Botswana general information and map
Capital: Gaborone
Getting there: Visitors to Botswana usually fly into Maun (for the Okavango Delta) via Johannesburg in South Africa, or Kasane via Livingstone in Zambia. The flying time to Johannesburg is approximately 11 hours from London and from Johannesburg to Maun is approximately 1 hour 40 minutes.
Time: GMT plus two hours
Try not to miss: Chobe National Park for huge herds of elephant, the Okavango Delta for diverse wildlife and unique 17,000 square km ecosystem, the Selinda Reserve for hippo eating lions, the Kalahari Desert for interaction with the San bush people and the Makgadikgadi salt pans for rare desert wildlife, quad biking and sleeping beneath the stars.
Visas: No visa is required for UK citizens visiting for up to 90 days. Non-UK residents do require a South African transit visas to travel to Botswana.
Wild and Exotic Best of Botswana sample itinerary
Wild and Exotic have identified many remote and exclusive lodges in different regions of Botswana, which allow guests to view wildlife in glorious isolation from other tourists. Many miles away in the neighboring highlands of Angola, lies the source of the Okavango River. The summer rains pour down the streams and rivers in their quest to find the sea, following a southeasterly route through the Caprivi Strip, and entering northwest Botswana at the village of Mohembo. Ultimately the river fails to reach the ocean as it peters our in the thirsty sands of the Kalahari Desert, but on it’s journey, it’s cool waters give rise to the miraculous Okavango Delta, at 17,00 sq km, the world’s largest inland delta and a truly unique habitat. The mystery of the Okavango Delta lies in its great contrasts, that is home to a diverse range of wildlife including buffalo, cheetah, lion, wildebeest, wild dog and zebra.
Day 1 & 2: You will arrive into Johannesburg in time to check in to your scheduled flight to Maun, however if you prefer to recuperate from the long international flight we are able to offer a selection of superb Johannesburg hotels. On arrival into Maun you will be met and transferred for your scheduled charter flight to the exciting start of your safari to either Deception Valley Lodge or Jacks Camp for an overnight stay of 2 nights.
Deception Valley Lodge an oasis in the Kalahari of Botswana is a luxury lodge close to the famous Okavango Delta. Experience the Kalahari with Bushman at hand, to share their knowledge, while you can relax in total luxury at this unique destination. At Deception Valley Lodge you can experience the vastness of the Kalahari while enjoying some of the most prolific bird life or do some star gazing at night.
Jack’s Camp which is located deep in the Kalahari Desert on the edge of the Makgadikgadi Pans, the largest saltpans in the world. Jack’s Camp is a classic desert safari camp accommodating 20 guests in ten large walk-in tents, each with en-suite bathroom.
Day 3 & 4: This morning you will be transferred for your scheduled charter flight to the magic of Kanana for a stay of 2 nights. Keep an eye out from the air to see if you can spot elephant or buffalo on the floodplains. On arrival at the airstrip you will be met and transferred to Kanana, a hidden jewel set on the Xudum River in the southwest Okavango. The area encompasses a necklace of islands dotted with palms, figs, ebony and knobthorn, and is home to a myriad of birds, plants and animals. The nature of the habitat means it is the perfect place to experience the diversity of species found within the Okavango Delta. You will enjoy lunch and settle into your comfortable tents before meeting for tea/snacks and setting out to explore this beautiful area.
Guests are accommodated in eight spacious, safari style tents, set on raised decks, offering breathtaking views across the waterways. Dependent on the annual floods, the level of water transforms this dry camp into a true water experience. All tents offer en-suite bathrooms with hot and cold running water, a shower and a flushing loo. Game drives are available in specially designed vehicles in the morning or late afternoon. Alternatively guests can explore the crystal clear waterways by mekoro or powerboats, and guests can enjoy the magnificent variety of birds, plants and reptile species found in the area. Guided walks are also highly recommended as well as fly or spin fishing for Tilapia, African pike and sharptooth catfish.
Day 5: This morning after your morning game activity and breakfast you will catch your scheduled charter flight to the magnificent Shinde for a stay of 2 nights. Shinde lies in a lush palm dotted area on the edge of a lagoon, which leads to a network of fast-flowing waterways opening out at intervals to lily ponds and lakes. This water wonderland gives guests the opportunity to explore the Okavango in a traditional canoe (mokoro). These canoes take 2 people sitting low down, while your guide pushes you along with a long wooden pole. This is the most peaceful and tranquil way of getting around the Okavango. Shinde’s alternative craft are specially designed motorised aluminium boats that negotiate the twists and turns of the narrow channels with ease.
