Maun
This interesting “village” in Botswana’s far north, is known as the safari capital of Botswana. Many travellers pass through here on their way to the Okavango Delta. It is the southern most part of the Delta and boasts a river tributary of the Okavango called the Thamalakane. We often recommend a night here to see how it all works and to meet some of the characters who reside here – guides, conservationists, bush pilots, photographers and film makers to name a few. It is our home and this frontier “village” certainly puts things into perspective before travelling to the wilderness.
The Moremi Game Reserve
The Moremi Game Reserve protects 5500 square kilometres of the Okavango Delta’s wilderness. This world famous park is renowned for it’s fantastic game viewing and its pristine condition. It is one of Africa’s most exciting destinations and travellers from around the globe come to enjoy this unique inland river delta – the Okavango Delta. The Delta begins life in Angola, some 2000 kilometres north of Maun. Having flowed through southern Angola and across Namibia’s Caprivi Strip, it fans out over the Kalahari sands forming a 15000 square kilometre alluvial fan. The formation of the delta dates back to around two million years ago
Xakanaxa - Moremi Game Reserve
The Xakanaxa region of Moremi is well known for its good game concentrations. A myriad of road systems take us on exciting game drives through ever changing habitat from riverine forest to Mopane woodland, lagoon systems tofloodplains and river channels to open grasslands. The scenery is entertaining enough in its diversity and no two game drives are the same. Excellent concentrations of grazers and browsers support high numbers of predators. On day two of our safari, we travel by boat across the Xakanaxa lagoon and up the Maunachira river. Here we get to see how the delta really works. Thousands of islands make up this unique system and we stop on one of them for a picnic lunch.
Khwai River - Moremi Game Reserve
This is the eastern most river of the Okavango Delta and it ends life in the sands. Many people return here because the wildlife concentrations are so incredible. Elephants come from miles around to drink, pods of Hippos are discovered around just about every bend in the river and the semi aquatic Red Lechwe occupy the rivers flood plains. As we say “there is always something interesting happening on the Khwai!” There are at least three prides of Lions that occupy the river front, there presence keeping the prey species ever alert. It is also great African Wild Dog country and last year we had numerous sightings including two kills of Impala.
Bodumatau - Moremi Game Reserve
This area is situated between Xini Lagoon and Xakanaxa. It is remote and rare to see other people. It consists of large open grasslands, Mopane forest and lagoons. This area allows us to explore both the Xakanaxa area and the Xini lagoon area. The area offers brilliant bird watching. The campsite is situated under Large Fever Berry trees and looks out onto a lagoon occupied by a pod of Hippo. There are some big Crocodiles here lying in wait for Zebras and Impala coming down for a drink.
Xini Lagoon - Moremi Game Reserve
This area is known for its seasonal flood plains and lagoons. It is also known amongst the guides as a quiet part of the delta. There are only two private camp sites in the area and here you can fell truly alone. In the evenings, breeding herds of Elephant arrive to drink having spent a large part of the day in the Mopane forests. It is also an area that may offer up a sighting of Cheetah. Giraffe are prolific as well as herds of Zebra, Wildebeest and Impala.
Savuti - Chobe National Park
Savuti lies in the centre of the Chobe National Park. This vast thirst land is known for its Lion and Hyena densities made famous by films like Eternal Enemies and BBC’s Planet Earth series. The Savuti was a river and has now become one again. The river dried up for the fourth time in 150 years in 1980. Last year it started to flow again and due to amazing water inputs in the Kwando/Chobe system it has finally made it to the Savuti Marsh. It is good country for African Wild Dog and Cheetah. San art dating back to 4000 years ago can be seen on one of the hills.
Zwe Zwe - Chobe National Park
“Remote” – the word we use to describe Zwe Zwe lies fifty kilometres east of Savuti. The drive out there takes us through Mopane forest and pan systems. It is worth the visit if only for the solitude of the place as few people go there. If the pans are holding water, then it is likely that we see shy breeding herds of Elephant coming to water.
