Best of. a unique and in-depth exploration of botswana

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1 Best of Botswana a unique and in-depth exploration of botswana 5 th to 18 th November & 19 th November to 2 nd December 2016; 2 nd to 15 th April & 16 th to 29 th April 2017

2 We are delighted to be working with our Southern Africa partners, Flame of Africa, on this new and innovative exploration of Botswana which utilises OKA 4x4 vehicles. The vehicles, the only two of their kind in Southern Africa, have been adapted for safari use and offer the most comfortable and reliable off-road vehicles specifically designed for this type of tour. All three rows of three seats have doors on each side and although the vehicles can take up to ten passengers, we will limit the number to seven in order to keep the middle seats free and for maximum comfort. Most safaris in Botswana fly travellers from camp to camp and by doing so the real essence of Africa can be missed, such as the opportunity to stop alongside the road and watch a snake stalking a chameleon or the chance of seeing the elusive leopard taking down prey and having the luxury of time to sit on the roadside without the rush and the pack of other vehicles closing around you to spoil your enjoyment. The other added advantage is that of having a constant local guide who can give you all the little detail that is so often lost on the flying visits. Botswana s national parks are of course a true haven for wildlife and in addition to our journeys between the lodges which are a game drive in themselves through the timeless African landscape, we will enjoy numerous game drives within the parks in addition to time to relax, cool off in the lodge s swimming pools and also enjoy some safaris on the water. We will also make calls at small villages and uncover some truly unique communities, unchanged for thousands of years. We will spend time in the Okavango Delta and discover one of the most diverse areas in northern Botswana, with a wealth of wildlife to be seen on drives, walks and traditional mokoro rides. Known as the jewel of the Kalahari Desert, the Okavango Delta is all that remains of an ancient super lake that was once fed by the Okavango River; today it is the largest inland delta in the world. From the Okavango Delta we continue through the Chobe region. There can be few natural wonders as synonymous with Africa s raw wilderness as the great Chobe River. These waters divide Namibia s Caprivi Strip from Botswana s Chobe National Park, and its exotic banks boast one of the densest populations of wildlife on the African continent. Teeming with life, this National Park sprawls across some 11,000 kilometres of lush African bush, and is home to elephants, prides of leopard and lion, huge groups of buffalo, waterbuck, roan, eland, sable, giraffe, and, if you are lucky, one of the rare puku, can also be seen. In the river itself watch out for hippo and crocodile, and keep your binoculars at the ready for spotting a rich selection of bird life. Our View During the planning stages of this exclusive safari, our Expedition Leader Pam Le Noury visited Botswana to experience the vehicles and lodges and below is her insight into the tour: Botswana has been on my bucket list since I was a child, I had enormous expectations which were far exceeded. Botswana offers terrestrial bio-mass density and diversity rivalled only by South Georgia and the Serengeti. The annual cycle between the dry and the wet seasons is crucially poignant. During the southern winter, the rains cease and gradually things become drier, browner, sparser, and animals start to congregate around the water sources. As the grass dries, bush tracks scar the land and radiate from small muddy watering holes surrounded by game. Drier still, the watering holes deplete and animals congregate in spectacular numbers at the major water sources; the Okavango Delta and the Chobe River. In the early summer, the skies burst open and transform the landscape within weeks. The dusty hard ground scarred by a network of animal tracks becomes an impenetrable forest of undergrowth and thick bush, the game disperses and disappears into the green. The contrasting seasons are ubiquitous and everything follows, as do we. This overland tour explores these dry-season highlights of Botswana, and more, in a difficult-to-replicate-yourself journey. The itinerary involves off-road capability, long drives and hot days with some biting chill in the early hours, replete with luxury in a variety of five star and eco lodges, contemporary and traditional cuisine, remarkable scenery and spectacular wildlife. Hydration is the key to comfort during the day (creams, balms, hydration packs, sunhat, and neck gaiter). Luxury tented camps keep you in the wilderness at night but dubbed glamping owing to the total comfort. Botswana is as wild and natural as I had hoped, inspiring and alluring. I could not stop dreaming of being surrounded by elephants after my trip, and I cannot wait to return. Pam Le Noury, Expedition Leader Sunset in the Okavango Delta

