Okavango Delta & Chobe Luxury Camping Safari

Tour Overview

• 2 Nights camping in Chobe River area of Chobe National Park
• 3 Nights camping in Savute Marsh region of Chobe National Park
• 3 Nights camping in Khwai Concession, next to Moremi Game Reserve
• 2 Nights camping in Xakanaxa Area in Moremi Game Reserve

Day 1 & 2: Chobe Riverfront in Chobe National Park (Botswana)

This wilderness adventure begins in Kasane, where your guide collects you from the airport. Our exact departure time depends on the commercial flight schedules, and will thus be confirmed closer to the date.

From the Kasane Airport we head to the Chobe River, where you set off on a leisurely afternoon boat cruise. Your cruise meanders along the river from Kasane, easing you into African time and the unspoilt wilderness. Chobe River offers excellent boat-based game viewing and we are sure to see hippos, crocodiles, antelopes and even elephants, as well as numerous birds.

After the relaxing boat cruise we drive to our first camp inside Chobe National Park. We spend two nights camping close to the Chobe River, in the northernmost region of Botswana. The Chobe Riverfront area is quite lush with fertile floodplains and riverine woods, providing habitat for dense populations of game. Your experienced guide takes you in search of the wildlife Chobe is famous for, exploring the bush in an open-sided safari vehicle. This part of Chobe is particularly well-known for its large elephant and buffalo herds. The Chobe Riverfront also boasts excellent lion sightings, amongst other wild animals. Birdlife is prolific with species including African fish eagles, herons and African skimmers.

At the end of our rewarding days of game viewing in Chobe Park, dinner is served at the camp, followed by free time to sit back and relax in mother nature.

Day 3 - 5: Camping at Savute in Chobe National Park (Botswana)

On day three your safari crew dismantles camp and loads the vehicles up, then we drive southwest to Savuti. Our drive takes us through Chobe National Park, so keep your eyes open for wildlife along the way. For the next three nights we camp in the renowned Savuti (or Savute) region of Chobe Park. This drier region of Chobe is famous for its dramatic wildlife interactions and seasonal herbivore migrations. Herds of zebras, wildebeest and other antelopes are drawn to the Savuti Channel, in turn attracting various hungry predators.

Your professional guide takes you on open vehicle game drives in the area of Savuti Marsh, the remnant of a vast inland lake, long dried up. After some 30 years of standing dry the Savute Channel began to flow again in 2010, feeding into the Savuti Marsh. The return of water has spurred the growth of sweet grasses and more vegetation in the area, attracting high concentrations of animals and birds. Big elephant herds are often seen in the Savuti region along with lions, leopards, hyenas, various antelope species, giraffes and zebras. In the dry season, rhinos, warthogs and antelopes like kudus, impalas and wildebeest, are frequently sighted. Cheetahs are also found in this part of Chobe Park, as are African wild dog, spotted hyena and black-backed jackal. The birdlife is phenomenal, especially during the rainy season.

At night we enjoy hearty meals prepared by the crew and relax around the campfire in the heart of the wilderness.

Day 6 - 8: Khwai Community Area – Okavango Delta (Botswana)

Day six kicks-off bright and early with breakfast at our tented camp in the Savuti region. The staff packs up camp and we move on to our next destination - the Khwai River area of the Okavango Delta. Along the way we stop for a picnic lunch, before continuing through the changing landscapes of northern Botswana, into the massive delta. The Okavango Delta is a World Heritage Site, covering about 18 000 km² of unspoilt wetlands, islands and seasonal floodplains.

Our next exclusive campsite is set inside the community-owned Khwai Concession Area, also called the Khwai Community Area. We embark on game drives on the floodplains of Khwai River, forming the border of Moremi Game Reserve. During our stay in Khwai we take night game drives in search of the nocturnal animals of the African bush, using spotlights to find these shy creatures.

We also set off on a mokoro ride along the winding channels of the inland delta - the ideal way to discover this watery ecosystem. Local guides pole the traditional-style mekoros (dug-out canoes) through the shallow waters for about two and a half hours, revealing the details, smells and sounds of this unique wild place. Both the night game drives and the mokoro cruise take place in the Khwai region, bordering on Moremi in the eastern part of the Okavango Delta.

