BEST OF BOTSWANA:LUXURY SAFARI
Safaris by design
SCHRADER & PEARSON
DAYS BEFORE THE MAGIC STARTS!
Day(s)
:
Hour(s)
:
Minute(s)
:
Second(s)
USD $ 15,696 / pps*
*pps=per person sharing, minimum of 4 pax traveling
WHY YOU’D LOVE IT!
A truly spectacular safari adventure across Zimbabwe & Botswana
“Be lost, but in style!” It’s mysterious, calming, unpredictable and very wild!
Explore the waterways of the Okavango Delta! A maze of sparkling lagoons, meandering channels and overgrown islands teeming with wildlife, Botswana’s Okavango Delta lies like a sparkling jewel at the heart of the Kalahari Desert. Explore by land or mokoro rides.(seasonal rainfall permitting).
Next stop: The Central Kalahari Game Reserve:The largest, most remotely situated reserve in Southern Africa and the second largest wildlife reserve in the world
Luxury safari accommodations, delicious meal, drinks to die for and wildlife on your doorstep!
Highlights include:
- Okavango Delta
- Central Kalahari Game Reserve
Can’t wait? It’s only 11 months till August 2024!
OVERVIEW
Itinerary at a glance
◽️ DAY 0 | Travel
Departure
◽️ DAY 1 | South Africa
Mabula GR
◽️ DAY 2-4 | Botswana
Central Okavango Delta
◽️ DAY 5-7 | Botswana
Central Kalahari GR
◽️ DAY 8-10 | Botswana
Soithern Okavango Delta
◽️ DAY 11 | Return
Departure JNB
MAP
MAP
Visualize your journey!
DAY 0 | August 21, 2024
DEPARTURE
Travel
DEPARTURE
Your adventure starts now!
Embark on an African safari and anticipate breathtaking landscapes, encountering diverse and majestic wildlife in their natural habitats, and immersing yourself in the rich cultural experiences of the continent.
* See your safari itinerary for transfer logistics
DAY 1 | August 22, 2024
MABULA GAME RESERVE
Overnight
📍 Kwafubezi
MABULA GAME RESERVE
Area Overview
Only two short hours drive north of Johannesburg in the beautiful Waterberg lies the African wonder that is Mabula Private Game Reserve. This 12,000-hectare malaria-free reserve is home to an abundance of wildlife and birdlife, including the world-famous Big Five.
Home to some 60 mammals, 300 bird species, 100 plant types and numerous reptile and insect species, at Mabula Game Reserve, all natures' wonders are revered - from the 'Big Five' (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino) to the 'small five' (ant lion, leopard tortoise, buffalo weaver, elephant shrew and rhino beetle). This is the Heartland of the South African Safari experience
Safari days!
Each day on safari in Africa is a magical experience, whether you’re exploring the savanna on foot or in a 4x4 vehicle in search of the Big 5 or taking to the sky in a hot-air balloon to witness the Great Wildebeest Migration. Every single day is steeped in the promise of a unique adventure and cherished memories.
Although each day is unpredictable to a certain extent, based on the time of year or location, there is a general format or schedule that safaris tend to follow, but, as a rule, safaris do follow a familiar rhythm that combines thrilling game viewing with ample time to relax in between—a dream vacation in anyone’s book. One rule of thumb is that there are usually two game drives a day: one in the early morning and one in the late afternoon, when animals are at their most active.
|
||||||||||||||||||||
KWAFUBEZI
Camp Overview
Tucked away in the tree line on the edge of the magnificent Mvubu plain in the 12 000 hectare Mabula Private Game Reserve. The luxurious en-suite tents have been designed with soft furnishings in strong hues of rich African colour and are raised on platforms in order to maximize privacy.
This is the ideal location to venture out on a bush walk or horseback safari. After the morning activities, laze around the pool or retreat to your tent and leave the stress of the outside world behind. The evening game drive with sundowners is followed by home cooked dinner in the Lapa.
Only a two hour drive from Johannesburg, in the Malaria Free Waterberg Area, Kwafubesi promises to bring you close to nature.
