Moremi Game Reserve/ Okavango Delta Delight

9 Nights, 10 days

This program is great for repeat clients with some time to spare, that are not into seeing all of Botswana’s national parks, but want to enjoy the splendour of Moremi Game Reserve and the Okavango Delta. With more time to spare, guests can extend to either Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Nxai Pan or Makgadikgadi National Park, for another 3 or 4 nights.

What to expect:

Great Wild dogs’ sightings

Great birding: Slaty Egret, Wattled Crane, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Lesser Jacana

Great predator sightings: Lion, Leopard, Hyaena, Cheetah, Side striped Jackal

Great all-round general game

Beautiful landscape

Day 1 Arrival Maun. Fly to Khwai Airstrip

Royale Wilderness crew will meet you at the Maun Airport, upon your arrival. He/she will link you with Mack Air personnel who will help you to the waiting light aircraft that will take you on a short 30-minute hop to the Khwai Airstrip. Your Guide will pick you up and start a leisurely drive into Moremi Game Reserve via North gate. After the official paperwork has been done, it is a slow game drive to camp.

You will be welcomed by the crew upon your arrival in camp later in the afternoon. The crew will assist with your luggage and see you to your rooms. They will explain the functioning’s of your tents, after which you can join the others for a chilled glass of wine by the dining tent, dinner and an after drink by the fire.

Activities:                   Arrival Maun

Light Aircraft flight to Khwai

Game drive to Camp

Day 2, 3 Khwai Area, Moremi Game Reserve

Except for the arrival day, full days in camp are all about morning and afternoon game drives, both timed to optimize your game viewing. Early morning game drive starts soon after breakfast. Be prepared to be woken up pre-dawn, and leaving just before sunrise, at first light. This is the best time to catch predators, general game, birds and all manner of wildlife. This morning wildlife activity slows down in the middle of the day, to resume later in the afternoon.  You return to camp for brunch, and some downtime late morning.

The afternoon game drive follows the afternoon tea, which is usually around 1500hrs, all dependent on the time of year. Very often, the drive follows up on interesting morning sightings ending up with a sundowner by some picturesque place, before returning to camp early evening. There is always ample time for a shower before dinner. It is traditional that guests and their guide return to the fire after dinner for a night cap, before retiring to bed.

Activities:                          Morning Game drives

                                           Afternoon Game drives

Day 4 Road Transfer to Xini/Blackpools

The waking up time is like the full days in camp. The difference is that you bring your bags with you, that will be loaded into the safari vehicle for an all-day transfer to Xini/Blapools area. You leave camp soon after breakfast, and do a game drive in the Khwai area, slowly transiting to the Southeastern side of Moremi Game Reserve. Your guide will find a suitable place for a sit-down lunch which can span a couple of hours, while your crew moves camp from Khwai to Xini/Blackpools.

This is a day of moving camp, but is leisurely, with some exceptions in some parts that do not have much wildlife, where you will be able to travel a bit faster. Arriving in camp later in the afternoon, you will be able to have a shower, and a much-needed drink.

Activities: All day Game drive enroute to Xini/Blackpools area

Day 5, 6 Xini/Blackpool Area

These next days are like day 2 and 3, both being full days in camp. Activities are all about the morning and afternoon game drives. Wildlife determines how long you stay out before returning to camp for brunch. Unlike at established lodges, the meals are not determinant of when you get back. It is the other way around. After all you are here for wildlife.

Similarly, the afternoon drive starts soon after the afternoon tea, may or may not return to places of interest from the morning drive. Traditionally, we do a sundowner by end of the day, but it is not a rule. Again, the wildlife activity is more important. You can always have a drink in camp.

Activities:           Morning Game drives

                              Afternoon Game drives

Day 7 Xakanaxa

Like day 4, you bring your bags when you come out in the morning for breakfast. You depart camp after and heard westerly towards Xakanaxa. There are two ways to get there, one being via Bodumatau and the other being the 1st Bridge way. Both routes are fantastic for wildlife. Moremi Game Reserve covers a significant portion of the Okavango Delta, a third largest RAMSAR wetland of significant importance (declared April 19970), and Xakanaxa is a typical Okavango Delta habitat, with Papyrus filled winding rivers emptying into seasonal flood plains, drawing a myriad of wildlife and birds alike, though out the year.

Your arrival in camp is late in the afternoon, always a chilled drink by the fire after a well-deserved shower, dinner, night-cap and bedtime.

Activities: All day Game drive-enroute to Xakanaxa

Day 8, 9 Xakanaxa

These next two days are like day 5&6, with morning and afternoon game drives. There is an exception of a half day boat cruise into the Okavango Delta. The boat is usually planned for the afternoon; however, your guide may choose to change the time to morning. This happens based on what the primary interest for Guests is: birding vs general game. Either way, the boat cruise offers a beautiful variety to an amazing safari.

As usual morning drives return closer to mid-day for brunch, some downtime, while the afternoon drives start around 15:00HRS soon after the afternoon tea, returning to camp early evening. Showers typically at the end of the day, after the afternoon game drive, followed by dinner. 

Activities:           Morning Game drives

                              Afternoon Game drives

                              ½ day boat cruise

Day 10 Road Transfer to Maun Airport for onward connections

Another moving day, this time to get back to Maun Airport for onward connections. You are woken up early and leave after breakfast for a 4-hour road transfer to Maun Airport. You arrive in Maun with ample time to have brunch at one of the restaurants near the airport with your guide, before checking in for your flight back home or elsewhere for the rest of your holiday. The End.

Activity: Road transfer to Maun Airport for onward connections

Included:

·        Light Aircraft to Khwai airstrip

·        Road transfer from Khwai airstrip to camp and between camps

·        All Game viewing activities as offered by Royale Wilderness

·        All accommodation is in twin bedded tents with private shower and toilet area

·        All meals

·        All drinks (South African Wines and a selection of Spirits)

·        Park entrance, Camping fees and VAT (Where applicable)

·        Emergency evacuation to the nearest hospital

·        Laundry Service (while camping only)

Excluded:

• Travel insurance

• International Flights and Visas

• Airport Taxes

• Tips and gratuities

• All Items of Personal nature

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