safari in style The Elegant Adventure: From the Delta to Zimbabwe

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1 The Elegant Adventure: From the Delta to Zimbabwe DAY BY DAY ITINERARY safari in style Beverly Joubert Singita OVERVIEW: THE ELEGANT ADVENTURE Begin your journey in the aquatic paradise of the Okavango Delta, where water-adapted wildlife is dense and diverse. Drive, walk, boat, and mokoro your way through riverine forests, grasslands, and marshlands never too far from a relaxing sundowner against the background of a brilliant Okavango sunset. Continue your adventures in Zimbabwe, a destination on the rise, where a rich cultural history meets innovative models of conservation to make this one of the most dynamic and adventurous places to explore on the African continent. Enjoy wildlife in Hwange National Park, track animals on foot with world class naturalists, and explore the mystery of the largest concentration of ancient rock paintings in the Matobo Hills. Throughout your journey, you will stay in elegant accommodations where luxury meets sustainability. Go beyond the traditional for an immersive adventure that will put you at the center of communities, conservation efforts, wilderness, and wildlife. Safaris in Style with Deeper Africa Safaris in Style are an African original. Camps set in remote and unique ecosystems where the wildlife is spectacular. Lodges where service standards are high, food is elegant, and the decor is unique. No humans for miles, just wilderness and wildlife. Learn by going, seeing, and doing -- a bush guide at your elbow. Do it once; do it right. Be in the best camps. Have the best guides. Return transformed, having come face to face with nature.

2 DAY 1 NXABEGA OKAVANGO TENTED CAMP OKAVANGO DELTA &Beyond Arrive at Maun International Airport in Botswana. A Deeper Africa representative will assist you in transferring to a bush flight. You ll get a great aerial view of the Okavango Delta prior to landing at Nxabega Camp s air strip. Nxabega is located in the heart of the Okavango Delta one of Africa s most complex and awe-inspiring natural environments. The Delta is an intricate maze of azure waterways and lagoons dotted with a patchwork of grassland islands where some of the densest wildlife populations in the world can be found. Unique as one of the world s few inland deltas, the Okavango s calm waters and lush indigenous forests offer a safe haven for the innumerable birds and wildlife species that call it home. Alcohol & Beverages At Nxabega you will find a serene, luxurious camp that represents the best of the Okavango s wild environments: forest woodlands and floodplains. The camp was refurbished in 2016, with its living and dining areas constructed from local timber, reed, and thatch, as well as burnished teak floors and a steeply pitched roof to frame the space. Spacious tents are tucked under a canopy of massive ebony trees with private porches gazing out onto the marshlands and floodplains of the Delta. THE ELEGANT ADVENTURE SAFARI

3 DAY 2 NXABEGA OKAVANGO TENTED CAMP OKAVANGO DELTA Begin your morning discussing wildlife viewing options with your guide over a fresh cup of coffee. Looking to find large herds of elephants? Hoping to catch a glimpse of some hippos? You guide knows the best locations to view these animals. He can take you by boat along the shores of a lagoon to observe elephants bathing, or further into the network of channels to spot hippo snouts rising above the water. Embark on a drive into the bush with your guide to get a sense of the incredible species diversity that exists in this small piece of Eden. Lion, cheetah, leopard, and African wild dogs share the floodplains with large herds of elephant, zebra, and buffalo. There is a variety of aquatic adapted wildlife including the elegant red lechwe and the shy sititunga. Alcohol and Beverages &beyond

