PO Box 113
Upingtong 8800
South Africa
Cell. + 27 (0) 82 493 5041
Tel. Fax. + 27 (0) 54 338 0375
Fax. +27 (0) 86 6000 827
www.kalahari-tours.co.za
E-mail. tours@kalahari-tours.co.za
Owner: Dantes Liebenberg
THETA ACCREDITED GUIDE (N.CAPE)
REGISTERED GUIDE (4X4)
CC Registration no. 2008/093786/23
IN ASSOCCIATION WITH KALAHARI TOURS & TRAVEL
Date: 06/03/2016
NORTHERN SA – BOTSWANA - KGALAGADI TOUR
25 days – 24 nights
This tour goes through a malaria area!
Marakele & Mapungubwe NP’s, Khama Rhino, Makgadigadi Pan & Nxai Pan NP’s, Nata Bird Sanctuary, Chobe NP,
Khwai, Moremi, Kaa Concession, Kgalagadi
Green = Parks & Reserves
Blue = Places of interest
Red = Optional activities
This tour covers 1 Transfrontier Parks, 7 National Parks & 8 Reserves/conservation areas
This tour consist of 03 sections: Days 01 – 12, Days 13 – 18 & days 19 – 25. Clients can join
any of the sections if they don’t want to do the full tour. See details in red in the itinerary.
DAY 01
11 July 2012
Johannesburg – Marakele National Park
Meet at OR Tambo International in Johannesburg. Proceed to Marakele National Park in the
Waterberg Mountains, home of the world’s largest colony of cape vultures. Big game species flourish in
this transitional zone between South Africa’s dry and moist regions. Marakele is home to most of the
large mammals synonymous with the African bush, including elephant, black and white rhino, buffalo,
leopard and cheetah. Large Predators such as cheetah, wild dog, brown hyena, leopard and now also
lion, occur in the park. Rhinos are seen very often at sunset at the waterhole near the camping area
and they are regular visitors to the camping area after sunset.
Marakele is a good birding park and is home to various species due to the different habitats varying
from low lying bush to high mountain terrain in the Waterberg.
Overnight:
Bontle Camping Site camping (Luxury tents available at Thlopi at R400-00pp/s)
Meals:
B & D
DAY 02
12 July 2012
Marakele National Park
Game and birding drives.
Overnight:
Bontle Camping Site camping (Luxury tents available at Thlopi at R400-00pp/s)
Meals:
B & D
DAY 03
13 July 2012
Marakele – Mapungubwe National Park
Depart to Mapangubwe National Park. Mapungubwe borders on the confluence of the Shashe and
Limpopo rivers and is neighboring Botswana and Zimbabwe. Agreements have been signed for the
Limpopo-Shashe Transfrontier Conservation Area.
Elephant, giraffe, white rhino, eland, gemsbok and numerous other antelope species occur naturally in
the area. Lucky visitors might spot predators like lions, leopards and hyenas. More than 400 bird
species have been identified here. Except for the wildlife, Mapungubwe has evidence of early man
living here. At Mapungubwe Hill, a far developed African civilization prospered between 1200 and 1270
AD. The area was already inhabited by a growing Iron Age community from 900 AD and became rich
through trade with faraway places like Egypt, India and China. This is the place where archaeologists
excavated the famous golden rhino and other evidence of a wealthy African kingdom. Afternoon game
drive.
Overnight:
Forest Tent at Limpopo Forest Camp
Meals:
B & D
DAY 04
Game, birding
Overnight:
Meals:
14 July 2012
Mapungubwe National Park
– and sightseeing drives. Do an informative guided tour of Mapungubwe Hill.
Forest Tent at Limpopo Forest Camp
B & D
DAY 05
15 July 2012
Mapungubwe – Khama Rhino Sanctuary
Depart to the Botswana Border Post at Platjan. Enter Botswana. Continue via Selebi-Pikwe to Khama
Rhino Sanctuary. The sanctuary is situated near Serowe. During the 1980's, due to indiscriminate
poaching, rhinos were made almost extinct in Botswana. In 1992 a community trust wildlife was
established to create a park to safeguard the few remaining rhino and to re-establish both black and
white rhino populations in the area. This project has been highly successful and the reserve is now
flourishing under the protection of the Botswana Defense Force and a dedicated team of
conservationists.
