Botswana Tour - Trans Okavango Expedition

All adventurers will meet at Hatfield Gautrain Station in Pretoria, South Africa, at 10:00 am on departure day. After we have made sure everyone has signed indemnity forms, loaded their luggage and have received a complimentary bottle of water, we head north in the direction of the Waterberg. Our route takes us through Modimolle, Vaalwater and Melkrivier where we find the remote camp where you will spend our first night on tour. Lunch will be own expense in Vaalwater.

We arrive in the early afternoon and relax around the small swimming pool. In the late afternoon we take a short walk to experience the bushveld sunset before settling around the campfire. A traditional bush braai is at the order of the day. After dinner, there is time to interact and ask questions about the adventure that awaits us. Tonight’s accommodation is in safari tents on wooden decks with communal bathrooms as well as an outdoor shower. (Total distance: 350 km; Approx. travel time:  4 hours). Dinner included.

After an early breakfast, we pack the vehicle and depart to the Botswana border post at Groblersbrug. Here we cross the “great grey-green, greasy” Limpopo River and enter Botswana. Once in Botswana, we make our way to Kubu Island. Kubu Island (or Lekhubu Island) consists of a granite rock outcrop and baobab trees in the middle of the Makgadikgadi Pans (Sowa Pan) and is a brilliant place for our first night in Botswana. Take a walk on the pan to get the full impact of the surroundings.

There are no facilities at Kubu and we are fully self-sufficient. Dinner will be prepared on the fire. (Total distance:500 km; Approx. travel time:  8 hours). All meals included.

After an evening spent under the stars, we wake up relaxed for the next phase of our journey of discovery. In the event that the pans are dry enough, we will take the top road across the pans to Gweta. This is a magnificent traverse of the Makgadikgadi Pans. If we cannot use this road, we will drive via Mopipi to Maun – the gateway to the Okavango Delta. We arrive at the lodge in the late afternoon and after setting up camp, enjoy a swim or relax with a cold refreshment in hand next to the pool or river.

Dinner is served in the campsite. (Total distance:  400 km; Approx. travel time:  5 - 8 hours). All meals included.

We prepare breakfast at the campsite. We pack our belongings in the two transfer vehicles and head off to Sepupa on the panhandle. The drive takes between 4 and 5 hours. Upon arriving at our boat launch site, we have lunch while the boats and equipment are being prepared. Once everything is packed, we jump on board and head out into the watery wilderness.

We enjoy our first stretch of open water whilst game watching, birding, or just taking in the beautiful colours of our environment. We reach our first camp on an island in the river. Our evening camps consist of our tents with bedding, chairs, a washbasin, bush shower and bush toilet. The fireplace and kitchen will form the centre of the camp. As we are camping in the wild without any fences surrounding the camp, it is important that you do not wander off on your own. At night it is crucial that you stay within the inner circle around the fire.

We undertake a short walk to enjoy sundowners on our first night. Dinner is served around the fire. The rest of the night is spent sharing stories and gazing up at the magnificent stars. On our second night, a full moon will greet us. This will once again be one of those once-in-a-lifetime memories.

Our mornings will start with coffee and tea, rusks and cereals before we do some exploring on foot. On our return, we enjoy a cooked breakfast before packing up and heading out. When we see an ideal spot, we stop to stretch the legs or use the toilet and do some more exploring before heading out again. Lunch will be served on one of the islands along the way.

 The delta is an intriguing and dynamic environment and the landscape moves past our boats like a movie screen – in the deepest blue and green colours. Down below, the water is crystal clear and one can usually see down to the bottom. (Total distance: 350 km; Approx. travel time: 5 hours). All meals included.

On the last day of our delta discovery, we finish right on the doorstep at Island Safari Lodge on the outskirts of Maun. Take a well-deserved swim in the pool and relax while reliving the adventures of the last couple of days. All meals included.

Today is a rest day. You can choose to either relax in camp or visit Maun, or undertake an optional activity:

• Scenic flight over the delta (after our journey on the water, this is a great way to get a better idea of the vastness and layout of the delta – highly reccomended).
• Mekoro trip (a mekoro is a traditional dugout canoe and the traditional way for the local people to move around the channels in the delta).

Only breakfast is included on Day 10. You can go to town for lunch or dinner or decide to enjoy it at camp. There is also an option to upgrade to one of the chalets during these two nights (own expense).

We leave the beauty of the Okavango Delta behind for the interior of Botswana. Our overnight stop is at the well- known Khama Rhino Sanctuary near Serowe. Lunch today is own expense along the way. Dinner is included and will be served in the restaurant. There is also a pool for your enjoyment.

Optional activities at Khama Rhino Sanctuary include game drives and guided rhino tracking walk  (06:00 am). (Total distance: 530 km; Total travel time: 8 hours). Breakfast and dinner included.

On our last morning we depart Khama Rhino Sanctuary and head back to South Africa via the Groblersbrug border post and Lephalale. Arrive back in Pretoria in the early afternoon. Lunch own expense along the way. (Total distance: 600 km; Total travel time: 9 hours). Only breakfast included.