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The Victoria Falls - Zimbabwe or Zambia? Which is best?

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Fri, 04 Nov 2022 09:55:24 GMT

Our guide to how to choose which side to visit...

Where the Zambezi River plunges over the edge of the Victoria Falls, creating a magnificent cascade of roaring water on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, a safari legend has been created. Straddling both countries and offering a wide range of safari offerings, the falls are arguably the most iconic natural landmark in Southern Africa and a World Heritage Site. They are also one of the biggest adventure and romance destinations in the world, attracting a multitude of tourists from across the globe.

It’s possible to view them from both the Zambian and the Zimbabwean side of the Zambezi, so which is better? Or should you combine both sides in one trip? Let's have a look at the options...

The Zambian side

On the Zambian side of the falls, in and around the town of Livingstone, access to the falls is gained through Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, which is roughly three times the size of Victoria Falls National Park on the opposite side. Walking paths through the rainforest allow you to get closer to the Zambian section of the falls than you can on the Zim side, but the viewing is largely from the side rather than face-on. However, the sunset viewing is spectacular.

The downside is that in the dry season (October and November) this section of the falls can dry up almost entirely.

Zambia also offers microlight tours over the falls and tours to Livingstone Island and, when water levels are low enough - trips to Devil's Pool - a natural swimming pool located on the very edge of the precipice. These activities are not offered on the Zimbabwean side, meaning a cross-border trip to experience them. The KAZA uni-visa allows unlimited travel for a 30-day period between Victoria Falls town/Zimbabwe and Livingstone/Zambia.

The Zimbabwean side

The traditional viewing choice, the Zimbabwean side of the falls hog almost three quarters of this impressive natural landmark. Access is gained via Victoria Falls National Park - one of the smallest in the world at just 23 square kilometres, but it's nonetheless impressive giving panoramic, full-frontal views of the falls that you won’t get on the other side of the river in Zambia. The main section of the falls and the Devil's Cataract section rarely dries up (only in extreme drought) so you are always guaranteed thundering water and spray.

Both sides

On both sides you get a full range of adventure acitivities that have grown up around the falls, incluidng river cruises, jet boating and whitewater rafting, helicopter flights over the falls and historic tours of the Victoria Falls Railway Bridge. Both sides also offer stunning luxury hotels, safari lodges and camps and cruises along the Zambezi, as well as boat-based safari activities.

Safaris and the falls

If you want to combine your Victoria Falls experience with a safari, Zimbabwe is better because of its proximity to both the Zambezi and Hwange National Parks, the latter being the largest and most famous national park in Zimbabwe.

In Zambia, the falls are far from the best national parks; although it's easy to take a short hop by plane to either the Lower Zambezi or South Luangwa National Parks.

Both sides can easily be combined with a safari in Botswana's Chobe National Park, just 90 minutes away by road.

Lodges we love

In Zimbabwe we love the grand old lady that is the Victoria Falls Hotel - the oldest hotel in the southern hemisphere. Recently refurbished to a high standard, this hotel is simply breathtaking and offers unrivalled access to the falls with a dedicated private footpath leading through the grounds to them. We also love Royal Chundu and Mpala Jena.

Over in Zambia we love Anantara's Royal Livingstone Hotel with its manicured lawns leading down to the Zambezi and easy access to the falls and Livingstone Island. We also love Mukwa River Lodge and Thorntree River Lodge, as well as Tongabezi Lodge.

Which to choose...

To us, Zimbabwe is the best choice for visitors that want classic, full-on views of the Victoria Falls and the chance to witness the water flow at its most impressive even during the dry season. It’s also the better option if you want to combine trips to Victoria Falls with a wildlife safari in Hwange.

Access is also easier. It's easy to walk from town to the falls themselves, while in Zambia, unless you are staying at either of the hotel resorts on the edge of the falls you will need transport to get you from Livingstone to the falls themselves.

In Zambia's favour is the ability to get close-up views of the falls, and the chance to see them in all their glory at sunset. The uniquely Zambian experiences also count as vote for Zambia with swimming on the edge of the falls in Devil’s Pool and microlighting over them top of the list.

So what to do? The best solution in our opinion is to visit the falls from both sides of the Zambezi River and have a few days in both Zim and Zam! Chat to us about the possibilities and let's get you to paradise!

If you'd like to find out more about a safari with your children, let's chat about your options!

Safari - a great way to say "I love you"!

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 12:46:54 GMT

Romance and the African wilderness go hand in hand ...

Picture this... A table set for two with lanterns flickering beneath a canopy of billions of stars glittering like diamonds on a sheet of black velvet as a lone hyena's haunting call punctuates the African night and a distant lion roars... Does it sound like the ultimate place to propose? Or just say "I love you"? The answer is "absolutely" because when it comes to unbridled romance, it's hard to beat an African safari!

Hollywood knew what it was doing when it created it's retelling of the archetypal love story in "Out of Africa," making the sweeping African landscapes and iconic wildlife the stars of the silver screen. Suddently khaki became "the" colour to wear and the notion of sleeping under canvas in the wilds of Africa on a glamping expedition par excellence was the pinnacle of romantic adventure, complete with fine crystal and Mozart!

The modern luxury safari seems custom-made for lovers of all ages, with beautiful camps and lodges offering incredible levels of personal service in remote, wilderness locations all across Africa. Here in Southern Africa, the home turf of Best African Safaris, there are some of the most beautiful and wonderfully intimate and indulgent safari camps on the continent, in some of the most legendary destinations in the world. Perfect for romantic escapes, proposals, anniversaries, honeymoons, engagements and even weddings, the options are endless.

Here's a quick guide to some of the most romantic things you can do on a Southern African safari with Best African Safaris...

1. Sleepout under the stars

Spend a night you will never forget with your special someone on a luxurious sleepout under the Milky Way. Ultra luxurious, a sleepout deck is the ultimate in romance, with a wonderful king-size bed surrounded by softly flowing mosquito netting and nothing else between you and the firmament above. With a private en-suite bathroom, fire pit and dining area, Southern Africa boasts some of the best sleepout decks in the world which are more like miniaturised luxury safari lodges just for two!

2. Private dining

Enjoy a sumptuous, romantic dinner for two in absolute privacy out in the African bush or on the gorgeous deck of your private tented suite overlooking the wonderful wilderness. Or how about a bush breakfast "a deux" with a view to die for? Let us arrange a private dining experience for you as a surprise for your significant other, and tell us if you're planning to propose or do something special to fan the flames of romance!

3. Glide through the Okavango Delta

A mokoro ride for two, gliding gently through the reed-fringed waterways of the Okavango as the sun begins to slide slowly towards the horizon is right up there with some of the most romantic things you can do in Africa. With only the sounds of the African wilderness around you and the slow, steady poling of your guide to break the silence as you wind your way throught lush channels, a mokoro (a traditional dug-out canoe) is an ancient and noble way of navigating the Delta.

4. Sundowners on the Zambezi

As the sun begins to go down over the Mighty Zambezi in Zambia's Lower Zambezi valley, take a slow cruise to a sandbank in the middle of the river and enjoy an intimate sundowner experience with your feet safely in the shallows and a guide at hand to pour refreshing gin and tonics or pop the cork on a bottle of bubbly, so you can toast the end of another romantic day in Africa!

5. The ultimate picnic

In the shade of a tall tree with views of forever, lay back on plump cushions and soft Persian rugs as you enjoy al fresco dining at its best with a romantic picnic lunch in the African wilderness... With specially prepared dishes fit for royalty, complemented by fine wine, craft gin and the ubiquitous bubbles of French Champagne, watch as wildlife passes by and life's stresses and strains disappear, replaced by pure, unadulterated love and peace.

6. Spa treatments in the desert

Enjoy a private couples' massage on the secluded deck of your tented suite overlooking the sensational landscapes of Namibia's fabulous desert wilderness... This is big country, with spectacular scenery and an ancient, beating heart that's perfect for the celebration of love and togetherness. With nothing but the sound of the wind moving softly over the dunes, allow yourself and your loved one to be transported to African paradise - a journey for the soul!

Talk to us to find out more about romantic safari options and let us take you and your special someone somewhere truly amazing!

How luxury can lead the way!

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 12:44:46 GMT

Your five-star safari can leave a lasting legacy - here's how...

When it comes to sustainable and responsible tourism, many feel that a luxury safari and sustainability are polar opposites and that luxury is all about wasteful indulgence. In fact, a luxury safari, executed with a conscience, can have an immense positive impact. Luxury safari lodges and hotels have a larger staff to guest ratio, can afford to have individuals attending training without disruptions to teams and rotas, and often have a larger budget and more capacity to implement projects both on and off-site.

Luxury properties also attract a large proportion of international visitors, many of whom are very conscious of how and where they spend their money when visiting a county with high levels of poverty.

Some of the best results of sustainable tourism are job creation, skills and career development, environmental consideration and community investment. At Spier just outside Stellenbosch in South Africa's Western Cape, community investment and upliftment has always been high on the agenda. Through a variety of initiatives, hundreds (if not thousands) of people are assisted to create a livelihood and reach for their dreams.

For example, Tree-preneurs is a Spier project in partnership with Wildlands where people (currently ranging from five to 93 years of age) are taught how to grow indigenous trees and plants. Seedlings are provided by Spier and, once they have reached 15cm, the tree-preneurs can “sell” them back in exchange for vouchers for food, clothing, tools or school fees.

The trees are subsequently planted in the region, forming part of an environmental restoration project. Spier also supports aspiring artists to reach for their dreams. Through the Spier Art Academy and Creative Block projects, artists are provided with skills and mentoring as well as material to create their art. Much of the art displayed at Spier comes from these projects.

Sabi Sabi's luxury safari lodges and camps in the Greater Kruger employs more than 200 people. Of these, more than 85% come from the nearby rural communities. With a dependency ratio of 1:7, this means that Sabi Sabi indirectly supports around 1,200 people in the local communities. They also invest heavily in skills development and career management for their staff, through mentoring and training. Many middle and senior managers started their careers in entry-level positions and have been given ample assistance to develop their potential and achieve their goals.

Three Trees at Spioenkop, a luxury lodge close to the Drakensberg in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal midlands, has gone to great lengths to reduce their overall environmental footprint. Large investments have been made to install low-energy light bulbs, insulate buildings to reduce heating and cooling need, and install solar water heating and a solar cooker. All drinking water provided is from an onsite aquifer (rather than using bottled water). Three Trees is also investing considerable amounts of time and resources to develop a permaculture garden and an Environmental Learning Centre at the local community school.

Luxury properties often lead the way in developing trends, and those that decide to invest in sustainability usually do so at a level that is hard to emulate for others. At these properties, just as no expense is saved to create the ultimate guest experience; sustainability is taken to a level that has deep and profound impacts.

Spier, Sabi Sabi and Three Trees are all destinations we support and all of us here at Best African Safaris are committed to a more sustainable safari industry, so when you book your luxury safari with us you know you are making a lasting difference to people and planet.

Discover Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park!

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 12:37:14 GMT

From royal hunting ground to conservation legend ...

Hwange! There's nowhere else quite like Zimbabwe's largest and most famous national park! For a start, it's the size of Belgium, covering just over 14,600 square kilometres in the north-west of this beautiful Southern African nation. That's a small slice of Europe located in a corner of an African country!

Hwange is also stunningly diverse in terms of topography, its different biomes and the wild fauna and flora that calls it home. From desert sands and rolling savannah grasslands to dense riparian woodlands and dramatic rocky outcrops, this is a veritable African Eden filled with an abundance of life.

An estimate 50,000 elephants call Hwange home, along with huge herds of buffalo and excellent concentrations of lion, leopard and cheetah, as well as painted wolves (African wild dogs) and hyena. The game viewing is outstanding, with more than 100 mammal species found here year-round. Over 500 bird species have been recorded here as well, making Hwange a prime spot for birders.

Hwange is named after a legendary local chieftain of the Nhanzwa people and used to be a renowned royal hunting ground for the Ndebele warrior king Mzilikazi. It became a national park in 1949 and today is one of the most successful conservation areas in Africa.

Like the rest of Southern Africa, the dry season between July and October each year is the best time for game viewing. This is when Hwange is filled will animals, especially huge herds of elelpahts, which descend on waterholes throughout the day to drink. The waterholes become ambush spots for predators so the action is ongoing.

For the best birding, the rainy summer season from December to March is the best as this is when Hwange is filled with summer migrant species, most of which come here to breed. The rain brings dense vegetation and lots of water and turns the park into a lush, verdant wonderland.

What makes Hwange stand out is the lack of people! The park never gets crowded, even in peak season, which adds an air of exclusivity and remoteness to its beautiful wilderness areas. It also means you won't be fighting for space at sightings and you will have the chance to completely immerse yourself in your surroundings, far from the madding crowds!

You can explore Hwange in a variety of different ways... Walking safaris are popular here, and horse safaris are also available allowing you to discover the magic of the park and its wildlife from the saddle. Game drives are also a given, of course. There are a variety of hides available for up-close wildlife photography and birding as well.

Hwange is also conveniently close to Victoria Falls, making it ideal to combine with a few days in Africa's adventure capital! It also works well in a multi-country itinerary with neighbouring Zambia, Botswana and Namibia.

Want to go?

If you'd like to chat to us about putting together a special safari that features Hwange for you and your family, please get in touch and let's chat about putting together the trip of a lifetime for you!

Explore the Okavango Delta!

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 12:28:56 GMT

Incredible wildlife and breathtaking landscapes...

It's a safari legend - a place so special that it tops bucket lists the world over and has featured in award-winning wildlife documentaries. Welcome to Botswana's incredible Okavango Delta, where a river empties into the sands of the Kalahari, creating one of the most beautiful wetlands in the world.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Delta can be seen clearly from space - a hand-shaped alluvial fan that also resembles a frying pan that stretches from the border with Namibia in the north-west of Botswana deep into the Kalahari basin.

Every year from November to May the Kavango River becomes swollen with seasonal rains that fall in its Angolan headwaters, causing an annual inundation that slowly floods the Delta. The floodwaters reach their peak during July and August each year, before beginning to recede in September.

An abundance of life

This constant ebb and flow of life-giving water brings life in abundance to the Delta, which is home to some of the most incredible concentrations of wildlife in Africa. During the dry season the wetland covers around 6000 square kilometres, swelling to almost three times that size during the annual floods. More than 150,000 islands filled with tall riparian trees dot the vast floodplains that are filled with huge herds of buffalo, elephant and other plains game, as well as predators aplenty.

From the air you clearly see the maze of channels, lagoons, oxbow lakes and waterways that slice through the parched desert, turning it into a verdant paradise. The waters are crystal clear and filled with a host of aquatic species, from fish and insect larvae to terrapins, crocodiles and hippos. Tall reed beds provide shelter for a host of wading birds and water lilies cover the surface of the water.

So many ways to explore

This wetland wonderland is safari heaven, especially during the peak flood season. Take a mokoro (a traditional dug-out canoe) through the channels, being poled by your safari guide as you glide effortlessly across the water. These days the mokoros are made from fibreglass rather than the traditional ebony or sausage tree in an effort to preserve the Delta's remaining large trees.

Getting out on the water is a great way to view game, so many activities are boat-based, from morning and afternoon safaris to fishing, birding and even transfers between lodges in some cases! Game drives are also a standard offering in the Delta and in the dry season it's great to be able to combine drives with the odd water activity, depending on which area of the Delta you are visiting.

Walking safaris are also popular in the dry season, and exploring the various islands on foot is a year-round option. You can also explore on horseback, or take a helicopter flight and find the remote spots that other forms of transport just can't reach. Experiencing the Delta from the air is also possible in a hot air balloon.

A photographer's and birders' paradise

If you're a keen photographer, then the Okavango Delta will blow your mind. It's sunrises and sunsets are stunning and its landscapes are jaw-droppingly beautiful, especially in the golden hours just after sunrise and just before sunset. And of course, the wildlife is so plentiful you won't be short of subject matter.

Predators abound in the Okavango, so be prepared for close-ups of lion, leopard and painted wolves (African wild dogs), as well as serval, caracal and African wild cats! Hyenas and cheetahs are also plentiful. The elephant sightings are off the charts, and you'll see elephants in or around water regularly, making for fantastic photographic opportunities.

The birding is also superlative, with more than 400 species recorded, including rarities like the Pels fishing owl, slaty egret, white-backed night heron and wattled crane. Expect lots of fish eagles, African jacanas and bee-eaters.

Want to go?

If you'd like to chat to us about putting together a special Okavango Delta safari for you and your family, please get in touch and we'll hopefully get you to this incredible safari destination on the trip of a lifetime.

Eight-night Botswana Adventure

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 10:37:50 GMT

Discover off-the-beaten-track Botswana with this eight-night adventure into some of the most remote wilderness areas of this beautiful African country, including five nights in the Okavango Delta ...

Eight-night Botswana Adventure

Enquire for pricing

Day 1: Arrive in Maun

Arrive at Maun International Airport and transfer by small plane to Shakawe and Xaro Lodge. Shakawe is in northern Botswana, on the eastern edge of the Chobe National Park, famed for its concentrations of wildlife and especially its lions.

After landing at Shakawe airstrip you will be met for your transfer by road and boat to Xaro Lodge. After check-in formalities you'll be taken to your beautiful luxury safari tent where you can freshen up before joining an afternoon boat cruise along the Kavango River.

Your afternoon cruise will take you along the Okavango River, looking for some of the incredible bird species that make this area such a legendary birding destination!

Species that are spotted regularly include Pel’s fishing owl, African skimmers, southern carmine bee-eaters, egrets, night herons, a variety of kingfisher species, pygmy geese and the inimitable African fish eagle.

After your cruise, enjoy a wonderful, home-cooked dinner at the lodge, enjoy drinks around the fire and marvel at the night skies, filled with glittering stars.

About Xaro Lodge

Xaro Lodge is nestled in a grove of giant mangosteen trees on an island in the Okavango River and is accessible only by boat. This intimate 24-bed lodge's luxurious Meru-style safari tents, each with ensuite bathroom facilities and private decks looking out over the river, are designed to immerse guests in this tropical paradise surrounded by water.

The tents are raised on wooden platforms and have large, sliding glass doors allowing for uninterrupted views from the comfort of the bed! Sunrises are spectacular here! Xaro's communal lounge and dining areas offer a comprehensive library and plenty of space for relaxing with a pair of binoculars and updating your tick list! Meals are hearty and home-cooked with love and served either in the dining area or outside, under the stars.

This is a birding and photography destination of note, with mostly water-based activities on offer, taking in the unique rivering forests and floodplains where more than 300 species of bird can be seen.

Overnight: Xaro Lodge

Day 2: At Xaro Lodge

Today is a special day as we take you to visit the incredible Tsodilo Hills UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We depart after breakfast for this incredible place, known as the "Louvre of the Desert" where there are more than 4,500 paintings preserved in an area of only 10 sq km of the northern Kalahari basin, not far from Xaro Lodge and about 40km from Shakawe.

Tsodilo Hills is believed by the local San Bushmen to be the site of the first creation and its rock art is estimated to date back some 24,000 years in some instances. Other pieces of art are more modern, dating only a few hundred years old.

The rock shelters, caves and depressions of the area have been used by the Bushmen for millennia and they believe the four hills, rising unexpectedly from the largely flat landscape, are a resting place for the spirits.

We will take a picnic lunch with us to Tsodilo, and enjoy it at leisure in this spectacular place, taking the day to explore and take in the atmosphere and amazing views, as well as visiting the small museum, before returning to the lodge in the late afternoon.

There will be time to freshen up and relax before pre-dinner drinks and a wonderful dinner, discussing the day's adventure.

Day 3: To Ngwesi Houseboat

After breakfast you'll have a short road transfer from Shakawe to Sepupa, then a boat transfer to Seronga to board the beautiful Ngwesi Houseboat for a leisurely cruise, boat-based game viewing and the chance to soak up some of the spirit of wild Africa.

About Ngwesi Houseboat

Named after the feisty tiger fish that's found in abundance throughout the Okavango Delta, the Ngwesi Houseboat consists of an upper and lower deck and is headed by a licensed skipper and trained staff. It comes with its own tender boats which are used to explore the waterways of the Okavango Delta.

The lower deck consists of four en-suite double cabins, two with twin beds and two with double beds, with glass sliding doors offering superb views out over the water. The en-suite bathrooms are spacious and equipped with hot and cold fresh water showers, luxurious soft towels and bed linen as well as lovely guest amenities.

The upper deck is where day-to-day life happens with its leisurely, sun-drenched lounge offering great viewing of the region's abundant wildlife. Comfort is the key word, with luxurious furnishings and lots of great hospitality making this a fabulous alternative to the traditional safari lodge.

Overnight: Ngwesi Houseboat

Day 4: To Khwai

After breakfast aboard the Ngwesi Houseboat you'll be transferred by boat back to Seronga for your small plane flight to Khwai airstrip in the heart of the Okavango Delta.

You'll be met on arrival and transferred by road to O Bona Moremi Safari Lodge in the world-famous Khwai Concession.

Once you’ve arrived at O Bona Moremi you will be taken to one of its 13 solar powered, elevated Meru safari tents to settle in and get your bearings. You can enjoy the views from your private patio with safari chairs and listen to the hippos laughing nearby.

Each Safari Tent is complete with very comfortable twin or king-size beds, clothes storage, 24-hour lighting, an ensuite bathroom and a lovely outside shower with wonderful hot water.

The dining and lounge area are built on a spacious elevated viewing deck overlooking seasonal floodplains with elephants as regular visitors.

You can enjoy pre-dinner drinks or sundowners around one of the lodge's two fireplaces after a fulfilling safari day before your delicious dinner is served. After dinner you can again relax by the fireside before getting into bed and falling asleep whilst listening to the magical sounds of the Okavango Delta.

About O Bona Moremi Safari Lodge

The shady O Bona Moremi Safari Lodge boasts classic dining and lounge facilities on an elevated deck overlooking a Khwai River tributary, its floodplains and riverine forests.

