Northern Explorer Trip Botswana

You’ll spend several days exploring the Moremi Game Reserve and camping in the Xakanaxa region on the northeastern side of the Moremi Game Reserve. The reserve is considered to have some of the best wildlife viewing areas. You’ll quickly fall under the enchantment of the seasonal flood plains, large lagoons, wooded islands, riverine forests, and, most of all – the wildlife! Keep your camera close at hand as Moremi is Africa’s best game reserve for viewing the endangered African wild dog, not to mention at least four lion prides and multiple herds of elephants. Lechwe antelopes are also commonly found in the area.

You’ll spend today exploring the Moremi Game Reserve and camping in the Xakanaxa area. The game drives will take you to the park’s most beautiful areas such as the Xini Area. There is a good chance of seeing leopards, lions, wild dogs, hyenas, kudus, waterbucks, giraffes, zebras, elephants, buffalos, rhinos, and impalas – to name a few. Birdlife is quite amazing in the area with birds such as secretary bird, hornbill, lapwing, vulture, African jacana, African fish eagle, hamerkop, kori bastard, lilac breasted roller, and crested crane amongst many other species. You’ll return to the camp at sunset and enjoy a refreshing sundowner, followed by a hearty dinner again under the expansive display of the stars.

The fourth day is a day filled with adventure! Following an early morning breakfast, you’ll take a slow drive through Moremi Game Reserve northeast towards the Khwai Community Area, complete with an open-air picnic. The day’s journey follows the Manuchira Channel, which is known as the Khwai River at its easternmost extremity. The path weaves from the riverside and floodplains into the Mopane tree woodlands that make Khwai one of the most scenic areas in the Okavango Delta. Just keep your hand on your camera because, on your way to the Khwai Community Area, you’ll pass the magnificent Dombo Hippo pools in the morning, stopping to enjoy the scenery and the antics of the resident hippo. The eastern Mopane forest is also home to breeding herds of elephants. Bull elephants hang along the riverside most of the year and revel in the cool water of the Khwai. While drinking and bathing, they are far more approachable here than among the breeding herds.

You’ll spend your time between the leadwood and camel thorn woodlands, savannahs, the riverside, and the marshy backwater of the Khwai. Khwai is a predator-rich area known for having a high concentration of all types of wildlife and is one of the best places in the Okavango Delta for elephants. The river also has a high density of hippos, as well as crocodiles, leopards, lions, and cheetahs. Both Xakanaxa and Khwai are included in the home ranges of different packs of wild dogs. You may also notice southern giraffes, Burchell zebras, greater kudu, tsessebe, waterbuck, and sable antelope.

The Khwai is also an ideal location for a mokoro (shallow canoe) safari. On day six only, you’ll have a chance to explore the Okavango and go to places only accessible by mokoro. You’ll be able to photograph aquatic birds, plants, and water lilies at eye level as you’ll be low to the water. During this excursion, you’ll be guided by an expert “poler” (a guide at the rear of the boat that moves it along with a long pole) through the bulrushes (plants) and marshes.

*Note: Mokoro excursions are dependent on the water level in the channel. If the water isn’t high enough, then all our activities will be game drives.

On a moving day like today, you’ll grab everything you want to bring along with you for the whole day out in the bush because, after your early morning breakfast and morning game drive, you’ll travel north to Savuti. The entire drive takes place through game-rich areas and varying landscapes and is therefore an extension of your daily game drives. A picnic lunch will be served en route. Finally, when the sun sets, you’ll arrive at your new camp to find everything already set up and waiting for you to enjoy.

The Savuti region is located within the heart of Chobe National Park, offering a unique mix of marshlands, open savannahs, and more. It’s most well-known for its high concentration of predators, particularly lions, as well as its abundant elephant population. Savuti offers dramatic game viewing and a somewhat eerie atmosphere. It is also well known as one of the best areas for big cat viewing.

You’ll wake up before sunrise for a quick, light breakfast then, head out for your early morning game drive. You’ll explore Savuti’s enchanting landscapes with opportunities to enjoy up-close-and-personal encounters with an exciting mix of elephants, zebras, giraffes, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs, and lions. There’s also an abundance of bird life. The Savuti lion pride has earned a fearsome reputation for hunting elephants, but other predators like leopards, wild dogs, spotted hyenas, and even cheetahs are also abundant in the area. You’ll have the best chance of seeing a hunt during the morning hours when most animals are more active. As the sun rises higher and the day heats up, a picnic lunch will be served at a scenic spot chosen by your guide. You’ll return to camp at sunset to enjoy an evening around the campfire. You’ll share your experiences with fellow safari guests, enjoy a delicious meal, and get a great night’s rest.

Today you’ll wake up before sunrise for a quick, light breakfast then head out for your early morning game drive. You’ll explore Savuti’s enchanting landscapes with opportunities to enjoy up-close-and-personal encounters with an exciting mix of elephants, zebras, giraffes, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs, and lions. There’s also an abundance of bird life. You’ll have the best chance of seeing a hunt during the morning hours when most animals are more active.

As the sun rises higher and the day heats up, a picnic lunch will be served at a scenic spot chosen by your guide. You’ll continue on your game drive. Thereafter, you’ll enjoy a blissful sunset as the animals once again take advantage of the cooler weather to become more active. You’ll return to camp at sunset to enjoy an evening around the campfire. You’ll share your experiences with fellow safari guests, enjoy a delicious meal, and then get a great night’s rest in preparation for the next day.

You’ll wake up early on your final morning for a light breakfast before heading further north—this time to Kasane, a town located in the northeastern corner of Botswana, near the borders with Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Once again this will be in the form of a game drive as you will be driving through the Chobe National Park—believed to be the best “year-round wildlife photography destination in Africa”, until you reach Kasane. Around lunchtime, you’ll stop for a cold meal out in the bush before continuing on your journey.

After a long drive, you’ll arrive at your lodge in Kasane in time for a sunset boat cruise on the mighty Chobe River. A highlight is to see a whole herd of elephants splashing across the river, followed by an entertaining mud bath and dusting rituals. You’ll catch a glimpse of the sunset, then head back to the lodge to enjoy a hot meal overlooking the Chobe River. Retire to your comfortable rooms for a good night’s rest.

On your final day, you will have a light breakfast before the early morning game drive. Early morning game drives are always full of surprises – our knowledgeable guides continually find new and interesting sightings, and help you take your best photographs and experiences. Having spent the morning exploring the surrounding wilderness in search of Botswana’s hidden treasures, you will return to camp for breakfast before your transfer to Kasane International Airport to catch your flight to your next destination.