Lodge/camp based safari of the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Parks in Botswana; an exciting visit of the Victoria Falls area; and lodge/camp safari of the Northern Game Circuit in Tanzania with fascinating cultural encounters

INTRODUCTION

Your  night 21 /  22 day tour starts at Johannesburg, South Africa and ends at Mount Kilimanjaro airport in northern Tanzania. The program is diverse and exciting comprising a lodge/camp based  safari of the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Parks in Botswana;  an exciting visit of the Victoria Falls area; and  a lodge/camp safari of the Northern Game Circuit in Tanzania with fascinating cultural encounters. You are guaranteed to see and experience the best of what Africa offers for the intrepid traveler.

The tour involves 6 inter-continental flights as indicated by the red arrows below.

THE OKAVANGO DELTA AND CHOBE NATIONAL PARK PHASE

 Day 1 :. Arrive into Johannesburg, in the country of South Africa. Overnight at the Southern Sun OR Tambo Airport Hotel. This hotel is adjacent to airport. Client is responsible for own shuttle or taxi if required.

Day 2 : The tour commences with commercial flight from Johannesburg to Maun, in the country of Botswana .  A representative will meet your there with a sign displaying your last name who will direct you to a charter plane to fly you to the Okavango Delta, Botswana’s  garden of Eden. Afternoon will consist of Mokoro excursion and walking safaris. Overnight at the Oddballs Palm Island Lodge .

Day 3 : Mokoro excursions and walking safaris are on the menu today. Overnight again at the Oddballs Palm Island Lodge.

Day 4 : Charter flight to the Kwai private concession where daytime and nighttime driving

safaris in 4WD open sided vehicles are provided. Overnight at the Sango Safari Camp.

Day 5 : Exciting daytime  and nighttime driving safaris are provided. Overnight again at the Sango Safari Camp.

Day 6 : Transfer by 4WD vehicle and safari to the Savuti area of Chobe National Park . Overnight at the Savuti Camp.

Day 7 : Safari drives of the Savuti area. Overnight again at the Savuti Camp.

Day 8: Drive and safari further north to the Chobe riverfront area with an afternoon motorboat cruise included. Overnight at the Chobe Safari Lodge .

Day 9 : Driving safaris along the Chobe riverfront area . Overnight again at the Chobe Safari Lodge.

Day 10 : Ground transfer  to Victoria Falls at the town of Livingstone in the country of Zambia. You will overnight at the Chundukwa Lodge ( Breakfast and Diner included).

THE  VICTORIA FALLS  PHASE

The Chundukwa Lodge is located 25km upstream from the Victoria Falls away from the hustle and bustle.  Although the Chundukwa Lodge is not within a game park, the Zambezi National Park is located just across the river, and lion and hyena calls can often be heard at night. Rich birdlife is found in the area and hippo are regularly sighted (and heard) along the river’s edge. Fishing is good, with tiger fishing featuring prominently in the warmer months. Birding in and around the lodge is superb and provides a photographer’s paradise. A Guided Day trip to the Victoria Falls and a boat ride on the Zambezi are included in the stay. The lodge also offers canoe trips, from 1 hour to an overnight island trip. The neighbouring property offers horse trails for beginners and 1/2 day trips for more experienced riders. A short 2 kms (1 mile) from the lodge lies Mukay village where many of the lodge staff and their children live and are happy to share their customs and way of life with visitors. A bush walk to the village and back to the lodge is a lovely way to spend an afternoon. For night life, the Zambezi Sun Resort Hotel , beside the Falls, has a casino, and several bars and restaurants.

Day 11: A half day White Water Rafting is on the schedule today. Overnight again at the  Chundukwa River Lodge.

In your free time, take in one of the many side tours from the list below.

Victoria Falls Activities and Approximate Price List

Day 12 : This is a free day to explore the Victoria Falls area on you own. Late afternoon, your party is transferred to the Livingstone Hotel for the Steam Train Ride and Dinner. Overnight again at the  Chundukwa River Lodge.

Day 13: Today is a travel day involving a flight from Livingstone to Lusaka, and then Lusaka to  Mount Kilimankaro airport via Nairobi. These flights connections are available only on certain days of the week . At the Mount Kilimanjaro airport, a representative will meet you and transfer you to the Olasiti Lodge (B+B)

NORTHERN GAME CIRCUIT PHASE

Day 14: You will be picked up and transferred to the town of Mto wa Mbu for the Mto wa Mbu Cultural Day . You will overnight at the Kirumurumu Tented Camp .