The Safari Lodge lies on the boundary between the famous Moremi Game Reserve and the Khwai Concession, giving you easy access to some of Botswana’s best wildlife viewing, with both land and water-based activities. You'll have the chance to see to elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, buffalo, hippo, plains game and painted wolves (African wild dogs) in this area

Immediately adjacent to the north gate entrance of Moremi Game Reserve lies the little village of Khwai, giving guests the opportunity to experience the lifestyle of an original local community living in the heart of big game country.

Overnight: O Bona Moremi Lodge

Day 5: At Khwai

You'll be up at dawn to take part in your chosen game activity before returning to the lodge for breakfast.

Your stay at O Bona Moremi in the core boundary zone of the Okavango Delta will be dedicated to getting up close and personal with the unique wildlife that has roamed the Khwai Wildlife Concession and the Moremi Game Reserve for centuries.

Look forward to once in a lifetime safaris in modern, comfortable open 4×4 game-viewers, walking safaris, night drives or even an unforgettable excursion in a traditional Mokoro canoe.

No matter which activities you choose to do, you will always be accompanied by our experienced safari guides which will go out of their way to show you the natural wonders of Botswana. And not to forget: here in the heart of Botswana’s safari country we’d definitely count in “Sundowners” into the category of activities – so look forward to an ice-cold gin and tonic while elephants walk through the sunset and lechwe browse the green grass of the vast floodplains of the Khwai River.

Overnight: O Bona Moremi Lodge

Day 6: At Khwai

The usual morning at O Bona Moremi starts with a fresh cup of tea and a light breakfast. After you've enjoyed your morning activity with fantastic safari sightings in the Khwai Wildlife Concession or the Moremi Game Reserve you will be served a hearty brunch with fresh salads and home-made iced tea.

Before you head out for your afternoon activity, high tea is prepared with a freshly baked cake and a choice of savoury snacks. Dinner consists of a three course meal with a lovely blend of traditional recipes and western cuisine.

The main course is usually buffet style while starters and desserts are plated. All meals are freshly prepared at the lodge by our professional chefs. Even though the lodge is in the wilderness of the Okavango Delta, fresh goods are delivered regularly as well as assorted wines, beers, spirits and soft drinks.

Look forward to your adventurous safari day coming to an end, sitting by the campfire while enjoying an Amarula on the rocks.

Overnight: O Bona Moremi Lodge

Day 7: Transfer by road to luxury mobile camp

After your morning activity and brunch, you'll head off on the next leg of your adventure and a road transfer to O Bona Explorer mobile safari camp.

The road leading to O Bona Explorer might have been a little dusty but it's worth it because you're staying in a private safari camp pitched in the middle of the Moremi Game Reserve. On arrival, you can freshen up with a bucket shower in the ensuite bathroom of your grand, 24 square metre safari tent before enjoying your first, epic afternoon game drive.

Your day will end with a fantastic three-course dinner seated in the camp's large main tented area in the middle of the African bush... A glistening camp fire and an ice cold sundowner awaits you, before you get into your comfortable bed and fall asleep to the sounds of nature under the never-ending African night sky.

About O Bona Explorer Camp

The O Bona Explorer mobile safari camp was designed from scratch to provide the ultimate mobile safari experience for small groups in Botswana. Being able to host up to 10 people at a time in either the Moremi Game Reserve, the Chobe National Park or even the legendary Central Kalahari Game Reserve.

The camp has a tailor-made off-grid power and water supply and you can look forward to spacious safari tents, comfortable beds, en-suite bathrooms with chemical toilets as well as hot and cold bucket showers. Not to mention the freshly prepared, delicious meals and of course unlimited epic safari game drives.

Overnight: O Bona Explorer Camp

Day 8: Mobile safari

You'll have an early start exploring the African wilderness before returning to camp for a hearty breakfast/brunch. Spend the rest of the day at leisure before embarking on your afternoon/evening game activity, returning to camp for another wonderful dinner under the African stars and stories of the days' adventures around the camp fire.

Overnight: O Bona Explorer Camp

Day 9: Time to leave

It's time to say goodbye to Botswana. After your final game activity and breakfast/brunch, you'll have a road transfer back to Maun International Airport for your onward flight.

Included:

Two night’s accommodation at Xaro Lodge on a full-board basis (breakfast, lunch and dinner)

One night's accommodation on Ngwesi Houseboat on a full-board basis (breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Three nights' accommodation at O Bona Moremi Safari Lodge on a full-board basis (breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Two nights' accommodation at O Bona Explorer Mobile Camp on a full-board basis (breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Teas and coffees in all accommodation

Game viewing activities

Excluded:

Premium drinks, items of a personal nature.

* Contact us for fly-in options and for Ts and Cs

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Seven-night River & Delta Safari

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 10:16:46 GMT

Discover the beauty of Botswana's Chobe River, the mighty Zambezi, Savute Channel and the Okavango Delta on this wonderful wilderness adventure...

Seven-night River & Delta Safari

Enquire for pricing

Day 1: Arrive in Kasane

Arrive at Kasane International Airport and transfer by road to Chobe Game Lodge inside the world-famous Chobe National Park.

The route will take you through the main Sedudu gates of Chobe National Park and into this renowned wilderness area, where you will enjoy a short game drive en-route to the lodge which is 15km inside the park.

You'll be met at Chobe Game Lodge by your guide and hosts and after check-in formalities are completed you'll be shown to your room, with time to relax and unpack before your afternoon game activity. If you would prefer to just relax and enjoy the lodge, you are perfectly at liberty to do so, taking advantage of the range of facilities on offer and the stunning views out over the Chobe River.

On return from your afternoon/evening activity you'll enjoy pre-dinner drinks and a delicious dinner before turning in for the night.

About Chobe Game Lodge

The only permanent lodge situated inside Chobe National Park, Chobe Game Lodge is a luxury, five-star eco lodge that is highly acclaimed for its eco sustainability credentials. It offers 44 air-conditioned rooms, all of which are river-facing with their own private terraces. There are also four river-view suites with their own plunge pools and lounge areas.

Decorated to an exceptional standard of luxury throughout, the décor at Chobe Game Lodge is a fusion of African tribal design with wonderful Arabian influences. The main areas are designed to encourage total relaxation and pampering, with six viewing decks, a riverside boma, two bars, six different lounges and four dining venues. There is also a wonderful boardwalk along the river bank.

This gives you a smorgasbord of choices about where to lay back, unwind and take in the incredible views in between activities. Add to this a large swimming pool and impeccable waiter service!

The game-viewing activities are outstanding at Chobe Game Lodge. With either water or land-based safaris on offer, the choice is yours on how to split your time between the magnificent river and this legendary national park.

Early morning and late afternoon drives are on offer, as is riverside game viewing in small and highly manoeuvrable boats, making this a popular cruise option. The lodge's game viewing boats are solar powered to boot!

Chobe is legendary for its huge herds of elephants and buffalo. Indeed, it is home to the largest concentration of elephants in Africa and during the dry season especially these herds are easily found on the wide, fertile floodplains along the river, as well as on islands. This is where you will often see elephants in the water, bathing and playing.

The river itself is full of life, from hippo and crocodiles to a rich variety of birdlife, from the beautiful African fish eagle to the yellow-billed stork.

Overnight: Chobe Game Lodge

Day 2: Chobe

As usual, you'll have an early wake-up call and some time to ready yourself before heading out on a morning game activity, choosing between a game drive in the Chobe National Park or a water-based activity along the Chobe River. Coffee and rusks will be served before you depart.

Dawn in Chobe is simply superlative as you explore this vast national park in search of its incredibly diverse wildlife species. Game viewing in Chobe is great all year round, so you can look forward to fantastic sightings. Don't forget your binoculars and camera!

You can enjoy a wonderful breakfast on returning to the lodge and take some time to explore, swim, bird-watch and generally relax. Perhaps indulge in a spa treatment or even hit the gym to work off some of the amazing food you've been eating!

After a late lunch/afternoon tea, you'll be off into the wilds of Chobe once again. Try a leisurely cruise along the riverbanks in one of the lodge's fabulous solar powered game-viewing boats. Completely silent, they glide effortlessy along the water, edging close to game that comes down to drink and offering wonderful views across this breathtakingly beautiful waterway.

On a water-based safari you will return to the lodge shortly after sunset, while there is still enough light to safely navigate the river. If you choose to take part in a game drive you will continue the last part of your drive in darkness with a spotlight, returning to the lodge later, but in time for dinner and another wonderful night under the African stars. Don't forget to ask your guide to point out the constellations for you!

Overnight: Chobe Game Lodge

Day 3: Victoria Falls Day Trip

After your morning game activity and breakfast at Chobe Game Lodge, you'll be transferred by road to Victoria Falls in neighboring Zimbabwe. It's a 90-minute road journey and your driver will assist with the border crossing and immigration processes before taking you to the beautiful and historic Victoria Falls

Take a guided tour of the falls themselves, or enjoy the experience under your own steam. The falls are just a short walk away from the hotel along a dedicated, private pathway. Just remember to hire a raincoat (or take one along with you!) as the legendary "smoke that thunders" is very wet!

You will be collected at a pre-arranged time and location for your return transfer to Chobe Game Lodge.

Overnight: Chobe Game Lodge

Day 4: To Savute

About Savute Safari Lodge

With its 11 luxurious timber and thatch guest chalets and two-bedroom family suite strung out along a tree-line overlooking a waterhole in the heart of the beautiful wilderness of the Savute, Savute Safari Lodge is the epitome of authentic African safari style, immersing guests into the wild environment while offering high levels of luxury and pampering.

Expansive private decks offer stunning views over the bush and waterhole where elephants and other game often gather and each chalet has its own lounge area as well as en-suite facilities.

The communal lounge and dining areas include a library and stylish bar. Relaxation is guaranteed... Sink into one of various plush couches strategically placed to offer amazing views and total seclusion or sip a refreshing G&T at the bar... The choice is yours!

The shaded viewing deck is matched by a wonderful al fresco dining area for amazing dinners under the stars and a swimming pool gives you the chance to cool off when the heat of the African sun becomes too much. Choose a lounger by the pool with a view over the waterhole as the ultimate game-viewing spot!

Overnight: Savute Safari Lodge

Day 5: At Savute Safari Lodge

Your early wake-up call will be pre-arranged with you enabling you to freshen up before meeting up for coffee and rusks and then heading out to explore the Savute wilderness as dawn breaks.

The Savute region is known for its lions. You may also be lucky enough to see leopard and perhaps even African wild cat, as well as cheetah, serval and caracal, which pretty much covers most of Southern Africa's cat species!

The area is also frequented by packs of painted wolves (African wild dogs) which are always a fantastic sighting, and you'll most likely see spotted hyena and smaller predators such as mongoose, civet and genet.

On return from your morning game drive you'll enjoy a wonderful brunch and then take advantage of some down-time to relax and enjoy the facilities on hand. Take a siesta by the pool or curl up on a couch with a good book!

You'll meet up again in the late afternoon for tea before embarking on your afternoon/evening game drive, returning back to the lodge for another marvellous dinner.

Overnight: Savute Safari Lodge

Day 6: To the Okavango Delta

After breakfast you'll be transferred to the airstrip for your small plane flight to the Okavango Delta. On arrival you'll be met and transferred to Camp Okavango.

Camp Okavango lies on the remote Nxaragha Island at the heart of the permanent Okavango Delta, offering a year-round water wilderness experience. The experience is all in the name, this is a quintessential Okavango water safari experience with the traditional mokoro rides, boating and walking in a beautiful environment.

About Camp Okavango

Camp Okavango has 12 spacious safari rooms, each individually situated on a raised teak platform with impressive sliding glass doors which open on to a private open air viewing deck. Rooms are connected by raised walkways providing excellent views over the delta. There is a sleep-out deck available to guests staying three nights or more – an opportunity to sleep below the stars to the sounds of the African bush.

Camp Okavango’s main lodge features a cocktail bar, lounge and wildlife reference library. The dining room leads onto an expansive open-air patio which is perfect for brunch, afternoon tea and tranquil evenings around the fire. Other facilities include a secluded bird-viewing hide and a sundeck with plunge pool for relaxing during the sunny midday hours.

A family suite allows families to visit this remote part of the delta together. This suite has two interleading bedrooms allowing parents and children their own rooms and separate bathrooms.

Overnight: Camp Okavango

Day 7: Okavango Delta

You have a choice of game activities today and lots of time to explore this beautiful wilderness.

Water-based game-viewing activities at Camp Okavango are conducted by experienced professional guides who will expertly navigate guests through the many meandering, reed-lined waterways. Roam the vast expanses of water from the comfort of a modern motorboat or explore the intricacies of the Okavango Delta the old fashioned way, in the traditional contours of the Mokoro (canoe).

For those looking to get a little closer to nature, guided bush walks are conducted on a number of the nearby islands, offering an opportunity to track some of the larger land-based species that inhabit this water wilderness. Bird-watching opportunities at Camp Okavango are outstanding, and fishing for bream and tiger fish is also offered as an activity.

Overnight: Camp Okavango

Day 8: Time to leave

It's time to say goodbye to Botswana. After your final game activity and breakfast/brunch, you'll have a flight back to either Maun International Airport or Kasane International Airport for your onward flight connection.

Included:

Three night’s accommodation at Chobe Game Lodge on a full-board basis (breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Two night's accommodation at Savute Safari Lodge on a full-board basis (breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Two nights' accommodation at Camp Okavango Lodge on a full-board basis (breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Day trip to Victoria Falls

Teas and coffees in all accommodation

Game viewing activities

Excluded:

Premium drinks, items of a personal nature.

* Contact us for fly-in options and for Ts and Cs

Enquire Now

Fill in the form below and one of friendly consultants will get back to you asap

Seven-night Best of Botswana Explorer

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 09:27:19 GMT

From the vast horizons of the Makgadikgadi Pans to the remote reaches of the Okavango Delta, this safari takes in some of the highlight of magical Botswana...

Seven-night Best of Botswana Explorer

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Day 1: Arrive in Maun

Arrive at Maun International Airport and transfer by small plane to Jack's Camp in the heart of the Makgadikgadi Pans.

The Makgadikgadi is a year-round destination, yet the two seasons couldn’t be more different. The dry season, from April to October, is the desert as you know it: a shimmering whiteness envelops the scorched landscape, like a mirage floating over the crusted salt, and you’ll spot nomadic herds in the distance, as if an illusion. This is the time of year for whizzing across the pans on the back of a quad bike, sleeping under the stars, and enjoying the pans in their most iconic state.

When the rains start to fall in November, the Makgadikgadi Pans are transformed. It’s a time of plenty (even in the desert), and the salt flats are turned into watery grasslands, almost unrecognisable from the previous months.

A layer of emerald-green grass stretches out in every direction, pink clouds of flamingo and flocks of migratory birds arrive to nest, and Africa’s second largest mammal migration of wildebeest and our black and white striped friends floods the plains. The green season in the desert is one of Africa’s, great unpredictable spectacles, and a magical time to visit.

Rain transforms everything, turning the pans into lush grasslands from November onwards. Animals are on the move and the desert becomes a green oasis teeming with life, notably thousands of zebra and blue wildebeest that feast on the sweet summer grasses. The safari activities are similar in these months although you usually won’t travel as far; on many days you can see the wildlife direct from your veranda. This green season continues until mid-April and corresponds with the off season for tourism in Botswana, making it a slightly cheaper time to travel.

About Jack's Camp

Jack’s is one of Africa’s most iconic camps and is full of very stylish old world glamour. Enjoy the ultimate in space and exclusivity; the camp is one of just three in a vast private wildlife reserve.

Nine guest tents (seven twins and two doubles) are each 270 square metres in size and are embellished with rich textiles and colours, an overhead cooling system, en-suite showers and a private plunge pool on each shaded verandah.

The mess tent is resplendent with renowned Natural History Museum display cabinets, a full library, antique pool table and well-stocked drinks chest. There is also a legendary Persian tea tent with sumptuous carpets, plump cushions and lots of wonderful finishing touches.

The camp pool is also under canvas to keep it cool!

One of the most original and exciting camps in Africa, the safari experience at Jack’s is unique. Here the living desert is constantly full of surprises. At first sight, the lunar-like salt pans appear devoid of life, but in the hands of the of the knowledgeable camp guides the story of the Makgadikgadi begins to unfold. Throughout your stay you will find an impressive choice of extraordinary activities and desert culture experiences to enjoy in and around camp.

Overnight: Jack's Camp

Day 2: Makgadikgadi

After an early morning desert exploration, retreat back to the sanctuary of camp to sit back and relax in the elegant Persian tea tent.

Indulge in a lazy afternoon in your private plunge pool overlooking the Makgadikgadi pans, watching the world go by.

Keep your eyes peeled for the year-round desert wildlife: brown hyena, oryx, Kalahari lion and, after dark, aardvark, porcupine, honey badger and bat eared fox.

You'll choose what you want to do in the afternoon, followed by a wonderful dinner in camp and tales of the day's adventures around the camp fire.

Overnight: Jack's Camp

Day 3: Makgadikgadi

There’s an impressive choice of extraordinary activities to be enjoyed including quad biking, bushman walks, classic desert game drives, meerkat visits and horse rides.

The camp has one of the most comprehensive collections of ancient artefacts in Botswana, collected and curated by the owners - the Bousfield family - over decades.

Tonight, season permitting, you'll enjoy one of Africa's ultimate safari experiences - a sleep out on the Makgadikgadi Pans under a billion twinkling stars!

Overnight: Jack's Camp/Sleepout Under The Stars (season permitting)

Day 4: To the Okavango Delta

After breakfast you'll be transferred to the airstrip for your short small plane flight to the beautiful Khwai Private Concession in the Okavango Delta and your stay at Sable Alley.

About Sable Alley

There’s no denying that Sable Alley is spacious, sophisticated and really quite stylish. Each canvas-walled suite is a huge 55 square metres, and comes complete with mini-indoor seating area, writing desk, double bed, and some seriously Afro-chic décor.

Slide open the screen doors at the front for uninterrupted views of the lagoon, or take a seat on the veranda for a closer inspection. At the back, you’ll find two basins, and indoor shower and a flush loo. And if you fancy washing off the dust from the day in the great outdoors, no problem – there’s an outdoor shower with a view too.

Just like the bedrooms, the communal areas are designed around the spectacular vistas. Watch the happenings at the lagoon from the bar, G&T in hand, from the outdoor fire pit, or from a squashy sofa in the lounge. At night, dinner is served either in the indoor dining area, or alfresco on the deck, accompanied by twinkling stars and the rumblings and grumblings of the wildlife.

There's a swimming pool and sun deck, both unique spots from which to watch the hippo pods emerge from the lagoon, or simply for some chill-out time in the heat of the day.

Overnight: Sable Alley

Day 5: At Khwai

Another day of choosing what to do! Whatever it is, you know the game viewing is going to be great.

There’s never a bad time to visit Sable Alley (really). There’s something different in every season but, most importantly, the wildlife is out-of-this-world excellent all year round. Resident hippo splash in the inland pools, elephant and buffalo herds are hard to miss, and you’re never more than a few whiskers away from a lion pride.

From May onwards the Okavango Delta floods. Seasonal channels emerge, perfect for paddling around on a mokoro canoe safari – you might just have to share them with a few antelope. In June to September, the Delta floods really get going, and the heightened water levels mean mokoro and motorboat safaris are possible all day, every day.

December to March brings the summer rains. The grasses grow, and on a single game drive you might not see as many animals; but every rain cloud has a silver lining, and there’s a good chance of encountering big cats stalking their prey, the thick bushes allowing them to hunt undetected. And don’t let the thought of rain put you off – downpours are short and sporadic, and a good, waterproof jacket will see you through pretty much anything the weather throws at you.

Overnight: Sable Alley

Day 6: To Duke's Camp

After your morning activity and breakfast, it's time to head off to the airstrip for your short flight in a small plane to Duke's Camp in the Okavango Delta.

About Duke's Camp

Duke’s Camp offers twelve canvas safari suites, each one carefully positioned to offer unforgettable views of the Okavango Delta. The tents are on raised wooden decks and sit elegantly amongst leadwood and ebony trees.

Taking their cue from the style and panache of its "sister" camp, Jack’s Camp, the guest tents at Duke’s Camp revel in the much-loved vintage safari aesthetic of plush fabrics, Persian rugs and hand-carved four-poster beds.

Think mahogany sideboards filled with African memorabilia; richly-patterned kilims atop wooden floors and a butler tray decked with a steaming pot of filter coffee come morning. It’s a seamless blend of yesteryear charm, safari savoir-faire and deep respect for the surrounding natural ecosystems.

Each tent offers a spacious en-suite bathroom, bedecked with brass fittings and bespoke amenities, as well as a private viewing deck. Here leather campaign chairs offer a space for quiet reflection on your time in the wilderness, and the opportunity for spontaneous game sightings. Herds of elephant and red lechwe are common here, and moments spent in quiet observation rarely go unrewarded.

The main mess area at Duke’s Camp is a delight with its old world glamour and elegant Persian tea-tent. Grab a drink from the well-stocked drinks cabinet and settle into the small lounge furnished with intricately carved tables, antique oriental rugs and campaign furniture.

Meals are enjoyed under the shade of the giant leadwood trees or in the communal dining tent, where the long vintage dining table dominates the space.

At day’s end, gather by the firepit to watch the mopane wood smoke curl up into the southern skies, hinting at tomorrow’s promise of yet more African adventure.

Overnight: Duke's Camp

Day 7: Duke's Camp

Choose your activity! With morning, afternoon and night game drives on offer you can explore the pristine private concession, home to a rich array of wildlife including healthy populations of lion, leopard, cheetah, and elephant. A highlight of any visit to the Delta is sighting the semi-aquatic red lechwe and rare sitatunga antelope.

Glide through crystal-clear channels on a traditional mokoro (dugout canoe) safari, as expert guides introduce you to the remarkable fauna and flora of the Delta. Note that mokoro activities are subject to the annual floodwaters, and in dry years may be restricted or curtailed from October to January.

Cast a line for the myriad fish species of the Okavango Delta, including African pike, nembwe and tilapia. Note that fishing is catch and release and is not permitted during the breeding season, from 1 January – 31 March.

Escape the African sun in the camp pool, with the chance to spot wildlife from your lounger.