3 ANGOLA ZAMBIA lake Victoria Falls kariba Impalila Island Kasane Chobe National Park okavango delta Savute Marsh ZIMBABWE Moremi Game Reserve Zhwai Maun Nxai Pans National Park Makgadikgadi Pans Okavango NAMIBIA Zambezi Chobe kalahari desert BOTSWANA Johannesburg m SOUTH AFRICA OKA 4x4 vehicles Elephant at Savute Marsh, Khwai the itinerary Day 1 London to Johannesburg. Fly by scheduled flight. Day 2 Johannesburg to Victoria Falls. Fly from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls. On arrival in Victoria Falls you will be met and transferred to your accommodation. (D) Overnight: A Zambezi River Lodge or similar Day 3 Victoria Falls. We spend this morning exploring the majestic Victoria Falls, one of the most compelling sites in the world. Observe the aquatic bird life and other resident or migratory species. This cascading column of shear energy powers its way down a 100 metre chasm, taking your breath away by its sheer strength and incredible beauty. Afternoon is at leisure, perhaps take an optional helicopter ride to view the falls from above. (B) Overnight: A Zambezi River Lodge (4-star) or similar Day 4 Victoria Falls to Impalila Island. The drive east from Victoria Falls to the border of Botswana is a game drive. Wild dogs have often been seen hunting along the cleared grass sections of the road near the Matetsi turn off. We drive to Ichingo Chobe River Lodge based on Impalila Island which lies at the confluence of the Chobe and Zambezi Rivers. Technically in Namibia, the unique geographic location means that the lodge is able to take full advantage of all that the Chobe area has to offer. The large trees and flowing waters promote a secluded, personalized and serene environment in which to completely unwind and enjoy the sights and sounds of a true river experience. (B, L, D) Overnight: Ichingo Chobe River Lodge or similar Day 5 Impalila Island to Makgadikgadi Pans. After a leisurely breakfast we leave our luxurious lodge and head for Elephant Sands which was voted by Getaway Magazine as one of the Top 10 best watering holes in Southern Africa. We will try to meet with the owner, Oom Ben, who is a legend in the area. We chose Planet Baobab as our lodge in order to weave a bit of the local culture into our trip. This is not a luxury lodge but it is a very special place where you will be astounded by the night sky and the eerie silhouettes of the ancient Baobabs. (B, L) Overnight: Planet Baobab or similar Day 6 Makgadikgadi Pans & Nxai Pan National Park. After a leisurely breakfast this morning we are off to one of the largest salt flats in the world. The pan is all that remains of the formerly enormous Lake Makgadikgadi, which once covered an area larger than Switzerland, but dried up several thousand years ago. We stop for lunch at Baines Baobab s which was painted by Thomas Baines, a fellow explorer of David Livingstone in The appearance of this cluster of millennia-old baobab trees in the Nxai Pan National Park in Botswana has barely changed over 150 years and what visitors see today is almost identical to the sight depicted by Baines on a pioneer mission through Africa in the 19th century. We will have our picnic lunch here and continue to Leroo La Tau which has a superb location. Leroo La Tau translates as lion s paw, but although the surrounding area features abundant lion, zebra and wildebeest, it also boasts Chobe bushbuck, leopard, cheetah, brown-and spotted-hyena, impala, kudu, jackal, porcupine, genet and caracal, to name but a few and this afternoon we will enjoy a game drive. In addition, there is also the possibility of seeing the rare white rhinoceros. (B,L,D) Overnight: Leroo La Tau or similar Day 7 Makgadikgadi Pans to Moremi Game Reserve. After this morning s game drive we continue to Moremi Game Reserve. En-route we will stop for lunch in Maun at Thamalakane River Lodge, a picturesque lodge on the Thamalakane riverbanks lined with fluttering reeds and visited by an ever changing array of water fowl and birds. After lunch we continue to the Okavango Delta where we will stay for two nights. During our time here, you can soak up this pristine section of the delta and your days will be filled with a range of included safari activities on both land and water. For many guests, the highlight of