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BOTSWANA
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Phinda & Okavango Delta
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ITINERARY OVERVIEW:
3 NTS – PHINDA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE
1 NT – THE GRACE, ROSEBANK [JO’BURG]
6 NTS – OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA
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DAY 1:
Depart from your city of choice in the USA.
DAY 2 TO 5:
Arrive in Johannesburg where you will be met by our representative who will assist you on arrival and transfer you to your flight to Phinda Game Reserve.
3 nights at the PHINDA FOREST LODGE in a double room on a full board basis including three meals daily, Teas and Coffees, two game drives daily in Open Landrovers, refreshments on game drives, Nature walks (1 hour) accompanied by experienced armed trackers, laundry, soft drinks, house wines, local brand spirits and beers.
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PHINDA FOREST LODGE LUXURY LODGE
Forest Lodge is situated in the depths of the botanical unique Sand Forest, the bedroom suites were hand-built on small stilts by the Zulu people. Guests experience the sensuous delight of luxurious minimalism offset by the verdant forest scene beyond the chalet's glass walls. Forest Lodge's 16 raised glass-encased chalets have a bedroom, lounge and spacious en suite bathroom with a bath and separate shower. Outside,wooden decks have been erected around the growing trees. Although surrounded on three sides by glass, the fertile forest floor and towering torchwood trees ensure privacy in each of the chalets. Constructed to minimise impact on the unique Sand Forest, the air-conditioned rooms are raised off the ground to allow smaller animals complete freedom of movement along the forest floor below. At Forest Lodge, the glass walls display the sea-green canopy with wide-screen effect. A few short paces outside, birds and animals such as the tiny red duiker, suni antelope and rare red squirrel move quietly through the forest. The chalets evoke the luxurious minimalism of classic Japanese architecture.
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This is offset by the verdant forest scene beyond the glass walls, creating a sensuous African delight. The chalets have polished beechwood and slate floors. The central dining area, lounge and shaded swimming pool of this secluded camp overlook a tranquil open grassy vlei (wetland pan). The elevated lookout deck is a prime bird-watching spot for the approximately 400 species at Phinda. Our range of souvenirs in the curio shop at main reception area is worth exploring. We invite you to savour flamboyant cuisine infused with Pan-African flair.
You may dine on the deck viewing the grassy plains. Or indulge in the romance of al fresco dining beneath a starlit sky around the forest boma (enclosed reeded area). Large tables for eight glow in the light of the central boma fire.
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DAY 5 TO 6:
Transfer to the Phinda Airstrip for your flight back to Johannesburg where you will be met by a representative and transferred to the Grace Hotel in Rosebank.
[TRANSIT HOTEL].
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Your Game viewing experience at Phinda:
Seven distinct habitats shelter an abundance of wildlife including Africa’s Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo) and over 380 bird species, while the marine diversity off the nearby coast of Sodwana is said to rival the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
Phinda Private Game Reserve is home to an incredible diversity of mammals. Predators like cheetah, leopard and lion are tracked on a daily basis and visitors stand extremely good chances of seeing them. The territorial white rhino favour waterholes and wallows. Herds of elephant and buffalo move throughout the reserve and are easily spotted. Impressive nyala antelope feed alongside impala and warthog. Nocturnal aardvark, bushpig and greater bushbaby may be encountered on exciting night game-drives. Mountain reedbuck dwell on rocky slopes, while common reedbuck favour palmveld and wetlands. Tonga red squirrel are restricted to Sand Forest where tiny suni and red duiker are most abundant. The extraordinary four-toed elephant-shrew forages among leaf-litter in forest and thickets.
An impressive 378 bird species are recorded at Phinda. Rudd’s apalis, Neergaard’s sunbird and pink-throated twinspot are endemic to the Maputaland region. Lemon-breasted canary, southern banded snake-eagle and grey waxbill are characteristic of the coastal plain. Among resident birds in the Sand Forest are Narina trogon, African broadbill and square-tailed drongo. Trumpeter hornbill, white-eared barbet and golden-rumped tinkerbird gather at ripe figs. Crested guineafowl, purple-crested turaco and gorgeous bushshrike are among species which favour woodland and thickets. African finfoot, African purple swamphen (gallinule), white-backed night-heron and malachite kingfisher are resident on the Mzinene River. Mocking cliff-chat, red-winged starling and cinnamon-breasted bunting favour rocky outcrops. Great concentrations of waterfowl assemble seasonally at the Nibela Peninsula of nearby Lake St Lucia.
