Kalahari Bushmen, Okavango Delta & Savuti Safari in…

• 2 nights at Deception Valley Lodge in the Central Kalahari Desert
• 3 nights at Oddballs Enclave in the Okavango Delta
• 2 nights at Ghoha Hills Camp in Chobe National Park

Days 1 & 2: Maun to Deception Valley Lodge - Central Kalahari Desert, Botswana

This Botswana safari adventure kicks off in Maun, where you are collected for your scenic flight into the Kalahari Desert region with Delta Air. The 30-minute flight by light aircraft brings you to a private airstrip near the northern border of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve in Botswana.

You are collected from the airstrip and transferred to the Deception Valley Lodge, located in a private reserve bordering the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. This family-friendly lodge offers authentic interactions and walks with the san people (Kalahari bushmen), as well as nature drives in the arid Kalahari Desert. The nature drives take place in the private wilderness area, enabling guests to appreciate the surprising diversity of flora and fauna found in the semi-desert environment of the Kalahari.

Slow down and immerse yourself in the stillness of the Kalahari Desert, soaking up spectacular sunsets and an overwhelming star-filled night sky.

• Flight from Maun to the Central Kalahari by light aircraft
• Authentic Kalahari Bushmen Interactions
• Nature drives in a private wilderness area
• All meals and accommodation at Deception Valley Lodge

About Deception Valley Lodge, Kalahari Desert

Set on a 15,000-hectare private reserve along the northern border of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Deception Valley Lodge is accessed via its own airstrip located 15 minutes from the lodge. It only takes about half an hour to fly between the airstrip and Maun. This remote and comfortable lodge looks out over a waterhole surrounded by wilderness. The lodge accommodates up to 16 guests in eight spacious suites, each with a lounge, bedroom, and en-suite bathroom featuring a Victorian bath and outdoor shower. The lodge has a swimming pool and various lounge and dining areas. Wireless internet is available via satellite.

Activities include day and night game drives in custom-built safari vehicles. The guides can go off-road when tracking wildlife as it is a private reserve. Wildlife sightings include the famous Kalahari lion, cheetahs, leopards, giraffes, and kudus. The elusive brown hyena is sometimes spotted, as well as a variety of shy nocturnal species on night drives. The Deception Valley area is also home to rich birdlife, offering rewarding bird watching.

Walk with the San people (bushmen) of the Kalahari Desert. One of the lodge owners, ‘Braam’ Badenhorst, grew up with the San people in the Kalahari and is friends with several San bushmen who now live on the reserve. Guests can go on walks with the San tribe to learn how these ancient hunter-gatherers used to survive in the harsh desert environment. On the walks the San show guests the rich resources of this seemingly barren land, pointing out fruits, berries, tubers, types of bark, herbs, and flowers traditionally used in cooking, medicine, rituals, and more. The San bushmen guides also tell guests about the mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects of this mysterious desert ecosystem.

Days 3 to 5: Deception Valley to Oddballs’ Enclave - Okavango Delta, Botswana

On day three of your safari in Botswana, a scenic flight takes you into the heart of the Okavango Delta, with Delta Air. Arriving at our delta camp, only accessible by air, your private safari guide will meet you at the airstrip. This local guide is shared between two guests at most and is assigned to you for the duration of your stay at the remote delta camp.

Your base for exploring the Okavango Delta is Oddballs' Enclave, an authentic safari camp set on a secluded little island near Chief's Island. This delightful tented camp, set under a grove of hardwood trees, lies very close to the southwestern tip of Chief’s Island, which borders on the world-renowned Moremi Game Reserve.

On your nature walks in the Okavango Delta you can get up close to the flora and the wildlife, from the biggest to the smallest. Your guide will do his utmost best to seek out special birds and animals for you to photograph, memories of a once-in-a-lifetime adventure to take home with you. Your guide is a born-and-bred local who knows this part of the delta, like the back of his hand, he is highly experienced and trained to keep you safe on your walking safaris into the unspoiled bush. Sharing his in-depth knowledge your guide points out the fascinating insects, plants, animal tracks, and other signs of animal activity in the bush. The bush walks surround you with the pure beauty of the Okavango Delta and its wildlife. You may encounter elephants, buffaloes, lions, hippos, and crocodiles. Maybe even the more elusive leopard and plentiful plains species like giraffe, zebra, and various antelopes.

If the water levels in the delta permit - we explore the intricate network of watery channels, tranquil lagoons, and reed-fringed islands of the Okavango Delta in traditional Mokoro canoes. The mokoro trips are usually undertaken early in the morning and late afternoon. On mokoro rides your guide stands in the stern of his old-school canoe, propelling two passengers slowly through the waters with a long pole. This is one of the best ways to explore the delta and encounter wildlife and birds, as you move slowly and quietly through the bush.

If you would like to spend a full day out in the delta, you can request a delicious picnic lunch to take out with you from the camp.

Back at camp, excellent meals are served out on the spacious deck areas where you can keep an eye out for visiting wildlife and birds. elephants have been known to saunter through the camp! At the end of the day, you can put your feet up and admire a beautiful sunset over the wilderness and later on, listen to the nighttime sounds of the bush as the countless stars come out.

