Chobe River
Makgadikgadi Pans
The barren landscape of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans in Botswana attracts adventurous nature lovers. The salt pans, about 310 mi/500 km north of Gaborone, are among the largest in the world, covering 2,500 sq mi/6,500 sq km between Francistown and the Okavango Delta.
Bird-watchers interested in unusual habitats are the best candidates for a trip to Makgadikgadi. Game lovers might see zebra, springbok, gemsbok and other animals (primarily in February and March), but there are much better places in Botswana to watch animals. And, in reality, most of the birds seen there are the same species that can be viewed more conveniently in the Okavango Delta (though the flocks of flamingos and pelicans tend to be larger on the pans).
The main attraction of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans is the atmosphere: The bleached landscape, the dead-flat terrain, the few bloated baobab trees and the multitude of mirages provide a kind of otherworldly experience. Quad biking (using four-wheel-drive all-terrain vehicles) across the cracked and dried pans is a popular adventure activity, and most guides can arrange it.
Kubu Island is especially eerie, as the vistas of salt flats extend to the horizon. Large baobab trees dot the island, which at the north end looks much like a ship's prow. A circular stone wall and about 70 small stone cairns can be seen at the south end of the island. Some archaeologists believe this enclosure was used as an initiation site by 14th-century Zimbabwe peoples.
If you visit Kubu Island, which can only be reached by four-wheel-drive vehicles, be very careful of the salt. When wet, it is so soft that it can literally swallow a vehicle down to the wheel wells in a few seconds.
Several typical Zimbabwe ruins are situated around the east and southern edges of the salt pan. Consumption of the salt on the pan is not advisable because it can cause diarrhea.
Joining a professional mobile safari is the safest way to explore the pans, and there are plenty of camp sites.
Moremi Game Reserve
Moremi, hunted by the
Bushman as
long as 10,000 years ago, was initiated by the Batawana tribe and
covers some 4,871 km2, as the eastern section of the
Okavango Delta. Moremi is mostly described as one of the most beautiful
wildlife reserves in Africa. It combines mopane woodland and acacia forests, floodplains and lagoons. It
is the great diversity of plant and animal life that makes Moremi
so well known.
The idea to create a
game reserve first originated in 1961 and was approved by the Batawana
at a kgotla in 1963.
The area was then officially designated as a game reserve in April
1965 and was initially run by the Fauna Conservation Society of
Ngamiland. Moremi was then extended to include Chiefs Island in
1976. In August 1979 the reserve was taken over by the Department
of Wildlife and National Parks. A further extension was added as
recently as 1992 and now the reserve contains within its boundaries
approximately twenty percent of the Okavango Delta.
Maun
The town of Maun is an eclectic mix of modern buildings and native huts. There are shopping malls, banks, restaurants, a few hotels and some happening bars. Maun is the tourism capital of Botswana and the administrative centre of Ngamiland. It is also the headquarters of numerous safari and air-charter operations.
Cape Town
Cape Town is southern Africa's most beautiful, most romantic and most-visited city. Few urban centers anywhere can match its setting along the Cape Peninsula spine, which slides like the mighty tail of the continent into the Atlantic Ocean. By far the most striking - and famous - of its sights is Table Mountain, frequently mantled by clouds, and rearing up from the middle of the city to provide a constantly changing vista to the suburbs below. Table Mountain is the city's solid core which divides the city into distinct zones with public gardens, wilderness, forests, hiking routes, vineyards and desirable residential areas trailing down it's lower slopes.
Excursions
Cape Town City Tour - Half Day
Your guide will discuss the city's abundance of sightseeing possibilities and will tailor make your day's activities according to your individual interests and preferences. This affords you the advantage of total flexibility while still maintaining the expertise of a qualified guide. We first make our way to the to the lower cable car station on the slopes of Table Mountain, where (weather permitting) we make the short and comfortable ascent to the top of the mountain by cable car. The panoramic view of the sea and city from the summit is magnificent. Then begin the tour of historic Cape Town. Whether you are interested in visiting the traditional tourist attractions, indulging in a personal passion, or simply exploring the 'Mother City' as a local, Cape Town has more than enough diversity to cater to your personal preference.
Your half day tour includes two entrance fees as well as the return Table Mountain Aerial Cableway ticket. After your tour, you will be dropped off at your hotel.
Three Hour Cruise
The Inala Antares proudly awaits you in Cape Town, ready to take you first class on a journey of a lifetime. With its Italian styling, trendy interiors, quality construction techniques and performance it has been specially designed to meet your tastes and requirements.
Your day will start with a luxury transfer from your hotel providing you with a concierge service to help you orchestrate the perfect few hours on board the Inala.
Experience an exquisite Cape Town sunset with Table Mountain and the 12 Apostles as a backdrop as you cruise in pure luxury on board (weather depending on the day) otherwise in Table Bay towards the Bloubergstrand beaches.
