ITINERARY:

Day 1, 2 & 3: CENTRAL KALAHARI GAME RESERVE (Tau  Pan Camp – click here)
Upon arrival at Maun International Airport, you will be met by a representative and transferred to your light aircraft for a scenic flight to the Central Kalahari Game Reserve and Tau Pan Camp.

The Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) is the largest, most remotely situated reserve in Southern Africa, and the second largest wildlife reserve in the world, encompassing 52,800 sq km (20,385 sq mi). CKGR is unique in that it was originally established with the intention of serving as a place of sanctuary for the San, in the heart of Botswana, where they could live their traditional hunter-gatherer way of life. Now it is possible to meet San bushmen in the reserve whilst exploring this vast ecosystem.

The landscape is dominated by silver terminalia sandveld, acacias, and Kalahari appleleaf, interspersed with grasslands and dotted with occasional sand dunes, pans and shallow fossil river valleys. During and shortly after good summer rains, the flat grasslands of the reserve’s northern reaches teem with wildlife, which gather at the best grazing areas. These include large herds of springbok and gemsbok, as well as wildebeest, hartebeest and eland.

At other times of the year, when the animals are more sparsely distributed, the experience of travelling through truly untouched wilderness, of seemingly unending dimensions, is the draw.

Tau Pan is the first semi-permanent camp inside the Central Kalahari Game Reserve and offers truly incredible views from the elevated ridge of an ancient sand dune, an unusual experience in a land as flat as Botswana, and overlooks the famous Tau Pan – recognised for its stark beauty and remoteness. “Tau” means lion in Setswana, and is so named for the pride of iconic black-maned Kalahari lions who frequent the camp (with a particular preference for the family tent!).

9 environmentally adapted en-suite tents are set on raised decks, affording the same spectacular views over the plains. Each has an indoor and outdoor shower, double-basin vanity, open wardrobe, King-sized double bed, living area and writing desk.

In an area as remote and isolated in the Kalahari desert, the light pollution is minimal to none, and consequently the star-gazing is simply magnificent and unrivaled by most other locations on earth. Having an unobstructed view of the night sky to fall asleep under is a truly memorable experience. The elevated sleep-out deck consists of a double bed, and a basin and WC. This experience is available on a ‘first come first serve’ basis upon arrival in camp, however guests staying 3 nights or more in Tau Pan can reserve this before your arrival (subject to availability).

Activities offered at Tau Pan include morning & afternoon game drives, day trips to the well-known Deception Valley, Sunday, Piper and Passarge Pans, star gazing, and nature walks with Bushman trackers. Species that can be found in the Kalahari include oryx, the desert-adapted springbok, jackals, the rare brown hyena, red-crested Korhaan and herds of wildebeest.

Day 4, 5 & 6: OKAVANGO DELTA (Moremi Crossing – click here)
On day 4 you’ll depart from Tau Pan Camp via light aircraft to the world-renowned Okavango Delta. Flying over the delta by light aircraft gives you a unique perspective and it will allow you to see how vast the delta is and how the system of channels, lagoons and islands combine to make this one of the world’s last true wilderness areas.

One of the largest Inland water systems in the world, the Okavango Delta covers an approximate area of 16 000 square km of the Kalahari and rates as one of the most spectacular travel destinations in the world. The Kavango river rises in the Angola’s highlands and flows though Namibia, before flooding onto the soft sands of the Kalahari creating the world’s largest inland delta. The flood waters of Angola take approximately three months to reach the borders of Botswana and may only reach the southern end of the Delta in June. This creates a unique source of water in this region during the dry season – as the surrounding game reserves are drying out, the Okavango’s waters are rising and attracting a huge array of wildlife which remains in the area from May to October.

Time slows down at Moremi Crossing, whilst on foot or silently moving through the Delta’s waterways on mokoro, in search of game. Through the provision of high-quality guiding services and custom-made boats, Moremi Crossing offers a more personalized wildlife experience. Activities on offer are half or full day mokoro trips with game walks on Chief’s Island, bush walks with picnic lunch, wilderness camping, sunset motorboat cruises, and game drives in low-water periods.

For the more adventurous we offer wilderness camping. This involves packing up a mokoro with camping equipment and going with a professional guide out into the Delta for 1 or 2 nights. It is a magical experience and a good way to get close to the birds and animals of the Delta. Please contact us for additional information.

Moremi Crossing combines simplicity with luxury and is a perfect place to unwind and enjoy nature at its best, whether via boat cruises on the Boro River or from the relaxed atmosphere of the camp’s facilities.

Moremi Crossing being a water-based camp allows for the chance to view a wide variety of animal and bird species, best viewed on our walks on Chief’s Island. Lion, leopard, wild dog, elephant, giraffe, zebra, buffalo, red lechwe and more have been spotted on walks. On mokoro you have the opportunity to see water fowl like African Jacana, African Fish Eagle, Malachite Kingfisher, or the rare Pel’s Fishing Owl.

Since this area normally receives floods last it contains some of the closest dry season watering points for the game that spreads out towards Nxai and Makgadikgadi Pans during the rains. Around this, there is a high density of game in the dry season but since quite a lot of the reserve is mopane woodlands (a favourite location for animals during the rains and early dry season) good game viewing is expected all year round.

This river system attracts a wide variety of game. Familiar favourites include: Elephant, Buffalo, Giraffe, kudu, Impala, Tsessebe, Hippo, Crocodile, Genet, Honey Badger and a host of Plains Game. Rare antelope breeds including Roan, Sable & Eland, not normally seen in the Okavango region, occur here. As the Gomoti is the main water source in the area, Lion, Leopard, Cheetah and Wild Dog come down to the riverside to drink and hunt, of course!

Day 7: MAUN – (Safari Ends)
There is time for one last morning activity before or you can enjoy a relaxed morning in camp as you get ready to end your amazing safari to the Central Kalahari and the Okavango Delta – some of Africa’s best wilderness areas.

Leaving Moremi Crossing by light aircraft, you’ll arrive at Maun Airport in time to catch your onward flight.