Signature: Botswana's Wildlife & the Okavango Delta
Itinerary
Welcome to Botswana. Your expedition begins as you touch down in Maun, the gateway to one of the world's greatest wildernesses. You will be met upon arrival and transferred to your hotel to unpack and unwind. In the evening, gather with your National Geographic Expedition Leader, National Geographic Expedition Expert, and fellow travellers for an engaging welcome that sets the stage for your upcoming explorations. Afterwards, enjoy a delicious welcome dinner.
- Airport Transfer: You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.
- Meet Your Expedition Leader and Group: Your opportunity to meet your Expedition Leader and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Start the day with a visit to the Nkashi Knowledge Centre. Here, meet an inspiring researcher from the National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project for an illuminating presentation on the origins of the Okavango Delta. Next, transfer to the airport for a scenic flight over changing landscapes to the Makgadikgadi Pans, one of the largest salt flats in the world. The afternoon calls you into the bush for an exhilarating safari drive in the national park. Scan the horizon for zebras and wildebeest and the predators that naturally follow such as: lion, leopard, cheetah, and hyenas. Cap off the day with a traditional boma dinner beneath a brilliant canopy of stars.
- Delta origins briefing: You will meet one of the researchers of the Nkashi Trust team which has implemented the National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project (NGOWP) in a decade-long collaboration with the National Geographic Society. The NGOWP is a transboundary initiative that has spent the past ten years surveying and collecting scientific data on the Okavango river system and working with local communities, NGOs, and the governments of Angola, Namibia, and Botswana to secure permanent, sustainable protection for the greater Okavango Watershed.
- Afternoon Safari Drive: Set out across the shimmering, endless salt crust of the Makgadikgadi Pans as the afternoon light turns to gold. Scan the vast arid expanse for remarkable desert-adapted wildlife, watching curious habituated meerkats pop out from subterranean burrows to forage through the scrub. Keep your eyes peeled for stealthy brown hyenas, sleek cheetahs, resilient gemsbok, and lions roaming across this ancient, otherworldly landscape.
- Plane: Fly to the western bank of the Boteti River, which forms the boundary of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park.
As dawn breaks over the pans, set out on a morning safari drive to spot wildlife at their most active. Later, meet with a leading wildlife biologist for a presentation on the delicate balance of human and wildlife coexistence, followed by a visit to the local research centre. Back at the lodge, keep an eye out for elephants at the hidden water-level hide, offering panoramic views over Makgadikgadi Pan National Park, ideal for viewing wildlife on the river’s edge. Conclude the day with an afternoon safari drive before dinner.
- Wildlife Safari Drive: Set out on another safari drive this afternoon to view the resident wildlife in their daily slowdown. Perhaps you'll see a few of the big cats – cheetahs, leopards and lions – as well as giraffes, antelope and herds of migratory zebra or wildebeest in search of water.
- Living with Elephants: Take a look at how a small team of scientists and community officers are tackling one of Africa's most complex challenges - conservation efforts and the reality of human & wildlife coexistence in remote areas of Botswana. Hear from the managing director and resident wildlife biologist at Elephants for Africa, alongside the organization's community projects' manager to discuss these complex issues. The visit combines a guided camp tour with a structured presentation and open Q&A. Guests hear the issues from both the scientific and the community perspectives, directly from the people who live and work at the intersection of both.
The golden morning light guides you on another safari drive through the rich habitats of Makgadikgadi Pan National Park, keeping an eye out for the resident wildlife in their natural environment. Under the midday sun, stay cool and relax at the lodge, perhaps visit the lodge’s secret hide to spot birds or grazing animals drinking at the edge of the Boteti River. Following another thrilling safari drive, the evening transitions to the warmth of the crackling campfire. Sink into your seat and share stories from the day.
- Wildlife Safari Drive: Set out on another safari drive this afternoon to view the resident wildlife in their daily slowdown. Perhaps you'll see a few of the big cats – cheetahs, leopards and lions – as well as giraffes, antelope and herds of migratory zebra or wildebeest in search of water.
