Essential Botswana: Chobe & the Delta

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Departure Date

December 01, 2024

Overview

Johannesburg, Chobe, Moremi Game Reserve

The beauty of Botswana takes center stage on this expertly curated adventure in the Okavango Delta.

Johannesburg, Kasane, Chobe, Moremi Game Reserve, Maun

  • Journey along the banks of the Chobe River in search of world-class wildlife sightings.
  • Explore the tranquil lagoons of the Okavango Delta on a boat safari.
  • Track African beasts across the open savannahs & lush forests of the Moremi Game Reserve.
  • Feel mesmerized by the astounding diversity of bird species on a birdwatching experience.
  • Stay at a curated selection of top safari camps.

Made to order

  • Choose from a range of places to stay, from impeccable five-star hotels to equally outstanding boutique ones.
  • Tailor your trip to include a wide variety of activities, from the must-see’s to the lesser-known, local experiences, and even the exclusive ones you may not know about.
  • With no fixed dates or set schedules, you can explore on your terms.
  • Whether you’re celebrating one of life’s big moments or looking to fulfill a personal journey, we always work with you to ensure we’re creating a trip-of-a-lifetime.

What’s included

  • A fully customized itinerary based on your interests and schedule
  • 24/7 in-destination support from our local office
  • All accommodation stays, tours and transfers for scheduled activities are covered, unless otherwise listed in the itinerary
  • Local private guides or shared tours that take you through your itinerary highlights and experiences, your final itinerary will confirm the type of tour
  • A greeting at the airport or at your accommodation from one of our representatives – your expert will confirm your meet and greet location with you
  • Breakfast each morning at your hotel, plus any meals indicated in the itinerary
  • One suitcase and one carry-on per person for trip transfers
  • A mix of private and shared tours and transfers with local guides and drivers (in some countries our guides also act as your driver - your expert will discuss with you if applicable)

What’s not included

  • Your international airfare – please do let your expert know if you’d like to receive pricing from our Air Team
  • Travel insurance, which we offer and can be purchased after you’ve booked your tour
  • Visas (unless noted)
  • Tips for services and experiences
  • Lunches, dinners and drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), unless specified in the itinerary
  • Excess baggage charges, and where applicable, baggage not included in your fare
  • Personal charges such as laundry, phone calls, SIM cards or room service
  • Early check-in or late check-out from hotels (unless otherwise specified)
  • Additional sightseeing, activities and experiences outside of your itinerary
  • Optional enhancements like room or flight upgrades, or local camera or video fees
  • Passport fees, immunization costs, and local departure taxes (when applicable)

Protect your travel

We recommend travel protection. Between missed connections, lost or delayed luggage, or medical emergencies, you want some peace of mind that your travel investment is well protected.

No matter who you buy from, please consider purchasing a travel protection plan before you travel.

You’ve Arrived

Upon arrival to Johannesburg, you will be welcomed at the door of your aircraft by a local representative holding a sign with your name on it. Alongside your assistant, you will be directed through immigration, baggage collection and customs.

A private transfer between the airport and your hotel is provided. 

Where you’ll be staying

  • The Peech Hotel
  • Classic Room

The Peech Hotel

The Peech Boutique Hotel in Johannesburg boasts elegantly designed bedrooms and suites located in the main house and garden annexes.  A private residence built in the 1950’s The Peech was conceived, built, and is now ran and owned by James Peech. His attention to detail paired, wealth of experience and team of dedicated staff create a one of a kind stay. The Boutique Bistro overlook's the hotel's pool and landscaped gardens, and features sandstone floors, deep leather couches and a walk-in wine cellar, and most importantly, culinary masterpieces.

Rollin’ on the River

A private transfer between the airport and your hotel is provided. 

Board a flight in Johannesburg with service to Kasane. Approximate flight duration is one hour and 45 minutes. 

Enjoy a shared transfer provided by your lodge from Kasane Airstrip to Chobe. The transfer time will depend on your lodge's location; the travel time may vary between 10 and 45 minutes.