4 DAY 3 NXABEGA OKAVANGO TENTED CAMP OKAVANGO DELTA &Beyond Be on the lookout for one of the first rhinos recently translocated from South Africa to Botswana by the Rhinos Without Borders program. Supported by a public-private partnership, Rhinos Without Borders seeks to move these endangered animals to locations where they can thrive. Rhinos are being transported from South Africa s Kruger National Park considered to be a poaching hot spot into Botswana, which has one of the lowest poaching rates in Africa. In Botswana, conservation efforts are supported by an official anti-poaching unit. The waters of the Okavango provide additional protection since so many of the land islands in the Delta can only be accessed by air or water. Once translocated, the rhino are allowed to roam free. This afternoon you have the opportunity to view wildlife in a way only available in the aquatic environments of the Okavango Delta via mokoro safari. Mokoros are traditional dugout canoes propelled through shallow waters by a guide who stands at the stern and pushes with a wooden pole. Mokoros enable you to silently glide along. This allows you to get as close to wildlife as possible, moving through the stands of papyrus and into the lily filled lagoons, where elephants and antelope wade, and kingfishers catch minnows. Alcohol and Beverages

5 DAY 4 CHITABE CAMP CHITABE CONCESSION Chitabe is located on the southern side of Moremi Game Reserve, between Chief s Island and the Mopane Tongue. What makes the area enthralling is its unique combination of habitats home to a diverse collection of mammal and bird species. Large variations in habitat patterns over relatively small distances is the norm here at Chitabe. This area features Botswana s classic woodland environments with mopane forests and riverine trees. The many habitat zones allow the opportunity to view a range of wildlife including impala, tessebe, kudu, blue wildebeest, Cape buffalo, as well as red lechwe on the flood plains. Giraffe are very common, as are Burchell s zebra. You should also have sightings of reedbuck, duiker, and steenbok. Leopard sightings are routine, as the mixed woodlands and floodplains provide them an ideal habitat. There are cheetah that stay throughout the year and a healthy resident lion population. The Botswana Predator Conservation Trust runs a research program near Chitabe focused on Africa s most endangered large carnivore the African wild dog. Chitabe supports the program financially and also provides logistics support to the researchers. At Chitabe, you ll have ample opportunities for wild dog sightings. Hyenas also are frequently observed, as are warthogs. Available Alcohol and Beverages Wilderness Safaris

6 DAY 5 CHITABE CAMP CHITABE CONCESSION With dry land now underfoot, your guide will get you out exploring Chitabe on a walking safari. You ll learn how to distinguish the prints of different species, and how a bush tracker goes about following the trail of an animal. Walking in the bush is an experience for all of the senses your vision and hearing heightened, as you learn to read the wilderness. Sometimes your tracking follows the small elements of nature, but other times there is joy when you are able to follow the large, smooth tracks of an elephant and her calf. Tonight after dinner, climb back in your 4 X 4 for one of Botswana s quintessential night wildlife drives. You ll have the opportunity to see nocturnal life in the bush with possible sightings of civet, genet, and bush babies, as well as the occasional porcupine and owl. Alcohol and Beverages &Beyond

7 DAY 6 CHITABE CAMP CHITABE CONCESSION Wilderness Safaris Chitabe s footprint on the environment is light. You ll notice that the camp runs 100% on solar power and that efficient solar geysers are used to heat water. Solar geysers are systems that pump water into solar panels which is then heated and stored in the geyser for your use hot water on demand. There are not any plastic bottles in this piece of wilderness; you ll have a reusable metal canteen for your drinking water. While you are not watching elephants, or the other amazing creatures that inhabit this paradise, look up to the sky at the Gabor goshawks, African hawk eagles, and Hooded vultures. Chitabe is well known for its raptors. On the ground you can see Ground hornbills, Red-billed hornbills, and Red-billed francolin. There are quite a number of migratory birds that pass through seasonally with 345 recorded species. Alcohol and Beverages Chitabe is well known for the comradery created between staff and guests. Celebrate your last night in this wildlife mecca with dinner out in the bush under the stars. Delicious food and drink, with engaging conversation.