The Okavango Delta is a haven for birders, with more than 440 species spotted in the region. While the arrival of northern hemisphere migrants makes summer the best time for birding, twitchers will be mesmerised year-round.

The Tsodilo Hills is a fascinating World heritage Site that is located just 30 minutes flight away by helicopter. With over 4,500 individual paintings, Tsodilo is a treasure trove of ancient rock art with some of the highest concentrations in the world dating back between 800 to 1300 AD.

A half day helicopter trip should be booked in advance to spend a morning exploring these Hills and their paintings.

Overnight: Duke's Camp

Day 8: Time to leave

It's time to say goodbye to Botswana. After your final game activity and breakfast, you'll have a flight back to Maun International Airport for your onward flight.

Included:

Three night’s accommodation at Jack's Camp on a full-board basis (breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Two night's accommodation at Sable Alley on a full-board basis (breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Two nights' accommodation Duke's Camp on a full-board basis (breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Teas and coffees in all accommodation

Drinks (local beers and wines)

Game viewing activities

Excluded:

Premium drinks, items of a personal nature.

* Contact us for fly-in options and for Ts and Cs

Enquire Now

Fill in the form below and one of friendly consultants will get back to you asap

Six-night Botswana Escape

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 17:45:27 GMT

Get a quick safari fix with this wonderful six-night adventure that takes in some of the highlights of Botswana's stunning safari offerings...

Six-night Botswana Escape

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Day 1: Arrive in Maun

Arrive at Maun International Airport and transfer by small plane to Camp Kalahari. This underrated camp is based in the heart of the great Kalahari, surrounded by waving palms and acacia trees on Brown Hyena Island, close to the vast Makgadikgadi Pans.

This surreal yet sublime landscape offers a host of adventures, from walks with the local San bushmen to encounters with a habituated meerkat family. You'll fall in love with both the place and its people.

About Camp Kalahari

Laidback and understated, nothing is overly elaborate at Camp Kalahari. Instead, you’ll find 12, Meru-style canvas tents filled with fresh textiles, Moroccan kilims and four-posters.

Shower alfresco in the open-air, ensuite bathrooms (there’s definitely no one around to disturb your privacy here!), and there’s plenty of hot and cold water available throughout the day. If you’re travelling with your brood, choose one of the interconnecting family tents; with a bathroom linking the space for children and adults, it’s ideal for families and groups.

The common areas include a central library and a living and dining area, festooned with an eclectic mix of original African furniture and colonial antiques. Meals are refreshingly simple and wonderfully tasty, and served, family-style, at the long table.

There’s also a thatched swimming pool, providing the perfect place for a refreshing dip on a hot afternoon – just watch out for the ellies who might pop in for a quick drink too.

The use of electricity is kept to a minimum: there are electrical lights in the bedrooms, but when night falls, the majority of camp is lit by twinkling paraffin lanterns (but camera batteries and other appliances can be charged in the safari vehicles when required).

Overnight: Camp Kalahari

Day 2: Camp Kalahari

Brown Hyena Island, the palm dotted island that Camp Kalahari calls home is named after the bashful brown hyena - a champion at foraging and scavenging,

The third rarest large carnivore in Africa, and an animal that’s virtually impossible to see elsewhere on the continent, the brown hyena is just one oddity to look out for in the Makgadikgadi. Watch out for bat-eared foxes, aardvark and aardwolves scampering across the salt, elephant plodding through on their nomadic journey (the camp swimming pool is a welcome refreshment stop), and dazzling numbers of zebra and wildebeest.

And where there’s a zebra, a predator will never be far away, so keep an eye out for cheetah and lion, close on the hooves of the herds. Not to be forgotten are our cheeky, habituated meerkats, a constant source of amusement and a regular feature of a safari at Camp Kalahari.

There's a lot of activities to choose from at Camp Kalahari...

Year Round: Up-close encounters with our habituated meerkats; join the Zu/’hoasi Bushmen on bush walks through the desert; take game drives and night drives in custom built 4x4s to see the unique desert wildlife.

Embark on an adventurous two-hour horseback safari (for all levels of riders; additional charge). Multi-day riding safaris are also available for experienced riders – please contact us for more information.

Dry Season (01 April – 31 October): Take an exhilarating quad bike across the salt-crusted pans (all pan activity is weather permitting). Lie out on the pans as the sun sets, and watch the planetarium of stars unfold.

Green Season (01 November – 31 March): Witness the second largest migration of zebra and wildebeest in Africa (and it’s also the last remaining one in Southern Africa).

Whatever time of year you choose to travel, you are going to have the adventure of a lifetime.

Overnight: Camp Kalahari

Day 3: To Hyena Pan

After breakfast you'll be off to the airstrip for your flight in a small plane to Hyena Pan in the Khwai Private Concession.

It's all about the wildlife at Hyena Pan. First up is its phenomenal location in Khwai Private Reserve. Positioned between Moremi Game Reserve, Chobe National Park and the Khwai River. It's a meeting point for an abundance of wild animals with nomadic herds of elephant and buffalo, lion, leopard and painted wolves (African wild dogs) fiercely defending their territories, as well as kudu, red lechwe and herds of antelope dotted across the plains

About Hyena Pan

From its lofty position amongst a grove of cathedral mopane trees, the eight tents at Hyena Pan look over a watery lagoon of the same name. In the morning, you’ll open your tent flaps straight on to the trumpeting elephant in the lily-filled waters below, spend your siesta watching herds splash and snort, and fall asleep to antelope grazing just outside your canvas walls.

This isn’t a place for those looking for opulence and extravagance; it’s a private piece of big-game Africa, where the wildlife encounters are authentic, intimate and always wild.

Hyena Pan has eight tents, and inside the theme is stylish simplicity, and a whole lot of character. You’ll find everything you need. Each tent has twin beds, which can easily be made into doubles. Mesh nets keep the mozzies out, and there’s an electronic safe to store valuables, along with a luggage rack and wardrobe. Each tent is solar powered, with international plug points.

A gas geyser pumps constant hot water to the ensuite bathroom and shower.

Amble down to the heart of the camp, and you’ll find the dining deck and lounge areas.

Keep an eye on the comings and goings at the waterhole from a slouchy sofa, or float in the mini-splash pool and watch the wildlife doing the same below. Meals are wholesome and tasty, and after you’ve finished munching, the night is best spent in the open-air boma with a nightcap (or two or three).

When darkness falls, the waterhole is illuminated so you can see what comes down under cover of night.

Overnight: Hyena Pan

Day 4: At Hyena Pan

What will you do today?

Enjoy morning and afternoon game drives through the 200,000 hectare concession and along the Khwai River.

Get a great view (and some pretty good photos) of the wildlife from our ground level hide alongside the waterhole.

Swap a hippo’s-eye view for a bird’s-eye one, and spend the morning or afternoon atop a five-metre high elevated platform, close to camp.

Take a game walk with one of our informative guides.

Overnight: Hyena Pan

Day 5: To Mapula Lodge

This morning, after breakfast, you'll be off to the airstrip for a short flight to the enormous Mapula and Sekwana private concession that’s a matrix of floodplains, woodlands and channels. Waterways snake across the landscape, spilling into glassy lagoons and encircling islands of stately palms and trumpeting elephant.

It’s an iconic Okavango Delta landscape, and a magical environment in which to enjoy the abundance of wildlife.

In the middle of it all, on a large tree island surrounded by seasonal floodplains, is the laid back Mapula Lodge. Even better, it’s one of only a handful of camps in the concession making for exhilarating game viewing in a blissfully uncrowded area.

About Mapula Lodge

A little bit quirky and jam-packed with character, Mapula has nine thatched cottages with king-size metal four-posters and feather-filled pillows.

Ensuite bathrooms have both indoor and outdoor showers, and there’s two natty Malawi chairs in the mini lounge area, ideal for siesta snoozes. Safari-chic finishing touches include rich Kilims on the floors, polished butler trays and brass lanterns.

At the main area, an aquamarine swimming pool is the perfect antidote to hot Delta afternoons – and if the cool waters don’t tempt you in, the views over the hippo-filled lagoon below might.

If you’d rather stay dry, pick a perch in the lounge to keep watch over the wildlife action; there’s a variety of comfy sofas and slouchy armchairs to choose from. Then there’s the "chill pit", a sunken lounge area overlooking the lagoon.

Overnight: Mapula Lodge

Day 6: At Mapula Lodge

Game drive through vast tracts of pristine wilderness in search of lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, hippo and the rare sitatunga antelope. View the wildlife at eye level on a boat or traditional mokoro safari through the lily-filled channels (NB water activities are subject to water levels in the Delta and may be limited in low water season from October to January).

Tick off some of the Okavango specials from your bird-list – the slaty egret, Pel’s fishing owl and the African skimmer to name a few.

Pour a G&T, pick your spot, and watch in awe as the sun sinks below the watery plains – the perfect sundowner. Cruise over the vast landscapes on a soaring helicopter flight (at an additional cost).

Whatever you choose, it's going to be an amazing day!

Overnight: Mapula Lodge

Day 7: Time to leave

It's time to say goodbye to Botswana. After your final game activity and breakfast/brunch, you'll have a road transfer back to Maun International Airport for your onward flight.

Included:

Two night’s accommodation at Camp Kalahari on a full-board basis (breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Two night's accommodation at Hyena Pan on a full-board basis (breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Two nights' accommodation at Mapula Lodge on a full-board basis (breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Teas and coffees in all accommodation

Local beers and wines

Game viewing activities

Excluded:

Premium drinks, items of a personal nature.

* Contact us for fly-in options and for Ts and Cs

Enquire Now

Fill in the form below and one of friendly consultants will get back to you asap

Seven-night Namibia Explorer

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 17:23:31 GMT

An excellent introduction to the wonders of Namibia and the fabulous landscapes of this desert nation, this seven-night tour takes in Swakopmund and Ethosha National Park, with exciting activities included...

Seven-night Namibia Explorer

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Day 1: Arrive in Windhoek

Fly into Windhoek International Airport and transfer to your flight to Swakopmund on the Atlantic coast. On arrival at Swakopmund you will be met and transferred to the Strand Hotel. Settle in and go out to explore some of this pretty and historic little town.

About The Strand Hotel

With its extensive, unique and creatively entertaining restaurants, bars, deli, lobby-lounge, sea-facing terraces and beach kiosk, all set on the Mole, a historic and iconic site surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean on three sides, the Strand Hotel Swakopmund is a social epicentre and destination in itself for all visitors to and residents of Swakopmund.

Catch some rays at the beach or spend the day relaxing at Strand Hotel Swakopmund's full-service spa. Then enjoy a meal at one of the hotel's three restaurants, offering a variety of cuisine ranging from meat dishes, seafood and Italian. All 125 rooms offer free Wifi, minibars, and plasma TVs. Room service, coffee makers, and free bottled water are among the other amenities available to guests.

Overnight: Strand Hotel

Day 2: In Swakopmund

Today is a special day as we take you on a special Swakopmund Desert Adventure.

We depart after breakfast for the open desert, travelling along the small-holdings on the northern bank of the Swakop River into the oldest desert of the world, the Namib Desert. Your tour-guide will explain the origin of the Namib Desert and explain the geological and climatic conditions.

As we proceed further we leave every trace of civilisation behind and find ourselves surrounded by the rugged and rocky scenery of the Namib Desert. Experience the “Ringing Stones” and the fascinating plants of the Namib, for example the indigenous Lithops, also known as the “Living Stones”, as well as a variety of rare lichens, and most of all, the remarkable Welwitschia plant, a living fossil which is only found in this geographical area. With a bit of luck, one can see springbok, klipspringer, steenbok, baboon, ostriches, Ruppel's korhaan and the trac-trac chat.

After a lunch break we drive along the dry riverbed of the Swakop Valley which is lined with tamarisk, prosopis and ana trees. We pass the oasis “Goanikontes”, enter the Namib Naukluft Park and view the “Moon Valley” from a vantage point. We close off this tour with a visit to the shifting sand dunes near Swakopmund.

Dinner is back at the hotel.

Overnight: Strand Hotel

Day 3: Swakopmund

After breakfast it's another full day of activities as we head out to Walvis Bay and a catamaran trip out on the Atlantic Ocean, discovering some of the amazing marine life off the coast of Namibia.

After lunch we will be heading into the desert once more for sundowners in the dunes and dinner under the stars.

Overnight: Strand Hotel

Day 4: To Etosha

After breakfast you'll head to the airport for your flight to Etosha. On arrival you'll be met and transferred to Mokuti Etosha Lodge.

About Mokuti Etosha Lodge

On the eastern doorstep of world-famous Etosha National Park, in the mopane woodland of the region, Mokuti Etosha Lodge is a classic thatched safari lodge nestled among vast indigenous gardens, lending credence to the name “Mokuti” which in Ovambo means “in the forest”.

Mokuti Etosha Lodge is the perfect starting point for your adventure into Etosha - Namibia’s crowning glory and one of the most popular national parks in Africa.

Mokuti Etosha Lodge is only a four-minute drive from the park's eastern gate, the Von Lindequist Gate near the historic Namutoni Fort. Mokuti is located on its own 4,000 hectare private nature reserve, which shares a common border with Etosha.

Overnight: Makuti Etosha Lodge

Day 5 & 6: Etosha

You'll be up at dawn to take part in your chosen game activity (for your own account) before returning to the lodge for breakfast.

Get some spa treatments in or visit a local San bushman community to learn more about their fascinating culture and traditions. Visit the nearby reptile park or relax next to the sparkling swimming pool. These activities are all at an additional cost.

Enjoy lunch and dinner at the lodge.

Overnight: Mokuti Etosha Lodge

Day 7: Windhoek

After breakfast, you'll head off to the airstrip for your flight to the capital of Windhoek and a road transfer to Midgard Estate.

About Midgard Estate

Surrounded by the Otjihavera Mountains, Midgard Estate is a luxury resort close to the capital city of Windhoek where you can relax and indulge after a busy Namibian safari. Try some wonderful spa treatments, soak up the sun by the sparkling swimming pool, take a mountain bike into the beautiful landscapes, try your hand a 10-pin bowling in our exclusive bowling alley or go on an exciting 4X4 drive into the mountains.

Enjoy dinner at Midgard Estate after sundowners on a hilltop nearby.

Overnight: Midgard Estate

Day 8: Time to leave

It's time to say goodbye to Namibia. After breakfast and check out, you'll have a road transfer to Windhoek International Airport for your onward flight.

Included:

Three night’s accommodation at Strand Hotel on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis.

Three night's accommodation at Mokuti Etosha Lodge on a full-board basis (breakfast, lunch and dinner)

One nights' accommodation at Midgaard Lodge Lodge on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis

Swakopmund Desert Adventure, Walvis Bay catamaran trip and desert sundowner and dinner.

Excluded:

All activities, drinks, meals not included in accommodation terms, items of a personal nature.

* Contact us for fly-in options and for Ts and Cs

Enquire Now

Fill in the form below and one of friendly consultants will get back to you asap

Why a safari is so great for kids!

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Thu, 26 May 2022 08:05:04 GMT

There's so much for children to experience in the African bush!

It's a question we're often asked: Is an African safari suitable for children? The answer is: ABSOLUTELY! In fact, we can't think of any other vacation option that would keep children as engaged, entertained and in touch with Mother Nature than an African safari! Why? Let's look at what makes a safari so special for kids...

Incredible destinations...

First of all, we partner with camps and lodges across Southern Africa who offer amazing programmes for children on safari, creating a range of fun activities that are educational, inspirational and designed to connect your children directly to the wilderness, allowing them to learn while having fun. From learning how to track animals from their spoor and examining animal poop to going on their own, tailored game activities with dedicated kids' safari guides, a family safari is sure to blow your little ones' minds.

The great outdoors...

An African safari takes your children out of their comfort zone and out into the wilderness where there's lots of fresh air and room to move. It also removes them from a constant digital connection, rendering gadgets and cellphones largely irrelevant. It grounds them firmly in the real world where they can witness for themselves how our planet actually works and learn more about the intricate relationships that build environments. They also get to appreciate the responsibility we have to care for our planet and ensure wilderness areas are protected for future generations.

Fun activities...

Whether it's learning how to identify animals from the footprints and signs they leave behind them or getting to know the rich variety of birds and animals that call the bush home on dedicated kids' game drives, your children are not going to be bored on safari! With the kids' club programmes offered by our partner camps and lodges, your children are going to be well taken care of from the moment they arrive and made to feel special by the amazing people they meet. They're also going to have fun cooking, building their own pizzas, drawing and painting, going on nature walks, participating in team quizzes and competitions, learning how to take photographs... The list is endless!

Connecting with nature...

Bringing your kids on safari with you gives them a first-hand appreciation of nature and what wilderness really means. It opens their eyes to how precious our planet is and affords them the opportunity to form the early opinions on matters that affect us that will shape the way they see and interact with the world around them. Watching iconic wildlife species in their natural habitat is an experience that children will treasure for the rest of their lives and encourages them to become more conscious of helping to conserve and protect wilderness areas.

Building bonds...

Finally, a family safari gives you the opportunity to spend quality time with your children and watch as they flourish and enjoy themselves in a truly unique environment. It gives you, as parents and relatives, the chance to reaffirm your family bonds and strengthen them, freeing you from the stress of running a home, worrying about work and constantly juggling your priorities. "We" time is absolutely the best gift you can give your kids, and spending that time in the African wilderness helps to create wonderful family memories that will last a lifetime.

If you'd like to find out more about a safari with your children, let's chat about your options!

All about elephants and where to see them

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 07:32:22 GMT

Top tips for viewing these amazing mammals !

Perhaps the most iconic of Africa's animal species, the elephant is without a doubt one of the most thrilling animals to see on safari. Supremely intelligent, emotionally aware and with a complex social structure, the African elephant is also the world's largest land mammal, weighing up to six tonnes when fully grown and standing as tall as 3,2m at the shoulder.

Unlike their Asian cousins, both African elephant bulls and cows have tusks, which are actually enlarged canine teeth that keep growing throughout their up to 70-year lifespan. It's these tusks that have caused such decimation to the species thanks to the scourge of ivory poaching that has seen numbers across Africa plummet to around 400,000, from 1,5-million just 25 years ago. It's estimated that we lose an elephant to poaching every 15 minutes.

These majestic mammals are revered across Africa for their inate wisdom and natural gentility and when you see them in their natural habitat they are truly spectacular to behold and spend time with. Sitting and watching a breeding herd of elephants interacting and feeding together is something you will never forget and a truly humbling experience.

So where's best to see these wonderful animals at close quarters and experience that unique, jumbo magic? Let's have a look at some elephant hotspots that we can take you to...

Greater Kruger National Park, South Africa

The Kruger National Park and its surrounding private game reserves, known collectively as the Greater Kruger ecosystem, is home to the majority of the country's elephant population - around 17,000 animals - making it a prime destination when it comes to watching elephants.

The best time to view them is in the dry season (June to October) when they gather in large numbers around permanent waterholes and dams, or explore dry river beds where they dig for water.

The Greater Kruger is home to some impressive "tuskers" - large, dominant bulls with exceptional tusks - and sometimes you get to see these incredible bulls at very close quarters. They move freely between the Kruger Park itself and the neighbouring reserves - the Balule, Klaserie, Timbavati, Manyeleti, Sabi Sand and Thornybush, to name just a few.

These reserves, as well as Kruger itself, are home to some superlative safari lodges and camps offering exceptional safari experiences.

Lower Zambezi Valley, Zambia and Zimbabwe

This unique elephant hotspot is dissected by the mighty Zambezi River, a natural border between Zimbabwe and Zambia - and two national parks - Mana Pools National Park on the Zimbabwean side and Zambia's Lower Zambezi National Park.

It's one of the most elephant-rich areas in Southern Africa. The river here is wide and lazy and dotted with lush, green islands where elephants freely graze and browse.

On the Zambian side, the Lower Zambezi National Park and its related western game management area is renowned for large breeding herds which regularly come down to the river to drink or to swim over to the islands to feed.

Over in Zimbabwe, Mana Pools is renowned for its acrobatic elephants who have learned to balance on their hind legs to stand up and reach for the overhanging branches of winterthorn trees and their delicious seed pods.

You will often see breeding herds crossing the river from one side to the other, which is a sight not to be missed. Game activities take place on land and on the water, offering visitors on both sides the chance to experience fantastic elephant sightings and a wide range of accommodation options are on offer, from rustic bushcamps to luxurious, award-winning camps and lodges.

Chobe National Park, Botswana

With one of the highest concentrations of elephants in Africa with a population estimate of 120,000, this really is "elephant central". The Chobe ecosystem links up with the Savuti, Linyanti and Selinda regions of the far north of Botswana creating a massive elephant corridor.

Chobe has become renowned the world over for its enormous herds of elephants that can number in their hundreds. They move freely across the Chobe River that's also a bo rder between Botswana and neighbouring Namibia. Like the Zambezi, the Chobe is dotted with islands where you will see elephants grazing, and its wide floodplains are lush all year round.

Visitors to Chobe can enjoy traditional, terrestrial game drives in open safari vehicles as well as boat-based game viewing on the Chobe River itself. This gives unique access to the elephant herds as they come down to the river to drink or to graze on its banks or various islands.

A range of accommodation options are available in and around Chobe National Park, from luxurious resort-style safari lodges and houseboats to "glamping" in marvellous mobile tented camps that offer an immersive, authentic safari experience.

A tall tale from Africa...

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 11:02:02 GMT

Meet the eternally elegant and elongated giraffe!

There's no denying that the giraffe is a striking creature. Long of leg and neck, this legendary African mammal is among the most easily recognised animals in the world, thanks to its super-model looks, complete with enviably long eyelashes and striking coat pattern.

Sadly, and somewhat surprisingly given how many people love these gentle giants of the open savanna, giraffe numbers across Africa are plummeting with an estimated drop of 40% over the last three decades leaving just short of 97,000 giraffe left in the wild.

There are nine known sub-species of giraffe and of these, two - the Kordofan and Nubian giraffes - are listed as critically endangered on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. This puts them just one stage away from being declared extinct in the wild.

The IUCN also lists the reticulated, Masai, Thornicrofts and West African sub species as either endangered or vulnerable.

