Pioneer

Pioneer

6 nights, 7 days

This is a compact safari for guests with the least amount of time and budget. The combination of the Khwai concession area, Savuti and the Chobe river front has some of the best wildlife in world. It combines well with Victoria Falls.

What to expect;

-Great all round general game

-Great predator life: Lions, Leopard, Wild dogs and Hyenas. Potential Cheetah especially in Savuti

-Great birdlife: Slaty Egret, Rufous bellied Heron-Wattled Crane, potential Pel’s Fishing owl.

-Three different but very beautiful habitats

-The beautiful Chobe river

2 Nights Khwai Concession Area

2 Nights Savuti, Chobe National Park

2 Nights Serondela, Chobe National Park

Day 1 Arrival Maun-Charter Flight to Khwai Airstrip

Upon your arrival at Maun Airport with Airlink flight 4Z300 from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg OR Airlink Flight 4Z314 if you are coming from Cape Town, Royale Wilderness staff will help you connect you with the charter company that will fly you to Khwai. Royale Wilderness Guide will be waiting to pick you up from the Khwai Airstrip upon your arrival there. You will do a leisurely drive along the Khwai River towards camp arriving late in the afternoon.      

 After your arrival, and introduced to the crew in Camp, your guide will give a thorough briefing on safety. It is important that you pay attention to all of the safety briefing, and adhere to these safety precautions at all times while you are on safari. Afterwards, you will be showed the workings of your accommodations.

Activities:                   Light aircraft flight to Khwai. Game driving into camp.

Accommodations:    Royale Wilderness Tented Camp

Day 2 Khwai Concession Area

After morning breakfast, you set off for a morning game drive, which takes you along the Khwai River and its floodplains looking for Lion, Leopard and hunting Wild dogs. African rivers have resident species like Hippopotamus, Crocodiles and great birdlife. They are also a draw for thirsty wildlife, which in turn attracts predator life. There is always a Coffee break on a morning game drive, arriving in camp late morning to a hearty brunch, some time to relax in camp, read a book, a little nap or a shower.

 After the afternoon tea, you head off for the afternoon game drive, normally in a different direction to the morning activity. This activity can include a short hike/game walk before returning to the vehicle for a sundowner, which is usually by the river while watching wildlife drinking. A night game drive may follow before sleep time. But this is an optional activity for those that are interested.

 Activities:                   Morning Game Drive, Afternoon Game Drive, Night Drive.

Accommodations:    Royale Wilderness Tented Camp

Day 3 Moving Day - Khwai to Savuti, Chobe National Park

After breakfast, we head out for game viewing along the Khwai River. We later leisurely head to Savuti, with a picnic lunch along the way. The transit to Savuti takes you through the Mababe Depression, once part of a gigantic lake that spread across northern Botswana. The sweet grasses of the depression are much sort after by grazing species like Buffalo, Zebra and Wildebeest. But they are many other types of wildlife encountered daily on this route.

After a picnic lunch, you arrive in the greater Savuti area early afternoon. You may just have enough time to drive past some of Savuti’s waterholes. Many Elephants, Roan Antelope, Zebra, Wildebeest Warthog, Giraffe, Tshessebe, Ostrich, Impala are seen at these waterholes daily. It is not a surprise that Lions, Hyenas and occasionally Leopard are seen here too.

Your will arrive in camp late afternoon. A drink in camp and an early shower is followed by a delicious dinner cooked over open fire. A night cap is a norm by the fire while re-capping the day’s sightings.

 Activities:                   Game Drive out of Khwai. Game Drive into Savuti

Accommodations:    Royale Wilderness Tented Camp

Day 4 Savuti, Chobe National Park

After early morning breakfast, you set off into Savuti to catch up with the Savuti predator life. The Savuti Lions have been a subject many documentaries because of their unique skill of hunting Elephants. They are a regular sighting at Savuti waterholes: being Pump Pan, Rhino Vlei, Marabou Pan or Harvey’s Pan. Of late two prides dominate two areas of Savuti. The Northern Pride at Harvey’s Pan and Pump Pan area, and the bigger Marsh Pride at Marabou Pan, Rhino Vlei and Jackal Island. The other predators usually skirt around this two Lion prides, while Hyenas compete directly with them for food.  

