Botswana
The Best of Botswana: An In-Depth Safari Experience
Program No. 22424RJ
Venture into the Botswanan wilderness to witness elephants, lions, leopards and more, as a local expert teaches you about Botswana’s four unique ecosystems and their cultures.
Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date.
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While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
14 days
13 nights
What's Included
33 meals (
11B, 6BR, 5L, 11D
)
7 expert-led lectures
17 expert-led field trips
5 flights during the program
An experienced Group Leader
11 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
In Transit to Program
Location:
In Flight
Day
2
Arrive Johannesburg, Check-in, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
Location:
Johannesburg
Meals:
D
Stay:
City Lodge Hotel Eastgate
Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 2:00pm
Afternoon:
Check in at the hotel and relax before the welcome dinner.
Dinner:
At the hotel, enjoy a welcome dinner chosen from an a la carte menu; a welcome drink, bottled water, coffee and tea are provided.
Evening:
Orientation: The Site Coordinator will greet everyone with a warm welcome and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule and any changes, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer any questions you may have. Our Group Leader will meet us in Botswana tomorrow. We are fortunate to have as our Group Leader a knowledgeable expert who will also serve as our primary lecturer for most of the program. Please note that program activities, schedules, and personnel may need to change due to local circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Continue getting to know your fellow participants, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Day
3
Fly to Botswana, Chobe National Park, Overview of Botswana
Location:
Chobe National Park
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Chobe Game Lodge
Activity Note
Flight is approximately 1 hour 40 minutes. Boat safari lasts approximately 2-3 hours.
Breakfast:
Taken at the hotel, breakfast will be an expansive buffet featuring a variety of cold cereals, fresh fruit, cold meats and cheeses, pastries and hot items such as bacon, sausage, tomatoes and mushrooms. Omelettes, eggs and waffles are cooked on demand. Fruit juices, coffee, tea and water provided.
Morning:
We will check out of the hotel and board the motorcoach, transferring to Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo airport for our flight to Kasane, Botswana.
Lunch:
Provided in flight.
Afternoon:
Upon an early afternoon arrival in Kasane, we will clear Botswana customs and immigration before being met for our transfer in 4x4 game viewing vehicles into Chobe National Park and our lodge. Part of the transfer will take us through the park, so there will be the potential of seeing wildlife along the way. Chobe National Park remains one of Africa’s prime game-viewing areas. Here one finds all of the “Big Five,” except for rhino. This is elephant country, home to the largest population of elephants in the world…many of these great grey giants can be seen at this time of year. (Note that seasonality makes a big difference in how much game you will see. If it’s dry you will see larger herds; if it has recently rained the animals will be more dispersed.) The park forms part of Botswana’s northern-most border and is a contrast of desert aridity and flood plains. The Chobe region is best known for its vast magnificent river and floodplains filled with grazing herds of big game. Buffalo, sable, lion, leopard, hippo, hyena, and many species of antelope find safety in this huge national park. Chobe is one of Africa’s most pristine ecosystems and greatest wildlife refuges. After settling into our rooms, we will explore the Chobe River by pontoon boat where we may come face to face with the elephant, buffalo and other wildlife that gather on the banks of the river to drink and bathe. The boat will provide a unique viewpoint of the riparian environment, with its numerous birds including sacred ibis, blue heron, goliath heron, saddle-billed storks, marabou storks and little egrets.
Dinner:
At the lodge, dinner will be our choice to order from an a la carte menu. All local brand non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, water and coffee/tea will be included; premium alcohol will be available for purchase.
Evening:
This evening, our Group Leader will give us a thorough overview of Botswana, including the cultures, history and politics of the country.
Day
4
Game Drive, Sustainable Tourism Class, Boat Safari
Location:
Chobe National Park
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Chobe Game Lodge
Activity Note
Game drives throughout the program typically last between 3 to 4 hours in the early mornings and late afternoons, when the animals are most active. Boat safaris last 2-3 hours.
