Central Kalahari Game Reserve & Okavango Delta

This package includes 3 nights in a private lodge on the edge of Central Kalahari Game Reserve followed by 2 nights in the natural wonderland of the Okavango Delta.

Few place names are as evocative as "the Kalahari". This miss-spelt Anglicism has come to represent the vastness of Africa's outback with all the romantic undertones of nomadic hunter-gatherers, lions and golden grasslands gently waving under the canopy of a limitless blue sky. The Kalahari Desert stretches west of the eastern hardveld, covering 84% of the country. Desert, however, is a misnomer: its earliest travelers defined it as a 'thirstland'. Most of the Kalahari (or Kgalagadi, which is its Setswana name) is covered with vegetation including stunted thorn and scrub bush, trees and grasslands. The largely unchanging flat terrain is occasionally interrupted by gently descending valleys, sand dunes and large numbers of pans. From your deluxe lodge you will have the chance to explore this remote area with day and night game drives as well as walking and tracking safaris with local Bushmen.
 
The Okavango Delta is a natural phenomena where the 1430km Okavango River rises in central Angola, then flows south east through Namibia and into Botswana. Here 18.5 million cubic metres of water annually spreads like an open hand across the flat landscape, eventually losing itself in 16,000 sq km maze of lagoons, channels and islands. In this desert country the mass of water attracts an abundance of bird and other wildlife and is one of the major natural attractions of Africa. Your lodge will provide the perfect sanctuary after your game viewing activities including guided walking safaris and mokoro (dug out canoes) excursions.

This package is fully customisable to best suit your requirements with more or less nights in both the Central Kalahari Game Reserve and Okavango Delta available. Please contact us for a quote for your desired itinerary.

Package Details

• 3 nights accommodation in Grassland Bushman Lodge with all meals and local beverages
• 2 nights accommodation in Oddballs Camp with all meals 
• Morning and evening open vehicle game drives with experienced guide in Central Kalahari Game Reserve
• Guided safari walks with experienced guide in Okavango Delta
• Mokoro excursions in Okavango Delta  
• Flight from Maun airport to Grassland Bushman Lodge
• Flight from Grassland Bushman Lodge to Oddballs Camp
• Flight from Oddballs Camp to Maun
• Meet and greet at Maun airport by Wild Africa Travel Company representative
• Laundry

Itinerary 

Day 1
On arrival at Maun airport you will be met by your Wild Africa Travel Company representative and transferred by charter flight to your Central Kalahari Game Reserve Lodge for your 3 night stay. A night game drive followed by bush boma under the stars will be a perfect way to commence your Kalahari experience.

Day 2-3
Your days can be as adventurous or as relaxing as you wish as you have the option of early morning, afternoon and night game drives with experienced guides through the park. You also have the opportunity to learn the ways of the local Bushmen as they take you on a game tracking adventure and they show you their desert survival skills. You can also relax and wile away your time in the comforts of your lodge with its reading room, safari deck, bar, restaurant and swimming pool.

Day 4
After an early morning game drive check out of your lodge and you will board your charter plane for your flight to your camp in the Okavango Delta. On arrival and after checking in you will taken on your first game walk with your experienced guide searching for game before returning to your lodge for a sumptuous bush boma dinner under the African stars.

Day 5
An early morning game walk followed by a guided mokoro excursion on the delta as you experience a true “out of Africa” safari experience. Your luxurious camp also provides a sanctuary to relax and take in the sights and sounds of the Okavango Delta.

Day 6
This morning after an early morning game activity you have a short flight to Maun airport for your connecting flight to your next destination.

Accommodations

Grassland Bushman Lodge

Grassland Bushman Lodge is somewhat different from most others you will encounter in Botswana. It is a family concern and they are proud citizens of Botswana. Apart from the family the rest of the staff complement is made up entirely of San (Bushmen), most have worked alongside the family for generations.

The lodge is located on the western boundary of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, on private land. The main complex area can be divided into three areas, a large lounge and dining room in one building, a huge covered bar area that also doubles up as a dining area/ outside lounge which is adjacent to the swimming pool. All of these structures overlook a waterhole where a huge variety of wildlife can be seen from the comfort of chairs or from the pool area.

The lodge can accommodate up to 16 guests and is also able to accommodate families in a special family unit. Accommodation is in comfortable en suite chalets with shower, basin and wc. Electricity is provided during most parts of the day by means of a generator.

The activities at the lodge includes the most comprehensive San ‘Bushman' experience in southern Africa. There are day and night drives with a guide and tracker as well as predator interaction including walking with semi-habituated Cape hunting dogs (African wild dogs). 

Other recommendations

This package is the perfect extension to any of the packages throughout southern Africa, particularly those in nearby Zambia as well as South Africa as flights leave Johannesburg to Maun on a daily basis.

Flights

Wild Africa Travel Company has excellent return airfares from Australia to Johannesburg and from Johannesburg to Maun.

Prices for return economy class flight with South African Airways from Australia to Johannesburg start from:

Ex Perth $1,370
Ex Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide $1,460
Taxes approximately $395

Prices for return economy class flight from Johannesburg to Maun start from:

$460
Taxes approximately $124

Actual prices and taxes will depend on dates of travel. Please contact our office on free-call 1800 615 524 or by email for an exact quote

 
Our preferred airline to Africa

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is highly recommended for the Central Kalahari Game Reserve & Okavango Delta to cover for irrecoverable prepaid travel costs incurred as a result of unforeseen circumstances. For example, if the passenger becomes unexpectedly ill and is unable to travel then the passenger will be able to recover the total costs of their Central Kalahari Game Reserve & Okavango Delta package.

Please note every year Wild Africa Travel Company have passengers needing to cancel for many unforeseen reasons. Unfortunately Wild Africa Travel Company is helpless if the passenger has not taken out the appropriate travel insurance.

Travel Insurance is also very important for passengers on their travels as there can be situations where things may go wrong and travellers find themselves needing urgent medical assistance, help with replacing lost luggage, or assistance in making an urgent trip home. Travel insurance can provide coverage for these unforeseen circumstances and also provide peace of mind for the traveller.

Cover can be purchased at time of booking. Please contact for a quote.

Note: Pre-existing conditions are not automatically covered, please make sure the Travel Insurance Policy wording is read and fully understood.