DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Trip Program:

Day 1: Maun/Dinaka Lodge. Road Transfer- (2 hours)You will arrive from Johannesburg at approximately midday into Maun Airport where you will be met by your guide for the start of your safari, arriving at Dinaka Lodge for your first night in the late afternoon.

Accommodation: Lodge Accommodation
Activities: Game Drives; guided walks

Day 2 & 3: Dinaka Lodge/Deception Valley, Central Kalahari Game Reserve (4 hours)You will depart from Dinaka Lodge in the morning and begin your journey into Central Kalahari Game Reserve proper.

Habitat: Comprising of a combination of vegetated duneveld and valleys of ancient rivers and pans, the Deception Valley region is the most famous of all the areas of Botswana’s Kalahari. Some of the highlights of the area are Tau Pan, Sunday Pan, Leopard Pan, Deception and Passarge valleys, Deception Pan and Passarge Waterhole. The northern regions of the Kalahari boast a higher rainfall than the drier south and as a result mature woodlands of purple-pod terminalia (Terminalia prunoides) grow.

Wildlife: Large herds of oryx and springbok make up much of the wildlife here with smaller groups of red-hartebeest, eland, blue wildebeest, southern giraffe and greater kudu. The predators are comprised of lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog (rare) spotted hyaena,  brown hyaena, caracal, African wildcat, black-backed jackal, bat-eared fox and Cape fox.

Birding:  The terminalia woodlands support many species that would not typically be associated with Kalahari such as Crested Francolin, Paradise Flycatcher, White-crowned Shrike, Black-backed Puffback and the White-browed Scrub-Robin replaces the Kalahari Scrub-Robin. Black Cuckoo arrive on good numbers in summer to parasitize the Crimson-breasted Shrike. On the pan floor we look for the Temmink’s Courser and the far more common Double-banded Courser as well as Nothern Black Korhaan and Crowned Lapwing. Great Sparrow are relatively common along the fringes of the pan along with Clapper Lark. Orange River Francolin occur in the longer grasses of the vegetated sand dunes. Gabar Goshawk, Lanner Falcon, Pale-Chanting Goshawk and Greater Kestrel are common. Martial Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Black-chested Snake-Eagle and Brown Snake Eagle are the more common of the large raptors.

Accommodation: Mobile Tented Camp
Activities: Game Drives

Day 4: Deception/Passarge Valley Travel Day 60km (4hours)

Habitat:  The landscape remains arid as we pass over fields of dunes that have been arrested by the Kalahari’s vegetation and eventually descend back into the typical vegetated pans of the Central Kalahari into the ancient river beds that tell of wetter times.

Wildlife:  While leopard are common in the dunes and we will almost certainly find signs of the presence of these secretive cats the chances of seeing one are fairly remote. In the valleys lion and cheetah are not uncommon. In the northern areas eland are more common here than anywhere else in the CKGR. Southern giraffe and greater kudu are common in the vegetated dunes as is the common duiker.

Birding:  The dune slopes are home to one of the most endearing of the Kalahari species, the Rufous-eared Warbler. In the same habitat we should also see Long-billed Crombec, Black-chested Prinia, Acacia Pied Barbet, Desert Cisticola, Yellow-bellied Eremomela and Temmink’s Courser.

Accommodation: Mobile Tented Camp
Activities: Game Drives

Day 5 & 6: Passarge Valley Exploration Days

Habitat:  The Passarge Valley is actually a fossil river bed and the clay floor provides highly nutritious grazing and browsing for Kalahari game and can support much higher numbers of large animals than the sandy dune-veld. The wide open spaces are punctuated by tree islands of Umbrella Thorn (Acacia tortillis). These quintessential African trees offer precious shade in an otherwise harsh landscape.

Wildlife:  Oryx, Springbok, Blue Wildebeest and Red Hartebeest make up the common herbivores. Herds in excess of 30 giraffe are not uncommon here in the north and the largest of all the antelope, the eland, are also seen quite regularly here. The wide open plains are the domain of the cheetah but lion are also frequently seen here. African wildcat as well as caracal are the more common small predators.

Birding:  Montague’s Harrier*, Pale Chanting Goshawk, Steppe Buzzard*, Steppe Eagle* and Tawny Eagle are the most common raptors. The globally threatened Lapped-faced Vulture nest here in the valley. Other scavengers include White-headed Vulture, White-backed Vulture, Cape Crow and Pied Crow.

Accommodation: Mobile Tented Camp
Activities: Game Drives

Day 7: Passarge Valley/D’Kar 180km (4-5hours)

Habitat:  The Passarge Valley is actually a fossil river bed and the clay floor provides highly nutritious grazing and browsing for Kalahari game and can support much higher numbers of large animals than the sandy dune-veld. The wide open spaces are punctuated by tree islands of Umbrella Thorn (Acacia tortillis). These quintessential African trees offer precious shade in an otherwise harsh landscape

Accommodation: Mobile Tented Camp
Activities: Game Drives

Day 8: D’Kar Exploration Day

Habitat:  Today will be spent with the Bushmen of D’Kar participating in and learning more about what makes this tribe so interesting; listen to stories around the fire, learn their hunting and gathering techniques to gather a greater understanding of this nomadic race.