The Inala is a 57ft Princess design, luxury motor yacht, moored in front of the Cape Grace Hotel V&A Waterfront. Your three hour cruise includes the famous Clifton beaches, with panoramic views of Table Mountain and the 12 Apostles in elegance and luxury. Clifton bay is on the way to Hout Bay and is the ideal place to spend a few hours at on board, enjoying the sun and a swim in the cool water.
Whale Watching Tour - Full Day
Your Whale watching excursion will either be done in Hermanus or Gansbaai, based on the best sightings & weather conditions over your period of travel.
The whale watching trips can also afford you the possibility to see: Great white sharks, Bryde's whales, Humpback whales, Southern giant petrels, Cape gannets and Dolphins, making these whale watching trips not just magical but rewarding too, and are sure to capture everyone's imagination.
Your return to shore will depend on the sightings for the day, which may result in a late lunch. Your guide will discuss the best restaurant options with you based on your preference and logistics. An A la Carte lunch including soft drinks & non-premium brand drinks and house wines is included in your tour.
Time permitting you may have the opportunity to walk along the coastal paths in Herma-nus where during whale season (mid June to mid November) whales may be seen playing close to the shore. You will be dropped off at your hotel in the late afternoon.
Cape Point Sidecar Tour - Full Day
Your guide will discuss your individual interests and preferences and tailor make the day's routing and sightings accordingly. All sidecars are decommissioned military bikes used during World War II, which has been restored and fully refurbished.
You will be supplied with retro leather jackets, helmets, goggles as well as a complimentary bandana. Depending on your interests you will be visiting all the iconic attractions such as Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Chapmans Peak Drive, Cape of Good Hope (including the Cape Point Funicular ticket) and the Boulders Penguin Colony.
Stop for lunch at a popular local restaurant including local wine and refreshments. Top off the day with a scenic coastal drive back to your hotel. After your day's touring, you will be dropped off at your hotel for your evening at leisure.
Okavango Delta
The Okavango delta is one of the world’s largest inland water systems. It's headwaters start in Angola’s western highlands, with numerous tributaries joining to form the Cubango river, which then flows through Namibia (called the Kavango) and finally enters Botswana, where it is then called the Okavango. It is a unique ecosystem with large populations of African mammals, birds, and other animals and is one of the last totally unspoiled areas in Africa. This destination is perfect for camping, picture taking, walking safaris, and mokoro (canoe) excursions.
Livingstone
Livingstone is less than 10 miles from beautiful Victoria Falls and is a delightful old colonial town named after the explorer David Livingstone. As Zambian tourism increases, more people are staying in Livingstone and new enterprises seem to be springing up. There are also many lovely lodges on the banks of the Zambezi.
The barren landscape of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans in Botswana attracts adventurous nature lovers. The salt pans, about 310 mi/500 km north of Gaborone, are among the largest in the world, covering 2,500 sq mi/6,500 sq km between Francistown and the Okavango Delta.
Bird-watchers interested in unusual habitats are the best candidates for a trip to Makgadikgadi. Game lovers might see zebra, springbok, gemsbok and other animals (primarily in February and March), but there are much better places in Botswana to watch animals. And, in reality, most of the birds seen there are the same species that can be viewed more conveniently in the Okavango Delta (though the flocks of flamingos and pelicans tend to be larger on the pans).
The main attraction of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans is the atmosphere: The bleached landscape, the dead-flat terrain, the few bloated baobab trees and the multitude of mirages provide a kind of otherworldly experience. Quad biking (using four-wheel-drive all-terrain vehicles) across the cracked and dried pans is a popular adventure activity, and most guides can arrange it.
Kubu Island is especially eerie, as the vistas of salt flats extend to the horizon. Large baobab trees dot the island, which at the north end looks much like a ship's prow. A circular stone wall and about 70 small stone cairns can be seen at the south end of the island. Some archaeologists believe this enclosure was used as an initiation site by 14th-century Zimbabwe peoples.
If you visit Kubu Island, which can only be reached by four-wheel-drive vehicles, be very careful of the salt. When wet, it is so soft that it can literally swallow a vehicle down to the wheel wells in a few seconds.
Several typical Zimbabwe ruins are situated around the east and southern edges of the salt pan. Consumption of the salt on the pan is not advisable because it can cause diarrhea.
Joining a professional mobile safari is the safest way to explore the pans, and there are plenty of camp sites.
Moremi, hunted by the
Bushman as
long as 10,000 years ago, was initiated by the Batawana tribe and
covers some 4,871 km2, as the eastern section of the
Okavango Delta. Moremi is mostly described as one of the most beautiful
wildlife reserves in Africa. It combines mopane woodland and acacia forests, floodplains and lagoons. It
is the great diversity of plant and animal life that makes Moremi
so well known.
The idea to create a
game reserve first originated in 1961 and was approved by the Batawana
at a kgotla in 1963.
The area was then officially designated as a game reserve in April
1965 and was initially run by the Fauna Conservation Society of
Ngamiland. Moremi was then extended to include Chiefs Island in
1976. In August 1979 the reserve was taken over by the Department
of Wildlife and National Parks. A further extension was added as
recently as 1992 and now the reserve contains within its boundaries
approximately twenty percent of the Okavango Delta.
