Brief Itinerary – Maun to Maun

Day 1: Maun to Moremi Game Reserve

Day 2 – 3: Moremi Game Reserve

Day 4: Moremi Game Reserve to Mababe Private Concession (travel day) 

Day 5 – 6: Mababe Private Concession

Day 7:  Mababe Private Concession to Maun 

Day 1: Maun to Moremi

After your arrival at Maun International Airport you will be met by a Mack Air representative for your charter flight at approximately 14h00 to Xakanaxa Airstrip or Khwai Airstrip (depending on the direction of the safari) where you will met your guide. 

If staying in Maun prior to charter flight departure you will need to a arrange with the hotel / lodge an airport transfer.  We will advise Mack Air of your safari booking and they in turn will liaise with your accommodation the day before departure to confirm flight time. Alternatively, if you are flying in from a safari lodge, you can organise to fly directly to either Xakanaxa Airstrip or Khwai Airstrip with the lodges preferred charter company.  We do request that these flights arrive only after 12h00 so our guide can be there to meet you. 

From the air large breeding herds of elephant can be spotted in the mopane scrub below; don’t be surprise when you see these elephants wandering close to camp, and on the open plains large herds of buffalo and lechwe while pods of hippo wallow in the waterways but once you land this is when you see the smaller animals.

Spending our first three nights camping in the Xakanaxa region of the Moremi Game Reserve gives you a taste of Botswana’s true wilderness.  While your Sahara style tents with high roof and 2 x 3m en-suite bathroom ensures comfort.  The following days will be spent exploring the surrounding regions during morning and afternoon game drives.

The birding throughout this entire travel route is abundant and amazing.  You can expect to see African Hawk-Eagle, Gabar Goshawk, Shikra, Little Sparrowhawk, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Tawny Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle* and Steppe Eagle* and this is just the raptors.  Many other birds are common including most of Botswana’s hornbills including Red-billed, Southern Yellow-billed, African Grey, Bradfield’s and the Southern Ground Hornbills to mention a few. 

Activities: Charter Flight & Afternoon Game Drive 

Day 2 – 3: Moremi

Moremi Game Reserve lies on the eastern fringes of the Okavango Delta. The wide-open floodplains, marshes, lagoons, papyrus fringed channels, vast stands of Miscanthus and Phragmites, woodlands and savanna make up the landscape; offering habitat to a diverse range of wildlife and birds.

Moremi is one of the worlds best game reserves offering some of the most easily accessible and intimate wildlife viewing on the continent. You can expect to see African wild dog along side the resident herd of several hundred buffalo, their range covers the territories of four lion prides which are often seen flanking the herd. Breeding herds of elephants move quietly through the mopane forests to the waterways and red lechwe, giraffe and zebra are frequently see grazing by the Okavango.

The bird life is extraordinary in the Xakanaxa swampy areas, it is home to the African Rail, Coppery-tailed and Black Coucal, Red-chested Flufftail, African Crake and Black Crake, Chirping Cisticola, Luapula Cisticola, Purple Swamphen and Allen’s Gallinule to name a few. Whereas the open waters attract Skimmer, Saddle-billed Stork, Yellow-billed Stork, Intermediate Egret, Goliath Heron, African Fish Eagle as well as the globally threatened Slaty Egret and Wattled Crane.

Activity: Morning & Afternoon Game Drives

Day 4: Moremi to Mababe Travel Day

Following an early morning breakfast, you embark on a slow journey through Moremi north-east towards the Khwai and Mababe concessions. On this day you will do a mokoro excursion in the calm waters of the Khwai and Mbudi channels, a relaxing experience that gives you a hippo view of the beautiful aquatic flora.

The days journey follows the river through the mopane veld and woodlands into the Mababe Private Concession to your exclusive campsite on the Khwai river banks. In the morning we drive past the Dombo Hippo Pools where we stop to take in the spectacular scenery and antics of the resident hippo; and the afternoon journey is an  exhilarating wildlife experience as your game drive takes you through Khwai to Mababe.

This region is home to mostly breeding herds of elephant while the northern section of the concession is home to some very impressive old bulls. These old boys are delightful and far more approachable whilst drinking and bathing than the breeding herds. This section of the river supports many hippo and crocodile year round.  Leopard, cheetah, serval and lion are common predators in the region, whereas African wild dog packs have claimed Xakanaxa and Mababe as their home range. General game in the region includes giraffe, Burchell’s zebra, tsessebe, red lechwe and roan and sable antelope.