• Flight from the Kalahari into the Okavango Delta by light aircraft
• Guided Okavango Delta Island walks
• Mokoro rides in the Okavango Delta (when water levels permit)
• All meals and accommodation at Oddballs' Enclave

About Oddballs' Enclave, Okavango Delta

A classical, exclusive delta camp that accommodates at most ten guests and is only accessible by plane.

At this intimate Botswana camp, you stay in one of five Meru-style tents set under huge hardwood trees. Each well-equipped and spacious tent is fitted with single twin or double beds and features a semi-detached en-suite bathroom. Bathroom facilities include flush toilets and an open-air, yet very private bucket shower with cold and hot running water. The comfortable tents are set on raised wooden platforms with viewing decks where you can sit back and soak up the pristine delta environment and enjoy the sight of the many animals that come to quench their thirst.

This remote tented camp features elevated decks with lounge areas opening out onto the bush and campfire so that guests can take in the views in comfort and style. A cool den area with a pub provides a well-earned respite, especially after a walking excursion. Sitting on one of the decks of the Enclave you look out over the delta grasslands and untamed woodlands beyond, catching sight of birds and roaming wildlife nearby. The delta is home to diverse species, ranging from elephants and big cats to baboons, hippos, and antelopes.

One of the most outstanding features of this authentic camp is its beautiful location on a small island in the heart of the Okavango Delta. This family-friendly safari camp uses solar power to generate electricity and wherever possible to heat water too, very eco-aware. Oddballs' Enclave offers a personal safari experience with private guides and staff that are renowned for their friendliness. The emphasis is on slowing down and enjoying captivating beauty that will revive your body and soul.

Days 6 to 7: Oddballs’ Enclave to Ghoha Hills Camp – Chobe National Park, Botswana

Day six of our Botswana Safari starts with breakfast at the peaceful Okavango Delta camp, before we enjoy our next scenic flight.

We fly northeast from Oddballs’ Enclave to Ghoha Hills Camp in a small plane, landing in the Savuti Marsh region of the world-famous Chobe National Park. A 40-minute drive takes us through the bush to Ghoha Hills Camp, game viewing along the way.

Spend your early mornings and late afternoons on thrilling game drives in the Savuti Marsh area, going in search of the abundance of wildlife found here. We explore the outskirts of the marsh and drive along the edges of the once-dry channel in open-sided safari vehicles. This part of Chobe National Park is famous for its superb predator sightings, being considered one of the best places in the world to sight these hunters. The Savuti Channel began to flow again in 2010, after almost three decades of standing dry and today feeds the marsh, which is now covered in sweet grasses, especially during the rainy season. The grassy floodplains attract a wide range of grazers and other herbivores, which in turn draw predators to the area, making it a prime predator-watching hotspot. With some luck you will encounter Africa's predators in action, seeing wildlife scenes akin to those of award-winning documentaries about Savuti, in person.

Your safari guide points out the small and large wild animals and birds that you come across in the African bush, stopping to let you observe them in their natural habitat. Driving through the beautiful landscapes of Savuti, the open savannah surrounds you in its untamed glory. We stop to view rock paintings, stretch our legs at a cluster of magnificent Baobab trees, and visit the Pimple Hills.

In between your 4x4 game drives, you have time to chill out at Ghoha Hills Camp, looking out over a waterhole with the Savuti landscape with its wealth of wildlife and birds stretching into the distance.

• Flight from Okavango Delta to Savuti by light aircraft
• Morning and afternoon game drives in Chobe National Park
• All meals and accommodation at Ghoha Hills Camp

About Ghoha Hills Camp, Chobe National Park

This intimate safari camp consists of eleven comfortable luxury tented rooms, each with an en-suite bathroom and a private viewing deck overlooking the scenic Savuti. The tents are set apart from each other to create private havens in the wilderness. The main camp has various seating, reading, bar and dining spaces, all located to take full advantage of the view from Ghoha Hill, and the bustle of animals visiting the waterhole at the foot of the hill. There is a refreshing rock swimming pool alongside and a Spa. They offer a selection of indulgent treatments, and there is also an option to take a scenic helicopter flight (not included). Ghoha Hills Camp is fully run on solar power and is committed to reducing carbon emissions and operating with a sustainable ethos.

Ghoha Hills Camp lies in the western part of Chobe National Park, known as Savuti, hosting one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Africa. This region of Botswana is famous for its predator sightings, including endangered wild dogs and plenty of lions. The highlight here is viewing free-roaming wildlife and birds from the camp itself and on open vehicle game drives that are ideal for game viewing and photography. Located a 40-minute drive from the Savuti airstrip the stylish camp lies in the thick of the wilderness, offering a real African safari adventure.

Day 8: Ghoha Hills Camp to Maun, Botswana

On day eight, early risers have a chance to take a dawn drive to the hide for coffee and wildlife spotting, before returning for a delicious breakfast back at Ghoha Hills Camp.

After breakfast you hop back onto a small plane and return to Maun, enjoying the views of northern Botswana as you fly. Arriving back in Maun our memorable Botswana Safari comes to a close.

• Morning hide drive in Chobe National Park
• Breakfast
• Flight from Savuti to Maun by light aircraft

Botswana Safari Note:

We only recommend booking this Botswana Safari for travel during the late fall, winter, and early spring seasons in Botswana. This is because the summer months are uncomfortably hot for walking safaris in the Okavango Delta and the water levels are not high enough for proper mokoro trips. We have therefore only listed the tour departure dates available within the date range we recommend.