Mobile safaris are just that, the camp moves with you. Accommodations are large spacious "stand up" tents with en-suite toilet facilities and large shaded verandahs. All meals are prepared by a professional safari chef and 3 course dinners are served in a large dining tent. Hot showers are available daily (except where water restrictions apply). The safari is well staffed and all that remains for the guest to do is relax and enjoy the wilderness experience.

In the words of our mobile safari guides: We have two basic itineraries: The 13-day "Northern Circle" and the 11-day "Northern Highlights". These safaris are luxury-tented safaris that take you through the wilderness areas of Botswana's Okavango Delta including Moremi Game Reserve, the Chobe/Linyanti river system, and Chobe National Park. The safari passes through some of the finest game viewing areas in Africa and some of the most pristine wilderness areas remaining on the planet. On the "Northern Circle" you'll also travel through Namibia's Madumo National Park and Mahango National Park which afford spectacular wildlife viewing. The major habitats we travel through include semi-desert Kalahari scrub, swamps, savannah, grasslands, woodland and riparian forests. Wildlife viewing opportunities are unrivalled and we will see many of Africa's charismatic big game, including the densest concentration of elephants in the world. Encounters with large predators are also highly likely.

Day 1: Maun to Moremi. Having arrived at Maun International Airport (a big name for a little place) you will be transferred by four-wheel drive vehicle to Moremi Game Reserve. After settling into camp, we will set out on a short evening game drive or walk.

Day 2: Moremi. We will get off on an early start as we continue our exploration of Moremi. Today we are likely to see large game such as kudu, impala, zebra, elephant, and lion, and smaller animals and birds such as bat-eared fox or the rare slaty egret. We're also likely to see hippo and red lechwe. We return to camp for a relaxing brunch followed by some free time to shower, and siesta (you'll need it!). We then take an afternoon boat trip to see the nesting sites and heronries on the Xakanaxa and Gadikwe lagoons. Our journey to Gadikwe Lagoons with narrow channels fringed with dense papyrus and Phragmites are adorned with malachite kingfisher, little bee eater and blue-cheeked bee eater. The heronry itself hosts thousands of breeding and roosting birds in the early summer. We return to camp for a well-earned dinner and relax around the campfire..

Day 3: Moremi to Khwai. We drive to the Khwai region north of Moremi, with excellent game viewing, arriving in the afternoon. The Khwai River is a finger of the Okavango that protrudes well beyond the swampy habitats of the central Delta and penetrates the dry camelthorn acacia and combretum woodlands of eastern Moremi. For much of the year this is the only surface water in a huge radius of semi-arid savannah and woodland and as a result, it is particularly well known for it's concentration of birds of prey, such as the bateleur, tawny eagle, and martial eagle. We end our day in Khwai with a night drive back to our camp. There is a chance of seeing a host of nocturnal animals that we would otherwise miss. These include springhare, greater spotted genet, serval, African porcupine, white-tailed mongoose and lesser bushbaby (galago). Lion and leopard are also more active at this time and as a result they are often easier to find. We return to camp for a delicious dinner.

Day 4: Khwai. For a change of pace we explore the area on foot leaving our camp in the early morning. This gives us an opportunity to really get a feel of the bush as we search for unseen species; the walk is not strenuous as the landscape is fairly flat. Your guide will be armed with a high caliber rifle and is highly trained in walking in areas with large game. The species we encounter on the morning walk will very much depend on the habitat in which the guide chooses to walk. We will also be exploring the ecology of the area and looking at the signs left by the animals which one often misses on drives. We take another walk in the afternoon where we will meet our game drive vehicle at sunset, after taking in the sunset with a couple of sundowners (that's cocktails to you and me!) we begin our night drive searching for the nocturnal birds and mammals occurring in the area.

Day 5: Khwai to Savuti, Chobe National Park (CNP). From Khwai, we head northeast to Savuti in the Chobe National Park. Our route takes us over the Magwikwe Sandridge and along the fringe of the Mababe Depression. After settling into camp we take a sundowner (drinks again! yipee!) drive to one of the waterholes where elephant grudgingly share the precious water resources with thousands of doves and sandgrouse.

