15 day Elephant Scheduled Camping Safari – BWE 2017

This adventure safari forms a circular route around the , starting in Kasane and ending in Livingstone, Zambia. The Elephant Safari offers a great value camping adventure through three countries - , Namibia and Zambia.

Highlights: Sunset boat cruise on the Chobe River; North Eastern Namibian National Parks - Caprivi area; Tsodilo Hills – World Heritage Site; Central Okavango Delta & mokoro excursions; Motorboat in the Delta; Moremi Game Reserve; Chobe National Park; Optional visit to the , Livingstone, Zambia; Livingstone, Zambia

Day 1 Chobe Area – 1night camping The safari officially begins in Kasane, Botswana, at 13h00. We are happy to assist with pre-tour arrangements such as accommodation and transfers from Livingstone, Zambia or Kasane, Botswana, if required. On arrival in Kasane your guide will give you a full safari briefing and take you shopping for your safari drinks. The first highlight of your safari will be a sunset boat cruise on the Chobe River. Camping will be in Kasane at a campsite with permanent ablutions (LD)

Day 2 Susuwe/West Caprivi National Park – 1night camping Depart Kasane early to cross the Namibian border and drive to Susuwe National Park. After setting up camp you will explore the area on an afternoon game drive. Camping is in a designated campsite with bush ablutions. (BLD) 270km, 3-4hrs Caprivi - Wedged between Angola and Botswana, this strip of land links Namibia with Zambia and Zimbabwe. In this northerly section the country and vegetation differs vastly from much of Namibia. Rivers and , an abundance of game and bird life make it unique and one of the forgotten jewels of Namibia. Katima Mulilo is the Capital of the Caprivi and also provides a border crossing into Zambia. Here, shops, banks, and plenty of accommodation on edge of the River are offered. Boat trips, fishing, sunset cruises, quad biking and some excellent game viewing are all offered. Just a few hours away is Chobe National Park in Botswana and not forgetting Victoria Falls so day trips from here are readily available. The whole region has over 430 species of bird, huge herds of elephant and other water dependent game such as hippo, crocodiles, red lechwe, waterbuck etc - many of these species are not found in Etosha and therefore a visit to the region will give the visitor a chance to see other sights. Sit on the bank of a river listening to the cries of a fish eagle, the honk of a hippo with the river flowing and a stunning sunset and Namibia will certainly appear different from the image of dry desert landscapes. Game reserves include Mudumu, Mahango and Mamili - each small and unique with migrating species of game, huge baobab trees and deciduous woodlands dominated by teaks and seringas. This region is home to the Caprivian people; around 80,000 people live in the East Caprivi and rely on subsistence farming for much of the time

Day 3 Popa Falls – 1night camping Rise with the sun and head west towards the . Camp on the banks of the Okavango River overlooking Popa Falls and have the opportunity to visit these rapids in the afternoon. Camping is in a designated campsite with permanent ablutions. (BLD) 220km, 4hrs

Day 4 Tsodilo Hills – 1night camping After a very early start we visit the jewel that is Mahango National Park before crossing the border to re- enter Botswana. Journey through to the World Heritage Site of Tsodilo Hills and set up camp. This afternoon visits the museum and explore the walking trails around the ancient hills, home to thousands of traditional Bushmen paintings dating back to 800 AD. Camping is in a designated site with permanent ablutions. (BLD) 120km, 4hrs

