Thunder and Smoke

Victoria Falls, Kasane / Chobe National Park, Savuti, Moremi Khwai, Moremi Xakanaxa, Maun, Okavango Delta & Maun 13 Nights 14 Days Non-Participatory Camping & Lodging Safari  

DAY 1: VICTORIA FALLS

Lodge Accommodation [Breakfast x 1]

Arrive in Victoria Falls airport where Mosu safari tours guides will meet you. Please look out for the board that says, “Mosu safaris Tours” Our guides will be waiting to transfer you to a lodge accommodation in Victoria Falls. You will be staying here for 1 night on bed and breakfast basis. Lunch & dinner at (own expense, Victoria falls is called Mosi-oa- Tunya or the smoke that thunders by locals, when you arrive at the hotel your guides will give you a full safari briefing. Victoria Falls is the largest single curtain of falling water on the planet. More than twice the size of Niagara Falls, this Natural Wonder and World Heritage Site has become one of Southern Africa's top tourist destinations. This spot on the Zambezi River, the natural border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, has been described as one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world.
The National park has rich biodiversity of fauna like elephant, hippos, giraffes, zebra antelopes and a variety of birds like klipspringers, herons, falcon and waterfowls. The stunning beauty of islands in the river upstream draws the tourists through a boat cruise The Devil’s pool, another prominent tourist attraction, is a fresh water pond where swimming is accessed to the tourists

The bridge, which was constructed across the second gorge, gives the splendid view of the falling waters. The two islands of Cataract Island and Livingstone Island divide the massive water into number of smaller streams in the upstream of the river. The Victoria Falls can be reached through Victoria Falls town in Zimbabwe as well as Livingstone town in Zambia. These two towns are well accessible through air and roads

Our adventure begins in Victoria Falls besides the fantastic viewing of the falls, the Victoria Falls Bridge and David Livingstone’s Statue, the destination offers a wide range of activities. All adventure activities at Victoria Falls are at own expense.

DAY 2-3: KASANE / CHOBE NATIONAL PARK

Lodging Accommodation [Breakfast x 2]

Wake up early to take a trip to Kasane where we will be staying in a lodge in Kasane for 2 nights on bed & breakfast basis, lunch and dinner (own expense). The guides will also take you shopping for your safari drinks. The town of Kasane is situated on the banks of the Chobe River in the far north east of Botswana. It is the gateway to the Chobe National Park and also to 3 other countries, being located right at the "Four Corners. We arrive in at the lodge around lunch.

After that siesta you may take a swim or take a rest in your room before we leave for an afternoon game drive along the Chobe River where we will see big herds of buffalos, elephants, pods of hippos, and prides of lions. Chobe is a unique park because; during dry season big herds of animals congregate along the river. You will see elephants swimming from one bank to the other, buffalos crossing to the island, get back from a beautiful game drive freshen up and have dinner- own expense. Time of going to bed is determined by the last guest.

Wake up have quick breakfast before departing for a morning game drive which is longer, you will also have an opportunity to observe the animals close. Chobe also boasts two antelopes rarely encountered elsewhere in Botswana - the puku and the Chobe bushbuck. The puku, with their shaggy orange-brown coats and V-shaped horns, can be spotted grazing the floodplains. Always on the lookout for predators, a repetitive whistle is used to warn fellow herd members. In contrast, the Chobe bushbuck is nocturnal and rarely forms groups of more than one pair. Rarely seen, this shy antelope, with its short, spiral horns relies on a sharp bark as an alarm call when threatened. Both the puku and the bushbuck have a number of predators to contend with, from lion, hyena and leopard, to African wild dog.

 Get back to the lodge after a beautiful drive have brunch after that is siesta time. 15.00pm we depart for a beautiful sunset boat cruise along the Chobe river. You will see a lot of animals you will also come very close to crocodiles and pods of hippos from the boat at times we see lions from the boat you will also see big herds of buffalos. We get back to the lodge after sunset dinner is at 20.00pm at a local restaurant (own expense). Time of going to bed is determined by the last guest.

DAY 4,5,6: SAVUTI

Camping [Lunch x 3, Breakfast x 3, Dinner x 3]

We depart to Savuti which is part of Chobe national park. Savuti region is situated in the southern stretch of Botswana`s Chobe national park. Recognised as a prime game viewing area, the Savuti (also spelt Savute), covers almost 1,930 sq. miles (5,000 square km) in the south west of Chobe National Park.

It is called Savuti because a certain chief named Savute used to live there with his tribe. The famous Savuti channel stretches south from the Chobe River through to the Mababe depression. The concentration of wildlife and birdlife not to mention the open plains surrounded by the dry camel thorn trees on the Savuti marsh are a wildlife photographers dream. Savuti is famous for its big game and particularly its predators. Lion and the Spotted Hyena live in constant battle for survival. Other commonly sighted species are zebra, elephant giraffe, kudu and buffalo

Tawny eagles can be seen soaring in the sky as we go. The drive is a bit longer from Chobe to our excusive campsite in Savuti; however, the drive is much enjoyable as you will see lots of birds and animals on the way. The scenery is amazing and very African looking with lots of acacia tortilis (Mosu in Setswana) with giraffe feeding and many more including the most photographed bird lilac breasted roller a national bird of Botswana. You will not resist from taking a picture of it, it’s the most beautiful bird in Africa. We arrive in time for lunch the camp assistants will set up camp while you have lunch. After siesta we depart for an afternoon game drive, it will take us to the beautiful Savuti marsh to see vast herds of zebras and wildebeest and also have an opportunity to see pairs of kori bastards which are the heaviest flying birds. We get back to camp after sunset for a lovely dinner around the camp fire. We camp wild for 3 nights enjoying the activities on a day to day basis.

