11 DAY JACANA SAFARI
Luxury Tented Set Departure Safari

This is the highest quality cross country camping safari in Botswana. It was featured in the November 1995 edition of National Geographic's "Traveler" magazine and has been enhanced since then.

It offers a combination of cross country drives and light aircraft transfers to enable guests access to the best areas of Northern Botswana. Accommodation varies between small permanent tented camps and pre-erected tented camps, all with private facilities, and are booked exclusively for the group.

A unique feature of this safari compared to similar safaris offered by our competitors is that many nights are spent in private concessions and campsites, far from others, in superb game country. Here night drives and off-road driving are permitted. All meals are included except for lunches and dinners in Victoria Falls. Guest numbers are limited to eight, and the group is accompanied by a guide and a hostess throughout.

Days 1 to 3 : The Central Okavango Delta - the land experience - Kaparota
After arrival in Maun, you will be met by your guide or our representative and transferred by light aircraft to the heart of the Okavango Delta where we saty at Kaparota Camp. The game viewing in open 4x4's is good, with Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Cheetah, Wild Dog and Elephant regularly sighted. Birdlife is varied and abundant.

Five meru-style en suite tents are raised up on decks, and have wonderful views over the surrounding islands and floodplains. The bathrooms are enclosed, but roofless. The thatched dining and pub area is connected to the opposite island by a walkway bridge, and is raised on a teak deck overlooking the channel.

Days 4 to 5 : Okavango Delta - the water experience - Jacana Camp
Today the group is flown further into the Okavango Delta and transferred to our secluded Jacana Camp for the next three nights. The Delta is an ever changing tapestry of forested islands and crystal clear channels which we explore by mokoro and on foot, giving guests the opportunity to experience Africa at close quarters. The elusive Sitatunga antelope and the rare Pel's Fishing Owl may be seen, as well as smaller quantities of Elephant, Buffalo and other plains game.

Jacana Camp has five small meru-style tents accommodating a maximum of eight guests. Each tent is on a wooden deck overlooking the floodplains and has an en suite bathroom with flush toilet and shower. The main dining area is on the top floor of an elevated wooden deck between two magnificent sycamore figs and surrounded by dense wild date palms. Downstairs, there is a cosy pub and lounge with an area for an open fire under the stars.

Jacana Camp is a true water camp, becoming a small island surrounded by flooded plains when the Okavango Delta is at its peak flooding each year (usually from April to October). During the height of the floods, the activities at Jacana Camp revolve around exploring the waterways of the Okavango by mokoro (dug-out canoe), motor boat and on foot. Travelling silently by mekoro, is a wonderful way to experience the Okavango as you glide silently through the shallow flood plains enjoying the magnificent bird and aquatic life. One of the highlights is searching for the rare and elusive sitatunga antelope. Larger mammals in the area can include elephant, buffalo and lion. We explore wooded islands to stalk the rare Pel's Fishing Owl, one of the largest owls in the world. Taking a mokoro ride to a distant island, then stopping for a lengthy walk before enjoying a leisurely brunch on a sandy bank is a good way to appreciate the true wilderness atmosphere and unique scenery and wildlife of the Okavango - with no one else around us. We travel by motorboat, searching for the perfect fishing spot. We boat across the channels to take a game drive on the plains to the west of Jacana viewing large herds of lechwe and often spotting predators in pursuit. In the dry season (November to March) vehicles can drive through the shallow sandy river crossings for game drives as well as interesting night drives.

Days 6 and 7 : The Linyanti - Linyanti Tented Camp
We depart the Okavango Delta and transfer by aircraft to Linyanti Tented Camp. Guests enjoy the Linyanti experience on game drives during the day and at night Walks, boating and canoeing are also offered.

Linyanti Tented Camp is situated in the exclusive, Linyanti Wildlife Reserve in Northern Botswana. It is located to the east of Kings Pool and close to the western boundary of Chobe National Park. Linyanti is built in a secluded area of the 125,000 hectare reserve. The region's key feature is the Linyanti River and marshes, which are complemented by the contrasting dry woodlands inland. Massive lagoons and steadily flowing rivers abound with papyrus and phragmites. The heavily forested riverine fringes blend into dry countryside further inland, away from the river.