More than 80 species of butterfly have been recorded with mamba swordtail, forest king charaxes and gold-banded forester (opposite) among the more impressive. Marshlands beat to the sound of calling frogs after summer downpours with Argus reed-frog, red-legged kassina and sharp-nosed grass-frog among the 37 recorded species. Dazzling rainbow skink and giant plated lizard live among boulders where African rock python find refuge. Nile crocodile inhabit the Mzinene River and some waterholes.
Phinda’s close proximity to the Indian Ocean offers guests the opportunity to explore an underwater kaleidoscope that rivals Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Over 1000 species of fish are found in these subtropical waters and you may glide past moray eel, leatherback and loggerhead turtles and huge whale sharks.
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DAY 7 TO 10:
Transfer to the Johannesburg International airport for your flight to Maun in Botswana. On arrival in Maun you will be met by our representative off your flight who will brief you on your itinerary and stay while in Botswana. Transfer for your flight to the Okavango Delta.
3 nights at the NXABEGA OKAVANGO SAFARI CAMP in a double room on a full board basis including three meals daily, Teas and Coffees, two game drives daily in Open Landrovers, refreshments on game drives, laundry, soft drinks, house wines, local brand spirits and beers.
Nxabega Okavango Safari Camp is located on the edge of the Okavango Delta in a 17 300-acre exclusive wildlife concession bordering the Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana. Meaning “Place of the Giraffe”, Nxabega is ideally positioned to explore the magnificence of the Okavango – the largest inland delta in the world. A wetland wilderness of looping channels, islands forested with palms and wide grassy floodplains, the Delta is home to a magnificent array of wild animals and exceptional birdlife. Guests are able to experience this irresistible combination of water and wildlife on twice-daily game-drives in open 4x4 safari vehicles, mokoro and powerboat excursions.
DAY 10 TO 13:
Transfer for your flight to Sandibe.
3 nights at the SANDIBE SAFARI LODGE in a double room on a full board basis including three meals daily, Teas and Coffees, two game drives daily in Open Landrovers, refreshments on game drives, laundry, soft drinks, house wines, local brand spirits and beers.
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NXABEGA OKAVANGO SAFARI CAMP ...................... LUXURY TENTED CAMP
Elegant safari accommodation: Nine exclusive tented suites, nestled under a canopy of African ebony trees, have stylish en suite bathrooms and private verandas overlooking the reeded molapo (floodplain). Nxabega is an intimate camp, offering the height of sophistication and style within the heart of the Okavango Delta.
Nxabega is an intimate camp for a maximum of 18 guests. It is a skillful combination of luxury and integration with the environment. The heart of Nxabega consists of sophisticated living and dining areas, made from local timber and thatch overlooking the floodplain. From this springboard of comfort, guests are able to appreciate the exquisite beauty of the Okavango Delta.
Enjoy exciting bush picnics in surprise settings, breakfast in bed, lamplit cocktails on a river island, or a walking safari with tasty picnic – provided with pleasure by Nxabega’s warm and friendly staff..
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Your game viewing experience at the Okavango Delta:
Larger herbivores - including elephant and buffalo. Lion prides, cheetah, leopard and African wild dog are also encountered. Herds of handsome red lechwe favour the edges of floodplains, often feeding in the company of tsessebe. Hippos reside in deeper channels and lagoons. Honey badgers are observed during daylight hours. Roan and sable antelope favour taller grass in open woodlands while the sitatunga keep to dense papyrus beds. Families of dwarf and banded mongoose occupy large termite mounds. Noisy epauletted fruit bats sip nectar from baobab and sausage tree blooms and feast on ripe figs.
Almost 350 bird species are recorded. Slaty egret, lesser jacana, wattled crane, coppery-tailed coucal, Hartlaub’s babbler, greater swamp warbler, chirping cisticola, swamp boubou and brown firefinch are ‘Okavango Specials’. Common in savanna are Dickinson’s kestrel, red-billed spurfowl, Kalahari scrub-robin and violet-eared waxbill. Herons, egrets, storks and other waterfowl abound with flocks following the receding floodwaters. African pygmy goose, white-backed duck and African jacana favour lily-covered lagoons. Abundant African fish-eagle course the waterways in search of prey. After dark, the rare Pel's fishing-owl (opposite) emerge to sit in wait at clear pools.