Breakfast:
Early morning tea/coffee, fresh fruit juices, rusks and muffins will be served at the lodge prior to the morning game drive departing. Upon our return to the lodge after the game drive, a more substantial buffet will be served until 10:00am which will including a variety of items such as cold cereal, cold meat, cheeses, toast, and fresh fruit, plus coffee, tea, fresh juice, water.
Morning:
In the early hours of the day, we will embark on our first safari game drive of the program, each vehicle with its own local safari expert. We will move slowly through the plains in open-air 4x4 vehicles in search of elephants, giraffes, zebra, kudu, impala, and the big cats such as lion and leopard. During our game drive, we will take a short break to enjoy coffee, tea, and rusks (South African-style biscotti). Following breakfast, we will have an opportunity to rest, relax, and enjoy the lodge’s amenities.
Lunch:
At the lodge, lunch will be our choice to order from an a la carte menu. All local brand non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, water and coffee/tea will be included; premium alcohol will be available for purchase.
Afternoon:
In the early afternoon, we will have the rare opportunity of a back-of-house visit at the lodge. Here, a lodge employee will introduce us to the sustainable tourism movement happening in Botswana, and have the chance to see how that movement is being put into practice. Following afternoon tea, we will board our pontoon boat for another safari on the Chobe River. Drinks and snacks will be served, known locally as "sundowners," as we watch one of Africa's stunning sunsets.
Dinner:
Lodge a la carte meal.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
5
Fly to Khwai Concession, Game Drive
Location:
Khwai Concession
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Sediba Sa Rona
Activity Note
Flight is approximately 1 hour. Flights between safari lodges are dependent on the movement of the guests within the lodging circuit. It is possible we may have short stops to allow other lodge guests on/off en-route to our destination. Flight schedules will not be available until the day prior to our flights. Duration of the drive to the lodge varies depending on animal sightings along the way.
Breakfast:
Lodge buffet.
Morning:
Check out of the lodge and in our open-air safari vehicles, we will do a game drive transfer out of the park to Kasane airport, where we board our light aircraft charter flight heading southwest to the Khwai Concession. Upon landing at the reserve's dirt airstrip, we will be met by our local safari experts and transferred in open-air safari vehicles to the lodge, arriving in time for lunch.
Lunch:
At the lodge, we will have a buffet meal with hot and cold dishes, salads, a cheese board, and breads plus local brand alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages included; other beverages available for purchase.
Afternoon:
We will have the midday to settle into our rooms and enjoy the camp's amenities. The camp is built along the Khwai River, which attracts animals year-round, so animal viewing may be possible from the comfort of our private decks! Following afternoon tea, we will board open-air safari vehicles for a game drive in the reserve, in the company of our local safari specialists. We will seek out the vast herds of animals resident in the area, including predators such as wild dog, leopard, lion, and cheetah. Just before sunset, we will make a rest stop of snacks and sundowner drinks. Continuing our drive after dusk, we will use a spotlight to search for nocturnal animals that may be in the area before returning to camp for dinner.
Dinner:
At the lodge, we will have a multi-course dinner consisting of a plated starter and dessert, and main course buffet including a choice of dishes with meat and vegetarian options. All local brand non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, water and coffee/tea will be included; premium brand alcohol will be available for purchase.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
6
Safari Game Drives, Delta Hydrology
Location:
Khwai Concession
Meals:
B,BR,D
Stay:
Sediba Sa Rona
Activity Note
Getting in/out of open-air 4X4 safari vehicles. Early morning and afternoon game drives are approximately 3 to 4 hours each.
Breakfast:
At the lodge, we will have a light buffet with choices such as hot porridge, cold cereals, fresh fruit, rusks, milk, fruit juice, coffee, tea, water.
Morning:
We will explore the area further on a game drive with our safari specialists, searching out wildlife sightings and the magnificent variety of birds that are present in the area. We will return to the lodge for brunch.
Brunch:
At the lodge, the substantial brunch buffet will offer hot and cold breakfast and lunch dishes plus local brand alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages included; other beverages available for purchase.
