Botswana small group holiday, added comfort

Planet

We believe that wild animals should be viewed – with no contact or interaction – doing what they do best: living in the wild. This trip includes wildlife viewing in Chobe National Park, the Makgadikgadi Pans and the Boteti River. Our leaders are trained to ensure that visitors don’t call out, whistle or try to get the attention of an animal as uncommon noises cause stress for them. Our drivers and local guides are also trained not to use their vehicle to get an animal to move or drive off road to get a better view or get closer to the animals.

We search out accommodation that is suitable for our travellers, while also finding properties that are making concerted efforts to reduce their environmental impact. We include properties that have water-saving measures in place, use renewable energy sources, and are built to complement their surroundings. This trip includes a two night stay at the Chobe River Camp. The tented chalets are built with locally-sourced Mopane timber and the camp runs on solar power.

People

Our trips often include the highlights of a country or region, but we understand that over tourism has a great impact on these popular locations and their local communities. To minimise our effect on the world’s most admired sites we design our itineraries to visit at quieter times of the day, ensure part of the entry costs are allocated to conservation and preservation of the site, and at times we will choose an alternative location that provides the same experience as the more well-known location. This trip includes a full-day cruise on the Chobe River, visiting parts of the area that are rarely seen by tourists. Travellers will have the opportunity to view abundant wildlife without the crowds. A wonderful experience for travellers, but more importantly, lessening the impact on the natural environment of the area.

The best folk to show you the heart of a destination are the ones that live there, which is why we work exclusively with local leaders. Our leaders are not only travel experts, they’re teachers, travel gurus and enthusiastic purveyors of grassroots experiences. They’ll just as easily steer you through the laneways of a city as help you strike up a conversation with the locals – and all with a smile. On this trip through Botswana, travellers will also be joined by local guides in several places. In each location these guides will bring to life the destination, its history and what makes it special. That might be the natural history of the Makgadikgadi Pans, the daily habits of meerkats in the Ntwetwe salt pans or the leopards of the Boteti River.