Chobe River Front-Chobe National Park
The Chobe river has it’s source in Angola. Here it is called the Kwando River, down stream on entry into Botswana, it is known as the Linyanti River and for its last 60 or so kilometres, it becomes the Chobe River. A few million years ago it flowed south toward the Kahalari but tectonic movement changed that and today the river drains into the mighty Zambezi. This final stage of the river opens up onto channels and floodplains that supports an incredible amount of life. It is home to around 2000 Plains Zebra, 4000 Cape Buffalo and it's greatest claim – the highest density of Elephant left on Earth. Numbering around 45 000, it is a safe haven for the planets largest land mammal. Here one can hang out with many herds and gain insight to this awe inspiring species and their behaviour patterns. The river itself is loaded with Hippos and Crocodiles and on one afternoon we take a boat ride up the river to get a totally different perspective. Bird life is abundant too. On one birding safari we travelled a mere 300 metres in 3 hours.
Nxai Pan National Park
Formerly known as Paradise Pan, this little visited park bring on the delights of the desert. Travelling there is tough but once in the park, we get to witness the desert species. Herds of Springbok, Impala, Oryx, Zebra and Wildebeest arrive at the main pan to drink under the watchful gaze of the resident pride of Lions. Leopard, Cheetah and wild Dog are sometimes seen too. Bat Eared Fox and Black Backed Jackals are numerous and the bird life will see you adding to your list in no time. This area of Botswana reminds us of an Africa of old, its wide open spaces and incredible stars over head certainly takes us back in time.
Khumaga and the Boteti River-Makgadikgadi National Park
This is the western side of the Makgadikgadi National Park and the Boteti River marks the border. This river which has its source from the delta waters has not flowed for 17 years until recently. Today the life giving waters attract large numbers of Zebra and Wildebeest. The drama and the dust and the light offer wonderful sunsets. The river banks, lined with Camel Thorn Acacia filled with Vultures, tell a story of life and death in the dry. Many animals weakened by thirst and stress die along here. This in turn supports the predator populations including the scavenging Brown Hyena. This rare nocturnal numbers only between 5000 and 8000 and Botswana has the largest numbers in Africa.
Makgadikgadi Salt Pans
These pans are the largest salt pans in the world. Should you choose to visit, we use the services of Planet Boabab to take us out onto the pans by quad bike. Here we can see the curvature of Earth under the heavens. We sleep in bedrolls around the fire and under the heavens. Space and timelessness is the order of the day
and if timed correctly, a full moon journey will fill your mind and soul with the thought of what a remarkable planet we occupy. For the traveller visiting in February, Suwa pan east of here is the breeding grounds for both the Greater and Lesser Flamingo – the highest concentration of these birds in Southern Africa.
The Central Kalahari Game Reserve
This is one Africa biggest sanctuaries. We travel to the north of the reserve to Deception Valley. Our private campsite is our base to explore a tiny piece of this vast wilderness. It is home to the famous black maned Kalahari Lions and the open grasslands support good densities of Cheetah. Herds of Oryx can bee seen laid up in shade during the day, adapted perfectly to their desert environment.
The Okavango Pan Handle
The pan handle as it is called is a myriad of main channels, Papyrus reed, riverine forest and many islands. Water birds thrive here and the fishing is awesome. When we travel here we can choose to make use of the house boats that are moored on the channels. These come with a two tether boats and we can spend our days exploring the channels and fishing should you wish. At night the chefs prepare delightful meals taken on the main deck.
The Tsodilo Hills
Just west of the pan handle lie the four hills that make up the Tsodilo Hills. This is Botswana’s only world heritage listed site and holds the biggest rock art collection in southern Africa. Some 2500 panels have been identified. The four hills represent a male, female with a child. The fourth hill, to some, is another woman. Either way, we take a walk around the female hill to take a look at the art and experience the feeling of the highest point in Botswana. We usually visit Tsodilo on a day trip prior to departing for Xai Xai.
Xai Xai Village
Xai Xai village offers the traveller insight into an ancient culture – the San. It is a tough journey to get there given its remoteness but worth the journey. We get to learn about the people and how they have lived for thousands of years. In the morning we take a 3 hour walk to learn about plants, trees and bulbs that are found to be useful to the people. In the afternoon we get to sit and chat to the people via an interpreter who will explain beliefs and customs. You will be quizzed on yours too. We then get taught to play games or watch and listen to some traditional songs. In the evening, after dinner, we return to their encampment to learn about the trance dance and the healing abilities of the traditional Doctor.
