Botswana Safaris: THE PARCHED KALAHARI

Tour Direction – Maun to Nxai Pan to Maun
Serviced camping an exclusive campsite in Nxai Pan National Park

TAILOR-MADE ITINERARY OPTIONS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON FLEXIBLE DATES, FOR GROUPS OF UP TO EIGHT GUESTS.
The Parched Kalahari Exploration links effortlessly for guests at Maun on the end of some of the Migration Routes departures and is highly recommended.

Experience a nostalgic camping safari that recreates a sense of wildlife viewing adventure reminiscent of the times of the early African explorers.

The style and essence of Wilderness Safaris’ Adventurer Safaris takes you back to the bygone days of Africa’s exploration. The 3m x3m dome tents (at Nxai Pan), complete with mini-verandas, allow you to feel more connected to nature, accentuating the feeling of the wild and untamed. Pure cotton linen bedrolls (with duvets) on GI stretchers, bedside table with silver lantern and mini luggage benches add to the atmosphere. Shared separate toilet and shower ‘bathrooms’ with old-style tin bucket showers and basins create simple serviced comfort.

Adventurer camping aims to bring the guest closer to nature, by means of lively campfires, hurricane lanterns, diverse activities and a warm atmosphere permeating the camp (and its simple comforts). Adventurer camps are specifically outfitted to create that camping feel with a clear emphasis on essential comforts and pristine wilderness experience.

Safari bathrooms: At Nxai Pan there are 2 bucket shower “bathrooms” and 2 short-drop toilet enclosures per 8 guests.

Exclusive experience: To ensure as much privacy and exclusivity as possible, the Explorations camp at Nxai Pan is private and for the use of Adventurer Exploration guests only.

Routes: The route is specifically designed to provide guests with a unique Kalahari Desert experience combined with the famous Baine’s Baobabs on the edge of one of the Makgadikgadi Pans as an additional highlight.

Transfers: As no airstrips are in the remote Nxai Pan region, transfers are by road on comfortable tar and 4 x 4 tracks. The duration of our road transfer to Nxai Pan and back to Maun is between 4 – 5 hours and travels through small villages and through Nxai Pan National Park.

4 x 4 tracks in wilderness areas are not maintained, take time to navigate and may be bumpy.

ITINERARY

Days 1, 2 & 3:  Nxai Pan, Nxai Pan National Park
Upon arrival in Maun and once all guests are assembled, we depart overland to our pre-erected private Adventurer campsite in the Nxai Pan National Park.

The Kalahari Desert pans around Nxai Pan are fossilised and covered with short nutritious grasses and stunted acacia trees, creating wildlife-rich areas surrounded by vegetated dune savannahs. Extensive game drives explore the surrounding pans, with an excellent chance of seeing spectacular dry-season predator-and-prey interaction at the waterholes. Possible game sightings include gemsbok (oryx), springbok, even the elusive black-maned lion and a range of other different uniquely adapted wildlife not often seen in the savannah regions found in northern Botswana.

Close by is the famous Baine’s Baobabs tree island, a series of enormous old baobab trees on the edge of the shimmering white Kudiakam saltpan. These trees were painted by Thomas Baines on his exploratory expedition in the late 19th century.

Day 4: Road transfer to Maun
After an early breakfast, we travel by road back to Maun, arriving in time to bid farewell and board your departing flight.

ADDITONAL SAFARI NOTES
International air connection onto the safari: If arrival is planned for the day of the safari’s departure, please ensure that this arrival is with the earliest possible flight from Johannesburg. Arrival on a later flight may necessitate additional road or air transfers (as departure for the first camp/lodge will already have taken place), subject to extra cost.

International air connections leaving the safari:  Please ensure that your departure flight is booked for after 13h00 from Maun. Earlier connections will unfortunately not be possible, due to the distance needing to be travelled back to Maun.

Flashlights/ torches: Please ensure that a minimum 2-D cell flashlight is brought on safari, with spare batteries. Head lamps are also useful. Wilderness Safaris does not supply flashlights.

Camera battery charging facilities: Please note that a 12V cigarette lighter adaptor will be required (that is compatible with camera make) on this safari for charging batteries while on game drive or transfer drives. No 110/ 240V outlets are available.

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