Days 5&6 Okavango Delta – 2nights camping Rising with the sun, drive to the edge of the Okavango Delta, a special corner of paradise and transfer your equipment to motorboats and cruise along the narrow papyrus-lined channels enjoying the exquisite birdlife of the region as well as the stunning landscape. Deeper in the Delta meet the local polers with their mokoro (a traditional dugout canoe) and enjoy a tranquil transfer to an island. Spend two days exploring this beautiful area on mokoro excursions and taking guided walks on the islands and floodplains of the Okavango. Camp wild with bush ablutions. (BLD) 120km, 2hrs NOTE: the vehicle and main trailer are parked in a private area on the shore of the Delta from day 5 (13h00) until day 7 (09h00). You will leave your main luggage in the trailer and will need to pack in a smaller luggage (like small backpack, hand luggage) what you need for 2 days as transfers from the mainland to the island where you will stay is done on motorboat and traditional dugout canoes (mokoros). Okavango Delta: The Thaoge Channel and Flats in the North West, where we do our Mokoro adventures, and Moremi Game Reserve where we explore the eastern Islands of the Okavango Delta by Safari Vehicle searching the plains and riverine forests for the multitude of wild animals that occur in this natural paradise. The Thaoge Channel and Flats are the Okavango Delta as we imagine it, endless lagoons covered in water lilies and bordered by lush little palm islands. Here we search for an island where we set up camp to explore the surrounding area on foot, watch the sunset on a lagoon from our Mokoros, listen to our Bayei Mokoro polers singing in the African night. The Okavango Delta must truly be one of Africa's most enchanted places. A swirl of lushness in a desert of Kalahari sand, the Delta is a remarkable phenomenon. It owes its origins to the formation of the rift valley across the course of the Okavango River. The area was formed over the last 5 million years due to atmospheric changes and movement of the Earth's crust. About 5 million years ago, a relatively recent event (geologically speaking) the southern hemisphere's atmosphere became increasingly dry due to the glaciations of Antarctica, which absorbed most of the atmospheric moisture. 3 million years ago, strong easterly winds caused the formation of elongated dunes that run from east to west across the middle Kalahari. When wetter times returned these dunes channeled the flow of the rivers in one direction, into Makgadikgadi. These wetter times also caused the great rivers of the middle Kalahari to flow, namely the Okavango, Chobe, and Zambezi Rivers. They all traveled eastwards with the into the . Then about 2 million years ago, a geological upheaval of the Earth's crust caused the formation of a fault, which changed the flow of these great rivers. This is known as the Kalahari-Zimbabwe axis and runs from Harare, through , and ends in the eastern side of the Kalahari. This caused the rivers to flow into and fill up the large basin that was formed, creating one of the greatest in Africa - Lake Makgadikgadi. Eventually the lake was filled to capacity and the water had to find a way to the ocean. Therefore, about 20 000 years ago the waters of this great lake were forced northwards and then eastwards. This caused the middle and lower Zambezi to connect, which resulted in the formation of Victoria Falls. With the water now able to flow out of the lake, a partial draining of the lake occurred. A drier climatic period followed which caused an increase in evaporation and a decrease in the river flow. By about 10 000 years ago the drying of the Makgadikgadi Lake was in an advanced stage. Windblown sand, as well as the Okavango River depositing increasing amounts of sediment and debris in the lake, were gradually filling the lake. The formation of the Gumare fault caused a reduction in the elevation of the land, thus causing the water of the Okavango River to spread out over a much larger area of land and forming the now characteristic fan-shaped inland delta of the Okavango. Today the only remains of the Ancient Lake Makgadikgadi (apart from the Okavango Delta) are Nxai Pan, , Lake Xau, the Mababe Depression, and the two main pans of Makgadikgadi (Sua and Ntwetwe Pans). A characteristic of the Delta is its annual flood. The Okavango River, which rises in Angola on the Benguela Plateau, flows southeastward across the Caprivi Strip in Namibia, tumbles through the Popa Falls rapids, and enters Botswana at Mohembo. The swollen river breaches its low-water banks and begins the annual inundation of its floodplains. No two floods are ever the same, but one can say that the permanent Delta is some 16 000 square kilometers in extent, whilst a big flood may seasonally cover as much as 18 000 square kilometres. It can take 6 months to work its way from Mohembo, through the labyrinth of channels and lagoons to reach Maun. More than 95% of the Okavango's water evaporates before it reaches the Thamalakane River near Maun. The Thamalakane River drains the area and leads the remainder of the water to the Boteti River, which flows through a break in the fault to Lake Xau and eventually the Makgadikgadi Pans. This outflow of water is one of the reasons why the water in the Delta is fresh, since it carries away the salts. The flooding of the Okavango is not a violent process. The waters spread gently down the channels and across the plains. The total fall in height from one end of the delta to the other is only 62 metres, and that over a distance of some 250 kilometres! The slow movement of water means a low sediment load and hence the incredible clarity and purity of the Okavango's water, for which it is justly renowned. Unique as one of the world's few inland deltas, the Okavango Delta adds enormously to the variety of experiences open to the visitor. An obvious attraction is the spectacular game viewing; among the best in the world and certainly situated in the most unspoilt corner of Africa. Herds of elephants can be seen here, as well as all the main cats, hyenas, wild dogs and many antelope, including the rare and shy sitatunga. Not only the wildlife, but also the vegetation makes for an interesting visit. The only vegetation types that can survive in such a unique system are reeds and papyrus. Reeds (Phragmites australis and P. mauritiarius) grow in the water of medium depth and are rooted. Papyrus (Cyperus papyrus) on the other hand, floats and bends easily with the current. Papyrus is mainly eaten by Sitatunga. Other interesting plants include: - The underwater plants such as Bladderworts (Utricularia spp.) and Water Chestnuts (Trapa natans), as well as; - The floating plants such as Water Lilies (Nymphaea caerulea). A tree species common only to the perennial swamp and not to the seasonal swamp, is the Delta Palm (Phoenix reclinata).

