Botswana Explorer

Experience Victoria Falls, The Okavango and Chobe National Park

Starting in the remote swamplands of the Okavango Delta this ten-day trip uses a combination of short flights, scenic drives and boat transfers and allows you to explore three of southern Africa's best attractions.  Your route takes you from a watery wilderness to the legendary African plains of Botswana and tops it with a visit to the spectacular Victoria Falls in Zambia.

• Delta dreams with traditional mekoro dug-out canoe water safaris
  
• Pristine wilderness and remote camps
  
• Classic African safaris with predators, plains herds and hundreds of bird species
  
• Victoria Falls – seventh Natural Wonder of the World
  
• Comfortable lodges and warm smiles everywhere

The highlights of southern Africa are presented on a platter of pristine wilderness and garnished with a generous sprig of wonder: the Okavango Delta is an immense expanse of channels, lagoons, palm-clad islands and endless floodplains; Chobe is a catchment area for most of Africa's plains game, predators and birds; and Victoria Falls is a wonder to behold and the activities a thrill to experience.

Day 1 - 3: Okavango Delta, Botswana

From Maun Airport a scheduled charter flight takes you to an airstrip near Camp Okuti where your personal guide will collect you; flying time is about 25 minutes. Overlooking a series of shallow channels, the camp has ten chalets each with a private verandah and en suite facilities. Activities include game drives in open 4WD vehicles and water safaris on motorised delta boats.

The resident lions and hippos will compete for your attention at night and, during the breeding season, heron and storks congregate in the nearby channels. A short flight after your morning excursion and breakfast takes you to your next Okavango Delta camp: the delightfully named Pom Pom.

Accommodation: Camp Okuti
Meals: Full board, excluding premium drinks

Day 3 - 5: Okavango Delta, Botswana

Pom Pom is a small and intimate camp in a private concession in the western region of the Okavango Delta. With a combination of permanent water, seasonal channels and dry floodplains, the camp offers a variety of game viewing activities including game drives, night drives, water safaris in traditional mekoro and walks on the islands and in the floodplains. With some of the best game viewing in the delta you may encounter all of the big predators, plenty of big animals and plains game and a profusion of riparian and savannah woodland birds.

Accommodation: Pom Pom
Meals: Full board, excluding premium drinks

Day 5 - 7: Chobe, Botswana

A longer scheduled charter flight – 90 minutes – will transfer you to Kasane Airport in the north-east of Botswana. The transfer from airport to Chobe Safari Lodge is about a 10-minute drive and you'll be sipping a welcome drink before you can say 'Elephant!' On Botswana's far north-eastern border lies the Kwando, Linyanti and Chobe river system responsible for the swampy floodplains of Chobe National Park, famous for its large herds of elephant and buffalo. The park also offers some of the best game viewing in Africa with high concentrations of plains game, predators and birds.

The Chobe Safari Lodge is a relaxed and casual camp on the banks of the Chobe River; with a variety of accommodation options, a feast of activities and a glorious sunset at the end of each day, this is the perfect base from which to explore the Chobe River and the National Park. Included in your fare are three game drives into Chobe National Park and one boat cruise on the Chobe River or two game drives and two boat cruises; you can also opt for scenic game-viewing flights, fishing, bush walks, and birding safaris.

Accommodation: Chobe Safari Lodge
Meals: Full board, excluding premium drinks

Day 7 - 10: Victoria Falls, Zambia

Thorntree is a kick-your-shoes-off-and-relax lodge on the edge of the Zambezi River. Featuring a bar that you can swim to and a permanent picture-postcard view of the river, the lodge will have you relaxed, iced drink in hand, within minutes of your arrival. Inside the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, the daily parade of wildlife and total isolation make Thorntree an excellent Victoria Falls base. The activities seem endless and help is at hand when you plan your three days of fun.

The lodge offers one inclusive activity per day but park entrance fees are yours to cover. After visiting the spectacular star of the show – Victoria Falls, not the poolside bar – you can choose from a range of activities that includes game drives, boat cruises, bird watching and a veritable defibrillation of adventure activities. All good things must come to an end and your driver will transfer you to nearby Livingstone International Airport and the end of a thrilling African adventure.

Accommodation: Thorntree River Lodge
Meals: Full board, excluding premium drinks

Prices:

PACKAGE NOT AVAILABLE FROM 01 JANUARY 2008 – 28 FEBRUARY 2008 AS CAMP OKUTI IS CLOSED DURING THIS PERIOD

COST OF PACKAGE: VALID 01 March 2008 – 31 March 2008
USD 2775.00 per person sharing
USD 630.00 single supplement

COST OF PACKAGE: VALID 01 April 2008 – 30 April 2008
USD 2880.00 per person sharing
USD 640.00 single supplement

COST OF PACKAGE: VALID 01 May 2008 – 31 May 2008
USD 2995.00 per person sharing
USD 740.00 single supplement

COST OF PACKAGE: VALID 01June 2008 – 30 June 2008
USD 3270.00 per person sharing
USD 742.00 single supplement

COST OF PACKAGE: VALID 01 July 2008 – 31 October 2008
USD 3435.00 per person sharing
USD 865.00 single supplement

Includes:

Nine nights' accommodation, full board excluding premium brand drinks
Chartered light aircraft transfers between Maun, Camp Okuti, Pom Pom and Kasane
All road transfers
Park entrance fees in Botswana
Two daily safari activities at Camp Okuti, Pom Pom and Chobe Safari Lodge and one daily activity at Thorntree River Lodge
Domestic airport taxes in Botswana
Emergency medical evacuation insurance

Excludes:

Park entrance fees at Thorntree River Lodge
All drinks at Chobe Safari Lodge
Laundry at Chobe Safari Lodge and Thorntree River Lodge
Additional activities, purchases and gratuities
Visa and immigration fees
International departure tax at Livingstone Airport

Notes: departure tax at Livingstone Airport is US$20 payable in cash but this may change at short notice; please check with your travel consultant prior to your arrival.

Your Rhino Africa consultant will explain the applicable conditions and describe the specific includes, excludes and activities available at each lodge.

Note: Although this is a nine day safari, you can shorten or lengthen it depending on your time and budget. And what's more, you can add this to an itinerary that goes to Kruger National Park, the Garden Route, Cape Town... you name it. Contact one of our expert consultants to design the perfect safari for you.