8 DAY 7 e ELEPHANT CAMP VICTORIA FALLS Depart the Okavango on a bush flight to Kasane Airport near the Zimbabwe border. Your driver will meet you at Kasane for the drive through Zambezi National Park to Victoria Falls. You may spot some wildlife along the way. Arrive at Elephant Camp by early afternoon. Elephant Camp is situated in its own private concession along the Masuwe River, and it has breathtaking views of the Victoria Falls spray and the spectacular gorges which separate Zimbabwe and Zambia. This is a perfect base for exploring the natural wonders of the Victoria Falls Area. Today you'll be taking an unforgettable tour of the world s largest falling curtain of water. At an imposing 355 feet (108 meters) tall, Victoria Falls is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The falls is fed by the Zambezi river system and straddles the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. The noise of Victoria Falls can be heard from a distance of 25 miles (40 km), which is how it earned the local name of Mosi-oa-Tunya: the smoke that thunders. Get close and feel the curtains of mist envelop you. Alcohol and Beverages Wifi Complimentary Massage Wild Horizons

9 DAY 8 SOMALISA CAMP HWANGE NATIONAL PARK African Bush Camps Hike in the morning to Victoria Falls, known traditionally as Mosi-oa-Tunya, the smoke that thunders. Here, the mile wide Zambezi River roars down a ravine and spews up a mist plume a thousand feet high. Prepare for a soaking as you stand on the precipice and stare down into this dizzying maelstrom. Back at the hotel, change into dry clothes and then catch your bush flight to Hwange National Park and Somalisa Lodge. Winner of the 2016 Design Africa Award, Somalisa Lodge is the creation of Beks Ndlovu safari guide, designer, entrepreneur, and all-around Renaissance man. Beks designed the lodge for sustainability and integration with nature. Completely solar powered, the camp has its own recycling center and wastewater treatment plant. 80 percent of wastewater used at camp is returned to the environment. By design, there is no Wi-Fi or cell phone coverage at Somalisa. You have no choice but to engage with nature and leave modern cares behind. Alcohol & Beverages No need to leave camp for wildlife viewing here. Somalisa s water hole is a popular wildlife stop. Elephants may saunter up to the swimming pool for a refreshing sip. For the humans, drinks and meals are always al fresco, sometimes with the elephants as dinner guests.

10 DAY 9 SOMALISA CAMP HWANGE NATIONAL PARK Enjoy a full day of wildlife viewing in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe s biggest reserve. As a highlight, Hwange is a sanctuary for wild dogs. It is estimated that less than 7,000 remain in the wild. There is much to see as Hwange is home to 108 mammal species and 470 species of birds. Lions, elephants, buffalo, zebra, and giraffes are all part of the mix. Of course, it doesn t matter how many animals are in a park if you cannot find them. That s never a problem on a safari in Hwange Zimbabwe professional guides are among the best in the world. Getting a guiding license in Zimbabwe is a rigorous process where many are called, but few are chosen. A would-be guide must apprentice under a senior guide for a minimum of three years. During apprenticeship, guide candidates study a range of ecological subjects as well as current events and communication. At the end of the apprenticeship, a rigorous exam must be passed. The pass rate is said to be less than 20 percent. Going on safari with a Zimbabwe guide is not only enjoyable, it is profoundly educational. Alcohol & Beverages At sundown, you can celebrate your safari with campfire drinks and a dinner to remember under a twinkling night sky. African Bush Camps

11 DAY 10 SOMALISA CAMP HWANGE NATIONAL PARK African Bush Camps Rekero Foundation Camp Communities outside of Hwange s boundary are inherently linked to the park s operations. There are no fences around the conservation area, and wildlife can come and go freely. In a place where lions chase cattle, often there exists a tension between the needs of the wildlife and the community. Today you will spend the morning with the Long Shields Lion Guardians. The Lion Guardians are trained locals who serve as mediators between human-wildlife conflicts by keeping the lions out of the villages. When lions stray into a populated area, the Guardians deploy drums and vuvuzela horns to shoo them back to the park where they belong. Ask for a demonstration and volunteer for the role of lion. The Guardians will be happy to show off their newly invented lion-proof cattle pen. Alcohol & Beverages This afternoon you can get involved with community projects supported through tourism. Spend some time getting to know the members of the Vukani and Thandani projects local cooperatives who use recycled materials to produce high-quality crafts. Help the ladies string together beads or tour the vegetable gardens. The beautiful jewelry and clothing produced has found a market with tourists, and Somalisa Camp itself utilizes locally sourced textiles and produce in their camps.

