Botswana | Elephant Encounters

Meet early afternoon, settle in, enjoy a dip in the lodge pool.

Debrief from your guide, visit to Nata Bird Sanctuary with late afternoon sundowner on the Pans

Some interesting history about the salt pans…

Between three and five million years ago, after the continental drift when Africa was flatter, a huge depression formed into which water flowed bringing clay and sand. Over time the lake started to dry and the waters receded leaving exposed a huge glistening salt encrusted lake floor.  These are the Makgadigadi Salt Pans and Kubu Island a dry granite rock protruding from the vast saltpans boasting some of our planet’s finest examples of ancient Baobab trees.  The magnificent sunset on the glistening, dry lake floor sets the backdrop for sundowners on our second night.

Early risers can enjoy coffee and rusks as the sun rises and after breakfast, we head north and our next campsite which is 30 kms from Maun, set next to the Boteti River, stopping en route to enjoy a light picnic lunch.

Upon arrival at Drifters - the Bhejane crew will have readied the campsite, the tents will be pitched and dinner will be in the process of being prepared.  Hot showers and cold sundowners are the order of this part of the day!

Today we head into Maun where we encourage you to take part in the 45-minute flight over the Okavango Delta.  This provides aerial perspective of this vast inland Delta and the first opportunity of seeing the large herds of elephant.

This is an optional activity and for those who do not take part in the flight, you will be able to shop at the local markets and stock up on provisions you may be running short on or kick back at camp around the pool and enjoy a day at your leisure. 

After the flights you are left to explore the markets, restock, refuel and enjoy a light lunch at one of the many local eateries recommended by your guide.

The late afternoon is spent at leisure.

(Lunch today is for your own account)

After breakfast the crew packs up camp and we continue north east to the Khwai Area, just north of Moremi, for the next 3 nights camping wild in a space jam-packed with excellent sightings and a wildlife photographers dream.

The Khwai River forms the eastern part of the Okavango Delta and is renowned for its prolific game, beautiful scenery and magnificent bird life.   Sandwiched between Moremi Game Reserve and on the fringes of Chobe National Park the next three days are filled with game rich viewing opportunities.  With no fences separating any of these areas, you are likely to see just about everything that northern Botswana has to offer

The dry woodlands away from the river host good populations of sable and roan antelopes, zebras, impalas, giraffes, buffaloes, and many other species so game viewing at your own pace with plenty of time to kick back a little in this exquisite corner of Africa is very much the order of the day.

The Khwai River spreads out forming marshy areas and water channels that have good populations of hippos, crocodiles, waterbuck and lechwe.   Our campsite on the banks of the river is perfectly positioned for elephant viewing so while reading a book or simply taking in the serenity of this magical place, don’t be surprised to look up and see a family of elephant quietly feeding on the opposite bank.

A Mokoro experience is included in the tour package.

Leaving the Khwai behind us, we head north through the Savuti to our next destination located on the Chobe Floodplain close to Ngoma in northern Botswana. Although we transit through the Park in a single day there is incredible game along the route and by the time we arrive at our camp in the late afternoon, the Bhejane team has dinner on the fire leaving us with just enough time to wash off the Savuti dust before enjoying a sundowner. 

We spend two nights at Muchenje.

There is much to explore in this area and a self-drive exploration of the hidden treasures along the Chobe River are best done at your own pace. The area is known for its large herds of elephant and buffalo and as our camp is situated close to the Ngoma entrance to the Chobe National Park, we are able to enjoy a self-drive into the Chobe National Park to experience the wildlife-rich riverfront and ancient floodplains along the Chobe River which provides ideal birdwatching and great diversity of game.

After a relaxed start to our day, we travel north east to Kasane and our destination at Thebe River Camp. 

Here we restock and refuel in town.

A highlight of every Chobe visit is the spectacular sunsets and there is no better way of enjoying these than on the Chobe River while exploring the islands and channels.  As the Chobe River is a permanent water source (for all the animals) and as part of the elephant migratory route, the massive herds of elephant that congregate on its banks at this time of the year, is significant.

Dinner this evening is around the campfire.

Early to rise this morning and a quick cup of special Bhejane “Moer Coffee” to kickstart our morning before departing on an early game drive into Chobe National Park. 

In November, the earlier the start the more likely we are to catch the predators and to get the best of the early morning light for stunning photography.

Upon arrival back in camp and our vehicles, we leave Chobe behind and head for our final stop at Elephant Sands - our camp for our last night set within a 16 000-hectare conservancy and aptly named for the herds of elephant who congregate around the natural water hole, right in front of the lodge.

Our last night is spent around the campfire, a more idyllic setting for the end of a memorable holiday one could not find!

The Bhejane crew prepares the final breakfast together before everyone heads for home.