The reserve is situated on 4,300 hectares of Kalahari sandveld. Rhino share the reserve with giraffe,
red hartebeest, ostrich, brown hyena, leopard, jackal, antelope and smaller mammals such as the bateared fox, lynx and wild cat. There is also abundant birdlife in the sanctuary with a large variety of
raptors. Afternoon game drive.
Overnight
Chalet at Khama Rhino Sanctuary
Meals:
B & D
DAY 06
16 July 2012
Khama Rhino – Makgadigadi Pans National Park
Depart to Makgadigadi Pans National Park. Elephants, white rhinos, hippos, crocodiles are residents in
this Park. Huge numbers of zebra migrate from the Makgadigadi Pans to the Boteti River during the
dry season. Lions, leopards and spotted hyenas are seen often.
The Boteti River started flowing again in 2009 after 27 years and has transformed the area to a bird
paradise. The park is home to various raptor and vulture species, herons, francolins, hornbills, rollers,
bee-eaters, seedeaters and aquatic species.
Overnight:
Khumaga camping
Meals:
B & D
DAY 07
17 July 2012
Game and birding drives
Overnight:
Khumaga camping
Meals:
B & D
Makgadigadi Pans National Park
DAY 08
18 July 2012
Makgadigadi Pans National Park – Nxai Pan National Park
Morning game drive in Makgadigadi Pans National Park. Depart to Nxai Pan National Park. Nxai Pan
consists of a combination of dry pans, grassland, thick bush and clumps of mopane, acacia and baobab
trees. Elephant, giraffe, kudu, wildebeest, hartebeest, springbok, impala, gemsbok and zebra are
common to see. Spotting lions is general and cheetah and brown hyenas are seen very often too.
Kudiakam Pan is home to an isolated group of Baobabs known as Baine’s Baobabs.
Various raptor and vulture species are seen in the Park. Secretary birds, Kori bustards, korhaan and
coursers are common on the open grass plains.
Overnight:
Nxai Pan camping
Meals:
B & D
DAY 09
19 July 2012
Game and birding drives
Overnight:
Nxai Pan camping
Meals:
B & D
Nxai Pan National Park
DAY 10
20 July 2012
Nxai Pan - Nata
Proceed to Nata. Visit Nata Bird Sanctuary. The Nata Sanctuary at Sowa Pan, which is part of the
Makgadikgadi Pans, is a community project and one of Botswana’s premier birding destinations. Nata
Sanctuary is home to 165 bird species including flamingos and pelicans. After good rains, hundreds of
thousands of globally threatened Lesser Flamingos, along with Greater Flamingos, Chestnut-banded
Plovers, Great White and Pink-backed Pelicans, and a host of other water birds converge on the
nutrient-rich waters of the pans. As the pan dries out, the Sanctuary hosts the largest congregation
of Lesser Flamingos in Southern Africa.
Overnight:
Chalet at Nata Lodge.
Meals:
B & D
DAY 11
21 July 2012
Nata – Kasane area
Depart north via Sibuyu -, Kazuma - & Kasane Forest Reserves to Senyati Safari Camp near
Kazangula. Senyati is situated next to Kasane Forest Reserve and from a viewing deck one can watch
herds of elephant drinking 50 m away. Buffalo, kudu, sable, roan, impalas, leopard and hyena are
regular visitors too.
Overnight:
Chalet at Senyati Safari Camp.
Meals:
B & D
DAY 12
22 July 2012
Chobe National Park
Early morning departure to Chobe National Park. This is elephant country. Chobe National Park is very
famous for its abundance of elephant. This Park has the highest concentration of elephant anywhere in
Africa, an estimated 120 000!! Chobe is also famous for its huge herds of buffalo and its rich bird
life. Many species of birds can be seen on the river drive. Full day game and birding drive. Return to
Senyati.
Overnight:
Chalet at Senyati Safari Camp.
Meals:
B & D
Clients can leave the tour and fly out from Kasane Airport or visit Vic Falls and fly out from Vic
Falls or Kasane. Rates for Days 01 – 12 on request.
Clients can also join the tour by flying in on 22 July to Kasane.
DAY 13
23 July 2012
Chobe National Park
Depart to Kasane. Replenish supplies. Continue to Savuti in Chobe National Park via the Chobe Forest
Reserve. In sharp contrast with the Chobe River front, the Savuti is almost a desert-like landscape.
