Our Tours & Safaris
Themed Safaris
Single Country Safaris
Multi-Country Safaris
Destination Map
Okavango islands
The massive impact of the floodwaters on the Okavango Delta makes for a safari quite unlike any other, with lush vegetation, abundant game, and intense predator action. This safari allows you to soundlessly float past game, then stalk them on land, giving you a broad exposure to this exiting landscape.
6 Nights, 7 Days
- Single supplements and child discounts may apply
- Price varies with seasonality and room options
- Indicative price is for low season
Itinerary
- 3 nights in the Okavango Delta at Wilderness Safaris Vumbura Plains Camp
- 3 nights in the Okavango Delta at Wilderness Safaris Mombo Camp
Snapshot
Botswana is a wildlife mecca. Almost 20% of its land has been dedicated to wildlife conservation, and no hunting is allowed in the country. Very broadly, there are four distinctive destinations, being the Kalahari Desert in the centre, and the Makgadidkgadi Salt Pans, the Okavango Delta and the Chobe National Park in the north. Our Botswana safaris offer a number of combinations of these.
The Okavango Delta is a region of great variation. The primary distinction is between the ‘permanently wet’, and ‘permanently dry’ sections, and sections that lie on the edge of these. The north-eastern section of the delta consists mostly of large permanent water channels, and dry land in between. We call this the ‘edge’. The western part of the delta sees the greatest variation in seasonal flooding, and is not covered by our safaris.
This safari covers the edge and dry sections of the Delta.
The first stop on this safari is in the north-east of the delta. This section of the delta has a mosaic of bigger, permanent channels. Field trips are a mix of water-based, mostly off boats rather than mokoros, and land-based. The open plains and tree islands attract enormous herds of buffalo, and the area is well known for some of the best interaction between these large herbivores and their nemesis, the lion.
The second stop heads off to Chief’s Island, a huge area of waterways, plains and forests. Chief’s Island is a slightly elevated, permanently dry section in the middle of the delta, and has incredibly high concentrations of plains game and their predators - setting the stage for intense interactions. Field trips are almost exclusively on foot or in game drive vehicles.
Overview
3 nights in the Okavango Delta at Wilderness Safaris Vumbura Plains Camp
3 nights in the Okavango Delta at Wilderness Safaris Mombo Camp
The Okavango Delta, with its glittering channels and watercourses, is a massive inland delta that covers over 15 000km2. The summer rains that are the lifeblood of the delta, fall in the highlands of Angola and take about four months to complete their journey, lazily meandering their way down the 1 200km watercourse to arrive in the Delta and slowly spreading through the wetlands just in time for winter. There is less than a 2 metre difference in elevation across the Delta, which means that once the water gets there, it fans out extensively. By June each year, the flood basin has normally swelled to three times its normal size. There are an estimated 200 000 large mammals in the Delta, mostly elephant and buffalo, Herds of 250 000 zebra make the 240km march to the Makgadikgadi every year, returning home to the Delta for the winter feast. The predators follow this age-old pattern instinctively. Lions, leopards, hyena, wild dog, cheetah and jackal smack their lips at the inevitable return of the great herds, waiting patiently for their moment to pounce.
Detail
Vumbura Plains is an exceptionally luxurious eco-retreat of contemporary design, set on a forested island overlooking a vast floodplain in the northern Okavango Delta. Children 6 years and over are welcome at the North Camp, while South Camp is more couple-orientated. Connected by boardwalks, both camps at Vumbura Plains boast seven palatial open-plan suites each. Suites are set well apart and raised on wooden platforms. Each has its own open-sided sunken lounge, additional outdoor shower, private plunge pool and spacious viewing deck.
Vumbura Plains is located in the Kwedi, an unfenced private concession in the extreme north of the Okavango Delta and is renowned for varied and high densities of game. Predators include several resident prides of lion, as well as leopard, cheetah, African wildcat and African wild dog. There is good seasonal viewing of elephant, giraffe, impala, kudu, zebra, common waterbuck and reedbuck, tsessebe, wildebeest, and red lechwe, and the area produces some of the best sable antelope sightings in the whole of Botswana.
Mombo Camp was recently named ‘Best Hotel in the World’ by Travel+Leisure, and deservedly so. It is sumptuous and ultra luxurious. It is located in the midst of the Okavango Delta on the northern point of Chief’s Island, a huge area of waterways, plains and forests.
