Botswana Young Explorers

Botswana Safaris - Young Explorers discover a termite mound

Click on the name of the camp for details.

6 days from £1149

excluding international flights

BOTSWANA FACTFILE

MAP of the Okavango Delta showing the Ker & Downey camps.

The Ker & Downey Young Explorers programmes are specially-designed safaris offering families the opportunity to discover the wonders of the African wilderness together. One of the special attractions of the Young Explorers safaris are their exclusivity as each family has the sole use of a private camp, allowing the daily schedule to be flexible and to be tailored around the ages and interests of all family members. The key to running safaris with children is keeping them interested and stimulated, so the nature of activities has been modified to provide shorter activities with more diversity and interaction for the children. As the specialist guides of the Young Explorers groups are highly experienced in working with children, the parents can relax and enjoy the wilderness, participating at their leisure.

The Young Explorers in the delta is based at Footsteps Camp, an intimate 6 bedded camp in the Shinde private concession. Each family books out exclusive use of the camp, thereby overriding the normal walking programme at Footsteps Camp and the normal minimum age requirement.

Young Explorer's Facts at a glance:

• Family minimum size is 3 and maximum is 6 (rates vary accordingly).
• Minimum age is 7 but special considerations may be made on application.
• Available from 1st April - 31st October.
• Subject to full camp availability.
• The guides are experienced in Environmental Education for children.
• Activities are tailored around the children's ages.
• Each child receives a Young Explorer's gift and a Young Explorer's Certificate on successfully completing the safari.
• All meals, beverages, laundry service and medical evacuation are included.

DAY 1 - Depart UK.

Recommended flight from London: British Airways from London Heathrow to Johannesburg, with an onward connection to Maun in Botswana (see below).  If you are travelling from a country other than the UK we would be happy to give you guidance on your flight options.

DAYS 2 TO 4 - Footsteps Camp.

On arrival in Maun you will be met by a representative of Ker & Downey (on behalf of World Discovery) and taken by specially chartered light aircraft to the Ker & Downey Footsteps Camp, where you will have exclusive occupancy of the camp during your stay.  Here you enter one of the great, untamed regions of Africa and experience the astonishing contrasts created when the mighty Okavango River flows into the arid Kalahari Desert. The result is a variety of habitats, riverine forest, palm islands, permanent swamps and dry sandveld all with an unparalleled wealth of animal diversity. The emphasis is on exploring this breathtakingly beautiful and diverse environment as the first African explorers did, either by mekoro or on foot.  In this way you have the time to focus on learning about tracking wildlife and understanding animal movement, patterns and behaviour, as well as more in depth information on trees, grasses and the finer details. Being on foot instead of in a vehicle affords this unique perspective.  The Young Explorer's programme at the camp will be designed with the children's interests in mind.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, dinner each day.

DAY 5 - Depart for home.

In the afternoon depart by light aircraft for Maun.  Continue by Air Botswana to Johannesburg to connect with your flight to the UK.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch.

DAY 6 - Arrive UK.

Morning arrival in the UK.

STAY LONGER IN BOTSWANA

Naturally we don't expect you to limit your stay in this wonderful destination to just 3 nights.  You can combine your exclusive family stay at Footsteps Camp with a few days at some of Ker & Downey's other luxurious tented camps, such as Okuti Camp in the Moremi Game Reserve, or Kanana Camp in the heart of the Okavengo Delta (although in these latter camps, from July to October children must pay the adult rate.  The minimum age at Kanana during the July to October period also rises to 10 years.  Please ask us for a suggested itinerary and quote.

BANA BA LETSATSI
As part of its social responsibility programme Ker & Downey Botswana supports Bana Ba Letsatsi, established in 2004 with the mission of supporting vulnerable, orphaned and at risk children living in Maun. There are over 200 children on the register; these children are registered as they have either never been to school or dropped out, suffer sexual or physical abuse, are orphaned or lack parental care, beg, work underage, abuse drugs. When you book a World Discovery Botswana safari that includes stays at the Ker & Downey camps, a small donation is made on your behalf to Bana Ba Letsatsi.

International Flights

We recommend the services of British Airways to Johannesburg, with connecting flights to and from Maun on Air Botswana. Current timings (subject to possible change) are as follows:
Heathrow/Johannesburg. Depart at 19.05; arrive Johannesburg at 06.50 (next morning)
Johannesburg/Maun. Depart at 10.10; arrive Maun at 11.50
Maun/Johannesburg. Depart at 15.00; arrive Johannesburg at 16.40
Johannesburg/Heathrow. Depart at 20.15; arrive Heathrow at 05.20 (next morning)

Botswana Safaris: Botswana Young Explorers  (Tour Reference: WDBS005)
2012 Departures
Price per person:

Single Room Supplement on request.

The price includes:

• Light aircraft flights between Maun and Footsteps Camp (and v.v.).
• Tented accommodation as listed above: twin-bedded tents with ensuite facilities.
• 3 full breakfasts, 4 lunches and 3 dinners as shown in the itinerary, plus snacks.
• All beverages, including bottled water, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages in reasonable quantities (featuring South African wines and spirits).
  
• All activities while at camp, escorted by professional guides.
• Daily laundry services (safari clothes in reasonable quantities).
• All taxes, VAT, park entrance fees and service charges.
• Emergency evacuation insurance from Ker & Downey camps to a regional medical facility.
• A donation to Bana Ba Letsatsi.

Not included in the price:

• International flights (see our recommendation above). We are happy to discuss the flights with you and give you further guidance.
• International airport taxes.
• Tipping. We will be pleased to give guidance in this often sensitive matter

A deposit of £500 per person is required at the time of booking. The balance of the price for your Botswana safari must be paid at least 8 weeks before your departure date.