This area is best known for its enormous herds of Elephant, which move down to the Linyanti River at the start of our winter months and only retrace their steps inland once the main rains arrive. Sable and Roan Antelope occur, as well as Lion, Leopard and Wild Dog. The marshes are home to Red Lechwe, Sitatunga, Hippo, Crocodiles and wonderful birdlife. Moving along the fringes of the waterways, guests can see Kudu, Zebra, Buffalo, Waterbuck and Impala.

Days 8 to 9 : Chobe National Park
This morning we fly north to Chobe, where our camp has been set up in a private site along or near the banks of the Chobe River. On the Chobe floodplains, Elephants can sometimes be viewed in numbers not found elsewhere on the continent, while water birds such as Egrets, Herons, Ducks and Storks occur in profusion.

Day 10 : Victoria Falls - Ilala Lodge
It is a leisurely drive from the Chobe River to the famous Victoria Falls. Arrival at Ilala Lodge will be around midday, and you will have the rest of your afternoon at leisure to explore the rain forests alongside the Falls, or take an optional sunset cruise up the Zambezi River. Guests wanting to enjoy whitewater rafting will have to spend an additional night in Victoria Falls.

Day 11 : End of Safari
You are transferred to the Victoria Falls airport for your onward flight.

* The order of the two camps in the Okavango Delta may be
swapped around on some itineries

The Jacana Safari is also run from Victoria Falls to Maun.

The Jacana Safari gets its name from one of the region's most attractive birds. The familiar African Jacana and the elusive Lesser Jacana occur in quiet back-waters and lily-covered lagoons in northern Botswana. Also know as "lily Trotters", these aquatic birds have such long toes that they are able to walk across the water on floating vegetation. Female Jacanas are polyandrous (having more than one mate), an unusual phenomenon among birds. After laying her beautifully camouflaged eggs, she leaves the male to incubate, feed and rear the nestlings while she goes off in search of another breeding partner. Baby jacanas are carried under their father's wing when danger threatens.

NOTES ON THE 11 DAY JACANA SAFARI
There are no extra Park Fees (except entrance to Victoria Falls) or food kitty charges. Included is accommodation on a sharing basis, all meals (except for Victoria Falls which is on a bed and breakfast basis), all excursions related to the safari, services of our guide, all local drinks except premium wines, spirits and liqueurs (No drinks are included in Victoria Falls). A transfer between the airport and Victoria Falls is included.

Excluded are visas if required, full travel insurance, malaria tablets, any excursion unrelated to the safari, additional transfers in Victoria Falls, international flights, staff gratuities, items of a personal nature, etc.

Age Limits - There is a minimum age limit of 12 years; and a maximum age limit of 75 years on this safari. A medical certificate is required for guests aged 70 to 75 years.

Departure Dates available throughout 2005

Price Guide

Safari starts in Maun, Botswana and ends in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe or vice versa

Fully inclusive of all accommodation, meals, game activities
and all transfers between camps.

Price Per Person Sharing
from £2,194.00
(Excluding all flights to, from and within Africa.)
valid for departures in November and December

For departures from July to October the
cost of the safari is £2,495.00 per person sharing

Single Supplement Charge of £280.00 if a single room/tent is requested
Single Supplement is not charged if willing to share (subject to availability)

To check availability for this safari, please contact us on
UK - 01995 679 776International - 44 1995 679 776
Priority is given to people who call us, due to the number of e-mails we receive.
holidays@safari-africa.co.uk

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Safaris subject to availability and prices can change without prior notice.
Additional Accommodation before and after the safari are available upon request.
25% non-refundable deposit is required to secure this safari.

If the navigation bar does
not appear above, please
click here to goto our Home Page

Pictures in this column were taken in Botswana.

To make a booking please contact us with the depature date you would like. We will then check availablility for you.

Flights to, from and many within Africa are not included in the cost of the safari, you can check flight prices On-Line by going to our Flights page or by contacting your local travel agent or flight specialist.

If you need any help please contact us, by phone, e-mail or pop-in to see us in person.