Safari Botswana: Safari adventure under the African stars

Day One is dedicated to your arrival and to travel to the first location. After a scenic 45-minute flight from Maun, you'll touch down at Deception Valley Lodge, your home for the next three nights within the Bushway Lodges collection.

The six spacious suites, elevated on wooden platforms, offer a private deck to immerse yourself in nature. Each suite features a bedroom, separate lounge area, en-suite bathroom with a Victorian bath, and an outdoor shower. For an exclusive experience, these stunning suites provide breathtaking views of the Kalahari savanna and thorn bushes. For families, there are also special Family Suites, which offer a shared deck with spectacular Kalahari views.

Perched on the northern border of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, the Hainaveld area boasts unparalleled game viewing, first-class bird watching, and opportunities for cultural tourism. Here you will spend your first three nights.

The next morning you wake up well-rested ready to explore the region; luckily the Deception Valley Lodge is a luxurious haven near the renowned Okavango Delta. The lodge's strategic location allows you to seamlessly combine your exploration of the Kalahari with visits to the Okavango Delta to the north, ensuring your safari becomes an enduring and cherished memory through this high diversity.

Nestled amid the Hainaveld and Ghanzi Farms, which flank the northwestern border of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve in Botswana, this region seamlessly blends cattle farming with exceptional game viewing. The Ghanzi area, renowned as the center of Botswana's cattle farming industry, hosts over 200 cattle farms. There you can also find many different cultural communities like the Bakgalagadi, the Herero, the San, the Batawana, and the Afrikaaners.

What sets Deception Valley Lodge apart is the rare opportunity to engage with and learn from the San people, one of Africa's oldest cultures. Embark on a tour with authentic Bushmen guides, exploring the bush on foot as they share their profound knowledge of hunting and survival skills, along with the rich culture and crafts that have allowed them to thrive in one of the most inhospitable environments on the continent.

At Day 4 you will continue your safari journey and will head to the Moremi Game Reserve. Your group will travel there by air transfer, which should last approximately 1,5 hours. You will land at Khwai Airstrip where you and your group will be welcomed by your Letaka Safari Guide.

The Moremi Game Reserve stands as a jewel in Africa's crown, encompassing over 4871 square kilometers of pristine wilderness. This reserve, renowned for its unparalleled beauty, features a diverse landscape that includes expansive savannahs, winding waterways, and dense forests. Within this rich ecosystem, a remarkable variety of wildlife thrives, from large herds of buffalo, wildebeest, and zebra to the elusive sitatunga and lechwe antelope. Lions, cheetahs, and packs of wild dogs roam the open grasslands, creating a haven for wildlife enthusiasts. Moremi Game Reserve also boasts a prolific birdlife, with over 550 recorded species, making it a birdwatcher's paradise.

You will have the incredible opportunity of sleeping under the African stars and using the benefits of a mobile-tented safari camp. Dive deep into the wilderness while spending time in this exclusive spot.
The mobile tented camp offers a unique and authentic safari experience with 4 x 3m Sahara-style tents. These tents feature a high roof and are complemented by a 2 x 3m en-suite bathroom and a 2 x 3m covered area in front of the tent. Solid base camp beds, complete with mattresses, sheets, duvets, and pillows, ensure a comfortable night's sleep amidst the wilderness.

The en-suite facilities include long-drop toilet facilities and a bucket shower at the rear of the tent. Showers can be ordered as hot, cold, or warm, with water heated in a bucket over the fire. While showers may be taken at any time, water use and showering may be limited based on the availability of water, particularly on Kalahari safaris.

For guest convenience, hand towels and bath towels are provided, but personal items and toiletries are recommended to be brought by guests. Each tent is equipped with an oil/paraffin lamp on the veranda and in the bathroom. Additionally, a LED rechargeable camp light illuminates the tent's interior, complete with a side table in the sleeping area and the bathroom, ensuring a comfortable and well-lit environment during your stay. Here you will spend three nights reconnecting with nature like you never experienced before.

You will then drive to the famous Khwai area, where you will spend the next three days in the mobile camps again. The Khwai Concession is an expansive 1,800 km² sanctuary characterized by mopane forests, grass plains, meandering riverbanks, and flourishing lagoons. Once a hunting ground, this pristine area is now under the stewardship of the Khwai Development Trust, dedicated exclusively to preserving nature and biodiversity.

