Luxury
Makgadikgadi Pans & Okavango Delta
7 days · 6 nights. Two camps, more time in each, fully inclusive.
From US$4,030View
Overview
Semi-arid desert to permanent wetland to the Chobe riverfront to the falls, in nine days, mostly by light aircraft.
It opens in the Central Kalahari, on a private conservancy on the western edge of the game reserve. The draw here is not the game so much as the people and the project: a cultural day with the local San, whose knowledge of the area is the real attraction, and the Problem Predator Centre, which cares for wildlife threatened by proximity to farms and villages — possibly including African wild dog. Horse riding is available for novices and experienced riders alike.
From semi-arid desert you fly straight into the wetlands. Oddballs’ Enclave sits on the edge of Chief’s Island, deep in the Delta, and is deliberately old-fashioned: five Meru tents for a maximum of ten guests, rustic en-suite bathrooms shaded by reed shelters, and a maximum of two guests per guide. Activities start by mokoro and continue on foot, and walking is the point — some guests take a packed lunch and stay out all day.
Then north to Chobe, the Land of the Giants, for the elephant herds, and finally a road transfer across the border to Victoria Falls to finish.
At a glance
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Four charter flightsMaun to the Kalahari, on to the Delta, then Chobe.
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Two guests per guideAt Oddballs' Enclave, which is why the walking works.
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Four regions, two countriesKalahari, Okavango, Chobe and Victoria Falls.
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Two nights under canvasMeru tents on wooden platforms at the Delta camp.
Day by day
Days 1 & 2
Central Kalahari
Arrive at Maun Airport and transfer straight onto a charter flight to the Central Kalahari, landing at Grasslands airstrip for a five minute drive to the lodge. Sixteen guests maximum in furnished en-suite chalets with ceiling fans, indoor and outdoor dining, and a large pool.
Two nights of cultural activities with the local San, the Predator Protection Project, day and night game drives, bushwalks and horse riding in the surrounding Kalahari.
Grasslands Bushman Lodge · meals, drinks, activities, park fees and laundry
Days 3 & 4
Okavango Delta — Chief’s Island
After breakfast, back to the airstrip and a flight across the Central Kalahari into the Delta — a complete change of landscape, semi-arid to wetland, in under an hour. A five minute transfer from the airstrip to camp.
Two nights at a small hideaway on the edge of Chief’s Island: five Meru-style tents on wooden platforms, rustic en-suite bathrooms under reed shelters, and a raised deck over the floodplain. Activities are led by your own professional guide, two guests to a guide. You start by mokoro, water level permitting, then walk the larger islands.
Optional visits to the local baYei village — your guide’s home. Sleeping out in the deep bush can be arranged, but must be booked in advance.
Oddballs' Enclave · meals, drinks, activities, park fees and laundry
Days 5 & 6
Chobe National Park
North to Chobe, the Land of the Giants, named for its elephant herds — though the big cats and the hippo are the reason plenty of people come.
Two nights on the riverfront at Kasane, at the northern apex where Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and the Caprivi meet. Your stay includes breakfast plus one game drive and one boat cruise; further activities can be booked at the lodge reception.
Chobe Safari Lodge · breakfast, one game drive and one boat cruise
Days 7 & 8
Victoria Falls
A road transfer of about an hour across the border to Victoria Falls, and a hotel within walking distance of both the falls and the town centre.
Bed and breakfast, with your driver-guide on hand for extras. We would recommend at least the guided tour of the falls, a sunset cruise on the Zambezi, and dinner at The Boma.
Victoria Falls Rainbow Hotel · bed & breakfast
Day 9
Departure
Transfer to Victoria Falls Airport for your onward flight.
Breakfast included
What’s included
The meal basis changes as the trip goes on: fully inclusive in the Kalahari and the Delta, dinner-bed-and-breakfast at Chobe, bed and breakfast at the falls.
Included
- All charter flights and road transfers between stops
- 8 nights’ accommodation as listed
- All meals, drinks and laundry in the Kalahari and the Delta
- All listed activities, including the San cultural day and mokoro excursions
- One game drive and one boat cruise at Chobe
- Park fees at the Kalahari and Delta camps
Not included
- International flights and flights into Maun
- Premium imported wines, champagnes and spirits
- Meals and activities at Chobe and Victoria Falls beyond those listed
- Visas and any visa costs
- Items of a personal nature and gratuities
- Travel and medical insurance
Rates
Per person in US dollars, for the full 8 night package.
| Occupancy | Green · Dec–Mar | Shoulder · Apr–Jun & Nov | High · Jul–Oct |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per person sharing | US$5,400 | US$5,690 | US$6,110 |
| Single | US$6,800 | US$7,230 | US$8,200 |
All rates are subject to availability and may change without notice. Terms and conditions apply.
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Booking terms
Deposit and payment
Once we confirm your dates are available, a non-refundable deposit of 30% of the total tour cost per person confirms the reservation. We hold your dates for seven days to allow the deposit to be made; after that the reservation reverts to unconfirmed status and you may lose your preferred dates.
The balance is due 40 days before departure. Payment is by bank transfer or credit card; credit card payments attract a 2.95% surcharge.
Cancellation
Cancelling a confirmed tour incurs the following charges: 4 to 6 weeks before departure, 40% of the tour cost; 2 to 4 weeks, 60%; under 2 weeks, 100%. No refund is made for any unused portion of the tour where the change is made by you while travelling.
Travel insurance
You are strongly advised to take out travel insurance covering cancellation. Several of the lodges and camps used on this itinerary require guests to hold travel insurance as a condition of stay.
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