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Days 1 to 4 : Central
Kalahari Game Reserve - Deception Valley
Guests should arrive in Maun in the morning
off the scheduled flight from Johannesburg. The group will fly at around midday
from Maun to a small airfield close to Deception Valley, an area made famous by
Mark and Delia Owens in their book "The Cry of the Kalahari ".
The pre-erected camp is set under the camelthorns on one of the numerous "tree
islands" in the park. Activities centre on early morning and afternoon game drives
to areas of interest within the Central Kalahari, including the legendary Deception
Pan. After dinner around the campfire, park regulations permitting, we may take
an evening drive to search for the rare and elusive brown Hyena, Kalahari Lion
and the other nocturnal creatures of the Kalahari.
Days 5 and 6 : The Makgadikgadi Pans Game Reserve
Today we drive to the Makgadikgadi Pans.
This area is particularly beautiful after the rains have fallen, and when the
pans fill up with water they often attract waterfowl in vast numbers. Large herds
of Gemsbok and Springbok can occur, and one of Southern Africa's last Zebra and
Wildebeest migrations takes place here when they move into the area to enjoy the
good grazing and ample water.
Days 7 and 8 : Jacana Camp, Okavango - The Water Experience
Today we drive back to Maun and then transfer
by light aircraft into the Okavango Delta to our Jacana Camp. We spend the next
two days exploring the lush Okavango waterways by mokoro, in total contrast to
the Kalahari. The camp is in a secluded reserve. Other activities in the area
include walking on the smaller islands, swimming in the crystal clear waters and
birdwatching. We may be lucky enough to see the elusive Sitatunga antelope or
Pel's Fishing Owl in the region.
Days 9 and 10 : Duba Plains, Okavango - The Land Experience
From our Jacana Camp, we fly to a permanent
game drive activities camp like Duba Plains for the final two days of the safari.
There is a wide variety of game including Buffalo, Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Reedbuck,
Lechwe, Impala, Zebra and Hippo. Wild dogs are also sometimes sighted.
Day 11 : End of Safari
After a final morning excursion, the group
is flown back to Maun to connect with an onward flight.
This safari is named after an animal
found in the central Kalahari, the Suricate (or Meerkat). This
enchanting little member of the social mongoose family inhabits
the driest and most open country of all the mongooses. Although
they dig their own dens, they also often peacefully share dens
with yellow mongooses and ground squirrels. They specialize
in a diet of insects, small birds, snakes and to a lesser extent
small mammals. They obtain water through roots, wild melons
and tubers. Suricates are very gregarious creatures and live
in large colonies. They are diurnal, and leave the den after
sunrise to spend the morning sunbathing, grooming and socialising
before foraging for breakfast. After a midday rest, they normally
hunt again until late afternoon, and end the day by relaxing
and interacting outside the den. They are preyed upon mainly
by hawks and eagles, and rely on an early warning system: a
sentry in characteristic pose standing watch from the closest
vantage point.
Rates and Departure Dates:
| Tour Code |
Dept. Date from Maun |
Dept. Day |
Finish Date in Maun |
Finish Day |
Gross US$ Price |
| SUR1 |
10 March |
Sunday |
20 March |
Wednesday |
US$3460 |
| SUR2 |
24 March |
Sunday |
03 April |
Wednesday |
US$3460 |
| SUR3 |
07 April |
Sunday |
17 April |
Wednesday |
US$3460 |
Notes :
Included are transport from Maun back to
Maun by vehicle and air, accommodation on a sharing basis, all meals, services
of a guide, all activities. Excluded are drinks, visas, travel insurance, international
flights, airport departure taxes, gratuities, items of a personal nature, etc.
Single Supplement - $0 if "willing to share"; US$400 nett if a single tent is
requested (subject to availability).
Guest Comments:
"The combination of guide and hostess
with us throughout the trip has made this a very personal safari experience. In
addition to being excellent in the catering and camp management, Rebecca is also
knowledgeable as a guide. The team of Richard and Rebecca have certainly made
this a holiday we shall remember with much wonderment and affection for the rest
of our lives".
S M and M W
Deception valley has got to be one of
the most beautiful and isolated places on the planet, all green and smelling of
sweet flowers/clover and full of springbok. We had a wonderful 2nd evening when
a female lion pursued by 2 massive male Kalahari brothers came slowly to us from
300 metres away passing less than 10 feet from the vehicles and relaxing in our
presence for well over an hour as we shot roll after roll and eventually just
enjoyed the beautiful colours of sunset in the Kalahari. Our guide Pilot was wonderful
and very good at spotting. The same 2 males were enjoyed the next morning and
later 2 separate cheetah spottings the first 3 males and the second a female with
2 cubs who we watched stalk springbok unsuccessfully.
Birds abounded and we had well over 200
species by the end of the trip even though we were all new to the bird watching
game. Swarms of Quelias were breathtaking all moving in unison. Nights round the
fire were great fun and the cooking and camp facilities unbelievable considering
the isolation.
Our next location after 4 nights at Deception
was the Makagadigadi Game Reserve where we were allowed to do night drives and
had very interesting nocturnal lion experiences tracking a female along the road
all the way back to our camp which was a little exciting. The best was yet to
come as lions roared just metres from the tent all night long!
We met two women at Dumatau who stayed
there and couldn't stop raving about it. We then returned to Maun and carried
on to Jacana camp which was our favourite place on the trip. What a beautiful
little piece of paradise. The guide Dyna there is bushman-like in his ability
to mokoro and spot birds at the same time. He was so kind and considerate and
very into his job. We spotted 2 Pels fishing owls and 3 Sitatungas. We actually
chased a male by mokoro which was very exciting.
The staff were so enthusiastic greeting
us with a welcome song, surprising us in the bush with a Hemingway style brunch
and entertaining us with songs and dances at night. A very intimate spot, very
natural and I would recommend this to anyone for a honeymoon spot.
Sadly we left and proceeded on to Duba
Plains which was also wonderful. We had great lion viewings finding 4 females
with 11 cubs every game drive, super pictures and behaviour. James the head guide
is fantastically funny and a very kind man. Night drives were so productive spotting
Civets, Genets, Serval, and African Wild Cat.
The gazebo is also a great place to hang
out. Kim got a thrill when a large snake crossed her path which we and the guides
believe was a Black Mamba if you can believe it!
On to Dumatau and my wish was fulfilled
with wild dog sighting on the first game drive just before a
beautiful sunset over the Linyanti. The camp managers were wonderful
and I did a game walk with Katherine who is a licensed guide.
Fishing was also fun. Lots of Elephants at both Duba and Dumatau.
We had a wonderful trip with absolutely no problems!
J.C., USA
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