Day 6: Savuti, CNP. Savuti is world renowned for its wildlife and the Savuti Marsh has been the stage upon which many wildlife documentaries have unfolded. The resident pride of lions fluctuates between 20 and 30 individuals and have earned there fame for hunting elephant. The landscape here is dotted with lone elephant bulls going about their daily feeding and other wildlife to look for in this area is wild dog and cheetah. Most of Savuti is deep sand with scrub combretum and Kalahari apple-leaf, while the Savuti Marsh is a seemingly endless grassland with scattered dead trees. The large ryolite outcrops break the otherwise flat expanse and here we look for the unique klipspringer. Our day ends with sundowner drinks at Harvey's Pans followed by a traditional African dinner (with alternatives for the less adventurous).

Day 7: Chobe. Our route today takes us through dense combretum and mopane scrub as we cross over the Magwikwe Sandridge again and move into the Chobe Forest Reserve. This broad-leafed (miombo) woodland is dominated by Zambezi teak. Once we pass through the Chobe Forest Reserve we re-enter Chobe National Park and come out on the Chobe River. This area is deservedly famous for its massive elephant population (the world's largest) and the ever fluctuating river system which is the life-blood of birds and animals alike. An afternoon game-drive takes us along the Chobe floodplain.

Day 8: Chobe. Today we will enjoy a morning game drive and an afternoon boat ride on the world famous Chobe River. We may well be overwhelmed by the vast quantity of large mammals that we will encounter! Vast herds of elephant and buffalo and pods of lazing hippopotamus will vie for our attention and the diversity of antelopes is astounding: greater kudu, impala, roan, sable, common waterbuck, common reedbuck, red lechwe and puku (the last two being floodplain specialists.) The Chobe flood plain is the only known site in southern Africa for puku. Also present along the Chobe are lion, leopard and spotted hyena. The birding is superb and we will find a wide range of waterside species especially herons, egrets and bitterns. This area is also particularly well known for raptors and we will look out for black goshawks, and peregrine and lanner falcons.

Day 9: Chobe to Caprivi Strip (Namibia). After our final bush breakfast we drive to Ngoma border post and enter Namibia's famed Caprivi Strip. The habitat is dry miombo woodland dominated by baikea, pterocarpus and mopane. Our drive takes us to our camp in the Linyanti which borders on the Kwando River and is renowned for it's birdlife and tranquil situation. The Kwando is a small perennial river with it's origins in the highlands of Angola and Zambia. The river supports a healthy population of Nile crocodile, hippo, elephant, red lechwe , reedbuck, waterbuck and Cape buffalo. We spend the night is quaint private lodge in a lovely setting.

Day 10: Caprivi. We take a drive along the banks of the Kwando River then return to the lodge for lunch and an afternoon siesta. Depending on the water levels we take a boat cruise on the Kwando or an exploratory drive towards the interior of the park.

Day 11: Caprivi to Shakawe. After breakfast it is time to leave the Caprivi via Mahango Game Reserve. Situated along the Kavango River just north of Botswana, this unique park protects habitats ranging from attractive papyrus swamps to climax teak woodland. Despite the presence of large mammals, one is allowed to get out of one's vehicle in Mahango and it is this freedom which makes game viewing here so special. We will be careful whilst walking since hippo, elephant and Nile crocodile are all common. Elegant red lechwe graze on the floodplain and if we are very lucky we may also see the shy Chobe bushbuck. Other special mammals occurring here are the spectacular sable and roan antelopes and rare tsessebe (topi). We cross back into Botswana and arrive at Drotsky's Cabins in Shakawe in the late afternoon. A sunset boat cruise on the Okavango River ends our day and we return to our camp for dinner.

Day 12: Shakawe. We will begin our exploration of the area right in the lodge grounds, where over a hundred pairs of brilliant southern carmine bee eaters make their home in the bank of the river near to camp. However, most of the day will be spent exploring the channels and floodplains below the lodge, aboard motorboats. We may find large Nile crocodiles floating silently past on the river, and the elusive, swamp-dwelling sitatunga - a antelope perfectly adapted to its semi-aquatic existence, will most likely heard and maybe observed.

