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ACTIVITIES

CHARTER FLIGHT & GAME DRIVES

DISCOVER THE RICH WILDLIFE OF THE XAKANAXA REGION ON YOUR SAFARI ADVENTURE

You will be welcomed by Mack Air upon your arrival at Maun International Airport for your charter flight to Xakanaxa in Moremi, scheduled around 14:00. In case you plan to stay in Maun before the safari, we can make arrangements for your accommodation and airport transfer. Mack Air will coordinate with your lodging to confirm the departure time, usually confirmed the day before.

For the first three nights, you will be camping in the stunning Xakanaxa region, with daytime game drives providing an opportunity to explore the captivating wilderness.

WILDLIFE

From the air, it's easy to spot large animals such as African elephants, buffalo herds, lechwe, and hippopotamuses living in the mopane scrub and waterways of the Xakanaxa region. Once you touch down and embark on your land cruiser, you can observe the smaller game animals that call this captivating wilderness home.

BIRDING

Aside from the wildlife, the region is also a paradise for birdwatchers. Expect to spot African Hawk-Eagles, Gabar Goshawks, Shikras, Little Sparrowhawks, Dark Chanting Goshawks, Tawny Eagles, and several species of hornbills, including Red-billed, Southern Yellow-billed, African Grey, Bradfield's, and the Southern Ground Hornbills. Additionally, the area is home to various brood-parasites such as Diederick Cuckoos, Levaillant's Cuckoos, Jacobin Cuckoos, Great-spotted Cuckoos, African Cuckoos, Common Cuckoos, Shaft-tailed Whydahs, Pintailed Whydahs, Eastern Paradise Whydahs, Greater Honeyguides, and Lesser Honeyguides.

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ACTIVITIES

GAME DRIVES

EXPLORING THE DIVERSE WILDERNESS OF MOREMI GAME RESERVE

Situated on the eastern edge of the Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve showcases an impressive array of habitats, spanning from floodplains and marshlands to woodlands and savannahs. This diverse landscape is home to an incredible variety of wildlife and bird species.

HABITAT

Journey through Moremi Game Reserve and experience the full spectrum of mopane habitats, from towering cathedral woodlands in Xakanaxa to vast reed-beds of Miscanthus and Phragmites, and extensive stretches of scrub mopane. The San-ta-Wani region features scattered ephemeral water pans, expansive floodplains, and camel-thorn woodlands.

WILDLIFE

Moremi Game Reserve is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts, providing sightings of predators such as African wild dogs, lions, leopards, and cheetahs during your drive through the reserve. Every type of mopane habitat hosts a variety of species, including breeding herds of elephants, Burchell's zebras, and wildebeests. Other game sightings may consist of kudus, sable antelopes, and impalas.

BIRDING

For birdwatchers, Moremi Game Reserve offers a diverse range of raptors, including African Hawk-Eagles, Gabar Goshawks, Shikras, and Tawny Eagles, inhabiting the mopane and adjacent woodlands. The reserve is also home to the majority of Botswana's hornbills, such as Red-billed, Southern Yellow-billed, African Grey, Bradfield's, and Southern Ground hornbills. Additionally, brood-parasites like Diederick Cuckoos, Levaillant's Cuckoos, Jacobin Cuckoos, Great-spotted Cuckoos, and African Cuckoos are commonly found within the reserve.

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ACTIVITIES

GAMED RIVES & MOKORO EXCURSION

UNWIND WITH A MOKORO EXCURSION IN MOREMI GAME RESERVE

Start your day with an early morning breakfast before embarking on a game drive through the northeast region of Moremi Game Reserve, heading towards Khwai and Mababe. Experience a serene mokoro excursion in the gentle backwaters of the Khwai and Mbudi channels, a contrast to the faster-paced Khwai River that flows through Mababe.

