Botswana & Zambia Discovery

(Flight time: approx 1 hour 10 min; driving time: approx 4 hours) We depart Livingstone and fly to Lusaka before driving up to Kafue National Park, where we stay in chalets at Kafue Mukambi Safari Lodge for the next three nights. Kafue is the third largest national park in Africa, covering an area equivalent to that of Wales in the United Kingdom! The park was established in 1924 to protect a huge area of wetland and miombo woodland, thereby providing an excellent wilderness sanctuary for a wide range of predators, herds of elephants and over 400 species of birds. Kafue is also one of the best places in Africa to see a large range of antelopes, particularly the elusive and impressive roan and sable antelopes. The more common antelopes can also be seen, especially lechwe, which sometimes number in the thousands. Predators that make their home in Kafue include cheetah, leopard, wild dog, hyena and lion. The lions here have been known to chase lechwes right into the water! The Kafue River is the sustaining force of Kafue National Park. It forms part of the eastern boundary of the reserve and is home to large numbers of hippo and crocodile. Whilst the Kafue National Park is difficult to reach and as such seldom-visited, it does offers untamed stretches of wilderness reminiscent of a primeval Africa. At nights, listen out for the lion's roar!

(Driving time: approx 4 hours; flight time: approx 1 hour 10 min) This morning we drive back to Lusaka, where a short flight takes us to Mfuwe - the gateway to the renowned South Luangwa National Park. We spend our time in the national park enjoying a variety of wildlife safaris including day drives, night drives and walks. Indeed walking safaris were pioneered in this park in 1954 by a gentleman named Norman Carr. Covering an area of 9050 square kilometres this is one of the most impressive wildlife reserves in Africa and certainly the most famous in Zambia. A place for the real adventurer, it is one of the continent's unspoiled places – wild and remote, yet with diverse habitats, an abundance of space and a phenomenal range of common and rare animals including over 400 species of birds. It lies in a valley floor between the twisting Luangwa River and the steep Muchinga Escarpment. We enter the park via the Mfuwe Bridge and immediately we may see a multitude of hippos and crocodiles basking in the sun, either in the river or on the sandy banks. The Luangwa River flows right through the year, but gets very shallow in the dry season (May to October). Our nights are spent in chalets at the Kafunta River Lodge - a great way to stay close to nature.

(Game drives in South Luangwa: approx 4-4½ hours each) We spend two full days discovering the delights of South Luangwa National Park. The park is famous for its large herds of African or Cape buffalo. Amongst the many other species we may see are lion, wild dog, elephant, kudu, bushbuck, waterbuck, impala and puku. There are also a few endemic sub-species including Thornicroft's giraffe and Cookson's wildebeest, which is a very rare light-coloured variation of the blue wildebeest. On night drives we may be fortunate enough to see various nocturnal animals, such as bushbaby and leopard. South Luangwa National Park works very closely with the Wildlife & Environmental Conservation Society of Zambia, which helps to prevent poaching and promote healthy wildlife populations. With 60% of the park's revenue going towards the prevention of poaching the sheer abundance of animals in the park is testament to the general lack of human interference.

(Flight time: approx 2 hours) This morning we depart stunning South Luangwa National Park and fly back to Livingstone. On arrival we enjoy a sunset cruise on the Upper Zambezi River, just up from Victoria Falls. You need to pay US$20 entry fee into the river and this must be paid for in US dollars cash. (These are Zambia Government Regulations. Please try to ensure you have the correct money and that the notes are not issued prior to the year 2000.)Against the background sounds of the tumbling waterfall, we look out for hippos and crocodiles, enjoy a few drinks and are hopefully treated to another wonderful African sunset. We rest for the night in Livingstone before continuing our journey into Botswana.

(Driving time: approx 2 hours not including time at border; excursion times variable) After breakfast we check out of our hotel and are collected by our Botswana operators at 9.30 am and transferred west along the Zambezi Valley road to Kazangula - a travelling time of about 50 minutes on a sealed road. Here we complete border formalities and cross into Botswana, by motorboat of ferry across the river. It is then just a short drive to Chobe Safari Lodge, which is situated on the riverfront a little way out of the park. After settling in and having lunch, there is time to relax until the mid-afternoon when we take a game drive into the park. We will almost certainly see elephants drinking at the water’s edge and the area also often boasts large herds of Cape buffaloes. The sunsets viewed from the river can be breathtakingly spectacular. We return to our lodge soon after dusk for dinner. Chobe Safari Lodge is a delightful place comprising of various styles of accommodation. The lodge is situated on the southern bank of the mighty Chobe River, bordering the national park. It has a bar, which is a great place to enjoy a drink at the end of the day. Dinner is often served outside with a lovely smorgasbord of choices. There is a swimming pool - a great place to relax during the hotter part of the day.

