Botswana Pioneer – 6 Night Mobile Safari

Day 1: Arrival Maun-Charter Flight to Khwai Concession Area

Upon your arrival at Maun Airport with SA Link flight 8200 from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg OR SA Link Flight 8604 if you are coming from Cape Town, staff will help you connect you with the charter company that will fly you to Khwai. Your guide will be waiting to pick you up from the Khwai Airstrip upon your arrival there. You will do a leisurely drive along the Khwai River towards camp arriving late in the afternoon.

After your arrival, and introduced to the crew in Camp, your guide will give a thorough briefing on safety. It is important that you pay attention to all of the safety briefing, and adhere to these safety precautions at all times while you are on safari. Afterwards, you will be showed the workings of your accommodations.

Activities: Game driving into camp.

Accommodations: Khwai Magotho Mobile Camp

Day 2: Khwai Game Reserve

After morning breakfast, you set off for a morning game drive, which takes you along the Khwai River and its floodplains looking for Lion, Leopard and hunting Wild dogs. African rivers have resident species like Hippopotamus, Crocodiles and great birdlife. They are also a draw for thirsty wildlife, which in turn attracts predator life. There is always a Coffee break on a morning game drive, arriving in camp late morning to a hearty brunch, some time to relax in camp, read a book, a little nap or a shower.

After the afternoon tea, you head off for the afternoon game drive, normally in a different direction to the morning activity. This activity can include a short hike/game walk before returning to the vehicle for a sundowner, which is usually by the river while watching wildlife drinking. A night game drive may follow before sleep time. But this is an optional activity for those that are interested.

Activities: Morning Game Drive, Afternoon Game Drive, Night Drive.

Accommodations: Khwai Magotho Mobile Camp

Day 3: Moving Day-Khwai Game Reserve to Savuti

After breakfast, we head out for game viewing along the Khwai River. We later leisurely head to Savuti, with a picnic lunch along the way. The transit to Savuti takes you through the Mababe Depression, once part of a gigantic lake that spread across northern Botswana. The sweet grasses of the depression are much sort after by grazing species like Buffalo, Zebra and Wildebeest. But they are many other types of wildlife encountered daily on this route.

After a picnic lunch, you arrive in the greater Savuti area early afternoon. You may just have enough time to drive past some of Savuti’s waterholes. Many Elephants, Roan Antelope, Zebra, Wildebeest Warthog, Giraffe, Tshessebe, Ostrich, Impala are seen at these waterholes daily. It is not a surprise that Lions, Hyenas and occasionally Leopard are seen here too.

Your will arrive in camp late afternoon. A drink in camp and an early shower is followed by a delicious dinner cooked over open fire. A night cap is a norm by the fire while re-capping the day’s sightings.

Activities: Game Drive out of Khwai. Game Drive into Savuti

Accommodations: Savuti Mobile Camp

Day 4: Savuti, Chobe National Park

After early morning breakfast, you set off into Savuti to catch up with the Savuti predator life. The Savuti Lions have been a subject many documentaries because of their unique skill of hunting Elephants. They are a regular sighting at Savuti waterholes: being Pump Pan, Rhino Vlei, Marabou Pan or Harvey’s Pan. Of late two prides dominate two areas of Savuti. The Northern Pride at Harvey’s Pan and Pump Pan area, and the bigger Marsh Pride at Marabou Pan, Rhino Vlei and Jackal Island. The other predators usually skirt around this two Lion prides, while Hyenas compete directly with them for food.

You return to camp late morning to a hearty brunch, followed by some down time in camp. There is plenty of time to shower, read a book or even catch some nap before the afternoon tea.

Following after the afternoon tea is the afternoon game drive, to follow up on some of the morning sightings. A drive around some of the Savuti’s Kopjes is usually rewarding with Leopard or even the unique Klipspringer. Black Bellied Bustard, Kori Bustard, Denham’s Bustard, Amur Falcon, Rock Kestrels, Black Shouldered Kite are seen in the Savuti March area. A Sundowner at some picturesque area, before you return to camp early evening is in order. Dinner follows after a hot bucket shower. There is always an after dinner drink, Amarula, by the fire before going to bed.

Activities: Morning Game Drive, Afternoon Game Drive.

Accommodations: Savuti Mobile Camp

Day 5: Moving Day- Savuti to Serondela, Chobe River Front area

After morning breakfast you pack the Cruiser and head out for a short game drive in Savuti. A North easterly direction takes you out of Savuti towards Ghoga hills gate, through Teak woodland, the Chobe Enclave area that has small villages of Kachikau, Kavimba and Mabele. Re-entry into the Chobe National Park is at Ngoma Gate.

You will have a picnic lunch often at Kachikau or near, and after, a visit to the Kachikau craft shop where you could get yourself a Botswana Souvenir.

The approach into camp takes you along the Chobe River front, where depending on the time of season, thousands of Zebras, Buffalo and other wildlife is seen grazing along the floodplains. There is good Sable Antelope, Roan Antelope and great birdlife along the river the adjacent Teak woodland. There is a rare antelope here only seen in Chobe called Puku.

You get into camp late afternoon to a chilled drink and a hot bucket shower followed by a delicious three course dinner, and a nightcap by the fire.

Activities: Game Drive out of Savuti. Game Drive into Chobe

Accommodations: Chobe River Front Mobile Camp

Day 6: Serondela, Chobe River Front

After morning breakfast you set off on an early morning drive along the Chobe River in north easterly direction towards Kasane town. Chobe wildlife, including Cape buffalo is drawn to the river in the afternoons, and stay to graze on sweet grasses along the river at night, leaving the floodplains in the morning after sunrise. Chobe Lions are very often seen in tow behind the Buffalo, looking for an opportunity for weakness.

You will have brunch at the Old house in the town of Kasane.  At noon, a short walk to the Jetty to start a three hour Boat cruise on the Chobe River, before returning to camp by road, arriving in Camp at Sunset. A Sundowner is in camp, then a hot bucket of shower before dinner.

Activities: Morning Game Drive. A Three-hour boat Cruise. Afternoon Game Drive

Accommodations: Chobe River Front Mobile Camp

Day 7: Transfer to Kasane Airport/Vic Falls

After morning breakfast you leave camp for the last time, and drive leisurely towards Kasane town. Guests extending to Victoria Falls will be switching transport in town that will be taking them to Victoria Falls. Guests flying from Kasane to Johannesburg, with SA LINK FLIGHT 8307 will have brunch at the Old house before a short transfer to Kasane Airport for onward connections.

Activities: Morning Game drive/Transfer to Kasane Airport/Drop off in Kasane for a link to Vic Falls.