Day 1

Arrive Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe where you will be met and transferred the short distance to Botswana by road and to the Kasane airport. From Kasane Gavin will fly you by light aircraft to the Xakanaxa area of the Moremi Game Reserve and Xakanaxa Lodge. The central feature at this camp is a large dining room, bar and rest area built high on stilts affording a view over the Xakanaxa lagoon. Here, the permanent waters of the Delta blend into the Kalahari sands creating a beautiful and varied environment that supports a huge diversity of wildlife from crocodile to giraffe. The varied vegetation and habitats also ensure a great variety of birdlife. After lunch we will set off on our first afternoon of wildlife viewing in the area, returning to camp after sunset.

Days 2 and 3

Full days wildlife viewing in this beautiful and varied area where one is assured of finding a great deal to watch, photograph and learn about. Within a short distance we go from grassy flood plains to seasonally filled malapu’s, large lagoons and woodlands. Each habitat supports its own specialised diversity of wildlife. Whether looking into the life cycle of the Termite, the aerobatic mating display of the Lilac-breasted Roller or the interesting feeding habits and social structures of the elephant herds this is one area where your interest can be held at every turn.

Day 4

After a last morning wildlife viewing Gavin will fly you by light aircraft to Okavango Delta Lodge and the heart of the Okavango Delta. Accommodation is in large, luxurious safari tents, individually sited on raised teak platforms with full en-suite facilities and a private deck. The main thatched building houses the bar, lounge and dining room. The lodge has a swimming pool as well as an elevated observation platform that looks out over the lagoon. The Okavango Delta is a unique area that consists of 16,000 square kilometres of channels, lagoons and islands. Activities include wildlife walks and exploring the Okavango in mokoros (traditional dug out canoes) or in motorboats. This area is a haven for some rare species such as the elusive Sitatunga antelope and the Pel's fishing owl.

Day 5

After a last morning wildlife activity Gavin will fly you by light aircraft to the Camp Savuti in the Savuti area of the Chobe National Park. Accommodation is in large luxury en-suite bungalows. Early in the year this area is the focus for Botswana’s zebra migration while later in the year the area becomes home to large numbers of bull elephants. Lion, cheetah, leopard and wild dog occur all year round.

Day 6

Full day wildlife viewing in the Savuti area. Here we make an early start in order to give us the best opportunity to experience the predator activity that has made Savuti famous in numerous National Geographic films. One can spend many hours at the waterholes where the animals concentrate to drink, and you can get close to the bull elephants for that special photograph. The area has many interesting natural history aspects as well as a great variety of animal and bird life to find and learn about. The day will typically end watching the sunset from one of the waterholes that are so vital to the wildlife of this dry area.

Day 7

After a last morning wildlife viewing followed by brunch, Gavin will fly you to the Chobe River area of the Chobe National Park. Chobe Lodge, where we will overnight, is situated on the banks of the Chobe River and has a swimming pool. The air-conditioned rooms and outdoor dining area overlook the Chobe River. Baboons, monkeys and warthogs are frequent visitors by day, and by night larger mammals wander by. In the afternoon we will take a boat out on the Chobe River to photograph hippos, crocodiles, and if luck, find a herd of elephants swimming and playing in the water. Good bird sightings that include the malachite and giant kingfishers as well as the endangered African skimmer are found along the river's edge.

Day 8

A full day wildlife viewing in the Chobe National Park. This area has good wildlife viewing all year round thanks to the permanent water of the Chobe River. The mornings here are best spent in search of lions and buffalo, as well as taking time to appreciate the other animals and birds that one comes across. This permanent river attracts a huge variety of wildlife and is the only place in Southern Africa where the puku can be seen.

Day 9

After breakfast and a last morning wildlife viewing we will leave the National Park and transfer the short distance to Kasane by road, and then cross the border to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. In the afternoon we will take you to the world famous Victoria Falls, locally known as "Mosi-oa-Tunya", the smoke that thunders. In the evening we will take you to dinner at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge where you will also overnight. The Victoria Falls Safari Lodge is a beautiful brick and thatch building that provides the best accommodation in Victoria Falls. The lodge restaurant overlooks a floodlit waterhole from where you can watch the animals coming down to drink. Warthogs, banded mongooses, baboons and monkeys are regular visitors, and elephant and buffalo also frequently roam in and around the grounds. The lodge is situated on the edge of Victoria Falls town and the building looks down the valley to the Victoria Falls National Park, beyond which you can see the Zambezi River. The lodge has a swimming pool. Victoria Falls is also the centre for a number of adventure activities such as the best one-day white-water rafting in the world, horse or elephant back riding, scenic flights over the Falls in either a helicopter, microlight or ultralight, bungee jumping over the Victoria Falls bridge or a sunset cruise on the Zambezi. (For additional activities you will need to spend two nights.)

Day 10

After breakfast there will be a chance to wander around the curio markets of the town and pick up mementoes in the form of stone and woodcarvings (Zimbabweans have the reputation of being Africa’s best carvers). Alternatively you may like to partake in one of the many activities available in the area. We would transfer you to Victoria Falls airport in plenty of time for your onward connections.

The safari will be exclusive to you, your family and any friends you choose to accompany you - we do not mix groups unless specifically requested. Prices are fully inclusive of all accommodation, park fees, air charters, transfers, activities (except additional activities in Victoria Falls), food and drinks (premium brands excluded). International and internal scheduled domestic flights are not included. The vehicle used will be for your exclusive use for the entire safari, and Gavin will be your personal guide and pilot throughout.

For those who would like to extend their safari the itinerary can include a visit to the Kalahari to see the unique wildlife of the area and also to enjoy an authentic Bushman experience. The wildlife of the Kalahari includes species that you will not see in the Northern National Parks and Game Reserves of Botswana, such as eland, gemsbok, springbok, red hartebeest and ground squirrels. There will also be the opportunity for night drives to see some of the nocturnal wildlife of the area, including the ubiquitous spring hare and, if lucky, the brown hyena. Your time in this area will be spent combining wildlife viewing with Bushman activities - these activities will include walks through the bush with the San, widely recognized as having the oldest culture still surviving. During the walks you will be shown how the Bushman dig for edible roots, collect seeds, nuts and berries, and search for the plants they use for medicinal purposes. You will be shown how the Bushman make fire, and have the chance to try out the food collected. Animal tracks and dung will be pointed out to you, and the Bushman will explain to you what they learn from the spoor. You will also be shown the plants the Bushman collect to make ropes, bows and arrows, and they will explain their hunting techniques and demonstrate how they make a trap.

For those with more than a passing interest in the Bushman way of life there will also be the opportunity to visit an authentic Bushman village, where you will be able to interact with the Bushman while they cook, make crafts, play games (with the help of sticks, wild melons, dung and rope) and listen to them telling stories. An evening visit to a Bushman village will give the opportunity to see the San's cultural dances - typically the women will sit around the fire clapping hands and singing, some of them playing traditional musical instruments, while the men dance around them in a circle. The dances all have a theme that is relevant to the life and experiences of the Bushman. All in all this is an experience that we would highly recommend to anyone with an interest in the worlds oldest culture.