What is causing this huge threat to giraffes? Some of the leading reasons are habitat loss, civil unrest, human-wildlife conflict and poaching for bush, which is very sad when you consider what the humble giraffe means to Africa and its status as the world's tallest terrestrial animal and largest ruminant.

The giraffe doesn't have many living relatives. It's closest is the odd-looking okapi. The tallest giraffe bull so far recorded topped 5,9m, with the tallest cow coming in at just over 5m. With its long legs and short, sloping body, it's the massive neck that literally sets the giraffe apart. In spite of its excessive length its neck still has only seven cervical vertebrae - the same number as other mammals. However, each vertebra is almost 30cm long! It's thought that evolution favored a long neck to enable the giraffe to feed on the tops of trees where other browsers can't reach.

Giraffes are not particularly gifted in the movement department. They have only two gaits - walking and galloping - and when they walk they swing their front and hind legs on each side together the same way that camels do. While they can run fast, they are far from nimble and are easily tripped, which is why they are favored food for lions because once they fall, they find it impossible to get up again.

Giraffes are highly social with groups of related females and offspring staying together and bulls sometimes banding together to form bachelor groups. When they are standing still feeding, a groups is called a "tower". When they're on the move, they're called a "journey".

When telling male and female apart, the easiest thing to do is to look at their horny protuberances or ossicones. These are made of ossified cartilage and when they are born they lay flat against the baby's head to make it easier for it to pass through the birth canal. Over its first few weeks of life the ossicones gradually move to a more upright position and eventua lly fuses to the skull. In bulls the ossicones become thick and develop bald patches at their tips. The cow's ossicones are thinner and more fluffy at the tip.

As they grow older, giraffe bulls develop more ossifications on their heads, adding weight to their skulls which gives them a distinct advantage when they fight for dominance, which they do by swinging their necks and heads at one another. It's called "necking" and the blows are sometimes strong enough to knock a fully grown adult bull off its feet.

Renowned for being "voiceless" and making no sound, recent research has actually shown this to be untrue. Giraffes do have vocal cords but find it impossible to drive enough air over them to make them vibrate and produce distinct sounds. But they can hum, which they do mostly at night and at very low frequencies (around 92HZ). It's thought this is how they stay in touch with one another during the night without drawing attention from predators.

Some of the best places to see giraffe in Southern Africa are South Africa's beautiful Greater Kruger, Botswana's Chobe National Park and Zambia's South Luangwa National Park - home of the rare Thornicroft's giraffe. Talk to us about getting you there!

Discovering Africa's Eden...

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 09:01:38 GMT

A six-day whirlwind tour of Namibia...

Our very own Coenraad Strydom has been out on the frontline of wild Africa, searching for new destinations, safari lodges and activities to include in upcoming Best African Safari packages and itineraries...

As a guest of O&L Leisure and Abenteuer Afrika Safari, Coen participated in a post-conference tour after the recent Africa's Eden trade show in Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls, joining a small group of agents and fellow operators on this wonderful familiarisation trip. Let's get the lowdown from Coen himself...

"We started our tour with a visit to the luxurious water villas at the Chobe Water Villas , Just across the river from Kasane on the Namibian side of the Chobe River," says Coen. "From the lodge you can easily access the adjacent Chobe National Park - one of Botswana's flagship reserves that's home to the Big Five and a variety of wonderful wildlife. Just an hour’s drive away by road are the Victoria Falls, and a visit to this wonder of the natural world is a must!"

Coen explains that Chobe Water Villas is an exclusive 16-villa luxury lodge facing the spectacular Chobe River, with views out over the world-renowned Sedudu Island with some of the densest wildlife populations on any river system in the world.

"We were welcomed with a celebration of song and dance by the staff, and after enjoying a very refreshing welcoming drink, we listened to the fascinating story of the lodge's architecture and the themes that have inspired the building of the property. We also visited the local Kasenu village and immediately fell in love with the warm-hearted Masubia people," says Coen.

"We spent time in the swimming pool, enjoyed amazing food and had time to relax with a drink on the patio outside our rooms where we absorbed the majestic river views with hippo and elephants grazing on the island in front of us. It was magical."

A sunset river cruise followed, which turned out to be a highlight with herds of antelope, elephants, buffalo, and large pods of hippos inviting some serious camera clicks. "We all looked on as two young lions attempted an attack on a herd of impala, but unfortunately for the lions the impala’s won the race on this occasion," laughs Coen.

"As daylight faded and the warm colours of sunset drew closer we indulged in a barbeque fit for a king on the river boat, arriving back at the villas just in time to enjoy a nightcap."

According to Coen, once in bed at Chobe Water Villas, it became a tug of war between the desire to stay awake and listen to the sounds of the African night - lions roaring in the distance, hippos calling on the island in front of the villa - and floating off to a blissful sleep in one of the most comfortable beds he's ever slept in!

"The next morning as the sun rose, birdsong replaced the usual alarm clock, inviting you to enjoy a cup of morning coffee on the patio as local fisherman wave good morning from their Mokoro’s, on their way home with the first catch of the day. After breakfast we were off to Kasane airport for our private flight to the desert town of Swakopmund, where we spent the next two days at the beautiful Strand Hotel ...

"After a wonderful warm welcome, we were treated to a craft beer and food paring. Amazing flavours exploded in our mouths as we sampled a variety of dishes with excellent craft beer. But one cannot live of food and drink alone, sometimes you need a well-deserved massage, which was amazing!

"My second-floor apartment had stunning sea views, and it was easy to relax to the sound of waves breaking on the nearby beach. But enough of this relaxing business as there was fun to be had!

"Off we went to the harbour town of Walvisbay where a catamaran cruise of the bay awaited. We made friends with some rescued seals that came aboard for a wet hug and kiss, and you can also spot amazing sea creatures such as whales, dolphins, leatherback turtles and penguins, if you're lucky.

"Back on land we headed back to Swakopmund and after some wonderful seafood we headed for the desert where the real adventure lies!

"We started off with a quadbike trek into the desert and then had great fun in the sand dunes with our sand boards, sliding down the dunes before riding the quadbikes back to camp.

"We headed back into the desert to enjoy sundowners and dinner in the dunes, under the open Namibian skies. The hills lit up in so many ways as the last rays of the sun painted the sky and the hills in an array of magical colours!

"As we arrived in a canyon with lanterns lighting up the rocks, a flame dancer welcomed us to the dinner table and we enjoyed the best outdoor cooking, under a billion stars."

Swakopmund has got so much to offer, from historic buildings and the Swakopmund Museum to an interesting aquarium that's a must. Adventures available from this wonderful coastal town include quad biking, dune carting, hot air ballooning and even sky diving!

From here, Coen and Co travelled on to Mokuti Etosha Lodg e, a green oasis bordering the Etosha National Park.

"Luxurious accommodation under big Namibian trees set the scene for a relaxing day at the swimming pool, with antelope grazing on the green landscaped gardens," says Coen. "But if you want to increase your heartrate a bit go for a tour of the snake park where you can touch some of Africa’s most feared creatures. The day ended with singing and dancing provided by the local San bushmen, a hearty dinner and welcome bed.

"The following morning we were up early, heading into Etosha National Park, with its vast, open salt pans and endless horizons home to a variety of amazing wildlife species. It's a dream destination for game viewing!

"We spent the morning in search of the Big Five, returning to the lodge for some R&R, spending the rest of the day indulging in spa treatments, swimming and general relaxation."

"The next day we headed for Okahandja where the staff of the Midgard Country Estate, (situated about an hour’s drive from the capital city of Windhoek) awaited us.

"Midgard was once home to Carl List, a prominent businessman who started Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Leisure. Its beautiful gardens, luxurious accommodation, majestic horses, priceless collection of vintage cars and great restaurant are all sensational.

"Midgard is all about spending time in nature and there's lots to do, from tennis, swimming and horse riding to bushwalks and mountain bike trails to explore. To round off the day enjoy a sundowner at one of the various lookout points in the surrounding mountains. It was with a heavy heart that we departed the next day to Windhoek to catch our flight home."

So what is Coen's impression of this wonderful tour?

"It was amazing," he says. "Namibia is a country of contrasts and wide open spaces, with landscapes that will blow your mind. This trip can either be done through road transfers or by flying into nearby destinations. There are daily flights into Kasane and Windhoek, and from there we will take care of all the adventures."

Why an African safari is the perfect escape

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 11:10:12 GMT

Rejuvenate mind, body and

soul in the wilderness...

We're often asked what it is that makes a safari so special and Africa such a thrilling destination, and what sets it apart from other vacation options. It's never an easy question to answer because to really understand the power the African wilderness possesses you have to experience it for yourself!

We can wax lyrical about the phenomenal, vast landscapes filled with life in all its incredible abundance, the big skies that are their own perfect and unique shade of blue and the amazing, welcoming people with mile-wide smiles and rich cultures waiting to be shared...

We could also describe the thrill of encountering iconic wildlife species in their natural habitat, far removed from the hubbub and stress of urban existence in what feels like another plane of existence... We can add that immeasurable feeling of insignificance you get when looking at the African wilderness in all its untamed glory and the rare glimpse of the absolute majesty of Mother Nature it gives you...

We could boast about the fabulous camps, lodges and legendary safari brands built by inspirational and passionate individuals who are deeply committed to the principles of giving back to both people and planet. And we could share with you what it's like to stay in these amazing places, experiencing the very best of African hospitality while learning about the importance of protecting and conserving the continent's last remaining wilderness areas...

Our words, though, will never do Africa justice or impart to you just what the spirit of safari truly is - that elusive essence of wilderness that changes everyone who comes into contact with it, for the better!

A safari is so much more than just a holiday, or an overseas vacation. It is the journey after which is was named, a journey of discovery, of enlightenment and excitement that leaves you feeling ready to take on anything life can throw at you. It's a collection of "a-ha" moments gathered together that shift mindsets and sooth souls, opening your eyes to the possibility of a more harmonious and connected way of living.

Our safaris are put together with all of this in mind, to introduce those who have yet to fall in love with Africa to what we know is going to become the love of their lives and to remind those who are already in love with Africa why they love her so! Best African Safaris was built on o ur own passion for the African bush, for its indelible beauty and its raw energy. It's that energy than underpins everything we do and that we want to share with you.

Nothing we can say will adequately describe or encapsulate what a safari is, but the thing we do - sending people like you out into this magical continent to explore, discover and learn - speaks for itself. So come on safari with us. Let us show you Africa and open your eyes to the way the world should be! What are you waiting for?

Let's chat!

Summer has arrived in Southern Africa!

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 12:20:26 GMT

The African bush is filled with wonderful new life...

While the northern hemisphere is gripped in the icy chill of winter, here in Southern Africa the air is thick with the hum of cicadas and the calls of a myriad colourful birds… The bush is lush and green and filled with life and the sky above is an incredible shade of blue... The sun is shining and it's warmth filters into everything... This is summer in Africa - the most incredible time of year.

The annual arrival of the rains brings with it amazing transformation and relief from the long, dry season that saw the bush become tinder dry, uniformly brown and extremely sparse. While the dry season is great for game viewing because there's so little cover, it's the green, or emerald season that sees it bursting with energy, overflowing with new growth and baby animals and covered by wonderful grasses.

All of the herbivores have babies at heel, from lovely little impala lambs to wildebeest calves and zebra foals. Dams and waterholes are at good levels and it's lovely to just stop in the shade of a tall tree and watch life unfold around the water, with a variety of birds and water fowl active on and near the water and animals regularly coming down to drink.

Summer traditionally starts on 1 December each year and lasts to 1 March. The temperatures get up into the mid to high 30s (centigrade) and if you don't mind the heat, it's a wonderful time of year to spend in the bush. Our summer thunderstorms are a sight to behold, and that wonderful, rich, earthy smell after fresh rain (it's called petrichor) is an experience in itself!

For birding enthusiasts the summer months represent the chance to see a variety of migrant species both from other parts of Africa and Europe. You'll see European bee-eaters taking to the skies over South Africa at the moment, with their gorgeous, colourful plumage a real treat to see.

The tall, riparian forests on the edge of rivers and dams are also filled with the calls of the paradise flycatcher, whose distinctive rust-red tail feathers and bright blue eye wattles set it apart and make it a wonderful bird to both spot and photograph.

No matter whether you choose to travel to South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia or Mozambique at this time of year, a summer safari is an absolute feast for the eyes. So chat to us about your options and let's put together a summer safari just for you!

The best of the Battlefields at Three Tree Hill Lodge

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 11:51:46 GMT

Where a small slice of heaven and history collide...

Located high on the crest of a hill with the magnificent Drakensberg as its backcloth and views over rolling hills and wide valleys, Three Tree Hill Lodge is an award-winning sustainable tourism destination.

This is also the heart of the famed KwaZulu Natal Battlefields - a region steeped in the history of one of the most dramatic periods in South Africa's past, which saw the fledgling country's future forged in the fires of war.

Owned and run by former safari guides Simon and Cheryl Blackburn, Three Trees is both their family home and their place of work and is dedicated to sharing both the rich and fascinating history of the area around them, and the beauty of the surrounding environment.

Three Trees has become something of a champion of sustainability in South Africa's tourism industry. The lodge is Fair Trade Tourism certified and Simon and Cheryl have gone to great lengths to ensure that their commitment to both people and planet underpins everything they do at the lodge.

From the sourcing of bio-degradable, environmentally friendly detergents and cleaning products, luxury recycled toilet paper and organic produce to a parabolic solar oven, vermiculture and natural composting, the Blackburns have endeavoured to ensure that their impact on the environment is as minimal and sustainable as possible.

One of the major drawcards at Three Trees dominates the view from almost every angle - Spioenkop. This dramatic hill, whose name means "lookout hill" in the local Afrikaans vernacular, was the site of one of the bloodiest battles of the Anglo Boer war.

Simon is a fully qualified battlefields guide and extraordinary storyteller and shares the emotive tale of the battle of Spioenkop, together with a potted history of South Africa, with his guests on guided tours of Spioenkop.

This terrible battle was fought over the course of just one day from January 23 to January 24 1900, and was one of the most futile and certainly the bloodiest of the four battles fought by the British to relieve the besieged town of Ladysmith from the surrounding Boer forces.

This 24 hours of bloodshed cost the British some 1250 wounded or captured and 243 lives lost and the Boers 335 casualties and 68 dead.

Many of the British who lost their lives were from the Lancashire Fusiliers regiment, with a strong contingent from the city of Liverpool. Most were buried in mass graves in the trenches where they fell.

In remembrance of the Liverpudlians who lost their lives on Spioenkop, in 1906 the then brand new home supporters terrace at Liverpool Football Club's ground of Anfield was named The Kop.

It's a battle which involved all of the big military names of the era, from Winston Churchill, who acted as a courier to and from Spioenkop and the nearby British headquarters, to legendary Boer general Louis Botha.

A young Mohandas Gandhi, later to become one of the world's greatest statesmen, was a stretcher-bearer in the Indian Ambulance Corps he had organised and was decorated for his role in the battle.

Ultimately, the Boers claimed the victory and the British retreated, gathering their numbers to relieve Ladysmith some four weeks later.

Today Spioenkop is a sombre place, with various crosses and memorials marking the mass graves of victims from both sides, contrasting starkly with breathtakingly beautiful vistas and the distant peaks of the Drakensberg.

There's lots to do for guests at Three Trees, with mountain bike trails through the surrounding hills and horse riding offering the chance for them to explore the area.

With its stylish lounge and dining room, the lodge is a fitting homage to the fascinating Anglo Boer War period. Books on the war and its chief protagonists on both sides are everywhere, as are mementos and curiosities from this bygone era, from old field glasses to rifles.

Guest suites are dotted in amongst trees on the side of the hill which overlooks Spioenkop and it s adjacent game reserve where Simon takes guests on game walks. Located away from the main lodge are Three Trees' two private villas - Churchill's and Kipling's - built ito mimic the colonial style while integrating a completely green energy and water system, keeping the environmental footprint as friendly as possible.

The area is a hiker's, biker's and rider's paradise, with endless trails for walking, mountain biking and horse riding literally on the doorstep.

The Drakensberg, which make up the western horizon of the lodge, are a half-hour drive away, which is perfect for a day trip, complete with a hearty picnic lunch from the lodge.

It's the perfect place for relaxing, kicking back and taking in the wonderful scenery, reading a book or two and watching the amazing birdlife in and around the lodge, which love feeding on the alloes which have become its trademark.

Three Trees works very closely with the local Zulu community at the neighbouring village of Hambrook, which is home to most of their staff, actively contributing to the local economy.

The lodge is also helping to improve educational facilites in Hambrook, assisting in the upgrading of the classrooms at the village creche, and has become a staunch supporter of programmes which help to empower local women, many of whom work at the lodge and have become the breadwinners of their families.

And by providing employment and career opportunities to young people from Hambrook, Simon and Cheryl are also encouraging a new generation of future tourism entrepreneurs.

A river runs through it...

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Mon, 25 Oct 2021 10:52:06 GMT

Discover Eden in Zambia's Lower Zambezi Valley

There's something mesmerising about the Zambezi River. It's one of Africa's largest perennial rivers and is critically important to both wildlife and people, both practically through being a major water source and culturally, being central focal point of ancient tribal traditions and ceremonies along its length.

It's also the namesake of Zambia , the country where the Zambezi springs to life, starting its journey deep in the miombo woodlands of the Mwinilunga region where it emerges from a marshy wetland to be fed by major tributaries like the Kafue and Luangwa along its path east to Mozambique and, eventually, the Indian Ocean.

It plummets over the Victoria Falls and descends to Lake Kariba where it's powerful flow is dammed to produce hydro electric power. Below Kariba Dam, its flow controlled, it enters a massive floodplain, forming a natural border between Zambia and neighbouring Zimbabwe , growing lazy and wide as it snakes its way towards the border with Mozambique in the east and the Mpata Gorge, before it is dammed again at Cahora Bassa.

It's this stretch, between two dams, that is known as the Lower Zambezi Valley - an African Eden that's home to one of Zambia's most beautiful and wildlife-rich regions and one of its best-kept secrets - the Lower Zambezi National Park.

Located opposite Zimbabwe's beautiful Mana Pools , the Lower Zambezi National Park covers just over 4,000 square kilometres, but with its game management areas (GMAs) - community owned buffers zones - the area under protection is increased to some 20,000 square kilometres. The largest and most prominent of these GMAs is the western Chiawa GMA, which, together with the national park itself, is home to some of the best-loved safari lodges and camps in Zambia and Southern Africa.

The Zambezi floodplains stretch for kilometres inland from the river banks, eventually meeting the foothills of the Zambezi Escarpment whose highest peak - Chirapila - dominates the skyline. Huge groves of albida trees (also known as winterthorn or ana trees) along with lush riparian forests along the river and its various channels, backwaters and seasonal tributaties are complemented by open areas of grassland and mixed montane thicket. This diversity of different biomes sets the Lower Zambezi apart and provides for an equally diverse range of wildlife species.

This is where you find huge herds of elephant and buffalo, waterbuck, impala, kudu, zebra and other plains game, with the exception of giraffe, which have never occurred here, largely due to the mountainous topography of the Zambezi Escarpment and the Zambezi itself. There are currently no rhino in the Lower Zambezi but there are plans to reintroduce them. Predators are plentiful here, from lion and leopard to painted wolves (African wild dog) and spotted hyena.

The valley is also paradise for more than 350 bird species. Expect to see fish eagles aplenty, along with other prominent raptors including martial eagles and the elusive Pel's fishing owl. Waders line the river banks and shallows, from storks, egrets and herons to African jacana. African skimmers are also seen here, as are palm-nut vultures, pennant-winged nightjars, southern carmine bee -eaters and Meyer's parrot.

The camps and lodges offer a range of safari activities from traditional game drives and walking to kayaking, fishing and boat-based safari activities from sundowner cruises to morning and afternoon river safaris, visits to the islands for picnics and to bird and fish and visits to a local cultural village.

The safari season in the Lower Zambezi Valley runs from April to November each year. Once the annual rains begin, terrestrial access to the national park and GMA game-drive routes becomes problematic due to waterlogged ground so the majority of lodges and camps close for the rainy season.

Get in touch to find out more about the Lower Zambezi and let us take you there!

Discover the magic of Mana!

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 11:53:26 GMT

Wild, remote and bursting with wildlife - Mana Pools has it all!

Located in the far north of Zimbabwe , across the Zambezi River from neighbouring Zambia lies one of Africa's last true wilderness areas - Mana Pools National Park . Indeed, when it comes to wild and remote, there's nowhere quite like Mana which is home to some of the best game viewing in Southern Africa.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site covers 2196 square kilometres and is where you'll find huge herds of elephant, buffalo, eland and other species of plains game dotted along the banks of the mighty Zambezi, sheltered by endless groves of albida trees (also known as ana trees or winterthorns) and other tall riparian species like pod mahogancy, sycamore fig and sausage tree.

Part of a much larger 10,500 square kilometre area of wilderness that stretches from Kariba Dam in the west to the border with Mozambique to the east, Mana is also known for its packs of painted wolves (African wild dogs) which are habituated enough to a human presence to allow them to be followed and tracked on foot - one of the most amazing experiences in Africa! Its big cats are equally legendary, with lion and leopard sightings a regular occurence. There are also cheetah in Mana, as well as a healthy population of hyena.

Renowned for most of its history as a premier camping spot, thanks to its spectacular views across the river to the towering peaks of Zambia's Lower Zambezi escarpment, Mana is also a popular spot for keen fishermen, with tiger fishing high on the list of "must do" activities.

The tiger fish is a fearsome predator sporting impressive teeth that's among the top game fish in Africa. All fishing in Mana and along the Lower Zambezi valley is done on a catch and release basis to protect future fish stocks of this critically important river.

One of the other leading activities in Mana is walking safaris, thanks to the easy topography and abundance of natural shade, but it's the river where the real adventure takes place, with canoeing and boat-based game viewing the stars of the show.

Getting out on the river allows you to view wildlife in a different, more relaxed manner as you watch animals come down to drink at the river's edge or, in the case of elephants, swim across to the islands that dot the river's course. The birding is sensational too!