Day 7 Maun – 1night camping Inspired by the beauty of the Okavango travel south to Maun where you have the option of taking a scenic flight over the Delta to Maun (rate TBA). This magical experience provides another perspective of the Okavango Delta’s unique water system and if you choose to take the flight, or enjoy a leisurely afternoon in the Delta campsite writing postcards or reading a book while you wait for your afternoon flight. Your guide will travel to Maun with the vehicle to resupply for the next stage of your adventure. After collecting you at the airport, shop for drinks and then spend the night at a campsite just outside Maun with permanent ablution facilities. (BLD) 320km, 4h

Days 8-10 Moremi Game Reserve – 3nights camping From Maun drive through to Moremi Game Reserve, one of the best wilderness areas of Botswana, which covers swamp and dry areas. The next three days will be spent searching for the wide variety of wildlife and birds that this area is renowned for while absorbing the sounds and beauty of this region. Game drives in the early morning as the sun rises and in the late afternoon as the sun sets will be the norm. After your morning game drive return to camp for lunch and a siesta. Camping will be in private designated campsites with bush ablutions. (BLD/BLD/BLD)150km, 6h (including game drive)

Days 11-13 Chobe National Park – 3nights camping Chobe National Park, with its diverse and striking landscapes, will be your next destination. As you continue your search for wildlife, you will traverse the drier region of Savuti where bull elephants dot the plains. You will then head northwards to the Chobe River where your game drives will meander along the banks of the river, followed by the call of the majestic African Fish Eagle. Camping will be in private designated areas with bush ablutions. (BLD)Day 11: Moremi – Savuti: 120km. 5-6h Day 12: Savuti - Chobe River: 170km, 5h Kasane: Chobe can be entered from the south or the north and one of the main points of entry is close to Kasane. Based on the Chobe River, this small town offers a wide range of accommodation from camping to luxury lodges. There is also a small shopping centre, banks, restaurants etc so for independent travellers a useful place to stop. Nearby is also the border post for Kazungula Ferry for Zambia, road crossing for Zimbabwe and only a few kms away, the border for Namibia Chobe National Park: The Chobe National Park, which is the second largest national park in Botswana and covers 10,566 square kilometres, has one of the greatest concentrations of game found on the African continent. Its uniqueness in the abundance of wildlife and the true African nature of the region, offers a safari experience of a lifetime. The park is divided into four distinctly different eco systems: Serondela with its lush plains and dense forests in the Chobe River area in the extreme north-east; the Savuti Marsh in the west about fifty kilometres north of Mababe gate; the Linyanti Swamps in the north-west and the hot dry hinterland in between The 10,566 sq km Chobe National Park in northwest Botswana and is the country’s third largest, with one of Africa's largest concentrations of game. All major species can be seen in the park - giraffe; elephant; zebra; impala; tsessebe; roan; sable; wildebeest; kudu; buffalo; waterbuck; warthog; eland and predators such as lion, hyena and jackal as well as the less common cheetah and wild dog (not forgetting leopard too.). In particular Chobe National Park as a whole is famed for its abundant but migratory, elephant population thought to number around 120,000. The elephants move as far as 200km from their dry season habitat around the Chobe and Linyanti rivers to the open pans in the southeast of the park, where they disperse after the rains

Day 14 Livingstone – 1night chalet accommodation After a morning game drive cross the Zambezi River by ferry and then drive to Livingstone on the Zambian side of the Victoria Falls, (Visa required), where you will spend the night at a comfortable lodge. In the afternoon there is time to visit the thunderous Victoria Falls and shop for curios. Dinner is at your own expense at the lodge. We are happy to arrange post- tour accommodation, activities and transfers to Livingstone airport or lodges, Victoria Falls airport or lodges or Kasane, Botswana, at an additional cost. Activities in Livingstone include; white water rafting down the Zambezi Gorge, canoeing on the upper Zambezi, elephant rides and helicopter flights over the Victoria Falls, please ask your guide for further details. (Day 14 – BL) Day 14: Chobe River – Livingstone: 100km, 2-3h Victoria Falls: When an awestruck David Livingstone first set eyes on what he later named Victoria Falls (after the Queen of England), he wrote that ‘on sights as beautiful as this, angels in their flight must have gazed’. The falls were (and still are) called mosi-oa-tunya by the Kololo people and shungu na mutitima by the Leyas, both of which have been fairly loosely translated to mean ‘the smoke that thunders’. Victoria Falls are 1.7 km wide (Niagara Falls is 1 km), 108 m high (Niagara is only 58 m) and the volume of water in the wet season is about 10 million litres per second (nearly twice as much as Niagara). Most water falls between April and June but the clearest views (with less spray) are between September and November – but any time is wonderful

Day 15 End of Safari The safari officially ends at 10h00 (B)

2018 Rates (valid until 31 December 2018) Nov – June (Low Season): Per person sharing EUR 2,160 Single supplement EUR 100

