Botswana and Namibia overland safari
We got a large number of people joining our Facebook group in response to our R500 overland safari voucher, so thought we'd also let our readers know about this overland safari from Johannesburg to Botswana & Namibia:
Safari date - 3 to 18 Feb 2011 (starts in Johannesburg, ends in Johannesburg)
Cost - SPECIAL DISCOUNTED OFFER The cost of this safari is USD 2,550.00 per person sharing.
[Contact cheapflights@southafrica.to to book an Overland Safari or hire a Landrover]
Chimhavira looks forward to welcoming you on an exclusive Johannesburg through to Etosha safari.
Nature of the Tour:
Your journey will test you 4x4 skills and you will truly enjoy an 'off the beaten track' experience.
We will sit around camp fires talking of our days experiences, sleep under a star studded African sky listening the music of the bush, preparing our minds for the following days activities which will be just as filled with adventure.
The group will consist of a maximum of three participants plus a professional guide who will drive with you and be your host.
Basic Itinerary:
Tour starts at 05:00 am from Johannesburg
Day 1 Johannesburg - Mokolodi Campsites (SA)
Day 2 Mokolodi Campsites – Kalahari Rest (BOTS)
Day 3 Kalahari Rest – Dqãe Qare Game Reserve
Day 4 Dqãe Qare Game Reserve – Windhoek (NAM)
Day 5 Windhoek – Spitzkoppe
Day 6 Spitzkoppe – Etosha
Day 7 & 8 Etosha
Day 9 Etosha – Rundu
Day 10 Rundu – Ngepi Camp
Day 11 Ngepi Camp – Maun (BOTS)
Day 12 Maun – Deception Valley Lodge
Day 13 Deception Valley Lodge – Khama Rhino Resort
Day 14 Khama Rhino Resort – Kwa Nokeng Rest Camp
Day 15 Kwa Nokeng Rest Camp – Johannesburg (SA)
Day 16 Departure
Prices include:
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Your fully customised Land Rover and all equipment including fully enclosed roof-top tents
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Team leader costs and our individual service
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Route planning, itineraries, bookings and travel guidance
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Field guides, maps and documents required for cross-border travel
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Complete introduction to the vehicle, equipment & basic 4x4 driver training where necessary
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Vehicle exchange when serious mechanical breakdown occurs
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Comprehensive insurance cover and unlimited kilometres (full details available upon request)
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Free airport transfers to and from our Johannesburg offices
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All fuel, toll road and border fees
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An emergency medical kit, and all guides are first aid trained
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Two full meals per day plus snacks
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Drinking water and cordial
Prices exclude:
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International/regional and domestic airfares to and from collection/departure points
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The optional hire of a satellite phone and/or GPS for navigation
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Visas and personal travel insurance
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Alcoholic beverages, mixers and soft drinks
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All beverages and food out of camp
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Laundry services
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Clothing, toiletries and all other personal items e.g. cameras, sun block etc
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Fees for non-scheduled excursions, activities, entrance fees etc
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Gratuities
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Costs for any upgraded accommodation to that listed above and below.
Passport Visa Requirements:
We will be travelling in South Africa, Namibia & Botswana:
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South Africa – Visas are generally required at the port of entry. You will be given a three-month visa, which is free of charge.
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Namibia – No visas are required
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Botswana – No visas are required
This information is correct as of today’s date, please double check with the relevant embassy in your home country before you travel. Chimhavira cannot be held responsible to any changes to these requirements that are beyond our control.
Items of interest:
Total driving Distance: Approx 5,455 km (3390 miles)
Diesel consumption based on one vehicle: 1560 litres (412 UK gallons)
Borders crossed:
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Lobatse border post
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Trans Kalahari border post
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Mohembo Border Control
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Martins Drift border post
Suggestions:
African kids love asking tourists for sweets and pens. If you have space in your suitcase bring a couple bags of both with you. The kids will smile and be happy; you will enjoy it for little cost. Old clothes are good for bargaining with adults for curios or local fruits etc.
16 - Day Botswana and Namibia Etosha National Park Itinerary
Meal Key: B – Breakfast, L – Lunch, D – Dinner
Day 1: Arrival into Johannesburg – Mokolodi Campsites
For your first evening we offer something a little different, Mokolodi houses a reptile park, animal sanctuary, and a wildlife rehabilitation centre. Bird watching is a must with over 300 species of birds on view. If you really want to why not meet and stroke the tame cheetah. An intimate experience and truly fantastic photo opportunity - up close and personal, yet perfectly safe!
