AFRICA – BOTSWANA
Classic Tented Safari Okavango Delta ,
Botswana
Acacia
Tree in the evening.
Five tons of crisp damask,
fridges, spacious East African tents furnished in made-to-order woodwork and
canvas will greet you upon arrival at every stop. Polished copper jugs,
paraffin lanterns, en-suite bucket showers and long drop loos (toilets) hold
true to the original ideal of the classic safari. Portable elegance and style
allowing guests to focus completely on the experience during the day and relax
in great comfort at night! Perfection for groups who cannot get into crowded
camps in high season or individuals who value privacy and luxurious isolation.
Guides are hand-picked
and trained. They carry framed diplomas, proof of their degrees in the
biological sciences and are often undertaking post graduate research projects.
Seven nights for you to explore
the lands and waters of one of the world's most spectacular wildernesses.
Each camp site is exclusive to
your group, with only those with whom you wish to spend special time. Seven
nights are usually split between three campsites. Two three-night sojourns
offer quite different experiences in the Moremi, one game and one on water,
linked by a night's camping on a Delta island
Itineraries can be too rigid
and do not allow for spontaneity. One can also not guarantee sightings and so
on. Please take this as a sampling of what could be on offer, and the style in
which it would be done. The schedule and the descriptions of the island
sleep-out are all logistically correct.
Day 1 Depart Hong Kong with South African Airways
Day 2 Arrive
Johannesburg
Depart Johannesburg by Air Botswana
Arrive Maun
Moremi Game
Reserve.
Guests are met by their Guide and private
vehicle at Maun airport and transferred by road into the Moremi Game Reserve.
Once in the Moremi a slow meander/game drive to familiarise ourselves with the
area and then into our first camp in good time to shower and unpack before
sundowners and dinner. Camp will be comprised of large tents equipped in a
luxurious fashion unequalled on any mobile safari that we know of. Real beds,
down pillows, pure cotton sheets, bone-handled silver cutlery, damask table
linen and wood and brass custom-designed furniture. The only concessions to
roughing it are the bucket showers and "long drop loos" (toilets)
which are private and attached to your tents for safety purposes but are still
open air.
Day 3 Moremi
Game Reserve.
Breakfast in the first light of day and
head out in the safari cars to start introducing you to some of the animals of the
dry flood plain environment. Looking for zebra, wildebeest, impala and
predators such as wild dog and cheetah.
Return for lunch
and siesta.
Head out for
sun-downers after consuming an embarrassment of tea and cakes. Park at the edge
of a water holes/lagoon and watch herds of elephants and a myriad of birds
coming down to drink whilst the sun sets and you are given an informal talk on
the geological history of the area.
Return for dinner.
Food on an
Uncharted Africa Safari is renowned throughout the industry for its fresh
tastes and original versions of classic dishes. Three course meals under the
stars include such treats as ostrich, fillet steak, delectable fruit tarts and
chocolate souffles.
Day 4 Moremi
Game Reserve.
Another early start and out in the trucks
for the whole day. The staff will load up a full lunch and picnic gear and the
fridges will be packed. Head out to explore the wider area around our first
camp. Search out the creatures and plants typical of each ecosystem and explore
the inter-relationships of both the species and the systems. Seek out the
elusive predators and observe and interpret their behavior.
Uncharted Africa Safari vehicles are top-of-the-range Toyota Land Cruisers,
extremely comfortable and have multiple thoughtful details that make them
perfect for game viewing such as roof top seats, leather bean bags for
photography, ponchos to keep one warm on sunrise game drives etc.
Picnic and siesta under a shady mangosteen.
Return to bed
tired-but-happy
Okavango Delta.
At dawn, clamber into the safari car that
has been packed with the overnight equipment for a fly camp. Mosquito net
tents, folding stools, food, bedrolls, lanterns, bucket showers, long drop loos
(toilets) etc. Take a slow drive to the boat station and board the boats to explore
the waters of the delta. The deep open lagoons provide a wonderful contrast in
habitat after the dry forest areas and floodplains. Putt along the maze of
channels stopping to admire the fantastic birdlife and diversity of aquatic
life spotting small crocodiles basking in the sun on sparkling white sandbanks
and hippos jousting for territories with spectacular splashes and clashes of
jaws and some serious dental equipment.
Learn about the ecology of the waters and look at the important components of
the ecosystems.
Arrive at our
island camp, deep in the lagoon systems, just after sunset to shower and relax
around the fire before dinner.
Day 5 Moremi
Wildlife Reserve
Rise early and hop
back into the boats with a packed lunch. Search out hippo and bathing elephants
to demonstrate the importance of water to these enormous creatures. Marvel at
the majesty of elephants from only a few yards as they wash and feed on the
roots of aquatic plants. Take lunch on a sandy bank in the river and cool off
at a safe swimming site.
Drift back to the vehicles and head on to and third and final site in good time
to relax, wash and unwind in camp.
Your camp will
have been moved from the first site to the second while you have been camped on
the remote delta island.
Day 6 Moremi
Wildlife Reserve.
Rise early and
after a sumptuous breakfast explore the junction between land and water.
Exploring the mosaic of islands, dry flood plain and dry woodland that border the
great swamps. Search for Lechwe and Sitatunga, unusual semi-aquatic antelope
specially adapted to the fringe environment.
Lunch and siesta
in camp.
Take a short drive
from camp to view the game moving about the reeds and rushes of watered flood
plain. Sundowners on the edge of a pretty waterway. Eat a big dinner and go to
sleep in tent as frogs pop and whistle in the reeds.
Day 7 Moremi
Wildlife Reserve.
All day predator hunt. Spend the last day
indulging yourself completely in seeking your favourite species. Leopard
spotting, lion tracking, cheetah chasing and dog discovering. Immerse yourself
completely in the incredible spectacles the delta has to offer. If you want to
watch lions mating for two hours or prefer to watch bee eaters hawking insects
on the wing then so be it. Picnic and siesta in the arms of a giant baobab and
spend the afternoon seeking out hyena dens and as the day cools down watch for
hunting cats.
Return to camp tired-but-happy once again.
Day 8 Pack
up in the morning. Say your farewells to the camp staff. Drive to airstrip
through the Moremi.
Depart Maun with Air Botswana.
Arrive Johannesburg.
Hotel: To be advised (cost not included).
Day 9 Depart
Johannesburg with South African Airways
Arrive Hong Kong
COSTS
The cost of the arrangements in Botswana are HK$28,120 per person on the basis
of twin sharing accommodation. This is fully inclusive of all meals, game
viewing activities, drinks, laundry, park fees, camp fees and services of
professional guides. Air travel Hong Kong / Johannesburg / Maun / Johannesburg
/ Hong Kong is not included.
This tour price is valid until 31 December 2001. Please call for the
cost of your selected dates.
This arrangement can be combined with other travel in Africa, perhaps to Victoria Falls or Cape Town, South Africa.
Prices are subject to change without prior notice.