, drives, night drives and river trips by either traditional-style canoes (mekoros) or more conventional motor boats. The kinds of activities on offer will depend on water levels. Transfers between the camps are generally by light aircraft and occur after the morning activity and brunch but before the afternoon activity. Wings Over Botswana 11 days London to London We suggest as a starting point the following itinerary which visits each of the distinct regions of northern Botswana. Day 1. Depart London Depart London for Maun flying via Johannesburg. Days 2 & 3. Okavango Delta [B (Day 3 only), L, D] On arrival into Maun you will be met and transferred directly by light aircraft into the Okavango Delta. Instead of flowing into the ocean as most rivers do, the Okavango River’s journey ends at a fault line in the Kalahari Desert where it spills onto the sand. The result is a vast tapestry of crystal clear channels, lagoons and small islands which in an otherwise dry landscape attracts a myriad of waterfowl and other birds as well as large concentrations of wildlife. All the camps here are situated in wetland areas well known for their large concentrations of game: Classic Lodge Options: Jacana – a true water camp which offers mokoro and walking safaris year round. Kwetsani – a remote camp on a heavily wooded island. Tubu Tree Camp – diverse habitats at this traditional style camp provide varied game-viewing. Xigera – in the heart of the Delta with permanent year round water. Little Vumbura – surrounded by ancient forest and water. Premier Lodge Options: Vumbura Plains – eight deluxe spacious suites with their own plunge pools on the same island as Little Vumbura. Jao – a luxury tented camp built under a beautiful canopy of shady trees. Water Levels The water levels of the Okavango Delta vary during the year. This is reflected in the activities at the camps and lodges, which may be either water based or land based, or a (normally) a mixture of both. The water levels vary depending on the rains, but generally the waters are highest from April to September. We will generally advise that you stay at a combination of camps so that you may experience all that the region has to offer. Private Guides & Vehicles The standard of guiding in Botswana is exceptional in the camps and lodges that we use. We are often asked however if we can provide private vehicles and guides – which of course we can. They don’t come cheap (the costs vary between camps), and they often need to be booked a long way in advance, but they can make a wonderful trip truly special, and from a dedicated photographers point of view private vehicles are a real bonus. Private Aircraft As we indicate above, most of the camp transfers are done by light aircraft. Some people ask us for dedicated private air transfers between camps. We are very happy to provide these, please do ask if you would like us to quote you for this as part of your itinerary. Private charters work particularly well for small groups travelling together or for those requiring more flexibility and privacy. Sleep Outs Some camps offer the chance to sleep out in the bush - a fabulous way to experience the wilderness as you sleep under the stars in elevated hides. Nothing compares to the thrill of hearing the roar of a Lion as the glow of the camp fire dims, nor waking up to the African dawn! Do ask us for more details.