FULL BOARD
TENTED CAMP
GAME VIEW
DAY 2-4 | August 23-25, 2024
KANANA CAMP
📍 Central Okavango Delta, Botswana
OKAVANGO DELTA – CENTRAL
Area Overview
Botswana’s magnificent Okavango Delta is where the wild things are: an immense, water logged oasis alive with elephants and birdlife, adrift in the middle of Kalahari sands. The real magic of the Delta lies in its water, trickling through from far away highlands, and spreading across the channels and floodplains.
A maze of lagoons, lakes and hidden channels covering an area of over 16,000 sq km in flood and shrinking to less than 9,000 sq km in the dry season. It is a lush water-wilderness of papyrus swamps, shallow reed-beds and floodplains, dotted with islands and laced with a network of channels.
Trapped in the parched Kalahari sands the fresh water oasis attracts wildlife that depends on the permanent waters of this unique wilderness. The fragile ecosystem remain one of the world’s unspoilt and beautiful wildernesses where a vast diversity of animals and birds can be seen.
When the rains arrive, they transform the floodplains into a Noah’s Ark of African wildlife. As the water brings life to the delta, its local residents shape and recreate it. Termites slowly build mounds into islands, germinated with palm trees by passing elephants. Waterways open and close on the whim of wide-bottomed hippos, carving out channels where they crash through reeds, and leaving room behind them for exploration by mokoro.Over 400 species of birds, nearly 200 species of mammals, and over 150 species of reptiles!
For those looking to get a little closer to nature, guided bush walks are conducted on a number of the nearby islands, offering an opportunity to track some of the larger land-based species that inhabit this water wilderness. Bird- watching opportunities are outstanding, and fishing for bream and tiger fish is also offered as an activity. This activity is based on the water levels at the time.
Activity: Safari days!
Each day on safari in Africa is a magical experience, whether you’re exploring the savanna on foot or in a 4x4 vehicle in search of the Big 5 or taking to the sky in a hot-air balloon to witness the Great Wildebeest Migration. Every single day is steeped in the promise of a unique adventure and cherished memories.
Although each day is unpredictable to a certain extent, based on the time of year or location, there is a general format or schedule that safaris tend to follow, but, as a rule, safaris do follow a familiar rhythm that combines thrilling game viewing with ample time to relax in between—a dream vacation in anyone’s book. One rule of thumb is that there are usually two game drives a day: one in the early morning and one in the late afternoon, when animals are at their most active.
|
||||||||||||||||||||
KANANA CAMP
Camp Overview
Kanana Camp is set in the south western delta amongst grass covered islands formed by fertile eroded termite hills dotted with fig, palm and jackal berry trees. The area encompasses a necklace of islands on the Xudum River, northeast of Pom Pom lagoon and is incredibly picturesque with winding waterways meandering through open lagoons.The waterways are lined with reeds and dotted with papyrus and tree islands in this picturesque and tranquil part of the delta. As water levels vary throughout the year so does the focus of activities.
This traditional camp has an intimate and personal atmosphere, built among spectacular shady trees of ebony, acacia and sausage tree. It offers eight large safari style tents and a family unit equipped with tasteful furnishings and private en-suite bathrooms. The main lodge area is on raised decking encircling the trees and offers a dining and sitting area, a cocktail bar and a refreshing plunge pool. On a three night or longer stay, guests can pre-book the sleep out deck, affording a chance to spend a memorable night out under the superb African skies (weather permitting).
A wide variety of game frequent the islands around camp including impala, lechwe, leopard, lion and elephant and you may be lucky to see sitatunga whilst boating.Birding all year round is exceptional with regular sightings of Pels Fishing Owl amongst many others. The Camp is one of the few camps in the Delta to have access to a private heronry where many migratory water birds come to nest from July onwards. Birds you will encounter at the heronry include marabou, yellow-bill and open-bill storks. The sight of thousands of nesting birds is mesmerizing and an experience you will not forget.
ACTIVITIES
Activities include day and night game drives in open 4x4 safari vehicles, game viewing on mokoro excursions, guided walks, fishing, motor boating and sunset cruises.
*Morning transfer to local airstrip for your scheduled chartered flight into the heart of the Okavango Delta. Airstrip meet & greet with road transfer to camp. Arrive for lunch, enjoy an afternoon siesta and get ready for the afternoon game viewing!
