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The Caprivi Strip
lies at the centre the most important riverine and wetland environments in
the African interior, the confluence and watershed of the Okavango, Kwando,
Linyanti, and Chobe rivers and the flood plains of the upper Zambezi.
There are no fewer than six National Parks and Reserves here, a testimony
of the remarkable ecology of the area. Significant concentrations of big
game converge upon these river flats including some of the largest herds
of hippo and elephant in Africa, together with rarer species of antelope
such as tsessebe, sable antelope, puku, lechwe and sitatunga. Buffalo,
zebra, giraffe, wildebeest and predators like lion, leopard and cheetah
make up one of the richest faunas on earth. The vegetation is green and
lush, with canopy forest trees, verdant reed and papyrus fringed water
ways and open river meadows alive with a multitude of birds.
The safari
ends at Victoria Falls, where the Zambezi, one mile wide, plunges over a
vast chasm. The combination of the wetlands and Etosha Pan, with its
waterholes, make this central belt of tropical Africa one of the best
areas in the world to watch Africa's Big Game.
Typical safari itinerary
- Day
1. Overnight flight to southern Africa and connect to Windhoek in
Namibia.
- Day
2. Early arrival at Windhoek Airport for connecting flight to
Etosha Pan. Afternoon game drive in Etosha and overnight at Halali
Rest Camp.
- Day
3. Full day at the waterholes near Okaukuejo and overnight at
Halali Rest Camp.
- Day
4. Morning and afternoon game drives in eastern Etosha. Overnight
at Namutoni, a tastefully restored turn of the century fort.
- Day
5. After breakfast drive from Etosha to Rundu in the north east of
Namibia to stay at nKwasi Lodge overlooking the Okavango River.
Sundowner bird watching cruise on the Okavango.
- Day
6. A short drive to the beginning of the Caprivi Strip and the
Mahango Game Reserve. Afternoon game drive along the Okavango River.
Overnight at Popa Falls Lodge
- Day
7. Full day in Mahango and the Okavango. Elephant are seen in some
numbers as well as sable and other antelope, and excellent bird
watching. Overnight at Popa Falls Lodge.
- Day
8. Drive through west Caprivi Game Park to the Kwando River to
stay at the lodge at Lianshulu Lodge. Evening game cruise along the
Kwando River Overnight at Lianshulu Lodge.
- Day
9. Full day in Mudumu National Park viewing river species and
rarer species like red lechwe, buffalo, sable antelope and puku, as
well as breeding herds of elephant. Overnight at Lianshulu Lodge.
- Day
10. Full day in Mamili National Park on the confluence of the
Kwando and Linyanti Rivers. Very like parts of the Okavango Delta, it
has the same vegetation and wildlife, including elephant, buffalo and
sitatunga, and prolific bird life. Overnight at Lianshulu Lodge.
- Day
11. Drive across the Chobe River and into Botswana staying on the
banks of the Chobe at Kasane. This is one of the places in Africa for
elephant, along with giraffe, lechwe, waterbuck, leopard and cheetah.
Overnight at Chobe Safari Lodge.
- Day
12. Full day game viewing in Chobe Game Reserve, with a wide
variety of water birds. Overnight at Chobe Safari Lodge.
- Day
13. Drive across the border into Zimbabwe and to Victoria Falls.
Afternoon visit to the Falls and cruise on the Zambezi River.
Overnight at the Ilala Lodge Hotel.
- Day
14. A final visit to the Falls, then transfer to Victoria Falls
Airport for the homeward flight.
- Day
15. Arrival in home airport
Weather conditions on safari
- February
- April are late summer months. The weather is warm to hot at mid-day
but with no humidity. The coast is cool. Some rain may be expected,
but days are normally very dry.
- May,
June and July are the middle of the winter, which is the dry time of
the year. Days will be dry, warm and sunny, but the evenings may be
quite cool and even cold, with temperatures dropping considerably in
the middle of the night and you should have something warm to wear.
- August
to November are similar to the early part of the year, but very dry.
Accommodation and vehicles on safari
- All the
accommodation is in lodges.
- At
Halali and Namutoni accommodation is in twin bedded rooms with private
facilities in the Rest Camps.
- The
lodge at Popa Falls is basic but comfortable twin bedded rooms, whilst
nKwasi Lodge and Lianshulu Lodge both have luxury thatched cottage
accommodation with twin rooms and private facilities overlooking the
Okavango and the Kwando River respectively.
- Chobe
Safari Lodge has thatched rondavels with showers and toilets.
- At
Victoria Falls, The Ilala Lodge Hotel is an excellent hotel near the
Zambezi within walking distance of the Falls.
- Depending
on numbers, vehicles used are Toyota Hilux twin cab 4x4's each holding
three guests and a driver, or Toyota Land Cruiser 4 x 4 holding six
guests.
Notes
- See General Information
for Namibia for health and visa requirements.
- All
safaris are led by our expert game rangers.
- The
maximum number on these safaris is twelve per departure (minimum two
per departure).
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Fixed
date safaris
