Okavango Odyssey

After your arrival at Maun International Airport you will be met by Mack Air for your charter flight at approximately 14h00

to the Khwai airstrip where you will be met by your guide and take a leisurely drive 30km to the East to Mababe.

If you are staying in Maun prior to the safari, please request an

airport transfer, Mack Air will liaise with your accommodation the

day before to confirm the flight departure time.

Alternatively, if you are coming from one of the many safari lodges,

you can organize to fly directly into Khwai Airstrip with the lodges

preferred charter company although we do request that these

flights land only after 13h00 in order for our guide to be there to

meet you.

Spending our first three nights camping in the Mababe region, we

explore the surrounding wilderness on game drives during the day.

Wildlife: The south-east mopane veld is home to mostly breeding herds of elephant whilst the more northern reaches

of Mababe is home to some impressive old bulls. The mature bulls revel in the cool waters of the Khwai River and are

far more approachable while drinking and bathing than the breeding herds. The river has an unusually high density of

hippo as well as some huge crocodile. Leopard- (western part of NG41), cheetah, serval and lion are common predators

along this route and both Xakanaxa as well as Mababe are included in the home ranges of different packs of wild dog.

General game includes southern giraffe, Burchell’s zebra, tsessebe and red lechwe with roan and sable antelope being

less common residents.

Birding: In the mopane woodlands African Hawk-Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Gabar Goshawk, Little Sparrowhawk, African

Harrier Hawk and Shikra are common raptors. Mixed bird parties move through the canopy and include Red-headed

Weaver, Stierling’s Wren-Warbler, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Neddicky, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Chin-spot Batis, Diederik

Cuckoo* to name but a few. The verges of the swamp form breeding grounds for the Rosy-Longclaw, Black Coucal*,

Long-legged Bustard and the African Crake*

Accommodation: Letaka Tented Camp

Activities: Scenic flight, Game Drives

The Khwai River meanders through the concession giving ample riverside routes to explore. We spend the following

two nights camping at an exclusive campsite in the Mababe concession that has a strict max of 20 vehicles for the whole

concession at any given time, exploring the river banks, Kalahari shrub to the east, cathedral mopane to the south on

game drives both during the day and at night. Exploring after dark with spotlights offers you an opportunity to experience

some of the nocturnal animals that are rarely encountered during the day.

We will also have the opportunity to explore the surrounding wilderness on foot (please note that this activity is seasonal

based on rains and grass height, your guide will determine the safety of walking in Mababe) to enjoy an up close and

personal encounter with Botswana’s flora and fauna. It is important to note that night drives and guided walks are not

permitted within the national parks and reserves. These activities are conducted outside the boundaries of the Moremi

Game Reserve in the Mababe Private Reserve.

Habitat: We spend our time between the dry-land habitats of the lead-

wood and camel-thorn woodlands and savannahs and the riverside banks

of the Khwai River, as well as the “mini-CKGR” habitat in the western parts

of the concession.

Wildlife: The Mababe region boasts excellent populations of both bull

elephant as well as breeding herds. Lion, leopard, serval and African

wildcat are common predators of the region with wild dog and cheetah

being less common. Buffalo use this area seasonally with large herds

moving in during the summer rains. Other ungulates include tsessebe, blue

wildebeest, giraffe, kudu, sable antelope, roan antelope and impala, and

even eland and oryx in the western parts.

Birding: Botswana’s national bird, the Kori Bustard, is a resident in the lower reaches of the Mababe Depression. The

western reaches are prime habitat for the uncommon Rosy-throated Longclaw. The entire length of the river is hunting

domain for the Bat-Hawk. Other interesting raptors here are Cuckoo Hawk (rare), Long-crested Eagle and Black

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Sparrowhawk. More commonly Tawny Eagle, Steppe Eagle*, Lesser-spotted Eagle*, Martial Eagle, Bateleur and African

Hawk-Eagle. The waterways host Africa Rail, African Crake*, Greater Painted Snipe, Allen’s Gallinule*, Lesser Jacana

and Lesser Moorhen*.

Accommodation: Letaka Tented Camp

Activities: Game Drive, Walking Safaris (conditions permitting) and Night Drives

Following an early morning breakfast you take a slow drive through Mababe River Private Reserve west towards Khwai

and Moremi Game Reserve.

