Sample Safari Itineraries >> Diversity of Botswana

Diversity of Botswana Safari

Overview
Delta Camp, Okavango Delta - 3 Nights
Grassland Bushman Lodge, Kalahari Desert - 3 nights
Mapula Lodge, Botswana - 3 nights
Itinerary and Cost Details

Overview

The optimal safari contains a variety of scenery, animals, culture and activities. This itinerary is designed to deliver just that, an incredible range of experiences that captures the best of Botswana. With game drives, walking and the traditional mokoro (dugout canoe) visitors are able to view both of Botswana’s natural treasures – the Okavango Delta and the Kalahari Desert – from an array of perspectives. This creates an opportunity to see the largest diversity of species and habitats. While culture is often overlooked on Botswana safaris this itinerary provides a rare chance to visit a local village in the Delta as well as learn from the people that we all originate from, the Bushman people, an event so powerful that it can be the highlight of the trip for some. The camps are luxurious, the service outstanding, and most importantly the guiding and tracking is as good as it gets in Botswana. The culmination of all this is a well-planned and balanced safari that leaves you astonished.

Footsteps in Africa
Botswana Made Easy

The Footsteps in Africa portfolio of properties contains the largest number of independently owned camps and lodges in Botswana. All properties are owned by Citizens of Botswana and due to individual ownership each property has its own unique flavor. There are common threads though, due to the management of Footsteps in Africa, first and foremost is the focus on game viewing. At these camps the natural rhythm of the wild takes priority over things like set meal times. This collection has also worked to fill a void on cultural offerings. While most itineraries to Botswana include no cultural focus many of the camps in the Footsteps in Africa collection deliver rich cultural experiences that are a highlight and easily integrated into a wildlife safari. Known for offering variety and great value Footsteps in Africa’s operation has made it easy to enjoy the best of Botstwana’s independently owned camps and lodges with their seamless destination management.

The Wild Source
Wildlife Biologist Planned Safaris

The Wild Source safaris are planned by Wildlife Biologist Bill Given, who applies his knowledge of wildlife and Botswana to custom craft safari itineraries planned specifically for your special interests and desires. Bill is a Research Associate of the Denver Zoo and is conducting critical research on predators/livestock conflict in Botswana. This effort has led to many relationships in both the tourism and wildlife research worlds in Botswana, providing in-depth and timely knowledge for planning your safari.

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Delta Camp, Okavango Delta – 3 Nights

Delta Camp was one of the pioneering camps in the Okavango Delta and although it has been upgraded to a luxury level its mission remains true to deliver the authentic, vintage Delta experience. Here there are no game drive vehicles, instead you travel as the locals do by mokoro (dugout canoe) to focus on bush walks on nearby Chief’s Island, a renowned wildlife paradise.

Delta Camp is unique in that each chalet receives their own private guide. In fact, there is a local upliftment Young Guides program where an apprentice from the local village comes along as an assistant to the Senior guide as an opportunity to learn from the master so there is actually a one to one staff to guest ratio on activities.

There is no better way to feel the essence of the Okavango Delta than to ply its waters by mokoro, the traditional mode of transportation. Due to tourist demand most camps now use fiberglass mekoros but at Delta Camp the guides take great pride in using authentic mekoros that have been hand-carved from Ebony or Sausage trees.

A walking safari provides the ultimate connection to the land. The pace is easy and your expert guide is able to show you the small things, the sign that animals leave behind and in this area it is common to view big game on foot. This is an area where no vehicles drive and the animals are accustomed to people on foot allowing for great interactions.

Guests are also able to travel by mokoro to the village where the staff and guides hail from. This is not a tourist show visit; rather it is a walk around a real village where people go about their daily business. Your guide may show you his home and possibly introduce you to some friends and family along the way.

Delta Camp is set on a spectacular island overlooking a flooded channel and plains with Chief’s Island in view on the other side. Accommodation is for only 16 guests in spacious 'lethaka' (reed) chalets with en-suite facilities. Built of natural materials and elevated off the forest floor, each chalet has hot and cold running water, a shower with a view, and solar-powered electric lighting. There is one very unique multi-level en-suite tree house that is a real treat and completely one of a kind accommodation.