The Savuti channel has started flowing again in 2009 after 27 years and has transformed the Savuti
Marsh into a bird paradise and heaven for the elephants. Lions, leopard, hyena and wild dogs are seen
quite often.
Overnight:
Savuti camping
Meals:
B & D
DAY 14
24 July 2012
Chobe - Khwai Community Trust & Wildlife Management Area
Proceed south to the Khwai Community Trust & Wildlife Management Area on the northern side of
the Khwai River, which is the border of Moremi Game Reserve. This pristine area is rich in wildlife and
teems with bird life. The campsite overlooks the Khwai River, which is an extension of the Okavango
Delta.
(No facilities. Portable toilet and shower bag supplied)
Overnight:
Magotho Community Campsite camping
Meals:
B & D
DAY 15
25 July 2012
Khwai Community Trust & Wildlife Management Area
Game and birding drives along the Khwai River.
(No facilities. Portable toilet and shower bag supplied)
Overnight:
Magotho Community Campsite camping
Meals:
B & D
DAY 16
26 July 2012
Kaziikini – Moremi Game Reserve (Okavango Delta)
Depart to Moremi Game Reserve. Moremi is definitely one of the best game reserves within Botswana,
offering the visitor a magnificent variety in landscape and marvelous wildlife all year round.
Birdwatchers will be amazed. Optional boat trips on the Delta can be done from Xakanaxa.
Overnight:
Xakanaxa camping
Meals:
B & D
DAY 17
27 July 2012
Game and birding drives.
Overnight:
Xakanaxa camping
Meals:
B & D
Moremi Game Reserve (Okavango Delta)
DAY 18
28 July 2012
Moremi - Ghanzi
Proceed to Maun via the Sankuyo Community Trust wildlife area. Continue south to Ghanzi, where the
feeling of a frontier town still lingers. Replenish supplies.
Overnight:
Hotel Ghanzi
Meals:
B & D
Clients can leave the tour and fly out from Maun Airport. Rates for Days 01 – 18 or Days 12 18 on request.
Clients can also join the tour by flying in on 27 or 28 July to Maun and join the tour to the end
on Day 25. Rates on request for Days 12 – 25 or Days 18 -25 on request.
DAY 19
29 July 2012
Ghanzi – Kaa Kalahari Concession
Depart to Kang on the Trans Kalahari Highway. Continue south via Hukuntsi and Zutshwa to Name Pan
in the Kaa Kalahari Concession Area. The Kaa Kalahari Concession lies in the southwest of Botswana
and borders on the north of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and is one of the last great unfenced
wilderness areas in Southern Africa covering 1,3 million ha. Roughly 800 people live in a few small
villages. There are two major ethnic groups; the Bakgalagadi and Basarwa or San. The latter lives here
for 3 000 years.
Vast herds of game can still be seen in typical Kalahari veld with rolling grass plains and Acacia
woodland. The area is dotted with pans (dry lakes) which fill up with water after good rains in summer
and attract large herds of eland, gemsbok, springbok, red hartebeest, some predators and many birds.
Over 50 species of raptors have been recorded here. Kaa Concession is of ecological importance as it is
the migratory corridor between the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and the Central Kalahari Game
Reserve.
(No facilities. Portable toilet and shower bag supplied)
Overnight:
Name Pan camping (No facilities)
Meals:
B & D
DAY 20
30 July 2012
Ghanzi – Kaa Kalahari Concession
Short game and birding drives. Relax and enjoy the remoteness of Name Pan. (No facilities. Portable
toilet and shower bag supplied)
Overnight:
Name Pan camping (No facilities)
Meals:
B & D
DAY 21
31 July 2012
Kaa Kalahari Concession - Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Proceed to Kaa Gate on the northern border of the Botswana part of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier
Park. Part of this trail goes through beautiful savannah woodland north of Kaa. Lions are seen or heard
very often in the Kaa area.
Continue south to theNossob Valley. Eland are seen very often on this route. Game drive to Polentswa
Camp on the Botswana side in this 37 000 square km park, which is one of the largest conservation
areas in the world and one of the last truly unspoilt ecosystems. Endemic game such as gemsbok,
springbok, eland, giraffe, blue wildebeest and red hartebeest roam the sparsely vegetated red sand
dunes and the dry river valleys of the Nossob and Auob where a variety of acacia species thrive.