12 DAY 11 CAMP AMALINDA MATOBO NATIONAL PARK Matobo Hills, a wildlife haven of granite towers and sheltering caves, has been irresistible to humanity for at least 500,000 years. Here, stories of hope, strife, and spiritual reverence are told in vibrant rock paintings, oral traditions, and ancient shrines. In 2003, the United Nations made the Matobo Hills a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Matobo is rich in wildlife with rhino, leopard, sable antelope, monkeys, baboons, and hundreds of other species. The forest itself has over 200 kinds of trees. Ancient pottery, stone tools, and rock drawings can be found throughout, making this an explorer s paradise. With at least 3,000 rock art sites, some over 10,000 years old, Matobo claims the highest concentration of rock art in the world. Your stay here will be at Camp Amalinda. Amalinda is a low impact lodge with only nine cottages created from thatch and wood carefully woven into the boulders and alcoves of a stone-age shelter and rock painting site. Alcohol & Beverages Spa Available After lunch, walk around the camp s expansive grounds looking for wildlife. For more exercise, climb on smooth granite outcrops and discover what early inhabitants have left behind. Amalinda

13 DAY 12 CAMP AMALINDA MATOBO NATIONAL PARK Amalinda Climb and explore in the stunning terrain of the granite whalebacks, castle kopjes, and balancing rocks that tower above the mahogany forest. Scramble up a whaleback, and share the sun with kaleidoscopic lizards that bask and skitter on the rocks. Hike to an alcove where stories of ancient people live in the vibrant rock painting. Paintings show the ancient San people dancing, running and hunting. Wildlife paintings are exquisite with giraffes, elephants, antelopes, and rhino rendered in precise detail. Animals move with grace and energy, feeding, running, and playing. Shamanic visions are wrought with eerie abstraction. By special arrangement, you can retain archaeologist Paul Hubbard as your guide. Paul is a world renowned expert on rock art and pre-colonial African culture. The afternoon brings rhino trekking with an expert wildlife guide. You may even have a chance to track rhino on foot. The Matobo Hills has healthy population of both white and black rhino, and an abundance of other game. You may see any number of other creatures, as Matobo is home to zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, kudu, eland, sable, klipspringer, leopard, hyena, wildcat, baboons monkeys, and more. Alcohol & Beverages Spa Available Unwind and recount the adventure over drinks around the campfire, or perhaps a visit to Amalinda s Safari Spa.

14 DAY 13 SINGITA PAMUSHANA LODGE MALILANGWE WILDLIFE RESERVE Your next destination is Singita Pamushana, the luxury lodge on a mission. In the local Shangaan language, Pamushana means: place of miracles and sunshine. It lives up to its name. By any standard, Singita is a world-class destination with fine wine, posh design, and perfection in service. Pulling that off in such a remote wilderness is a miracle indeed. Even more amazing, is Singita s genuine dedication to caring for humanity while protecting wilderness and wildlife. Singita operates as the eco-tourism wing of the Malilangwe Trust that protects 130,000 acres of wildlife reserve next to the vast and remote Gonarezhou National Park. The Singita mission is to create harmony between wildlife conservation initiatives and community development. The Singita-Malilangwe community program takes local children on game drives while educating them about conservation. Additionally, the community program feeds 19,500 local child every school day, provides an irrigation program for local subsistence farmers, and provides university scholarships for local students. Singita-Malilangwe s conservation program preserves cultural treasures, prevents wildlife poaching, and promotes wildlife diversity, including the reintroduction and protection of endangered rhino populations. Alcohol & Beverages Private Plunge Pool WiFi Singita

