Day 1 Johannesburg: Sawubona! Welcome to South Africa.
You can arrive at any time on day 1 as there are no activities planned until the important welcome meeting tonight at 6pm. Your leader will leave a note at reception telling you where this important meeting will take place. Please ask a member of reception for this information. Your leader will collect your local payment at this meeting. After the group meeting there is the option of joining the group for dinner.
Please note this is a combination trip. The composition of your group, your group leader and your overland vehicle will change in Livingstone.
Our journey begins in Johannesburg, a sprawling city of remarkable contrasts: in the townships, mansions stand alongside tin shacks and there are as many green parks on the outskirts of the city as there are conglomerations of concrete in the city centre. This is a good place to spend a couple of days to get an insight into South Africa's history and it's a great base for exploring the rest of the country.
In Jo'Burg we stay in comfortable twin share permanent dome tents with two beds, toilet facilities are shared.
Day 2 Khama Rhino Sanctuary: Today we head to the Khama Rhino Sanctuary situated on the edge of the vast Kalahari Desert. This reserve is the result of local communities' efforts in 1989 to convert the Serwe Pan, previously a hunting area, into a conservation area. Now, the area is prime habitat for white rhinos, zebras, wildebeest and giraffes, and game is easily observed around its many natural waterholes. A visit to this locally-based wildlife project benefits local communities and you'll also be contributing to the protection of the highly endangered rhinoceros. We head out on a dusk game drive to see the rhinos when they are at their most active.
Tonight we overnight at a campsite with camp toilets and hot and cold showers.
Day 3 Maun: We head to Maun, our base for heading into the Okavango Delta. Our destination today is one of the world's most renowned and complex ecosystems, the Okavango Delta. Springing from the Okavango River which begins life in Angola, this is a natural wetland system formed by the river dividing into an intricate floodplain of thousands of channels, spreading 1,600,000ha over northern Botswana. This fan-like network of waterways forms an inland delta, the only one of its kind in the world.
For those wanting more adventure there is an opportunity to fly over the delta in a small plane for a bird's eye view, a great way to appreciate the immensity of this watery world.
Days 4-5 Okavango Delta: On day 4 we traverse the waterways by mokoro, a traditional dugout canoe navigated by friendly local 'polers', as well as on foot. With luck, you might spot some of the delta's unusual wildlife and prolific birdlife while on these safaris. We also spend time exploring the maze of lagoons, lakes and streams on foot, led by experienced and knowledgeable guides.
We camp on a remote island in the heart of the wilderness. We dig a bush toilet and go without a shower but it is all part of the Delta experience. At night, the sounds of the African bush are the only things you will hear - a true wilderness experience!
Day 5 sees us driving the 240kms (approx. 3 hours) to Planet Baobab. Our campsite is situated around an ancient boabab forest- a wonderful chance to get up close to these magnificent trees.
Day 6 Chobe National Park: This morning there is a chance to head out on an optional morning tour out to the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans or enjoy some of the other adventure activities on offer.
We then take to the road again, driving 340km to Chobe, which will take around 5 hours including our lunch break.
Nestled in the northern corner of Botswana amid lush forest, Chobe covers a huge area of 12,000 sq km and is home to some of the largest elephant populations in Africa as well as lions and a flurry of bird life, including the famous African fish-eagle. In the late afternoon, we enjoy a fish-eagle cruise on the Chobe River, a very relaxing way to see hippos in the shallows and maybe even a herd of elephants coming down to the river's edge for bath time
Tonight we camp. There are hot showers and flush toilets at our campsite.
Days 7-8 Livingstone/Victoria Falls: Our day begins early, with the chance of an optional dawn game drive before heading for Zambia, its border naturally formed by the confluence of the Chobe and Zambezi Rivers and we cross it aboard the Kazangula Ferry.
The powerful Victoria Falls is the perfect place to end this wilderness adventure.
After settling in to our campsite in Livingstone this afternoon we head to the
Falls to experience this wonder of nature. The falls are an enormous curtain of water, about a mile wide, falling 108 m into a narrow chasm below. In the wet season, the spray created can rise up an incredible 400 m and the falls are an impressive raging torrent. In the dry season, the view of the falls is unobstructed by spray and it's possible to see little islets in the river below.
Please note that this is a combination trip and the composition of your group and your group leader may change. There will be a group meeting at 1pm on day 7 before heading to the Falls so that you can meet your new travelling companions and find out more about the second part of your adventure.
Tonight we overnight at a campsite near the mighty Zambezi River.
Day 9 Nata: Departing around 7am, we begin our drive, heading towards the border post where we cross the Zambezi river by ferry. From there we drive through the vast grasslands of Botswana to Nata. There may be the chance for some great wildlife viewing on our drive. Total travel time today is about 6 hours.
This afternoon we head out on a sunset excursion to the Makigadikgadi Salt Pans (two hours driving time for the excursion). This magnificent expanse has to be seen to be believed - if there is water in the pans (seasonal) it is also a great chance to see flamingos.
Tonight we camp. Our campsite has a swimming pool as well as a fully stocked bar and the chance to see bush babies ("little night monkeys") up close!
Day 10 Johannesburg: Today you will be met by a vehicle in Mokopane to transfered back to Johannesburg. Our tour ends on arrival around 6pm. Please do not arrange any ongoing flights until after 10pm this evening.
No acommodation is provided for tonight but we are able to organise post trip accommodation at Amadwala Lodge as well as a departure transfer- please ask us at time of booking.
