Botswana National Parks safari holiday
Description of Botswana National Parks safari holiday
Botswana is considered Southern Africas premier game viewing destination. The remote wilderness, limited access for visitors and abundant game make for an exceptional wildlife safari. This tour is the essence of why we started our tours.
DEPARTS: MAUN on Thursday at 17:00pm, ENDS: LIVINGSTONE-ZAMBIA on Saturday at+/-08:00am.
Highlights
* Moremi Game Reservegame drives
* Savutigame drives
* Chobe National Parkgame drive and river cruise
* Victoria Fallsadventure activities
Overnight - 2 nights on safari we stay at designated campsites in national parks and towns. Formal campsites have hot and cold showers, laundry facilities & telephones.5 nights we camp wild without fences in the wilderness areas. On these nights the crew will erect a bucket shower (with hot water off the fire) and a pit latrine (with seat!). 2 nights at a lodge in Livingstone with en-suite rooms and air-conditioning. Meals - 9 breakfasts,6 lunches and 5 dinners will be provided by the crew, prepared at the vehicle and eaten around the camp fire except for the last 2 breakfasts at the lodge in Livingstone. Transport for this safari you travel in a custom-built 4WD Land Cruiser with 12 forward facing seats (of which 8are window seats). Roll-up canvas sides allow you to feel part of the bush. Limited participation - an essential part of your safari is some participation. From putting up your tent to packing the truck in the morningits all part of your adventure and when everyone puts in a little effort the trip will run smoothly. Your tour leaders will do all the meal preparation, but we do ask the clients to help (on rotation) with the washing up. If there are 9 or more clients on the tour, then a supply vehicle and camp assistant travel with the group through the national parks (days2-6). The camp assistant will help with meal preparation and washing up and make your life a little easier!
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Reviews
2 Reviews of Botswana National Parks safari holiday
Reviewed on 26 Oct 2024 by Caroline Mantel-Pollett
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Staying in 2 campsites in Etosha with waterholes
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be prepared for many miles on the road but it is so worth it.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Definitely. We stopped at local markets to buy direct from the locals, made sure no food was wasted and also were conscious of our rubbish and how to clean it.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Great, our guide Bryan is the best and Vellum was such a good driver. Already looking at our next adventure with the tour operator.
Reviewed on 22 Jan 2019 by Barbara Bilgre
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Too many to pick from: unattended lion cubs right next to the road; hyena cubs checking out the tires on the safari vehicle, painted dogs, being surrounded by over 200 elephants and 500 buffalo.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
We had a lot of rain end of December & early January. Make sure you have rain gear and organize your belongings to make sure you have some dry clothes/shoes. Make sure you purchase enough drinking water for the days remote camping.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I didn't really get the sense that we benefitted local people with this specific trip. The fees do go to the park for conservation purposes. I was a little concerned
that our driver in Moremi and Chobe did take us off-road a few times, once blatantly. But for the most part, the guides were really adamant about respecting
the wildlife and protecting the environment.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I found out guides to be very sociable, knowledgeable and friendly. After a poor experience with a previous tour company I booked through Responsible
Travel, I was delighted at the quality program I had with this different tour company.
Read the operator's response here:
The guides used in Botswana are local qualified Motswana guides. Our offices in Maun have 20+ staff and they are all paid from the proceeds made from this tour. When going into the Okavango Delta we again use the local polers. These polers live in the Okavango Delta and the tour operator sending groups into the delta creates job opportunities for these men and woman that would otherwise not have any income. With its local Botswana SOS (Save our Sausage Tree) fund the tour operator has consulted with the community and they have agreed that should a poler buy a fibreglass mokoro, then the poler will pay 50% of the cost and the operator the other 50%. When the poler is not working he/she rents out the mokoro to another poler that does not have a mokoro thus generating additional income for his/her family.
Many of the lodges are owned by, or largely staffed by, local people. Leftover food is shared with local people, and our tour leaders give large containers of water to people in Namibia. We are actively involved in environmental projects, and encourage those on their tours to participate. Visiting game parks and areas such as the Okavango Delta that are focused on conservation contributes to conservation efforts.
With regards to the instances of off road driving, I am sorry to hear this. We will follow up with our offices in Maun and have them talk to the guide that ran this tour to ensure this does not happen again in future.
Responsible Travel
Planet
Small Group TravelWe specialise in small group safaris, with a maximum of 12 and a minimum of 4 clients per tour. Travelling together means transport and activities are shared between a limited number of travellers, while our experienced guides manage the driving and logistics.
Fuel Use
Our purpose built safari trucks average approximately 25L/100km. With an average of 9.5 clients on board, this equates to approximately 2.6L/100km per passenger. For comparison, a typical 4WD rental using 12L/100km and carrying two people uses around 6L/100km per passenger. Actual fuel use varies according to the vehicle, route, road conditions and passenger numbers.
Waste and Water
We follow a leave no trace approach and collect waste for disposal at appropriate facilities. At our workshop, we recycle used oil and containers, use oil traps and use biodegradable cleaning products wherever practical. Our safari vehicles carry tanks of clean, safe tap water, which clients can use to refill reusable bottles, reducing the need for single use plastic water bottles.
Resources and Wildlife
Where practical, we use gas rather than wood or charcoal for cooking, particularly in remote areas where firewood is limited. We also ask clients to use water thoughtfully, especially in the drier regions we visit. Our guides follow established wildlife viewing practices, including maintaining appropriate distances, avoiding unnecessary disturbance and never feeding wild animals.
People
Camping in National ParksSome of our safaris include camping within national parks and protected areas. Where applicable, camping fees and park entry fees contribute to the management and operation of these protected areas. By camping within national parks, we support the systems that help maintain these areas for wildlife, visitors and local communities.
Local Crafts and Markets
When visiting curio markets, we encourage clients to buy locally made crafts and to consider smaller wooden items rather than large pieces. This supports local artisans while reducing the amount of timber required for larger carvings. When bartering, we encourage clients to do so respectfully and remember that even a small purchase can be meaningful to a local vendor.
Tours for Young People, South Africa
We run educational trips to South Africas national parks for young people aged 14 to 18 from Johannesburg, in partnership with the PEN Organisation. Many participants have never visited a protected area or experienced wildlife in the wild. The trips provide an opportunity to learn about nature, conservation and careers in tourism.
National Park Fees
National park entry fees contribute towards the operation and management of protected areas. Depending on the park, these funds can contribute to infrastructure, conservation activities and services for park staff and surrounding communities. Clients can ask their guide about the park fees included in their safari and how they are used.
Locally Owned Accommodation
Where practical, we use locally owned lodges, guesthouses, B&Bs and tented camps. Staying at locally owned properties means that our accommodation spend contributes to businesses operating in the areas we visit, including through local employment and the use of local services and suppliers.
Local Guides and Community Experiences
Our safaris include two professional Sunway guides, and we also use local guides and community experts for specific activities. Their knowledge provides a direct connection to the places we visit, while the activities provide income and employment within local communities.
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