You return to camp late morning to a hearty brunch, followed by some down time in camp. There is plenty of time to shower, read a book or even catch some nap before the afternoon tea.

Following after the afternoon tea is the afternoon game drive, to follow up on some of the morning sightings. A drive around some of the Savuti’s Kopjes is usually rewarding with Leopard or even the unique Klipspringer. Black Bellied Bustard, Kori Bustard, Denham’s Bustard, Amur Falcon, Rock Kestrels, Black Shouldered Kite are seen in the Savuti March area. A Sundowner at some picturesque area, before you return to camp early evening is in order. Dinner follows after a hot bucket shower. There is always an after dinner drink, Amarula, by the fire before going to bed.

Activities:                   Morning Game Drive, Afternoon Game Drive.

Accommodations:    Royale Wilderness Tented Camp

 

Day 5 Moving day- Savuti to Serondela, Chobe River Front Area

After morning breakfast you pack the Cruiser and head out for a short game drive in Savuti. A North easterly direction takes you out of Savuti towards Ghoga hills gate, through Teak woodland, the Chobe Enclave area that has small villages of Kachikau, Kavimba and Mabele. Re-entry into the Chobe National Park is at Ngoma Gate.

You will have a picnic lunch often at Kachikau or near, and after, a visit to the Kachikau craft shop where you could get yourself a Botswana Souvenir.

The aproach into camp takes you along the Chobe River front, where depending on the time of season, thousands of Zebras, Buffalo and other wildlife is seen grazing along the floodplains. There is good Sable Antelope, Roan Antelope and great birdlife along the river the adjacent Teak woodland. There is a rare antelope here only seen in Chobe called Puku.

You get into camp late afternoon to a chilled drink and a hot bucket shower followed by a delicious three course dinner, and a nightcap by the fire.

Activities:                   Game Drive out of Savuti. Game Drive into Chobe

Accommodations:    Royale Wilderness Tented Camp.   

Day 6 Serondela, Chobe River Front Area

After morning breakfast you set off on an early morning drive along the Chobe River in north easterly direction towards Kasane town. Chobe wildlife, including Cape buffalo is drawn to the river in the afternoons, and stay to graze on sweet grasses along the river at night, leaving the floodplains in the morning after sunrise. Chobe Lions are very often seen in tow behind the Buffalo, looking for an opportunity for weakness.

 You will have brunch at the Oldhouse in the town of Kasane.  At noon, a short walk to the Jetty to start a three hour Boat cruise on the Chobe River, before returning to camp by road, arriving in Camp at Sunset. A Sundowner is in camp, then a hot bucket of shower before dinner.

 Activities:                      Morning Game Drive. A Three hour boat Cruise. Afternoon Game Drive

Accommodations:  Royale Wilderness Tented Camp

Day 7 Transfer to Kasane for onward connections

After morning breakfast you leave camp for the last time, and drive leisurely towards Kasane town. Guests extending to Victoria Falls will be switching transport in town that will be taking them to Victoria Falls. Guests flying from Kasane to Johannesburg, with Airlink FLIGHT 4Z307 will have brunch at The Oldhouse before a short transfer to Kasane Airport for onward connections. 

 Activities:       Morning Game drive/Transfer to Kasane Airport/Drop off in Kasane for a link to Vic Falls.