A full day is planned with an early morning game drive followed by a rest during the heat of the day and, later on, a mid-afternoon boat trip out on the river. The bird life on the water is often spectacular and we are sure to be enthralled by sightings of saddle-billed storks, malachite kingfishers, fish eagles, goliath herons and beautiful bee-eaters, to name but a few. There are good numbers of hippopotamuses in the river and, from time to time, you may see a crocodile on the banks - although they are surprisingly shy - or a large monitor lizard seeking to make a meal of crocodile eggs. Please note that a visit to Chobe National Park itself is not a complete wilderness experience, as we are sure to see other people, boats and vehicles when inside the park. However, we are also sure to see wildlife that can be the equal of anything anywhere in Africa.

After breakfast we fly to Moremi Crossing - on landing at the bush airstrip we are met and transferred to our beautiful accommodation set-up which consists of 16 spacious tents with en suite and set on raised decks, each with their own veranda overlooking Chief's Island. The Khwai River extends from the Okavango River to Moremi Game Reserve. Once we’ve settled in our accommodation we head off for an afternoon 'mokoro' (basic, traditional dugout canoes, although you may have a fibre-glass canoe to prevent deforestation in the Delta) trip to explore the wetlands. Normally it’s a case of two passengers and one poler per mokoro, with the passengers sitting down whilst the poler stands at the back and navigates and poles the way through the myriad waterways, passing palm islands and travelling through lagoons sometimes covered in water lilies or boasting wonderful reflections in the more open areas. Travelling in this manner allows us to delve further afield into the delta in a manner that seems entirely appropriate to our surroundings - a fine way to enjoy the tranquil waterways in this unspoiled part of Africa. The silence of the surrounds is often only broken by the quiet 'whoosh' of our canoe moving on the water or the calls of the many species of birds that live in the area.

Today we explore the famous Moremi Game Reserve, known as one of the most beautiful and varied reserves in Africa with an unprecedented concentration of wildlife. A full day is spent absorbing the unspoiled nature of the reserve including its varied ecosystem that includes open plains, riverine and dry woodlands and mopane forests, as well as inland waterways. Moremi Game Reserve lies on the eastern side of the Okavango Delta and comprises almost one third of the delta (4871kms). We undertake a morning game walk and an afternoon boat cruise - these are the cooler times of the day when the animals tend to be the most active. There are no guarantees - you are not visiting a zoo - but there is the definite possibility of coming across giraffe, kudu, impala, baboon, hippo and crocodile in the waterways, tsessebe, warthog, wildebeest, impala, waterbuck, spotted hyena, jackal, zebra and hopefully the big cats, including the elusive cheetah. The bird life in the area is often prolific and the sunsets can be breathtaking. With some luck we may bet to see the 'Big Five' - elephant, rhino, lion, leopard and Cape buffalo.

An early morning flight takes us to Pom Pom Camp, our base to explore the wildlife-filled and life-sustaining waters of the Okavango Delta. During our stay here we enjoy a game drive, a walking safari and a 'mokoro' (traditional dugout canoes) excursion, enabling us to explore the delta in three unique ways. The Okavango Delta, perhaps the greatest inland waterway in the world, is a remarkable contrast to the countryside of the previous few of days. The delta is an amazing combination of shallow water, deeper channels, and myriad islands spread out over hundreds of square kilometres. The area is one of tranquil beauty and there are few people who are not deeply moved by these magnificent surrounds. The boat excursions are ideally suited for gliding over the shallow waters of the delta and through beautiful water-lily fields. We spend our time searching for the elusive sitatunga antelope, relaxing and enjoying this remarkable environment. On occasions we go ashore on larger islands to stretch our legs and explore. There is a fair amount of animal movement through this area and we may have the chance to see elephant, buffalo and even wild dog (Cape hunting dog). Our unique accommodation is located on Pom Pom Island in a private concession area situated in the heart of the Okavango Delta and on the headwaters of the Xudum River system. The area lies on the western boundary of Moremi Game Reserve and a true Okavango wilderness experience.

On our last morning we enjoy a final breakfast together before flying back to Maun Airport, where our adventure comes to an end. Please ensure your onward flight is not booked to depart before 1 pm.