This interesting “village” in Botswana’s far north, is known as the safari capital of Botswana. Many travellers pass through here on their way to the Okavango Delta. It is the southern most part of the Delta and boasts a river tributary of the Okavango called the Thamalakane. We often recommend a night here to see how it all works and to meet some of the characters who reside here – guides, conservationists, bush pilots, photographers and film makers to name a few. It is our home and this frontier “village” certainly puts things into perspective before travelling to the wilderness.
The Moremi Game Reserve
The Moremi Game Reserve protects 5500 square kilometres of the Okavango Delta’s wilderness. This world famous park is renowned for it’s fantastic game viewing and its pristine condition. It is one of Africa’s most exciting destinations and travellers from around the globe come to enjoy this unique inland river delta – the Okavango Delta. The Delta begins life in Angola, some 2000 kilometres north of Maun. Having flowed through southern Angola and across Namibia’s Caprivi Strip, it fans out over the Kalahari sands forming a 15000 square kilometre alluvial fan. The formation of the delta dates back to around two million years ago
Xakanaxa - Moremi Game Reserve
The Xakanaxa region of Moremi is well known for its good game concentrations. A myriad of road systems take us on exciting game drives through ever changing habitat from riverine forest to Mopane woodland, lagoon systems tofloodplains and river channels to open grasslands. The scenery is entertaining enough in its diversity and no two game drives are the same. Excellent concentrations of grazers and browsers support high numbers of predators. On day two of our safari, we travel by boat across the Xakanaxa lagoon and up the Maunachira river. Here we get to see how the delta really works. Thousands of islands make up this unique system and we stop on one of them for a picnic lunch.
Khwai River - Moremi Game Reserve
This is the eastern most river of the Okavango Delta and it ends life in the sands. Many people return here because the wildlife concentrations are so incredible. Elephants come from miles around to drink, pods of Hippos are discovered around just about every bend in the river and the semi aquatic Red Lechwe occupy the rivers flood plains. As we say “there is always something interesting happening on the Khwai!” There are at least three prides of Lions that occupy the river front, there presence keeping the prey species ever alert. It is also great African Wild Dog country and last year we had numerous sightings including two kills of Impala.
Bodumatau - Moremi Game Reserve
This area is situated between Xini Lagoon and Xakanaxa. It is remote and rare to see other people. It consists of large open grasslands, Mopane forest and lagoons. This area allows us to explore both the Xakanaxa area and the Xini lagoon area. The area offers brilliant bird watching. The campsite is situated under Large Fever Berry trees and looks out onto a lagoon occupied by a pod of Hippo. There are some big Crocodiles here lying in wait for Zebras and Impala coming down for a drink.
Xini Lagoon - Moremi Game Reserve
This area is known for its seasonal flood plains and lagoons. It is also known amongst the guides as a quiet part of the delta. There are only two private camp sites in the area and here you can fell truly alone. In the evenings, breeding herds of Elephant arrive to drink having spent a large part of the day in the Mopane forests. It is also an area that may offer up a sighting of Cheetah. Giraffe are prolific as well as herds of Zebra, Wildebeest and Impala.
Savuti - Chobe National Park
Savuti lies in the centre of the Chobe National Park. This vast thirst land is known for its Lion and Hyena densities made famous by films like Eternal Enemies and BBC’s Planet Earth series. The Savuti was a river and has now become one again. The river dried up for the fourth time in 150 years in 1980. Last year it started to flow again and due to amazing water inputs in the Kwando/Chobe system it has finally made it to the Savuti Marsh. It is good country for African Wild Dog and Cheetah. San art dating back to 4000 years ago can be seen on one of the hills.
Zwe Zwe - Chobe National Park
“Remote” – the word we use to describe Zwe Zwe lies fifty kilometres east of Savuti. The drive out there takes us through Mopane forest and pan systems. It is worth the visit if only for the solitude of the place as few people go there. If the pans are holding water, then it is likely that we see shy breeding herds of Elephant coming to water.