As Shinde lies on a large island, there are many opportunities for game drives and the occasional surprise bush lunch. A fully equipped table and buffet is set out in a clearing where you least expect it. Shinde and the Shinde Enclave (an adjoining tented camp for small groups), are raised on wooden decks to provide views over clear reed-filtered permanent lagoons. These river inlets lead to extensive waterways and narrow channels, past palm-dotted islands and grass plains which are home to considerable bird and animal life. Shinde has a fantastic choice of Okavango safari options, with permanent river frontage, fast flowing channels and fishing lagoons, plus wide grasslands and riverine forests for varied game drives, boat excursions and walking safaris.
Shinde’s remoteness has minimised the pressures of tourism on the local environment. The variety of bird life is exceptional around Shinde and well-equipped delta craft whisk you to see some important breeding colonies of Heron, Egrets, Pelicans and Stork. Animal life is no less fascinating with the chance to see rare Sitatunga antelope, large herds of Lechwe and wading elephants. Shinde’s abundant wildlife and its silent Okavango waters combine to make a vacation at Shinde a rare and wonderful experience.
Canvas walls are lowered in inclement weather, at other times the sides are open to give you views across the tops of tall reeds and into the heart of the Okavango Delta. Shinde is spread spaciously around a wooded grassy area with 5 safari suites looking towards the lagoon and grasslands. The central dining and lounge area at Shinde is a unique multi-level wooden construction built high into the trees. Supported by beams and gigantic branches, you can peer out through foliage to gain views over the tall reeds and into the heart of the Okavango waterways. Guests sit down to meals at one long dark wood dining table, laden with freshly baked bread and some incredible home-made chili sauces. Shinde’s food is usually buffet style with a range of imaginative homely meals and crisp salads. There is a well-stocked bar, plenty of ice and free flowing red and white wine.
Day 7 & 8: This morning you will enjoy another exciting game activity and breakfast before catching your scheduled charter to a completely different area so that you can truly experience and appreciate the diversity Botswana has to offer. Linyanti Bush Camp, where you will spend the next 2 nights is a small, intimate 12 bedded tented camp on the banks of the Linyanti marshes in a private reserve, which borders the western boundary of Chobe in the Chobe Enclave. The camp is limited to small exclusive groups who seek a personalized experience in a private concession away from the main tourist’s routes.
Activities from the camp consist of game drives, walking, spot lighting and hides. This safari camps provides the perfect atmosphere for an authentic and wild safari experience. The area is best known for its large populations of Elephant and buffalo that congregate in vast numbers especially during the dry season. Lion, sable, roan, leopard, wild dog, and a number of the plains game can be enjoyed at Linyanti. The rare and elusive sitatunga antelope, red lechwe, hippo and crocodile can be found in the surrounding marshes. The Linyanti Swamps are one of the most attractive areas in the park as it is the only source of water in the dry months where a lot of the wildlife moves to, boasting a great diversity of game and a restful atmosphere. The area’s relative remoteness makes it a favored wild safari destination and one of the best sought after areas in Northern Botswana. The area also offers spectacular birding all year round and is best known for its enormous herds of elephants which move down to the Linyanti River at the start of the winter months and only move back inland once the main rains arrive.
Day 9: Today you will be transferred to the airstrip for your scheduled charter flight back to Maun. On arrival into Maun you will check in to your scheduled flight to Johannesburg and on arrival into Johannesburg you will have plenty of time before checking in to your international flight home.
Notes:
The price is inclusive of all activities described, together with full board and lodging, based on two people sharing. The price does not include international flights, items of a personal nature, gratuities, and visa fees.
UK citizens currently do not require a visa to visit Botswana for a stay of up to 90 days.
Neither Wild and Exotic nor the operators or suppliers can accept any responsibility for changes to itineraries or dates that may arise due to weather or unforeseen circumstances such as changes, disruptions or delays to airline flights for whatever reason. This holiday is subject to Wild and Exotic’s terms and conditions, a copy of which is available on this website under the general info tab.
