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Days 1,2 & 3: Okavango Delta
The Okavango Delta represents survival at the other extreme:
abundant water, sunlight and soil combine to form a paradise
bursting with life. The contrast becomes amazingly clear as
we move from desert to delta, from dry sand to water world,
on a light aircraft charter from Maun to Jacana Camp.
Jacana Camp is set in one of the wetland
areas most densely populated with sitatunga and red lechwe.
Wildlife concentrations depend on the water flow and volume,
thus changing from season to season, but all the large animals
can be found in the area including elephant, lion, leopard
and buffalo. Pel's Fishing Owl is a favourite amongst birders
as well as Greater and Lesser Jacanas. When the flood levels
are at their peak we are able to motorboat from the airstrip
to the lodge, a truly surreal camp arrival!
Jacana Camp has 5 Meru-style tents. Each
tent is on a wooden deck overlooking the floodplains and has
an en-suite bathroom with flush toilet and shower. The bathroom
is enclosed but roofless, allowing for showers by starlight.
The camp has a plunge pool for cooling off from the midday
sun. The main dining area is on an elevated wooden deck between
two magnificent sycamore fig trees and surrounded by dense
wild date palms. Downstairs, there is a cosy pub and lounge
with an area perfect for an open fire under the stars.
Day 4, 5 & 6: Ketumetse Trails Camp,
North-eastern Okavango Delta
We depart this morning by aircraft to our superb Ketumetse
Trails Camp, situated in an exclusive concession. Ketumetse
is located in the south-western sector of the Selinda private
concession, in the seasonally flooded portion of the Okavango
Delta where it joins into the Selinda Spillway.
Accommodation is in 6.3m x 3.5m walk-in hexagon
Meru-style tents (maximum of two guests per tent). The tents
are airy with the beds facing the best view and are beautifully
designed to recreate the accommodation of the early explorers,
with brass shower buckets and richly coloured teak director
chairs. Separate bedside tables with 12v reading lamps, canvas
and wood wardrobes, bathrobes, comfortable beds, flushing
toilets and mirrors are provided. Camp amenities (conditioning
shampoo, soap, shower gel and body lotion) are elegantly displayed
for use and private, en-suite separate toilet and shower areas
are part of the main structure.
The area in which the camp is located is
scenic with generous shade provided by leadwood and russet
bushwillow trees. Open floodplains and woodlands spread out
in front of camp. Activities concentrate on nature walks and
canoeing, providing a superb view from the canoe of big game
coming to the water's edge to drink. Game drives (by day and
night) are possible and often reveal sightings of the rare
roan and stately sable antelopes, in addition to an array
of other general game species. Seasonally, "catch and
release" fishing is offered as an alternative activity.
Day 7, 8 & 9: Linyanti Discoverer Camp,
Linyanti
After a light breakfast, we fly north-eastwards to the private
Linyanti Concession; after a short game drive we arrive at
our private Discoverer camp, which is elegantly set up under
African ebony and knobthorn acacia trees overlooking panoramic
vistas of the Linyanti Swamps.
The landscape of the Linyanti varies from
floodplains to open dry land savannah and forest with sweeping
views, creating a paradise for a high diversity of wildlife
and bird species. Activities include game drives in the private
northern sector of the concession, exploring a range of habitats,
from riverbanks to scrub and forest, which reveal a myriad
of wildlife en route to slake their thirst from the river.
The seldom-seen sitatunga can also be spotted in the waterways,
as well as rare plains game, such as roan and sable antelope
and of course their predators, the lion and leopard - with
the endangered wild dog as an incredible bonus.
There's also a game drive to a private area
for lunch, then a siesta in hammocks and the possibility of
an afternoon canoe trip, before returning to camp at dusk.
(This activity is not always possible, as it is dependent
on whether there are hippo pods moving in and out of the areas
in which we canoe.) Another possible activity is an all-day
game drive to the Savuti Channel, with lunch en route at a
shady place. This game drive is specifically designed to gain
an introduction to the "Stolen River" as well as
enjoying a part of the Selinda Spillway with its rich floodplains.
To complete the experience, in the rainy
season and on the third day it is possible to enjoy a full-day
activity to the Savute Channel, with lunch at a scenic setting
under a shade tree. The spectacular but seasonal (rain dependant)
zebra migration moves between Linyanti and the Savute Marsh
between end November and March, the area also boasting an
impressive diversity of mammals, including large elephant
herds. When undertaken and during the correct season, this
day is specifically tailored to enjoy the seasonal and migratory
movements of wildlife, although sighting the zebra migration
is not guaranteed.
Day 10: Chobe River boat cruise, Chobe National
Park and Sussi Lodge, Zambia
After a short morning drive and breakfast, we depart by light
aircraft to the northern Chobe region of Chobe National Park.
This area is famous for its vast herds of elephants in the
dry season and other unique species such as the elusive puku
and Chobe bushbuck that move to the river in the hottest hours
of the day. Enjoy a light lunch on the boat cruise in a catamaran-style
shaded boat.
We leave Botswana and enter Zambia by way
of the Kazangula border, a point where the four countries
of Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia meet, arriving in
the late afternoon at Sussi Lodge, in Livingstone.
Guest accommodation at Sussi Lodge consists
of 10 luxury tree-houses built into the living canopy of giant
ebony trees lining the riverbank. Each unit has a mini bar,
en-suite bathroom, mosquito nets, overhead fan and a private
view of the Zambezi from its own deck among the branches.
The main lodge building features a raised bar/lounge deck,
open-air dining area, swimming pool and lawns down to the
water's edge.
Day 11: Victoria Falls, transfer to Livingstone
Airport
The grand finale is a guided tour of the Victoria Falls, one
of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. At 1708 metres
wide, it is the largest curtain of water in the world and
drops more than 100 metres into the sheer Zambezi Gorge.
Transfer to Livingstone Airport immediately
after the tour of the Victoria Falls and bid farewell to the
adventure.
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