Mana retains a wonderful authentic quality and the camps we use are small, intimate and designed to immerse guests in a total wilderness experience. With the added advantage of unlimited access to the Zambezi, the safari offering is wonderfully diverse.

Whether it's walking safaris, sunset cruises, paddling the islands and channels of the river or just relaxation on the river banks, Mana is absolute safari magic.

The safari season in Mana runs from April to November each year - the area is difficult to access in the rainy season (December to March) and as this is the time when most of the wildlife moves further inland, thanks to standing water, the game viewing is more intermittent. The ideal time to visit Mana is in the dry winter months between May and September.

Talk to us today to find out more about Mana Pools and let us put together an amazing safari itinerary for you to this amazing African destination!

Hoedspruit 3-night Bush Break

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 11:04:16 GMT

Three nights in a luxury, private bush villa in Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate on a bed and breakfast basis, in the heart of the Greater Kruger region close to the Kruger National Park and leading private game reserves...

Hoedspruit 3-night Bush Break

Enquire for pricin g

DAY 1: Arrive Hoedspruit

Check into the luxurious Bushwillow Private Villa on the gorgeous Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate that’s home to a variety of wildlife including giraffe, zebra, a variety of antelope species and even leopard and hyena!

Hoedspruit is South Africa’s wildlife and safari capital, with a host of exciting activities, things to see and do and incredible scenery on its doorstep. Located at the foot of the northern Drakensberg Escarpment on the edge of the Kruger National Park, this is the perfect place from which to explore one of South Africa’s most beautiful regions.

Bushwillow Private Villa is an exclusive-use, three-bedroom luxury villa that can sleep six people in absolute comfort. With sumptuous décor and a sensational safari vibe, the inside/outside lounge area enjoys views over the surrounding bush where you can see a variety of wildlife and birds. A small splash pool is perfect for cooling off in and a boma is where you can enjoy sundowners around a crackling fire.

Overnight: Bushwillow Private Villa

DAY 2: At leisure in Hoedspruit

Decide what you’d like to do with your day!

Here are some of the activities on offer:

· Full-day privately guided safaris into the Kruger National Park in an open safari vehicle

· Full-day privately guided Panorama Route tour

· Morning and afternoon guided game drives in nearby private Big Five game reserves

· Helicopter flights over the escarpment and Blyde River Canyon

· Hot air ballooning

· Microlighting

· Hiking

· Horse riding

· Mountain biking trails on the 700ha Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate

· Bush walks

· Massages and spa treatments (either at the villa or at the wonderful Africology Spa)

· A range of wonderful restaurants, bush pubs and cafés

The choice is yours, or you can just relax by your private and secluded swimming pool and enjoy the warm African sun and the experience of being in the bush.

If you would like us to book any of these activities for you, please let us know and we will give you a quote and make all the arrangements for you.

Overnight: Bushwillow Private Villa

DAY 3: At leisure in Hoedspruit

Whether you choose to get up early and head into the Kruger Park for the day or go on a morning game drive in a nearby private reserve, encountering the Big Five iconic wildlife species in their natural habitat is an absolute must during your stay.

So let us know if you’d like us to arrange a full-day Kruger safari or morning or afternoon game drives.

At the end of the day, there’s nothing better than dinner out by the pool under the stars or maybe eat out at one of Hoedspruit’s wonderful restaurants.

Overnight: Bushwillow Private Villa

DAY 4: Time to leave

After a wonderful home-cooked breakfast it’s time to say farewell to Bushwillow Private Villa and Hoedspruit. We hope you’ll come back soon!

Included:

Three nights’ fully serviced accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis at Bushwillow Private Villa on Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate

Excluded:

Transport to and from Hoedspruit

Drinks, additional meals, activities

(Please feel free to bring your own drinks as there are no corkage fees)

* Contact us for fly-in options and Ts and Cs

Enquire Now

Fill in the form below and one of friendly consultants will get back to you asap

Hoedspruit 5-night Bush Break

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 10:53:21 GMT

Five nights in a luxury, private bush villa in Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate on a bed and breakfast basis, in the heart of the Greater Kruger region close to the Kruger National Park and leading private game reserves...

Hoedspruit 5-night Bush Break

Enquire for pricing

DAY 1: Arrive Hoedspruit

Overnight: Bushwillow Private Villa

DAY 2: At leisure in Hoedspruit

Decide what you’d like to do with your day!

Here are some of the activities on offer:

· Full-day privately guided safaris into the Kruger National Park in an open safari vehicle

· Full-day privately guided Panorama Route tour

· Morning and afternoon guided game drives in nearby private Big Five game reserves

· Helicopter flights over the escarpment and Blyde River Canyon

· Hot air ballooning

· Microlighting

· Hiking

· Horse riding

· Mountain biking trails on the 700ha Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate

· Bush walks

· Massages and spa treatments (either at the villa or at the wonderful Africology Spa)

· A range of wonderful restaurants, bush pubs and cafés

The choice is yours, or you can just relax by your private and secluded swimming pool and enjoy the warm African sun and the experience of being in the bush.

If you would like us to book any of these activities for you, please let us know and we will give you a quote and make all the arrangements for you.

Overnight: Bushwillow Private Villa

DAY 3: Full-day guided Kruger National Park safari

You’ll wake up before dawn in time to be collected by your safari guide for the transfer to the Kruger National Park’s Orpen Gate. Your breakfast will be prepared and packed for you to take with you, so that you can enjoy it out in Big Five territory. We will also arrange for a cooler box to be packed for you to take with you with water, drinks of your choice and snacks.

You’ll be exploring the legendary Kruger National Park – one of Africa’s biggest and best-loved conservation areas that’s filled with a rich variety of wildlife, from the fabled Big Five – elephant, rhino, buffalo, leopard and lion – to painted wolves (African Wild Dogs), cheetah, giraffe, zebra and a wide variety of antelope.

Your experienced professional safari guide will be showing you some of the most game-roch areas of the Kruger Park in an open safari vehicle which will allow you to experience the thrill of being immersed in the African wilderness.

You will stop for lunch at Satara Rest Camp where you can stretch your legs and enjoy a light lunch (for your own account) at the camp’s restaurant overlooking the wilderness. You’ll return to Hoedspruit in the late afternoon, with time to spare for sundowners and an evening meal.

Overnight: Bushwillow Private Villa

DAY 4: At leisure

After a wonderful breakfast it’s up to you how you spend your day. With so much to do and see in Hoedspruit and the surrounding area, you’ll be spoiled for choice.

Overnight: Bushwillow Private Villa

DAY 5: Full-day Panorama Route tour

After breakfast you’ll be collected by your experienced, professional guide in an air-conditioned luxury vehicle for your full-day tour of the breathtakingly beautiful Panorama Route.

You’ll drive up the northern Drakensberg Escarpment, via the Abel Erasmus Pass, marvelling at the incredible scenery as you go. Once at the top of the escarpment you’ll be visiting the jaw-dropping Blyde River Canyon – the world’s third-largest green canyon – stopping at strategic viewing points where you can walk and take in the incredible views.

From the Blyde Canyon it’s on to Bourke’s Luck Potholes – a geological anomally where the Treur and Blyde Rivers meet forming enormous potholes in the underlying bedrock which you can explore and learn more about.

You will then take in some of the spectacular waterfalls in the area and amazing viewpoints before reaching the small town of Graskop on the edge of the escarpment, where you will have the chance to descend to the bottom of the Graskop Gorge at the Graskop Gorge Lift. Enjoy a wonderful lunch at the Gorge Lift restaurant and do some curio shopping as well before heading back to Hoedspruit in the late afternoon.

Your evening will be at leisure.

Overnight: Bushwillow Private Villa

DAY 6: Time to leave

After a wonderful home-cooked breakfast it’s time to say farewell to Bushwillow Private Villa and Hoedspruit. We hope you’ll come back soon!

Included:

Five nights’ fully serviced accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis at Bushwillow Private Villa on Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate

Full-day Kruger Park safari with packed breakfast, cooler box and snacks

Full-day Panorama Route tour with cooler box and snacks

Excluded:

Transport to Hoedspruit

Drinks, additional meals, other activities not included

(Please feel free to bring your own drinks as there are no corkage fees)

* Contact us for fly-in options and for Ts and Cs

Enquire Now

Fill in the form below and one of friendly consultants will get back to you asap

Klaserie 3-night Magical Getaway

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 10:47:34 GMT

A fantastic three-night safari staying at a luxury lodge in the Greater Kruger’s Klaserie Private Game Reserve with two game drives each day and the option to experience a guided bush walk in the heart of Big Five territory...

Klaserie 3-night Magical Getaway

Enquire for pricing

DAY 1: Arrive in the Klaserie

Welcome to Klaserie Private Game Reserve and the beautiful Baobab Ridge safari lodge – your home for the next three nights.

This gorgeous luxury lodge is located in some of the best game viewing territory in South Africa, alongside the renowned Timbavati private game reserve with open borders to the Kruger National Park. With its spacious guest villas overlooking the wilderness, wonderful pool deck with views out over the Klaserie wilderness and cozy boma where dinners are served under the stars, Baobab Ridge is renowned for its family friendly atmosphere and down-to-earth safari experience.

Once you have checked in and made yourself at home, you’ll enjoy high tea on the dining deck overlooking the gardens before heading out on your afternoon/evening game drive. You’ll stop for sundowners somewhere in the bush when you’ll have the chance to stretch your legs and raise a glass to the setting sun before spending time exploring the bush after dark with your guide using a spotlight to locate nocturnal species.

You’ll return to the lodge in time for dinner around a crackling log fire in the boma, wondering at the array of twinkling stars above you as you share the day’s adventures over a sumptuous home-cooked three-course dinner accompanied by the best South African wines.

Overnight: Baobab Ridge

DAY 2: Baobab Ridge

You’ll wake up shortly before dawn and meet your guide at the dining deck for coffee and rusks before heading out into the Klaserie for a morning game drive. The bush is full of activity in the early morning with lots of fresh tracks from the previous night for your guide to follow. A mid-morning coffee stop gives you the chance to stretch your legs and enjoy homemade cookies and muffins washed down with a choice of tea, coffee or hot chocolate.

You’ll return to the lodge for a hearty breakfast before having some time to relax, kick back and enjoy the lodge facilities. Sunbathe up on the pool deck, take a dip in the sparkling pool, relax in a recliner with a good book or enjoy your private verandah with a bottle of fine wine – the choice is yours. Alternatively, take a rare siesta surrounded by the peace and tranquility of the African bush!

High tea will be served on the dining deck overlooking the gardens before you head out on your afternoon/evening game drive. You’ll return to the lodge in time for dinner and another sensational night under the African stars. Try some stargazing with your guide or just sit back and enjoy the sounds of night in the wilderness.

Overnight: Baobab Ridge

DAY 3: Baobab Ridge

Another wonderful day in the African wilderness. Wake up early for a game drive, or arrange a bush walk to discover the amazing things often overlooked on drives.

Spend the time between game activities relaxing at the lodge and enjoying the wide open spaces, fresh air, peace and tranquility only the African bush can provide.

Make the most of your afternoon/evening game drive and your last dinner under the stars!

Overnight: Baobab Ridge

DAY 4: Time to leave

Wake up early for a last morning game drive or choose to sleep late – it’s up to you! After your wonderful breakfast on the dining deck it will be time to say goodbye to Baobab Ridge and head home or on to your next destination.

Included:

Three nights’ fully inclusive accommodation at Baobab Ridge, with breakfast, high tea and dinner and two game drives each day, as well as tea and coffee

Excluded:

Transport to and from Baobab Ridge

Conservation fees and gate entrance

Drinks (feel free to bring your own, no corkage fees are charged)

* Contact us for fly-in options and for full Ts and Cs

Enquire Now

Fill in the form below and one of friendly consultants will get back to you asap

Hoedspruit & Klaserie 5-night Bush Break

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 10:43:10 GMT

Three nights in a luxury, private bush villa in Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate in the heart of the Greater Kruger region and two nights in the Big Five Klaserie Private Game Reserve that’s home to the Big Five...

Hoedspruit & Klaserie 5-night

Bush Break

Enquire for pricing

DAY 1: Arrive Hoedspruit

Overnight: Bushwillow Private Villa

DAY 2: At leisure in Hoedspruit

Decide what you’d like to do with your day!

Here are some of the activities on offer:

· Full-day privately guided safaris into the Kruger National Park in an open safari vehicle

· Full-day privately guided Panorama Route tour

· Morning and afternoon guided game drives in nearby private Big Five game reserves

· Helicopter flights over the escarpment and Blyde River Canyon

· Hot air ballooning

· Microlighting

· Hiking

· Horse riding

· Mountain biking trails on the 700ha Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate

· Bush walks

· Massages and spa treatments (either at the villa or at the wonderful Africology Spa)

· A range of wonderful restaurants, bush pubs and cafés

The choice is yours, or you can just relax by your private and secluded swimming pool and enjoy the warm African sun and the experience of being in the bush.

If you would like us to book any of these activities for you, please let us know and we will give you a quote and make all the arrangements for you.

Overnight: Bushwillow Private Villa

DAY 3: At leisure in Hoedspruit

So let us know if you’d like us to arrange a full-day Kruger safari or morning or afternoon game drives.

At the end of the day, there’s nothing better than dinner out by the pool under the stars or maybe eat out at one of Hoedspruit’s wonderful restaurants.

Overnight: Bushwillow Private Villa

DAY 4: Hoedspruit to the Klaserie

After a wonderful home-cooked breakfast it’s time to say farewell to Bushwillow Private Villa and Hoedspruit and head out to the Klaserie Private Game Reserve and the beautiful Baobab Ridge safari lodge – your home for the next two nights.

Overnight: Baobab Ridge

DAY 5: Baobab Ridge

Overnight: Baobab Ridge

DAY 6: Time to leave

Included:

Three nights’ fully serviced accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis at Bushwillow Private Villa on Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate

Two nights’ fully inclusive accommodation at Baobab Ridge safari lodge including two game drives each day, breakfast, high tea and dinner, tea and coffee.

Excluded:

Transport to and from Hoedspruit

Drinks, additional meals, activities

(Please feel free to bring your own drinks as there are no corkage fees at either Bushwillow Private Villa or Baobab Ridge)

* Contact us for fly-in options and for Ts and Cs

Enquire Now

Fill in the form below and one of friendly consultants will get back to you asap

Cape Winelands 3-night Escape

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 10:36:03 GMT

Discover the magic of the Cape Winelands with a wonderful three-night stay on a bed and breakfast basis at Spier, home of fine wine, farm to table organic food and one of the most picturesque wine estates in South Africa...

Cape Winelands 3-night Escape

Enquire for pricing

DAY 1: Arrive at Spier

Welcome to wonderful Spier, your gateway to the wonderful Cape Winelands region. Located close to Stellenbosch, where grape vines from Europe were first cultivated in Africa, this stunning working wine estate, farm and luxury hotel is the perfect base from which to explore this beautiful and fascinating region of South Africa.

Spend your afternoon exploring the estate. Take a segway tour of the vineyards, visit the raptor rehabilitation centre or indulge in a spa treatment before sampling some of the estates finest wines and enjoying a wonderful dinner in the hotel's beautiful restaurant.

Overnight: Spier

DAY 2: At Spier

After a wonderful breakfast in the hotel restaurant, pick from a wide choice of things to do and see both on the estate and in the area. Visit historic Stellenbosch with its beautiful Dutch gabled houses that date back to the late 17th Century and fabulous cafes and restaurants, or pop in at one of the myriad wine estates for tastings.

Drive out to Franschhoek or Paarl to discover more about this fascinating region of South Africa and its wonderful history before returning to Spier for a leisurely afternoon by the pool or take a picnic out on the estate before dining out in style at one of the many restaurant options.

Overnight: Spier

DAY 3: At Spier

After breakfast in the hotel restaurant, why not take a trip to nearby Cape Town and explore the busy Victoria and Alfred Waterfront? Visit the Two Oceans Aquarium or take the heart-pumping cableway to the top of Table Mountain and marvel at the breathtaking views from the summit.

You can also explore colourful Bo Kaap and the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in the lee of Table Mountain before returning to Spier for some rest and relaxation and some wine and food pairings.

Overnight: Spier

DAY 4: Time to leave

After breakfast it's time to say farewell to Spier and the beautiful Winelands region and head on to your next destination or home.

Included:

Three nights' accommodation at Spier Hotel in a standard room on a bed and breakfast basis

Excluded:

Drinks, additional meals, activities, items of a personal nature

* Contact us for fly-in options and for Ts and Cs

Enquire Now

Fill in the form below and one of friendly consultants will get back to you asap

Grootbos 3-night Getaway

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 10:31:18 GMT

Enjoy three nights at the magical Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, where the pristine fynbos of the Western Cape meets the Atlantic Ocean on a 2500ha wilderness that's just out of this world...

Grootbos 3-Night Getaway

Enquire for pricing

DAY 1: Arrive at Grootbos

On arrival at Grootbos you'll be shown to your gorgeous luxury suite with views out over the 2500ha pristine wilderness that's wedged between the Overberg and the sea, close to the fishing village of Gansbaai just two hours by car from Cape Town.

One of South Africa's biggest conservation and community success stories, Grootbos is begging to be explored, from its beautiful milkwood forests and rolling hills of rare and endemic Cape fynbos plant species to its rugged coastline and deserted beaches that are perfect for walking.

Offshore, during season (July to November) you'll see southern right whales frolicking in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean which is also home to a wide diversity of iconic marine life from dolphins and orcas to great white sharks and seals. There's so much to see and do during your stay at Grootbos that you'll be spoiled for choice. From walking on the idyllic beach and exploring Klipgat Cave to taking a picnic lunch up in the fynbos overlooking the ocean...

You'll enjoy a wonderful five-course dinner each night, courtesy of the award-winning chefs who pair their dishes with sensational South African wines grown in the local Overberg area and Cape Winelands beyond.

Overnight: Grootbos

DAY 2: At Grootbos

After a wonderful breakfast the day is yours to do what you would like with. Explore the reserve, go on a guided fynbos tour, enjoy stunning views on horseback, indulge in spa treatments or venture out on to the ocean for a marine safari... Or just sun yourself next to the sparkling pool with a bottle of fine wine cooling next to you!

Don't forget that you'll have a sumptuous three-course lunch and stunning five-course dinner at Grootbos!

Overnight: Grootbos

DAY 3: At Grootbos

Why not get the adrenaline pumping and go on a great white shark cage diving experience today with Grootbos's partners, Marine Dynamics, in nearby Klein Bay? There's nothing to beat the thrill of seeing these majestic apex predators close-up beneath the waves and learning more about their complex behaviour and the challenges facing them.

Alternatively, and in season, you could go out on a whale watching expedition to see the southern right whales that come each year to the waters off this stretch of South Africa's coast to calf. Whale watching season is generally July to November each year.

Overnight: Grootbos

DAY 4: Time to leave

After a wonderful breakfast it's time to say farewell to magical Grootbos and make your way home or on to your next destination.

Included:

Three nights' accommodation at Grootbos Forest Lodge or Garden Lodge in a luxury suite on a full-board basis (breakfast, three-course lunch and five-course dinner), transfers to all activities, guided nature walks and hikes, 4 x 4 flower safari, fynbos horse-riding experience, private picnic, ancient cave experience, discounted spa treatments

Excluded:

Transport to Grootbos, drinks, external activities such as shark cage diving, items of a personal nature

*Contact us for Ts and Cs and fly-in options

Enquire Now

Fill in the form below and one of friendly consultants will get back to you asap

Battlefields & Bush 3-night Adventure

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 10:17:52 GMT

Discover the history of the battle of Spioenkop and the Boer War and track rhinos in a picture-perfect wilderness on this three-night adventure in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands at the foot of the Drakensberg...

Battlefields & Bush 3-night Adventure

Enquire for pricing

DAY 1: Arrive at Three Tree Hill Lodge

Just three hours by road from Johannesburg with spectacular views of the Drakensberg and rolling hills of the KwaZulu-Natal midlands, owner-run Three Tree Hill Lodge is a wonderful retreat into rural South Africa.

With views over the hauntingly beautiful Spioenkop – site of one of the most bloody battles of the Boer War – this is the heart of the South African Battlefields region with history literally on tap for those who want to understand more about the politics that led up to South Africa’s fight with Britain for independence and self-governance.

There’s more than Battlefields history here, though, with a beautiful game reserve adjoining Three Trees where guests can track rhino and see a variety of other plains game during wonderful guided bush walks.

The accommodation is superlative and the hospitality outstanding. So welcome to Three Trees and a getaway like no other.

After settling in to your luxurious suite with views over the surrounding hills, adjacent game reserve and Spioenkop itself, you can go for a wonderful self-guided ramble to get the lay of the land before meeting for dinner in the wonderful dining area, filled with its historic memorabilia from the area.

Enjoy a sumptuous three-course dinner and fine wines, while listening to your host explain the fascinating history of the area.

Overnight: Three Tree Hill Lodge

DAY 2: At Three Trees

After breakfast on the stoep (verandah) the day is yours to plan. You can choose to go on a self-guided hike, or a guided bush walk in the reserve where you can track white rhinos. Alternatively, grab a mountain bike and take a circuitous route around the farm and the surrounding area or perhaps go on a horse trail into the surrounding hills.

If you would like to explore the region on a self-drive excursion, Three Trees will happily pack a picnic lunch for you. Alternatively, book a guided tour of Spioenkop itself and discover about the tragic battle that took place there, spending a few hours in the hands of an experienced Battlefields guide who will share the story of this decisive battle of the Boer War.

Lunch can be arranged at the lodge if you would like (at an additional cost). If you’d like to spend time in the lodge itself, the lounge area is the perfect place to relax and read more about the history of the area and South Africa itself. There is also a wonderful library for guest use. Or relax by the sparkling pool with stunning views or do some birding in the extensive gardens.

Gather for sundowners overlooking the Drakensberg before enjoying another wonderful dinner followed by a nightcap or two.

Overnight: Three Trees

DAY 3: At Three Trees

Choose what you would like to do with your day and the team at Three Tree Hill Lodge will make it happen. Why not go on a community tour and visit the local village of Hambrook where the wonderful staff at the lodge live? Or visit other Battlefields sites nearby with an experienced guide?