*Please see your safari itinerary for transfer logistics
FULL BOARD
TENTED CAMP
GAME VIEW
DAY 5-7 | August 26-28, 2024
DINAKA CAMP
📍 Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana
CENTRAL KALAHARI GAME RESERVE
Area Overview
The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is a superlative wilderness covering the centre of Botswana full of wildlife, stars and a safari lover’s dreams. With vast stretches of unmodified landscapes and plant groups ranging from a mosaic of enormous clay pans and fossil river basins to undulating, vegetated sand dunes and woods, the Central Kalahari Game Reserve is a place of outstanding natural phenomena and is of exceptional natural beauty.
The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is home to some of southern Africa's most distinctive wildlife, including several densely populated threatened animal species like the Brown Hyena and a variety of raptors. The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is home to the largest variety of the lion species in Africa, the "black maned lion," one variation of the panthera leo.
One of the best illustrations of how people and nature can coexist, especially in dry environments, is the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. It is a location where the Basarwa (San) people have lived beside what is thought to be a difficult environment for a long time. They have survived by hunting animals responsibly using poisoned arrows made from only the best of nature's creations.
Activity: Safari days!
Each day on safari in Africa is a magical experience, whether you’re exploring the savanna on foot or in a 4x4 vehicle in search of the Big 5 or taking to the sky in a hot-air balloon to witness the Great Wildebeest Migration. Every single day is steeped in the promise of a unique adventure and cherished memories.
Although each day is unpredictable to a certain extent, based on the time of year or location, there is a general format or schedule that safaris tend to follow, but, as a rule, safaris do follow a familiar rhythm that combines thrilling game viewing with ample time to relax in between—a dream vacation in anyone’s book. One rule of thumb is that there are usually two game drives a day: one in the early morning and one in the late afternoon, when animals are at their most active.
|
||||||||||||||||||||
DINAKA CAMP
Camp Overview
An exclusive private conservancy hugging the northern edge of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Dinaka is host to one of the most unique bio-diversities in Southern Africa. This ever-changing desert landscape gives refuge to the Kalahari lion, springbok, Oryx and brown hyena. The camp itself was acquired in 2017 and provides the perfect start or finish to any discerning travelers Botswana safari.
7 spacious safari tents with twin or double beds feature en-suite bathrooms. The luxurious tents are complete with indoor and outdoor showers, hot and cold running water and flush toilets. Well-spaced away from each other and raised up on wooden decks offers guests a wonderful view from the comfort of the suite over a permanent water hole.
The camp also features a beautiful dining and lounge area, swimming pool and sleep out deck, where guests may have the opportunity to sleep under the magical African night sky.
ACTIVITIES
Guests enjoy thrilling morning and afternoon safari drives in open safari vehicles. The afternoon safari drives usually continue into the evening. Travelers may also get more up close and personal with nature during the adventurous guided bush walks.Featuring water holes all year round result in fantastic photographic opportunities either from the safari vehicle, on foot or from one of several hides.
As the camp is located alongside the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, the main activities involve exploring the Kalahari experience by 4x4 safari vehicles, with a maximum of four guests per vehicle.Wildlife encountered here includes giraffe, antelope, as well as small mammals like the honey badger, bat-eared fox and porcupine to predators including the Kalahari lion, cheetah, leopard and brown hyena.
Walking safaris and night game drives are also available!
Bird watching enthusiasts are in for a special treat! This area is home to over 200 different bird species including the Kori Bustard and Crimson Breasted Shrike and a high concentration of Pale Chanting Goshawks.
*Morning scheduled charter flight to the Central Kalahari Game reserve!Airstrip meet & greet with road transfer to camp. Arrive for lunch, enjoy an afternoon siesta and get ready for the afternoon game viewing! *Please see your safari itinerary for transfer logistics
FULL BOARD
TENTED CAMP
GAME VIEW
DAY 8-10 | August 29-31, 2024
KIRI CAMP
📍 Central Okavango Delta, Botswana
OKAVANGO DELTA - SOUTH
Area Overview
The Okavango Delta - a maze of sparkling lagoons, meandering channels and overgrown islands, and wildlife galore! The formation of the Okavango Delta is an extraordinary natural phenomenon, an 18,000 sq kilometer wetland forms like an oasis in the desert of Northern Botswana, forming a sanctuary to the largest populations of wildlife in Africa.
