Zambia - Botswana Safaris: MIGRATION ROUTES

Tour direction – Zambia to Maun
Combination serviced camping in private concession areas and a small comfortable lodge in Zambia.

TAILOR-MADE ITINERARY OPTIONS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON FLEXIBLE DATES, FOR GROUPS OF UP TO EIGHT GUESTS.

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. Our 3m x3m dome tents (at Lechwe and Linyanti), 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 Xigera, Linyanti and Lechwe there are 2 bucket shower “bathrooms” and 2 short-drop toilet enclosures per 8 guests.

Guides: The entire safari is guided and hosted by a professional guide, who shares in-depth knowledge to present a seamless safari experience.

Exclusive experience: To ensure as much privacy and exclusivity as possible, most areas in which we travel are private concessions in prime locations. All Explorations camps are private and for the use of Adventurer Exploration guests only, while Shackletons is shared with other guests.

Routes: The route takes the time to explore the contrasts, extremes and continually moving wildlife of northern Botswana: from the broad vistas of the Linyanti with its wooded deciduous forests, the crystal-clear waterways and fertile green islands of the Okavango Delta, to the roaring cascades of the Victoria Falls.

Time: We have specifically allowed for a 3-night stay at Linyanti Trails Camp; in a journey of this nature, guests have the time to relax and unwind, at the same time fully appreciating an in-depth introduction to the diversity of the area as well as its activities.

Transfers: To maximise guests’ travel time, a variety of transport modes that bring out the best of each area is used: flying in seat on charters and overland transfers provide both a bird’s-eye view and an in-depth experience of the contrasting landscapes of Botswana.

4 x 4 tracks in wilderness areas are not maintained, take time to navigate and may be bumpy. As a result game / road transfers can take all day with lunch en route.

Seasonality: We adapt with the changing seasons so as to provide the best possibilities of wildlife viewing on an annual basis. For example, between 1 December and 31 May, to maximise the possibility of viewing the zebra migration and other game that moves between Linyanti and Savute at this time, guests can take a day to explore and experience the area at its most productive time,. (Note: If rains are poor, this migration usually does not occur and sighting of this game movement cannot be guaranteed.)

ITINERARY AT A GLANCE

ITINERARY DETAILS

Day 1: Shackletons, Zambia
After arrival in Livingstone you will be met by a representative and transferred directly for a guided tour of the Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. At 1708 metres wide, it is the largest curtain of water in the world and drops more than 100 metres into the sheer Zambezi Gorge.

This evening, we will stay at Shackletons, situated in south-western Zambia on the Upper Zambezi River near the village of Mwandi (meaning ‘a place of plenty fish’). Shackletons provides access to 130km of the Upper Zambezi River, named ‘God’s Highway’ by David Livingstone. The lodge and its environs is home to approximately 300 bird species, offers an excellent cultural experience at Mwandi village and also is a prime fly, spin and lure fishing destination. Accommodating 12 guests in comfortable, thatched and en-suite chalets with private teak decks overlooking the Zambezi River; coupled with fabulous cuisine and friendly service this creates a relaxing and invigorating stay.

Each room is equipped with 2 three-quarter beds, ceiling fan, safe box, mosquito net, en-suite bathroom (with shower, hand basin and flushing toilet) and plug points. The main area features a swimming pool, lounge and open dining area, with the riverside bar and sundowner deck providing unparalleled vistas of the mighty Zambezi River. www.shackletons.co.za

Days 2, 3 & 4: Chobe River boat cruise & Linyanti Trails Camp, Linyanti/ Chobe
After a full breakfast, we leave Zambia and enter the Chobe National Park in Botswana by way of the Kazungula border, a point where the four countries of Botswana, Zambia, Namibia and Zimbabwe meet.

The Chobe National Park is famous for its vast herds of elephants and unique species such as the elusive puku and Chobe bushbuck that move to the river during the hottest hours of the day - even more so in the dry season. Enjoy a light lunch served during the boat cruise on the catamaran-style shaded boat, after which we depart by aircraft in the late afternoon for the Linyanti region, from the airstrip game driving to our pre-erected Adventurer campsite. The north-eastern corner of the Linyanti is famed for its myriad of changing landscapes with sweeping views, from riverine to savannah and from forest to plains.

On one of our full days, we depart on an early morning activity. Lunch is enjoyed at a scenic spot with a sweeping view of the Linyanti waterways. After a siesta in hammocks, there is the possibility of an afternoon canoe trip, before returning to camp at dusk. (The canoe activity is not always possible, depending on local hippo movements within the area that we canoe.)

