Tour 54: 17 Day Botswana Wildlife 4×4 Camping Safari

DAY 01 Upington – Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (Botswana)
Time of departure will depend on clients’ travel schedule to Upington. Flight/bus schedule to be finalised. (Flight/bus not included)

Depart from Upington on a 03-hour drive through the Kalahari duneveld (“veld” means natural vegetation), passing various pans (dry lakes), to the Kgalagadi Trans Frontier Park,

The word Kalahari derives from the word Makgadigadi, meaning salt pans (salt lakes) in the language spoken by the Kgalagadi people living in the Kgalagadi Region in south-western Botswana. The word Kgalagadi means salt pans too in their language. More than 1 000 pans are scattered throughout the park. The Kalahari is the largest area of sand in the world, covering 2.5 million square kilometres from the Orange River in South Africa in the south to slightly north of the equator. The area referred to as the arid Kalahari covers some 900 000 square kilometres in the south and covers parts of South Africa and Namibia and most of Botswana. The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is situated in the southern part of the arid Kalahari in South Africa and Botswana and is jointly managed by South Africa National Parks (Sanparks) and Botswana Wildlife.

The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park covers 37 000 square km, which is one of the largest conservation areas in the world and one of the last truly unspoilt ecosystems.

Endemic game such as gemsbok, springbok, eland, giraffe, blue wildebeest and red hartebeest roam the sparsely vegetated red sand dunes and the dry river valleys of the Nossob and Auob where a variety of acacia species thrive.

The Park is well known for good sightings of lion, leopard and cheetah and spotted – and brown hyena are common residents. Because of an abundance of prey in the form of mice, whistling rats, birds and insects, smaller predators thrive in the park. The park is home to caracal, honey badger, black-backed jackal, bat-eared fox, cape fox, African wildcat, mongoose and the ever-popular suricate (meerkat).

Kgalagadi is a bird watcher’s paradise with more than 300 species recorded including at least 20 larger raptor species. The world’s heaviest flying bird, the Kori bustard and the stately secretary bird patrol the riverbeds while the noisy northern black korhaan rule in the dunes.

Check in at Two Rivers on the Botswana side of Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

Game drive to Rooiputs Camp Ground on the Botswana side. Pitch camp. Depart on an afternoon game drive. The Rooiputs area is known for lion, cheetah, spotted & brown hyena and meerkat sightings.

Experience the park, camping in the wild with no protective fencing. Enjoy dinner around the fire, while listening to the sounds of the night. Don’t be surprised if you hear lion, hyena, leopard and black backed jackal during the night. Lions are regular visitors to Rooiputs at night.
Overnight: Camping at Rooiputs (Basic Facilities; A-frame, pit toilet & open air shower)
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 02 Kgalagadi Trans Frontier Park (Botswana)
Game drive along the Nossob River Valley via Nossob Camp to Polentswa Camp Ground on the Botswana side of the Park, 60 km north of Nossob Camp.

Afternoon game drive in the area. Visit Polentswa Waterhole, known for regular visits by predators and raptors. At noon Polentswa waterhole is one of the best places in the park to see raptors.

As with Rooiputs, Polentswa has no protective fencing too. This remote campsite overlooks the vegetated Polentswa Pan and is known for beautiful sunsets. Lions, hyenas and brown hyenas are regular visitors to Polentswa at night.
Overnight Camping at Polentswa (Basic Facilities; A-frame, pit toilet & open air shower)
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 03 Kgalagadi – Kaa Kalahari Concession
Game drive along the Nossob River Valley and 4×4 Excess Trail to Kaa Gate on the northern border of the Botswana part of the Park.

Enter the Kaa Kalahari Concession Area. The Kaa Kalahari Concession lies in the southwest of Botswana and borders on the north of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and is one of the last great unfenced wilderness areas in Southern Africa covering 1,3 million ha. Roughly 800 people live in a few small villages. There are two major ethnic groups; the Bakgalagadi and Basarwa or San. The latter lives here for 3 000 years.

Vast herds of game can still be seen in typical Kalahari veld with rolling grass plains and Acacia woodland. The area is dotted with pans (dry lakes) which fill up with water after good rains in summer and attract large herds of eland, gemsbok, springbok, red hartebeest, some predators and many birds. Over 50 species of raptors have been recorded here. Kaa Concession is of ecological importance as it is the migratory corridor between the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and Central Kalahari Reserve.
Continue to the very remote Name Pan
Overnight: Camping at Name Pan (No facilities. No Water. Crew pitch shower and toilet)
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 04 Kaa Concession – Ghanzi
Continue on 4×4 trails through the Kaa Concession and via the remote villages Zutshwa and Hukuntsi to Kang the Trans Kalahari Highway. Proceed to Ghanzi, where the feeling of a frontier town still lingers. Replenish supplies.
Overnight: Camping at Ghanzi (Chalets available at additional cost)
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 05 Ghanzi – Central Kalahari Game Reserve
Early departure to Central Kalahari Game Reserve, which covers 51 800 square km.