HABITAT

Traverse the Manuchira Channel, also known as the easternmost part of the Khwai River, and explore the diverse landscapes of riverside and floodplains, mopane veld, and woodlands. Your journey takes you to the Mababe Private Reserve, where you'll camp on the banks of the Khwai River before it enters the Mababe Depression. Along the way, marvel at the breathtaking Dombo Hippo Pools and observe the resident hippos during a game drive through Khwai until reaching Mababe.

WILDLIFE

The southeast mopane veld is primarily home to breeding herds of elephants, while the more northern regions of Mababe host impressive older bulls. These mature bulls enjoy the cool waters of the Khwai River, appearing more approachable while drinking and bathing than the breeding herds. The river is also known for its high density of hippos and large crocodiles. Predators like leopards, cheetahs, servals, and lions are common along this route, and both Xakanaxa and Mababe are included in the home ranges of different packs of wild dogs. Expect to see southern giraffes, Burchell's zebras, tsessebes, and red lechwes, with roan and sable antelopes being less common residents.

BIRDING

Mopane woodlands host an array of raptors, including African Hawk-Eagles, Tawny Eagles, Gabar Goshawks, Little Sparrowhawks, African Harrier Hawks, and Shikras. Mixed bird parties can be found in the canopy, featuring species such as Red-headed Weavers, Stierling's Wren-Warblers, Scarlet-chested Sunbirds, Neddickies, Yellow-breasted Apalises, Chin-spot Batises, and Diederik Cuckoos. The swamp edges serve as breeding grounds for Rosy-Longclaws, Black Coucals, Long-legged Bustards, and African Crakes.

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ACTIVITIES

GAME DRIVES, WALKING SAFARIS & NIGHT DRIVES  

DISCOVER THE WONDERS OF MABABE PRIVATE RESERVE

Immerse yourself in the Mababe concession for two nights at an exclusive campsite, limited to 20 vehicles at a time. Explore the Khwai River's banks, the savannah, and the Kalahari shrub with day and night game drives, offering a chance to spot elusive nocturnal creatures.

HABITAT

Experience diverse landscapes, from the lead-wood and camel-thorn woodlands and savannahs to the riverside banks of the Khwai River. The concession's western parts showcase the unique "mini-CKGR" habitat.

WILDLIFE

Mababe is home to robust populations of bull elephants and breeding herds. Predators such as lions, leopards, servals, and African wildcats frequent the area, while wild dogs and cheetahs are less common. Other ungulates include buffalo, tsessebe, blue wildebeest, giraffe, kudu, sable antelope, roan antelope, impala, eland, and oryx.

BIRDING

Spot Botswana's national bird, the Kori Bustard, in the Mababe Depression's lower regions. The western areas provide the perfect habitat for the rare Rosy-throated Longclaw. Observe the Bat-Hawk along the entire river length, as well as other raptors like 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.

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ACTIVITIES

GAME DRIVES

A JOURNEY THROUGH CENTRAL CHOBE: UNFORGETTABLE WILDLIFE AND SCENIC GAME DRIVES

Venture further north towards the Central Chobe region, experiencing the unique desert-like landscape through engaging game drives.

HABITAT

Enjoy a captivating day's journey exploring the remnants of the ancient Paleo-Lake Makgadikgadi, which dried up around ten thousand years ago. Traverse the challenging Magwikwe Sand-ridge, which once formed the shoreline of this enormous inland sea. The Mababe Depression, previously the lake bed, now offers nutrient-rich feed for the abundant wildlife in the area, especially after the rains.

WILDLIFE

Encounter a diverse range of habitats that make up northern Botswana, providing an opportunity to spot lions, cheetahs, and elephants throughout the drive. Elephants are more commonly seen at the beginning and end of the drive, where permanent surface water is available.

