Botswana Safaris

The Selinda Canoe Trail

A Trails Exploration – 3 nights / 4 days canoeing down the Selinda Spillway

Selinda Canoe Trail - Canoe Safaris - Africa Discovery Botswana

This canoeing and walking adventure safari navigates some 45km along the Selinda Spillway in the heart of the Selinda Reserve. Days are spent paddling eastwards, in stable Canadian-style canoes with cushioned seats, along the Spillway, viewing wildlife and bird species that may be seen along the banks. Nights are spent in fly camps (comprising dome tents with hot bucket showers and short-drop toilets) along the way. The area is well known for elephant, buffalo, sable antelope, roan antelope and wild dog, as well as some 300 bird species. Cheetah, lion and leopard are occasionally seen. The area evokes remoteness and solitude.

ITINERARY AT A GLANCE

Day 1, 2 & 3	Fly to Jacana Camp, Okavango Delta
Day 4	Fly to Ketumetse Trails Camp, Okavango Delta

Selinda Canoe Trail - Canoe Safaris - Africa Discovery Botswana

ITINERARY

Day 1:
The trail begins at Selinda airfield in the mid-afternoon, followed by a three hour road transfer in 4x4 vehicles from the airstrip to the starting point of the actual canoe trail. Once the guide has briefed the group, the trail starts with a short late afternoon canoe experience before arriving at the evening’s first camp

As there is a minimal distance to be covered on the first day and also due to the fact that all the equipment is carried with the group, we paddle until just before sunset at a suitable site on the banks of the Spillway.

The dome-tented camp will be pre-erected and we enjoy a well-deserved sundowner around the campfire before dinner, followed by a good night’s sleep.

Day 2:
After an early wake-up call, tea or coffee and light breakfast while the camp is being dismantled, we head out on the canoes for a full day of paddling, with lunch en route and the possibility of stretching our legs if we come across something worth investigating on foot. Tonight we camp in another suitable location as we gradually make our way down the Spillway.

Day3:
An early breakfast once again, as camp is taken down, before we continue along the water course by canoe for another full-day excursion and set up camp for the last night of this trail.

Day 4:
We head out after breakfast, aiming to finish at around 10h00-10h30. At this point we are met by the vehicle and transferred by road to the Selinda Airstrip, where we bid farewell to the safari.

Selinda Canoe Trail - Canoe Safaris - Africa Discovery Botswana

ADDITIONAL SAFARI NOTES

An additional night or two is recommended at either Selinda or Zarafa Camp, after the trail.

Flashlights/ torches: Please ensure that a minimum 2-D cell flashlight is brought on safari, with spare batteries. Head lamps are also useful.

Camera battery charging facilities: Unfortunately due to the remoteness and nature of this trail, there will be no charging facilities available, so please charge your batteries at the camp you are staying a, the night before your canoeing safari starts.

Dietary requirements and special occasions: Due to remote locality of Explorations camps, please ensure that full dietary requirements and special occasions are advised at the time of your booking confirmation.

Walking trails equipment required: As this is a canoe / walking safari, please ensure that the required equipment is brought. Please ensure also that our pre departure documentation is perused where all advice for equipment is advised.

Arrival Day: Please note that it is not possible to book on this safari if you are flying up to the Okavango on Air Botswana on the morning that the canoeing safari starts. You will need to have at least one (preferably two nights) at a safari camp prior to the start of the canoeing safari.