Days
14
Botswana
Kalahari 4×4 expedition
This is not your classic African safari. This is an authentic 4×4 expedition and a true wilderness experience. We’ll be exploring, driving and camping in the remotest areas of Botswana. An epic adventure crossing the wildest section of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, the entire Central Kalahari Game Reserve, the Okavango Delta and the wild Savuti.
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Mabuasehube
The roads of Mabuasehube. Unlike in the South African section, there are no tar roads in Botswana's side.
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Mabuasehube Pan
Oryx and giraffes roaming through the red dunes of the Kgalagadi.
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Oryx
One of the most beautiful antelopes, the oryx is a typical creature of the Kalahari.
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Suricate
A funny iconic creature of the Kalahari. They are often seen especially in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
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Birds of prey
A Lanner Falcon in flight. The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is one of the best place for spotting large birds of prey.
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Cheetah
The Kalahari Desert is arguably one of the best locations to spot cheetahs. The vast grassy plains are ideal for this extremely speedy predator.
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Mabuasehube
Lions and hyenas often visit the unfenced camps at night. Sometimes even during the day.
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Central Kalahari Game Reseve
Lions and oryx, roaming side by side in the CKGR.
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Moremi Game Reserve
Driving on the tracks crossing the savannah of the Moremi Game Reserve.
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Moremi Game Reserve
The Moremi Game Reserve has a sub-tropical look at times, with tall palms emerging from the bush.
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Moremi Game Reserve
Leopard crossing.
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Okavango Delta
The best way to explore the Delta is by boat.
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Okavango Delta
A huge herd of red lechwe running in the Delta.
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Moremi Game Reserve
Camping in the Moremi Game Reserve.
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Okavango Delta
Sunrise in the Okavango Delta.
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Savute Marsh
The open spaces of the Savute Marsh.
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Savute
A herd of elephants at a waterhole, facing a pride of lions. Savute is one of the very few places on Earth where there have been recorded cases of elephant bulls being attacked by lions.
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Eternal enemies
"Eternal enemies" is the title of a very famous documentary by National Geographic and was made in Savute. It shows the relentless war between these 2 large predators.
This is an outright 4×4 wilderness experience in the remotest areas of the Kalahari, in Botswana.
The participants are also allowed to drive their own (hired) 4×4 vehicle, provided they have some 4x4ing experience. Please note this is not a classic safari nor an overland trip. This is a serious wilderness expedition, where a decent level of fitness is required. Even more important, a strong ability to adapt and appreciate pristine nature with all what may come with, including dust.
Kalahari 4×4 expedition is recommended to:
- the 4×4 enthusiast
- the outdoor lover
- those willing to explore the true African wilderness
Trip highlights
- Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (Mabuasehube section)
- Central Kalahari Game Reserve
- Okavango Delta
- Moremi Game Reserve
- Savuti (Chobe National Park)
- great wilderness feeling and experience
Accommodation
- Mostly camping (except when in town) in large dome tents.
- All camping equipment is provided, except sleeping beds.
- As the departure time is set on October 15 at 5.30 from Johannesburg International Airport, all participants not flying in by Emirates via Dubai (EK 767) are required to sleep the night of the 14th in Johannesburg, preferably nearby the airport. Please advise if you need help for booking.
Meals
Participants must be self-sufficient with regard to their food and drinks. They’ll be given an ice cooler box with thick layer and strong isolation power. The leading vehicle will bring all the pottery, cutlery, etc. A chef is available to cook although guests are very welcome to give a hand.
Vehicles (self-drivers only)
- Fuel included. Drivers must return their vehicle with full tank.
- A third party insurance is to be purchased at the border (€ 15-20 ca.)
- Drivers will be charged for drop-off fee (R 1.600) to return their vehicle in Kasane.
- A maximum of 4 people per vehicle, including the driver, is allowed.
Programme
Day-by-day itinerary
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D1
15/10/17: Johannesburg-Kuruman
The tour start is connected with the arrival time of the Emirates flight from Dubai, landing in Johannesburg at 5:30 am. Alternatively, a night prior departure is to be spent in Johannesburg, ideally nearby the international airport.
Today we’ll head to the town of Kuruman, at the edge of the Kalahari region.
Accommodation: guesthouse
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D2
16/10/17: Kuruman-Mabuasehube
After breakfast, we’ll drive to the border with Botswana. Before heading to Mabuasehube, we’ll stop in town for shopping, as no fresh meat is allowed to cross the border.
We should reach this remote section of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park by mid afternoon. Set up the camp under the stars of the Kalahari and get ready for dinner.
Accommodation: camping
Meals: breakfast
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D3
17/10/17: Mabuasehube
A full day to explore the Mabuasehube section, the richest area of game of the Botswana’s side of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
Accommodation: camping
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D4
18/10/17: Mabuasehube-Kutse
We leave Mabuasehube to start our approach to the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, by crossing the Khutse Game Reserve. It will be a long drive in a seldom visited area, maybe not so rich in game but with a very strong wilderness feeling. Enjoy the loneliness.
Accommodation: camping
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D5
19/10/17: Kutse-Central Kalahari Game Reserve
We start traversing the huge huge wilderness of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, the second largest in Africa, exceeding 50.000 sq. km. in size.
Accommodation: camping
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D6-7
20-21/10/17: Central Kalahari Game Reserve
We’ll cross the entire Central Kalahari Game Reserve, a huge wilderness of over 50.000 sq. km. We’ll be driving northbound, heading to the Deception Valley, the area of the park with most of the big game.
Accommodation: camping
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D8
22/10/17: CKGR-Maun
We leave the vast wilderness of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve to reach Maun in the afternoon. To enjoy a true hot shower and a real bed. Tonight dinner will be at a restaurant in town.
Accommodation: guesthouse
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D9-11
23-25/10: Okavango Delta
We’ll spend these 3 days to explore the Okavango Delta and the Moremi Game Reserve, a tongue of land covering about 1/3 of the area of the Delta. The Moremi is one of the game richest wilderness areas of all Southern Africa.
Accommodation: camping
Meals: breakfast
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D12-13
26-27/10/17: Savute
From the northern edge of the Moremi, we enter into the Savuti, the remotest and wildest area of the Chobe National Park. A land with a high density of large predators, lion and spotted hyena in particular.
Accommodation: camping.
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D14
28/10: Savute-Kasane
We leave Savute to reach the airport of Kasane in time for the flight (2 pm) to J0hannesburg.
Included
- Local professional team driving a leading vehicle.
- 4x4 vehicle (Toyota Double Cab or similar) with unlimited mileage and total cover insurance.
- Full camping equipment.
- Park fees.
- Guesthouse accommodation in Kuruman and Maun (on B&B).
- Flight Kasane-Johannesburg.
- Fuel (passengers of leading vehicle only).
Not included
- International airfare.
- All meals (the expedition is in self-catering).
- Fuel (self-drivers only).
- Cross-border documents (self-drivers only) - R 1.200 ca.
- Third party insurance valid for Botswana - € 20 ca.
- Drop-off fees (self-drivers only)
- Travel insurance.
- Tips and personal expenses.
- Anything not mentioned as included.