The raised camp nestles under large, shady trees and overlooks a floodplain that is generally brimming with life. The extremely spacious and luxurious en-suite tents are raised two metres from the ground and connected by wooden walkways. They feature expansive en-suite sleeping quarters, a large indoor shower overlooking the plains, and a dedicated lounge area that opens onto a long veranda with an outdoor shower and shaded seating.
Viewing high concentrations of plains game and their predators is the order of the day at Mombo. These include all the big cats, of which lion sightings are frequent - setting the stage for incredible predator interactions. Leopard sightings are superb.
The Okavango Delta
Life in the Okavango Delta is governed by the rise and fall of floodwater, and access to different parts of the Delta varies with the season. June through to August is considered the best time for a safari, much of which is done by boat or canoe, as the water is at its highest. At this time of year the extent of the floodwater is at its most dramatic, and the animals will all have arrived in their droves. Hot, dry September and October are also good. The waters will have begun to recede and animals will crowd the waterholes.
The water of the Okavango River never reach the sea. Some drains into the neighbouring Moremi National Park, to the east of the Delta, and into Lake Ngami to the south. But the majority of the water is there to nourish the grasses and trees of the Delta, and to support one of the greatest concentrations of game in Africa. It is a seasonal rhythm, and when the floodwaters begin to ebb, many of the huge herds disperse, following the rains to greener pastures, only to return in the winter months in an endless repetition of one of nature’s greatest cycles.
The largest island in the Delta is known as Chief’s Island. It was formed by a fault line that uplifted an area over 70km long and 15km wide. In days gone by, it was reserved as an exclusive hunting area for the chief of the area, but now it provides the core dry land mass for much of the resident wildlife when the Delta is in flood.
Logistics
This safari commences and ends in Johannesburg, South Africa
- Commercial flight, economy class, ORT International Airport in Johannesburg to Maun Airport, Botswana
- Scheduled charter flight, Maun to Vumbura Plains Camp
- 3 Nights accommodation at Vumbura Plains Camp in the Okavango Delta
- Scheduled charter flight, Vumbura Plains Camp to Mombo Camp
- 3 Nights accommodation at Mombo Camp in the Okavango Delta
- Scheduled charter flight, Mombo Camp to Maun
- Commercial flight, economy class, Maun Airport, Botswana to ORT International Airport in Johannesburg
6 Nights, 7 Days
- Single supplements and child discounts may apply
- Price varies with seasonality and room options
- Indicative price is for low season
Itinerary
- 3 nights in the Okavango Delta at Wilderness Safaris Little Vumbura
- 3 nights in the Okavango Delta at Wilderness Safaris Chitabe Lediba Camp
SNAPSHOT
Botswana is a wildlife mecca. Almost 20% of its land has been dedicated to wildlife conservation, and no hunting is allowed in the country. Very broadly, there are four distinctive destinations, being the Kalahari Desert in the centre, and the Makgadidkgadi Salt Pans, the Okavango Delta and the Chobe National Park in the north. Our Botswana safaris offer a number of combinations of these.
The Okavango Delta is a region of great variation. The primary distinction is between the ‘permanently wet’, and ‘permanently dry’ sections, and sections that lie on the edge of these. The north-eastern section of the delta consists mostly of large permanent water channels, and dry land in between. We call this the ‘edge’. The western part of the delta sees the greatest variation in seasonal flooding, and is not covered by our safaris.
This safari covers the edge and dry sections of the Delta.
The first stop on this safari is in the north-east of the delta. This section of the delta has a mosaic of bigger, permanent channels. Field trips are a mix of water-based, mostly off boats rather than mokoros, and land-based. The open plains and tree islands attract enormous herds of buffalo, and the area is well known for some of the best interaction between these large herbivores and their nemesis, the lion.
The second stop heads off to Chief’s Island, a huge area of waterways, plains and forests. Chief’s Island is a slightly elevated, permanently dry section in the middle of the delta, and has incredibly high concentrations of plains game and their predators - setting the stage for intense interactions. Field trips are almost exclusively on foot or in game drive vehicles.
Overview
3 nights in the Okavango Delta at Wilderness Safaris Little Vumbura
3 nights in the Okavango Delta at Wilderness Safaris Chitabe Lediba Camp
The Okavango Delta, with its glittering channels and watercourses, is a massive inland delta that covers over 15 000km2. The summer rains that are the lifeblood of the delta, fall in the highlands of Angola and take about four months to complete their journey, lazily meandering their way down the 1 200km watercourse to arrive in the Delta and slowly spreading through the wetlands just in time for winter. There is less than a 2 metre difference in elevation across the Delta, which means that once the water gets there, it fans out extensively. By June each year, the flood basin has normally swelled to three times its normal size. There are an estimated 200 000 large mammals in the Delta, mostly elephant and buffalo, Herds of 250 000 zebra make the 240km march to the Makgadikgadi every year, returning home to the Delta for the winter feast. The predators follow this age-old pattern instinctively. Lions, leopards, hyena, wild dog, cheetah and jackal smack their lips at the inevitable return of the great herds, waiting patiently for their moment to pounce.