15 DAY 14 SINGITA PAMUSHANA LODGE MALILANGWE WILDLIFE RESERVE Singita Today is a wildlife and walking day. A professionally guided wildlife drive led by a top resident ranger and a game tracker will get you close to an astounding number of animals. Sightings of big cats, white and black rhino, hartebeest, wild dogs, and over 400 species of birds are all possible. Along the way, you are encouraged to take an active role in experiencing and protecting the reserve. Learn about the reserve s poaching patrols. They are impressive not a single elephant or rhino has been lost to poachers in seven years. Experience the thrill of game tracking on foot. You will set out in a well-equipped land cruiser, but there are ample opportunities to get out and stretch your legs. In the afternoon, take a guided walk through the forest. Search for wildlife, marvel at the abundant rock art, and learn the practical and medicinal uses of trees and plants. Alcohol & Beverages Private Plunge Pool WiFi After dinner, take a night drive and explore the entirely different world of nocturnal life under a flawless nighttime sky. This is the chance to find more elusive creatures like the African wildcat, spotted genet, serval, caracal, and honey badger. If very lucky, you may spot the legendary aardvark.

16 DAY 15 SINGITA PAMUSHANA LODGE MALILANGWE WILDLIFE RESERVE Today you will meet your neighbors, the Shangaan people, who until recently lived as hunter-gatherers. They still retain a deep understanding of the environment that is indispensable to Singita s conservations efforts. The Shangaan are proud of their heritage. To share their culture with visitors, they developed the Kamboko Living Museum, an interactive experience where you learn nature-based skillsets and states of mind that are valuable to a meaningful life. Their motto is preserve the past to enrich the future. They will teach you how to make a fire with just sticks, how to find food and medicine in the wild, and how to craft arrows, pottery, beads and textiles. The importance of adaptability, ingenuity, and spirit is emphasized throughout the experience. The pros and cons of the traditional life are frankly discussed in comparison to modern existence. After the Kamboko experience, visit a village to learn more about how the Malilangwe Trust is feeding thousands of children daily to promote education and conservation. Visit with school children and their parents to develop an understanding of the aspirations and challenges of the next generation. Alcohol & Beverages Private Plunge Pool WiFi Singita

17 DAY 16 INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT Singita Savor one last morning surrounded by the natural beauty of Malilangwe before boarding a bush flight that will take you to the Johannesburg airport in South Africa. From there you can transfer to your international flight home. International Flight #1 Departs: Johannesburg, South Africa Arrives: TBD DAY 17 INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT Intentional Flight #2 Depart: TBD Arrives: TBD

18 ADDITIONAL SAFARI INFORMATION IN YOUR SAFARI Full board accommodations in all lodges and tented camps All meals as included in itinerary Game drives in private 4x4 safari Land Cruisers All park and entrance fees Experienced and professional safari naturalist guides All in-country transportation including bush flights Beverages in 4x4 vehicles Bottled water available at all times Alcohol & beverages Extensive pre-departure briefing and materials including health information, reading list, and map EXCLUDED IN YOUR SAFARI Gratuities Certain premium brands of alcohol & beverages We plan your wildlife adventures in areas where wildlife habitats are known to exist for the season and time you are traveling. Still, animals in the areas you are viewing are not in a zoo. They run freely, and we cannot always anticipate their movements pricing $17,199 - $21, CUSTOM DATES & PRICING January - March 2017 $17,199 USD per person Single supplement: $2,699 USD April - May; November - December, 2017 $18,499 USD per person Single supplement: $3,199 USD June - October, 2017 $21,799 USD per person Single supplement: $4,699 USD Best Value All pricing is in US dollars. International arrivals are into Maun, Botswana. Departures are from Johannesburg, South Africa. Prices do not include international airfare, but do include in-country charter and bush flights. All itineraries and prices are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstance. Also, Deeper Africa uses best efforts to provide the lodging set out in this itinerary, but occasionally there are circumstances that occur in East Africa that require lodging substitutions. We reserve the right to make comparable lodging substitutions whenever necessary Manhattan Circle, Suite 202 Boulder, Colorado fx safaris in style