Days
14
Botswana
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.
The roads of Mabuasehube. Unlike in the South African section, there are no tar roads in Botswana's side.
Oryx and giraffes roaming through the red dunes of the Kgalagadi.
One of the most beautiful antelopes, the oryx is a typical creature of the Kalahari.
A funny iconic creature of the Kalahari. They are often seen especially in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
A Lanner Falcon in flight. The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is one of the best place for spotting large birds of prey.
The Kalahari Desert is arguably one of the best locations to spot cheetahs. The vast grassy plains are ideal for this extremely speedy predator.
Lions and hyenas often visit the unfenced camps at night. Sometimes even during the day.
Lions and oryx, roaming side by side in the CKGR.
Driving on the tracks crossing the savannah of the Moremi Game Reserve.
The Moremi Game Reserve has a sub-tropical look at times, with tall palms emerging from the bush.
Leopard crossing.
The best way to explore the Delta is by boat.
A huge herd of red lechwe running in the Delta.
Camping in the Moremi Game Reserve.
Sunrise in the Okavango Delta.
The open spaces of the Savute Marsh.
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.
"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.
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
We leave Savute to reach the airport of Kasane in time for the flight (2 pm) to J0hannesburg.