Four Country Safari. theultimatesafari.com

Transcription

1 Four Country Safari theultimatesafari.com

2 theultimatesafari.com ABOUT THIS SAFARI... One guest who took this tour perhaps summed it up best when she wrote: Starting on the mighty Zambezi river with its majestic Victoria Falls, moving into the partially flooded Okavango Delta area with its lush islands and eventually onto the dry South African bushveld not only gave us variety but a good understanding of how wild animals adapt to their habitat. What an unforgettable experience! The four countries included in this safari Zambia, Namibia, Botswana and South Africa each brings its own unique perspective to a trip ideally suited for first-timers as well as seasoned safarists. It combines water and land with a diversity of terrain and a whole range of African wildlife as well as a wealth of birdlife. There is no guarantee that we will always be able to offer this exact combination of lodges and camps. Being very limited in space to ensure the best quality services on an exclusive basis for fewer guests they fill up many months ahead. That is one reason why I encourage our guests to make their plans early preferably a year in advance. Given, however, the number of outstanding establishments offered in these four countries we are confident that we will always be able to match the ones in this itinerary with equally exciting substitutes, if and when necessary We only include camps and lodges after a rigorous first-hand evaluation. View this itinerary as a template that can be adjusted to suit your own preferences and pocket without compromising the quality of your safari experience. Keep in mind, for example, that the price difference between Wilderness Safaris Classic and Premier camps in Botswana is basically a question of choosing Super de Luxe over De Luxe in both the accommodations and the animal viewing experience are superb. Dr. Les de Villiers les@theultimatesafari.com

3 RWANDA Kigali BURUNDI Lake Tanganyika UGANDA Kampala Entebbe Lake Victoria Arusha TANZANIA Lake Rudolf KENYA Nairobi Kilimanjaro Mombasa Zanzibar Dar es Salaam Airports with direct overseas links Airports with Interafrica links ,000 1,500 km NAMIBIA Duba Plains Mombo Ntwala Maun Kitwe ZAMBIA Lusaka Lake Kariba Livingstone Victoria Falls Kasama Lake Nyasa Lilongwe Harare Mbeya MALAWI ZIMBABWE Windhoek Luderitz BOTSWANA Gaborone Johannesburg Ebony Nelspruit MOZAMBIQUE ATLANTIC OCEAN SOUTH AFRICA Durban INDIAN OCEAN Cape Town Port Elizabeth Map: matesafari.com

4 DAY 1 Morning: Arrive at OR Tambo Airport, Johannesburg, from USA/Europe Depart for Livingstone Airport, Zambia, where you will be met and transferred to the Royal Livingstone Hotel Overnight is on a basis of bed and breakfast and your trip includes a visit to the majestic Victoria Falls Inspired by the gracious homes in Livingstone, The Royal Livingstone is a 5-star, 173-roomed luxury hotel. Situated on the Zambezi River, the rooms and suites offer a tranquil retreat. The rooms are twostorey clusters and each cluster comprises approximately 10 en suite air-conditioned rooms, offering private balconies or terraces with views of the Zambezi River and Victoria Falls. Interior furnishings accentuate the influences of Africa. All the rooms have satellite TV, radio and video, mini-bar, minisafe and telephone with message/wake-up/voic facilities. An ideally positioned bar and lounge under an open-thatch roof is cooled by the swish of punkahs. With its comfortable armchairs and low ottomans the lounge is the place to enjoy British colonial-style high tea or to linger over port. The restaurant reflects the same high standard of service and opens onto spacious verandas and luxurious rolling lawns at the river s edge. The hotel offers the majesties of Africa with all the charms of a bygone era, and an unparalleled level of luxury, service and sophistication in the region. Optional are river cruises below the falls, helicopter fly-over and several other activities. This hotel provides an relaxing rest stop to shake off jet lag and prepare for the exciting safari destinations ahead.

5 DAY 2 & 3 Morning Private road transfer from the hotel to Livingstone Airport Your charter flight takes you to Kasane Airport from where you are transported by road and boat to Ntwala Lodge on Impalila Island in Namibia s Caprivi region 2 nights at Ntwala, including all meals, activities, drinks (expect imported brands) and laundry Ntwala Island Lodge is a pristine and secluded Chobe destination. Intricate floating walkways link an untouched Namibian cluster of islands within the Mambova rapids where two mighty African rivers the Zambezi and Chobe converge, only fifty miles upstream from Victoria Falls. White sands and palm trees add to the romance of Ntwala Island Lodge with its four ultra luxurious suites, each with its own private plunge pool, bay bath feature; indoor and outdoor shower; as well as a private sala (roofed viewing deck) extending over the water. Activities at Ntwala are predominantly water-borne and privately guided, and the close and convenient proximity to Chobe National Park ensures guests will have both exclusivity and a comprehensive wildlife experience. Also provided are mokoro rides on the quiet backwaters and an exclusive Chobe sunset cruise to view Africa s big game. Tiger fishing, done on a catch and release basis around Impalila Island is the best in Africa in terms of fish size and available waterways. Elephant, hippo, and crocodile are frequent sightings as well as an abundance of spectacular bird species.

