At the turn of the century,
explorers and adventurers made their way
leisurely along the dusty paths of Africa.
Experience a nostalgic camping / lodge
safari that recreates the sense of a
game-viewing adventure reminiscent of the
times of the great African explorers. The
Great Wilderness Journey takes time to
experience and explore Botswana's scenic
northern areas: from the blue-green wetlands
of the Okavango Delta to the diverse
and wildlife-rich Linyanti and
Chobe River systems, ending with the
world-famous Victoria Falls on the
Zambian side of the Zambezi River.
Days 1, 2 &
3: Jacana Camp Okavango Delta
After arrival in Maun, you
will be met by your guide or our
representative and fly by light aircraft
over the shimmering water world of the
Okavango Delta. The Delta encompasses life
at its most fertile: abundant water,
sunlight and nutrients fuse to produce a
wetland paradise teeming with life.
Lush Jacana Camp is situated in a
permanently flooded region of the private
Jao Concession of the Okavango Delta. A true
water camp, it represents the essence of the
Delta, with year-round mokoro safaris as
well as island bush walks and, water level
permitting, motorboat cruises. In fact, when
the flood levels are at their peak we are
able to motorboat from the airstrip to the
lodge, a truly surreal camp arrival! On one
of the full days, we will also enjoy game
drives around the productive Jao flats
region to the north of camp.
Jacana Camp is set in one of the
wetland areas most densely populated with
sitatunga and red lechwe. Wildlife
concentrations depend on the water flow and
volume, thus changing from season to season,
but all the large animals can be found in
the area including elephant, lion, leopard
and buffalo. Pel's Fishing-Owl is a
favourite amongst birders as well as African
and Lesser Jacana.
Jacana Camp has 5 Meru-style tents. Each
tent is on a wooden deck overlooking the
floodplains and has an en-suite bathroom
with flush toilet and shower. The bathroom
is enclosed but roofless, allowing for
showers by starlight. The camp has a plunge
pool for cooling off from the midday sun.
The main dining area is on an elevated
wooden deck between two magnificent sycamore
fig trees and surrounded by dense wild date
palms. Downstairs, there is a cosy pub and
lounge with an area perfect for an open fire
under the stars.
Days 4, 5 & 6: Ketumetse Trails
Camp (Motswiri), north-eastern Okavango Delta
We depart this morning by
aircraft to Ketumetse Trails Camp located in
the south-western sector of the Selinda
private concession, in the seasonally
flooded portion of the Okavango Delta where
it joins into the Selinda Spillway.
Accommodation is in 6.3m x 3.5m walk-in
Meru-style tents (maximum of two guests per
tent). The tents are airy and designed to
recreate the accommodation style of the
early explorers, with richly coloured teak
director chairs and simplistic camp
features. Separate bedside tables with 12v
reading lamps, canvas and wood wardrobes,
bathrobes, comfortable beds, flushing
toilets and mirrors are provided. Camp
amenities (conditioning shampoo, soap,
shower gel and body lotion) are elegantly
displayed for use and private, en-suite
separate toilet and shower areas are part of
the main structure.
The area in which the camp is located
is scenic with generous shade provided by
leadwood and russet bushwillow trees. Open
floodplains and woodlands spread out in
front of camp. Activities concentrate on
nature walks and canoeing, providing a
superb view from the canoe of big game
coming to the water's edge to drink. Game
drives (by day and night) are possible and
often reveal sightings of the rare roan and
stately sable antelopes, in addition to an
array of other general game species.
Seasonally, "catch and release" fishing is
offered as an alternative activity.
Days 7, 8 & 9:
Linyanti Discoverer Camp, Linyanti
After a light breakfast, we fly
north-eastwards to the private Linyanti
Concession; after a short game drive we
arrive at our private Discoverer camp, which
is elegantly set up under African ebony and
knobthorn acacia trees overlooking panoramic
vistas of the Linyanti Swamps.
The landscape of the Linyanti varies
from floodplains to open dry land savannah
and forest with sweeping views, creating a
paradise for a high diversity of wildlife
and bird species. Activities include game
drives in the private northern sector of the
concession, exploring a range of habitats
from riverbanks to scrub and forest, with a
myriad of wildlife en route to slake their
thirst from the river. The seldom-seen
sitatunga can also be spotted in the
waterways, as well as rare plains game such
as roan and sable antelope and of course
their predators, the lion and leopard - with
the endangered wild dog as an incredible
bonus.
There's also a game drive to a private
area for lunch, then a siesta in hammocks
and the possibility of an afternoon canoe
trip, before returning to camp at dusk.
(This activity is not always possible, as it
is dependent on whether there are hippo pods
moving in and out of the areas in which we
canoe.) Another possible activity is an
all-day game drive to the Savute Channel,
with lunch en route. This game drive is
specifically designed to gain an
introduction to the "Stolen River" as well
as enjoying a part of the Selinda Spillway
with its rich floodplains.
To complete the experience, in the
rainy season and on the third day it is
possible to enjoy a full-day activity to the
Savute Channel, with lunch at a scenic
setting under a shade tree. The spectacular
but seasonal (rain dependant) zebra
migration moves between Linyanti and the
Savute Marsh between end November and March,
the area also boasting an impressive
diversity of mammals, including large
elephant herds. When undertaken and during
the correct season, this day is specifically
tailored to enjoy the seasonal and migratory
movements of wildlife, although sighting the
zebra migration is not guaranteed.
Day 10: Chobe
River boat cruise, Chobe National Park and The
River Club, Zambia
After a short morning drive
and breakfast, we depart by light aircraft
to the northern Chobe region of Chobe
National Park. This area is famous for its
vast herds of elephants in the dry season
and other unique species such as the elusive
puku and Chobe bushbuck that move to the
river in the hottest hours of the day. Enjoy
a light lunch on the boat cruise in a
catamaran-style shaded boat.
We leave Botswana and fly to
Livingstone International Airport, arriving
at River Club in the late afternoon. On
leaving Botswana, we fly over the Kazangula
border, a point where the four countries of
Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia meet.
The River Club lies dreaming in dappled
shade on the Zambian banks of the Zambezi
River, 18km upstream from the world-famous
Victoria Falls. Its main area is a
well-appointed Edwardian-style house, with a
comfortable lounge, large dining room,
impressive library and wide veranda on which
breakfasts and teas are taken. Manicured
lawns (where midday meals are often served)
spread out beneath the trees and a croquet
court is an ideal venue for a Pimm's-soaked
croquet game. The pool seems part of the
river itself, a secluded deck with hammocks
and loungers provides respite and beauty
treatments are available in the calico
'massage' tent.
Ten luxury thatched chalets overlook the
Zambezi River and have en-suite facilities
including a bath, shower, toilet and basin.
The rooms are all completely open in the
front, providing uninterrupted views of the
Zambezi. Seven rooms have a concertina
screen door or window across the front of
the bedroom and/or bathroom.
Day 11: Victoria
Falls, Transfer to Livingstone Airport
The grand finale is a guided
tour of the Victoria Falls, one of the Seven
Natural Wonders of the World. At 1708 metres
wide, it is the largest curtain of water in
the world and drops more than 100 metres
into the sheer Zambezi Gorge.
Transfer to Livingstone Airport
immediately after the tour of the Victoria
Falls and bid farewell to the adventure. |
