19 Day South Africa, Kalahari & Botswana Tour- April 2020 - 2 SEATS LEFT!
19 Nights
- Duration:
- 19 Nights
- Travel Dates:
- 25/04/20 to 15/05/20
From
AUD$13,190
Price per person
Package Details
Details
19 Day South Africa, Kalahari & Botswana Tour- May 2020.
“Tailor made Private Safari”
21 DAY TRANS KALAHARI
Venture into the heart of the Kalahari and some of the largest game reserves in Southern Africa. Khutse and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve are typical Kalahari – rolling grasslands, dry river beds and of course plentiful wildlife. We explore the more arid areas of the TransfrontierKgalagadi NP, before moving in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve – home of famous black maned Kalahari lions.
Highlights
* Kgalagadi National Park
* Khutse Game Reserve – Central Kalahari
* Central Kalahari Game Reserve
* Moremi Game Reserve
DAY 1: 25 Apr MELBOURNE – FLY TO UPINGTON (Inflight Meals)
Transfer today to Tullamarine Airport to check in and proceed through customs & immigration procedures in preparation for your flight to Upington, South Africa.
Overnight: In Flight
DAY 2: 26 Apr ARRIVE UPINGTON (-)
The guides will meet the group on arrival in Upington, South Africa today and transfer the group to the first night’s accommodation. A chance to relax and recover from thelong haul flights from Australia before the grand adventure begins. Dinner own expense at a local restaurant.
Overnight: Guest House – ensuite twin rooms, pool, bar
Distance/time: 50km ± 30min
DAY 3: 27 Apr UPINGTON (B)
Breakfast this morning prepared by the lodge with the remainder of the day at leisure. Dinner own expense at a local restaurant this evening.
Overnight: Guest House – ensuite twin rooms, pool, bar
DAY 4 – 6: 28-30 Apr KGALAGADI TRANSFRONTIER NP(BLD)
Departing Upington at 06:30am we head to the remote KgalagadiTransfrontier NP. The unforgiving desert terrain is a mixture of typical Kgalagadi tree and shrub savanna with patches of wide open grass savannah. This area of the Kalahari Transfrontier Park comprises a red sandunes, imposing camelthorn trees, herds of Gemsbok and large predators. Some fantastic birdwatching in the form of raptors can be seen along the ancient dry riverbeds. All of the major predators can be seen at Kgalagadi, including the Kalahari black-maned lion, cheetah, leopard, brown hyena, bat-eared fox, lynx, and silver fox. Small mammals, like the Cape fox, aardwolf and blackfooted cat can be seen at the pans in the evening.
Day 3-5: Breakfast will be provided by the guides
Day 3-5: Lunch provided by the guides
Day 3-5: Dinner will be provided by the guides
Includes: Entrance fees for 3 nights in the KgalagadiTransfrontier Park, game drives
Overnight: Chalets – simple facilities ensuite with rustic showers,
Distance/time: 300km ± 4 hours + border crossing
DAY 7 – 10: 01-04 May MABUESHUBE/KHUTSE GAME RESERVE (BLD)
Khutse Game Reserve, situated on southern boundary of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. The first night will be spent camping en route depending on progress made during the first day.Khutse, meaning “the place where you kneel down to drink” is typical Kalahari landscape – rolling grasslands, dry river beds, fossil sand dunes and small water pans. Khutse has plentiful wildlife, with the desert adapted species in abundance. These include springbok, gemsbok (oryx), giraffe, wildebeest, hartebeest & kudu. These antelope are of course preyed upon by the large lion population, leopard and cheetah.
We have 2 nights in Khutse to explore this out of the way game reserve on morning and afternoon game drives. We spend our time in a lodge on the boundaries of the park.
Day 6-9: Breakfast will be provided by the guides
Day 6-9: Lunch will be provided by the guides
Day 6-9: Dinner will be a set menu provided by the camp
Planned stops: 1 night wild camping Mabuesehube / 3 nights inside Khutse Game Reserve
Overnight: Mini Meru Serviced Camping – twin camp beds with linen and en suite chemical toilet and bucket shower with hot water off the fire. Towel will be provided. WiFi not available
Distance/time: 500km ± 9.5hours
DAY 11 – 14: 05-08 May CENTRAL KALAHARI GAME RESERVE (BLD)
The name ‘Kalahari” conjures up images of wide open grassy plans, dry river beds, hardy wildlife and of course the famed black-maned Kalahari Lions. You will not be disappointed! The Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) is the largest and most remotely situated reserve in Southern Africa, and the second largest wildlife reserve in the world (encompassing 52 800 sq kms). Nothing prepares you for the immensity of this reserve or its wild, mysterious beauty. There is an impression of unending space, and having the entire reserve to yourself.
This is why we go to the CKGR – to get away from everything. We visit the CKGR after the summer rains when the wildlife viewing is at its best as animals move into the area to take advantage of the lush sweet grasses that dominate the landscape. We journey through the Kalahari from south to north over a 4 day period where we overnight in our Mini Meru camp and staying in areas where the game viewing is best. The roads are sandy and heavy going, so be prepared for some long travelling days, but this is more than worthwhile because of the amazing environment that you are travelling through.
