Botswana Eclipse Safaris

Fly-in and camping safaris to view the 2002 eclipse in Botswana.

Luxury Okavango Solar Eclipse Tour

29 November:
Direct overnight British Airways flight from London to Johannesburg.
30 November:
On arrival in Johannesburg, you will be met and transferred to the Grace Hotel in Rosebank, where you stay one night.
Unpretentious elegance and devotion to detail are the hallmarks of this refined hotel. Its standards of excellence date back to an era of gracious living, with attentive, personal and unobtrusive service. The hotel has a heated pool and offers long haul travellers a complimentary neck and shoulder massages in The Sanctuary.
Rosebank is a leafy suburb known for its charm and friendliness and a certain cosmopolitan air. You can walk around this quaint, wooded neighbourhood and explore the art galleries, cafés and boutiques. There are more than 60 restaurants within one block of the hotel. Don’t miss the designs in gold and diamond jewellery and ethnic fashions for which the area is known, or the African crafts in the excellent covered craft market. Ask for details of optional excursions to Soweto, the World Heritage Site Sterkfontein Caves and local art galleries.

1 & 2 December:
Transfer from the Grace Hotel to Lanseria airport for a private charter flight to Maun in Botswana and on to Pom Pom Camp, to stay two nights.
Pom Pom Camp is in the heart of the Okavango, in a private concession to the west of the Moremi Game Reserve and offers game drives, night drives, walks and mokoro safaris in great Okavango scenery. The camp overlooks a scenic lagoon and is built under a grove of shady trees. Buffalo, giraffe, zebra and wildebeest attract all the big predators. With luck, nocturnal animals such as serval, civet and genet may be observed on night drives. Hippo and crocodile are found in the deeper lagoons in the area. Birding enthusiasts will enjoy sighting Pells Fishing Owl, African Fish Eagle, Giant Eagle Owl and White Backed Vultures.
This 12-bedded safari camp is built and designed in traditional style. Six large, walk-in tents each have en suite showers and flush toilets. The bathrooms are enclosed, but roofless. There is no electricity; instead, paraffin lamps provide a warm atmosphere.

3, 4 & 5 December:
Light aircraft transfer from Pom Pom Camp to Duba Plains, where you stay three nights.
Duba Plains Camp is perhaps the most remote camp of the Okavango Delta. Located in the furthermost reaches of the Delta, the camp is situated on an island, surrounded by expansive, seasonally-flooded plains and shaded by tall ebony, fig and garcinia trees. This pristine area is home to lion, leopard, lechwe, elephant, and huge herds of buffalo. Wattled cranes and slaty egrets are among the Okavango “specials” found amidst the large variety of delta bird life.
The camp is small and intimate, with accommodation for 12 guests. The tents have en suite bathrooms, with hot and cold running water, and a verandah overlooking the floodplain. The dining room and bar area is raised on decks, and there is a great pool with a view. The camp offers a variety of activities, including game drives in open 4 x 4 Land Rovers, walking safaris (at the manager’s discretion) or mokoro excursions (water levels permitting). The night drives often provide opportunities to photograph Africa's elusive nocturnal animals in action.

04 December - Eclipse:
Light aircraft transfer to the eclipse site in the Linyanti, on the Centre Line, where a bush breakfast will be served.
After the eclipse, a light aircraft will transfer you back to Duba Plains Camp.

06 December:
Light aircraft transfer from Duba Plains Camp to Maun and charter flight back to Johannesburg. Afternoon in Sandton City, where you can enjoy a leisurely meal and do some shopping. Transfer to Johannesburg International Airport for the overnight flight to London.

Accommodation at the lodges is on an all-inclusive basis except for premium wines and spirits. Breakfast is included at The Grace.

Price: Ł3175 per person sharing twin/double accommodation.

Botswana 2002
Only 3 places left on the 12-day participation eclipse safari, which departs from Maun on 27 November and ends in Victoria Falls on 08 December 2002. The safari includes 2 nights in a water-based camp in the Central Okavango, 2 nights in a private campsite in the Moremi Game Reserve, 2 nights in the Savute (within Chobe National Park), 2 nights in the interior of Chobe, close to the centre line, 2 nights along the Chobe River and a night in Victoria Falls. For further details or to book a place, please contact us.

Northern Botswana Solar Eclipse Camping Safari

29 November, 2002
Depart from London Heathrow on British Airways overnight flight to Johannesburg.

30 November
On arrival in Johannesburg, transfer onto 12h15 flight to Victoria Falls. You are met on arrival at 14h15 and transferred to the Sprayview Hotel where you stay on a bed and breakfast basis. Afternoon at leisure to view the Falls (not included).

1 December
After breakfast, depart for Chobe National Park via Kasane. The park contains one of the largest concentrations of wild animals in Africa, particularly lions, hyenas and other predators. Vast herds of buffalo, zebra, kudu, lechwe, puku, elephant and many others feed in these marshes while hippo and crocodile inhabit the waterways. Chobe is famous for its beautiful scenery and magnificent sunsets. Afternoon game viewing cruise on the Chobe. Bush camp with picnic lunch and dinner.

2 & 3 December
Morning and afternoon game drives moving towards the eastern section of the park. The eclipse will be viewed from Tshinga near Ngwezumba Pans area. This is a complex of large pans surrounded by grassland plains and mopane woodland. We arrive in the afternoon, allowing time to set up photographic and viewing equipment. Bush camp with all meals.

4 and 5 December:
After the eclipse, drive in a southwesterly direction to the Savuti Game Reserve. The lush Savuti Marsh is the focal point of migration for zebra and other plains game from the Linyanti areas. Morning and afternoon game drives.
Bush camp with all meals.

6 & 7 December
The Moremi Reserve is situated in the northeastern corner of the Okavango Delta. It is a pure wilderness area of great beauty, rich green vegetation and palm trees, teeming with birdlife and a vast population of wild animals. We travel to the Khwai flood plains and enjoy early morning and late afternoon game drives. Bush camping with all meals.

8 December
After breakfast, dismantle camp and drive to Maun airport for your Air Botswana flight to Johannesburg. On arrival, connect with a British Airways flight to London.

9 December
Arrive London Heathrow early morning.

Price: Ł2145 per person sharing

Price includes:
Flights and pre-paid departure taxes specified; accommodation on a per person sharing camping basis; use of camping equipment with the exception of a sleeping bag (Guests may hire a sleeping bag at a cost of US$30 per person); all meals, except in Victoria Falls; game activities at camps; all excursions and transfers; services of our guide and staff; park fees; the Zimbabwe Tourism Levy.

Not included:
All items of a personal nature; cancellation and baggage insurance; visas; drinks; any new Botswana or Zimbabwe government taxes; gratuities to guide and camp staff; activities and excursions which are not specified; the entry fee of US$20 per day into Victoria Falls.

PLEASE NOTE
Visas are your responsibility. If you have any queries about obtaining visas, please contact us. UK passport holders do not require visas to visit these countries.
On this safari, guests do their own laundry. Tubs are provided.
You must have cancellation and baggage insurance for the duration of the trip.