Delta Camp is an eco-friendly leader for all of Africa. Delta Camp engenders in its staff and guests alike an acute awareness of the ecological sensitivity of this magnificent area. Biodegradable products have been sourced and are used. Careful separation and treatment of refuse ensures that nothing that is not fully biodegradable stays on the island.

Delta Camp does not allow motorized activities in or around the camp; Just the low impact traditional activities of walking and mokoro, no game drive vehicles and no powerboats. The camp owner also owns Delta Air, the bush plane company that typically delivers guests to this camp. At Delta Air they calculate the carbon output of their flights and offset this on a monthly basis. They also instruct their pilots to keep idling to a minimum and to keep taxi distances as short as possible. The airstrip has not been treated with chemicals as is standard in most Botswana airstrips, as some of these chemicals used to stabilize/ compact airstrips are known poisons and are especially harmful to aquatic species. Beer and soda cans are collected and provided to the neighboring Sedibana village for use in construction of their buildings. The local people use cans together with termite mud to construct their homes. The camp uses lanterns and solar power instead of operating with a generator. Most importantly Delta Camp believes in hiring and training local people and all employees come from the local village, including Camp Managers.

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Grassland Bushman Lodge, Kalahari Desert – 3 Nights

Grassland Bushman Lodge provides a unique look into life in the Kalahari, for both the people and the wildlife. Owned and operated by the de Graff family you learn firsthand of the life of a Botswana family that settled the land 120 years ago. Throughout that time they have worked side by side with the San bushmen and know them like no one else. DNA studies have confirmed the bushmen are the original human culture on earth that we all descend from. Grassland Bushman Lodge camp manager Neeltjie de Graff-Bower grew up side by side with bushmen children and she speaks the Naro dialect (a click language) of these first people fluently, possibly making the Grassland Bushman Lodge the only lodge where direct interpretation can take place between tourists and bushmen in their own language. Bushman interaction here includes women and children as well, which is essential to get a true impression of the culture as opposed to the typical experience of walking with just men.

While the bushman cultural focus is a definitive highlight of a visit to the Grassland Bushman Lodge, there are other completely unique activities on offer. There is a predator rescue project at the lodge. At the request of the government Grassland Bushman Lodge staff have captured predators that were going to be shot by cattle farmers in retribution for preying on livestock. Some predators have been relocated back into the Central Kalahari Game Reserve but others have returned to the farms and now live in very large (27 acre) enclosures. Bill Given of The Wild Source is conducting research in partnership with the lodge to attempt to mitigate the predator/livestock conflict in the future. Grassland Bushman Lodge drives visitors in to one enclosure to observe a magnificent pride of captive lions and it is possible to walk with a guide in to observe a captive pack of African wild dogs. Certainly entering the enclosures is not the same as seeing predators in the wild but it is a guaranteed close up view at these tremendous animals that still have the spirit of the wild and serve as wonderful ambassadors to help us address conflict issues for future wild generations.

A stay at the Grassland Bushman Lodge gives you access to wildlife populations that are representative of the Kalahri region. Large populations of eland, kudu, wildebeest, red hartebeest, oryx (gemsbok), and springbok are all present as well as a wide array of birds. The best wildlife viewing takes place at the floodlit waterhole right in front of the Grassland Bushman Lodge - and there is a nightly parade of species coming to drink. Predators are rarely sighted with the exception of the brown hyena, one of the rarest predators to spot who frequently come to the waterhole in the evening. Another completely unique experience is that sandgrouse come from miles away a pair at a time to join into a flock that grows into thousands of birds before they begin to swoop over the waterhole to drink. A carefully placed chair gives you a front row seat to this amazing spectacle.

Horseback riding is a refreshing change from being in a vehicle and often times the grazing animals will be very relaxed to the approach of horses. Grassland Bushman Lodge is a rare safari location that can properly provide an experience for both novice riders and experts. It is possible to arrange overnight horseback camping trips with the bushmen of up to 3 nights with advanced booking.