Day 13: Shakawe to Maun. Transfer by road, through the Kalahari Desert to Maun for return flight to Johannesburg and home. An early departure from Shakawe will give us the opportunity to visit Lake Ngami. The lake is not only a phenomenal birding location but also steeped in both African and colonial history. When water levels recede there are literally hundreds of thousands of birds of all descriptions covering the shallow floodplain and the deep water channel. Flocks of up to 25 000 red-billed teal, 5 000 great white pelican and other common species in flocks of thousands. It is abundance that must be seen to be believed. We arrive in Maun around mid-day in time to check-in for the afternoon flight to Johannesburg.

Tour size: The tour is be limited to a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 14 participants.

The fee for the Northern Circle tour is US$3,700 per person sharing. This includes all meals from lunch on day 1 to lunch on day 13 of the tour, all lodgings, ground transportation, boat trips as per the itinerary, reserve entrance fees, tips and all guiding services (including local guides and tour leaders.)

A single supplement of US$900.00 will be charged if you wish to have single accommodation. If we cannot provide you with a rooming partner although you choose to share, the single supplement will become applicable. We will make all reasonable efforts to ensure that a rooming partner is found if you do wish to share.

Not inlcuded are all alcoholic beverages, special gratuities, telephone calls, laundry and items of a personal nature. All costs are subject to major currency fluctuations and other significant items that might be beyond our control.

Day 1: Maun to Moremi. You will arrive at Maun International airport where you will be met by a representative of the safari company. Transfer by vehicle to the Moremi Game Reserve. On arrival at camp you'll be shown to your tents and introduced to camping Botswana style. We head out on a short afternoon drive to take in the region and enjoy sundowners at a suitable location returning to camp for a three course dinner at camp.

Day 2: Moremi. We wake up early to coffee and a light breakfast before exploring the area in our game drive vehicle. The Xakanaxa region is rich in game and this will be your first introduction to a lot of the birds and animals which we can expect to see in the area. We return to camp for a sumptuous brunch and an opportunity to enjoy an afternoon siesta followed by hot (or cold) showers depending on the day. We gather for tea just before heading out on our afternoon game drive where we will further explore the areas many game drive roads. Return to camp for dinner.

Day 3: Moremi. Our morning starts off once again with a light, early breakfast followed by a game drive and brunch. In the afternoon we head to the Xakanaxa boat station where you will explore the channels of the Xakanaxa Lediba (Lagoon) and see the permanent waterways and the associated birds and wildlife. Return to boat station after sunset and transfer to camp for dinner.

Day 4: Moremi to Khwai. The support team breaks down camp while we game drive to our next camp in the Khwai region just north of the Moremi Game Reserve. This area is somewhat drier as we are moving east of the delta proper. The change in habitat heralds a change in the dominant wildlife species and we explore all of this before arriving at our new camp which has been set up prior to our arrival. After lunch we have time for a siesta before heading out on our afternoon bush walk with our armed guide. We return to camp for dinner and the option (included) of a night drive to see the area's nocturnal wildlife.

Day 5: Khwai. We start the day with another early morning walk combined with a game drive. The length of all our walks is determined by the fitness and comfort level of the group. We stay in the Khwai area and explore the vast floodplains which support a great variety of game and birds. Today we will have the opportunity of watching hippo in action if we can find them at home in one of the many pools which they utilize along the Khwai river. After lunch and siesta our late afternoon game drive will take us on a final exploration of the area. We will have a break to watch the sunset and take in the sounds of the African bush. After our sunset break we take a night-drive to find more of the nocturnal wildlife in the area. We return to camp for dinner and the chorus of owls which are characteristic of the area at night.

Day 6: Khwai to Savuti, Chobe National Park (CNP). After a leisurely breakfast we depart for Savuti in the Chobe National Park. Our drive takes us through ever changing scenery as we pass through the famous Mababe depression and Savuti marsh to arrive at our camp along the Savuti channel. Savuti is famous for its large population of bull elephant who are dependant on the three water holes in the region. Because the elephants must visit the waterholes we are guaranteed of seeing a bit of elephant interaction as the loose herds gather and split up again after quenching their thirst. Our afternoon drive takes us to the famous Pump Pan where the sun sets behind the camel thorn trees with the elephants silhouetted in the foreground. Back at camp we should hear the plaintive call of the jackal, often referred to as the 'cry of the Kalahari' and the eerie whooping of the hyenas, infamous inhabitants of the region.

