The Gemsbok Trail - March 2012
Dates: March
Duration: 13 nights/ 14 days
Price: US $ 4100.00 plus 12% VAT (Group Discounts available on request)
Guides: Guy Symons and Steven Stockhall
Seats available: 10
Trip description: The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is one of the largest unpoilt areas of Africa. 52800 sq.km in size it is the second largest game reserve in Africa - slightly smaller than the Selous game reserve in southern Tanzania. During the early part of the year , while, and shortly after the rains have fallen, the reserve becomes one of the prime game viewing areas of Botswana. The wildlife is attracted to the protein rich short grass plains. They come from as far afield as the Boteti river in the north and the enigmatic Schwelle region to the south west. The large herds of springbok , oryx and sometimes wildebeest and hartebeest are a unique sight to behold. These herds are attended by predators such as cheetah , lion and wild dog. The reserve is one of the best areas to see the shy and secretive Brown hyaena. Going to this reserve at the right time of the year provides one of the truly wild and memorable safari experiences in Botswana and indeed Africa.
Day 1. Arrive in Maun , the safari capitol of Botswana , where we overnight. You will be briefed by your guide about the adventure that awaits!
Day 2. We drive from Maun to Central Kalahari Game Reserve via the small village of Makalamabedi , camp in the Deception Valley area which was made famous by Mark and Delia Owens in their book " Cry of the Kalahari" .
Days 3 and 4. We will spend these days exploring the Deception Valley and surrounding areas in our safari vehicle. The valley is a remnant of an ancient river that would have flowed here in a much wetter time millenia ago. We will be looking out for oryx , springbok and the predators , with even the possible sighting of a leopard.
Days 5, 6, 7. Piper Pans lies about 100 km south of Deception and is , as the name suggests, a series of beautiful kalahari pans. This is a fascinating area where we often see lions and sometimes the shy eland , the largest of all african antelope. The area is also well known for large herds of giraffe and herds of up to seventy can sometimes be seen!
Day 8. We depart the game reserve and head north toward the Boteti where we will spend 1 night at Meno a Kwena camp where we will have achance to recover in a bit of luxury.
Day 9. We drive into the Makgadikgadi National Park and spend a night camping and the better part of 2 days exlploring this facinating area. Home to the largest salt pans on the planet!
Day 10. We head for the Nxai Pan National Park which lies further north. Here we will see an area reminiscent of the Kalahari but with a wider variety of wildlife , including elephants.
Day 11 , 12. Game drives in the Nxai Pan area.
Day 13. Return to Maun and overnight
Day 14. End
Duration: 13 nights/ 14 days
Price: US $ 4100.00 plus 12% VAT (Group Discounts available on request)
Guides: Guy Symons and Steven Stockhall
Seats available: 10
Trip description: The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is one of the largest unpoilt areas of Africa. 52800 sq.km in size it is the second largest game reserve in Africa - slightly smaller than the Selous game reserve in southern Tanzania. During the early part of the year , while, and shortly after the rains have fallen, the reserve becomes one of the prime game viewing areas of Botswana. The wildlife is attracted to the protein rich short grass plains. They come from as far afield as the Boteti river in the north and the enigmatic Schwelle region to the south west. The large herds of springbok , oryx and sometimes wildebeest and hartebeest are a unique sight to behold. These herds are attended by predators such as cheetah , lion and wild dog. The reserve is one of the best areas to see the shy and secretive Brown hyaena. Going to this reserve at the right time of the year provides one of the truly wild and memorable safari experiences in Botswana and indeed Africa.
Day 1. Arrive in Maun , the safari capitol of Botswana , where we overnight. You will be briefed by your guide about the adventure that awaits!
Day 2. We drive from Maun to Central Kalahari Game Reserve via the small village of Makalamabedi , camp in the Deception Valley area which was made famous by Mark and Delia Owens in their book " Cry of the Kalahari" .
Days 3 and 4. We will spend these days exploring the Deception Valley and surrounding areas in our safari vehicle. The valley is a remnant of an ancient river that would have flowed here in a much wetter time millenia ago. We will be looking out for oryx , springbok and the predators , with even the possible sighting of a leopard.
Days 5, 6, 7. Piper Pans lies about 100 km south of Deception and is , as the name suggests, a series of beautiful kalahari pans. This is a fascinating area where we often see lions and sometimes the shy eland , the largest of all african antelope. The area is also well known for large herds of giraffe and herds of up to seventy can sometimes be seen!
Day 8. We depart the game reserve and head north toward the Boteti where we will spend 1 night at Meno a Kwena camp where we will have achance to recover in a bit of luxury.
Day 9. We drive into the Makgadikgadi National Park and spend a night camping and the better part of 2 days exlploring this facinating area. Home to the largest salt pans on the planet!
Day 10. We head for the Nxai Pan National Park which lies further north. Here we will see an area reminiscent of the Kalahari but with a wider variety of wildlife , including elephants.
Day 11 , 12. Game drives in the Nxai Pan area.
Day 13. Return to Maun and overnight
Day 14. End
