Selinda Adventure Trail Northern Botswana
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FACT FILE SELINDA ADVENTURE TRAIL NORTHERN BOTSWANA A TRAILS EXPLORATION – 4 NIghTS / 5 dAyS AdVENTURE SAFARI ALONg ThE SELINdA SPILLwAy OFFERINg EIThER A cANOEINg ANd wALkINg AdVENTURE OR PURE-wALkINg safari EXPERIENcE The high waters flowing through northern Botswana in 2009, together with subtle tectonic movements, caused the waters of the Okavango River to flow in a way that it has not done for nearly three decades, pushing east along the previously dry Selinda Spillway to meet the waters of the Linyanti. This enabled adventurers the opportunity to experience a rare first, canoeing along the Selinda Spillway. As the waters of the Selinda Spillway ebb and flow each year, some years with higher flood levels than others, so the name of the Selinda Canoe Trail was changed to reflect a more inclusive guided walking safari and is thus now known as the Selinda Adventure Trail. The trail replicates the safari experiences of old as we chart a course along the Selinda Spillway and into the remote woodlands of the vast 320,000 Selinda Reserve over five days. As we are governed by the availbility of sufficient water in the Selinda Spillway, we offer two distinct adventures here for you to enjoy. depending on water levels at the time of a your arrival, we will offer either a canoeing and walking experience, or a purely guided walking experience. The canoeing experience entails a traditional canoe and walking safari following the course, and exploring side channels, of the Selinda Spillway. The pure-walking experience is an amazing, exclusively guided walking safari along exciting sections of the Spillway and inland portions of the famous Selinda Reserve. All adventure trails start at the Selinda Airstrip where you are met and immediately transferred by helicopter to the remote starting point of the relevant adventure. The distance of the Selinda Adventure Trails differ depending on whether it is a walking or canoeing adventure. Walking distance is just over 20 km altogether and canoeing is approximately 40km. Along either routes we expect to come across many species of wildlife. The Selinda Reserve is well known for some of Botswana’s largest herds of buffalo and elephant, roan antelope and African wild dog. Other possible sightings include cheetah, lion, leopard and variety of other species. It is also a birder’s paradise with over 300 species possibly seen. All four nights are spent in fly camps along the Selinda Spillway at pre-arranged sites. The days are spent paddling or walking along the Spillway and into the woodlands of the reserve, depending on which option is available at that time, with regular stops whenever there is something of interest to be seen along the way. WWW.GREATPLAINSCONSERVATION.COM / [email protected] SELINDA ADVENTURE TRAIL NORTHERN BOTSWANA When canoeing, each canoe has two guests as Walking is an integral component of both canoeing/ well as their bed rolls and soft bags. Participants walking trail and naturally the pure-walking trail paddle their own canoes each day. No previous experience, and it is now more extensive to allow for paddling, canoeing or walking safari experience is access to new islands and lagoons. Even when you needed as tuition and safety briefings are given – but are on a canoe safari, each day can include walking participants must be fit enough to paddle their own experiences of up to four hours to investigate areas canoes and be prepared to walk between camps of regular predator activity or wildlife sightings. In when water levels are not sufficiently high on the addition if there happens to be wildlife activity that Selinda Spillway. warrants investigation whilst canoeing, we stop on the banks and take a short walk into the bush. Guests are not expected to put up their tents or help with the cooking and camp chores as our staff Brunch is taken around mid-morning and light are on hand. Walk-in 3m x 2.4m Flex-Bow tents are snacks are available throughout the day for provided as they are comfortable and large enough sustenance until dinner. At night, the deep silence for two people. Screened, bucket showers with hot is punctuated by nocturnal sounds, from croaking and cold water are also supplied. frogs to roaring lion or the hyeana’s whooping call. The atmosphere is magical and the highlight of any On the pure walking trail each guest will be supplied African safari. with a day backpack which will include water. An armed, qualified walking guide as well as an On the last morning of the Adventure Trail, we finish experieced tracker will be with you at all times at our Selinda Explorers Camp before transferring as you explore the banks of the Spillway water as you back to the Selinda Airstrip for your onward well as slightly more remote areas of the Selinda