their stay comes during the morning and afternoon game drives. Conducted in open 4x4 safari vehicles, the exhilarating game drives provide the chance to track wildlife in the beautiful surroundings of Moremi Game Reserve, a protected area renowned for frequent sightings of lion, leopard and cheetah. African wild dog sightings are also regularly reported, an endangered species whose numbers are rapidly dwindling in other areas. Water activities involve the exploration of the water lily-ringed Xakanaxa Lagoon and surrounding Okavango Delta channels by motorboat. The birdlife which ranges from water birds to shy forest dwellers is prolific and varied, and each boat trip affords guests exceptional bird-watching opportunities. Other sightings include hippos enjoying the clear, cool water and the chance to watch big game making their way through the reeds to drink or bathe at the water s edge. (B, L, D) Overnight: Camp Moremi or similar Zebra, Makgadikgadi Pans Hippos, Chobe River

4 Victoria Falls Leopard Day 8 Moremi Game Reserve, Okavango Delta. One of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa, the Okavango Delta is famed for its big game viewing, supreme tranquillity and serenity of an untouched delta. Moving from wetland to dry land, traversing the meandering palm and papyrus fringed waterways, passing palm-fringed islands, and thick woodland, resplendent with lush vegetation and rich in wildlife reveals the many facets of this unique ecosystem, the largest intact inland delta in the world. (B, L, D) Overnight: Camp Moremi or similar Day 9 Moremi Game Reserve to Khwai. The drive from Moremi to Khwai is a 100% game drive through some of the very best game country in the area. This is a short drive in distance but can take many hours due to the multiple points of interest which will crop up on the way. At Machaba you will have a chance to enjoy extended Mokoro trips as well as the scheduled evening and morning drives. (B, L, D) Overnight: Machaba or similar Day 10 Khwai to Savute Marsh. Today s journey through the heart of the Chobe region will deepen your appreciation of this great country, the Mababe depression, the swamps, the sand ridges all blend in a kaleidoscope of African majesty. The Khwai is a relic of a large inland lake whose water supply was cut a long time ago by tectonic movements. Nowadays the marsh is fed by the erratic Savute Channel. As a result of this variable flow, there are hundreds of dead trees along the channel s bank. The region is also covered with extensive savannahs and rolling grasslands, which makes wildlife particularly dynamic. The region is reputed for its annual migration of zebras and predators. Activities are centred around game drives throughout the Savute area in open 4x4 safari vehicles. Many trips will incorporate a visit to the Savute Marsh for a chance to see the historic presence of the Savute Channel at the marsh against a teeming backdrop of wildlife. We will also enjoy a visit to the ancient San rock paintings at Gubatsa Hills, a small hilly outcrop which forms a remarkable landmark in the otherwise flat landscape. (B, L, D) Overnight: Savute Safari Lodge or similar Day 11 Savute Marsh to Kasane. We now head north to the place where four countries meet: Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Kasane town lies on the south bank of the 200 to 300 metres wide Chobe River which forms the border with the extreme tip of Namibia s Caprivi Strip. The Namibian island of Impalila lies opposite the town on the north bank of the river. Kasane is at the north-eastern boundary of Chobe National Park, which is the third largest park of the country and its most diverse. It has one of the largest concentrations of game in Africa which we will hopefully experience during our game drives. (B, L, D) Overnight: Chobe Water Villas or similar Day 12 Kasane. Your final day can be spent sitting on your private balcony over-looking Sedudu Island that is home to a variety of buffalo, elephant, lechwe and puku or participating in the game drives in the Chobe National Game Park or on Chobe River. (B, L, D) Overnight: Chobe Water Villas or similar Day 13 Kasane to Johannesburg to London. Today we bid Botswana farewell as our tour comes to an end. After breakfast transfer to Kasane airport for your onward scheduled flight via Johannesburg to London. Day 14 London. Arrive today. Prices per person Based on double occupancy Lilac Breasted Roller in Chobe National Park Twin Single Price Includes: Economy class scheduled air travel, 11 nights accommodation (2 nights A Zambezi River Lodge, Victoria Falls, 1 night Ichingo Chobe River Lodge, - Impalila, 1 night Planet Baobab, Makgadikgadi Pans, 1 night Leroo La Tau, Makgadikgadi Pans, 2 nights Camp Moremi, Moremi Game Reserve, 1 night Machaba Camp, Khwai, 1 night Savute Safari Lodge, Savute Marsh, 2 nights Chobe Water Villas, Kasane) meals as listed (B breakfast, L lunch, D dinner), excursions and game drives as listed, transfers, airport taxes, tour manager, services of a local escort/guide, gratuities. Not Included: Travel insurance, optional excursions, visas. +44 (0)