This evenings accommodation is provided in self-catering chalets, which are secluded and nestled within a tranquil, lushly wooded setting overlooking a waterhole.
Approximate distance: 430 km
Accommodation: Mokolodi Campsites
Meals: L, D
Day 2: Mokolodi Campsites – Kalahari Rest
To break our journey we will be stopping over at Kalahari Rest, which is a beautiful Lodge. This will allow for a late brunch at Deception Valley before our drive.
Approximate distance: 430 km
Accommodation: Kalahari Rest Camping
Meals: B, L, D
Day 3: Kalahari Rest – Dqãe Qare Game Reserve
We will be staying at a remote campsite this evening to give us our first camping experience in the Kalahari. Do not worry the campsite offers ablution facilities with hot water, even in mid winter!
Dqãe Qare Game Reserve (7500ha) is situated in the Kalahari Desert approximately 24kms from Ghanzi and is a community based tourism project of the Bushmen (Ncoakhoe - meaning Red People) from D'Kar village.
Approximate distance: 280 km
Accommodation: Dqãe Qare Game Reserve campsite
Meals: B, L, D
Day 4: Dqãe Qare Game Reserve – Windhoek
Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, is located in a basin between the Khomas Highland, Auas and Eros Mountains. It is 1,680m above sea level, 650km north of the Orange River and 360km from the Atlantic seaboard. Whether due to pure luck or a brilliant stroke of Germanic planning, the city is situated in almost the countries epicentre.
Approximate distance: 560 km
Accommodation: Bush Camping
Meals: B, L, D
Day 5: Windhoek – Spitzkoppe
Rising an impressive 700 meters above the flat surface of the Namibian plains, the Spitzkoppe is a well-known landmark in the area between Usakos and the coast and was formed by the collapse of a giant volcano about 100 million years ago. Subsequent erosion exposed the volcanic rock below.
Approximate distance: 280 km
Accommodation: Bush Camping
Meals: B, L, D
Day 6: Spitzkoppe –Etosha
Etosha, meaning "Great White Place", is dominated by a massive mineral pan. The pan is part of the Kalahari Basin, the floor of which was formed around 1000 million years ago. The Etosha Pan covers around 25% of the National Park. The pan was originally a lake fed by the Kunene River. However the course of the river changed thousands of years ago and the lake dried up.
The pan now is a large dusty depression of salt and dusty clay which fills only if the rains are heavy and even then only holds water for a short time. This temporary water in the Etosha Pan attracts thousands of wading birds including impressive flocks of flamingos. The perennial springs along the edges of the Etosha Pan draw large concentrations of wildlife and birds.
Approximate distance: 410 km
Accommodation: Etosha Safari Camp
Meals: B, L, D
Day 7 & 8: Etosha
A San legend about the formation of the Etosha Pan tells of how a village was raided and everyone but the women slaughtered. One woman was so upset about the death of her family she cried until her tears formed a massive lake. When the lake dried up nothing was left apart from a huge white pan.
Etosha National Park is one of Southern Africa's finest and most important Game Reserves. Etosha Game park was declared a National Park in 1907 and covering an area of 22 270 square km, it is home to 114 mammal species, 340 bird species, 110 reptile species, 16 amphibian species and, surprisingly, one species of fish.
Approximate distance: 400 km
Accommodation: Etosha Safari Camp
Meals: B, L, D
Day 9: Etosha – Rundu
Rundu lies directly at the Okavango riverbank. The town offers basically no sights, but beautiful spots on the river and spectacular sunsets.
Rundu is the gate to the Caprivi and here we will be filling up on diesel and stocking up on groceries.
Approximate distance: 600 km
Accommodation: Bush Camping
Meals: B, L, D
Day 10: Rundu – Ngepi Camp
Today we drive towards the Eastern Caprivi onto the Caprivi Strip. Our destination for the day is Mahango National Park, which lies on the western banks of the Okavango River and is one of Namibia's most captivating and species-rich conservation areas. Main features of the Mahango are enormous baobab trees, flood plains with large herds of elephant, buffalo and red lechwe.
Approximate distance: 415 km
Accommodation: Ngepi Camp
Meals: B, L, D
Day 11: Ngepi Camp – Maun
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. Millions of years ago the Okavango river use to flow into a large inland lake called Lake Makgadikgadi (now Makgadikgadi Pans).
Tectonic activity and faulting interrupted the flow of the river causing it to backup and form what is now the Okavango Delta.