Board a mid morning flight into the lush green heart of the Okavango Delta, watching the arid plains transform into an intricate puzzle of shimmering waterways below. After lunch, attend an insightful afternoon talk regarding the National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project. Learn about the ongoing efforts to secure permanent, sustainable protection for this vital watershed and its rich biodiversity. Afterwards, feel the spray of the water on your face during a boat safari, navigating the channels as the setting sun turns the delta waters into liquid gold.
- Plane: Bid farewell to the Makgadikgadi Pans as you fly to the wildlife-rich Okavango Delta.
- Okavango Delta Excursion: Step into the heart of Botswana’s wilderness on an unforgettable journey into the Okavango Delta. Your adventure begins with a scenic drive in an open 4x4 safari vehicle, travelling deep into the pristine area teeming with wildlife and rich in natural beauty. Explore the Delta the traditional way, gliding quietly through the waterways in a mokoro canoe, steered by skilled local polers who know the channels like the back of their hand. Back on land, a guided walking safari gives you the rare opportunity to connect with the bush on foot. Learn about the plants, animal tracks, and smaller wildlife often missed from a vehicle, while keeping an eye out for the Delta’s bigger residents. This is more than a traditional wildlife safari, it’s an immersion into one of the world’s most remarkable ecosystems, guided by the people who call it home.
Awaken to the symphony of the delta and enjoy a light breakfast before your morning safari. Glide through the glass-like water in a traditional mokoro dugout canoe, listening to the gentle splash of the paddle, then step ashore for a guided nature walk across remote islands to track wildlife on foot. Spend a quiet afternoon at a secluded bird-viewing hide, watching kingfishers and herons fly above the reeds. Following afternoon tea, set out again by boat for another aquatic safari before settling into the lodge for the evening and gathering around the campfire.
- Okavango Excursion: Continue exploring the Delta on a bush walk or by mokoro through the channels, searching for wildlife as you go.
Head out in search of more wildlife with a morning boat safari. Watch for pods of hippos and basking crocodiles as you navigate by mokoro and motorboat, and discover the small wonders of the delta's ecosystems on an island walking excursion. Back at the lodge, spend the midday hours relaxing or gazing out from the bird-viewing area to immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of the local avian life. Following afternoon tea, a final boat ride reveals the delta's timeless beauty at twilight. Toast your unforgettable African expedition during a celebratory farewell dinner with your companions.
- Okavango Excursion: Continue exploring the Delta on a bush walk or by mokoro through the channels, searching for wildlife as you go.
Enjoy a final breakfast at the lodge, listening to the rustle of the palms and the distant calls of the bush one last time. Board a flight back to Maun, enjoying a final bird’s-eye view of the vast, winding delta channels you have explored. Your extraordinary wildlife expedition concludes upon arrival at the Maun airport.
- Plane: Fly out of the Okavango Delta and back to Maun to conclude the adventure.
Trip Inclusions
- Meet a National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project researcher for a talk on this vibrant delta.
- Join a wildlife biologist at a research centre for a private presentation on human-elephant coexistence.
- Witness the abundant wildlife in the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park.
- Spot birds and animals from a traditional mokoro canoe and motorized boat.
- Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your Expedition Leader and Group, Maun
- Signature Moment: Living with Elephants, Makgadikgadi Pans
- Arrival transfer
- Welcome dinner
- Meet with a researcher from the Nkashi Trust team which implements the National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project
- Internal flight from Maun to the Makgadikgadi Pans
- Morning and afternoon wildlife safari drives in Makgadikgadi Pans over multiple days
- Internal flight from the Makgadikgadi Pans to the Okavango Delta
- Morning and afternoon wildlife safaris by motorboat and traditional mokoro in the Okavango Delta over multiple days
- Farewell Dinner
- Departure Transfer
- Engaging Discussions with the National Geographic Expert Throughout
- Porterage at hotels and when getting on and off of vehicles
- Tips are included for all activities, meals and porterage, except for your Expedition Leader
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
- Private vehicle, plane, 4x4 safari vehicle, boat, mokoro, walking
- National Geographic Expedition Leader and National Geographic Expedition Expert throughout
- Hotel (1 Night), Safari Lodges (6 Nights)
- 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners
- Accommodation, itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
- Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included.
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Dates & Pricing
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