Botswana Luxury Accommodated Land Safari (OKA9)

This safari was designed for those who prefer to travel with a group and stay in comfortable accommodations rather than camping. The safari is conducted by a personal guide who will add immeasurably to your enjoyment and understanding of the unique wilderness areas you will visit. Participants travel in specially modified 4X4 safari vehicles, light aircraft and motorboat. The safari can also be done in reverse itinerary, starting in Victoria Falls and terminating in Maun. Age limit: 65 years and under

DETAIL ITINERARY:

Day 1. Assemble at Maun Airport and transfer by light aircraft to Camp Okavango in the heart of the Okavango Delta. Accommodation in East African style safari tents with en suite facilities. Enjoy game viewing activities. L/D

Camp Okavango is situated on Nxaragha Island in the heart of the permanent Okavango Delta. Renowned for its high level of comfort and service, this is the ideal base from which to explore the Delta by canoe, rivercraft or on foot. The resident naturalist will lead all your game viewing activities. Specialties you may encounter are the elusive Sitatunga and Pel's Fishing Owl. Camp Okavango accommodates only 22 guests. Unashamed luxury blends with the Africa of yore in the elegant thatch and lethaka main building which houses a cocktail bar, lounge and dining room, while the open air patio caters for all fresco meals and evenings around a blazing fire. The silver service dinner served by candelabra is renowned among knowledgeable Africa travelers. Shaded hammocks, reading benches and a delightful sundeck and plunge pool provide relief during the hot midday hours.The 11 Twin bedded East African style safari tents, each with private hot shower and toilet are beautifully furnished with Rhodesian Teak wardrobes, luggage racks, chairs, dressing tables and bedside tables; rustic woven rugs, designer linen and matching interior blinds.

Moremi Wildlife Reserve is situated in the eastern extremity of the Okavango Delta. Here, where the life-giving waters of the Okavango River meets up with the vast Kalahari, ancient mopane forests, open grasslands, seasonal floodplains and riverine habitats have formed, creating one of the most magnificent and welcoming animal sanctauries in all Africa. The Reserve supports the most diverse habitat and animal populations in Botswana, with possible sightings of wild dog, cheetah and leopard being highlights.

Day 2. Enjoy game viewing activities. Accommodation at Camp Okavango. B/L/D

Day 3. Transfer by powerboat to Camp Moremi. Accommodation is in East African style tents with en suite facilties. Enjoy game viewing activities. B/L/D

The boat transfer is a sightseeing adventure in itself as you traverse the secret lagoons and serpentine channels of this great wilderness. Tea and coffee, or even a splendid picnic lunch may be taken on an island en route, as is the opportunity to go on an exploratory game walk.

At Camp Moremi your activities centre around game viewing drives by open safari vehicle through the riparian forests and open plains of this beautiful reserve. Game viewing is conducted by experienced resident naturalists. Rivercraft trips on the lagoon, fishing and visits to the heronries at Gadikwe, make this possibly the most complete African safari lodge experience. An observation platform affords stunning views over Xakanaxa Lagoon, while the famous elevated Camp Moremi Tree Lodge contains the lounge, cocktail bar, dining room, curio shop and sundeck. A covered boma for all fresco meals and evenings around the campfire and a plunge pool ensure the very best experience for only 22 guests. The 11 Twin bedded East African style safari tents, each with private hot shower and toilet are beautifully furnished with Rhodesian Teak wardrobes, luggage racks, chairs, dressing tables and bedside tables; rustic woven rugs, designer linen and matching interior blinds.

Day 4. After breakfast depart by landrover on an extended game viewing drive through Moremi to Tsaro Lodge, situated on the edge of the Khwai River flood plain near the north gate of the Reserve. Accommodation at Tsaro is in comfortable thatched chalets with en suite facilities. Explore the northern sector of Moremi in the afternoon on game drives. B/L/D

Day 5. Negotiate the sandy tracks of the Magwihkwe Sand Ridge into the Chobe National Park, crossing the pre-historic lake bed of the Mababe Depression to Savuti. Overnight at a permanent tented lodge on the banks of the dry Savuti Channel. B/L/D

The Savuti Channel is world renowned for its large concentrations of game and its strong and stable population of predators. Extensive game viewing drives are sure to provide you with excellent game sightings and photographic opportunities. Meals are sumptuous affairs - accompanied by the call of the hyena or the occasional roar of a lion.

Day 6. Depart for the Chobe River and overnight at Chobe Game Lodge in standard rooms with en suite facilities, overlooking the river. Enjoy a sundowner cruise on the Chobe River in the evening, feasting your eyes on the glory of the setting sun, while hippo and elephant turn to silhouettes in the face of the coming night. B/L/D

The Chobe National Park covers nearly 6,600 square miles in northern Botswana with habitats ranging from swamp and floodplain to dead lake beds, sandridges and forest. The park can be divided roughly into three areas: the Chobe river area, the Mababe depression ( a dead lake bed) including the Savuti channel and marsh, and the Ngwezumba area with its mopani forests, riparian woodland and pans. The Chobe is best known for its huge herds of up to five hundred elephants, and its buffalo which sometimes congregate in herds of a thousand. An estimated 73,000 elephants make the Chobe National Park their home.

