Trip Overview
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Botswana
Thursday
15 Aug
2024
/
Saturday
24 Aug
2024
Duration
10
Days

Dominating this untamed land, massive creatures move about, instinctively following the ancient paths of their ancestors. Water levels ebb and flow, seasons change and life cycles on. It is here in Botswana, where civilization is stripped away, that the natural order of things is so very evident.

Trip Overview
Cheetahs scanning the surrounding landscape in the southern Okavango
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Okavango Delta


Moremi Game Reserve


Linyanti Wildlife Reserve

Thursday, 15 August, 2024
Day 1: Arrival in Botswana
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VIP Arrival Service

Upon arrival in Maun, you will be met at the door of your aircraft with your name on a paging board. Should your aircraft be directed to the apron and not the terminal building, you will be transported to the terminal by bus where your VIP airport representative will be waiting for you as you step off the bus. You will then be assisted through immigration, baggage collection and customs and on to your connecting flight.

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Connecting Flight

Depart on your Wilderness Air flight for the Okavango area.

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Arrival at Wilderness Chitabe

Upon arrival at the local airstrip, you will be met by your safari guide and transferred to the camp on a game drive.

Get those cameras ready because your safari begins now!

Okavango Delta
The delta floods in June and July bringing wildlife from the region to its plentiful waters

As old as time, the seasonal flood from the Angola Highlands to the Okavango Delta is the heartbeat of Botswana. Seeping along the panhandle and into the largest inland delta system in the world, the water creates a uniquely beautiful National Heritage Site, the incoming tide of life bringing with it birth, transformation and replenishment. These ancient, cyclical changes provide an exceptional safari experience and the area supports vast herds of elephant, buffalo and hippo, as well as numerous antelope, giraffe, zebra and the ever present predators.

Your Stay: Wilderness Chitabe

Renowned as a predator hotspot, Botswana’s Chitabe is ideally located on private conservation land, bordered on the north by the famed Moremi Game Reserve. Here a mosaic of habitats supports outstanding wildlife numbers and biodiversity, and some of the most thrilling predator-prey sightings on Earth.

Chitabe’s rich, earthy colors and African décor ground you in the bush – as do the striking wildlife photographs of Chitabe co-owner, internationally acclaimed photographer Dave Hamman. The authentic individually styled tented accommodation at Chitabe is made to feel even warmer by the loyal staff, who have a profound knowledge of the area and its wildlife.

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Chitabe Camp
Tented Suite

Inclusions:

  • All meals, local brand drinks, 2 scheduled safari activities daily, local airstrip transfers, park fees, laundry and WIFI.
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Conservation at Chitabe

By staying at Chitabe, you directly impact the wild animals that call the Okavango Delta home. That’s because Chitabe supports Wild Entrust Africa, the umbrella organization for all large predator conservation research in Botswana. Your stay also benefits local employees with life-enriching school education donations and generous profit-shares.

Friday, 16 – Saturday, 17 August, 2024 · 1 night
Days 2-3: Safari at Chitabe
The elusive Wild Dog

Chitabe is located across the Gomoti Channel from the famed Moremi Game Reserve. The permanent water from the channels forming its eastern and western boundaries ensure a compact concentration of thrilling game-viewing year round. The large prey densities make Chitabe a stronghold for African wild dogs, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and a smorgasbord of prey.

The dramatic mix of Kalahari and Okavango habitats, with consistent predator-prey interaction, makes Chitabe in Botswana a wildlife photographer's dream. The highly trained guides at Chitabe will help you capture unforgettable wilderness memories on day and night drives, as well as on guided walks.

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Chitabe Camp
Tented Suite

Inclusions:

  • All meals, local brand drinks, 2 scheduled safari activities daily, local airstrip transfers, park fees, laundry and WIFI.
Sunday, 18 August, 2024
Day 4: Chitabe - Chief's Island
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Safari Flight

After your morning game drive, you will be brought to the local airstrip for your flight to Chief's Camp.