Day 10-13: Breakfast will be provided by the lodge
Day 10-13: Lunch provided by tour mobile camp
Day 10-13: Dinner provided by tour mobile camp
Includes: Entrance fees, morning and afternoon game drives in open 4WD game viewing vehicle
Overnight: Mini Meru Serviced Camping – twin camp beds with linen and en suite chemical toilet and bucket shower with hot water off the fire. Towel will be provided.WiFi not available
Distance/time: 150kms, ± 4½ hours, excludes game drives & stops for wildlife viewing
DAY 15: 09 May MAUN (B)
Maun’s name is derived from a San word meaning “place of the short reeds” and is nestled at the southern end of the Okavango Delta where our lodge overlooks the beautiful Thamalakane River. Here we prepare for our trip into Moremi Game Reserve and our afternoon is free to bird watch along the river, relax around the pool or take a optional scenic flight over the Okavango Delta (own expense).
Day 14: Breakfast provided by tour mobile camp
Day 14 Lunch will be an own expense meal
Day 14: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant
Overnight: Thamalakane River Lodge, twin share bedrooms with en suite facilities. Swimming pool, bar, restaurant, telephone.WiFi not available
Distance/time: 330kms. ± 4½ hours, excluding stops for sightseeing
Optional Activities Scenicflight over the Okavango Delta (+/-USD95-120) pp depending on number of people in each aircraft)
DAY 16 -19: 10-13 May MOREMI (BLD)
Our day begins with an early morning visit to the local primary school, then we head out of town and onwards to a full day of game drives in Moremi. Moremi Game Reserve is the jewel of Botswana and arguably one of the best wildlife viewing destinations in Africa. To the north of Moremi is a vast wilderness consisting of open grasslands and forest and abundant wildlife. Our lodge is situated on a large concession in this wilderness overlooking a waterhole, and the thatched deck allows us to watch the animals in the afternoon as they come down to quench their thirst. Moremi’s wide variety of habitats makes it a birdwatchers paradise. Our days are spent on open 4WD game drives in Moremi Game Reserve and on the wildlife concession along the Khwai River.
Day 15-19: Breakfast will be provided by the lodge
Day 15-19: Lunch provided by the lodge
Day 15-19: Dinner will be a set menu provided by the lodge
Includes: Light aircraft flight Kwaito Maun, game drives & National Park Entry Fees
Overnight: Elephant Pools Lodge- exclusive private tented bush lodge bordering Moremi Game Reserve. Twin share permanent tented lodge with en-suite facilities.WiFi not available
Distance/time: Short 20min flight in small aircraft, morning & afternoon game drives +/-4hrs each
Optional Activities: Helicopter flight over the Delta (own expense)
DAY 20: 14 May MOREMI – MAUN – FLY HOME (B)
Check out after breakfast with a morning light aircraft flight from Kwai Private Nature Reserve back to Maun and connect with your onward flight to Australia.
DAY 21 : 15 May ARRIVE MELBOURNE (-)
Arrive home today, and after luggage collection and customs meet your transfer back to Bairnsdale, so ending a wonderful Trans Kalahari Safari.
Transport for the entire safari is in a purpose built 4WD Land Cruiser with 12 forward facing seats and trailer for luggage. It has solid roof and back which provides protection from the sun, and dust. The light aircraft flight from Kwai airstrip to Maun airport is usually 4-12 seater Cessna or Caravan. Due to bush landing the luggage limits are strictly adhered to.
Non participation – This is an adventure tour, and as such please expect to get involved. Where there are porters, they’ll help you, otherwise you’ll need to carry your own bag. Included meals are all lodge or camp provided. If you have a particular interest, please let your safari leader know, and he/she will endeavour to make your journey more rewarding.
- 2 tour guides – group leaders are the key to any safari. On this safari you will travel with 2 qualified and registered field guides (Field Guides Association of SA). Two guides as crew, not a guide and a driver, means interesting trips with maximum knowledge and information. Our guides have a passion for Africa, her people and her wildlife, and they love nothing more than sharing their knowledge with you.
Safety – the fleet of vehicles are custom built to ensure comfortable and safe touring. Each is constructed by an authorised passenger vehicle builder to the latest safety requirements, with a safety shell, and every seat has a lap belt. This gives you peace of mind when travelling on the often demanding African roads.
Age Policy –These tours have no upper age limit.Clients older than 65 years of age at time of travel require a medical certificate stating client is fit and healthy to join an adventure travel group tour.
Local Payment
- There is no local payment on this tour
Food
- The operators pride themselves on giving very good healthy meals and will provide meals as shown in the itinerary. For “own expense” meals we will eat at local restaurants.
- The tour leaders do the shopping and meal planning for each group. He/she will always try to obtain fresh produce wherever possible. A rough idea of what these will consist of is: Breakfast – cereals or coffee and toast or the occasional fried breakfast, Lunch – cheese, cold meats, salads on bread or rolls, Dinner – braais (local barbecue), potjies (stews), stir fries etc. All cooking and eating utensils will also be provided.
- Special dietary requirements (eg vegetarian or allergies) are catered for – please advise.
- Fruit squash is served with breakfast and tea/coffee is served with breakfast and dinner. All other beverages will be for your own expense. We will not supply bottled drinking water although it is available at many shops on tour.