Flowing through the concession, the Khwai River is the primary life source for the region's diverse wildlife. The African animal kingdom thrives within this captivating landscape, from majestic elephants and regal lions to an array of antelope species. The Khwai River runs through the area and is the largest water source for animals in the region. Elephants, lions, antelopes, and other representatives of the African animal world can be found here many times.

On day 10, you leave the mobile camps behind and travel to your next destination which is the Chobe Elephant Camp with its nearby Chobe River. The river forms the northern boundary of the Chobe National Park, renowned for its diverse and abundant game-viewing opportunities. This section of the park is best known for its dense concentration of wildlife including elephant and hippo populations, but the waters attract all manner of game including large herds of buffalo and the lions that prey on them. A visit to this area offers with some luck close encounters with an array of African wildlife. Visitors can look forward to some exciting activities such as: driving along the game-dotted riverbanks in a 4WD; cruising along the river in a motorboat, spotting rare birdlife and for a unique, luxury safari experience, hire a houseboat.

Located high on the edge of a rocky ridge overlooking the famous Chobe River is the newly developed Chobe Elephant Camp where you will spend your next two nights. This uniquely designed lodge has been built to take advantage of the incredible views overlooking the sweeping floodplains while offering a comfortable refuge from the harsh African conditions. Entirely built out of sandbags from the red Kalahari sands that dominate the northern part of Botswana, this eco-friendly lodge presents an original design reminiscent of traditional African farmsteads and can accommodate up to 24 guests in eleven chalets.

All rooms are en-suite with both indoor and outdoor showers and have private verandas to fully enjoy the views and surroundings. The lodge also boasts a large open-plan main area featuring a cosy arrangement of couches, a bar, a dining area, and a reading corner, along with a swimming pool with a viewing deck onto a private water hole. The chalets you will be staying in offer high comfort with the feel and look of the traditional Farmstead located in the African wilderness. Polished floors exposed wooden beams and weathered furniture capture this rustic charm. All the construction timber and furniture are manufactured from renewable wood sources or reclaimed wood. To heat water, we are using the sun’s energy. Our goal is to keep the carbon footprint as small as possible, while at the same time never compromising guest comfort.

Your final stop will be the Batonka Guest Lodge, close to the popular Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Nestled on the southern banks of the Zambezi River, Batonka Guest Lodge is an ideal base for exploring the wonders of Victoria Falls.

Just 2.2 kilometers from the rainforest entrance and 1km from the town center, this tranquil lodge offers 22 ground-level rooms with en-suite bathrooms, balconies, and various amenities.

You will stay at the "Garden View Room" where you can watch the spectacular birds in the surrounding garden area from your balcony. Enjoy communal facilities like indoor and outdoor dining, a bar, a lounge, and a swimming pool. Batonka ensures comfort with air conditioning, flat screens, mosquito nets, in-room safes, and more. Please note that this location offers Breakfast and bed. Feel free to relish diverse dining experiences, from fresh a la carte options for lunch to a changing dinner menu in the evening. Complimentary Wi-Fi and a town shuttle add convenience to your stay. Activities can be booked through the Lodges activity desk.

As you say “Adieu” to your memorable Safari adventure you check out of the Batonka Guest Lodge. You are leaving with many newfound memories and experiences that will stay with you forever. There will be the opportunity to hop on a shared road transfer to Victoria Falls Airport where you can continue your travels or start your way back home.

Please note, that in terms of planned activities, two events each day are scheduled, adjusting based on travel time and current weather conditions. The specific activities may vary depending on the dates of the trip. Once your travel time is confirmed, we can engage in a detailed consultation to provide insights into the likely activities. The ultimate decision on the specific activity will be made upon your arrival at the camp, factoring in considerations like the schedule and availability.

Our guides are attentive to recognizing and accommodating individual preferences, ensuring a personalized experience tailored to each participant. It's important to note that certain extra or private activities, such as helicopter tours, are not included in the standard program and are contingent upon availability. We eagerly anticipate your immersion in nature and the Botswanan wilderness through a diverse range of activities.