DAY 7-8: MOREMI KHWAI (North Gate)

Camping [Lunch x 2, Breakfast x 2, Dinner x 2]

Wake up freshen up have breakfast before we depart to Moremi Game Reserve, situated in the eastern part of the Okavango Delta, bordering the Chobe National Park on the south-western part of the Park. The Moremi Game Reserve covers almost one third of the Delta. The Okavango Delta is the largest inland river delta in the world and consists of pans, floodplains, lily covered lagoons, grasslands, forests of acacia trees, savannahs and dense Mopane Woodlands. With such a wide variety of vegetation comes diverse spectrum of wild life. Huge herds of impala and tsessebe are found in the area, while in the dry season large herds of buffalo, wildebeest, elephant and zebra flock into the reserve from the Kalahari in search of food and water. The rare sitatunga and lechwe antelope live in the papyrus banks of the waterways. Lions, cheetahs and packs of wild dogs hunt in the open grassland. The reserve is home to over 400 species of birds, including the African Fish Eagle, the Crested Crane and the Sacred Ibis.

Moremi Game Reserve is a wilderness paradise with great game viewing throughout the year. We will camp wild for 2 nights at an exclusive campsite at Khwai north Moremi Game Reserve, enjoying activities on day to day basis. The magnificent Khwai river is the hub for some of the most outstanding wildlife viewing both on the Moremi and in the Khwai community area.

DAY 9, 10, 11: MOREMI XAKANAXA (Third Bridge)

Camping [Lunch x 3, Breakfast x 3, Dinner x 3]

We wake up to take a trip to Xakanaxa- Moremi game reserve after breakfast. Set-aside in 1963 by the Batawana tribe, the Reserve is rated as Africa's most beautiful game reserve. Moremi game reserve is widely considered as one of the finest wildlife reserve in Africa with a diversity of habitats combining acacia forests. And mophane woodlands with floodplains and lagoons. Here we will be camping at an exclusive campsite. Our drives will take us to the park’s most beautiful areas such as third bridge, bodumatau where dead tree island game is plentiful. Sightings include elephant, buffalo, giraffe, lion, hyena, jackal and many different antelopes including red lechwe and shy sitatunga a web-footed antelope perfectly adapted to life in the swamps. Wild dog, whose numbers are so rapidly dwindling elsewhere, are regularly sighted in the Moremi game reserve. It is the great diversity of plant and animal life that makes Moremi so well known. The reserve contains within its boundaries approximately twenty percent of the Okavango Delta. We will camp wild for 3 nights at an exclusive campsite. Enjoying the activities on a day to day basis.

DAY 12: MAUN

Lodge [Breakfast x1]

Wake up to have breakfast before heading to Maun.  Maun is the gateway to one of the best wildlife experiences you will ever have - a safari in the unforgettable Okavango Delta.

Maun has grown rapidly from its early days as a small, rural frontier good shopping centers town and has now spread along the wide, Thamalakane River. It now boasts hotels and lodges as well as car and 4-wheel drive vehicle hire. However, it retains a rural atmosphere and, as befitting its role as the hub of the Delta's safari industry travelers pass through here on their way to the Okavango Delta. It is the southernmost part of the Delta and boasts a river tributary of the Okavango called the Thamalakane River. It is our home and this frontier “village” certainly puts things into perspective before travelling to the wilderness, we will be staying in a lodge for 1 night on bed & breakfast basis. Lunch & dinner at (own expense), after checking into the lodge that afternoon you may take a scenic flight over the Okavango delta, Enjoy a scenic flight from Maun Airport over the Okavango Delta. (Own expense) Keep a look out for Hippos in the waterways and Elephant and Buffalo in the shade of the trees. Observe how the water channels meander their way through the Delta in ever changing paths as this Dynamic water system evolves. The vastness of this pristine wilderness is breathtaking.

DAY 13: OKAVANGO DELTA

Camping [Lunch x 1, Breakfast x 1, Dinner x 1]

Wake up have your small bag ready packed before heaving breakfast you will only need small amount of luggage for the 1 night that you will be staying in the delta. Your big bag will be left in the storage for safe keeping to be collected when you come back from the delta. We depart to the Okavango delta where you will meet your local mokoro poler who will serve also as your guide. This activity is conducted by local mokoro community guides but our chef comes along. When we arrive the camp assistant will put up camp under a canopy of trees, have brunch after that is time for siesta you can also take a swim in   the delta clear waters tea coffee will be served before you take a walk on the island

Travelling by mokoro is undeniably the best way to experience the Okavango delta you explore the waterways, and take nature walks where you have the opportunity to track game and get a close-up feel of this unique environment. Here bird life is spectacular, on foot you are able to have a much more intense experience of the bush, particularly the flora and fauna that might go unnoticed. Guides are experienced in tracking animals and are able to point out interesting sightings of various types of wildlife we camp wild in a remote campsite for 1 night.

DAY 14: TOUR ENDS

After breakfast we return to mokoro station where we will find our vehicle waiting for us, first we have to make a stop in the office to collect your luggage, which we left when going to the delta. Arriving in Maun we transfer you to Maun airport to catch your international flight to Johannesburg.

Mosu Safari Tours wishes you a memorable safari