Afternoon:
We will rest, relax, and enjoy the camp's amenities during the midday heat. Over afternoon tea, our Group Leader will give a lecture on the geology and hydrology of the Okavango Delta. In the late afternoon, we will board our 4x4 vehicles for a game drive in the concession, enjoying sundowners in a scenic location before continuing the drive after dusk, seeking out the nocturnal animals in the area. We will return to the lodge in time for dinner.
Dinner:
Lodge meal.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
7
Safari Game Drives
Location:
Khwai Concession
Meals:
B,BR,D
Stay:
Sediba Sa Rona
Breakfast:
Lodge buffet.
Morning:
We will board our safari vehicles to explore more of the reserve in the company of our local specialists, returning to camp midmorning.
Brunch:
Lodge buffet.
Afternoon:
We will have the midday at leisure to rest, relax and enjoy the lodge’s amenities. Following afternoon tea, we will head out embark on another game drive, exploring parts of the reserve not yet seen. We will return to the lodge with time to freshen up before dinner.
Dinner:
Lodge meal.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
8
Fly To Moremi, Elephant Class & Game Drive
Location:
Moremi Game Reserve
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Camp Xakanaxa
Activity Note
Flight is approximately 20 minutes. Flights between safari lodges are dependent on the movement of the guests within the lodging circuit. It is possible we may have short stops to allow other lodge guests on/off en-route to our destination. Flight schedules will not be available until the day prior to our flights. Drive to the lodge is 20 minutes; animals may be seen along the way.
Breakfast:
Lodge buffet.
Morning:
We will check out of the lodge before our transfer to the airstrip for our light aircraft charter flight to the Moremi Game Reserve, on the eastern edge of the Okavango Delta. Upon arrival at the dirt airstrip in Moremi, we will be driven in safari vehicles to the camp, with a good chance of seeing wildlife along the way.
Lunch:
At the lodge, enjoy a plentiful buffet featuring salads, a main entrée, and hot breakfast items such as sausage, bacon, and eggs cooked to order. All local brand non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, water and coffee/tea will be included; premium brand alcohol will be available for purchase.
Afternoon:
Our Group Leader will give a lecture on elephant behavior and social structure for today's class. Following afternoon tea, we will embark on a safari game drive in Moremi, driving through a large variety of different vegetation types, down winding tracks, through mopane forests and across lush grasslands in search of plains game and other species. The scenic beauty of the area will add to our experience of Botswana’s verdant Garden of Eden, the Okavango Delta.
Dinner:
At the lodge, we will have a multi-course dinner consisting of a plated starter and dessert, and main course buffet including a choice of dishes with meat and vegetarian options. All local brand non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, water and coffee/tea will be included; premium brand alcohol will be available for purchase.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
9
Game Drive, Free Time, Boat Safari
Location:
Moremi Game Reserve
Meals:
B,BR,D
Stay:
Camp Xakanaxa
Breakfast:
At the lodge prior to the morning game drive, early morning tea/coffee and light breakfast items will be served, including fresh fruit, yogurt, toast and cereals.
Morning:
We will explore the area further on a game drive, searching out wildlife sightings and the magnificent variety of birds that are present in the area this time of year. Following brunch, we will have an opportunity to rest, relax, and enjoy the lodge’s amenities.
Brunch:
Lodge buffet.
Afternoon:
Mid-day will be at leisure today. Following tea, we will board motorboats for game viewing from a different angle, exploring the waterways of the Delta looking for animals as they feast on the rich grasses along the water's edge.
Dinner:
At the lodge.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
10
Game Drive, Importance of Termites Class, Boat Safari
Location:
Moremi Game Reserve
Meals:
B,BR,D
Stay:
Camp Xakanaxa
Breakfast:
Lodge buffet.
Morning:
We will have an early morning game drive in Moremi Game Reserve, the only officially protected area of the Okavango Delta. Following brunch, we will have an opportunity to rest, relax, and enjoy the lodge’s amenities.
Brunch:
Lodge buffet.
Afternoon:
For today's class, our Group Leader will discuss termites, and their importance to the ecosystem. Afterwards, we will explore more of the Delta waterways by motorboat, moving slowly searching for the animals and birds.