Lodging at the Grassland Bushman Lodge consists of 8 comfortable chalets made of concrete with thatch roofs. These are very practical for the Kalahari desert where it can be quite hot in the day but cold at night. Lounge time centers around a fire pit with a view of an extremely active flood lit waterhole where the desert game comes to show itself. There is a large swimming pool to refresh during the mid-day heat. Grassland Bushman Lodge hosts Neeltjie and her husband Tiaan make guests feel like part of the family.

A stay at Grassland Bushman Lodge is a one of a kind safari experience with numerous activities that are different from traditional safari locations and deliver a true induction to the spell binding Kalahari desert. Adding this quality diversity to any Botswana itinerary is highly recommended and especially a must for those with a serious interest in Bushman culture.

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Mapula Lodge Botswana – 3 Nights

Mapula Lodge is set in a magical location in the far north of the Okavango Delta making Mapula one of the most remote camps in Botswana. This happens to be my personal favorite place because of the tremendous community staffing the Mapula Lodge and the welcoming atmosphere they provide, the scenic location of the camp, the outstanding accommodation that is very comfortable but not over the top, and most of all the focus on finding wildlife. All of the Mapula Lodge guides are outstanding and work with trackers to actively pursue predators. The area is vast and diverse as is the wildlife. With a high season cost that is far below other top camps, and as part of the sensational Kalahari Summer Special in the green season, I believe Mapula Lodge is the best value deal in Botswana at any time of year.

Following the first rains in November the various antelope species will begin their calving season making December and January an ideal time to see baby impala, tssessebe, lechwe, and possibly wildebeest. Lions and African wild dogs are commonly seen from Mapula Lodge and the presence of newborn calves makes this an exciting time for predator viewing. Smaller cats, serval and caracal are much rarer sightings but seem to be spotted with a fair frequency at Mapula. The area is well known for the elegant sable antelope that is rarely seen in other areas as well as the highly endangered African wild dog that has a history of denning near Mapula Lodge. With the rains elephants and buffalo spread out so they will not likely be seen in huge congregations but you will likely encounter small family herds and the viewing of bull elephants is excellent in this area.

You can do a variety of activities at Mapula including game drives, night drives, walks, and explore the Delta in the traditional mode of transportation – the mokoro, a dugout canoe that is poled along by a local guide.

Putting your feet on the ground on a walking safari at Mapula Lodge delivers a new unfiltered experience connecting you to the African past deeply buried within each of us, a connection to your ancient homeland where the human species originated. The chalets at Mapula Lodge are unique - combining the feel of a chalet structure with a tent as the entire back of the chalet is screened mesh letting in the wild sounds and allowing private views out to the lagoon at Mapula and the hippos, elephants, fish eagles and multitude of other species that are commonly seen.

The camp at Mapula Lodge has a magical setting on the edge of a magnificent lagoon. The common area is large and comfortable and includes a bar with a location that can’t be beat.

While the wildlife is exceptional at Mapula, I saw 34 mammal species in a 4 night stay, the wonderful people will leave a lasting impression as well! Mapula Lodge staff is like a village and they welcome you with caring and kindness. Virtually the entire Mapula Lodge staff consists of couples, which is very rare in safari camps and it makes a noticeable difference and feels as if you are visiting their home as opposed to place of employment.

Mapula Lodge’s guiding staff of Doctor, Dicks, and Josiah with Simon and Mike tracking is outstanding, both in skill but just as importantly in the enthusiasm they bring to seeking out wildlife. They enjoy gamedrives and want to go early, stay out late, track, and do whatever it takes to bring their clients the best experience. The people in this area are river bushmen, closely related to the San bushmen of the Kalahari and they have maintained their incredible tracking skills as well as taught them to the other local people the Bayei. Many excellent guides and trackers at other camps, such as some at the renowned Kwando, hail from the region surrounding Mapula Lodge.

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Itinerary and Cost Details

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