Approximate distance: 430 km
Accommodation: Bush Camping
Meals: B, L, D
Day 12: Maun – Deception Valley Lodge
Comfort set in vibrant and rustic coloured interiors, Deception Valley Lodge is private and restful. Attention has been given to every detail ensuring you a completely different experience, in an arid Kalahari bush land stretching for miles. Each unit stands separately, on stilts connected with the main lodge by wooden walkways.
The main complex boasts a dining room, lounge and bar area decorated in warm Kalahari colours making use of Bushmen and other African artefacts. From the deck you can view activities at the nearby water hole. A curio shop and small library forms part of the complex. The lodge has an ethnic African theme and was build to fit into the surrounding bush without altering, damaging or detracting from its ambience and colour.A swimming pool situated close to the main complex, enhances the enjoyment of guests. The boma features prominently during the African nights when guests enjoy their dinner while gazing across a clear night sky.
Approximate distance: 180 km
Accommodation: Deception Valley Lodge
Meals: B, L, D
Day 13: Deception Valley Lodge – Khama Rhino Resort
In 1989 a group of Serowe residents conceived the idea of a wildlife reserve near Serowe. Serwe Pan, then a cattle post, had been a traditional hunting area teeming with wildlife and the residents wished to re-establish it to its earlier splendour. In 1993 the Ngwato Land Board allocated the land around Serwe Pan to the Khama Rhino Sanctuary Trust.
The site was chosen due to its excellent habitat for rhinoceros, central location and proximity to a Botswana Defence Force (BDF) base, which provides the Sanctuary with 24hr protection. Covering approximately 4,300 hectares of Kalahari sandveld, the Sanctuary is centred around Serwe Pan - a large grass-covered depression with several natural water holes. Serwe Pan provides prime habitat for white rhinoceros and other grazing animals, whilst the denser vegetation in the southern area of the Sanctuary is favoured by browsing animals such as giraffe.
Approximate distance: 420 km
Accommodation: Khama Rhino Campsite
Meals: B, L, D
Day 14: Khama Rhino Resort – Kwa Nokeng Camping
Today we will be travelling towards the South African border and we will be stopping over at Martins Drift campsite. Martins Drift is an old mining town so if we have time we can go and have a look through the town.
Approximate distance: 180 km
Accommodation: Kwa Nokeng Camsite
Meals: B, L, D
Day 15: Kwa Nokeng Camping - Johannesburg
Today is our last driving day, which will take us back to the South African Capital. We will have time for breakfast, pack away our camping equipment, when we are done you will take your roof tent down for last time and then we will drive the last leg of your itinerary to Johannesburg arriving early evening.
Approximate distance: 440 km
Accommodation: Linga Longa Guest House
Meals: B, L, D
Day 16: Day of Departure
You will be transferred to the airport where you say goodbye to the guides and the group…
– End Of Services –
Arrival:
You will be met at the airport and transferred to your accommodation (where required). Tours leave from 44B Mona Street, Glen Marais, Johannesburg 1619
Departure:
If you require an airport transfer this will be arranged for you. Tours finish at 44B Mona Street, Glen Marais, Johannesburg 1619
Transport:
Chimhavira Overland Safaris cc use fully equipped 4x4 Land Rover Defender/Discovery vehicles.
Accommodation:
Accommodation will be in your vehicle roof top tents. Should you want to upgrade please ask your guide to assist you. Where possible your guide will try to upgrade you as to your requirements but this will be dependant on availability. Please note upgrades are not included in your Chimhavira Overland Safari cc invoice and will therefore necessitate you paying for upgrades directly.
Spending money:
Clients are advised to bring enough money to cover the purchase of curios and personal items.
Meals:
All meals are organized by the guide and are prepared by our cook. Meals are nutritious and filling, drawing on fresh local produce where possible. We buy groceries along the way, so our clients have a say in what type of meals are eaten. Please advise us of any special dietary requirements before tour commencement.
First Aid:
Our guides are trained in basic first aid, Chimhavira Overland Safari cc guides are trained to level III St John’s standards, our vehicles is equipped with a comprehensive medical aid kit. Preventative Malaria medication should be taken before the trip and throughout its duration, although it is advisable to consult a doctor prior to departure.
Luggage:
Maximum baggage allowance: 20kg. Chimhavira Overland Safaris cc stipulates this luggage allowance, as an overloaded vehicle is a danger to both the clients and the guide. This does not include photographic equipment and a small daypack. Please bring a backpack or soft barrel bag, not a suitcase. Please adhere to the allowance specified as space for luggage is limited.
Sleeping bags:
Chimhavira Overland Safaris cc will provide sleeping bags and pillows, please advise us if this is required at your time of booking. If you prefer to bring your own please feel free to do so.