If you decide to go out for the day, perhaps to explore the Drakensberg, a picnic lunch will be packed for you and you will return in time for dinner.

Overnight: Three Trees

DAY 4: Time to leave

After breakfast it’s time to say farewell to Three Trees and head on to your next destination or return home.

Included:

Three nights’ accommodation in a standard suite at Three Tree Hill Lodge on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis.

Excluded:

Drinks, additional meals, guided activities, items of a personal nature

*Get in touch for Ts and Cs and to find out more.

Enquire Now

Fill in the form below and one of friendly consultants will get back to you asap

Luxury Beach Lodge 3-night Escape

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 10:09:52 GMT

Escape to the luxury of a wonderful, secluded beach lodge on this three-night escape to South Africa’s beautiful iSimangaliso Wetland Park on the shores of the Indian Ocean...

Luxury Beach Lodge 3-night Escape

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DAY 1: Arrive at Thonga Beach Lodge

Thonga Beach Lodge is located in one South Africa’s most pristine coastal wilderness areas – the iSimangaliso Wetland Park – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A 4X4 vehicle is needed to reach the lodge, which sits on the beach to the east of Lake Sibaya. Alternatively, we can arrange for you to park in Sodwana Bay in secure parking and be collected by the lodge, preventing the need for a 4X4 vehicle.

Once you have made it to Thonga, you discover the magic that makes it one of South Africa’s best-kept secrets. This really is barefoot luxury at its finest with the lodge enjoying unique access to one of South Africa’s most pristine beach and marine eco-systems at Mabibi – renowned for its diverse marine life and excellent diving and snorkelling.

With each of its eco-friendly rooms enjoying views of either the ocean or the surrounding coastal forest, Thonga Beach Lodge is designed for relaxation and digital detox, escaping the urban existence and connecting to nature.

One you have settled into your room you are at leisure to explore the lodge and its surrounds.

Meet up for pre-dinner drinks in the bar before enjoying a wonderful dinner with the sound of the waves lapping the beach nearby.

Overnight: Thonga Beach Lodge

DAY 2: At Thonga Beach Lodge

After breakfast the day is yours to do what you like. Choose from a guided forest walk, a visit to the local Tonga community, kayaking on Lake Sibaya or a wonderful long walk along the breathtakingly beautiful beach.

A light lunch is served on the deck overlooking the ocean, after which you can relax on the deck overlooking the beach or alongside the swimming pool. At low tide you can snorkel in the rock pools that form along the edge of the beach. Or head out by boat on a snorkelling expedition to the reef that’s just 400m from the beach.

Enjoy sundowners on Lake Sibaya before returning to the lodge for dinner under the stars (weather permitting).

Overnight: Thonga Beach Lodge

DAY 3: At Thonga

After breakfast, why not try out a Discover Scuba course at our marine centre pool? This will give you all the basic skills you need for an accompanied dive on our reef that’s just 400m offshore so that you can introduce yourself to the world of diving and decide whether to get your basic dive qualifications on a PADI Open Water Diver course, which Thonga runs from its PADI Dive Centre.

Or head out on an open ocean safari to discover more about the marine eco-system and perhaps catch a glimpse of dolphins, whales and other amazing marine life.

Alternatively, just explore the coastal forest, go turtle tracking, snorkel in the shallows at low tide or relax with a good book and top up your tan!

Whichever way you choose to spend your day, you’ll have a wonderful lunch and sumptuous dinner to look forward to.

Overnight: Thonga Beach Lodge

DAY 4: Time to leave

After breakfast it’s time to leave Thonga Beach Lodge and head out to your next destination or make the return journey home.

Included:

Accommodation, all meals, snorkelling, forest walks, kayaking, sundowner excursion, Tsonga cultural tour and turtle tracking walks (Nov-Feb).

Excluded:

4x4 transfers, park fees, Isibindi Foundation levy, drinks, gratuities, items of a personal nature, SPA treatments, Open Ocean Experience, SCUBA and turtle tracking drives (Nov - Feb).

*Talk to us about fly-in options and to get full Ts and Cs

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Fancourt 3-night Golf Getaway

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 10:00:53 GMT

Grab your golf clubs for a sensational three-night getaway on a bed and breakfast basis to one of South Africa’s most lauded and world-renowned golf estates at George, on the spectacularly scenic Garden Route .. .

Fancourt 3-night Golf Getaway

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DAY 1: Arrive at Fancourt

Located at the foot of the breathtakingly beautiful Outeniqua Mountains just outside George, on South Africa’s renowned Garden Route, Fancourt Estate is known for being the home of three of the finest championship courses in the world that consistently rank in the Top 100. It’s also the home to the Fancourt Hotel and Manor House, offering outstanding hospitality in luxurious comfort.

After checking in you’ll be shown to your room and can begin to explore the 613ha estate and discover more about the wonderful array of leisure facilities on offer. From the fabulous spa and leisure centre to a host of activities on the doorstep, for golfers and non-golfers alike a stay at Fancourt is never going to be boring.

Your tee-times can be pre-arranged for both the Outeniqua and Montagu courses, or book a lesson or two with the resident golf pro at the Fancourt Academy.

Enjoy dinner on the estate or choose to dine out in George, with its range of wonderful restaurants.

Overnight: Fancourt

DAY 2: At Fancourt

After breakfast you’ll tee-off for 18 holes on either the Montagu or Outeniqua course, meeting up with friends and family at the 19 ^th hole, of course!

Relax by the sparkling swimming pool for some post-golf unwinding or go for a marvellous treatment at the stunning spa.

For guests who are not golfing, choose from a wide range of activities, tours and experiences along the Garden Route which can be arranged for you.

Overnight: Fancourt

DAY 3: At Fancourt

After breakfast it’s back out onto the first tee at either the Outeniqua or Montagu courses for another 18-hole round of golf here on this stunning estate.

Plan your post-golf activities to fit in with your tee-time, or just choose to relax and unwind on the estate.

Have dinner at the wonderful La Cantina Italian Restaurant or dine out in George – the choice is yours!

Non-golfers have the opportunity to choose from a variety of activities that can be arranged at the concierge desk.

Overnight: Fancourt

DAY 4: Time to leave

After breakfast it’s time to say goodbye to Fancourt and head off to your next destination or return home.

Included:

Three nights’ accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis at the Fancourt Hotel (upgrades to The Manor House can be arranged at additional cost).

Excluded:

Transport to Fancourt, drinks, additional meals, activities, golf, items of a personal nature.

*Get in touch for full Ts and Cs. Talk to us about more safari and golf packages that combine the best of the South African bush and its world-class golf courses

** Talk to us about fly-in options

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Safari & Golf 4-night Escape

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 09:53:55 GMT

Combine a luxury Big Five safari with golf on one of the world’s most challenging and internationally recognised courses on this four-night escape to the African wilderness and South Africa’s entertainment capital – Sun City ...

Safari & Golf 4-night Escape

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Day 1: Arrive at Sun City

Just a two-hour drive from Johannesburg, Sun City needs no introduction to South Africans and is renowned as being the country’s entertainment capital with stunning hotels, a host of exciting activities on offer and sensational views out over the adjacent Pilanesberg game reserve.

You’ll be checking into the Cascades Hotel for the first two nights of your safari and golf adventure. This five-star hotel is renowned for its palatial accommodation and spectacular grounds, as well as its ideal position with the entertainment centre, Gary Player Country Club and all of Sun City’s extensive facilities within easy reach.

After checking in, go out and explore this fabulous place, walking through the incredible grounds, stopping to swim and sip cocktails as you go. You have access to the Cascades pools as well as the Sun City Hotel pool just a short walk away.

Have dinner in the hotel restaurant or choose from one of a myriad dining options throughout the Sun City complex.

Overnight: Sun City Cascades Hotel

DAY 2: At Sun City

Today is golf day and your tee-off time will have been arranged for you on the fabled Gary Player Country Club course. The home of the legendary Nedbank Golf Challenge (formerly the Million Dollar Challenge) – an invitational competition held each November – this is one of the world’s most challenging courses that has to be walked (you can only arrange a golf cart if you are physically unable to walk the course).

With its deep fairways, terrifying rough and difficult greens with pins often tucked out of sight, the Gary Player Country Club course is taxing for the best players in the world, but an absolute must for any discerning golfer.

Allow five hours to complete your 18 holes, including a much-needed stop at the Halfway House. Then meet up with friends and family in the Country Club lounge and restaurant for some post golf drinks. Or arrange a massage at the adjacent spa and health centre. Alternatively, just go and relax by a sparkling pool before dinner.

Overnight: Sun City Cascades Hotel

DAY 3: Madikwe Game Reserve

After breakfast at the Cascades and check out, you will take the leisurely two-hour drive to the nearby Madikwe Game Reserve, home of the Big Five! You’ll be checking in to the luxurious Jaci’s Safari Lodge, located overlooking a seasonal river in this wonderful African wilderness.

After checking in to your tented suite you’ll meet on the deck for afternoon tea before heading out on an afternoon/evening game drive, discovering the amazing array of wildlife species that call this reserve home, as well as a chance of seeing some of the iconic Big Five – elephant, rhino, buffalo, leopard and lion – as well as painted wolves (African wild dogs) and cheetah.

You’ll stop for sundowners out in the wilderness where you can stretch your legs and raise a glass to the setting sun. You’ll return to the lodge in time for a sumptuous three-course dinner under the African stars.

Overnight: Jaci’s Safari Lodge

DAY 4: Jaci’s Safari Lodge

You’ll get a pre-dawn wake-up call so you can meet on the deck for early morning coffee and rusks before heading out onto your morning game drive with your experienced, professional safari guide.

You’ll explore the reserve, stopping to observe wildlife interactions and study tracks, learning all you can about the African bush from your knowledgeable guide. On return to the lodge you’ll enjoy a hearty breakfast, after which it’s time to relax. Take a nap, stretch out next to the sparkling pool, or curl up in the lounge area with an interesting book – the choice is yours.

After lunch it’s time to head out again on your afternoon/evening game drive before returning for another stunning dinner under the stars.

Overnight: Jaci’s

DAY 5: Time to leave

Wake up early for a morning game drive or choose to sleep late – the choice is yours. After breakfast it will be time to say farewell to Jaci’s and make the journey home.

Included:

Two night’s accommodation on a bed & breakfast basis at the Sun City Cascades Hotel.

Two night’s accommodation on a full-board basis (breakfast, lunch and dinner) at Jaci’s Safari Lodge, plus tea and coffee and game drives.

Excluded:

Sun City: Drinks, additional meals, spa treatments, activities, golf, items of a personal nature.

Jaci’s: Drinks, items of a personal nature.

*Get in touch for full Ts and Cs and talk to us about more safari and golf packages that combine the best of the South African bush and its world-class golf courses.

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Southern Africa's adventure capital beckons

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Mon, 16 Aug 2021 07:37:14 GMT

The legendary Victoria Falls attract visitors from all over the world

Way back in 1855, when David Livingstone "discovered" the place where the mighty Zambezi River plunges more than 100m down into an impressive gorge, he named the phenomenon for his queen. And so the Victoria Falls came to the attention of the western world.

For hundreds of years the Tonga people who lived in the area had called the falls "Mosi oa Tunya" which means "The Smoke That Thunders" in recognition of the constantly rising mist and thundering noise that give the falls' position away in the surrounding rain forest and thickly wooded banks of the Zambezi.

Livingstone was the first European to lay eyes on what is now regarded as the world's largest falling curtain of water at 108m deep and 1,7km wide. He also gave his name to the small settlement that sprang up in the late 1800s on the northern banks of the Zambezi in what was Northern Rhodesia and is now Zambia. On the opposite, southern banks of the river the town of Victoria Falls was established in 1901, in what was Southern Rhodesia and is now Zimbabwe.

In 1905 the two towns were linked by a railway bridge that spans the broiling Second Gorge below the falls - one of the most impressive engineering feats of its time. Today, it's a border post like no other, with sensational views of the river below and home to one of the most legendary bungee jumps in the world.

The bungee jump is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to adventure activities in and around the falls. Indeed, both Livingstone and Victoria Falls town have become renowned around the world for their eye-watering range of exciting, adrenaline-pumping things to do. From white water rafting, zip-lining, gorge swinging and microlighting over the falls to swimming on the very edge of the main cataract, a visit to the falls is never going to be boring.

Moving between Zambia and Zimbabwe for various activities is easy and all of the tour operators on both sides of the Zambezi are equipped to provide smooth and efficient transfers to and from activities. If white knuckle experiences aren't your thing, then relax, because there's so much more to this area.

More sedate activities include breathtaking helicopter rides over the falls and the Zambezi, gentle sunset cruises on the upper river, river safaris to spot the impressive wildlife in the area which includes lots of elephants, hippos, crocodiles and superlative bird life and game drives in national parks on both sides of the falls.

Both the towns of Victoria Falls and Livingstone have superb international airports with easy access from major hubs like Johannesburg and road transfers to nearby Kasane in Botswana are easy thanks to an excellent road network and the newly unveiled Kazangulu Bridge over the Zambezi. This links the falls directly with Botswana's Chobe National Park, which is a short two-hour drive away.

From Livingstone it's a short hop by plane to both the Lower Zambezi National Park and South Luangwa National Park. On the Zimbabwean side, Victoria Falls is the gateway to the breathtaking Hwange National Park. It's also a major departure point for the incredible Rovos Rail luxury train which runs regular trips from Victoria Falls to Pretoria, and vice versa.

This makes a trip to the falls the perfect complement to your Southern African safari. A minimum three-night stay is recommended, and the accommodation options on both sides of the falls are excellent. Alternatively, a long weekend or midwe ek break to the falls is an easy thing to arrange if you want a quick getaway to escape the concrete jungle!

So chat to us today about arranging your trip to this incredible destination!

Get your just deserts in breathtaking Namibia

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 10:29:02 GMT

Enjoy an African safari experience like no other...

It's been nicknamed "the land God made in anger" and it's easy to see why when you step out into the burning sun onto an endless sea of sand that stretches beyond the horizon in all directions. Welcome to Namibia - a desert nation and a jewel in Africa's safari crown.

There's something special about the desert. Something primal and overwhelmingly humbling. It's an environment that as a human you know you'd not last more than a few short hours in. With no water, food or shelter, this harsh and arid environment would literally consume you. And yet it's breathtakingly beautiful and filled with all sorts of life if you know where to look.

It's this magical quality - the fact that life can survive in such a challenging climate combined with otherwordly landscapes and unique forms of life - that makes Namibia truly spectacular and an absolute "must visit" part of Africa.

Located in the south-west of the continent, it's home to the world's oldest desert - the Namib - whose sands have been sweeping this desolate corner of Africa since time began, driven by the same winds and weather that have created some of the most impressive scenery to be found on the continent.

It's vast. From the apparently endless dunes of the Namib Naukluft around legendary Sossusvlei , where the red sand towers hundreds of metres above the parched valley floor, forming serpentine patterns in the shifting wind to the desolate beaches of the Skeleton Coast where the bones of both whales and ships litter the sand, biological and mechanical mixing effortlessly together in their slow decomposition.

It's jaw-droppingly stunning, with unique geological formations and dramatic, craggy mountain peaks juxtaposed with broad plains of coarse, dry grass and rocky outcrops that beg to be explored, along with ghost towns once filled with life but now filled with sand.

In the far north the desert is sliced open by a glittering sliver of life as the perennial Kunene River snakes its way towards the Atlantic, forming a natural border with neighbouring Angola. This is the realm of the ancient Himba people, whose women daub themselves with a mixture of animal fat and ground red ochre, unwittingly creating an almost eyewateringly beautiful human aesthetic as they go about their nomadic lives, eking out a living from the desert.

Namibia's wildlife is equally adept at survival, evolving to adapt to the desert and the daily challenges of finding enough to eat and drink. From elephant and black rhino to lion and giraffe, the dry wildneress delivers just enough to ensure their continuance, creating spectacular encounters with these iconic animals in equally spectacular surroundings.

The vast salt pans of Etosha are uninhabitable for mere men, and yet thousands of springbok, gemsbok, zebra, elephant and rhino manage to live here. Lion, leopard and cheetah also thrive, as do the "strandlopers" (it means "beach walkers") - the brown hyena, whose shaggy coats protect them from the icy cold winds that blow in from the Atlantic as they prowl the beaches for prey, feasting on Cape fur seals and whatever gets washed ashore.

Whether you believe that the wrath of the almighty created this spectacular land or that it was made to humble all who lay eyes on its incredible, soul-stirring beauty, Namibia simply has to be seen to be believed. And explored in depth. So talk to us about putting together a safari to this incredible place.

Victoria Falls

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 14:21:06 GMT

Africa's greatest natural spectacle...

When legendary explorer Dr David Livingstone first set eyes on the Zambezi River where it plunges more than 100m straight down into a seemingly bottomless gorge, he named the spectacle for his queen - Victoria Falls. It was 1855 and he was the first European to see this wonder of the natural world. He cannot have imagined how the little town that eventually built up on the periphery of the falls that bears the same name would become one of Africa's most renowned adventure centres, attracting visitors from across the world.

Today, the Victoria Falls are a World Heritage Site and the town of Victoria Falls is without a doubt Zimbabwe's biggest tourism drawcard, especially because it's also a gateway to the impressive Hwange National Park and some of the best game viewing in Southern Africa, not to mention the beautiful Zambezi National Park which extends some 40km upstream of the falls.

Victoria Falls is the perfect add-on to a Zimbabwe safari, or, indeed, any safari in Southern Africa. With a range of incredible hotels, boutique lodges and camps, including the oldest (and some would say grandest) hotel in the southern hemisphere - Victoria Falls Hotel - staying in Victoria Falls for a few days to explore the Zambezi, the falls themselves and indulge in amazing adventure activities is well worth it.

Whether it's a death-defying bungee jump from the rail bridge or a gentle sunset cruise on the Zambezi above the falls, thrill seekers of all ages will be happy with the opportunity to experience this wonderful destination. Adrenaline junkies can take advantage of white water rafting, jet boating and zip-lining while the less adventurous can opt for helicopter flights over the falls and along the river, game drives in the Zambezi National Park and more sedate river-based safaris.

With its international airport offering superb access from all major hubs, there's really no reason not to spend time here!

Hwange

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 14:18:38 GMT

Explore an untamed wilderness...

Zimbabwe's largest national park is also its star attraction, offering incredible game viewing and birding in what's highly regarded as one of Africa's top conservation areas. The park is named after a local Nhanzwa chief, and was once the royal hunting ground for the Ndebele warrior-king Mzilikazi, before being classified as a protected National Park in 1929.

At just over 14,600 square kilometres, Hwange National Park is the size of Belgium and an absolute must for any Zimbabwean safari itinerary. Located in the north-west of the country and easily accessed from Victoria Falls, Hwange's savannah grasslands and dense woodlands are home to the Big Five and more than 100 other mammal species. More than 500 species of birds have been recorded here and some 50,000 elephants roam its vast landscapes.

The dry winter months between June and October are the best time to visit Hwange which offers truly spectacular wildlife sightings as wildlife concentrates around waterholes. This is where you'll find a range of predators waiting to ambush hapless prey as they come to drink. With good numbers of lion, leopard and cheetah as well as painted wolves (African wild dogs) and hyena, the carnivore action is fantastic.

The rainy season from November to May turns the park into a lush, verdant paradise filled with incredible birdlife making Hwange a year-round destination and a huge drawcard to birding enthusiasts and photographers. With some wonderful lodges and camps scattered throughout the park, there's no shortage of incredible places to stay and Hwange is easily paired with both its neighbour - Victoria Falls - and Mana Pools National Park.

Lake Kariba

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 14:13:58 GMT

Where deep water meets vast skies

One of the largest man-made reservoirs in the world, Lake Kariba was formed by the damming of the Zambezi River at the Kariba Gorge with a massive hydro-electric dam. The lake took five years to fill between 1958 and 1963 following a massive relocation of both people and wildlife known as "Operation Noah". Today, Lake Kariba is a 280km long, 40km wide body of water that's home to an incredibly diverse range of wildlife and is one of Zimbabwe's most popular tourism destinations.

With 2,000 km of shoreline, Lake Kariba is a truly impressive place to explore, especially by boat, either on excursions from the various lodges and camps on its shores on from a luxury houseboat. It forms a natural border between Zimbabwe and neighbouring Zambia in the north of the country, within easy distance of Victoria Falls and Mana Pools National Park.

Situated on the shores of the lake is the beautiful Matusadona National Park which offers some of the most spectacular game viewing in the country. With its rich grasslands and an abundance of water, it's home to huge herds of buffalo, waterbuck, zebra, and impala as well as elephant. It also has a high concentration of predators, so you can expect incredible wildlife viewing opportunities.

The lake itself is home to crocodiles and hippo as well as a variety of fish, making it one of the best fishing spots in Southern Africa, especially if you are looking for exceptional tiger fishing. The birdlife is equally spectacular, as are the landscapes, with heavily wooded islands silhouetted against the sparkling water and huge, incredibly blue skies backed by dramatic mountain ranges on both sides.

Mana Pools

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 13:59:26 GMT

Discover Zimbabwe's river of dreams

In the far north of Zimbabwe, on the southern banks of the beautiful Zambezi River, lies one of the country's two World Heritage Sites - Mana Pools National Park. A paradise for walking and canoeing safaris, Mana Pools is a wonderfully biodiverse wilderness that literally has everything a discerning safari traveller could ask for - phenomenal wildlife encounters, spectacular scenery and one of Africa's greatest rivers running past it.

This is where the Zambezi is wide and lazy, thanks to the Kariba Dam upstream and the Cahora Bassa Dam downstream in Mozambique. It's girth is broken up by lush islands filled with life and vast sandbanks where crocodiles and hippos sun themselves, lapped by the steady, controlled flow of the mighty river through the Lower Zambezi Valley. Across the river is Zambia which shares the incredible views over the wide Mana floodplains that are home to some of Southern Africa's biggest herds of elephant and buffalo.

