Trips & Tours: Botswana Wildside

Departing Johannesburg at 06:30am we head north into Botswana and the Khama Rhino Sanctuary. This reserve situated on the Kalahari sandveld, has several natural waterholes and provides prime habitat for white rhino, zebra and wildebeest. The Khama Rhino Sanctuary Trust is a community based wildlife project established in 1992 to assist in saving the vanishing rhino, restore an area formerly teeming with wildlife to its previous natural state and provide economic benefits to the local Motswana community through tourism and the sustainable use of natural resources.

We drive through the central Kalahari to Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta. Situated on the banks of the Thamalakane River, Maun is a bustling frontier town where we prepare for the delta excursion. After setting up camp we have a relaxing afternoon at the swimming pool.

Our local guides will take us deep into the heart of the Okavango Delta on Mekoro (dugout canoes). The delta forms as water flows from the Angolan highlands out over the Botswanan flat Kalahari Desert sands creating a delicate, green oasis for bird & wildlife. We will camp wild on remote islands in this amazingly dynamic environment & enjoy bush walks, bird watching & swimming in the clear water. Camping with our local guides we learn more about their lifestyle & culture. We return to Maun in the late afternoon of day 5 and have time for an optional (own expense) game flight over the Okavango, which will reveal a different aspect of the delta

As day 03

As day 03

After an early start we head north out of Maun, to the Moremi Game Reserve, in our open 4WD vehicle. This unique area is named after the Chief of the Batawana tribe, who founded the reserve in 1963. The reserve protects a large part of the greater Okavango Delta. The grasslands, floodplains, forests and winding water channels combine to form a variety of game viewing habitats attracting amongst others; elephant, lion, hippo, leopard and wild dog. We explore the reserve on morning and afternoon game drives, relax during the heat of the day and spend two nights wild camping in the reserve.

As day 06

The dry Savuti channel runs from the west into the sandy Mababe depression, but it seldom flows, so the seasonal rains and waterholes in the park ensure a perennial source of life for the game in the area. Wildlife gathers on the open plains of the Savuti marsh and the surrounding dry camel thorn trees make this place a wildlife photographer’s dream. Famous for its big game and particularly its predators – the lions and the hyenas of Savuti fight a constant battle for survival. We spend 2 nights camping in this area, near a waterhole which is a constant source of activity.