Habitat: As we head towards and through Khwai, we stop to do a mokoro

excursion on the slower and safer back waters of the Khwai River and the

Mbudi channel. The day’s journey follows this water course, with the track

weaving from the riverside and floodplains into the mopane veld and the

woodlands before crossing the Khwai River and entering the Moremi Game

Reserve.

Wildlife: The western mopane veld is home to mostly breeding herds of

elephant whilst the eastern reaches of Khwai is home to some impressive old

bulls. The mature bulls revel in the cool waters of the Khwai River and are far

more approachable while drinking and bathing than the breeding herds. The

river has an unusually high density of hippo as well as some huge crocodile. Leopard, cheetah, serval and lion are

common predators along this route and both Xakanaxa as well as Mababe are included in the home ranges of different

packs of wild dog. General game includes southern giraffe, Burchell’s zebra, tsessebe and red lechwe with roan and

sable antelope being less common residents.

Birding: In the mopane woodlands African Hawk-Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Gabar Goshawk, Little Sparrowhawk, African

Harrier Hawk and Shikra are common raptors. Mixed bird parties move through the canopy and include Red-headed

Weaver, Stierling’s Wren-Warbler, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Neddicky, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Chin-spot Batis, Diederik

Cuckoo* to name but a few. The verges of the swamp form breeding grounds for the Rosy-Longclaw, Black Coucal*,

Long-legged Bustard and the African Crake*

Accommodation: Mobile Tented Camp

Activities: Game Drive & Mokoro Excursion on the morning of the moving day to Moremi.

Habitat: Moremi lies on the eastern extremity of the Okavango Delta. Habitats here range from wide-open floodplains,

marshes, lagoons, papyrus fringed channels, vast reed-beds of Miscanthus and Phragmites, woodland and savannah.

As a result of the extremely variable habitat the diversity of both wildlife and birdlife is excellent.

Wildlife: Every type of mopane habitat is well represented in this drive

from the towering cathedral woodlands Xakanaxa to the classic climax

mopane woodland and in the drier and harsher habitats, extensive

stretches of scrub mopane. The San-ta-Wani region has scattered

ephemeral water pans with large floodplains and camel-thorn

woodlands. 40 km of the drive is in Moremi Game Reserve with a

further 40 km in areas designated for wildlife management where

animals roam freely to and from the Game Reserve.

Birding: A good day for raptors with African Hawk-Eagle, Gabar

Goshawk, Shikra, Little Sparrowhawk, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Tawny

Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle* and Steppe Eagle* all inhabiting the

mopane and adjacent woodlands. Other birds common along this route

includes most of Botswana’s hornbills including Red-billed, Southern Yellow-billed, African Grey, Bradfield’s and the

Southern Ground Hornbills. A large number of brood-parasites may also be seen. Diederick Cuckoo*, Levaillant’s

Cuckoo*, Jacobin Cuckoo*, Great-spotted Cuckoo*, African Cuckoo*, Common Cuckoo*, Shaft-tailed Whydah, Pin-

tailed Whydah, Eastern Paradise Whydah, Greater Honeyguide, and Lesser Honeyguide.

Accommodation: Mobile Tented Camp

Activities: Game Drives

After an early breakfast we take a game-drive to the Xakanaxa airstrip where you will be met by your charter flight back

to Maun.

Should you be flying on to a safari lodge, you can fly directly out from Xakanaxa Airstrip to avoid returning to Maun.

Please request that the lodge’s preferred air charter company collects from Xakanaxa Airstrip prior to 12h00.

This marks the end of your Safari.

• Spacious and comfortable tented accommodation, including beds, bed linen and towels, with a private bathroom en-suite.

• Services of a professional guide, safari chef and camp assistants, complete with a supply vehicle.

• Game drives and local transfers in customised safari vehicles

• Exclusive camping in private campsites within the national parks and reserves

• All entrance and camping fees within the national parks and reserves

• All meals and drinks (mineral water, soft drinks, beer, wine and G&T) whilst in Letaka Tented Camps

• All activities as specified in the itinerary

• 14% Value Added Tax

• Travel Insurance

• All flights unless otherwise indicated

• Items of personal nature

• Staff gratuities

• Optional safari extensions

• Any drinks at lodges or accommodation other than those listed.