Duration: 9 Nights
When: Year Round
Snapshot: This great itinerary covers some of the best wildlife areas with an operator that has been making waves for some years as one of the top photography specialists, talk to us about their workshops that include camera equipment and tuition both on safari and in post production.
Make this your whole itinerary or part of a larger exploration of Botswana
Itinerary
Day 1 – Chobe National Park
On arrival at Kasane airport you will driven from town, into Chobe National Park and then through the park to our tented camp in the western reaches of This fantastic protected area.
This camp comprises 5 large walk in tents each with their own private ensuite toilet and shower facilities. There are real beds with linen, blankets and pillows and plenty of room for luggage and camera gear. In front of the tent is a shaded “stoop” with a wash basin and a couple of chairs. This is not your average camping experience but rather a comfortable rustic tented lodge deep in the African bush.
Day 2 and 3 – Chobe National Park
During the day you will do game drives around the hills and floodplains leading to the river that surround our camp. We have a rule of a maximum of 6 clients per game viewing vehicle (two per row) and each seat is equipped with custom swing arm on which to rest your camera. The area is fantastic for sightings of plains game like zebra and giraffe along with regular sightings of large herds of elephants, buffalo and prides of lions. The area is also excellent for leopard and wild dog.
Day 4 – Chobe RIver Boat
After three nights in the tented camp we will transport you through to the Eastern side of The Chobe where you will be collected by the guides from The Pangolin Voyager, our 5 cabin houseboat, which “voyages” along the magnificent Chobe River.
From the houseboat you will have a very different wildlife experience as you literally look back onto the land you have spent the last 4 days exploring. The game viewing on the houseboat is done on photo boats with custom built photo chairs. The chairs are equipped with camera mounts and are able to rotate 360 degrees.
Day 5 and 6 – Chobe RIver Boat
From the river you can expect to see plenty of elephants coming to drink from the river as well as large populations of hippos, antelope and multiple species of birds including Fish eagles, Jacanas, Pygmy Geese and Kingfishers. Game viewing and photography on the river is spectacular but should you wish you can also try your hand at some Tiger fishing or even go and visit a local village to meet the inhabitants and learn about their way of life. When you are on The Pangolin Voyager the itinerary is yours to design. We also offer walks on a local baobab covered island but you are just as welcome to enjoy the sun deck with a good book.
The Pangolin Voyager changes mooring points every night (when the river conditions allow) as we move along the river so you will always sleep in a different location onboard our “floating lodge”. Our superb chefs will keep you well fed throughout your stay with snacks and meals produced in the galley. There are plenty of drinks onboard and these are included in the package as they are at the tented camp too.
Day 7 – Okavango Delta
Today you will head into the Okavango Delta where you will stay at the Pangolin Khwai Camp. This is located in the Khwai Community Concession, an area to the East of the famous Moremi Game Reserve. The beauty of being on a private concession is the fact that we can spend plenty of time at sightings as well as being able to “off-road” for special subjects like the big cats and wild dogs which are certainly prevalent in the area.
Day 8 and 9 – Okavango Delta
While at the Khwai Camp you will also be able to experience that most quinessential Delta activity which is in a tradional dug out canoe called a Mokoro. Being punted through the water channels by an experience poler in the Delta is a wonderful experiuence and certainly a big tick off the bucket list for most safari enthusiasts. Night drives on the reserve are also another highlight and another way of challenging you photographically. We do not use flash on our night drives but rather adapt our settings on the camera to ustilise light from the vehicles’ headlights or flashlight bounced off the ground or the nearby vegetation.
Day 10
Today it is time to fly to Maun to end your trip and depart Botswana. Alternatively you could extend your trip, see the box below.
Details
3 nights Pangolin Tented Camp (fully inclusive, excluding premium drinks)
3 nights Pangolin Voyager Houseboat (fully inclusive, excluding premium drinks)
3 nights Pangolin Khwai Camp (fully inclusive, excluding premium drinks)
Pricing: £4,625 per person
All pricing is given as a guideline, as all our itineraries are tailor made actual costs will depend on dates, passengers and exchange rates as well as any alterations to the itinerary.
Inclusions: Internal flights and transfers, full board accommodation, house wines, beers and spirits.
Exclusions: International flights
POSSIBLE EXTENSIONS
- Beach extension – Botswana is a landlocked country and therefore there is no simple beach ad-on, however, with two relatively short flights and a one night stop over en-route you can reach the stunning beaches of Mozambique, home to small boutique properties and remote islands.
- More Safari – If you are looking to explore further this itinerary can be extended by visiting the Okavango Delta, Linyanti or you can add on a trip to the Kalahari for something completely different.
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