The Linyanti region’s life-giving perennial waters attract herds of wildlife that walk well-worn game paths to slake their thirst in the dry season. Predators follow in their footsteps and, coupled with the area’s diversity of habitat, make for exciting game viewing.

Days 5, 6 & 7: Lechwe Island Camp, North-eastern Okavango Delta
We travel west into private concessions, stopping en route for game sightings through parts of the area. This long but interesting drive gives the perfect introduction to the varying habitats of a dry and flat northern Botswana, from the open savannah of the Savuti Channel, known as the “Stolen River”, to lagoons with a plethora of wildlife to the geographically interesting Selinda Spillway (Great Rift Valley fault line). This can be a full-day game / transfer drive, with lunch en route at a shady place in the Savuti Channel.

We arrive at our pre-erected Adventurer campsite in the mid-afternoon, in time for a short sunset game drive.

Lechwe Island Camp is located in the south-western sector of the Selinda private concession, in a seasonally flooded portion of the Okavango Delta where it joins into the Selinda Spillway. The campsite is situated on a wooded island overlooking a floodplain area, the channel in front of camp alternately flooded or dry, depending on the season. 

Activities concentrate around the bushy and wooded islands, open plains and the seasonally flooded channels surrounding the camp. In this area local populations of plains game allow for game drives by day and night. Experiences are magnified on nature walks, where the guide is able to delve into interesting topics such as tracking, medicinal (and traditional) uses of plants and a full array of smaller invertebrates and other species not usually noticed from a vehicle. Canoeing is also seasonally offered.

Days 8 & 9: Xigera Mokoro Trails, Okavango Delta
We fly by light aircraft to the water-filled paradise of the private Xigera area, within the Moremi Game Reserve. Xigera is the ultimate Delta experience, with serene waters flowing through innumerable channels around remote islands and a profusion of plant and animal life.

There is no better way to experience the Okavango than to travel through it by mokoro, walking and camping out on a vegetated island – all essential elements of the Xigera Mokoro Trails experience. The experience is aimed at exposing the permanently flooded inner Delta, in the serene waterways and on the islands of trees and bush. Our guest tents are lighter here than the rest of the safari, with a gauze main frame, thus enhancing the views. Due to its remote location on an island, equipment is aimed at necessary comforts with “disco” stretcher-styled beds.

Activities include mokoro and walking safaris on inner remote islands, which enable up-close encounters with an excellent diversity of birdlife (including Pel’s Fishing Owl), frogs and a myriad of game species, some specially adapted to water, such as the rare sitatunga and the familiar red lechwe. Walking activities vary in length and duration through the seasons, especially in the months when the Okavango is at peak flood (June, July and August) where they become shorter  as more islands become flooded.

Day 10: Transfer to Maun Airport
Bid farewell to the adventure as we transfer by light aircraft to Maun Airport.

ADDITIONAL SAFARI EXTENTION OPTION -     THE PARCHED KALAHARI
The Migration Routes safari concentrates on the Okavango Delta, Linyanti and Chobe River systems and is essentially within the savannah ecosystem.

The Parched Kalahari Exploration links effortlessly at Maun on the end of some of the Migration Routes departures and departs for Nxai Pan, returning after a 3-night stay in the Kalahari Desert. It should not be missed as an opportunity to experience a totally different ecosystem.

Nxai Pan is a small National Park consisting mainly of a series of fossilised pans with exceptional diversity of Kalahari Desert wildlife. These include gemsbok (oryx), springbok, possibly the elusive black-maned lion and a range of other different uniquely adapted wildlife not found or seldomly seen in the savannah regions. Close by is the famous Baines’ Baobabs tree island, a group of enormous old baobab trees on the edge of the shimmering white Kudiakam saltpan.

ADDITIONAL 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. For earlier international departure flights, an additional transfer will be required to arrive for this connection. Extra transfers and flights are subject to extra cost.

Bilingual safari dates: This service aims to facilitate a greater level of experience for guests that do not speak English fluently. These safaris will be led by a guide; however there may be a translator to assist the guide. Please note on all bilingual safari dates that the guide or translator’s home language is English. This additional free service does not guarantee the level of fluency and depending on group dynamics a varying amount of the foreign language will be spoken.

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, except at the Shackletons in Zambia.

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.