Remote and untamed, Mana Pools offers authentic wilderness experiences and the chance to completely immerse yourself in a pristine, wild African environment. Predators are plentiful here, with lion, leopard, cheetah and painted wolves (African wild dogs) in abundance. Game activities range from bush walks and tracking painted wolves on foot to boat-based game viewing, fishing and canoeing.

Famed for its understated bush camps and lodges that blend effortlessly into the wilderness surrounding them, Mana Pools offers an exceptional retreat away from the madding existence of urban life and affords guests the chance to switch off and reconnect with nature.

Livingstone

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 19:03:42 GMT

Visit Zambia's adventure capital...

The border town of Livingstone is famous for one thing - the "Smoke that Thunders" - or Mosi oa Tunya in the local language of the Lozi people. This is the Victoria Falls - the world's largest body of falling water, created as the mighty Zambezi River plunges more than 100m straight down into the Batoka Gorge, creating one of the most spectacular sights on the planet and a genuine wonder of the natural world.

Zambia shares the falls with neighbouring Zimbabwe, where it is generally regarded that the best year-round views of the falls can be had, but Livingstone has something its neighbour doesn't - access above the falls to one of its biggest, and most exciting drawcard - the Devil's Pool - a natural rock pool on the edge of the main cataract where the current abates enough in the dry season for people to swim without fear and peer, precariously, over the edge of the falls themselves.

This breathtaking attraction is just one of the many reasons that together make Livingstone a global destination, attracting adventure seekers from across the world who come for the white water rafting, micro lighting, zip lining and terrifying gorge swing that reaches terminal velocity before swinging you to the safety of terra firma.

More gentle pursuits include helicopter flips over the falls, hiking, game drives in the Mosi oa Tunya National Park, sunset cruises on the Zambezi, river safaris and cultural visits to the local communities around the town, as well as visits to the various museums and places of interest in this historic town.

Named for legendary African explorer Dr David Livingstone, the town was founded in 1904, and is the site where a ground-breaking railway bridged the falls connecting what was then Northern and Southern Rhodesia, today's Zambia and Zimbabwe. Today, the rail bridge is a historic reminder of the region's colonial past and an adventure centre in its own right, as it's the home of the Victoria Falls bungee!

With a wonderful array of luxury hotels and lodges in and around Livingstone, there's no shortage of world-class accommodation, food and nightlife to match the vibrant adventurous pulse that sets this town apart. No trip to Zambia is complete without a stay in Livingstone!

Kafue National Park

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 18:58:30 GMT

Zambia's best-kept secret revealed...

The Ka fue National Park is Zambia's oldest and largest national park and, indeed, one of Africa's largest protected areas, at just over 22,000 square kilometres, which expands to more than 40,000 square kilometres when its game management area buffer zones are included.

In spite of its size and stature, t his vast wilderness is one of the country's best-kept secrets in safari terms, being largely unexplored and wonderfully remote, even though it's only a few hours's drive from the capital of Lusaka and the adventure capital of Livingstone. With a small but exclusive selection of wonderful bush camps and luxury lodges enjoying traversing throughout the park, it's attraction is its uniqueness - the Kafue is quite unlike any other national park in Southern Africa.

Bisected virtually from north to south by the Kafue River that gives it its name, the Kafue features vast floodplains combined with dense miombo thickets and woodland that give rise to a rich and diverse selection of wildlife species and incredible birdlife. From the northern reaches of the Busanga Plains to the rich waters of Lake Itezhi-Tezhi (where the Kafue has been dammed) the Kafue has areas of fantastic wetland, thanks to the Kafue's perennial tributaries - the Lufupa and the Lunga - which feed it from the north. Interestingly, t he Kafue is the only truly Zambian river - beginning and ending within the country's borders.

Expect to see huge herds of red lechwe and puku, roan antelope and buffalo, as well as elephant and great lion and cheetah, painted wolves (African wild dog) and the occasional leopard, especially along the river banks. Huge rafts of pelicans, wattled cranes, crowned cranes and egrets congregate on the floodplains, along with open-billed storks and waders of all descriptions.

South Luangwa

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 18:53:49 GMT

Get ready for game viewing galore!

The South Luangwa is Zambia's best-known national park and is widely regarded as the home of the walking safari as well as being one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world. With some of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Southern Africa, its reputation for being Zambia's wildlife capital is well-founded.

Most of the wildlife action occurs along the seasonal Luangwa River and its oxbow lagoons, becoming more concentrated as the dry season sets in and these pools of water begin to dry up. This is where you'll see thousands of hippos congregating in ever smaller pools of muddy water, along with huge numbers of crocodile. It's also the realm of the ambush predators who stay close to the water, picking off animals as they come down to drink - which they must do every day to survive the harshness of the dry season each year.

Lion, leopard, hyena... All are present in large numbers, along with more than 400 bird species, making the South Luangwa one of Southern Africa's top birding spots, especially in the emerald season from November to April when the area is a lush, green wonderland thanks to the life-giving annual rains. There are also huge herds of elephant and buffalo to be seen throughout the year.

This is walking country where you can explore on foot with ease, discovering the secrets of the African wilderness on day walks or on multi-day walking trails, sleeping in fly-camps under the African stars and immersing yourself in the raw, untamed beauty of this outstanding African wilderness.

Lower Zambezi Valley

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 18:47:08 GMT

Where a mighty river meets heaven...

The Lower Zambezi valley is home to one of Zambia's most beautiful wildlife havens - the Lower Zambezi National Park and its equally beautiful, community owned Chiawa game management are a. This is where the mighty Zambezi River meets breathtaking mountains and vast floodplains filled with baobabs and rich, riparian forests that are home to a cornucopia of wildlife species. Paradise? Absolutely!

The combination of the towering peaks of the Zambezi escarpment, the rich diversity of life and the wide river, dotted with islands and sandbanks, is simply jaw-dropping. The Zambezi at this point is controlled, being dammed upstream at Kariba and downstream in neighbouring Mozambique at Cahora Bassa. This allows it to spread and form channels through the floodplains, creating indescribably beautiful areas of lush wetland and dense riverine thickets.

Canoeing these channels is a wonderful way to explore, taking in the incredible birdlife along the way and marvelling at the rich diversity of wildlife that calls this wonderful valley home. Huge herds of elephants can be seen crossing the Zambezi and grazing on the wide islands, as can buffalo and the larger antelope species able to negotiate the river's steady current and avoid its crocodiles.

With a stunning variety of simply outstanding lodges and bush camps on offer and the additional lure of tiger fishing and access to one of Africa's most legendary rivers, the Lower Zambezi is perhaps Zambia's most well-rounded safari destination and an absolute must for any safari itinerary.

Kaokaveld

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 14:36:33 GMT

From desolation comes paradise...

Namibia's Kaokaveld is without doubt among Africa's most incredible safari destinations. This is where the desert meets the Atlantic Ocean on some of the most desolate shores in the world and also serves up an unexpected piece of magic in the midst of an otherwise harsh and arid environment - the Kunene River...

One of only five perennial rivers in the country, the Kunene provides a narrow strip of lush green in the otherwise stark moonlike landscapes of the Kaokaveld, plunging over the beautiful Epupa Falls in the process. The best months to view the falls are April and May when what little rainfall this area receives ensure a good flow of water. This region is home to the Himba people - a semi nomadic tribe who breed cattle and goats.

The Himba are one of Namibia's oldest cultures. Their women are famous for rubbing their bodies and coating their hair with "outsize" - a mixture of animal fat and ochre that protects their skin agains the harsh climate and symbolises the rich red earth as being the "blood" of the planet.

The Skeleton Coast National Park is part of the Kaokaveld and is a 40km wide, 500km long coastal strip that's one of the most hostile environments on the planet. This is where the cold and unpredictable Benguela Current of the Atlantic Ocean clashes with the dune and desert landscape of the Kaokaveld, producing dense fog that rolls over the dunes inland, bringing life in the form of moisture to the region.

Numerous ships have stranded at the Skeleton Coast thanks to th is thick fog and the notoriously rough sea, unpredictable currents and stormy winds. The sailors who were able to make it to the land did not stand a chance of survival at this inhospitable coast and died of thirst.

Despite the hostile character of the Skeleton Coast, there are quite a number of wild animals that make it their home, from desert-adapted elephants, rhinos, desert lions and brown hyenas t o jackals, giraffes, seals, oryx, kudus and zebras. There are also huge colonies of Cape fur seals along the length of the coast.

Damaraland

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 14:02:19 GMT

Land of legend and ancient rock art...

The breath takingly beautiful and ruggedly mountainous region of Damaraland is perhaps Namibia's most striking wilderness areas. It's home to d iversity of desert-adapted wildlife such as elephant, rhino, zebra and lion, which m anage to survive in this near-barren landscape.

Dominated by the towering peak of Namibia's highest mountain - the aptly named Brandberg (it means "burning mountain" in the Afrikaans vernacular that's widely spoken in this former South African protectorate), this region is also home to some of its most ancient cultural artefacts - the San rock engravings of Twyfelfontein. More than 2500 individual engravings - also known as petroglyphs - have been found here, dating back thousands of years, making this one of the most significant ancient rock art sites in the world.

The vast landscapes are awe-inspiring and filled with unusual rock formations and geological anomalies as well as some of the best examples of petrified forests in Africa which are millions of years old. This is also where you'll find the dramatic Spitzkoppe - a group of bare granite inselbergs that have been worn by the weather over countless millennia.

The wildlife and plants o f the region have adapted perfectly to the a rid climate of i ntense heat and lack of rainfall . T he desert-adapted elephants h ave l onger legs and l arger soles on their feet to enable them to handle the rocky and sandy geography and can travel easily along dry river beds in search of subterranean water which they excavate.

You'll also find unusual plant life here such as the poisonous but photogenic Eupho rbia vrosa and the ancient Welwitshia mirabilis.

Etosha

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 13:40:31 GMT

Discover the "great white place"...

The vast shimmering salt pan of Etosha National Park is one of Namibia's biggest tourism drawcards and offers an incredible and unique wildlife experience as you witness a plethora of wildlife species congregating at waterholes around the edge of this harsh and arid stretch of endless white...

It's the white saline crystals that stretch from horizon to horizon that lie at the heart of this national park and give it its name - Etosha means "great white place" - and that also give it some of the most unusual spectacles in Africa's wildlife kingdom... The "great grey ghosts" of Etosha are the stuff of legend. These are the elephants who come to the waterholes to drink and cool off, bathing in the pale grey mud at the water's edge and dusting themselves with the fine white dust of the Etosha pan. This turns their normally dark grey skin an eery shade of pale grey verging on white.

The game viewing in this 22,935 square kilometre national park is superlative with the highest concentrations of game in Namibia. Four of the Big Five are present, with only buffalo absent from the list. This is one of the last strongholds for desert-adapted elephants and black rhino, and the predator action around the waterholes is gripping.

This area of Namibia is ancient with fossil remains dating back 650-million years - before the land mass of Gondwana broke up into the continents we are familiar with today.

Sossusvlei

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 13:16:18 GMT

The beating red heart of Namibia

With the world's highest sand dunes that glow a rich red as the sun pops its head over the horizon, no safari to Namibia is complete without a visit to the legendary Sossusvlei... Located inside the Namib Naukluft National Park - one of the largest conservation areas in Africa - this is the place where a sea of dunes come together to effectively "dam" the route of the seasonal Tsauchab River, causing a "dead-end" as it were. The name literally means "dead-end marsh" in the local language of the Nama people.

It's 60km inland from the cold Atlantic Ocean but the hot and arid climate of the Namib - the world's oldest desert - see to it that rain hardly ever falls here in any magnitude, with an average 6mm falling each year. When it does rain, Sossusvlei becomes a wet wonderland, with the Tsauchab filling the pans at the bottom of the dunes, creating a glassy smooth "lake" which offers sensational photographic opportunities!

The dunes here are massive, with the biggest - named "Big Daddy" reaching a whopping 325m high. Add to the mix the legendary Dune 45 (because it's 45km from the entrance gate of the Namib Naukluft park) and the suitably named "Crazy Dune" and you're spoiled for choice on which of these amazing dunes to climb (you can, of course, do them all if you stay for a few days!).

You can also explore the legendary Dead Vlei with its 900-year-old petrified trees trapped in a white clay marsh set against a backdrop of red dunes and the brilliant blue sky! While in Sossusvlei, try hot air ballooning over the dune sea or just explore on foot, taking in the incredible landscapes.

Hang out in "The Hoed"!

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 09:34:32 GMT

The wonderful town of Hoedspruit is South Africa's safari capital...

When it comes to going on safari in South Africa, there's no better place to start than the lovely little lowveld town of Hoedspruit in Limpopo province. Blessed with one of the most dramatic mountain ranges in South Africa as its backdrop and a fabulous year-round climate, Hoedspruit - or "The Hoed" as it is lovingly known - has an awful lot to offer both safari and adventure enthusiasts.

For South Africans travelling in their own country and for international visitors eager to sample some of the Rainbow Nation's outstanding private game reserves and the legendary Kruger National Park , Hoedspruit provides the perfect base from which to explore. It provides easy access to the Kruger Park's Orpen Gate and a host of award-winning luxury safari lodges that are literally on its doorstep, as is the fabled Panorama Route with some of the most spectacular scenery South Africa has to offer.

The town itself may be small, but it has a big heart, and being a safari town, visitors are made to feel right at home. Hoedspruit boasts an amazing range of marvellous restaurants and cafés (and one of the best food trucks in South Africa!) and its nooks and crannies are filled with interesting shops, galleries and curio stalls.

Its western horizon is filled with the towering peaks of the Northern Drakensberg Escarpment and to its east lay the renowned private reserves that form the Greater Kruger National Park - the Balule, Klaserie, Timbavati, Thornybush, Umbabat and Sabi Sand - and the Kruger Park itself. This makes Hoedspruit a great stopover on any safari itinerary.

With a great selection of wonderful luxury lodges both in town and on its doorstep, visitors to Hoedspruit are spoiled for choice when it comes to accommodation options. From intimate boutique guest houses and superlative exclusive-use bush villas to fabulous safari camps in big five reserves on the outskirts of town, this is South Africa's safari capital.

There's a host of exciting activities on offer, to boot. Top of these are full-day guided safaris in the Kruger National Park, spending a day in an open safari vehicle with an experienced professional safari guide exploring this world-renowned wildlife haven.

Another fantastic day trip option is a guided tour of the Panorama Route, taking in the Blyde River Canyon - the world's third largest green canyon, the impressive Bourke's Luck Potholes, God's Window and The Pinnacle viewpoints where you can look out over the edge of the escarpment and the Graskop Gorge Lift.

One of the newest attractions on the Panorama Route, the Graskop Gorge Lift takes you to the bottom of Graskop Gorge in a glass-sided lift where you enter another world, exploring the unique eco-system of the gorge floor, marvelling at the wonders of nature on an interactive walking trail.

Other exciting activities include microlighting, helicopter flips over the Blyde River Canyon, tubing on the Olifants River, cruises on the Blyde Dam, hiking along the escarpment, mountain biking and horseriding. Or try a morning or afternoon game drive in one of the nearby private game reserves. If something more relaxing appeals to you, then how about a treatment or two at Hoedspruit's beautiful Africology Spa? We can also arrange private spa treatments at your lodge.

So consider spending a few nights in Hoedspruit, perhaps combining it with a stay in one of the amazing lodges in the Greater Kruger reserves. With regular flights from both Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport and Cape Town International Airport to Eastgate Airport, Hoedspruit is easily accessible by air. It's also an easy five-hour drive from Johannesburg.

Talk to us today about putting together a safari to Hoedspruit for you and let us recommend where to stay and what to do.

COVID-19 and your safari

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Mon, 10 May 2021 14:17:16 GMT

South and Southern Africa are open for travel...

You can go on safari. And that's official. The countries we operate in are all open for business and ready and able to welcome travellers from across the world. This means that a safari is not just possible but also the best way to escape lockdown and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine of the African wilderness.

While many countries still have South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique on their "red lists" of countries to visit during the COVID-19 pandemic, we would like to give you much-needed information from "ground zero" here in Africa to allow you to assess the real position where travelling to and from South and Southern Africa is concerned.

THE "SOUTH AFRICAN" VARIANT

There is a lot of misconception surrounding the "South African variant". Firstly, this is NOT a uniquely South African variant or strain of the COVID-19 virus. It is more accurately called the 501Y.V2 variant. It was first identified in South Africa's Eastern Cape but did NOT originate there. In fact, this variant has been identified in more than 60 countries across the world with no links to South Africa or history of travel to the country.

It’s important to understand that all viruses constantly mutate into new versions or variants and that there are many new variants of COVID-19 that have been identified around the world. Age and co-morbidities still increase a person’s risk but this has remained the same from the original variant to the 501Y. V2 variant.

South Africa's general COVID-19 protocols have been successful in keeping the number of overall cases in the country significantly lower than elsewhere in the world. Likewise, in Botswana the number of cases has been significantly lower than in the US, UK and parts of Europe, as have Mozambique's.

South Africa's borders, as well as Botswana's and Mozambiques, are open for international travel and all health and safety protocols are in place to ensure your holiday or vacation is the safest possible.

We take the health and safety of our clients exceptionally seriously and assure you that we personally vet every single lodge and camp we use, having close personal relationships with all of our suppliers and service providers to maintain the high levels of service and attention to detail that we include in our itineraries.

No travellers are banned from entering any of the destinations we offer. However, there are some entry requirements that will affect the way you travel and which have to be taken into consideration when planning your African safari. And subject to the requirements of their home countries, travellers who have visited South Africa may be required to go into quarantine on their return home.

WHAT YOU NEED BEFORE TRAVELLING

First of all, just make sure your passport is valid for at least six months and has at least two empty facing pages so that there are no problems with immigration.

If you have been vaccinated, bring your original vaccination certificate with you as well as certified copies. Unfortunately, you will still be required to undergo PCR tests for entry into South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique, even if you have been vaccinated. These need to be no older than 72 hours prior to arrival in your destination. PCR tests will also be required on departure, again no more than 72 hours old.

Most of these can be arranged at your lodge and we will take care of the logistics on your behalf. You have to have the original PCR test certificate AS WELL as your vaccination certificate. Please note that a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) is not acceptable for travel purposes.

While it's not mandatory to have travel insurance that covers COVID-19 tests and quarantine costs, it is highly recommended. Travel insurance is absolutely critical.

Please ensure you have completed the mandatory Traveller Health Screening Questionnaire and have it with you, in hard copy, on entrance into South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique.

It's important for you to stay abreast of your own country's re-entry policies as these often change as different levels of lockdown and new travel advisories come into effect. Also be aware of transit protocols in countries you may be passing through en route to Africa and on the way home.

ARRIVAL IN SOUTH AFRICA, BOTSWANA AND MOZAMBIQUE

In public areas, it is mandatory to wear a mask and observe social distancing and hygiene measures at all times. South Africa is very strict about these measures which have been a major contributing factor to our lower COVID-19 case numbers.

In South Africa, on arrival at the airport terminal, you will pause at an infrared thermal scanner to check body temperature and an airport official will request your COVID-19 test certificate/vaccination certificate.

In South Africa and other countries, upon arrival at the port of entry, travellers will be asked questions from health authorities and will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms and ensure they have not been in contact with infected persons.

If a traveller shows COVID-19–related symptoms or has been in contact with an infected person(s), they must take a COVID-19 test at their own cost. If the COVID-19 test comes back positive, the traveller will undergo a 10-day quarantine at a designated site at their own expense.

* Please note: We are currently operating in Southern Mozambique around the area of Vilanculos, the Bazaruto Archipelago and Maputo.

Terms and conditions

The above information is the most up to date that we have available to us concerning current entry and travel requirements. It will change from time to time and in different areas of the respective countries of origin, transit or destination.

The measures and requirements highlighted here may or may not be applied uniformly.

If there are any changes to this information we will endeavour to update you via this page as soon as those changes become apparent to us. However, Best African Safaris cannot be held liable for any impact to your journey should these be changed by the authorities or measures and requirements are not applied in accordance with the advice Best African Safaris has been given, or if there is any delay in the communication of changes to these measures or requirements to you/your guests or any members of the travelling group.

* Disclaimer: Please note that travelling during a worldwide pandemic is entirely at your own risk.

Okavango - a safari legend

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Mon, 10 May 2021 13:22:17 GMT

Discover one of the wonders of the natural world...

Deep in the heart of the Kalahari Basin one of Africa's most important perennial rivers empties its waters into a parched and otherwise arid land, turning it into one of the most incredible and iconic wetlands in the world... This is the Okavango Delta - a place of legends...

Some 2-million years ago, the Okavango River flowed into a massive lake that covered what is now the barren expanses of the Makgadikgadi Pans. Thanks to an enormous earthquake caused by a dramatic shift in the bedrock beneath the Kalahari - a tectonic upheaval that caused the entire area to effectively sink - the river's course was instantly and irrevocably changed.

The lake dried up and the Okavango formed a huge alluvial fan that varies between 6,000 and 8,000 square kilometres and swells to more than 15,000 square kilometres during its annual inundation, depending on the amount of rainfall in the river's catchment area in the Angolan highlands that causes the Okavango River to swell dramatically and empty its waters into the Kalahari.

More than 150,000 islands dot its waterways, channels and lagoons creating some of the highest densities of wildlife in Africa, if not the world. Home to huge herds of elephant and buffalo and all of Africa's big cats as well as healthy populations of painted wolves (African wild dogs) and a plethora of endemic and migrant bird species, the Okavango is a veritable oasis and easily one of Africa's top "bucket list" safari destinations.

Up in the far north of Botswana is the Delta's "panhandle" - a narrow swathe of wetland that's formed around a 70km stretch of the Okavango River as its enters Botswana and before it fans out to form the delta. This is where you'll find Tsodilo Hills with its ancient rock art and the town of Shakawe - the gateway to the panhandle which is renowned for its fishing and birding.

At 60km long and 10km wide, Chief's Island is the biggest in the Delta and is home to a range of lodges and camps, as is the Moremi Game Reserve which it is part of. Add to this a number of private concessions and some of the best-loved safari brands in Africa and you begin to understand why the Okavango Delta is such a huge tourism drawcard and the flagship safari destination for Botswana.