The wildlife in this area is diverse and plentiful, renowned for its lion and buffalo interactions and rare wild dog numbers.The wildlife in the area is prolific and chances are good to see some of the larger predators, herds of elephant and buffalo and all the plains animals that occur here. Night drives are conducted in the early evening offering one a chance to see the smaller more nocturnal animals with spotlights.
The formation of the Okavango Delta is an extraordinary natural phenomenon, an 18,000 sq kilometer wetland forms like an oasis in the desert of Northern Botswana, forming a sanctuary to the largest populations of wildlife in Africa
Stunning safari days ahead!
Activity: Safari days!
Each day on safari in Africa is a magical experience, whether you’re exploring the savanna on foot or in a 4x4 vehicle in search of the Big 5 or taking to the sky in a hot-air balloon to witness the Great Wildebeest Migration. Every single day is steeped in the promise of a unique adventure and cherished memories.
Although each day is unpredictable to a certain extent, based on the time of year or location, there is a general format or schedule that safaris tend to follow, but, as a rule, safaris do follow a familiar rhythm that combines thrilling game viewing with ample time to relax in between—a dream vacation in anyone’s book. One rule of thumb is that there are usually two game drives a day: one in the early morning and one in the late afternoon, when animals are at their most active.
|
||||||||||||||||||||
KIRI CAMP
Camp Overview
FULL BOARD
GAME VIEW
TENTED CAMP
DAY 11 | September 1, 2024
RETURN
DEPARTURE
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end! Goodbye to the safari life, feeling relaxed, mesmerizing scenery, great food, family time, and romantic memories.
Morning road transfer back to the airport for your outbound flight... dreaming of the trip of a lifetime!
TRAVEL INFO
◽️ Preparing for your trip
PREPARING FOR YOUR
SAFARI
Pre-Travel Information
Passports must be valid for at least six months beyond the return date of your arrangements and have a minimum of three blank visa pages excluding endorsement pages. Travellng with minors - in addition to having a valid passport and valid visa (if applicable), children under the age of 18, traveling through Botswana’s borders, must be in possession of a certified copy of their unabridged birth certificate (one that shows the particulars of a minor and those of both parents). A child under the age of 18 traveling to Botswana and/or South Africa with just one parent must carry an affidavit signed by the other parent consenting to such travel. Failure to produce the necessary documentation may result in travelers being turned away at port of entry. Insider Tips Zimbabwe and Mozambique visas each use up a full passport page. If you are visiting both countries we recommend a minimum of four blank pages. Post Covid passport renewals are taking much longer than in the past so don’t leave applying for a new passport until the last moment as there iust a chance you won’t receive it in time to travel. Keeping your passport safe is key as there is nothing worse than having to spend precious holiday time replacing it. Make at least two copies of the ID page of your passport, visa (if obtained in advance of travel), Covid-19 vaccine passport, travel itinerary, travel insurance, credit cards and any other travel documentation. One copy can be an image scan and the other a hard copy which you can give to a family member, business associate or close friend for safekeeping When it comes to health risks and medical precautions, Machaba Blue is only able to offer limited advice as outlined below. Those with underlying chronic conditions should ideally seek medical advice prior to planning their journey. Prior to traveling to Africa, we highly recommend you visit a medical professional such as your GP or local travel clinic for advice on what health precautions need to be taken. This visit should take place at least 4-8 weeks prior to departure as it will determine the need for any vaccinations and/or antimalarial medication as well as identifying any other medical precautions. Currently no mandatory vaccinations are required when entering Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa. Please check if this is still the case when visiting your GP or travel clinic. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required by visitors coming from a country where yellow fever occurs, or if they have been in transit for more than 12 hours at an airport in a country here yellow fever occurs. Malaria is present throughout southern Africa and in certain areas of South Africa. Insider Tips INCLUDED ____________ * As indicated on your detailed safari itinerary EXCLUDED ____________ * Unless otherwise indicated on your itineraryPASSPORTS
HEALTH
VISAS
GRATUITIES
PACKING LIST
BAGGAGE
TRAVEL INSURANCE
SAFETY GUIDELINES
INCLUDED & EXCLUDED