Into the Okavango

After your flight, you transfer (approx. 30 minutes) to your first night’s accommodation and check in. Johannesburg lies at the centre of the Witwatersrand, literally meaning ‘ridge of white waters’. It was on this ridge that the world’s richest gold reef was discovered little more than 100 years ago. Your first day is free to relax, with the option of visiting the fascinating township of Soweto in the afternoon. Shops and restaurants are all within easy reach although you’ll need a taxi after dark. Hotel - 1 night

Please make sure that if you explore Johannesburg on your own that you take advice of where it is safe to walk, especially in the evening. There have been isolated attempts of robbery in recent times and although unpredictable the risk of these can be minimised by taking local advice.

Skirting the northern boundaries of the Central Kalahari Desert and the huge diamond mines at Orapa and Lelfhakane, you arrive in Maun and check into the lodge (575km approx. 8 hours). Maun meaning, "place of short reeds" is the gateway to the Okavango Delta and northern parks of Botswana. After preparing for your journey into the delta tomorrow, the rest of the day is free to relax and settle in. Take a stroll along the riverside bird watching or relax and recover from the journey, next to the swimming pool. Lodge/Chalets - 1 night (BL)

The unique Kavango River flows not into the sea but into the Kalahari Desert. The river was blocked from its original course by a series of geological shifts and flows from its mountain source in Angola to meet the desert. Its waters spill out over the sandy ground to produce a vast aquatic wetland amid vast areas of aridity - a true wonder of the natural world and a unique accident of nature, which occurs nowhere else. The area is rich in bird life and home to abundant wildlife including hippo, warthog and monkey. Depending on the season lion, hyena, elephant, giraffe and buffalo are all prevalent.

The day unfolds with an early awakening to catch the dawn. This is a magical time of day - cool and still, with the merest rustle of breeze - although the cacophony of birdcalls can be almost deafening! During the heat of the day there is a chance to relax back at the lodge. Later in the afternoon you continue to explore the vast expanses of this watery environment, spotting an abundance of bird species which include heron, egret, ibis, stork, several species of kingfisher, hornbill and a selection of brightly coloured bee-eaters. Many live here because of the rich diet of fish they are able to find. (BLD)

TThe big game aspect of your safari begins as you enter Moremi Game Reserve - one of the finest wilderness areas in Botswana. Proclaimed a wildlife reserve by the Batswana people in 1963, it was the first wildlife sanctuary to be created by an African tribe in their own area, and as such it is unique. The act was described at the time as a shining mark in African tribal history. It is a rich and fascinating area, which is an intricate part of the Delta, comprising of permanently swamped areas, lily-covered wetlands, seasonally swamped area and also dry land. You drive for about 2 hours to the wildlife concession area bordering the Moremi Reserve, and then take a game drive en route to your lodge. During the entire two days spent in Moremi Game Reserve you will be travelling by open 4WD game viewing vehicle. En route you search for giraffe, hyena, kudu, elephant, hippo, crocodile, buffalo, lion and leopard. At sunset there is plenty of time to relax and absorb the sounds and beauty of this region.  Tented bush lodge - 2 nights (BLD)

You have one last opportunity to look for game in Moremi this morning. Hopefully you will see everything that you haven’t seen so far!! After lunch you return to Maun for your final night in the Delta region. The rest of the day is free for you to either relax or look around Maun and its immediate vicinity. Lodge/Chalets – 1 night (BL)

Leaving the Makgadikgadi Pans behind, you head north on the highway towards Kasane and the Chobe National Park. The road takes you through wild bush and there may be a chance of seeing ostrich and impala. The land use changes to arable farmland with Maize and Sorghum being the main crops. The region around Mpandametenga, virtually the only settlement along this highway, is one of the major crop producing regions in the whole of Botswana. As you near Kasane, the landscape becomes progressively more wooded until you are driving through forest. There is a good chance of seeing elephant on the side of the road. You arrive mid-afternoon with the rest of the day free to relax (journey time 4 hours/320km). Lodge – 2 nights (BL)

Crossing the Zambezi River on the Kasungula Ferry into Zambia, you make your way downstream along the north bank to Livingstone (approx. 2 hours plus possible delay at the border) and to your lodge. This afternoon you visit one of the most awesome sights in the world, "Mosi-oa-Tunya" – Smoke That Thunders (the name given to the Victoria Falls by the Makololo people). The waterfalls are without doubt one of the greatest and most unforgettable scenic spectacles in Africa. It’s hot and humid here, and standing in the rainforest which thrives in the spray from the falls, you can feel the immense power generated as the Zambezi River drops a hundred metres causing the ground to vibrate under your feet. Lodge – 2 nights (B)

After breakfast you have time for a final optional activity such as the “flight of angels” over the falls or a visit to the curio market before the trip ends for Land Only clients and those on group flights to the UK take an airport transfer to catch your return flight home via Johannesburg. Farewell to Africa; we are sure you will return! (B)

Please note that on leaving Zambia you will be required to pay a departure tax that equates to around US$5. This is paid locally and all major credit cards are accepted.