Day 1 - Maun to Moremi  and  30 minute charter flight

Upon your arrival at Maun International Airport, you will be greeted by Mack Air for your charter flight, scheduled around 14:30, to the Xakanaxa airstrip in Moremi Game Reserve.

Our initial three nights are spent exploring this Moremi region through morning and afternoon game drive excursions. From the charter flight, only larger wildlife such as breeding herds of African elephants are easily visible. On open plains, you'll see large herds of buffalo and lechwe while waterways often reveal pods of hippopotamus. Once on land the smaller game animals become more apparent.

For bird enthusiasts, this area is rich with raptors inhabiting mopane and nearby woodlands. Along this route are also Botswana’s hornbills like Red-billed and Southern Yellow-billed Hornbills as well as various brood-parasites such as Diederick Cuckoo and Greater Honeyguide.

Accommodation: Private Tented Camp in Moremi on a full board basis

Activities: Game drives and chartered flight

Days 2 & 3 - Moremi Game Reserve

Moremi is situated on the eastern edge of the Okavango Delta. The area encompasses a variety of habitats, including expansive floodplains, marshes, lagoons, channels bordered by papyrus, as well as woodland and savannah. This highly diverse range of environments contributes to an exceptional diversity in both wildlife and birdlife.

Wildlife: This is one of Africa's premier locations for observing the endangered African wild dog. Within this reserve, there is also a resident herd of several hundred buffalo and these buffalo roam across areas that are home to at least four prides of lions. Additionally, breeding herds of elephants traverse between their feeding grounds in the mopane forests and the freshwater sources of the Okavango Delta. The red lechwe, an uncommon species of antelope, is also commonly found in this region. Bird lovers will find these swampy regions particularly rewarding, as they host a variety of species including the Coppery-tailed Coucal, Red-chested Flufftail, and Allen’s Gallinule. In addition to these marshland dwellers, the open waters are frequented by birds such as the African Skimmer, Saddle-billed Stork and Yellow-billed Stork. We will also try for sightings of the globally threatened Slaty Egret and Wattled Crane.

Accommodation: Private Tented Camp in Moremi on a full board basis

Activities: Game drives

Day 4 - Moremi to Mababe Private Reserve

After an early morning breakfast, you will embark on a leisurely drive through Moremi Game Reserve, heading north-east towards the Khwai and Mababe Areas. This day involves travelling between camps with a picnic lunch en route. A highlight of the journey is a mokoro excursion in the tranquil backwaters of the Khwai and Mbudi channels. The habitat along this route is diverse. The journey traces the watercourse, with paths meandering from riverside floodplains into mopane veld and woodlands leading to Mababe Private Reserve. Here, you'll camp on the banks of the Khwai River before it flows into the Mababe Depression. We also plan on enjoying scenic views at Dombo Hippo Pools in the morning.

Wildlife: The south-east mopane veld predominantly hosts breeding herds of elephants, while the northern areas of Mababe are renowned for their impressive old bulls. These mature bulls enjoy the cool waters of the Khwai River and tend to be more approachable during drinking and bathing than the breeding herds. The river is notable for its unusually high density of hippos, as well as some large crocodiles. Predators such as leopards, cheetahs, servals, and lions are commonly found along this route. General wildlife includes southern giraffes, Burchell’s zebras, tsessebes, and red lechwes, with roan and sable antelopes being less frequently observed. Raptors like African Hawk-Eagle and Shikra are commonly seen here as well as mixed bird flocks of species such as Red-headed Weaver, Scarlet-chested Sunbird and Chin-spot Batis.

Accommodation: Private Tented Camp in Mababe on a full board basis

Activities: Game drives and Mokoro Excursion

Days 5 & 6 - Mababe Private Reserve

Over the next two nights, we will camp at an exclusive site within the Mababe concession. This allows us to explore the riverbanks, Kalahari shrubland to the east, and cathedral mopane forests to the south through game drives conducted both during daylight and after dark. Night-time explorations with spotlights provide a unique opportunity to observe nocturnal animals that are seldom seen during daylight hours. Additionally, there is an opportunity for guided walks in the surrounding wilderness (subject to a safety assessment by our guide) allowing for close encounters with Botswana’s diverse flora and fauna. It is important to highlight that night drives and guided walks are not allowed within national parks and reserves; these activities take place outside Moremi Game Reserve boundaries in Mababe Private Reserve.

Wildlife: The region boasts excellent populations of both bull elephant as well as breeding herds. Lion, leopard, serval and African wildcat are common predators of the region with wild dog and cheetah being less common. Buffalo use this area seasonally with large herds moving in during the summer rains. Other ungulates include tsessebe, blue wildebeest, giraffe, kudu, sable antelope, roan antelope and impala, and even eland and oryx in the western parts. Botswana’s national bird, the Kori Bustard, is a resident in the lower reaches of the Mababe Depression. Furthermore, the western reaches are prime habitat for the uncommon Rosy-throated Longclaw.

