Wildlife & Wilderness of Botswana

• 11 nights full-service camping (in two-person tents with camp beds and mattresses provided) and two nights in a hotel, lodge or chalet
• Travel by Toyota Land Cruiser
• Some long and bumpy roads
• Staying in some remote locations

All breakfasts, seven lunches and seven dinners included. Breakfast: Cereals, coffee and toast and the occasional fried breakfast/brunch. Lunch: Cheese, cold meats, salads, bread or rolls. Dinner: Potjies (stew), braais (barbecue), stir-fries, etc. Vegetarians and vegans can be well catered for on this holiday. Please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests so our local team can be well prepared. The trip leaders do all the shopping and meal planning for each group. They will always try to obtain fresh produce wherever possible. Each tour has one cool box for meat and fresh produce only and one cool box for cold drinks. We supply squash, tea or coffee with meals. All other beverages will be at your own expense. On some days where early morning game drives are included, lunch may be substituted for a large brunch on return from the game drive – this is customary. We will always ensure the number of meals detailed in the trip notes are provided. The water provided on this trip is safe, clean drinking water, normally from boreholes. You can buy bottled water if you prefer, but we encourage you to make use of the safe drinking water provided as this helps diminish plastic consumption.

There is no best time to visit the Okavango Delta, as it flows year round. The wettest season is January and February, when travel on dirt roads becomes difficult. March to September, although dry and bright, can be cold at night (in June and July it can be chilly, so bring appropriate gear).

Delta water levels reach their highest in July. From December to June, water levels in the Zambezi are at their highest, and the spray can be seen several miles away as it soars as much as 500ft (150m) in the air. October and November are the hottest months, and midday temperatures can be very uncomfortable. The rains normally start slowly in late November. December can be wet, but it does not rain for long periods and should not put anyone off travelling, as there is always plenty of sunshine.

This trip has been rated Activity Level 2 (Leisurely/Moderate). For more information on gradings, visit the Activity Level Guidelines.

Transport

Expect some long and hot drives as we travel between game parks. On some days, we travel on paved roads, but a lot of distance is covered on dirt and sand roads. Depending on water levels, driving in the delta can also be challenging.

Camping

During the full-service camping safari, we have a separate supply vehicle with a camp crew who set up camp for us. The camp crew will also cook the food, wash the dishes and attend to all camp chores, so you can fully enjoy the wilderness.

We normally use Botswana Tourism (HATAB) sites, which are only available for private groups. There are no facilities, so we use bush toilets and a bush shower. These sites are not fenced and have no running water. We carry a water supply on our vehicles and fill up daily from public sites. There is plenty of water in which you can wash, but we must be sparing. This all adds to the remote wilderness experience. Other nights will be spent in developed campgrounds with facilities usually including toilet blocks, a bar and, sometimes, a swimming pool.

Weather

October and November are the hottest months, but are also good for game viewing. Please see the Weather & Seasonality section of the Trip Notes for more information.

Legal note

All group members joining this tour will be asked to sign an indemnity form at the start of the trip. This indemnity form is a requirement of the South African Tourism Service Association of which our local supplier is a member. As a client of Exodus Travels Ltd, your rights under the Package Travel Regulations (1992) are unaffected, and Exodus remains liable for the actions of our sub-contractors.