FIVE STAR BOTSWANA SAFARI - 8 Nights

Day 1 & 2 - Welcome to the Okavango

Fly from Maun to Baines' Camp

 

On arrival at Maun Airport, you will be welcomed and assisted to your aircraft to Baines' Camp. As you fly over the Okavango, you will witness the merging of desert with delta, and the magic of this beautiful oasis will begin to take hold of you. Caught between two geological fault lines, this area of watery paradise occurs as a phenomenon in amongst the parched sands of the Kalahari Desert. 

 

You will be greeted at the airstrip by your guide, who will take you to Baines’ Camp, your home for the next two nights.

 

Situated on a private concession neighboring the Moremi Game Reserve, Baines’ is a unique and charming retreat that perfectly echoes its sublime location. Nestled in a small forest, and set on all sides by papyrus, the camp is raised off the ground along wooden boardwalks and finds the balance between pure luxury and a conservation ethic. The camp was renovated in 2019 and has fresh and bright colour scheme which is very pleasant. It’s an intimate camp with just six suites, all raised on high wooden decks overlooking the surrounding bush and tall reed-beds that flank the Boro River. With “solid” walls made from recycled drinks' cans and plaster containing elephant dung, the construction is certainly unusual, but the finished effect is novel and much smarter than the ingredients might suggest! Thatched roofs help to keep the suites airy and cool in the hot summer months, and warm and cosy in the winter.

 

At the centre of each bedroom, a large, wooden four-poster bed, draped with a mosquito net, can – on request – be rolled out through double doors onto your private deck so you can sleep beneath the stars. These decks overlook the Boro River and/or floodplain, with a couple of chairs and a table with umbrella so that you can enjoy the outdoors during the day. The bathrooms have his and hers washbasins on a grey marble countertop beneath two mirrors. To one side is a toilet in a separate cubicle, and to the other an ample-sized indoor shower with a view, while double doors lead outside on to a deck. The free-standing, outdoor bath is also new: ideal for a romantic and relaxing candlelit bath under the night sky. A range of Africology toiletries is provided, along with slippers and bathrobes.

As well as reclining under the stars in the stunning sky beds, or pampering yourself with a candle-lit bubble-bath on your private deck, you can embark on game-drives and bush walks with an expert guide. Mokoro trips through the intricate channels of the Delta reveal some of the true gems of this wetland area: from egrets, herons and kingfishers to bathing hippo, crocodiles and red lechwe.

 

• Baines' Camp (BLD)

 

Day 3 to 5 - The Magic of the Moremi

Fly from Baines' Camp to Chief's Camp

 

For your final morning at Baines’ Camp, perhaps opt for a boat trip (mokoro or motorized boat) to enjoy the spectacular views from the water or a game drive to soak up a little more of the stunning terrain in this area. If you feel like a lie-in, let someone bring you breakfast in your room while you simply enjoy the view of the surrounding water from your bed. 

Chief’s Camp is your next destination.  In the heart of the Moremi Game Reserve, this is a wildlife-lover’s true retreat, an Eden that holds many secrets awaiting you and your guide. Named after Chief Moremi of the BaTawana tribe, this reserve rests on the eastern side of the Okavango Delta. The terrain combines permanent water with drier areas, allowing for startling and unexpected contrasts that have attracted hugely diverse bird and mammal life to the area. From sprawling savannah, to shady lagoons, to thick woodland, there is often an overwhelming sense of life to be found here, and it’s often tricky to know where to point your camera lens!

 

The main deck of Chief’s Camp offers you a gorgeous view of the Piajio plains, and the outdoor dining area looks out across this stunning wilderness. Your guide will wake you at dawn, with time for a quick bite before bundling you into the vehicle to begin the search for game. Keep those sleepy eyes open to spot browsing kudu, or prowling hyena returning from a night hunt, and watch a troop of baboon chasing one another through the trees. You can stop for a mid-morning coffee or tea before leaping back into the vehicle as the sound of monkeys alarm-calling in a nearby tree alerts you to a nearby predator. Around the corner there may lie a leopard reclining in a fig tree, or a lazy pride of lions sleeping off fat tummies.

• Chief's Camp (BLD)

 

Day 6 to 8 - The Charms of Chobe

Fly from Chief's Camp to Kasane

 

After your journey through the Delta, another contrasting paradise awaits you. After a final game drive at Chief’s Camp, you will fly to Kasane to be driven onwards to your final Botswana camp, Chobe Chilwero. As luxurious and comforting as it is authentic, this lodge will gather you up in its embrace as you immerse yourself in the charisma and charm of Chobe. Echoing the first few days of your Botswana adventures, this part of the country will bring you once again into the company of that gracious grey giant, the elephant. The park is widely known for its spectacular elephant population estimated at about 50,000; this  is thought to be the highest concentration in Africa.

Chobe Chilwero itself is situated on a ridge overlooking the Chobe River in the distance, one of four great rivers in Botswana. Walking out onto your deck, you will be greeted by unparalleled panoramic views as far as Namibia. An absolute must-do here is a river cruise at sunset to see the family pods of hippo, and glimpse a herd of elephants crossing the water at sunset. For those who haven’t quite satisfied their wildlife cravings, there are more morning and afternoon game drives to be enjoyed, and for those who need to wind down and really relax, there is a treat in store. The spa at Chobe Chilwero is one of the best on offer across Botswana’s safari lodges, and invites you for tree-top treatments in the midst of Chobe’s rustic bush surroundings. 

In the evenings, indulge in gourmet fare accompanied by delicious wines, and look back on some of the highlights of your trip whilst the sounds of the African wilderness and its residents lull you cozily towards the welcome comfort of your bed. 

 

Day 9 - Departure 

Today is your final day on safari, after one last game drive, or one last massage, and a glorious breakfast, a transfer awaits to carry you to Kasane for departure.

Type of Safari

Custom Itinerary for singles, couples, families & groups

 

Accommodation style

Luxury Lodge

 

Duration

8 nights/9 days

 

Countries

Botswana

Included

• Accommodation on a shared basis
• Scheduled activities and all internal charters 
• Soft drinks, mineral water, fruit juice, house wine and beer, as well as local spirits such as gin and Amarula 
• National Park fees 
• All meals, drinks and activities while in lodges on safari
• Emergency medical evacuation insurance
• Laundry

 

Excluded

• Flights (other than specified in the detailed safari itinerary)
• Visas 
• Compulsory comprehensive insurance 
• All relevant entry and departure Government taxes 
• Gratuities 
• All personal purchases (including curios, spirit liquors, telephone calls, etc.) 
• Optional extra activities 
• Pre and post safari tours 
• All other travel arrangements pre or post the safari and any new Government taxes 
• Levies 
• Fuel or industry increases which are beyond our control

 

Vehicle

Lite Aircraft, 4x4 safari vehicle, Motorboat, Mokoro

Please send us info on the safari/s you are interested in, your preferred dates, how many adults and children [+ ages] and we will come back to you with a detailed quote.

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