Dinner:
Lodge buffet.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
11
Fly To Kalahari Desert, Human/Wildlife Conflict, Safari
Location:
Kalahari Desert
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Dinaka
Activity Note
Flight is approximately 1 hour. Flights between safari lodges are dependent on the movement of the guests within the lodging circuit. It is possible we may have short stops to allow other lodge guests on/off en-route to our destination. Flight schedules will not be available until the day prior to our flight. Drive to the lodge is 15 minutes.
Breakfast:
Lodge buffet.
Morning:
We will check out of the lodge before our game drive en-route to the airstrip, where we will board our light aircraft charter flight bound for Dinaka’s private concession in the Kalahari Desert. From the concession’s airstrip, we will be driven in open-air safari vehicles to the lodge.
Lunch:
At the lodge, enjoy a buffet featuring salads, a main entrée, fresh fruits and a cheese platter. All local brand non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, water and coffee/tea will be included; premium brand alcohol will be available for purchase.
Afternoon:
Our Group Leader will discuss human-wildlife conflict and possible solutions for today's lecture. Following afternoon tea, we will explore this new ecosystem in open-air safari vehicles, perhaps coming across kudu, impala, springbok and zebra, and the predators that are never far away. Due to the minerals in the soil, the animals in the Kalahari grow to be larger than their counterparts in other parts of Africa, we will even see that the impala are a slightly different color! Our game drive will continue after dusk, and as we return to the lodge, our safari expert will use a spotlight to try and find the nocturnal species that are just waking up.
Dinner:
At the lodge, we will have a multi-course dinner consisting of a plated starter and dessert, and main course buffet including a choice of dishes with meat and vegetarian options. All local brand non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, water and coffee/tea will be included; premium brand alcohol will be available for purchase.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
12
Game Drive, Lions Class, Bushman Walk
Location:
Kalahari Desert
Meals:
B,BR,D
Stay:
Dinaka
Activity Note
Nature walk approx. ½ mile on flat, sandy path; periods of standing. Walk takes maximum 6 participants at a time, larger groups will be split with half doing the walk in the morning and game drive in the afternoon.
Breakfast:
At the lodge, enjoy a buffet including a variety of items such as cold cereal, cold meat, cheeses, toast, and fresh fruit, plus coffee, tea, fresh juice, water.
Morning:
This morning we will depart on a game drive, searching for wildlife and the large variety of birds in the concession. We may also find the area’s resident lion prides, with the males sporting majestic black manes. We’ll return to the lodge mid-morning, with time to freshen up before brunch.
Brunch:
Lodge buffet.
Afternoon:
We will have the midday at leisure to rest and enjoy the lodge’s amenities. Prior to afternoon tea, we will gather with our Group Leader for the last class of the program, focusing on lion behavior and social structure. After tea, we will board our game drive vehicles for a short game drive en-route to our meeting point for a nature walk with San Bushmen. During the walk, we will stop at multiple points where our Bushmen specialists will discuss various plants and their myriad of uses, as well as demonstrate some of the hunting and survival techniques that allowed the Bushmen of the Kalahari to thrive in the desert environment. Our walk will end at dusk, after which we will enjoy a leisurely drive back to the lodge, using a spotlight to seek out any nocturnal species that might be active.
Dinner:
At the lodge, enjoy a farewell dinner with new Road Scholar friends.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
13
Game Drive, Fly To Johannesburg, Program Concludes
Location:
In Flight
Meals:
B,BR
Activity Note
Flight to Maun is approximately 1 hour. Flight from Maun to Johannesburg is approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. See your program’s travel details regarding transfers. If you are an independent traveler (POP status), see “Ground Transportation from Last Location.
Breakfast:
Lodge buffet.
Morning:
We will have one last safari game drive this morning, returning in time to freshen up at the lodge before starting the travel home.
Brunch:
Early lodge buffet before our departure.
Afternoon:
In the mid-morning, we will be transferred to the local airstrip for our light aircraft charter flight to Maun. We will then board a commercial flight from Maun to Johannesburg, South Africa. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!
Day
14
In Transit From Program
Location:
In Flight
Morning:
Arrive North America.
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Please Note:
This program has itinerary variations on certain dates.