Chobe River Front-Chobe National Park
The Chobe river has it’s source in Angola. Here it is called the Kwando River, down stream on entry into Botswana, it is known as the Linyanti River and for its last 60 or so kilometres, it becomes the Chobe River. A few million years ago it flowed south toward the Kahalari but tectonic movement changed that and today the river drains into the mighty Zambezi. This final stage of the river opens up onto channels and floodplains that supports an incredible amount of life. It is home to around 2000 Plains Zebra, 4000 Cape Buffalo and it's greatest claim – the highest density of Elephant left on Earth. Numbering around 45 000, it is a safe haven for the planets largest land mammal. Here one can hang out with many herds and gain insight to this awe inspiring species and their behaviour patterns. The river itself is loaded with Hippos and Crocodiles and on one afternoon we take a boat ride up the river to get a totally different perspective. Bird life is abundant too. On one birding safari we travelled a mere 300 metres in 3 hours.
Nxai Pan National Park
Formerly known as Paradise Pan, this little visited park bring on the delights of the desert. Travelling there is tough but once in the park, we get to witness the desert species. Herds of Springbok, Impala, Oryx, Zebra and Wildebeest arrive at the main pan to drink under the watchful gaze of the resident pride of Lions. Leopard, Cheetah and wild Dog are sometimes seen too. Bat Eared Fox and Black Backed Jackals are numerous and the bird life will see you adding to your list in no time. This area of Botswana reminds us of an Africa of old, its wide open spaces and incredible stars over head certainly takes us back in time.
Khumaga and the Boteti River-Makgadikgadi National Park
This is the western side of the Makgadikgadi National Park and the Boteti River marks the border. This river which has its source from the delta waters has not flowed for 17 years until recently. Today the life giving waters attract large numbers of Zebra and Wildebeest. The drama and the dust and the light offer wonderful sunsets. The river banks, lined with Camel Thorn Acacia filled with Vultures, tell a story of life and death in the dry. Many animals weakened by thirst and stress die along here. This in turn supports the predator populations including the scavenging Brown Hyena. This rare nocturnal numbers only between 5000 and 8000 and Botswana has the largest numbers in Africa.
Makgadikgadi Salt Pans
These pans are the largest salt pans in the world. Should you choose to visit, we use the services of Planet Boabab to take us out onto the pans by quad bike. Here we can see the curvature of Earth under the heavens. We sleep in bedrolls around the fire and under the heavens. Space and timelessness is the order of the day
and if timed correctly, a full moon journey will fill your mind and soul with the thought of what a remarkable planet we occupy. For the traveller visiting in February, Suwa pan east of here is the breeding grounds for both the Greater and Lesser Flamingo – the highest concentration of these birds in Southern Africa.
The Central Kalahari Game Reserve
This is one Africa biggest sanctuaries. We travel to the north of the reserve to Deception Valley. Our private campsite is our base to explore a tiny piece of this vast wilderness. It is home to the famous black maned Kalahari Lions and the open grasslands support good densities of Cheetah. Herds of Oryx can bee seen laid up in shade during the day, adapted perfectly to their desert environment.
The Okavango Pan Handle
The pan handle as it is called is a myriad of main channels, Papyrus reed, riverine forest and many islands. Water birds thrive here and the fishing is awesome. When we travel here we can choose to make use of the house boats that are moored on the channels. These come with a two tether boats and we can spend our days exploring the channels and fishing should you wish. At night the chefs prepare delightful meals taken on the main deck.
The Tsodilo Hills
Just west of the pan handle lie the four hills that make up the Tsodilo Hills. This is Botswana’s only world heritage listed site and holds the biggest rock art collection in southern Africa. Some 2500 panels have been identified. The four hills represent a male, female with a child. The fourth hill, to some, is another woman. Either way, we take a walk around the female hill to take a look at the art and experience the feeling of the highest point in Botswana. We usually visit Tsodilo on a day trip prior to departing for Xai Xai.
Xai Xai Village
Xai Xai village offers the traveller insight into an ancient culture – the San. It is a tough journey to get there given its remoteness but worth the journey. We get to learn about the people and how they have lived for thousands of years. In the morning we take a 3 hour walk to learn about plants, trees and bulbs that are found to be useful to the people. In the afternoon we get to sit and chat to the people via an interpreter who will explain beliefs and customs. You will be quizzed on yours too. We then get taught to play games or watch and listen to some traditional songs. In the evening, after dinner, we return to their encampment to learn about the trance dance and the healing abilities of the traditional Doctor.