5 Your Accommodation During our exploration of Botswana we will stay in a variety of lodges: Exterior A Zambezi River Lodge, Victoria Falls The A Zambezi River Lodge is located in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and nestling on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River within the periphery of the Zambezi National Park. The imaginative architecture with Pool its sweeping curve of grass thatch blends well with the lush green lawns. A Zambezi is the perfect retreat to relax and unwind in the quiet ambience of the African wildlife and nature whilst enjoying renowned services. The lodge features 83 well-appointed and air-conditioned rooms, the majority of which have balconies facing the river and swimming pool whilst the rest face the National Park and the gardens. The A Zambezi is the only hotel with a river frontage and jetty site in Victoria Falls. Facilities at the lodge include wireless internet connection, a swimming pool, shuttle service to town and Victoria Falls, Amulonga Restaurant, Sebastian s à la carte Restaurant, open daily for dinners, Amulonga Bar, Zambezi Cocktail Bar. Pool Planet Baobab, Makgadikgadi Pans The Baobab capital of the world: where the average age of each tree is 4000 years and beyond and the boundless lunar landscape of the Makgadikgadi salt pans is the size of Switzerland. The accommodation at Planet Guest accommodation Baobab is truly original, reflecting the traditional building methods of the original inhabitants of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans in Botswana. The Bakalanga mud huts are en-suite and are perfectly temperature-controlled without the need for air conditioners. The interiors of these huts reflect what Planet Baobab is about: true creativity. The walls are smeared with cow-dung in traditional Botswana style, and adorned with art made with natural pigments found in the many termite mounds in the area. The property offers the biggest pool in the Kalahari. Lounge and bar Dinner by the pool Lounge Ichingo Chobe River Lodge, Impalila Island Ichingo Chobe River Lodge overlooks the Chobe River on the south side of the Impalila Island at the very eastern tip of the Caprivi Strip and therefore forms part of Namibia. Inchigo Chobe River Lodge is a family run, luxury tented lodge consisting of eight large Meru safari tents amidst the riverine forest, each beautifully turned out with its own private balcony overlooking the Chobe River and an en-suite bathroom. Each tent is positioned to ensure maximum privacy and to allow guests to relax in an environment that is truly distinctive. The main Lodge buildings are designed to provide total comfort and include a relaxing lounge, a welcoming bar and a separate open-air dining room. All of these areas are situated under thatch and are built to blend into the scenery amidst the large riverine trees. Enjoying the sunset Leroo La Tau, Makgadikgadi Pans Leroo La Tau is situated on the western bank of the Boteti River, northwest of Khumaga Village and about 140 kilometres southeast of Maun. The eastern bank of the Boteti River forms the boundary of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, which stretches away from the riverbank towards its interior of scrubland and mineral rich grasslands. The Boteti River is the main outflow of the Okavango Delta, collecting the water that flows past Maun, and stretching about 250 kilometres southeast to Lake Xau on the extreme south western edge of the great Makgadikgadi salt pans. Leroo La Tau is built on cliffs over 10 meters above this changing riverbed environment, offering a raised vantage point which ensures unsurpassed views of the river and the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park to the east. The lodge features 12 luxurious thatched and glass fronted suites with en-suite bathrooms, each one raised on a wooden platform. The main lounge and dining area, with its inviting wooden and thatch finish, offers guests the opportunity to sit back and relax at the bar while listening to the wide variety of night sounds so characteristic of the African bush. Alternatively you can lounge around the swimming pool or enjoy the panoramic river vista from the game viewing hide built into the bank of the river.