Birdlife is abundant in the mopane woodlands including the Hawk-Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Gabar Goshawk, Little Sparrowhawk, African Harrier Hawk and Shikra.  With Red-headed Weaver, Stierling’s Wren-Warbler, Scarlet-chested Sunbird and Diederik Cuckoo being only some birds seen in the woodland canopy whilst the swamp areas are perfect breeding ground for African Crake, Long-legged Bustard and Rosy Longclaw.

Activities: Game Drive, Mokoro Excursion & Night Drive

Day 5- 6: Mababe Concession

The Khwai River meander through the concession year-round giving ample riverside tracks to explore. We spend two days in our exclusive campsite in the 50,000-ha Mababe Concession that has a number restriction of only 20 vehicles for the whole concession at any given time. Out Days are spent exploring the riverbanks and Kalahari shrub to the east and cathedral mopane to the south during the day and night game drives. After dark with spotlights offers the opportunity to see nocturnal animals that are rarely encounter during daylight hours.

For up close and personal encounters of the flora and fauna we explore the surrounding wilderness on foot (please note that this is a seasonal activity and based on the rains and height of the grasses). We spend our time between the dry-land habitats and the leadwood and camelthorn woodlands and savannahs as well as the western section of the concession and the Khwai riverbanks. This diverse landscape in home to both breeding herds and a strong population of bull elephant. Serval, lion, African wild cat and leopard are common predators of the region with the wild dog and cheetah being less common. Buffalo also roam this area in seasonally large herds that move with the summer rains. Other ungulates include tsessebe, blue wildebeest, giraffe, kudu, sable antelope as well as impala, eland and oryx.

Birding is also fantastic in the region with Botswana’s national bird the Kori Bustard common sight in the Mababe Depression. The entire length of the river is hunting domain for the Bat Hawk and other interesting raptors such as the Cuckoo Hawk (rare), Longcrested Eagle, Black Sparrowhawk and Tawny Eagle to name a few; and the waterways host a variety of Crake, Lesser Jacana and Lesser Moorhen.

Activity – Game Drive, Walking Safaris & Night Drives

Day 7: Mababe Concession to Mauin

After breakfast, you go on a game drive to the Khwai Airstrip for a charter flight back to Maun where we will expect to arrive at approximately 12h00 for those guests departing on international flights.  Those wishing to extend their stay in Botswana can flight direct to lodges within the Okavango Delta and surrounds, including Kasane. 

Should you be flying on to a safari lodge, you can fly directly out from Khwai Airstrip to avoid returning to Maun. Please request that the lodge’s preferred air charter company collects you from Khwai Airstrip prior to 12h00. 

This marks the end of your Safari.

The Miracle River itinerary may run Khwai first then Moremi at times for operational ease.  Activities are all exactly the same but do just check routing if connecting with other camps or lodges for flight routes.

 

 

WHAT TO EXPECT: 

Spacious and comfortable 4 x 3m Sahara style tents with high roof with a 2 x 3m en-suite bathroom and a 2 x 3m covered area in front of the tent.  All bedding; including pillows, donnas and linen as well as towels,

Services of a professional guide, safari chef and camp assistants, complete with a supply vehicle whilst on safari.

Two charter flights, morning and afternoon game drives, nights drives, mokoro safari and walking safari (conditions permitting).

Exclusive camping in private campsites within Moremi Game Reserve and Mababe Private Concession.

All entrance and camping fees within the national parks and reserves.

All meals and drinks (filtered water, soft drinks, beer, wine and G&T) for the duration of the safari

 

NOTES:

Although we make every effort to adhere to schedules and itineraries, these are subject to change subject to weather (specifically with flood conditions, the driving times may differ between the areas quite considerably depending upon the time of year), roads, animal movements and availability.  You will be notified of any changes.

*Minimum age on scheduled departures is 12 years old (any age can travel on private departures)

All safaris are guaranteed to run with a minimum of 1 guest and run with a maximum of 7 guests.

*Rates will be subject to surcharges if fuel prices increase and / or park fees increase.

All bookings subject to availability

Prices are subject to change owing to foreign exchange rate fluctuation

See Terms & Conditions

 

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