Day 14: After breakfast you will commence your private game safari of the Northern Game Circuit, the best combination of game parks in the world. Guests are provided a professional English speaking guide driving a specially outfitted 4WD drive vehicle with a pop up roof to allow clients to stand up and view the scenery and wildlife in every direction. Guests will be spoiled by the scenery of tribal villages, the Rift Valley Escarpment, alkaline lakes, extinct and active volcanoes, the endless plains of the Serengeti , kopjes, riverines; and close up encounters with lots and lots of African wildlife . A sighting of the “big five “is almost assured. Prepare to be amazed, and always have your camera ready. At the end of each day, you will be treated to fascinating assortment of camps and lodges providing great meals and hospitality.

The first day of safari is of the Lake Manyara Park .  Lake Manyara is a shallow water freshwater lake and said to be the ‘loveliest lake in Africa’. Overnight again at the Kirumurumu Tented Camp

Following an early dinner you will set out on a night game drive (around 20:00) into the thick ground-water forest of Lake Manyara . The night time safari is a great opportunity to view a whole host of nocturnal animals and insects who are more active at night such as leopards, hippos, porcupines, genets, civets, bush babies, aardvarks, owls, night jars, spiders, scorpions and lots more. For instance, the hippo exits the safety of the water normally grazing for approximately four to five hours each night, covering one or two miles, with extended wanderings of up to five miles. A hippo becomes a serious threat when its path back to the safe confines of the water is perceived to be impeded. The night game drive is also a great experience for listening to the night sounds of the game parks and gazing at the magnificent southern constellation of stars.

The trees, brush and grass are slowly scanned with a bright spot light or powerful flashlight looking for the reflection off the wildlife’s eyes referred to as “eye shine”. Different species have different colored eye shine. For example, antelope have a green blue eye shine while bush baby

has red eye shine. Be careful to not direct the artificial light too long at the wildlife to avoid damaging their eyes and interrupting their routine for an extended time.    

Day 15: Today you drive south off the beaten path to Lake Eyasi in the Yaida Valley, a land of the Hadzabe and Datooga tribesman. After a late lunch you will have a walking and driving safari to visit the Hadzabe people and the Datooga people, two fascinating tribes who have stuck to their primitive lifestyles and beliefs. Overnight at the Kisima Ngenda Tented Camp.

Day 16:  This morning you will spend time with members of the Hadzabe who are bow hunters and gatherers. (Following are URL links to informative websites; Hazda Tribe Photos;  Hunting With The Hazabe;  Primitive Tanzanian Tribes). Afterwards , your party will drive back to the main safari route and overnight at the Ngorongoro Farm House.

Day 17 : Today you drive into the famous Serengeti National Park to experience as it has existed for thousands of years.  En-route via the Oldupai Gorge, you may  visit the Oldepai Information Center where Dr. Leakey discovered hominids millions of years old.  Overnight at the Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp, located in the central Serengeti, home to many territorial predator cats and other animals that do not  participate in the migration event.   

Day 18 :  Early morning start with Hot Air Balloon Ride over the Serengeti.  Follows is  another great day of game viewing in the central and northern Serengeti. The bulk of the migration is typically in the Masaai Mara on the Kenyan side however last season the bulk of the migration stayed in the Serengeti side. Either way, there are still pockets of the migration on the Serengeti side that will be encountered. Overnight at the Exclusive Mobile Camp .

Day 19 :  Today you will safari through the Serengeti back into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. You will overnight at the Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge overlooking the stupendous Ngorongoro Crater.

Day 20 : After breakfast, you will descend  over 600 meters into the Ngorongoro Crater, the eighth wonder of the World. Official website at Ngorongoro Conservation Area .

This is a world heritage site, and is the world’s largest ‘caldera’. Magnificent views and fantastic wildlife viewing is on the menu today. You have a very good chance to spot the remaining black Tanzanian rhino as well as numerous predators and some of the biggest bull elephants in Tanzania. You will begin ascent out of Crater mid- afternoon and briefly visit the Canadian Physicians For Aid and Relief Project at Karatu.  Overnight at the Tloma Lodge.

Day 21: The last day of your African tour consisting of transfer to Mount Kilimanjaro airport for flight home. End of program

Total Cost for Green Tour $ USD (Talk to Rep )   based on double occupancy