The Chobe River front offers you an excellent opportunity to observe lions, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras and hippos submerging at dawn and emerging at dusk. Also to be found here are most antelope species indigenous to Botswana, including the shy lechwes. Bird life is abundant and in great variety.

Chobe Chilwero Lodge is an exclusive lodge set on a hill overlooking the Chobe River and on the boundary of the Chobe National Park. The lodge accommodates a maximum of 16 guests in thatched, timber A-frame bungalows with en suite facilities. Game viewing activities are conducted with professional guides in the Chobe National Park by open safari vehicle or on the Chobe River by power boat.

Day 8. After an early morning game drive and breakfast, you leave Chobe and cross into Zimbabwe to Victoria Falls. Accommodation is at the Victoria Falls Hotel on a bed & breakfast basis. The day is at le

DETAILED ITINERARY: HEMINGWAY PHOTOGRAPHIC SAFARIS (HW14)

Day 1. Arrive Johannesburg International Airport, South Africa. Transfer to the Gold Reef City Hotel. This hotel is situated in a replica of an old mining town. All shopping, banking and other conveniences are available.

Day 2. Flight to Maun, Botswana departs at 7 am. from Johannesburg. Maun is a small outpost town on the edge of the Okavango Delta. From here you will transfer to Semetsi Island in the Okavango Delta. From this beautiful island in the heart of the Okavango you will enjoy makoro (dugout canoe) trips and walking safaris in big game areas. Overnight in permanent tented accommodation. B/L/D

Day 3. Early start for a boat trip through the Delta. Overnight in permanent tented accommodation, which has four self contained units with two beds per unit and showers. B/L/D

Day 4. Transfer by air to Moremi Bush Camp. Here you meet the overland safari team and set out for a tented camp in the Moremi Wildlife Reserve. This begins the heaviest concentration of classic African wildlife. Overnight camping. B/L/D

Day 5. Game drives through the Reserve. Overnight camping. B/L/D

Day 6. Game drives through the Reserve. Overnight camping. B/L/D

Day 7. Drive from Moremi to Savuti with viewing along the way in this abundant lion and elephant country. Overnight camping. B/L/D

Day 8. Full day of discovery and game driving. Overnight camping. B/L/D

Day 9. Spend the day game viewing and exploring the wild. Overnight camping. B/L/D

Day 10. Head for Chobe - about a 5 hour drive through bush country. Overnight in comfortable rondavals with private baths at Chobe Safari Lodge. B/L/D

Day 11. Game drives during the day and dinner party around the campfire to say farewell to the Botswana staff. Overnight at Chobe Safari Lodge. B/L/D

Day 12. Drive by bus to Victoria Falls (2 hours), arriving in time for lunch and ample time to walk through the rain forest and see the spectacular mile-wide cascade of the most astounding waterfall in the world. The locals call it "mosi-oa-tunya" ("the smoke that forever thunders"). Overnight at the Ilala Hotel. Enjoy the luxury of the intimate at this new hotel which is located just steps from the Falls. B only

Day 13. Spend the day in the bold adventure of white water rafting through the rapids of the Zambezi River. You are required to be in good physical condition since there is a strenuous climb in and out of the gorge. WHITE WATER RAFTING IS NOT PART OF THE SAFARI AND IS TOTALLY AT YOUR OWN RISK. There is a $105 additional cost for rafting payable directly to the outfitter. Alternatively, you can shop and tour the area, go for a helicopter or airplane flight over the Falls, or enjoy a lunch or dinner cruise on the Zambezi River. Overnight at the Victoria Falls Hotel. B only

Day 14. Day at leisure. Evening flight to Johannesburg to connect with your flight to the USA. B only

B/L/D = Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

INCLUSIONS AND EXCLUSIONS Hemingway Photographic Safari (HW14)

Day 1. Included - airport transfer, hotel accommodation

Excluded - dinner

Day 2. Included - air transfer to Maun, transfer to Semetsi Island, tented accommodation with en suite facilities, B/L/D

Day 3. Included - makoro trips, walking safaris. tented accommodation with en suite facilities. B/L/D

Day 4. Included - air transfer, park fees, tented accommodation with en suite facilities, B/L/D

Day 5. Included - game drives, tented accommadation with en suite facilities, B/L/D

Day 6. Included - game drives, tented accommodation with en suite facilities, B/L/D

Day 7. Included - game drives, park fees, tented accoommodation with en suite facilities, B/L/D

Day 8. Included - game drives, tented accoommodation with en suite facilities, B/L/D

Day 9. Included - game drives, tented accoommodation with en suite facilities, B/L/D

Day 10. Included - overland drive, accommodation in rondavals with en suite facilities, B/L/D

Day 11. Included - game drives, accommodation in rondavals with en suite facilities, B/L/D

Day 12. Included - bus transfer, hotel accommodation, B only

Excluded - Victoria Falls entrance fee, optional excursions and side trips, other meals

Day 13. Included - hotel accommodation, B only

Excluded - optional excursions and side trips, other meals

Day 14. Included - breakfast, air transfer to Johannesburg

Excluded - optional excursions and side trips, other meals