Home to the largest concentration of elephants, the Chobe National Park is one of the world’s leading wildlife destinations. The famous Chobe River, which forms the park’s northern boundary, provides a permanent source of water for the region’s high volume of wildlife, making the river an important focal point for safari enthusiasts. Enjoy the diversity of Chobe National Park’s abundant wildlife on guided 4WD game drives and take in the beauty of the river on boat safaris, while witnessing the herds of game and prolific birdlife along the riverbanks. Elephant line the water’s edge, hippo congregate in lagoons, hundreds of antelope and giraffe make their way to the water, and sightings of predators along the river are common. Chobe Game Lodge is also a fully ecotourism-certified safari property. Guests are invited on an Ecotour to witness firsthand the projects underway during a mid-morning back of house ecotour conducted by Albert Ndereki, one of the company’s longest standing employees and ecotourism manager.

Where you’ll be staying

  • Chobe Game Lodge
  • Standard

Chobe Game Lodge

Situated In the remote and unspoiled northern extremity of Chobe National Park, Chobe Game Lodge is the only lodge within the Park that offers every luxury and comfort needed for your sojourn into the wilds. The Game Lodge is decorated in a dramatic Moorish style along the banks of the Chobe River. Offering a quintessential African flavor, this game lodge overlooks timeless vistas of Africa. Enjoy superb international cuisine served on the terrace as you take in the sound of buffalo and elephant herds on open green plains, hear the cry of the Chobe Eagle, and bask in the glow of golden red sunsets. This is the perfect setting for your exploration of this incredible place where time stands still. Chobe's wildlife roams in profusion and diversity. It is home to the largest concentration of Elephant in Africa. During the dry season the herds assemble on the fertile flood plains of the Chobe River along with large herds of Buffalo. Other major species such as Lion, Wild Dog, Puku, Red Lechwe, Sable and Roan Antelope may be encountered in many areas of the reserve.

Call of the Wild

Owing to the location of Chobe Game Lodge inside the Chobe National Park, early-morning game drives set off as soon as the park opens, giving you the best chance of tracking predators while they are still active. The afternoon drives depart the lodge in the late afternoon, only returning at park closure time after sunset, thus maximizing the time you spend out in the park to enjoy those special sightings. The drives follow the course of the Chobe River as your experienced guide interprets the bush signs and tracks in search of the resident wildlife. Elephant encounters are common and huge herds of buffalo abound. The ever-present impala and the majestic giraffe are both common residents, while sightings of the puku antelope are also on offer. Predators are plentiful in the northern region of the Chobe National Park, and excellent sightings of lion, wild dog and leopard are to be had. The Chobe Game Lodge vehicles are open 4WD game viewers redesigned to make your trip comfortable and your viewing experience astonishing. Included in the fleet are several silent, CO2 emission-free electric vehicles designed to further enhance your Chobe safari.

No Chobe safari is complete without experiencing the beauty of the Chobe River and its incredible wildlife by boat. The ‘skimmer boats’ seat up to 12 guests in comfortable, movable deck chairs on a flat and stable platform. The river boats are specifically designed to ensure each passenger can take in the magnificent Chobe views in complete comfort from anywhere on the vessel. Owing to the flexibility in seating arrangements and the flat deck, the boats are ideal for keen wildlife photographers, with ample space for equipment and the freedom to photograph from any angle. Unlike any other water-based activity in the country, the game viewing while on a river safari in Chobe is unsurpassed anywhere in Botswana. Elephant line the water’s edge, hippo congregate in lagoons, hundreds of antelope and giraffe make their way to the water, and sightings of predators along the riverbanks are common. Chobe Game Lodge has several electric and solar-powered safari boats – a clean and quiet way to enjoy a boat safari and another first for tourism in Africa.

Where you’ll be staying

Elusive Creatures

A shared transfer to the airstrip is provided today by a representative from your lodge. The approximate travel time to the airstrip may vary from 10 to 45 minutes.

Board a flight with service from Kasane to the Moremi Game Reserve. The duration of your journey will depend on the number of stops along the way.

Please note that strict luggage restrictions apply for this flight. Passengers are allowed 20kg (44lb) of luggage, inclusive of carry-on. Luggage dimensions must not exceed: 30cm (11.8 in) wide, 35 cm (13.8 in) high, and 70 cm (27.5 in) long. Soft baggage is recommended.