The Central Kalahari is a place where you find your soul, where the modern world recedes and you get in touch with the earth, the sky and the space. Animals to be seen are Gemsbok, Wildebeest, Springbok, Tsessebe and Steenbok.

Elephants have lately been crossing from the north into Central Kalahari during the rainy season due to high densities of elephant in the north.

The most common predators are Lion, Brown Hyena, Cheetah, Leopard and African Wild Cat. Many bird species can be seen, including bird of prey.

Enter at Tau Gate in the north-west. Continue on a long drive on the excess trail to Deception Valley.

Afternoon game drive along Deception Valley if time allows
Overnight: Camping at Kori Campsite. (No protective fencing, pit toilet & open air shower)
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 06 Central Kalahari Game Reserve
Depart south on game drive along Deception Valley and Deception Pan to Letiahau Waterhole. This is the only waterhole in a huge area and predator sightings are common. Return game drive to camp

Time at leisure. Afternoon game drive
Overnight: Camping at Kori Campsite. (No protective fencing, pit toilet & open air shower)
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 07 Central Kalahari – Makgadigadi Pans National Park
Early morning game drive.

Backtrack via Matswere Gate to Rakops. Continue to Khumaga Camp Ground on the banks of the Boteti River in Makgadigadi Pans National Park. The Boteti River is flowing the last few years after good summer rains in the catchment areas of the Okavango River which feeds the Okavango Delta which feeds the Boteti River.

The park is home to elephants, white rhinos and hippos. Giraffe, impala and kudu are common along the river bank. Huge numbers of zebra migrate from the Makgadigadi Pans to the Boteti River during the dry season This is the second largest game migration on the African Continent. The dry Boteti River is known for lion and spotted hyena activities during the night.
Overnight: Camping at Khumaga Campground (Good facilities) (Chalets available at nearby Tiaan’s Camp additional cost)
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 08 Makgadigadi – Maun
Morning game drive along the Boteti River. Continue to Phuduhudu Gate. Proceed to Maun. Replenish supplies.
Overnight: Room at Sedia Hotel, Maun
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 09 Maun – Khwai Community Trust & Wildlife Management Area
Depart via Mababe to the Khwai Community Trust & Wildlife Management Area on the northern side of the Khwai River, which is the border of Moremi Game Reserve. This pristine area is rich in wildlife and teems with bird life and is one of the best areas in Southern Africa to see wild dogs. This is one of the last real wilderness areas in Southern Africa. The campsites are near the Khwai River.

Afternoon game drives in Khwai area
Overnight: Camping at Magotho Community Campsite (No facilities, crew pitch toilet & shower)
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 10 Khwai Community Trust & Wildlife Management Area
Morning and afternoon game drives in Khwai Area
Overnight: Camping at Magotho Community Campsite
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 11 Khwai – Chobe National Park
Depart to Savuti in Chobe National Park. The Savuti Channel has started flowing again a few years after being dry for about 30 years. This has changed the Savuti eco-system totally. Wildlife is spread out all along the river and the Savuti Marsh is a wildlife and birding paradise. Lately it flows sporadically, depending on summer rains in the catchment area.

Elephant, buffalo, wildebeest, zebra, kudu, giraffe & impala roam the area and lion, spotted hyena and leopard are seen often. Cheetah and wild dog are sporadic sightings. Elephants are regular visitors to the campsite.

Afternoon game drive
Overnight: Camping at Savuti
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 12 Chobe National Park
Depart to the Chobe River front via the Chobe Forest Reserve. Proceed to Kasane. Replenish supplies for catering at Senyati.

Continue to Senyati Safari Camp 10 km south of Kazangula. Senyati is situated on the border of the Kasane Forest Reserve. The chalets and bar-deck overlook a flood-lit waterhole where herds of elephant, numbering in total up to hundreds a day, come to drink from mid-afternoon until late at night. Spotted hyena, sable antelope, buffalo, kudu, giraffe and impala are regular visitors too. Leopard, lion and wild dog are sporadic visitors.

Relax in the afternoon at accommodation or on the bar deck overlooking the floodlit waterhole. Overnight: Camping at Senyati Safari Camp (Chalets available at additional cost)
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 13 Senyati Safari Camp / Chobe National Park
Depart early morning to Chobe National Park. This is elephant country. Chobe National Park is very famous for its abundance of elephant. This Park has the highest concentration of elephant anywhere in Africa, an estimated 70 000!! Chobe is also famous for its huge herds of buffalo and predators including lion, leopard and spotted hyena. Sable – and roan antelope, giraffe, kudu, waterbuck, tsessebe, impala, red lechwe, the endemic puku, Chobe bushbuck, herds of zebra, warthogs, pods of hippo and crocodiles are some of the species to be seen

The Chobe Riverfront is one of the best birding areas in Southern Africa and various species of raptors, including great sightings of fish-eagles, flocks of vultures, various aquatic species, colourful bee-eaters and rollers can be encountered on a game drive.

Game drive until noon. Return to Kasane.

