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The Best of Botswana

Lionesses, Central Kalahari

Click on the name of lodge or camp for details

12 days from £2836

excluding international flights

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, 3 AND 4 - The Kalahari Desert.

On arrival in Maun you will be met by a representative of World Discovery and taken by specially chartered light aircraft to your lodge near Ghanzi, to the west of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.  Your base for the next 3 days is the Grasslands Bushman Lodge [more], a family concern whose staff are all local San Bushman.  A stay here has been described as "the most comprehensive San experience in Southern Africa".  As well as learning about the culture and history of these fascinating desert people, there is also opportunity for wildlife viewing.  The area is renowned for brown hyenas, which emerge just after dark, and you may also see black-maned Kalahari lions, giraffes, wildebeest, eland, springbok, and possibly cheetahs and leopards.  Enjoy day and night drives with your guide and tracker.  Horseback safaris can be arranged for experienced riders.
Meals included: Lunch, dinner on DAY 2; full breakfast, lunch, dinner on DAYS 3 and 4.

DAYS 5 AND 6 - Boteti River.  Makgadikgadi Pans.

Fly back to Maun and then drive by 4X4 vehicle to your next destination - one of the most amazing places in Botswana, but not often included in safari itineraries; the Meno a Kwena tented camp [more] is located on a lofty location above the dry Boteti River and an amazing waterhole.  The dry summer months (June to October) see Southern Africa's largest zebra and wildebeest migration pass just below the camp.  A day trip can be made into the nearby Makgadikgadi Pans Game Reserve, the largest salt plan complex in the world.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, dinner each day.

DAYS 7 AND 8 - Moremi Wildlife Reserve (Okavango Delta).

Drive back to Maun and fly to the Santawani Airstrip, gateway to the Moremi Wildlife Reserve, which covers approximately a third of the Okavango Delta, Botswana's world-renowned wilderness region which has become the country's principal tourist attraction.  Set aside in 1963 by the Batawana tribe, the reserve is rated as Africa's most beautiful wildlife sanctuary. Moremi is home to the 'Big Five' (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhinoceros) and also has the largest population of red lechwe (a variety of antelope, pictured left), as well as one of the largest remaining populations of African Wild Dogs.  Moremi is also a paradise for birdwatchers.  Your stay is at the excellent Sankuyu Bush Camp [more], where you will enjoy game drives with guide and tracker.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, dinner each day. 

DAYS 9 AND 10 - Chief's Island (Okavango Delta).

Your final safari base is Oddballs Enclave [more] on Chief's Island in the very heart of the Okavango Delta.  Here you will enjoy  excursions by mekoro (dug-out canoe, pictured) or on foot with your own personal guide (one guide is allocated to each tent).  The area supports large numbers of wildlife, including elephants, wildebeests, zebras,giraffes, antelopes and lots of hippos andcrocodiles.  Birdlife is prolific - you may see bee-eaters, snakebirds, storks, egrets, shrikes, kingfishers, hornbills and herons, as well as birds of prey such as bataleur eagles and African fish eagles and perhaps the rarer Pel's fishing owl.  Of the smaller birds, one of the most beautiful and colourful is the lilac breasted roller.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch,dinner each day.

DAY 11 - 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 12 - Arrive UK.

Morning arrival in the UK.

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)

Best of Botswana (Tour Reference: WDBS002)
2010 Departures
Price per person based on a minimum of two persons travelling together:

Single Room Supplement on request.

The price includes:

• Flights by light aircraft from Maun to and between the camps and lodges and back, including airport taxes (Meno a Kwena is reached by 4X4 vehicle from Maun).
• Lodge and private tented accommodation as listed above in twin-bedded or double rooms with ensuite facilities.
• 9 full breakfasts, 10 lunches and 9 dinners as shown in the itinerary.
• Soft drinks, house wine, local beer, teas and coffees.
  
• Transportation throughout: this will be shared with other guests at the lodges and camps.
• All gameviewing as shown, including guiding and park entrance fees.

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 £1,000 per person is required at the time of booking. The balance of the price for your travel arrangements must be paid at least 8 weeks before your departure date.