The town of Maun is an eclectic mix of modern buildings and native huts. There are shopping malls, banks, restaurants, a few hotels and some happening bars. Maun is the tourism capital of Botswana and the administrative centre of Ngamiland. It is also the headquarters of numerous safari and air-charter operations.
Cape Town is southern Africa's most beautiful, most romantic and most-visited city. Few urban centers anywhere can match its setting along the Cape Peninsula spine, which slides like the mighty tail of the continent into the Atlantic Ocean. By far the most striking - and famous - of its sights is Table Mountain, frequently mantled by clouds, and rearing up from the middle of the city to provide a constantly changing vista to the suburbs below. Table Mountain is the city's solid core which divides the city into distinct zones with public gardens, wilderness, forests, hiking routes, vineyards and desirable residential areas trailing down it's lower slopes.
Excursions
Cape Town City Tour - Half Day
Your guide will discuss the city's abundance of sightseeing possibilities and will tailor make your day's activities according to your individual interests and preferences. This affords you the advantage of total flexibility while still maintaining the expertise of a qualified guide. We first make our way to the to the lower cable car station on the slopes of Table Mountain, where (weather permitting) we make the short and comfortable ascent to the top of the mountain by cable car. The panoramic view of the sea and city from the summit is magnificent. Then begin the tour of historic Cape Town. Whether you are interested in visiting the traditional tourist attractions, indulging in a personal passion, or simply exploring the 'Mother City' as a local, Cape Town has more than enough diversity to cater to your personal preference.
Your half day tour includes two entrance fees as well as the return Table Mountain Aerial Cableway ticket. After your tour, you will be dropped off at your hotel.
Three Hour Cruise
The Inala Antares proudly awaits you in Cape Town, ready to take you first class on a journey of a lifetime. With its Italian styling, trendy interiors, quality construction techniques and performance it has been specially designed to meet your tastes and requirements.
Your day will start with a luxury transfer from your hotel providing you with a concierge service to help you orchestrate the perfect few hours on board the Inala.
Experience an exquisite Cape Town sunset with Table Mountain and the 12 Apostles as a backdrop as you cruise in pure luxury on board (weather depending on the day) otherwise in Table Bay towards the Bloubergstrand beaches.
The Inala is a 57ft Princess design, luxury motor yacht, moored in front of the Cape Grace Hotel V&A Waterfront. Your three hour cruise includes the famous Clifton beaches, with panoramic views of Table Mountain and the 12 Apostles in elegance and luxury. Clifton bay is on the way to Hout Bay and is the ideal place to spend a few hours at on board, enjoying the sun and a swim in the cool water.
Whale Watching Tour - Full Day
Your Whale watching excursion will either be done in Hermanus or Gansbaai, based on the best sightings & weather conditions over your period of travel.
The whale watching trips can also afford you the possibility to see: Great white sharks, Bryde's whales, Humpback whales, Southern giant petrels, Cape gannets and Dolphins, making these whale watching trips not just magical but rewarding too, and are sure to capture everyone's imagination.
Your return to shore will depend on the sightings for the day, which may result in a late lunch. Your guide will discuss the best restaurant options with you based on your preference and logistics. An A la Carte lunch including soft drinks & non-premium brand drinks and house wines is included in your tour.
Time permitting you may have the opportunity to walk along the coastal paths in Herma-nus where during whale season (mid June to mid November) whales may be seen playing close to the shore. You will be dropped off at your hotel in the late afternoon.
Cape Point Sidecar Tour - Full Day
Your guide will discuss your individual interests and preferences and tailor make the day's routing and sightings accordingly. All sidecars are decommissioned military bikes used during World War II, which has been restored and fully refurbished.
You will be supplied with retro leather jackets, helmets, goggles as well as a complimentary bandana. Depending on your interests you will be visiting all the iconic attractions such as Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Chapmans Peak Drive, Cape of Good Hope (including the Cape Point Funicular ticket) and the Boulders Penguin Colony.
Stop for lunch at a popular local restaurant including local wine and refreshments. Top off the day with a scenic coastal drive back to your hotel. After your day's touring, you will be dropped off at your hotel for your evening at leisure.
The Okavango delta is one of the world’s largest inland water systems. It's headwaters start in Angola’s western highlands, with numerous tributaries joining to form the Cubango river, which then flows through Namibia (called the Kavango) and finally enters Botswana, where it is then called the Okavango. It is a unique ecosystem with large populations of African mammals, birds, and other animals and is one of the last totally unspoiled areas in Africa. This destination is perfect for camping, picture taking, walking safaris, and mokoro (canoe) excursions.
Livingstone is less than 10 miles from beautiful Victoria Falls and is a delightful old colonial town named after the explorer David Livingstone. As Zambian tourism increases, more people are staying in Livingstone and new enterprises seem to be springing up. There are also many lovely lodges on the banks of the Zambezi.