6 Lounge deck Camp Moremi, Moremi Game Reserve Peeking out from under a lush green woodland canopy, Camp Moremi, in the Xakanaxa area of Moremi Game Reserve, is a truly hidden gem. At the point where the life-giving waters of the Okavango Delta meet the vast plains of the Kalahari Desert, Mother Nature has created a sanctuary of Mopane forests, open Dinng room grasslands, seasonal floodplains and riverine habitats, resulting in one of the most magnificent and welcoming animal environments in all of Africa. Shaded from the African sun by a forest of ancient ebony trees, Camp Moremi is an elegant thatch and timber lodge consisting of an elevated main lounge, wildlife reference library, dining room and cocktail bar. Facilities at Camp Moremi include a secluded swimming pool and sundeck, an elevated viewing platform with a breathtaking panorama of Xakanaxa Lagoon, and a thatched boma where brunch or afternoon tea can be enjoyed. For an authentic and personal safari experience, Camp Moremi accommodates just 22 guests in East African-style individual safari tents, each situated on a raised teak platform with private adjacent facilities and viewing deck. A complimentary laundry service is also offered. Dinner and elephants Pool Savute Safari Lodge, Savute Marsh Situated on the banks of Botswana s fabled Stolen River, Savute Safari Lodge is a traditional thatched safari lodge in a setting of singular beauty. To ensure a private and relaxing environment, Savute Safari Lodge accommodates just 24 guests in 12 local timber and thatched chalets. The chalets have been elegantly furnished in calm neutral tones to compliment the natural environment and feature expansive private decks, a combined bedroom and lounge area plus en-suite facilities. Sink into one of the numerous comfortable leather, wood or wicker sofas in the lounge and library or enjoy a cocktail in the stylish bar, all of which are situated in a beautiful two-storey thatch and timber main building. The lodge boasts a shaded viewing deck, al fresco dining area and swimming pool. Complimentary laundry service is also included. Machaba Camp, Khwai The camp from the river Machaba Camp is situated in the game rich Khwai area, on the eastern tongue of the Okavango Delta. The name Machaba is the local Setswana name for the Sycamore Fig Tree, the tree of life. Machaba Camp is independently owned and run and built in the Lounge classic 1950 s style, with luxury safari tents, en-suite bathrooms and living areas, not forgetting the romantic outdoor showers. All the tents are situated on the ground and the pathways to the tents meander between the large riverine trees. Facilities include a swimming pool with loungers, library and complimentary laundry service. Lounge Chobe Water Villas, Kasane Due to open in 2015, the Chobe Water Villas development is an exclusive and intimate boutique lodge located on the Chobe River at the eastern end of the famous Caprivi Strip (now officially known as the Zambezi Region.) The lodge is built on stilts right on the banks of the Chobe River, opposite the renowned Chobe National Park and close to the safari town of Kasane, in Botswana. The nearby confluence of two legendary rivers, the Chobe and mighty Zambezi, is where the borders of Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe also come together. The 16 luxurious spacious water villas overlook the renowned Sedudu Island and the Chobe National Park, an area that supports the greatest density of wildlife of any river system in the world. The only access to Chobe Water Villas is by a 15-minute leisurely Safari-Boat transfer from Kasane in Botswana cruising across the Chobe River amongst Hippo and Crocodile. 2 Chester Close, Belgravia, London, SW1X 7BE +44 (0) info@noble-caledonia.co.uk noble-caledonia.co.uk All special offers are subject to availability. Our current booking conditions apply to all reservations and are available on request. Cover image: Ancient Baobab Trees _K