6 DAY 3 & 4 Noon Transfer by boat to Kasane Airport for the onward light aircraft flight to Duba Plains in the outreaches of the famous Okavango Delta 2 Nights at Duba Plains, including all meals, drinks (except imported brands), activities and laundry Duba Plains Camp lies in the most remote reaches of the Okavango Delta, Botswana, in an area renowned for the endless conflict between prides of lions and the herds of buffalo which sustain them. The award-winning National Geographic documentary Relentless Enemies chronicled this battle for survival. Duba Plains Camp is an unobtrusive camp surrounded by expanses of seasonally flooded plains and shaded by tall ebony, sycamore fig and mangosteen trees. Accommodation at Duba Plains Camp consists of six roomy tents with en-suite bathrooms, outside showers and verandas with panoramic vistas of the Okavango Delta floodplains. The thatched lounge, dining and bar areas are raised along with the pool on wooden platforms to better appreciate the breathtaking views. Your African safari at Duba Plains Camp starts by tracking down one of the mammoth buffalo herds to see whether the lions are on the prowl. Duba Plains Camp offers day and night game drives. But Duba Plains Camp has more to offer than just lion and buffalo, with herds of elephant feeding on the islands and hippo wading out into the deeper channels. Tsessebe and blue wildebeest dot the plains, while red lechwe are found on the fringe of the wetter floodplains. Spotted hyena can also be seen in their own age-old conflict with the lions. Aardwolf sightings are one of the specialities of Duba Plains Camp, along with the occasional glimpse of caracal. Red lechwe, elephant, tsessebe and warthog share this savannah landscape and hippo concentrate in the deeper channels. The area often has productive spotted hyena dens that offer unique hyena pup viewing, whilst leopards can be found on the forested islands. Most of the Okavango Delta s renowned birdlife can be found around Duba Plains Camp.

7 DAY 5 & 6 Noon Light aircraft transfer to Mombo Camp 2 Nights at Mombo, including all meals, drinks (except imported brands), activities and laundry Voted the Number 1 Resort in Africa in the 2009 Condé Nast Traveler (USA) Readers Choice Awards, Arguably offering the best game viewing best game viewing in Botswana, Mombo has long been one of National Geographic s favorite sites for its wildlife filming. Mombo The camp is built under large shady trees and overlooks a floodplain teeming with wildlife. Game viewing starts right here at the camp. Guests often find animals wandering past and right under their rooms. There are enormous concentrations of plains game and their predators. Accommodation is in nine spacious tents raised off the ground, with breathtaking views. The main living and dining area is under thatch and large concentrations of plains game roam close to the camp. During game drives on the savannah and floodplains common sightings include lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog, elephant, white rhino, hyena, giraffe, wildebeest, zebra and large herds of buffalo.

8 DAY 7 Noon Light aircraft flight from Mombo to Maun Airport where you transfer to a commercial flight taking you to Johannesburg s OR Tambo Airport. Arrival is late afternoon. You will be met and transferred to the InterContinental Airport Hotel where overnight accommodation is on a bed and breakfast basis. DAY 8-10 Morning Depart on Federal Air Charter for Ebony Lodge in the private Sabi Sand GR 3 Nights at Ebony with accommodation including all meals, drinks and activities Singita Sabi Sand offers rare solitude and the ultimate in safari luxury on prime game viewing in South Africa s bushveld region known for its diversity and formidable concentration of big game and frequent leopard sightings. Guests can choose between three exquisite lodges developed and operated by Singita, one of Africa s foremost providers of luxury and chic in safari country. Ebony Lodge offers sumptuous coziness in secluded thatched suites with rooms styled in an elegant mix of colours, fabrics and textures. A colonial feel with Egyptian linen, African throws, antiques and modern luxuries combine to create a friendly atmosphere. Each suite has an inside bathroom and shower, outside shower, heated private swimming pool, double-sided fireplace, mini bar and fridge, room mini safe, air-conditioning, overhead fans, private lounge, direct dial telephones and game-viewing deck. Sharing Kruger National Park s abundant wildlife after the fences were removed a few years ago, Singita s surroundings have become a haven for diverse wildlife including the so-called Big Five assuring a meaningful wildlife experience in a limited time.

9 DAY 11 Afternoon Federal Air flight from Ebony to OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, where you will be assisted to your international return flight home WHAT YOU GET... Twin accommodation (There will be a single supplement surcharge) Transport and transfers from Livingstone onward until you board you return flight in Johannesburg Meals as specified in the itinerary Soft drinks, house wine, local brand spirits, local beer, teas and coffees Scheduled domestic flights Scheduled transfers Scheduled game activities Park fees and conservancy fees AND WHAT YOU DON T Gratuities and all items of a personal nature Meals and drinks not specified above Champagne, cognacs, cellar wines, cigars and cigarettes International flights to Livingstone and from Johannesburg Visa fees