Spend your evenings unwinding at the tented camp in the Khwai Concession. After dinner in the open-sided dining lapa you are free to sit around the flickering campfire, retire to your comfortable tent and marvel at the starry skies.

Day 9 & 10: Xakanaxa Area of Moremi Game Reserve – Okavango Delta (Botswana)

The last two nights of this mobile safari are spent in the Xakanaxa area of Moremi, near the Third Bridge from the southern gate of the park. This region of Moremi Game Reserve is considered one of the best for game viewing and one of the most scenic.

We explore the Xakanaxa Lagoon region on game drives in the open-sided safari vehicle, taking in the diverse ecosystems and encountering big game. The area encompasses open grasslands, floodplains, riverine forests and mopane woodlands, as well as permanent and seasonal waterways, holding an incredible variety of flora and fauna. Moremi is the only official protected area in the Okavango Delta, an award-winning wildlife destination, widely rated as one of the finest and most beautiful in Africa. Moremi incorporates 5000km² of wilderness in the central and eastern parts of the delta, constituting almost one-third of this pristine wetland system.

Moremi Game Reserve is a Big Five wildlife destination, hosting black and white rhinos, lions, leopards, buffalos and elephants. Of the big cats, leopards and cheetahs are regularly sighted in the Xakanaxa area, while other predators seen include jackal, African wild dog, hyena and lion. The area is home to an exceptional density of antelopes, ranging from large herds of tsessebe and impala to rare sitatunga and red lechwe. Seasonal herds of buffalo, elephant, wildebeest and zebra also migrate to Moremi in winter. Over 400 bird species have been recorded here, making Moremi a birding haven. Sightings include crested cranes, egrets, herons, sacred ibis, storks, African fish eagles and all kinds of other raptors.

Restful evenings are spent at the private camp where we sit around the flickering campfire after tasty dinners prepared over an open fire. We have exclusive use of the unfenced campsite so sit back and tune into the untamed bush habitat in peace.

Day 11: Moremi to Maun (Botswana)

Day 11 begins with breakfast at our mobile camp in Moremi Game Reserve, followed by a short game drive through the reserve. Last chance to spot wildlife and birds, soaking up the scenic landscapes of Moremi as we head to the airstrip!

From the airstrip in Moremi, we catch a scenic charter flight to Maun, the main travel hub for trips into the Okavango Delta. Our flight out of Moremi offers spectacular views of the Okavango Delta and a chance to spot wildlife from above - a truly memorable finale to our Okavango Delta & Chobe Luxury Camping Safari.

Please Note:

Private departures of this Okavango Delta & Chobe Luxury Camping Safari are also available on request. For prices and more details about the private departures, please contact African Budget Safaris.

The above itinerary is subject to changes, dependant on local road and weather conditions, as well as availability. We do our best to follow the schedule and activities outlined above and will notify you in the event of any changes. We reserve the right to switch from a mokoro trip to a motorboat cruise based on local conditions. Rates are subject to national park increases made by the Botswana government, without prior notice.

This Botswana Safari also runs in the opposite direction, starting in Maun and ending in Kasane.

Tour Accommodation:

This mobile tented safari makes use of private campsites wherever possible. The private campsites are unfenced, immersing you in the prime wilderness areas of Botswana.

Guests stay in spacious Meru-style tents (walk-in safari tents), with built-in floors. The tents feature proper beds with full bed linen and a bath towel is provided. There is mosquito netting on the windows and over the entrance of each tent. Each tent has an en-suite bathroom fitted with a bucket shower and bush toilet.

The crew sets up the mobile camps for you, so guests do not need to participate. The camps include an open-sided dining tent with a table and chairs and camping chairs for sitting around the campfire.

Transport:

All game drives and local transfers are conducted in custom-made safari vehicles with open sides, shade roofs, game viewing seats and long-range fuel tanks. The group size on this safari is limited to seven, ensuring that each guest gets a window seat. Each group is accompanied by a backup crew of staff travelling in a separate vehicle.