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Arrival at Sanctuary Chief's Camp

Upon arrival at the local airstrip, you will be met by your safari guide and transferred to the camp on a game drive.

Moremi Game Reserve

Named after Batawana tribe members, Chief Moremi III and his wife, the Moremi Game Reserve covers approximately 5,000 square kilometers and is known for its diverse ecosystems, which include mopane woodlands, acacia forests, floodplains, and lagoons. The reserve is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including the Big Five (lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and rhinos), as well as cheetahs, wild dogs, hyenas, giraffes, zebras, and over 500 species of birds. The Moremi Game Reserve is particularly famous for its large population of endangered African wild dogs. Visitors can explore the reserve through game drives, guided walks, and boat safaris creating exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities.

Your Stay: Sanctuary Chief's Camp

Step into a realm once reserved for Chief Moremi's royal hunting expeditions, located in the heart of the enchanting Okavango Delta. Personalized service, a remarkable setting, and the expertise of passionate guides are the hallmarks of a Sanctuary Retreats experience, showcased to glorious effect at Sanctuary Chief’s Camp. This intimate, exclusive haven offers a blend of adrenaline-fueled adventure, breathtaking wilderness, and unparalleled refinement, swathed in the elegance synonymous with our brand. A reflection of responsible tourism at its finest, not only has is the camp committed to environmental and philanthropic endeavors, but its design has been reimagined in harmony with local traditions and culture for a truly authentic stay.

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Sanctuary Chief's Camp
Bush Pavilion

Inclusions:

  • All meals, local brand drinks, 2 scheduled safari activities daily, local airstrip transfers, park fees, laundry and WIFI.
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Philanthropy at Sanctuary Retreats

A commitment to conservation and responsible tourism is an integral part of Sanctuary Retreats' DNA. Ever since they opened their first camp in Kenya's Masai Mara back in 1999, Sanctuary has pledged to make a positive impact on the areas in which they operate and nurture enduring relationships with the rural communities that live there.

Their goal is to identify and sponsor long-term, viable and self-sustaining projects that will improve the wellbeing of local people and earn the support of our staff and visitors. All of their projects are collaborative; they work closely with local communities to understand their needs so that they can be sure of delivering impactful initiatives and meaningful solutions that will improve lives for generations to come.

Monday, 19 – Tuesday, 20 August, 2024 · 1 night
Days 5-6: Safari in Moremi Game Reserve

Sanctuary Chief's Camp boasts truly awe-inspiring game viewing opportunities. Our exceptional guides stand ready to impart their extensive wildlife wisdom as you explore the Delta in modified open 4x4 vehicles. On the plains, witness lions stalking the myriad antelope, zebra, and buffalo, delight in the sight of the elusive wild dogs, a rare species pushed to the brink of extinction elsewhere in Africa, and encounter leopards, graceful genet cats and hyenas.

In addition, you may embark on an extraordinary adventure aboard a traditional dugout canoe or ‘mokoro’, guided by a highly skilled local expert. As the landscape transforms each June, the camp's surroundings morph into a maze of lily-laden lagoons and meandering streams – the perfect stage for territorial hippos and lurking crocodiles awaiting unsuspecting prey. Being poled through these waterways is a mesmerizing experience that allows you to get up close and personal with creatures great and small, while witnessing the world from an entirely new perspective. The tranquil pace of the mokoro offers a refreshing alternative to game drives, and an introduction to timeless transport methods still employed by the Delta's 'river bushmen' or BaYei people.

All water based activities are seasonal and dependent on the water levels of the delta. Children aged 12 and over are permitted on the mokoro activity.

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Scenic Helicopter Flight

Experience the magnificent Okavango Delta by air. Your epic flight above the incredible world beneath you is a completely personalized experience offering the very best of Sanctuary’s untamed wilderness & wildlife in widescreen. Gaining this unique perspective should be number one on every visitor to Botswana's bucket list.