Accommodation: Bushmen Hut or similar
Activities: Bushmen Cultural Activities

Day 9: D’Kar/Maun/Moremi Game Reserve. Travel Day. 280km (7 Hours)

Today, you will depart D’Kar, directly after breakfast, in the closed vehicle for the 3 hrs drive to Maun. From here, you will transfer back into the open game cruiser for the continuing journey into Moremi Game Reserve.

Habitat: Every type of mopane habitat is well represented in this drive from the towering cathedral woodlands Xakanaxa to the classic climax mopane woodland and in the drier and harsher habitats, extensive stretches of scrub mopane. The San-ta-Wani region has scattered ephemeral water pans with large floodplains and camel-thorn woodlands. 40 km of the drive is in Moremi Game Reserve with a further 40 km in areas designated for wildlife management where animals roam freely to and from the Game Reserve.

Wildlife: One would typically expect to see good numbers of elephant, giraffe, impala and zebra along this route. It also reliably produces good predators, particularly lion and wild dog. Large herds of Cape buffalo may be found in the San-ta-Wani region particularly in the summer months. Other ruminants such as tsesebe, blue wildebeest, greater kudu, common duiker and Botswana’s smallest antelope- the steenbuck.

Birding: A good day for raptors with African Hawk-Eagle, Gabar Goshawk, Shikra, Little Sparrowhawk, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Tawny Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle* and Steppe Eagle all inhabiting the mopane and adjacent woodlands. Other birds common along this route includes most of Botswana’s hornbills including Red-billed, Southern Yellow-billed, African Grey Hornbill, Bradfield’s Hornbill and Southern Ground Hornbill. A large number of brood-parasites may also be seen. Diderick Cuckoo*, Levaillant’s Cuckoo*, Jacobin Cuckoo*, Great-spotted Cuckoo*, African Cuckoo*, Common Cuckoo*, Shaft-tailed Whydah, Pin-tailed Whydah, Eastern Paradise Whydah, Greater Honeyguide, and Lesser Honeyguide.

Accommodation: Mobile Tented Camp
Activities: Game Drives

Day 10 & 11: Xakanaxa Exploration Day/s Moremi Game Reserve

Habitat:  Moremi lies on the eastern extremity of the Okavango Delta. Habitats here range from wide-open floodplains, marshes, lagoons, papyrus fringed channels, vast reed-beds of Miscanthus and Phragmites, woodland and savannah. As a result of the extremely variable habitat the diversity of both wildlife and birdlife is excellent.

Wildlife:  Moremi is one of the best game reserves in Africa for viewing the endangered African wild dog. Xakanaxa is home to a resident herd of several hundred buffalo whose range covers the territories of at least 4 prides of lion which may often be seen flanking the ever moving herd. Breeding herds of elephant move between their browsing areas in the mopane forests and the fresh water of the Okavango. Red lechwe are one of the more unusual antelope species and commonly found here, while the rare sitatunga antelope may be spotted from motor boat along the water-ways.

Birding:  The swampy areas of Xakanaxa are home to African Rail, Coppery-tailed Coucal, Black Coucal*, Red-chested Flufftail, African Crake, Black Crake, Chirping Cisticola, Luapula Cisticola, Purple Swamphen, Allen’s Gallinule to name but a few. The open waters attract African Skimmer, Saddle-billed Stork, Yellow-billed Stork, Intermediate Egret, Goliath Heron, African Fish Eagle  as well as the globally threatened Slaty Egret and Wattled Crane.

Accommodation: Mobile Tented Camp
Activities: Game Drives

Day 12: Safari Ends

After a hearty breakfast we begin our return to Maun where we arrive in time for your departing flight or onward arrangements.

NOTE: Although we make every effort to adhere to schedules and itineraries, these are subject to change subject to weather, roads, and animal movements and availability. You will be notified of any changes.
A Typical Day on Safari

The day starts with the rising of the sun.  Your wake-up call will be between 5am and 6am – a gentle “koko” (knock knock in Setswana) at the entrance of your tent.

The camp staff will be on hand to fill your wash-hand basin with steaming hot water and freshly made tea and coffee will be served around the campfire.

A light breakfast will be served before the early morning game drive.  The best time of day to enjoy game viewing is in the early morning and late afternoon as most animals retreat to the shadows to rest during the heat of the day.

Having spent the morning exploring the surrounding wilderness in search of Botswana’s hidden treasures, you will return to camp for a sumptuous lunch in the shade. Just as the animals retreat to escape the heat of mid-day, so will you.  This is your time to enjoy reading, chatting, relaxing or taking a nap.

Later in the afternoon you will head out into the wilderness once more as the animals awake from their days slumber and gather at the watering holes to quench their thirst.  As the sun sets on the horizon, one can only marvel at the sheer splendor of an African sunset and with refreshments in hand, toast to the wonder of nature.

On your return to camp, you can gather around the warmth of the campfire with your companions to relive the day’s events and excitement.  Enjoy a three-course dinner fit for a King served with South African wines against the magical backdrop of the Africa night sky.  Retreating to the comfort of your tent after enjoying a nightcap around the campfire, you can fall asleep to the calls of the African wild.  Goodnight.

On moving days we will depart camp following an early breakfast.  The safari teams will then pack down the camp, traveling ahead in the supply vehicle to prepare the camp for your arrival at the next location.  We will first stop for tea, coffee and cookies and then later for a relaxing lunch under a shady grove of trees.