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The
Great Wilderness Journey
(Botswana -11 Days)
Tour direction: San Camp to Zambia (also
operates in the reverse direction)
Combination Wilderness lodges and fully serviced camping in private concession
areas.
Experience a
nostalgic, turn-of-the-century camping / lodge safari that recreates the
sense of a game-viewing adventure reminiscent of the times of the great
African explorers. At the turn of the century, explorers and adventurers
made their way leisurely along the dusty paths of Africa, allowing the
great continent to seep into their souls. Wilderness' guided mobile
safaris takes time to experience and explore Botswana's contrasts and
extremes: from the waterless and strange landscape of the Kalahari Desert
to the lushly vegetated wetlands of the Okavango Delta. Wilderness
Safaris' newly designed, spacious walk-in Meru tents create a sense of
connectedness to the Earth and nature, enhancing the view and the feeling
of the wild and untamed. The style of accommodation in the private
Discoverer campsites takes you back to the era of Africa's exploration.
Pure linens of heavy cottons, brass bucket showers and basins, separate
flushing toilets and shower areas all add to the atmosphere, while luxury
comforts and amenities are elegantly provided.
Discoverer camping aims to bring the guest closer to nature, by means of a
lively camp fire, hurricane lanterns, wide-ranging activities and a warm
atmosphere complimenting the comfort and added luxury of the lodges
visited. Discoverer camps are specifically outfitted to ensure that
old-style camping feel with a clear emphasis on necessary and stylish
comfortable interiors, creating a peerless wilderness experience. |
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Guides:
The entire safari is guided and hosted by professional trained guides, who share
their in-depth knowledge to present a seamless safari experience.
Exclusive experience: Many areas in which we travel are private concessions. All
Discoverer camps are private and for the use of Exploration travelers only,
while our lodges are open to all Wilderness Safaris guests.
Routes: To maximize guests' travel time, a
variety of travel modes that bring out the best of each area is used: flying in
private charters and overland transfers which provide both a bird's-eye view and
an in-depth visual experience of the contrasting landscapes of Botswana.
Seasonality: We take advantage of the
changing seasons so as to provide the best in wildlife viewing on an annual
basis. Therefore, we enjoy three night stays at both Ketumetse Trails Camp and
Linyanti Discoverer Camp, to fully appreciate the diversity of area and activity
| Days 1,
2 and 3:- Jacana Camp, Okavango
Delta
After arrival in Maun, you
will be met by your guide or our representative and fly by light aircraft
to Jacana Camp 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 San to Jacana Camp. Lush
Jacana Camp is situated in a permanently flooded region of the private Jao
concession of the Okavango Delta. A true water camp, it represents the
essence of the Delta, with year-round mokoro safaris as well as island
bush walks and, water level permitting, motorboat cruises. In fact, 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 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 favorite amongst birders as well as Greater and
Lesser Jacanas. |
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| 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 cozy pub and lounge with an area perfect for an open fire under the stars. |
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Days 4,5 and 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.
Our exclusive Discoverer campsite has been erected prior to our arrival in
the wildlife-rich seasonal plains region under large shade trees,
affording some views of the floodplain in cool comfort.
Activities concentrate around the bushy and wooded islands, open plains
and the flooded and dry channels surrounding the camp. In this area
seasonal congregations of wildlife (especially in the late afternoons)
make for a great experience on game drives, night drives and nature walks
on the private concession.
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| Days 7,8 and 9: Linyanti
Discoverer Camp, Linyanti Concession
After a light breakfast, we
drive north eastwards to the private Linyanti Concession; arriving at our
private Discoverer camp, which is elegantly set up under African ebony and
knobthorn acacia trees overlooking panoramic vistas of the Linyanti
Swamps. This can be an all-day game drive/ transfer, with lunch en route
at a shady place en route. This game/ transfer drive is specifically
designed to gain an intimate view of the "Stolen River" as well as
enjoying a part of the Selinda Spillway and its rich floodplains.
The landscape of the Linyanti varies from floodplains to open dry land
savannah and forested habitat 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.
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There is 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.)
To
complete the experience, in the rain season and on the third day we can
possibly 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.
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| 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
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. |
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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
meters wide, it is the largest curtain of water in the world and drops
more than 100 meters into the sheer Zambezi Gorge.
Transfer to Livingstone Airport immediately after the tour of the Victoria
Falls and bid farewell to the adventure.
NOTE: THIS ITINERARY IS
AVAILABLE ON FLEXIBLE DATES AND ITINERARIES, FOR TAILOR-MADE SAFARIS FOR SMALL
GROUPS UP TO EIGHT GUESTS. |
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SCHEDULED
SAFARI DATES - 2010
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The
2010 cost for this safari is US$7,467
per person
sharing
Single Supplement:- US$1,072
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2010 Departure Dates
African Safari
Consultants
TOLL FREE 1-866-733-4263
(1-866-SEE-GAME)
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