Guest activities at Camp Moremi include a choice of morning and afternoon game drives throughout the many different ecosystems that the Moremi Game Reserve has to offer, or the possibility to explore the Xakanaxa Lagoon and its surrounding channels by boat. This blend of activities allows for access to incredible landscapes, impressive wildlife as well as the chance to enjoy the picturesque waters of the Okavango Delta. The camp’s team of experienced, professional guides will introduce you to a whole new world of wildlife; watch a leopard stretched out lazily in the branches of a Mopane tree, herds of elephant grazing under a canopy of green, or a pride of lions camouflaged in the long grass. Moremi Game Reserve’s incredible wetlands support a vast number of antelope, including impala, kudu and waterbuck. Birdlife is prolific and the majestic fish eagle and vivid kingfisher are frequently seen.

Where you’ll be staying

Camp Moremi

Situated on the eastern edge of the Okavango Delta on the beautiful Xakanaxa Lagoon that lies within the Moremi Game Reserve, is Camp Moremi. Set amongst a natural riverine forest of huge teak and ebony trees, Camp Moremi has breathtaking panoramas of Xakanaxa Lagoon. Communal guest areas are elevated under thatch and timber with a main lounge, small wildlife reference library, dining area and bar. Facilities at the camp include a secluded swimming pool and sundeck, an elevated viewing platform with scenic views over Xakanaxa Lagoon and a thatched boma where guests can enjoy brunch or afternoon tea.

Sights and Insights

Early this morning, wake to the sound of the bush and enjoy a refreshing cup of java before setting out on a safari drive across the vast open savannahs and lush forests of the Moremi Game Reserve. Jump aboard your safari vehicle and breathe in the fresh air as your guide starts making their way deep into the reserve. Being located right outside of the national park, Moremi provides you with an exciting opportunity to get off the beaten path and traverse this pristine land, uncovering its secrets and allowing you to follow in the footsteps of predator and prey away from the main roadways. Look out for lions, elephant herds, and hippos, and don’t forget to appreciate the beauty of the variety of resident antelope species. Following this morning’s adventures, you will be returned to your camp for a bit of well-deserved relaxation.

This afternoon, after tea you'll join up with others at the lodge for your afternoon game drive. In the Moremi, one can experience excellent savanna game viewing as well as bird-watching on the lagoons. There are also thickly wooded areas, which are home to the shy, and rare, leopard. To the northeast lies the Chobe National Park which borders the Moremi Game Reserve. You'll be out for a few hours and enjoy a traditional sun-downer before heading back to the lodge.

Where you’ll be staying

Rare Sightings

Featuring a permanent network of swamps, rivers and lagoons scattered across a pristine landscape of floodplains, mopane woodlands and acacia forests, Moremi Game Reserve offers year-round opportunities for superb water-based wildlife viewing. Feel like the first explorers who ventured into this untamed corner of Southern Africa as you hop on your safari boat to get closer to the Delta’s wild inhabitants. Meander down the winding channels of the Okavango in pursuit of big and small bush creatures and feel astonished by the dizzying variety of resident bird species. Feel at one with nature and listen to your guide as they share their wealth of knowledge about this great wilderness.

Southern Africa has much to offer for avid birdwatchers, and the areas surrounding the Moremi Game Reserve are among the region’s birding crown jewels. From watering holes to verdant forests, to flood plains and mud pans, Okavango Delta is a paradise for both resident and migratory bird species offering a range of prime habitats. With over 500 species on record and a set of carefully developed protection guidelines and laws, you can expect a superb birdwatching experience.   

Where you’ll be staying

Until Next Time…

Board a flight with service from Moremi Game Reserve to Maun. The duration of your journey will depend on the number of stops along the way.

Please note that strict luggage restrictions apply for this flight. Passengers are allowed 20kg (44lb) of luggage, inclusive of carry-on. Luggage dimensions must not exceed: 30cm (11.8 in) wide, 35 cm (13.8 in) high, and 70 cm (27.5 in) long. Soft baggage is recommended.

Board a flight in Maun with service to Johannesburg. Approximate flight duration is one hour and 35 minutes. 


Summary

A travel experience like no other

This sample itinerary was created by experts and is meant to inspire your next trip. It is ready to be customized to suit your interests, tastes and budget so you can connect with local cultures and experience authentic travel on your own terms and departing whenever you choose.