OKAVANGO DELTA TRAVEL INFORMATION Safari Guru Pty Ltd Web: www.safari-guru.com Fishery Point Road Facebook: @SafariSpecialists or Safari-Guru Mirrabooka Instagram: guru_safarispecialists NSW, 2264 LinkedIn: deon-de-villiers-885154 Date: Tuesday, 1 September 2020 Email: [email protected] Property of: Safari Guru Pty Ltd Telephone: (+61) 0427 782 226 CONTENTS OKAVANGO DELTA OVERVIEW......................................................................................................... 3 UNDERSTANDING THE DESTINATION.............................................................................................. 3 • Land / Dry Camps............................................................................................................................. 3 • Water / Wet Camps......................................................................................................................... 3 WHERE TO STAY.................................................................................................................................. 4 1. Sandibe / Chitabe Reserve............................................................................................................. 4 2. Abu Reserve.................................................................................................................................... 4 3. Jao Reserve..................................................................................................................................... 5 4. Duba Reserve.................................................................................................................................. 6 5. Vumbura Reserve........................................................................................................................... 6 6. Chiefs Island.................................................................................................................................... 7 WHAT TO SEE - MAMMALS................................................................................................................ 8 WHAT TO SEE - BIRDS......................................................................................................................... 8 Why engage with Safari Guru Pty Ltd.............................................................................................. 9 OKAVANGO DELTA OVERVIEW Mention the Okavango Delta to any keen safari go-er and watch them go misty-eyed and swoon…this is one of Africa's top wildlife sanctuaries, a truly pristine and pure African wilderness. This watery wonderland offers big game viewing and fantastic birdlife in a myriad of rich and varied picturesque habitats. Perhaps the Okavango may not be what you have in your mind's eye when you think of a safari, but it is home to the big 5, many other predators, plains game and hundreds of species of animals and birds and offers the chance to spot creatures seldom seen elsewhere, such as sitatunga, Pels fishing owl, wild dog and the ever so majestic wattled cranes. In our opinion, the Okavango Delta is the bucket list of bucket-list destinations. Ask many safari guides and specialists if we could only go to just one more destination – chances are - this would be it. The Okavango – the world's largest inland delta and a World Heritage Site – is simply an incredible wild sanctuary of lush water channels, shallow reed beds and deep lagoons, flood plains and higher dry 'islands' each created as the floodwaters flow their way, annually, from the source in Angola creating this unique wetland habitat. It can take six months or so for the water to flow down from Angola, meaning that unusually the Delta receives its water in the dry season. UNDERSTANDING THE DESTINATION The Moremi Wildlife Reserve is a national park protecting the Okavango Delta's incredible delta environment. Around it, a network of excellent public and private safari reserves and concessions, most of which contain just a couple of small, private safari camps where guests arrive by light aircraft and offer various safari activities. Typically, in the private concessions, the guides are allowed to drive off-road, conduct night-drives enabling you to see the nocturnal animals and offer walking safaris; but most valuable of all for this destination is the privacy - you'll see few other people on safari here; real luxury in such a pristine area! The flood in the Okavango Delta varies from year to year – but follows a broad(ish) pattern. The variances of annual and ad-hoc geographical circumstances can have a significant impact on wildlife viewing! Depicted in this short documentary, The Buffalo Hunters; wet years versus dry years will impact local game movements and the ultimate success of a variety of species, therefore the outcome of every safari per region. A great itinerary may mix contrasting areas to ensure travellers experience the Delta's vastness in wildlife, experiences and scenery, taking into account any particular interests a visitor might have – which is where we come. Not only does Safari Guru maintain a presence on the ground in Botswana to keep up to date with natural events and happenings, but through our close network of Botswana based safari operators, wildlife research teams and local bush-based film crews, we offer up to date knowledge and recommendations based upon real-time data. We know and understand the Delta better than most! • Land / Dry Camps Land camps, sometimes referred to as dry camps, allow for simply remarkable and world-famous game viewing by open 4x4 safari vehicles and by foot on walking safari with a professional guide. The vast tracts of dry areas are made up of varied woodlands, grasslands, and seasonal floodplains, attracting much plains game and predators such as lion, leopard, wild dog and cheetah. The Delta's premier land-based camps are generally unfenced and focus on early morning, late afternoon and night game drives in wildlife-rich regions known for consistently good predator sightings. • Water / Wet Camps Water camps or wet camps really allow you to be fully immersed in the Delta's waterways. Set on the edge of permanent lagoons and rivers; these camps and lodges offer water activities, such as motorboat trips and mokoro (a traditional dugout canoe) experiences where you'll watch wildlife at eye level and explore the ever-changing network of channels; carved by Africa's mega-herbivores, elephants and hippos. These camps allow guests to explore the Delta ecosystem and offer unique views of the abundant aquatic life and spectacular birdlife. WHERE TO STAY The famous Delta has beautifully adorned authentic safari camps, offering luxury and magnificent views of this animal-studded landscape. Here are a few of our favourite Delta regions each offering a selection of camps or lodges. While we share a few areas of the Okavango Delta, this is by no means all of what is to offer… (Contact Safari Guru for further options.) 1. Sandibe / Chitabe Reserve On the southern side of the Okavango Delta, this concession is split into two halves. This is a spectacular place for game viewing; with a mix of wooded, wetland and grassland habitats, the area, one of our very favourites, is known for its incredible numbers and diversity of wildlife, in particular predators. One half has the Sandibe Reserve concession with just one lodge. The Sandibe Safari lodge which is a visually stunning and luxurious camp, which, when built, caused quite a stir architecturally. The camp's main area is designed to resemble a pangolin or scaly anteater, and the individual 'tents' are large, comfortable and stylish. This camp offers a mix of dry game viewing and deep-water activities. To the south, the adjacent Chitabe Reserve has two excellent dry-land safaris 'sister' camps Chitabe Camp and Chitabe Lediba Camp; both highly recommended by Safari Guru not only for their authentic comfort and luxury but for action-packed predator viewing; including African wild dogs and big cats. The impressive Qorokwe Camp. borders this concession, sharing some common traversing areas along the Gomoti Channel. Qorokwe Camp is one of the Delta's newest, stylish and most prized safari camps. The Gomoti Channel, favoured for full day or extended safaris is a wildlife haven at the right time of year, offering fabulous photographic opportunities in the hands of the right safari guide. You can expect to find large pods of hippo, elephant, general game, good predators and buffalo when the conditions are right. This area can also produce great rhino sightings, with off-road access to ensure the best views while not interfering with the rhino's wellbeing! 2. Abu Reserve Home to the famous and ultra-luxurious Abu Camp; where an up-close and personal elephant experience with Abu's own herd of wild elephants can be had. The essence of the Abu Camp (named after a famous bull elephant, Abu) is to experience the natural habitat of the elephant while 'being part of an elephant herd'. The reserve also has Safari Guru's family favourite, the ever so family-friendly Seba Camp, which is also fabulous for small groups travelling together, and a truly unique mobile safari outfit for private groups of up to ten wishing to get back to the basics and focus on walking safaris, and wildlife tracking by foot. While other mobile safari options are available in Botswana, the ABU Concession mobile safari is unique in being private, i.e. single group and family bookings only, with only helicopter access to the island where the main camp is located. The Abu Concession was once only famous for luxury,