World Wildlife Fund

Secluded Botswana

September 9 – 21, 2011

Botswana is Africa as it used to be, with few crowds and plentiful animals on its acacia tree-studded savannahs. It’s a model in responsible tourism, with one-sixth of its territory protected as wildlife sanctuaries. 

• Observe animals by various transport – 4x4 vehicles, boat, dugout canoe and on foot.
• Get close to elephants in Savuti Camp’s eye-level “hides.”
• Go on night drives to search for nocturnal hunters like leopards and lions.
• Sleep in classic tented camps reminiscent of a nostalgic era in the African bush.
• Travel in a group limited to 8 people.

Trip Itinerary

The dates below do not include travel time to and from the destination. Please consult our tour operator, Natural Habitat Adventures, to discuss your best flight options.

Friday, September 9: Livingstone, Zambia
Begin your exploration of southern Africa in Livingstone, along the banks of the Zambezi River. Accommodations, replete with Edwardian ambience, overlook the vital waterway, where hippos may entertain you on the banks. Settle in, enjoying the views from this stunning lodge, and join the group for an orientation dinner this evening. The River Club (D)

Saturday, September 10: Livingstone / Victoria Falls
Join the group for a guided tour of Victoria Falls, the world’s most astounding cataract. The profuse spray has created a rain forest, with a walkway to explore. Later, take in a different view with a sunset cruise. The River Club (B,L,D)

Sunday – Tuesday, September 11 – 13: Chobe
By road and ferry, journey to Botswana’s Chobe National Park, known for its vast elephant herds – a population that exceeds 70,000. On the boat cruise down the Chobe River, 500 elephants are sometimes seen in a single day. Water birds abound, including herons and storks, as well as hippos and crocodiles.

This afternoon, drive to the private reserve of Linyanti. Its tree-dotted plains are home to lions, leopards, cheetahs, spotted hyenas and wild dogs as well as tremendous elephant herds. You’ll encounter wildlife in amazing proximity on drives, guided walks, canoe trips and boat excursions on the Linyanti River.

Spend the evenings relaxing at the private camp, which offers well-appointed tented accommodations evocative of an earlier age. Through the thorny acacia branches you’ll see more stars than you ever dreamed of, scattered across an impossibly black sky. Linyanti Discoverer Camp (B,L,D daily)

Wednesday & Thursday, September 14 & 15: Savuti Camp, Linyanti
This morning, we drive to Savuti Camp, situated in the southern part of the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve and built along the Savuti Channel. The channel, a legendary wildlife region best known for its large number of predators, can be a hippo-filled river or wide open grasslands depending on water levels. Besides the normal plains game, the area has good concentrations of roan and sable antelope and giraffe. All of the predators occur in the area – lion, leopard, cheetah and wild dog. As the waterhole in front of the camp is the only supply of water for a large area in the dry winter months, one of the highlights is the fantastic wildlife viewing directly from the camp. Savuti Camp (B,L,D daily)

Friday - Sunday, September 16 - 18: Tubu Tree Camp
Fly to Tubu Tree Camp on the edge of the Moremi Game Reserve. On drives in open 4x4 vehicles you may encounter lions, leopards and cheetahs as well as a host of hoofed mammals. Night drives reveal nocturnal species such as the civet cat and caracal, plus large predators that hunt at night. Short safari walks (where safe) reveal the subtleties of the ecosystems that can only be experienced on foot. Tubu Tree Camp (B,L,D daily)

Monday & Tuesday, September 19 & 20: Jacana Camp
Travel by boat or safari vehicle to Jacana Camp in the heart of the Okavango Delta. Where the river meets the Kalahari Desert, a green oasis sprawls amid the sands and dry savannah. The maze of canals and lagoons sustains a profusion of wildlife, and you’ll explore the constantly shifting marsh by mokoro, a traditional dugout canoe. Islands and wetlands among the channels are home to many rare birds; you may observe wattled cranes, Pel’s fishing owls, jacanas, rails, crakes and moorhens. You may also see antelope and red lechwe browsing in the grasses. Jacana Camp (B,L,D daily)

Wednesday, September 21: Maun / Home
Depart by air for Maun, where you’ll connect with flights home or extensions to Namibia or Cape Town. (B,L)