departure. Ideally you could and should elect to stay Reserve. on for an additional night or two at either Selinda Explorers Camp, Selinda Camp or Zarafa and Dhow The five day / four night Selinda Adventure Trail Suites. offers new and exciting elements either a canoeing adventure or a pure, guided walking safari along The Selinda Adventure Trail’s camps bring you the Selinda Spillway. Each day begins in the early closer to nature. The overnight camp sites create morning after a hearty breakfast and when the that sense of wilderness with a clear emphasis on Spillway is at its most peaceful. essential camp comforts and maximum wilderness experience. WWW.GREATPLAINSCONSERVATION.COM / [email protected] SELINDA ADVENTURE TRAIL NORTHERN BOTSWANA Selinda Explorers Camp NIGHT 4 Canoeing & Walking) NIGHT 2 & 3 (Canoeing) NIGHT 2 & 3 (Walking) SEPARATION POINT (Canoeing & Walking) START & NIGHT 1 (Walking) NIGHT 1 (Canoeing) Rendezvous Point (Canoeing Start Point) WWW.GREATPLAINSCONSERVATION.COM / [email protected] SELINDA ADVENTURE TRAIL NORTHERN BOTSWANA gUIdE Regular stops and lunch is served en route. After The entire trail is guided and hosted by a professional lunch we head “inland” to our second night’s camp and passionate walking or canoeing guide with which will serve as our base for 2 nights. extensive experience in big game areas and excellent interpretive skills to bring the environment alive. He dAy 3: An early breakfast fuels us for a day of carries a rifle for safety while on the water, walking exploration as we head off to areas only possible and in the camp. On the walking safari an additional to explore by foot. Venturing onto the islands and tracker will join the adventure. around lagoons formed by the flood waters each season, expect to see antelope a plenty and large EXcLUSIVE EXPERIENcE herds of elephant and buffalo. A truly humbling The Selinda Spillway is an ideal setting for this experience. The length of day is tailored around canoeing or walking adventure safari. The route the wildlife in the areas, with cold refreshments begins downstream from the Selinda airstrip in and lunch stops. Stories around the camp fire are the north-east of the Okavango Delta and migrates guaranteed to be colourful. eastwards along the Selinda Spillway through the private 320 000-acre Selinda Reserve, ending at dAy 4: Up again for early breakfast before we Selinda Explorers Camp. continue almost due north toward the Spillway once more and for our last night of this trail. PURE-WalkINg ITINERARy dAy 1: The trail begins at Selinda Airstrip in the mid- dAy 5: Last stretch along the waters of the Spillway, afternoon, followed by a thrilling helicopter transfer expecting to arrive at Selinda Explorers Camp from the airstrip to your first night’s camp, which around mid-morning to a celebratory drink. At this serves as the starting point of the actual walking point we are met by the vehicle and transferred by trail. Once your guide has briefed the group, guests road to the Selinda Airstrip, where we bid farewell to will be taken on a short, late-afternoon walking the safari. experience before returning back to the camp. cANOEINg & wALkINg ITINERARy The tented camp will be pre-erected and we enjoy dAy 1: The trail begins at Selinda Airstrip in the a well-deserved sundowner around the campfire mid-afternoon, followed by a exhilirating helicopter before dinner, followed by a good night’s sleep. transfer to a remote point along the Selinda Spillway. Once your guide has given you a safely briefing, the dAy 2: After an early wake-up call, tea or coffee and trail starts with a short, late-afternoon canoe along light breakfast, while the camp is being dismantled, the Spillway before you arrive at the evening’s first we head off on foot along the Selinda Spillway camp. enjoying the natural splendours of the Selinda Reserve as they appear before us. WWW.GREATPLAINSCONSERVATION.COM / [email protected] SELINDA ADVENTURE TRAIL NORTHERN BOTSWANA As there is a minimal distance to be covered on PRE-TOUR INFORMATION & REQUIREMENTS the first day and also due to the fact that all the SELINdA AdVENTURE TRAIL equipment is carried with the group, we paddle until We look forward to hosting you at the Selinda just before sunset at a suitable site on the banks of Adventure Trail in Botswana in the near future. In the Selinda Spillway. order to ensure that you have the best experience possible, we ask that you read the following The tented camp will be pre-erected and we enjoy information carefully. a well-deserved sundowner around the campfire before dinner, followed by a good night’s sleep. gROUP SIZE This safari is guaranteed on a set scheduled dAy 2: After an early wake-up call, tea or coffee and departure basis with a maximum group size of eight light breakfast, while the camp is being dismantled, guests and minimum of two guests.