July – Oct (High Season): Per person sharing EUR 2,350 Single supplement EUR 100

Min: 1 person Max: 12

2018 Departures 13 January; 3 & 24 February; 17 & 31 March; 14 & 28 April; 12 & 26 May; 16 & 30 June; 14, & 28 July; 11 & 25 August; 8 & 22 September; 6 & 20 October; 10 November’; 01 December

Includes: All accommodation (spacious bow tents with mattresses), rooms at a comfortable lodge in Livingstone, all transfers and activities as per the itinerary, all meals that are indicated (B – breakfast, L – lunch, D – dinner) and tea/coffees, services of a Professional Guide and Camp Assistant, all park fees for activities included on itinerary and transport in specialised safari vehicles. Excludes: Restaurant meals (Livingstone, Zambia), entrance to the Falls, visas, airport transfers, tips, curios, optional excursions (scenic flight over the Delta EUR135pp and activities in Livingstone/ Victoria Falls,), beverages (alcohol, soft drinks and bottled mineral water), Insurance to cover for cancellation and curtailment, medical, baggage, emergency evacuation, sleeping bag (and small pillow) on all camping sectors;

This itinerary is geared for the adventure and budget style traveller, this is not a luxury itinerary and whilst we do everything to ensure the itinerary is run in accordance to what is indicated, weather conditions etc may affect the above. Remember you are travelling in Africa and not all standards are the same as your home country. A flexible approach and sense of humour is vital!

Accommodation is in custom designed dome safari tents and foam mattresses are provided, you bring your own sleeping bag. All other camping equipment is provided.

Safari Equipment- All safaris are equipped with the luxuries required for travel comfort and peaceful relaxation (custom-built safari vehicles, a mobile kitchen serving good wholesome food with an African flavour and ice-cold drinks for that tropical sundowner) while still maintaining the exhilarating adventurous spirit of the pioneer.

Tough reliable Safari Land Rovers. All our customized safari vehicles are extra wide allowing for more seating space and have: folding windscreen, removable canvas roof, Perspex windows for the cold and rain, fridge for cold beverages, folding side door, comfortable coil spring suspension, 120L water tank with tap. Open sides for unobstructed views.

The trailers are also custom built on Land Rover chassis: chair box for easy access, easy modular packing system – saves time, folding side table complete with full kitchen behind. The tents are large and comfortable: camp showers are provided are private and hot: the bush toilets are clean and private. Meals are served in a tranquil setting next to the campfire in the African bush.

Traditional meals are prepared on the open fire by the camp assistant.

Sleeping bags including a small pillow are available for hire at EUR 20 per safari – please advise us at the time of booking.

Kids: minimum age for guests on our scheduled safaris is 12 years old although we do occasionally make exceptions during our low season (Nov-June) or perhaps for older children that have already travelled on an adventure holiday etc.

It is essential you purchase comprehensive personal travel insurance before you embark on your safari. Travel insurance is for your own protection and we consider it to be an essential part of modern international travel

What to bring: one large kit bag.(no hard suitcases and max. weight 12kg);1 item of hand luggage (e.g. a small backpack) Personal Equipment: Passport (must be valid at least another 6 months from date of entry) and valid visas; warm sleeping bag (3-4 for winter months – season 1-2 ok for summer); torch with spare batteries and globes; hat/cap; warm jacket; swimming costume; natural clothing (i.e. No bright colours)t-shirts/short sleeve shirts; light weight long pants; shorts and a lightweight long sleeve shirt (to use against the sun); comfortable walking shoes and strops/sandals; camera equipment, binoculars, and lots of spare film & batteries; water bottle. Toiletries: Personal toiletries in small bag - not a vanity case; suntan lotion and block out for the face; lip salve; malaria prophylaxis: mosquito repellant lotion/spray; basic first aid kit * Note: A complete First Aid Kit is available on all vehicles but personal medicines must be brought for the duration of the tour.

Botswana is regarded as a malarial destination and we recommend that you seek professional medical advice to enable you to make decisions on personal malaria protection. Yellow Fever Certificate is required for Zambia

We recommend bottled water while travelling in Botswana and Zambia

Electrical plugs are 230V AC 50Hz, both square and round pin wall sockets are used. It is a good idea to take both kinds of adaptors along. It is possible to re-charge batteries at some camps but clients must be responsible for security of their possessions and Chameleon cannot be held responsible for clients’ personal possessions.

Pula is the official currency in Botswana (US$ accepted). Kwatcha is the official currency in Zambia

It is customary to tip, usually, around 10% at restaurants. Guides and polers can be tipped at one’s own discretion

Please note that neither the operator nor Chameleon can be held responsible for visas. It is the client’s responsibility to ensure they have the correct visa and passport details prior to entering a country.

This safari is run by a local Botswana tour operator

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us. Tel: ++ 264 61 309387 Fax: ++ 264 61 220885 Email – [email protected] Web - www.chameleonholidays.com Skype- chameleon.holidays Facebook – Chameleon Holidays