The Great Wilderness Journey
10 nights/11 days
This is a nostalgic, turn-of-the-century deluxe camping safari. The journey recreates the sense of a game-viewing adventure reminiscent of the times of the great African explorers. You will see Botswana's famous Okavango Delta and the wildlife-rich Linyanti and Chobe River systems. As a wonderful finale, you visit Victoria Falls, the largest curtain of water in the world.
Brief Itinerary
| Days 1 - 3 | Arrive Maun & fly to Jacana or Xigera Camp, Okavango Delta |
| Days 4 - 6 | Fly Khwai Concession private camp, northeast Okavango Delta |
| Days 7 - 9 | Fly to Linyanti/Chobe private camp |
| Day 10 | Fly to Kasane for Chobe River cruise & fly to Toka Leya |
| Day 11 | Guided walk around Victoria Falls, transfer to airport |
The Great Wilderness Journey - Price
2012 Departures
January 1- May 31 & November 1- December 27
$7,890 per person sharing
$1,135 Single Supplement
June 1- October 31
$8,400 per person sharing
$ 1,185 Single Supplement
If a guest is willing to share and we can match with another guest of the same gender, the single supplement will not be charged. However, if there is no suitable match, the single supplement surcharge will apply. No triple rooms are accepted.
Prices include all transportation as specified in the itinerary, driver/guide services, park fees, accommodation on a shared basis, all meals and drinks (except premium brands), laundry.
Prices exclude airfare (other than what is specified in the safari itinerary), gratuities, travel insurance, visa fees, entry and departure taxes, any personal purchases, phone calls, optional activities, and any pre- or post-safari plans.
Note: All low season departures will be upgraded to classic camp accommodations.
The Great Wilderness Journey - Departure Dates
2012
These departures originate in Maun, Botswana and end in Livingstone, Zambia:
January 21, February 1 & 17, March 2, April 30, November 5, December 7
These departures originate in Livingstone, Zambia and end in Maun, Botswana:
March 12 & 25, April 16, May 21, June 2, 5, 11, 17, 26, July 2, 5, 17, 20, 26, August 4, 16, 19, 31, September 3, 9, 15, 24, 30, October 3, 12, 18, November 18, December 18
The Great Wilderness Journey - Detailed Itinerary
Days 1 - 3 Jacana Camp, Okavango Delta
After arrival in Maun, you will be met by your guide before boarding a light aircraft which will fly you over the shimmering water world of the Okavango Delta. The Delta encompasses life at its most fertile: abundant water, sunlight and nutrients fuse to produce a wetland paradise teeming with life.
Lush Jacana Camp is situated in a permanently flooded region of the private Jao Concession of the Okavango Delta. A true water camp, it represents the essence of the Delta, with year-round mokoro safaris as well as island bush walks and, water level permitting, motorboat cruises. In fact, when the flood levels are at their peak you are able to motorboat from the airstrip to the lodge, a truly surreal camp arrival! On one of the full days, you will also enjoy game drives around the productive Jao flats region to the north of camp.
Jacana Camp is set in one of the wetland areas most densely populated with sitatunga and red lechwe. Wildlife concentrations depend on the water flow and volume, thus changing from season to season, but all the large animals can be found in the area including elephant, lion, leopard and buffalo. Pel's Fishing-Owl is a favorite amongst birders as well as African and Lesser Jacana.
Jacana Camp has five Meru-style tents. Each tent is on a wooden deck overlooking the floodplains and has an en-suite bathroom with flush toilet and shower. The bathroom is enclosed but roofless, allowing for showers by starlight. The camp has a plunge pool for cooling off from the midday sun. The main dining area is on an elevated wooden deck between two magnificent sycamore fig trees and surrounded by dense wild date palms. Downstairs, there is a cozy pub and lounge with an area perfect for an open fire under the stars.
Days 4 - 6 Khwai Private Camp, Okavango Delta
This morning after breakfast you will drive to the airstrip for a light aircraft transfer to Khwai Adventurer Camp. This camp is located in a private concession just north of the Khwai River above the Moremi Game Reserve. This is one of the most diverse areas in northern Botswana and there are extraordinary wildlife experiences awaiting you.
The Khwai Channel provides vital sustenance to a wide variety of wildlife including hippo, elephant, crocodile, buffalo, leopard, lion, spotted hyena, and red lechwe Game drives (by day and night) often reveal sightings of the rare roan and stately sable antelopes. Guided nature walks and seasonal mokoro excursions through the channels are also available.
Your camp features en-suite tents with the bathroom at the rear of the tent separated by a zip door. Hot water is available anytime for the bucket shower. You’ll sleep on comfy beds with pure cotton linens and a duvet. There is a bedside table with light and wardrobes for your things.
Days 7 - 9 Linyanti Private Camp, Linyanti
After a light breakfast, you fly north-eastwards to the private Linyanti Concession. After a short game drive you arrive at your private camp, which is elegantly set up under African ebony and Knobthorn acacia trees overlooking panoramic vistas of the Linyanti Swamps.
The landscape of the Linyanti varies from floodplains to open dry land savannah and forest with sweeping views, creating a paradise for a high diversity of wildlife and bird species. Activities include game drives in the private northern sector of the concession, exploring a range of habitats from riverbanks to scrub and forest, with a myriad of wildlife en route to slake their thirst from the river. The seldom-seen sitatunga can also be spotted in the waterways, as well as rare plains game such as roan and sable antelope and of course their predators, the lion and leopard - with the endangered wild dog as an incredible bonus.
Enjoy a full day excursion to the Savute Channel, which is now flowing for the first time in three decades. After lunch you can siesta in hammock and feel thankful you are here! The spectacular but seasonal (rain dependant) zebra migration moves between Linyanti and the Savute Marsh between the end of November and March. The area also boasts an impressive diversity of mammals, including large elephant herds.
Day 10 Chobe National Park & Toka Leya Camp, Zambia
After a short morning drive and breakfast, you will depart by light aircraft to the northern Chobe region of Chobe National Park. This area is famous for its vast herds of elephants in the dry season and other unique species such as the elusive puku and Chobe bushbuck that move to the river in the hottest hours of the day. Enjoy a light lunch on the boat cruise in a catamaran-style shaded boat.
You will leave Botswana and fly over the Kazungula border, a point where the four countries of Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia meet. After landing at Livingstone International Airport, you will arrive at Toka Leya in the late afternoon.
Toka Leya Camp is situated on the banks of the Zambezi River in the western sector of the Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park, some 12km up from the Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Accommodation consists of 12 safari-style tents, each en-suite with a view of the magnificent Zambezi River. The camp’s dining and bar area are under a canopy of trees overlooking the River and a sparkling swimming pool.
Day 11 Victoria Falls, Zambia
The grand finale is a guided tour of the Victoria Falls, one of the seven Natural Wonders of the World. You will transfer to Livingstone Airport immediately after the tour for your onward journey.
Contact Duffle & Compass to begin planning your Africa adventure.
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