Depart at 15:00/03:00 p.m. on a 03-hour afternoon boat trip on the Chobe River. Good wildlife sightings are common on the boat trips. Pick-up clients after the boat trip at 06:00 p.m. Transfer to Senyati.

Relax at Senyati, overlooking the flood-lit waterhole.
Overnight: Camping at Senyati Safari Camp
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 14 Senyati Safari Camp / Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)
Depart early morning on a day-tour to Vic Falls in Zimbabwe, with a Botswana Tour Operator. Kalahari Tours and Travel guide stays in Botswana.

Visas if, applicable, to be obtained in country of residence or at border post at own cost. Google Zimbabwe Visa Requirements.

The tour goes through the Zambezi National Park to Vic Falls. The Victoria Falls & Zambezi National Parks is a world Heritage Site and the falls is one of the ‘Seven wonders of the world’ and one of the largest and most spectacular water falls on earth. The falls are 1,7 km wide and nearly 550 million litres of water cascade 70 to 108 meters into the chasm below – every minute – during the Zambezi River’s peak flow. Victoria Falls is made of five different “falls”. Four of these are in Zimbabwe: The Devil’s Cataract, Main Falls, Rainbow Falls and Horseshoe Falls – and one, The Eastern Cataract, is in the bordering country of Zambia.

Zambezi National Park together with Victoria Falls National Park covers an area of 56,000 hectares. The northern border of the Park is formed by the great Zambezi River which also forms the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia for much of its length. A wide variety of larger mammals may be found within the Zambezi National Park including The Big Five: elephant, lion, buffalo, leopard and white rhinoceros. In addition, sable antelope, eland, zebra, giraffe, kudu, waterbuck and impala as well as many of the smaller species of game are in the park too.

Visit Vic Falls. Entrance Fees at own cost @ USD30 pp (USD25 pp for SADEC Citizens)

Optional activities at Vic Falls at own cost include bungee jumping and a helicopter flight over the falls. The helicopter flight is highly recommended.

Departure time back to Botswana will depend on the duration of the optional activities. Return to Botswana in the afternoon. Continue to Senyati.

Relax at Senyati, overlooking the flood-lit waterhole.
Overnight: Camping at Senyati Safari Camp
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 15 Kasane – Francistown.
Proceed to Nata via the Kasane -, Kazuma -, and Sibuyu Forest Reserves.

Visit Nata Sanctuary. The Nata Sanctuary at Sowa Pan, which is part of the Makgadikgadi Pans, is a community project and one of Botswana’s premier birding destinations. Nata Sanctuary is home to 165 bird species including flamingos and pelicans. After good rains, hundreds of thousands of globally threatened Lesser Flamingos, along with Greater Flamingos, Chestnut-banded Plovers, Great White and Pink-backed Pelicans, and a host of other waterbirds converge on the nutrient-rich waters of the pans. After good summer rains with the right level of water on the pan, the Sanctuary hosts the largest congregation of Lesser Flamingos in Southern Africa.

Continue to Francistown. Afternoon at leisure.
Overnight: Camping at Woodlands Stopover or Dumela Camp (Chalet available at additional cost)
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 16 Francistown – Marekele National Park
Early departure to the South African border post at Grobler’s Bridge. Enter South Africa. Proceed to Lephalale. Replenish supplies for catering at Marekele.

Continue to Marekele National Park. The Marakele National Park in the heart of the Waterberg Mountains, the transitional zone between the dry western and moister eastern regions of South Africa. Contrasting majestic mountain landscapes, grass-clad hills and deep valleys characterize the park. Rare finds of yellowwood and cedar trees, five meter high cycads and tree ferns, are some of the plant species found here.

All the large game species from elephant and rhino to lion, leopard, cheetah, brown and spotted hyena, antelope species such as reedbuck, mountain reedbuck, eland and tsessebe as well as an amazing variety of birds including what’s probably the largest colony of endangered Cape vultures (more than 800 breeding pairs) in the world, have settled here. The western section of the park is one of the best places in South Africa to see white rhino.

Enter the park and continue to Camp Ground in the Western Section.

Do an afternoon game drive through the Western Section. The Camping area is frequently visited by rhinos at night
Overnight: Camping at Leokwe Camp Ground (Safari Tent available at additional cost)
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 17 Marekele – Johannesburg
Depart on a morning scenic game drive up the Waterberg Mountain. If the wind direction is favorable, one gets excellent photo opportunities from the view point at the top of the mountain of Cape vultures gliding low overhead. Game drive to the gate.

Continue on a game drive to the exit gate. Depart to Johannesburg. Drop off at OR Tambo International Airport or at accommodation. (Accommodation not included)

Flight schedule to be finalised. (Flight not included)
Meals: B

It is expected from clients on camping tours to assist with pitching and packing up camp and with general camping duties on request

Accommodation can vary from the itinerary depending on availability.

Accommodation can vary from the itinerary depending on availability.

Rates on request:
E-mail: dantes@kalahari-tours.co.za or click on CONTACT US.