Nxai Pan National Park
The fossil pans of Nxai Pan offer spectacular, seasonal game-viewing.
The Nxai pans, integrated into the national park since 1993, were once part of the great lake that covered central Botswana. Now largely covered by grassland and sprinkled with clusters of trees, the Nxai Pan National Park offers spectacular game-viewing in the rainy season (November - March). Huge herds of zebra, wildebeest, springbok and gemsbok attract many predators - lion, cheetah and both brown and spotted hyena. There are large numbers of bat-eared fox, which preys on rodents and reptiles.
'Baines' Baobabs' are at the southern edge of the park.
Nxai Pan can be visited on a luxury mobile tented safari or on
BOTSWANA BUSH SAFARI
A 15-day non-participation* camping safari starting and ending in Victoria Falls and exploring the Chobe River, Savuti, Moremi, Kalahari and Nxai Pan.
Days 1 & 2
On arrival at the Victoria Falls Airport, you meet your guide and depart by vehicle for Chobe National Park. After settling into camp, we set out on a late afternoon game drive. Next day, we have our first morning of game viewing. In the afternoon, there is a 3-hour sunset cruise on the Chobe River, famous for the highest concentration of elephants in Africa and for its huge herds of buffalo. Overnight in Chobe National Park tented camp.
Day 3 & 4
We travel south along the Linyanti Marsh, situated in the Chobe National Park. On our game drives, we also discover the history of this area. The Savuti Marsh is situated near the Magwikhwe Sand Ridge, which forms part of the shoreline of an enormous, ancient inland sea, which covered the area 2-5 million years ago. Close to this ridge/shoreline are the Savuti Hills ("kopjes") where we find Bushman paintings on the vertical rock faces. Overnight camping in the Savuti area.
Day 5, 6 & 7
We continue south through Savuti Marsh and Mababe Depression, still in the Chobe National Park. We then travel along the Khwai river to Moremi. On our game drives, we explore the wetland areas which form part of the Okavango Delta. We spend our last day on a boat cruise along the channels of the Okavango Delta. The rest of our days are spent game viewing. Overnight camping in Moremi Game Reserve.
Day 8,9 & 10
To Maun to replenish our provisions. Then on to the heart of the Kalahari where we spend 3 days game viewing. The 52,000 square kilometers of Central Kalahari is one of the prime game viewing areas in Botswana. The flat grasslands teem with oryx and springbok and lion, cheetah and jackal are plentiful. Overnight in tented camp in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.
Day 11 & 12
Nxai Pan National Park is a series of fossil pans covered in short, nutritious grasses. "Islands" of acacia trees form shady spots on the pans, in which the animals often come to rest. This is beautiful scenery and unique to Nxai Pan. In the park's 2,578 km, both springbok and impala can be seen - usually, they are separated by different habitat preferences. Hartebeest, oryx, brown hyena and cheetah can be seen. Overnight in tented camp in Nxai Pan National Park.
Day 13
The Sanctuary is one of the most captivating environments for the bird lover. Up to 200,000 flamingos and 25,000 pelicans make this their home at certain times of year. Both the lesser and the greater flamingo is here in abundance. Last year, the flamingos stayed around all year, due to very good rains of the previous rainy season. The times that they would migrate would be May to August.
We think they will remain again this year. Black-backed jackal occurs regularly - it preys on young chicks. The vegetation is largely grassland shrubs and acacia.
Day 14 & 15
After breakfast, transfer by vehicle to Victoria Falls. At leisure to try the many activities on offer or visit the Falls. Overnight at A'Zambezi River Lodge, breakfast included.
Day 16
Transfer to the Victoria Falls Airport for your onward flight.
*Camp is set up by the guide and camp staff, who also do the chores and prepare the meals.
Departures:
Prices from GB£/US$ per person sharing (November departures).
March - June departures: GBP£ per person sharing.
July: GB£
July: GB£2175
Single supplement March - June: GB£; in July, GB£
Price includes:
international flights from London to Victoria Falls (via Jo'burg), 13 nights camping in igloo tents with stretcher beds, all meals (except in Victoria Falls, where breakfast only is included); services of a guide and four camp staff throughout; all necessary equipment, except sleeping bags (can be hired); park and entry fees; 4X4 Toyota Land Cruiser/Mercedes Benz Unimog/Land Rover for the entire itinerary.
Those travelling from North America, Australia and New Zealand may wish to arrange their own flights to South Africa/Victoria Falls. Contact us for the price of the land arrangements on the date you prefer - there are three seasons in Botswana.
Contact us
or phone (44) 20 7226 1004 for more information