The Park is well known for good sightings of lion, leopard and cheetah and spotted - and brown hyena
are common residents. Because of an abundance of prey in the form of mice, whistling rats, birds and
insects, smaller predators thrive in the park. The park is home to caracal, honey badger, black-backed
jackal, bat-eared fox, cape fox, African wildcat, mongoose and the ever-popular suricate (meerkat).
Kgalagadi is a bird watcher’s paradise with more than 300 species recorded including at least 20 larger
raptor species. The world’s heaviest flying bird, the Kori bustard and the stately secretary bird patrol
the riverbeds while the noisy northern black korhaan rule in the dunes.
The remote campsite overlooks the vegetated Polentswa Pan and is known for beautiful sunsets. Lions,
Hyenas and brown hyenas are regular visitors to Polentswa at night.
(The facilities at Polentswa are very basic. Each campsite has an A-frame shade structure, pit toilet
and a shelter for shower bag.)
Overnight:
Polentswa Camping
Meals:
B & D
DAY 22
01 Aug 2012
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Game and birding drives in the Nossob River Valley
Overnight:
Polentswa Camping
Meals:
B & D
DAY 23
02 Aug 2012
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Game and birding drive south via the Nossob River valley to Nossob Camp. Nossob area is known for
lions and raptors. Optional 3 hr sunset drive and 3 hr morning guided walk (if available) @ R175-00 &
R275-00 pp if available
Overnight:
Chalet at Nossob
Meals:
B & D
DAY 24
03 Aug 2012
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Game and birding drive south via the Nossob River Valley to Dikbaardskolk Picnic Area. Continue on the
upper dune road and the Auob River Valley to Mata Mata Camp on the Namibia border. The Mata Mata
area is known for cheetah, lion, hyena and giraffe sightings and raptors and owls are common in the
Auob River Valley. Optional 3 hr sunset drive and 3 hr morning guided walk (if available) @ R175-00 &
R275-00 pp if available
Overnight:
Chalet at Mata Mata
Meals:
B & D
DAY 25
04 Aug 2012
Kgalagadi – Upington
Game and birding drive to Twee Rivieren. Depart back to Upington. En route we stop at the last
indigenous San tribe in South Africa, the Khomani. Today these earliest residents of the Kalahari,
living here for 40 000 years, consist of only 400 people and are resident in an area between 40 and 70
km south of Twee Rivieren. Clients will have the opportunity to view and purchase their handcraft at
one of the roadside stalls. Continue to Upington. End of the tour.
Clients can continue in a rented car on self drive or overnight in Upington and fly out at 11:30 on
Sunday 05 Aug to Johannesburg or Cape Town.
Accommodation can vary from the itinerary depending on availability.
PRICE per person sharing: 01/11/2011-31/10/2012 (in South African Rand)
ACCOMMODATION
11 x Chalet & 13 x Camping
2 persons (reservation confirmed)
3 persons
4+ persons
Single supplement
RATES
R 62 900 – 00
R 47 500 - 00
R 39 800 – 00
R 4 000 - 00
Visit www.xe.com/ucc for the latest exchange rates
PAYMENT:
Deposit 20% on confirmation
Balance 80% before or on 25 May 2012
INCLUDED:
Air conditioned transport & driver/guide (Toyota Double Cab or/and Nissan Patrol)
Accommodation as per itinerary
All entrance fees to National Parks and Nature Reserves
Meals as per itinerary (see Meals below)
Activities as per itinerary
Coffee, tea, bottled water & juice en route.
Bush library with guidebooks about flora, fauna, area and maps
Satellite phone for emergency calls
Two-way radios when more than one vehicle is used on tour
EXCLUDED:
Flights
All activities in red.
Alcoholic and after hour drinks
MEALS:
Most meals on this tour will be prepared by the guide at the camp sites and self catering chalets. At
Nata and Ghanzi meals will be enjoyed in a restaurant. Although lunches are not included clients can
make sandwiches at breakfast for lunch at no extra cost. There will always be fruit in the vehicle
except in some of the Botswana Game Reserves, where it is risky to take fresh fruit.
CLIENTS NEED:
Binoculars, sun block, hat, shoes or boots (scorpions), insect repellent, torchlight, malaria prophylaxis
INFORMATION NEEDED:
State of health and any dietary requirements (vegetarians etc.)
Please contact us if you need more information.
With kind regards,
Dantes Liebenberg