Day 7: Savuti, CNP. Our morning and afternoon explorations will take us to the 'Big Baobab' and the Bushman paintings on Bushman hill. As well as exploring the vast open grasslands of the old marsh we will hopefully get to see some of the rarer game in the region including cheetah and the solitary leopard. Sunset takes us back to either Pump Pan or Disaster Pan to catch the last haunting rays of the day.

Day 8: Chobe. We depart Savuti and cross the Goha Sandridge on our way to the northern region of Chobe National Park along the Chobe River. The Chobe River supports a large number of game species but is renowned for it's breeding herds of elephants which sometimes gather along the river in their hundreds to drink at the end of a day. After getting settled into camp we spend our afternoon exploring the riverside and it's associated wildlife.

Day 9: Chobe. Our morning drive further explores the riverfront as we familiarize ourselves with the area. On the way back to camp we take some of the more inland routes to find the elusive roan and sable antelope which are fairly common in the area but rather difficult to find. Back at camp it's brunch and siesta time again. In the afternoon we head to a small beach on the river known as White Sands where you will be collected by boat for your afternoon cruise on the Chobe River. This will give you the opportunity to get a hippo's eye view of the surrounding countryside and will provide some good opportunities to see the elephant drinking from the river perspective. Birdlife abounds on the river and depending on the time of year there are numerous rarities awaiting discovery. Back at White Sands we meet you and transfer you back to camp for our last evening in the parks.

Day 10: Chobe to Nata. After breakfast we head to the town of Kasane, turning south towards the vast Makgadikgadi Pans. There is an option to leave the safari at this point for an optional two day extension in Victoria Falls or staying at one of Kasane's many lodges along the Chobe River. For those that are continuing on with us we drive down to Nata Lodge, the gateway to the Pans. After settling in to our camp we explore the Nata Bird Sanctuary with a visit to the never-ending Sua Pan. We return to camp after sunset for an interesting dinner at Nata lodge, where they put out food for the resident lesser bushbabies. This was a highlight in our daughter' life.

Day 11: Nata to Maun. Our drive from Nata takes us through the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park and the Nxai Pan National Park stopping for a snack along the way. We arrive in Maun in time for your international flight to Johannesburg.

The fee for the Northern Highlights tour is US$2,665 per person sharing. This includes all meals from lunch on day 1 to lunch on day 11 of the tour, all lodgings, ground transportation, boat trips as per the itinerary, reserve entrance fees, tips and all guiding services (including local guides and tour leaders.)

A single supplement of US$700.00 will be charged if you wish to have single accommodation. If we cannot provide you with a rooming partner although you choose to share, the single supplement will become applicable. We will make all reasonable efforts to ensure that a rooming partner is found if you do wish to share.

The tour fee does not include alcoholic beverages, special gratuities, telephone calls, laundry and items of a personal nature. All costs are subject to major currency fluctuations and other significant items that might be beyond our control.

OPTIONAL EXTENSION:

2 Nights at Taita Falcon Lodge in Zambia. Taita Falcon Lodge is situated on the edge of the Batoka gorge which guides the mighty Zambezi. Home to it's namesake the Taita Falcon this is one of the very few areas in Southern Africa where this bird has been sighted. Numerous optional activities can be undertaken from the lodge including white water rafting, sightseeing helicopter, fixed wing and microlight flights amongst a host of cultural tours and other activities. Add on price is $630.00 per person. This price includes a sunset cruise on the Zambezi river as well as all meals and transfers. Price excludes drinks at the lodge but does include drinks on your sunset cruise.

5 Day extension into Kafue National Park in Zambia (available from June to November only). Kafue is a huge park with an extremely diverse number of species of animals. Add on price is $1420.00 per person.

4 day extension to the Makgadikgadi Pans. You may add on an extra day in the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans and 3 days in Nxai Pan National Park. Add on price is $700.00 per person.

6 day extension to the Boteti River in Makgadikgadi Pans National Park and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. You can add on a night at Meno A Kwena Lodge on the Boteti River and then do a 5 night trip into the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Add on price is $1400.00 per person.

 

For more information about Cecilia's project to help remote area dwellers and women in Botswana! Womens Work Botswana