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Botswana September/October 2012
“Saddle & Paddle Botswana” – for something wonderfully different, David Foot offers a uniquely adventurous experience in Botswana that allows you to enjoy an intimate wildlife experience.
Spend a few nights canoeing along the Selinda Spillway, then stay in luxury at the Royal Tree Lodge outside Maun, followed by a horseback safari for 5 nights, exploring the Makgadikgadi Pans…
David Foot
David combines his love of horses with a great love of the African wilderness, an adventurous existence which he shares with his family in Botswana, having worked in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi previously. David’s other real passion is bird watching, which is not so easy from horseback, so he also welcomes any opportunity to go into the bush on foot! Or, as this exciting Signature Safari features, from a gentle paddle down the river…
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Itinerary at a Glance
Arrive Maun and transfer by light aircraft into the Selinda Reserve.
Canoeing safari along the Selinda Spillway - (3 nights)
Royal Tree Lodge, outside Maun – (3 nights) – walking, boating, riding
Horseback safari (5 nights) – Camp Kalahari/Fly Camping – Makgadikgadi Pans
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 – 21st September 2012
Arrive Maun, light aircraft transfer into the Selinda Reserve. Met and greeted by David Foot, who will take you on a scenic 3-hour drive to the beginning of the canoe trail.
Safety briefing and demonstration of canoe handling, before heading off to your first camp. (Basic but comfortable, small dome tents, bedrolls, bucket shower and long drop toilet).
Day 2 – 22nd September 2012
Early breakfast followed by full day’s paddling. Possibility of game walk on foot, too. You’ll see elephants, perhaps buffalo, sable and more. Lunch and a refreshing swim for those who wish and then paddle on up to the next camp site. Dinner under the stars and then a well-deserved night’s rest, with Africa’s nocturnal sounds to soothe you.
Day 3 – 23rd September 2012
Another early start with a full day’s paddling ahead, gliding ever closer to the Selinda. Abundant wildlife, including hippos and water fowl as you head up to the confluence of the Kwando River. Last night camp is set up on an island and supper is cooked for you on a fire.
Day 4 – 24th September 2012
Leisurely start to the day, perhaps a long morning walk or short paddle before returning to camp for lunch and a transfer by vehicle to the Selinda airstrip and a flight to Maun and the Royal Tree Lodge. Afternoon tea and briefing by David before meeting the horses and a fun afternoon ride. Wildlife is wonderfully relaxed in the presence of horses and you’ll enjoy close encounters and great photo opportunities.
Overnight Royal Tree Lodge, a small intimate lodge with luxurious tented accommodation, on the edge of the Thamalakane River.
Day 5 – 25th September 2012
Up with dawn for a long morning ride. Enjoy a good canter, learn how the local Motswana people live with their cattle, eat a fine breakfast in the shade of the Thamalakane riverine forest, then take a leisurely ride along the river, enjoying the many water birds and cantering through the shallow waters.
Lunch back at the lodge, followed by a welcome siesta and an afternoon of boating, fishing, swimming and birding.
Overnight Royal Tree Lodge.
Day 6 – 26th September 2012
Boating day trip up the Boro River and into the Okavango Delta. Prolific birding, walking on the islands in search of wildlife, swimming… back to the lodge for dinner.
Overnight Royal Tree Lodge.
Day 7 – 27th September 2012
Morning bird walk before heading off to the next part of your exciting adventure.
A 40-minute flight from nearby Maun will take you to Camp Kalahari, a simple but comfortable camp with swimming pool, on the edge of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans.
Head off after tea in the beautiful afternoon light for an introductory ride – primarily to match horse and rider.
Overnight Camp Kalahari.
Day 8 – 28th September 2012
Enjoy a light breakfast followed by a long morning ride through the “land of a thousand islands”. Stranded on the ancient lakebed, these sand dunes covered in palm trees are one of the most beautiful and fascinating areas of the Botswana wilderness.
Return to the camp for lunch and rest or cool off in the pool.
After tea, head off to see some unique desert species such as springbok, gemsbok, red hartebeest and the elusive brown hyaena or nocturnal desert animals on a night game drive later.
Overnight Camp Kalahari.
Day 9 – 29th September 2012
Start the day with a long ride eastwards to Xau Xai Fly Camp. Be sure to pack a few essentials for the next two days of adventure. The journey takes you away from the edge of the Pans and through the mopane and acacia woodlands. Break for lunch at the adjacent Gutsa Pan.
Siesta through the midday heat and after tea, continue the journey on to Xau Xai Fly Camp, basic but comfortable. Dinner under the magnificent Kalahari sky.
Day 10 – 30th September 2012
Head off in search of Kalahari’s famous meerkats - definitely one of the most special and memorable game experiences you will encounter in Botswana.
Follow the well-worn trails that lead to the resident herds of zebra and large congregations of ostriches attracted to the area by permanent freshwater in hidden waterholes.
Return to Xau Xai for lunch followed by a fantastic experience – riding out into the ancient lakebed that is now the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, a vast flatness that stretches in every direction.
“There is not one visual landmark to be seen and one swiftly loses one’s sense of perspective - 16,000 square kilometres of baking soda void, inhabited only by you and a few gazillion invisible brine shrimp! And it is here that we’ll make camp… sleeping on bedrolls under a star-studded sky!”
Day 11 – 1st October 2012
Head homewards across the Pans to Camp Kalahari. Break for lunch near the famous Chapman’s Baobab, one of the largest trees in Africa.
Dinner and overnight at Camp Kalahari.
Day 12 – 2nd October 2012
A non-riding day commences with an early morning walk with Zu/’hoasi Bushmen trackers.
Camp Kalahari has been working closely with the Zu/’hoasi people of the Western Kalahari for many years and are privileged to have a small group of these extraordinary men to guide us on a morning’s walking safari.
Enjoy lunch before bidding farewell to the Makgadikgadi and your flight back to Maun.
Please note:
If you love the sound of this Signature Safaris, but would rather take it at a different time, or with added extensions, this can be arranged. Similarly, if you’d like to lengthen or shorten the safari, or have it organised privately, we can do this for you.
Email Nicci – nicci@johnstevenssafaris.com with your requirements, we look forward to discussing these with you.
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