Detail
Little Vumbura is an intimate camp on the north-eastern edge of the Okavango Delta and lies in the shade of an ancient forest of ebony and African mangosteen. It is surrounded by water, giving it the feel of a luxurious private island. With access to large rivers from the floating jetty, all the water-based activities are excellent. Boat cruises have an extensive reach into the waterways of the delta, and makoro rides afford a more intimate interaction.
Each of the 6 tented suites has been designed to blend in with the landscape, and there is a beautiful view from each of the spacious en-suite tents. The main area of the camp is friendly and charming and has extensive leisure areas from which to enjoy the sights and sounds of the delta.
The vast open plains around Little Vumbura, and the mosaic of tree islands and meandering water-ways attract enormous herds of buffalo, inevitably followed by prides of lion – lots of them. The area is well known for some of the best interaction between these two perpetual nemeses, creating some of the most exciting game viewing on offer. The mixed habitat draws almost every species of animal that occurs in the delta, including the rare sable antelope.
Chitabe Camp is the perfect combination of luxury, romance and untamed wilderness. Its secluded and intimate tented suites are indulgent in every way, attended to by a team of staff that are friendly, charming and helpful. The guides are extremely knowledgeable, and will make you safari experience fun, fascinating and unforgettable, no matter what your interest.
Chitabe Camp consists of 8 luxury tented suites, including a special honeymoon suite. Set under a towering canopy of trees, the main lodge area is a fabulous place to unwind, a place where the smell of the campfire, the incandescent glow of the Milky Way, and the night songs of the cicadas and frogs, draw a perfect day to a close.
The Chitabe concession is situated on an island in the south-eastern reaches of the Okavango Delta. The Delta rises and falls in an annual cycle as old as time itself, but the really big flood waters never reach quite as far as Chitabe Camp, which makes it one of the best ‘dry’ safari destinations in the area. This part of the delta is still affected by the seasonal ebb and flow, but more gently so, making it a perfect combination of seasonal wetlands, dense forest woodlands and open grassy plains. Chitabe falls in Botswana’s wild dog research area and these highly endangered animals are regularly seen on game drives.
The Okavango Delta
Life in the Okavango Delta is governed by the rise and fall of floodwater, and access to different parts of the Delta varies with the season. June through to August is considered the best time for a safari, much of which is done by boat or canoe, as the water is at its highest. At this time of year the extent of the floodwater is at its most dramatic, and the animals will all have arrived in their droves. Hot, dry September and October are also good. The waters will have begun to recede and animals will crowd the waterholes.
The water of the Okavango River never reach the sea. Some drains into the neighbouring Moremi National Park, to the east of the Delta, and into Lake Ngami to the south. But the majority of the water is there to nourish the grasses and trees of the Delta, and to support one of the greatest concentrations of game in Africa. It is a seasonal rhythm, and when the floodwaters begin to ebb, many of the huge herds disperse, following the rains to greener pastures, only to return in the winter months in an endless repetition of one of nature’s greatest cycles.
The largest island in the Delta is known as Chief’s Island. It was formed by a fault line that uplifted an area over 70km long and 15km wide. In days gone by, it was reserved as an exclusive hunting area for the chief of the area, but now it provides the core dry land mass for much of the resident wildlife when the Delta is in flood.
LOGISTICS
This safari commences and ends in Johannesburg, South Africa
- Commercial flight, economy class, ORT International Airport in Johannesburg to Maun Airport, Botswana
- Scheduled charter flight, Maun to Little Vumbura
- 3 Nights accommodation at Little Vumbura in the Okavango Delta
- Scheduled charter flight, Little Vumbura to Chitabe Camp
- 3 Nights accommodation at Chitabe Camp in the Okavango Delta
- Scheduled charter flight, Chitabe Camp to Maun
- Commercial flight, economy class, Maun Airport, Botswana to ORT International Airport in Johannesburg
Itinerary
Hot Right Now!
Take advantage of the lower South African exchange rate and get a luxury trip at an amazing price:
Hottest Tours of 2016
Cape Town & the Kruger
Active Adventure Tour
Golf & The Big 5