Helicopters are a perfect way to explore deep into the Delta exposing permanent waterways, palm islands and lagoons, with sweeping views of floodplains and incredible game sightings. Doors are removed for unrestricted views which offers great photographic opportunities. Guests are provided with headsets for constant communications with very knowledgeable pilots, ensuring a guided and informed experience.

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Sanctuary Chief's Camp
Bush Pavilion

Inclusions:

  • All meals, local brand drinks, 2 scheduled safari activities daily, local airstrip transfers, park fees, laundry and WIFI.
Wednesday, 21 August, 2024
Day 7: Okavango Delta - Linyanti
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Safari Flight

After your morning game drive, you will be brought to the local airstrip for your flight to the Linyanti Concession.

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Arrival at DumaTau

Upon arrival at the local airstrip, you will be met by your safari guide and transferred to the camp on a game drive.

Linyanti Wildlife Reserve

The Linyanti Wildlife Reserve includes around two-thirds of the Savuti Channel, sometimes called ‘the stolen river’. This important, life-giving water source has flowed and dried up unpredictably for over a hundred years, and while it has been flowing since 2008, after a dry spell of nearly 30 years, it’s anyone’s guess when another tectonic shift might cause it to dry.

Wilderness DumaTau

Exclusive excursions, up-close encounters, an exceptional wilderness awaits at DumaTau. Its name means ‘roar of the lion’ in Setswana, but to us it’s also home of the elephants. While lions and other predators like wild dogs thrive here, it’s the elephants that steal the show. Watch great herds criss-cross ancient wildlife corridors, spraying one another playfully in the Linyanti’s waters and munching on waterlilies.

DumaTau is nestled between two busy elephant corridors, with 45 km of river frontage making it an unparalleled safari destination. The game viewing is outstanding, with wildlife frequently moving through the camp. Add to that a spa, a lagoon-side fire pit and a sparkling pool overlooking the water, and it’s no wonder DumaTau is an award-winning camp.

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Wilderness DumaTau
Tented Suite

Inclusions:

  • All meals, local brand drinks, 2 scheduled safari activities daily, local airstrip transfers, park fees, laundry and WIFI.
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Children in the Wilderness

Alongside building schools and financing school supplies in the communities close to Wilderness's Botswana camps, through their Children in the Wilderness (CITW) program of Eco-Clubs in rural schools, Eco-Camps and Youth Environmental Stewardship program they aim to ensure that the children of Africa are preaching the importance of conservation. They also offer scholarships for these future environmental guardians who show commitment to following a related career path, enabling young adults to pursue conservation careers, reducing poverty and improving living conditions for themselves and their families.

Thursday, 22 – Friday, 23 August, 2024 · 1 night
Days 8-9: Safari at DumaTau

Gear up for thrilling game drives on a safari with Wilderness. A wildlife sighting is always unpredictable and that’s what makes a game drive so exciting. Look out for tracks. Listening for alarm calls and be on the alert for nearby predators. There’s so much to see, and being the first to spot something brings a whole new level of satisfaction to your day.

In the evening, catch a flutter of wings in the grass, a plaintive call from the reeds, a calculated dash into the water. A barge trip and birdwatching go hand in hand, as do sundowners. Binoculars at the ready and something cold to sip on, delight in a floating picnic or a sundowner cruise on a barge trip along Botswana’s wildlife-rich Linyanti River.

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Wilderness DumaTau
Tented Suite

Inclusions:

  • All meals, local brand drinks, 2 scheduled safari activities daily, local airstrip transfers, park fees, laundry and WIFI.
Saturday, 24 August, 2024
Day 10: Departure from Botswana
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Flight to Maun International Airport

This morning, you will be brought to the local airstrip for your flight to Maun.

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International Departure Flight

Depart on your international flight from Maun International Airport (MUB).

Christian Gibney
Your travel curator

We're here to make this an unforgettable trip. If you're interested in booking this itinerary or have some questions, let us know.

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