END OF ROYALE WILDERNESS ARRENGEMENTS

Included 

  • Shared charter flight from Maun to Khwai Airstrip on day of arrival

  • Road transfer from Khwai airstrip to camp and between camps

  • All Game viewing activities as offered by Royale Wilderness

  • All accommodations 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/Concession fees and VAT (Where applicable)

  • Emergency evacuation to the nearest hospital

  • A 3 hour river cruise in Chobe

  • Laundry Service (while camping only)

Excluded 

  • Travel Insurance

  • International Flights and Visas

  • Airport Taxes and porterage

  • Tips and Gratuities

  • Items of Personal Nature

Possible Wildlife

Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Spotted Hyena, African Wild dog, Serval, Civet, Bat-eared Fox, Side Striped Jackal, Black Backed Jackal,  African Buffalo, African Savanna Elephant, Red Lechwe, Puku, Impala, Greater Kudu, Sable Antelope, Roan Antelope, Tsessebe, Honey Badger, Plains Zebra, Giraffe, Hippopotamus, Common Warthog, Steenbok, Common Duiker, Common Reedbuck, Blue Wildebeest, Waterbuck, Bush Buck, Chacma Baboon, Vervet Monkey, Nile Crocodile, Leopard Tortoise, Flap-necked Chameleon, Water Monitor Lizard, Rock Monitor Lizard, Banded Mongoose, Yellow Mongoose, Dwarf Mongoose, Slender Mongoose, Tree Squirrel

There are nearly 500 species of Birds in Botswana. While there are enough colourful birds throughout the season to fulfil amateur birding interest, the best time for more serious birding is from November through to April. Special Birding trips can be arranged for private groups with minimums of 4 people.

Recommended Flights (North bound)

Johannesburg to Maun         1145HRS         AIRLINK        FLIGHT        4Z300 

Cape Town to Maun                1035HRS        AIRLINK        FLIGHT       4Z314

Kasane to Johannesburg       1400HRS        AIRLINK        FLIGHT        4307

Terms and Conditions:

  • Royale Wilderness is not a lodge. We offer Mobile Tented Safaris, meaning the camp moves with you.

  • All safaris are accompanied by a full on Crew made up of a Camp Manager, Bush Chef, Waiter, Tent Stewards and Safari assistants.

  • The Crew is responsible for Setting up your tents and all other camp chores.

  • All safaris are led by a Botswana licenced Professional Guide who stays with the group throughout the safari, with the exception of any extensions to Victoria Falls.

  • The Crew will only do laundry at Moremi, Khwai, Nxai Pan, Savuti and Chobe areas because of availably of water. Laundry will not be done at Central Kalahari Game Reserve (Discover Botswana Program) because of water scarcity.

  • We advise that Guests bring a maximum of 10kg luggage per person not including carryon bags, and that luggage be in soft duffle bags. 

  • All relevant booking conditions of Royale Wilderness Safaris and/or any other booked services will apply to your travel arrangements.

  • A deposit of 20% of the total amount is required to confirm your booking. The 20% deposit is not refundable, so please ensure that you have adequate insurance prior to confirming your safari.

  • The 20% deposit must be paid within 21 days of receiving the invoice, or your booking will automatically be cancelled.

  • You must please cover yourselves, prior to confirming the booking, with comprehensive travel, medical, cancellation, curtailment and default insurance for the duration of your trip.  Due to the remote and wild areas that we operate in, it is vital that all guests are covered for emergencies and other unforeseen circumstances. We will not be held responsible for guests travelling without insurance.

  • While Royale Wilderness safaris are comfortable, some level of fitness is required.

  • The relevant cancellation policy applies should you fail to join or start your safari for any reason, including airline delays or missed connections. Please ensure you have adequate travel insurance for this purpose. You become liable for cancellation penalties immediately on confirmation of your booking services.

  • The Price is subject to any VAT, levy, fuel or any other industry increases that are beyond our control.

  • Two daily Activities are included in the Price; this is the Morning and afternoon activity. They are carried out in Customized 4x4 Toyota Land cruiser.

  • The above itinerary includes places that are situated in Malaria areas. Please consult your doctor or pharmacist and establish what precautions will be required for this fever.

  • Passports must be valid (usually for at least 6 months after date of travel) and have at least 3 blank visa pages (not endorsement pages).

  • All visa requirements must be fulfilled and these are your responsibility. If you have any queries about obtaining visas please contact us

  • Due to the logistics of travelling on a safari to remote areas, we strongly recommend that you read all the literature that will be forwarded to you and if you have any queries to please contact us at:

    reservations@royalewilderness.com

res1@royalewilderness.com