Confirmed Departures 2013
05-15Jun 11D Ladakh Overland
Okavango Delta
The Okavango
Delta is a facinating and unique wildlife location. It is the worlds largest
inland delta and situated in an extremely arid region attracts great
concentrations of diverse animals and birds. The climate is at odds with the
lush environment and plays an important role in making the Okavango Delta a
fantastic safari destination.
It is difficult to determine when the best time to visit the Okavango Delta is, as this is a dynamic ecosystem and all visitors will have differing opinions on what the best time to visit actually is. If you are a birder the best time to visit might be in October when the heronries are full of birds breeding and nesting or perhaps the best time to visit might be in July or August when game numbers start to increase drawn by the drying hinterland.
Seasons
WinterIn the Okavango Delta winter occurs from April to September. Days are generally dry, sunny, clear and cool to warm whilst in the evening temperatures can drop sharply. During the day temperatures generally reach 25 degrees Celsius and evening temperatures can be as low as 2 degrees Celsius and, in some dry areas, can plummet below freezing. Virtually no rainfall occurs during the winter months.
BOOK EARLY!
Itinerary
HIGHLIGHTS
Okavango Delta Specialty Mokoro Safari – traditional tree trunk dug-out canoe powered
by a licensed Guide Poler who will steer you through beautiful serene areas of
narrow reed-lined channels which open out onto spectacular lagoons.
ACCOMMODATION AT ODDBALL’S RUSTIC CAMP (3*)
Dome tents set on elevated wooden decks, and shaded by shelters or trees. Each tent
is equipped with bed, bedding, a storage trunk and a light. Beautiful outdoor showers
and ablutions are en-suite.
ACCOMMODATION AT GRASSLANDS BUSHMAN LODGE (4*)
Well furnished chalets with en-suite bathrooms, beds, fans, closets, and dressing table. Fully
inclusive of 3 meals a day, snacks, mid-day tea and dessert, cold drinks, wine
and a fully stocked bar for evening nightcaps. Bricked fire pit to sit and
watch as hundreds of animals come in at dusk to feed at the large illuminated
water pan – a mere 50 yards away.
ITINERARY
DAY 1 SINGAPORE CHANGI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Assemble at Changi Airport for your
flight to the Rainbow Nation.
DAY 2 SINGAPORE – JOHANNESBURG (AIRPORT GAME LODGE – 3 *)
(Meals on Board / Dinner)
Upon touchdown at Johannesburg OR
Tambo International Airport, transfer to Airport Game Lodge 10 minutes away,
for a traditional South African self-braai
dinner, to be had leisurely by the campfire.
DAY 3 JOHANNESBURG / MAUN (ODDBALL’S CAMP - RUSTIC)
(Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner)
After an early breakfast, transfer
to the airport for your flight to Maun, Botswana. Upon touchdown at the Maun
Airport at 12pm or 3 pm, your Driver will meet and greet you at the Arrival
Hall to transfer you to the Camp for a Welcome Lunch or Dinner at Oddball’s Camp situated on the edge of
Chief’s Island, deep in the heart of the Okavango
Delta, accessible by light aircraft only and is 20 minutes flight from
Maun, and about an hour from Kasane. On arrival, you will be met at the
airstrip and welcomed to the island by your very own professional Guide – a man
of the swamp, born and bred.
DAY 4 OKAVANGO DELTA MOKORO SAFARI
(Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner)
Embark upon a journey into the
legendary Okavango Delta. Tumbling
out of the Angolan highlands, two rivers converge to form the Okavango River,
which spills onto the great sea of sand that is Botswana’s Kalahari Desert. An average of 10 million cubic meters of water
annually floods 15,000 sq km of Kalahari, forming the world-famous Okavango Delta, largest inland delta in
the world. The contrast of desert and wetland is what makes Okavango unique.
Dry land and wetland species cohabit, creating unique and startling
associations of plants, amphibians, birds, mammals, and reptiles. Your trail
will take you along winding channels lined with reeds, into the Moremi Game Reserve, an area renowned for its diverse bird and animal
life.
DAY 5 OKAVANGO & KALAHARI (GRASSLANDS BUSHMAN LODGE 4 *)
(Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner)
After breakfast in the Okavango Delta, transfer to the Grasslands Bushman Lodge. Termed as
“the most comprehensive San (Bushman)
experience in Southern Africa”, Grasslands Bushman in the Kalahari is
somewhat different from most others in Botswana. Located on the western
boundary of the Central Kalahari Game
Reserve, on private land, the focus is on the Kalahari, the San people
who live there, and the abundant life of the desert.
The Safari entails an intensive Kalahari experience, encompassing San clan activities (hunting,
gathering, games and ritual), game drives both off-road and at night, horse
riding, and a predator conservation project with predator-interaction including
walking with semi-habituated African
Wild Dogs. Spend the afternoon on a Horseback
Safari tailored for the experienced to complete novices, from one hour to
three days!
On horseback, not only do guests
gain an different perspective on your environment, but also the game animals
are wary of the horse, so guests are able to get much closer to the wildlife.
The horses are fully trained and well-used to being ridden, plus they are also
very familiar with the local terrain. On longer rides, guests are often
accompanied by the local Bushmen who will point out interesting features and
plants, adding to the experience. NB:
Longer rides by advanced booking only.
In the evening, go on a Night Game Drive when you are likely to
see nocturnal animals like porcupine, aardvark, brown hyena amongst others. The
sight of the brilliant stars in the Kalahari night sky with the cool desert
breeze is a sensuous experience not to be missed.
DAY 6 GRASSLANDS BUSHMAN LODGE
(Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner)
Your host, Neeltjie Bower will introduce you to the local people, who are all
too willing to give you an insight into
their world and give you a true bushman experience. Real-life activities
include looking for food and medicines amongst the many different types of
plants and trees that grow in the region (and you will be astounded by the
wealth of resources around you at any one time). The bushman will show you how
they hunt for meat, make fires, prepare
their food and build their nomadic homes
They will also show you some of their interesting past-times and communal
games, which all have benefits towards maintaining fitness and health or
improving essential skills. A highlight is to see the Bushmen perform one of
the many story-telling or ceremonial
dances. The entire bushman experience at Grasslands is authentic and
charming. Guests sometimes find it difficult to leave, because of the genuine
warmth of the welcome and hospitality offered by the Bushmen.
In the afternoon, take a Game Drive or Bush Walk to spot the Kalahari Wildlife. Because of its unique
location, immense land size, and proper management, guests are likely to see
more Kalahari game at Grassland Safari Lodge than at any other safari lodge. On
game drives, big herds of strictly Kalahari Game can be seen. Experience the
famous Kalahari sunset with the
silhouette of herds of eland, gemsbok and blue wildebeest! Several of the smaller species such as duiker and steenbok are also present within the protected area.
DAY 7 KALAHARI / MAUN / JOHANNESBURG / SINGAPORE
(Breakfast / Meals on Board)
After breakfast, transfer to Maun
Airport to check in for your flight to Johannesburg for another flight home.
DAY 8 SINGAPORE CHANGI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
(Meals on Board)
With your safe arrival home, we hope
you have enjoyed your African Adventure Safari, and look forward to seeing you
on another one of our holidays.
Contact
Olevia Cheong
Organiser
(65) 8112 8393