Predatory tigerfish and African pike flourish in clear waters, where various tilapia, catfish and squeakers also thrive. Dazzling dragonflies pursue prey along waterways. Colourful painted reed-frog, long reed-frog and bubbling kassina are two commonly encountered frogs. Nile crocodile, water monitor and Okavango hinged-terrapin are common aquatic reptiles. Massive termite colonies are the foundations for Okavango islands and these industrious insects form an important component of the diet for many mammals and birds.
Interpretive bush walks: Explore the Delta on interpretive wilderness walks with a professional African guide steeped in knowledge of the local fauna and flora.
Tranquil mokoro (dugout canoe) and boat excursions: Few memories can equal being poled through the channels of the delta in a mokoro or on a boat excursion. These activities are best from June to September.
Exceptional birdwatching: Nxabega offers abundant bird-watching opportunities with 349 species recorded here. The area is rich in wetland species such as African jacana, malachite kingfisher and openbilled stork. You have an excellent chance of spotting Pel’s fishing owl – one of only three fishing owls in Africa – while enjoying a mokoro or boat excursion.
Fishing: With myriad fish species including the finetoothed squeaker, tigerfish and African pike, fishing from Nxabega's powerboat is an enjoyable excursion for avid fishermen.
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Sandibe Safari Lodge is set on a permanent channel of the magnificent Okavango Delta, adjacent to the game-rich Moremi Wildlife Reserve on a 104 square mile private concession.
The beautiful thatched lodge nestles between permanent water and grass-swept plains and was built with a commitment to “treading lightly on the earth”. The result is organic architecture that blends seamlessly with one of the most breathtaking landscapes in Africa. Sandibe is surrounded by an abundant array of wildlife and throughout the year, guests are enchanted by the changing moods of the Delta. Through exhilarating game-drives in open 4x4 safari vehicles and interpretive bush walks, our professional guides share the wonder of this wetland wilderness.
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SANDIBE SAFARI LODGE ............................................. LUXURY SAFARI LODGE
Sandibe Safari Lodge is located just south of Chief’s Island in one of the most beautiful regions of the Delta, near the ever-flowing Santandabie Channel. Sandibe’s site was specifically chosen for its extraordinary beauty, its prime location on the permanent Delta and its proximity to the game rich grassy plains. The lodge is situated under ancient riverine forest in deep shade overlooking a permanent papyrus waterway. The public areas face into the sunset with three cottages to the north and five cottages to the south. All the cottages are spaced about 40m apart in order to afford maximum privacy whilst still being within safe walking distance from the public areas. The predominant theme of Sandibe’s décor is natural, earthy, organic and living. The eight African inspired cottages have their own private elevated viewing deck, en-suite facilities with twin basins, toilet and open air shower. There is an overhead fan and gauze covered glassless windows. Sandibe Safari Lodge has exclusive access to some 270 sq km comprising six broad ecotypes and associated bird, plant and animal species. Activities include daily game drives, bush walks, river cruises, mokoro excursions, bird watching, and stargazing. For relaxation there is a hammock, which sways in the trees outside the main living area, and a shaded plunge pool
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MORE ON MOREMI GAME RESERVE & OKAVANGO REGION
This pristine wilderness area of Botswana is reputed to be Africa's most beautiful reserve. There are a wide range of habitats in Moremi - from the riparian woodlands, floodplains, reed beds and the permanent wetland of the Okavango Delta, through towering stands of Mopane forests to the dry savannah woodlands. Such a wide variety of habitats implies a wide variety of wildlife and at any time of the year, game is prolific (although what is seen obviously varies with the seasons).
The mosaic of land and water comprising the Okavango Delta is a birder's haven, especially from November to March when the area is brimming with migratory birds. Other activities possible in this area are fishing, photography and guided nature walks on the islands of the Delta, which lie outside the boundaries of the reserve. |
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DAY 13:
Transfer to the Airstrip for your flight back to Maun and onward flight to Johannebsurg.
On arrival in Johannesburg you will be met by a representative who will transfer you to the international terminal for your return flight to the USA.
DAY 14:
Arrive in the US.
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