Accommodation: Private Tented Camp in Mababe on a full board basis

Activities: Game drives, Walking Safaris and Night drives

Day 7 - Mababe to Central Chobe

A full day of extended game drive and travel time awaits, complete with a picnic lunch between camps. Our journey takes us further north towards the Central Chobe region, where we'll explore the desert-like landscape during our game drives. Navigating this winding track through deep sand provides an intriguing travel experience in early summer! The old lake bed has transformed into what is now known as the Mababe Depression. Its dense clay floor offers high-protein feed for wildlife, attracting abundant game after rainfall. However, during the rainy season, this depression becomes impassable due to "cotton soil," necessitating alternative routes.

Wildlife: A day full of potential surprises. The area we explore includes a wide variety of habitats typical of northern Botswana. Our journey takes us through prime lion territory and some of the finest cheetah regions that our safari will traverse. Elephants are present throughout the drive, although they are more frequently encountered at the beginning and end, where permanent surface water is available. The Mababe Depression is a haven for bird enthusiasts. The fertile soils support nutritious grasses that produce excellent seeds, attracting an impressive variety of birds. Notable among these are the vibrantly coloured Violet-eared Waxbill and Paradise Whydah. These birds serve as a vital food source for small raptors such as the Little Sparrowhawk and Shikra, which hope to also encounter.

Accommodation: Private Tented Camp in Chobe on a full board basis

Activities: Game drives

Days 8 & 9 - Central Chobe

In contrast to much of the country, Central Chobe features a landscape that is not entirely flat. Prominent outcrops of volcanic rock rise from the Kalahari sands, standing tall above the expansive savannah. The Savuti Marsh has been the backdrop for numerous captivating wildlife documentaries in Africa. Its vast open spaces, healthy ungulate populations, and notably strong prides of lions and clans of hyenas offer dramatic wildlife interactions and superb viewing opportunities. The now dry Savuti Channel traverses this terrain, connecting the arid sand-veld with waterholes, hills, and what was once the grassland-rich Savuti Marsh.

Wildlife: Wildlife in Savuti offers a fascinating dynamic, particularly the interactions between lions and elephants. The region is home to a large pride of lions, with their numbers varying between 20 and 30 members. Over time, these extraordinary lions have developed the skills necessary to hunt elephants, which are generally considered beyond the reach of predators. Additionally, the marshland is ideal for cheetahs, and during the wet season, it is common to see wild dogs hunting in Central Chobe.

Accommodation: Private Tented Camp in Chobe on a full board basis

Activities: Game drives and Bushman Painting Walks

Day 10 - Central Chobe to Chobe River /170km (5 hrs)

On the concluding day of our safari, we will depart from Central Chobe early in the morning to journey along the Chobe River, ultimately reaching Kasane. Here, we will pause for a picnic lunch before embarking on an afternoon boat cruise to conclude our safari experience. Today's drive traverses diverse habitats, including the stunted mopane scrub of the Goha clay basin, crossing over sand-ridges and through the magnificent Zambezi teak woodlands within the Chobe Forest Reserve, as well as following alongside the Chobe River itself. The Chobe floodplain spans tens of kilometres in width and during years of exceptional rainfall, its waters extend as far as one can see.

Wildlife: While our journey does pass through some community areas inhabited by local tribes, the majority of our route traverses pristine wilderness where wildlife thrives without the constraints of fences or human interference. In the teak woodlands, roan and sable antelope prosper due to a low density of predators and minimal competition for food from other ungulates, creating an ideal habitat for these large animals. Although leopards inhabit these woodlands, they are present in small numbers and are notoriously elusive, making sightings rare.

The Goha region is notable for its natural waterholes that retain water well into the dry season, drawing herds of buffalo, Burchell’s zebra, greater kudu, and elephants to quench their thirst. The teak woodlands also host some unusual bird species; notably, the White-faced Owl can often be observed roosting in roadside vegetation.

Given the length of the day, rather than catching another flight, we will opt to rest and unwind at one of the hotels in Kasane. This provides an opportunity for some much-needed sleep, a swim, or simply relaxation. The following day presents two options: either departing for home or choosing to extend the tour to visit one of the world's natural wonders—Victoria Falls.

Accommodation: Kasane Hotel

Activities: Game Drives & Chobe Boat Trip

Day 11 - Breakfast and departure

After a hearty and relaxed breakfast, we make our way to the Kasane airport where we will board a flight taking us to Johannesburg in South Africa and then onwards home.

Other options that you may want to explore are:

• Take a flight elsewhere to extend your holiday (we can help you with options available to you)

• Take a road transfer to Victoria Falls (please enquire with us for this as well as activities available at Victoria Falls)