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DAY 1 – MAUN TO MOREMI
ACTIVITIES
CHARTER FLIGHT & GAME DRIVES
EXPERIENCE THE XAKANAXA REGION AND ITS DIVERSE WILDLIFE
Upon arrival at Maun International Airport, Mack Air will greet you for your charter flight around 14:00 to Xakanaxa in Moremi.
If you're staying in Maun before the safari, we can arrange accommodation and airport transfer for you. Mack Air will coordinate with your accommodation to confirm the departure time, typically confirmed the day before.
Spend your first three nights camping in the Xakanaxa region, where you'll explore the captivating wilderness on daytime game drives.
WILDLIFE
From the sky, you'll spot large animals such as African elephants roaming the mopane scrub, and herds of buffalo and lechwe grazing the open plains. The waterways are home to gatherings of hippos. Once you arrive in Xakanaxa, you'll discover an array of smaller wildlife species.
BIRDING
Xakanaxa offers excellent birdwatching opportunities, especially for raptors such as African Hawk-Eagle, Gabar Goshawk, Shikra, Little Sparrowhawk, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Tawny Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle, and Steppe Eagle. The region is also home to various hornbill species, including Red-billed, Southern Yellow-billed, African Grey, Bradfield's, and Southern Ground Hornbills.
DAY 2-3 – MOREMI GAME RESERVE
ACTIVITIES
GAMEDRIVES
DISCOVER THE DIVERSE WILDLIFE AND BIRDLIFE IN MOREMI'S XAKANAXA REGION
Located on the eastern edge of the Okavango Delta, Moremi boasts a variety of habitats, including floodplains, marshes, lagoons, papyrus-fringed channels, expansive Miscanthus and Phragmites stands, woodlands, and savannahs. This diverse landscape supports a rich array of wildlife and bird species.
WILDLIFE
Moremi is one of Africa's top game reserves for spotting the endangered African wild dog. Xakanaxa is home to a large resident buffalo herd, attracting at least four lion prides that often shadow the herd.
Breeding elephant herds move between mopane forests and the Okavango's freshwater, while the unique red lechwe antelope thrive in the area.
BIRDING
Xakanaxa's marshlands host African Rail, Coppery-tailed Coucal, Black Coucal, Red-chested Flufftail, African Crake, Black Crake, Chirping Cisticola, Luapula Cisticola, Purple Swamphen, and Allen's Gallinule, among others. Open waters draw African Skimmer, Saddle-billed Stork, Yellow-billed Stork, Intermediate Egret, Goliath Heron, African Fish Eagle, and the globally threatened Slaty Egret and Wattled Crane.
DAY 4 – MOREMI TO MABABE
ACTIVITIES
GAME DRIVES & NIGHT DRIVES
EXPLORE MOREMI GAME RESERVE: KHWAI AND MABABE AREAS
After an early breakfast, enjoy a slow drive through Moremi Game Reserve, heading northeast towards Khwai and Mababe Areas. On this day, you'll experience a Mokoro excursion in the calmer backwaters of the Khwai and Mbudi channels instead of the faster-moving section of the Khwai River in Mababe.
HABITAT
Following the Manuchira Channel, known as the Khwai River at its easternmost end, the journey weaves through riverside, floodplains, mopane veld, and woodlands to the Mababe Private Reserve. Here, camp on the banks of the Khwai River before it flows into the Mababe Depression. Pass the stunning Dombo Hippo Pools in the morning and enjoy the resident hippos' antics while game driving through Khwai to Mababe.
WILDLIFE
The southeast mopane veld is home to breeding herds of elephants, while Mababe's northern areas host impressive old bulls. The mature bulls enjoy the cool waters of the Khwai River, making them more approachable than breeding herds. The river boasts a high density of hippos and large crocodiles.
Predators such as leopards, cheetahs, servals, and lions are common along this route, and different packs of wild dogs inhabit Xakanaxa and Mababe. General game includes giraffes, zebras, tsessebe, red lechwe, with roan and sable antelopes being less common residents.
BIRDING
Mopane woodlands are home to raptors like African Hawk-Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Gabar Goshawk, Little Sparrowhawk, African Harrier Hawk, and Shikra. Mixed bird parties, including Red-headed Weaver, Stierling's Wren-Warbler, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Neddicky, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Chin-spot Batis, and Diederik Cuckoo, move through the canopy. The swamp verges serve as breeding grounds for Rosy Longclaw, Black Coucal, Long-legged Bustard, and African Crake.
DAY 5-6 – MABABE
ACTIVITIES
GAME DRIVES, WALKING SAFARIS, NIGHT DRIVES & MOKORO EXCURSIONS
DISCOVER MABABE CONCESSION: RIVERS, WILDLIFE, AND NIGHT SAFARIS
The winding Khwai River offers ample riverside routes to explore. Spend two nights at an exclusive campsite in Mababe concession, which limits 20 vehicles at any given time, ensuring a serene experience.
Delve into the river banks, Kalahari shrub, and cathedral mopane on daytime and nighttime game drives. Night drives with spotlights let you encounter nocturnal animals rarely seen during the day.
Take the opportunity to explore the wilderness on foot (subject to seasonal conditions and guide's discretion). Walking safaris provide an up-close experience with Botswana's flora and fauna. Note that night drives and guided walks aren't allowed within national parks and reserves, so these activities occur in Mababe Private Reserve.
HABITAT
Discover the diverse landscape, from dry-land habitats like lead-wood and camel-thorn woodlands and savannahs to the riverside banks of the Khwai River and the unique habitat of the concession's western areas.
WILDLIFE
Mababe is home to abundant bull elephants and breeding herds. Predators like lions, leopards, servals, and African wildcats are common, with wild dogs and cheetahs less frequently seen. Buffalo herds migrate seasonally, and other ungulates include tsessebe, blue wildebeest, giraffe, kudu, sable antelope, roan antelope, impala, and even eland and oryx in the western parts.
BIRDING
Spot Botswana's national bird, the Kori Bustard, in the lower Mababe Depression, while the western areas are ideal for the elusive Rosy-throated Longclaw. The entire river length is a hunting ground for the Bat Hawk. Other raptors include Cuckoo Hawk, Long-crested Eagle, Black Sparrowhawk, Tawny Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Lesser-spotted Eagle, Martial Eagle, Bateleur, and African Hawk-Eagle. The waterways host African Rail, African Crake, Greater Painted Snipe, Allen's Gallinule, Lesser Jacana, and Lesser Moorhen.
DAY 7 – MABABE – MAUN
ACTIVITIES
CHARTERFLIGHT
Concluding Your Memorable Safari Adventure
Following breakfast, enjoy a game drive to Khwai airstrip, where your charter flight back to Maun awaits. If you're flying to another safari lodge, you can directly fly out from Khwai airstrip without returning to Maun.
This marks the end of your unforgettable safari journey. Opt to fly home on this day or extend your adventure to explore more incredible destinations. We're happy to help customize your itinerary further.