BIRDING

The Mababe Depression is a haven for bird enthusiasts. The nutrient-rich grasses create the perfect environment for estrillids and viduids, including the colorful Violet-eared Waxbill, Black-cheeked Waxbill, Village Indigobird, Shaft-tailed Whydah, and Paradise Whydah. These birds, in turn, attract small raptors such as the Little Sparrowhawk, Shikra, Gabar Goshawk, Red-necked Falcon, and Lanner Falcon. Rodents also feed on the grass seeds, leading to a significant presence of Secretary Birds, Tawny Eagles, Black-shouldered Kites, Steppe Eagles, Lesser-spotted Eagles, Wahlberg's Eagles, and Steppe Buzzards.

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ACTIVITIES

GAME DRIVES, BUSHMAN PAINTING WALKS

EXPLORING THE DIVERSE HABITATS AND WILDLIFE OF CENTRAL CHOBE

In contrast to much of Botswana's flat landscape, Central Chobe features unique volcanic rock outcrops rising above the vast savannah. These hills harbor distinct habitats teeming with small wildlife, birds, and plants. The Savuti Marsh, known for its dramatic wildlife documentaries, offers wide-open spaces, abundant ungulate populations, and powerful lion and hyena clans, making for thrilling wildlife encounters and superb viewing experiences. The now-dry Savuti Channel weaves through this diverse landscape, linking sand-veld, waterholes, hills, and the former grasslands of the Savuti Marsh.

WILDLIFE

Central Chobe's most fascinating aspect is the interaction between lions and elephants. The area is home to a massive lion pride of 20-30 members that have adapted to hunt these seemingly invulnerable pachyderms, targeting younger and adolescent individuals. The marsh serves as excellent cheetah habitat and, during the wet season, wild dogs can be observed hunting in Central Chobe.

BIRDING

The government-pumped surface water draws a wide variety of bird species, particularly in the dry season when thousands of doves and sandgrouse flock to drink in the mornings, watched closely by Yellow-billed Kite, Tawny Eagle, and African Hawk-Eagle. Red-crested Korhaan are commonly found in the Kalahari Apple-leaf veld. The marsh provides a summer home to Caspian Plover, Montague's Harrier, Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark, Grey-backed Sparrowlark, Northern Black Korhaan, Rufous-naped Lark, African Pipit, and Desert Cisticola. Dickenson's Kestrel, Amur Falcon, and Red-necked Falcon inhabit the marsh's perimeter.

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ACTIVITIES

GAMED RIVES, BOAT RIDE

CHOBE RIVER EXCURSION: AN UNFORGETTABLE END TO YOUR SAFARI

On our final safari day, we embark on an early journey from Central Chobe along the Chobe River, arriving in Kasane for a delightful picnic lunch. The adventure culminates with an afternoon boat cruise on Chobe River and arrival at Kalahari Tours in Kasane at 3:30 pm. Opt to fly back home or pursue more extraordinary destinations. We'll gladly assist you in customizing your itinerary for a truly unforgettable journey.

HABITAT

Today's drive showcases the diverse landscapes of the Goha clay basin's stunted mopane scrub, the sand-ridge, the captivating Zambezi teak woodlands of Chobe Forest Reserve, and the expansive Chobe River floodplain, which stretches as far as the eye can see in years of exceptional rains.

WILDLIFE

Despite passing through some community areas inhabited by local tribes, the majority of our journey takes us through untouched wild country, where wildlife roams freely without fences or human interference. Roan and sable antelope thrive in the teak woodlands, while elusive leopards hide in the shadows. The Goha region's natural waterholes attract buffalo, Burchell's zebra, greater kudu, and elephant herds.

BIRDING

The teak woodlands are home to unique bird species, including canopy-dwelling insectivores like Grey Tit-Flycatcher, Ashy Flycatcher, and Scarlet-chested Sunbird. Raptors such as Dickenson's Kestrel, Red-necked Falcon, and Lizard Buzzard are also worth watching for. Birding enthusiasts will appreciate sightings of Flappet Lark, Fawn-coloured Lark, and Olive-Tree Warbler.