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Desert Safari Expedition

Itinerary Price

From US$4,050

Itinerary length

9 nights/10 days

Desert Safari Expedition

Professional Safari Guide

Pilot Manga

Throughout your trip you will be accompanied by Naturalist and Guide, Pilatwe Manga. Known throughout Botswana as ‘Pilot’ due to the similarity in his name to Pilate (as in the biblical Pontius Pilate) you will be shown this beautiful country by someone who is a born and bred ‘Motswana’ (the name given to citizens of Botswana) and is a genuine local.
Pilot was born in a small village, Shorobe, on the edge of the Okavango Delta in Botswana. He spent his early life in the bush and on a remote cattle post attending Shorobe Primary School. Shopping trips with his parents would entail travel to Maun by Mokoro (a traditional dug-out canoe). Pilot could not attend high school, due to the death of his Father, leaving Pilot to look after the family. His upbringing in the Okavango Delta led him to working with the founder of Wilderness Safaris and was the first local guide to be employed by Wilderness, and to this day, Pilot is still friends with the founder of Wilderness Safaris.
Pilot has spent many years working as a guide in Botswana, mainly as an Explorer guide for Wilderness Safaris, travelling on land throughout the country and guiding his guests in all the country’s National Parks and private areas. This job also took Pilot to the regional safari destinations of Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. His greatest claim to fame is to have visited Canada for a Polar Bear Safari and to this day is still the only time he has left the African continent.
Pilot is an extremely resourceful man and is fun to be around during a safari where he likes to give his guests outstanding wildlife experiences and service that is second to none. An accomplished vehicle Mechanic, Chef and guide there is no-one better to be with to show you this fabulous country, Botswana.

About the Safari

DAY 1
Pilot will meet you in Maun at a pre-arranged time and place and prepare you for the journey to your first campsite in Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Once you arrive in CKGR, depending on your time of arrival, you will spend the afternoon exploring the area.
Central Kalahari Campsite

DAY 2
An early morning wake-up call signifies your first full day on safari. After a light breakfast you will head out on your morning activity in search of the abundant wildlife. Returning after several hours you will have lunch, followed by an afternoon siesta. Tea will be served mid-afternoon and then you will head out on your afternoon activity.
Central Kalahari Campsite

DAY 3
An early morning wakeup call will start the day followed by a light breakfast before the morning activity. You will arrive back from your morning activity to enjoy a sumptuous lunch. Afternoon activities will commence after a siesta and light tea and cakes. You will head out again in the afternoon looking for something different.
Central Kalahari Campsite

DAY 4
An early morning wakeup call will start the day followed by a light breakfast before the morning activity. You will arrive back from your morning activity to enjoy a sumptuous lunch. Afternoon activities will commence after a siesta and light tea and cakes. You will head out again in the afternoon looking for something different.
Central Kalahari Campsite

DAY 5
The early morning wakeup call will signify the start of your fourth full day, and activities will, again, commence after a light breakfast around the fire. The early morning drive will follow a similar pattern as the previous day but no two drives are ever the same and you will now be getting a good feeling for the area. After lunch the camp will be packed and you will move onto your next campsite in Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. Once you are settled in camp you will head out on your afternoon activity, returning sometime after dark for Dinner.
Central Kalahari Campsite/Makgadikgadi Campsite

DAY 6
To start the day you will receive an early morning wake up call for a light breakfast before the morning activity. You will start exploring this fantastic area in a specially adapted 4×4 with your guide who will know all the best areas. You will arrive back from your morning activity to enjoy an excellent lunch. Afternoon activities will commence after a siesta and light Tea and Cakes and once the Sun starts to creep below the horizon you can enjoy the sights and the sounds with a Sundowner drink.
Makgadikgadi Campsite

DAY 7
The early morning wakeup call will signify the start of your sixth full day, and activities will, again, commence after a light breakfast around the fire. The early morning drive will follow a similar pattern as the previous day but no two drives are ever the same and you will now be getting a good feeling for the area. After lunch the camp will be packed and you will move onto your next campsite in Nxai Pan National Park. Once you are settled in camp you will head out on your afternoon activity, returning sometime after dark for Dinner.
Makgadikgadi/Nxai Pan Campsite

DAY 8
You will receive an early morning wake up for the morning activity where you can start exploring this famous area. Lunch will be served followed by a siesta. Your Afternoon activity will commence a little earlier than usual as you are in the National Park and need to return to your camp before dark.
Nxai Pan Campsite

DAY 9
An early morning wake up with light breakfast will start the day. Activities commence after breakfast with the opportunity to experience this amazing area. Lunch will follow as usual followed by a siesta. Your afternoon activity will commence after tea followed by your last night in camp
Nxai Pan Campsite

DAY 10
An early morning wakeup call for a light breakfast will signify your last day on safari. Once you have packed your belongings you will head back to Maun on a long game drive, arriving in the early afternoon.

Inclusions

Standard Mobile Safari: all accommodation, twice daily game drives, all meals, park fees, all drinks including soft drinks, water, wine, local beers and gin and tonic.

Luxury Mobile Safari: charter flight from Maun to your first location, all accommodation, twice daily game drives, all meals, park fees, all drinks including soft drinks, water, wine, local beers and gin and tonic.

Wildlife

The wildlife in Botswana's National Parks is hugely abundant and below is a taster of what you might see on our Mobile Safaris. The full list would be far too numerous and why ruin the surprise? Join Pilot on safari and find out for yourself as every day is different.

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