The inundation usually happens from June to September each year. Outside of this period, much of the Delta is dry for large parts of the year. This makes walking safaris a popular alternative to the water-based activities offered at camps on or near permanent water. When it comes to exploring on the water, a mokoro (dug-out canoe) safari is an absolute must, as are game-viewing cruises along the waterways. Game drives are, of course, always popular, as are helicopter flips over the Delta.

So talk to us about the possibilities depending on the time of year you want to visit the Okavango and what experiences you want to have. We can tailor your itinerary to suit your interests and we work with a wonderful network of exceptional safari lodges and camps, ensuring that your Okavango Delta safari is absolutely out of this world.

Thornybush Game Lodge

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Tue, 04 May 2021 12:55:31 GMT

Thornybush, Greater Kruger, South Africa

Game Lodge was the first of its kind in the Thornybush Nature Reserve, opening its doors back in 1961. As the original establishment on this world-class private reserve, it put Thornybush on the map and established its reputation for exceptional game-viewing.

The thatched main area overlooks a waterhole and riverbed frequently visited by elephants, buffalo and other large game. The classic lower deck flows between the open dining area and a beautiful bar.

Sunbirds, attracted to the many aloes which surround the main deck, are just some of the many small delights you can expect on your stay at Thornybush Game Lodge.

The warm-hearted staff, riverbed setting and legacy of excellence are standout features. Meals, when taken at the lodge, are sumptuous buffets. Bush dinners are a firm favourite with guests, where you get to enjoy a hearty meal, surrounded by lanterns, candles and the sound of the African wilderness.

Private and stylishly decorated, the 18 luxury suites are a joy to spend a night in and difficult to leave. With large windows above the bath and giant sliding doors to the deck, you'll enjoy incredible views of the riverbed and any animals that may be wallowing there.

Each of the luxury suites have an en-suite bathroom, indoor and outdoor shower and have been carefully designed and spaced to provide privacy. The elegant finishes and extremely comfortable beds complete the impressive rooms.

There are two family suites that are larger than the luxury suites, with a lounge area and day beds to accommodate children. They have an elegant design that offers the perfect oasis of calm and rest after a game drive and have a large private deck with its own plunge pool.

Saseka Tented Camp

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Tue, 04 May 2021 12:53:41 GMT

Thornybush, Greater Kruger, South Africa

Saseka feels very much like a shining jewel in the Thornybush crown, located in a spectacular position on a bend of the seasonal Monwana River. It's a strikingly unique camp with a fabulous layout and finds a superb balance between cutting-edge design, classical style and feeling connected to the outside environment.

The main area has a large, tiered deck with a broad view of the riverbed and a cleverly designed roof that mimics the dappled light of a tree canopy. This is where guests gather for a drink or a meal, share stories and listen to the afternoon breeze bringing the surrounding trees to life.

Away from the soothing tones of the main area, guests stay in nine luxurious tented suites with stylish interiors, sweeping decks, private pools and uninterrupted views of the riverbed. The Leadwood Villa offers a sole-use option within the lodge, perfect for small groups and families.

The suites, with elevated views of the riverbed, are ultra-spacious safari tents on permanent foundations. Glass doors open up onto your own extensive private deck and pool, complete with sun loungers and chairs. In a private corner, there’s also an outdoor shower with bush views.

Attention to detail is present wherever you look, a great example of this is the fabric of the interior canvas, designed exclusively for Saseka, with prints from the herbarium in Pretoria of all the region’s plants. The intelligent lighting of the tented suites is also an impressive feature. The suites allow the sounds of th e bush to filter in to give a truly immersed safari experience.

Experience the ultimate intimacy of the Leadwood Villa. As a sole-use option, this space grants the privacy of staying at your own lodge within the magnificent grounds of Saseka Tented Camp. Embrace the privacy of this exclusive-use accommodation for your whole family or small group.

The main villa includes a tented suite, sunken outdoor lounge and fire pit as well as an indoor lounge area. With space for up to six people, accommodated in adjacent tented suites, you’re able to experience the luxury of the bush in a prime setting.

Camp Moremi

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Tue, 04 May 2021 12:39:13 GMT

Moremi Game Reserve, Okavango Delta, Botswana

Located inside the Moremi Game Reserve with the Okavango Delta on its doorstep, Camp Moremi boasts 12 expansive, modern styled thatched safari tents, including one family room, and accommodates a maximum of 24 guests. The family room includes two separate bedrooms and bathrooms and connects through interleading doors.

All standard tents are expansive with spacious bathrooms consisting of double vanities and showers, and private decks offering views over the Moremi Game Reserve. Subtle décor and lighting fixtures allow for a natural and warm atmosphere within each room to create a peaceful and harmonious blend with the surrounding environment.

areas, including the elevated dining area, connect by boardwalk to the fire pit in front of the camp. In addition, an open-air boma and secluded swimming pool complement the public area facilities.

Guest activities include a choice of morning and afternoon game drives throughout the many different ecosystems that the Moremi Game Reserve has to offer or the possibility to explore the Xakanaxa Lagoon and its surrounding channels by boat. This blend of activities allows for access to incredible landscapes, impressive wildlife as well as the opportunity to enjoy the picturesque waters of the Okavango Delta.

Shinde Camp

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Tue, 04 May 2021 12:37:18 GMT

Okavango Delta, Botswana

Located on a lush palm island in the heart of the Okavango Delta, Shinde is built in a “treehouse style” comprising tented guest suites, lounges, dining areas (indoor and outdoor) and a fire deck all with beautiful views over a permanent lagoon and under the shade of ebony and mangosteen trees.

The tents and main area provide a luxury experience with a touch of historical charm. The décor of the camp offers the best of nature within an authentic safari design – still with an understated, friendly and intimate feel. Elegant, Classic, Opulent ‘Out of Africa’... Shinde offers a ‘worldly’ sophisticated safari experience.

Each tent features a large bedroom, en-suite bathroom with indoor and outdoor shower. There is the choice of either a double or twin bed configuration on comfortable three-quarter, extra length or king-sized beds. Every possible comfort has been catered for – from full solar electricity, standing and ceiling fans through to yoga mats and hair dryers! Families are accommodated in a custom build two-bedroom shared en-suite bathroom family tent sleeping a maximum of five people.

Courtesy of its location Shinde can offer both water and land activities year-round. Motorboats or Mokoro provide a chance to experience the incredible bird, plant and reptile species found in the aquatic habitat of the Okavango Delta. Game drives are conducted by a personal guide in comfortable, specially designed game drive vehicles.

When out on game drives our window seat guarantee ensures no more than four guests per vehicle and individual use of a camera mount. For the more adventurous, guided walks are also available while fishing enthusiasts will enjoy fishing for a variety of species such as tilapia and tiger fish.

More than a dog, not quite a wolf...

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Mon, 12 Apr 2021 13:20:21 GMT

The painted wolf is Africa's most successful hunter

Meet the painted wolf - Lycaon pictus - otherwise known as the African wild dog. This incredible animal has been persecuted for years by stock farmers and is the second-most critically endangered of all of Africa's carnivores, after the Ethiopian wolf.

It's easy to see where they get their name from. Their coats are incredible with each possessing a completely unique arrangement of spots and mottled markings, rather like a fingerprint. With their large, rounded ears giving them exceptional hearing and an accute sense of smell, they can stay in touch with other members of their pack over long distances.

Much misunderstood, the painted wolf plays a critical role in the ecosystems they are found in. Although part of the canine family, in evolutionary terms they are more closely related to the wolf than the domestic dog. Like their northern hemisphere cousin, the grey wolf, their presence helps to regulate prey species and to shape landscapes (lower numbers of prey species like antelopes equals less impact on vegetation) and with the highest kill rate of all of Africa's predator species they are by far the most successful hunters.

Painted wolf packs range over huge distances - as much as 1500km - and can number as many as 30 individuals, being ruled by a dominant, alpha pair with only the alpha female usually breeding and producing pups. It's a fascinating and intricate social system that sees the pack effectively look after the alpha male and female, with a beta pair waiting to step in if the alphas are killed. The pack actively looks after its sick and old, demonstrating amazing bonds that last entire lifetimes.

Painted wolf hierarchy is also a strict one that drives potential new alphas and betas off to form new packs of their own. Most of the time the mature males stay with their natal pack while females leave to join new packs. They breed seasonally with pups born in the dry winter months when hunting conditions are at their best.

The list of prey species hunted by painted wolves is extensive. From scrub hares and warthogs to larger prey species like impala and kudu, they have even been known to hunt buffalo, focussing on young and weak animals as well as calves. Their intelligence is legendary, as is their endurance and they are known for their complex hunting strategies in which members of the pack will split off to outflank their prey.

Because of their enormous range, seeing painted wolves in the wild is an absolute privilege. Imagine an area the size of Johannesburg, Soweto and Pretoria combined. This huge area would only be able to support only one or two packs of painted wolves!

It's because of this huge range and the painted wolf's need for space that the loss of habitat is so concerning and by far the greatest threat facing the species across Africa. It's therefore essential that we help to conserve and protect remaining wilderness areas and create protected corridors between them to encourage these amazing creatures to expand their territories.

Some of the best places to see painted wolves in Southern Africa are in the northern areas of Botswana, around the Linyanti and Savute regions, as well as the Okavango Delta, and the Greater Kruger National Park in South Africa, around the Timbavati/Klaserie/Sabi Sand private game reserves as well as in Madikwe Game Reserve in South Africa's North West province.

Discover the magic of Chobe...

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Mon, 12 Apr 2021 13:06:24 GMT

Explore a legendary safari destination...

I n the north of Botswana forming part of the country's border with neighbouring Namibia lies one of the most renowned national parks in Southern Africa - Chobe National Park. Named after the Chobe River which runs along its northernmost border, this is Botswana's oldest national park and its third largest, with some of the highest concentrations of wildlife in the country.

The Chobe River itself is an enigma. It begins its life as a spring in the Angolan highlands before moving south, fed by annual rains, where it becomes the Kwando River. As it meanders through an area of swampland it changes its name to the Linyanti before taking the name Chobe close to the border post of Ngoma, becoming swollen with backwash from the mighty Zambezi which it joins near the town of Kasane - the gateway to Chobe National Park.

It's this last stretch of river that provides the park's most spectacular wildlife sightings, especially where elephants are concerned. Chobe is legendary for its huge herds of elephants which move freely across the river onto islands in its main channel and over to neighbouring Namibia. The river's floodplains here are wide and lush, filled with grasses and its banks are flanked by forests of tall riparian trees.

All along the river life is abundant, with hippos and crocodiles aplenty, large herds of buffalo and plains game such as zebra, wildebeest, kudu and impala as well as apex predators like lion and leopard, with lots of spotted hyena as well.

This is also the most busy area of Chobe, thanks to its proximity to Kasane, with a lot of activity along the river up until the border of the national park where things quieten down as only certain operators are allowed to use the river inside the national park itself.

One of these is the beautiful Chobe Game Lodge, located inside the national park with unrivalled access to stretches of the river not available to day visitors. Using solar powered game viewing boats, this wonderful resort-style lodge is a champion of sustainability and offers an amazing entry point to this incredible national park.

In the northwest of the park lay the Savute and Linyanti regions which are famed for their cheetah and painted wolves (African wild dog). Savute Safari Lodge is located in the heart of the Savute region and offers an immersive experience in this unique and startlingly beautiful area of Chobe, which is more arid and dry than the region along the river's banks. Likewise, the Linyanti area and private concession are renowned for their predators and phenomenal birding, with more than 450 species to see.

Wherever you go in Chobe National Park you are guaranteed of pristine wilderness filled with a rich diversity of wildlife species offering some of the most exciting safari experiences in Africa. It's made up of a cornucopia of different eco-systems and biomes that make each region of the park unique and special.

Talk to us about including Chobe National Park in your Best African Safaris Botswana adventure or click here for more info on our current special offers...

Why South Africa is a safe safari bet...

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 07:35:22 GMT

Health and safety are a priority in the Rainbow Nation

Don't believe the bad press about a poorly branded COVID-19 variant that's been found in more than 32 countries across the world... South Africa doesn't have its own strain of COVID-19 and currently has one of the best lockdown results in the world, with numbers that make northern hemisphere superpowers embarrassed to say the least.

South Africa was also one of the first countries in the world to roll out strict COVID-19 health and safety protocols to its tourism industry, becoming tourism ready much earlier than many of its African colleagues. So we can absolutely assure you that a South African safari is not just a safe bet, but the ideal way to get away from it all and social distance with style.

The South African safari industry has embraced health and safety protocols and rest assured that your wellbeing is our absolute priority, so we take great care in selecting your safari camp or lodge to ensure you are in safe hands, 100% at ease and can relax on your wonderful safari.

As of the date of publishing this blog, South Africa is currently at Lockdown Level 1, and all of its restaurants, hotels and tourism attractions are open for business meaning that we are able to put together an absolutely first-class itinerary for you, irrespective of whether you are a local travelling in your own "back yard" or a visitor from overseas.

So consider visits to places of interest as part of your South African safari tour, even though your focus is going to be on enjoying the country's amazing game reserves and fantastic wildlife. We recommend a few days in the Greater Kruger National Park and its surrounds, perhaps combining this with some time to explore the beautiful Panorama Route and breathtaking scenery this region offers.

The Greater Kruger National Park is made up of the Balule, Klaserie, Timbavati, Manyeleti and Sabi Sands private nature reserves which are unfenced and open to the Kruger National Park, creating a vast swathe of pristine wilderness that's packed with wildlife and some of the best-loved safari lodges in the country.

Or how about a visit to Madikwe Game Reserve in North West province? Just a four-hour drive from Johannesburg, this 680 square kilometre reserve is home to the Big Five and is one of the country's greatest conservation success stories. It was originally farm land that has been restored to a pristine wilderness, with more than 10,000 animals relocated to help restock it. With some wonderful lodges on offer, Madikwe is the fifth largest reserve in South Africa and a great safari destination.

South Africa's beautiful Northern Cape is also an option for a safari with a difference, with its incredible, arid landscapes around Augrabies National Park and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. Or opt for beautiful northern KwaZulu-Natal with its rolling hills and lush valleys and the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.

So chat to us today about creating the perfect antedote to the COVID-19 blues and arranging a stunning South African safari tour especially for you.

Please note: We strongly recommend that you take out travel insurance, especially for medical emergencies, wherever you choose to travel in Africa. South Africa's private hospitals are world-class, as are all of its private medical facilities, and access to them should be covered by your insurance policy should you need medical advice or treatment during your safari. Talk to us if you need more advice in this regard.

How where you stay makes such a difference...

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 07:28:46 GMT

Camps and lodges play an important role in conservation and communities...

S taying in the lap of luxury while on your African safari is a wonderful thing, but have you ever considered that your safari lodge or camp is so much more than just somewhere to lay your head or pamper you?

All of the lodges and camps we use have been hand-picked because of the important role they are playing in helping to protect and conserve pristine African wildernesses and endangered species of iconic wildlife and uplifting local communities and the people who live alongside national parks and reserves.

Safari, conservation and communities go hand-in-hand - each relying on the other for the future sustainability of all. Camps and lodges employ local people, giving them careers, skills and opportunities that in turn benefit the communities in which they live, creating thriving micro-economies and at the same time showing them the value of protecting wilderness areas and wildlife. This helps to drive the fight against poaching and the illegal wildlife trade.

Safari camps and lodges educate guests from across the world on the challenges facing the future of Africa's game reserves and national parks and the plants and animals that call them home. This sends them home with a greater understanding of the world around them and what they can do to help, often leading to them donating much-needed funds to conservation organisations.

Your camp or lodge also helps to protect the African wilderness by maintaining a constant human presence in it, deterring poachers and working with park and reserve authorities to assist in anti-poaching programmes and human-wildlife conflict initiatives. Safari guides are the eyes and ears of conservation, out in the bush day after day, keeping watch over what's going on and helping not just rangers but also academics who are studying and researching important issues like climate change and loss of habitat.

Most importantly, the camps and lodges we send you too are ambassadors for Africa, sharing their love and passion for this continent, their culture and traditions, warm, wide smiles and welcoming hospitality with you while showing you the incredible beauty and fascinating intricacy of nature in all of its wild and wonderful glory. It's part of our ethos and underpins everything we do.

Finally... Yes, your safari camp or lodge is designed to give you the best experience possible in the African bush, to connect you with the unique spirit of Africa and its amazing people and wildlife. No matter whether it's a five-star uber-luxurious lodge, rustic bush camp or mobile tented camp, wherever you stay will take exceptional care of you and cater to all of your needs. You'll enjoy amazing food, incredible views and some of the best hospitality in the world, often hundreds of kilometres from the nearest town or village in marvellously remote and gloriously wild settings.

When the time comes to go home, you'll end your trip absolutely in love with Africa and committed to doing what you can to ensure that the amazing things you see and experience will still be here for your children, grandchildren and their grandchildren after them.

That's when we know we've done our job properly!

Magical, mysterious Makgadikgadi!

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 07:06:51 GMT

A breathtaking and otherworldly

safari destination...

I f there's one thing that the beautiful Southern African nation of Botswana is famous for it's diversity - with a rich variety of wildlife species waiting to be seen and vast landscapes begging to be explored. And when it comes to those landscapes, there's nothing quite like the jaw-dropping Makgadikgadi Pans .

Home to the world's largest salt pans, the Makgadikgadi offers a unique glimpse into Botswana's ancient geological past while at the same time serving up some of the most incredible, otherworldly scenery in Africa. It's a vast place, spanning some 16,000 square kilometres of mostly desolate, flat and forboding pans dotted with moonlike rock formations and islands where giant baobab trees flourish in a harsh, arid climate.

This endless sea of salt flats is transformed in the rainy season when it's submerged beneath a metre or so of water, becoming a lush wetland for a few short months, filled to the brim with life. During the long dry season, it can be explored on quadbikes, offering a unique way of experiencing this incredible destination.

With a number of fantastic lodges and camps around the Makgadikgadi's major regions of Ntwetwe, Sowa and Nxai pans, a visit to this amazing place is easy to arrange. Whether it's to the dense, dry woodlands that make up the eastern region or the dead-flat pans in the west, no trip to the MakgadiKgadi is complete without a visit to Kubu Island - a remote granite outcrop crowned with baobabs that's also home to prehistoric artefacts and stone ruins.

You can also take in the magnificent Baines' Baobabs named after legendary African explorer Thomas Baines, who immortalised this group of seven magnificent trees in a painting he made in 1862.

One of the best ways to explore the Makgadikgadi is with San Bushmen guides, learning about this fascinating place from these amazing First People who have lived here for thousands of years. If you are lucky, you will have the opportunity to go out onto the pans at night to marvel at the incredible night sky above it. This is one of the world's best natural planetariums where you can see the Milky Way in all her glory!

Why don't you get in touch to find out more about the Makgadikgadi and what Best African Safaris can do to get you there?

Viva Vilanculos!

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 07:02:51 GMT

Find paradise with Best African Safaris...

If you've been dreaming of escaping to paradise, then visions of a tropical beach, lapped by crystal-clear blue seas and fringed by gently swaying palm trees are going to be extremely tempting. Here at Best African Safaris we like to make dreams come true, and in this case getting away from it all on a heavenly coastline is just a phone call or email away, thanks to our wonderful neighbour - Mozambique .

When it comes to finding a spot in the Mozambican sun in which to stretch out, unwind and take in the magic of this incredible destination, it doesn't get much better than vibrant Vilanculos, situated on the coast in Inhambane province. With its own international airport but just as easy to drive to for South Africans looking for a beach holiday par excellence, Vilanculos is packed with fantastic beach lodges, boutique hotels, guest houses and self-catering villas.

Vilanculos is the gateway to the fabled Bazaruto Archipelago and its sun-kissed islands set like gems in the warm, turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, but it's also a fantastic destination in its own right, with a collection of vibrant restaurants and bars and its authentic, traditional fishing village vibe.

This is seafood heaven, with an endless supply of fabulous ocean-to-table options at your fingertips, from superlative prawns and crabs to fantastic freshly caught fish and calamari, all of which beg to be sampled with the traditional peri-peri sauce, freshly squeezed lemon juice and fresh chillis! Try a Portuguese crab curry with saffron rice or dig into a mountain of king prawns.

Mozambique's Portuguese influences are still strong in spite of it having been independent from its former colonial master since 1975. Portuguese is still its official language although Swahili is widely spoken and you'll find a lot of Portuguese flavours in traditional Mozambican dishes and drinks like caipirinhas.

Base yourself in Vilanculos itself, or out on Bazaruto or Benguerra, with their luxury beach resorts and lodges. There are six islands in the archipelago, with Bazaruto the largest, followed by Benguerra, Magaruque, Santa Carolina (also known as Paradise Island), Banque and Pansy Shell Island.

It's easy to island hop and the snorkelling and diving off the islands is superb, especially around Bazaruto and Benguerra. A wealth of dive operators and boat charter companies make exploring the archipelago - which is a protected marine national reserve and one of the last remaining habitats of the endangered dugong - an absolute pleasure. Some hotels and resorts have their own boats for snorkelling and diving trips, as well as water skiing and fishing.

Talk to us today about putting together a holiday in Vilanculos for you. You won't be disappointed!

Botswana 6-night special

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 09:53:06 GMT

Experience the best of Botswana and two distinctly different African wildernesses - the magnificent Okavango Delta and spectacular Chobe National Park - with this wonderful safari of a lifetime...

· Green : USD 5833 (Jan – Marc h + December)

· Shoulder : USD 7515 (April – June + November)

· Peak: July - USD 9427 (October)

Botswana 6-night special

Meet at Maun International Airport where you will be whisked away on the adventure of a lifetime, visiting the world-renowned Okavango Delta and superlative Chobe National Park, staying at the beautiful Camp Moremi, Shinde and Chobe Game Lodge where the wildlife action is off the charts and you'll stay in the lap of luxury.

This wonderful safari includes:

Air transfers between the Okavango Delta and Chobe and Maun International Airport

Daily game activities including boat cruises and game drives in an open safari vehicle

All meals

Local spirits and drinks

Park and entry fees

Welcome gift pack

About Camp Moremi

areas, including the elevated dining area, connect by boardwalk to the fire pit in front of the camp. In addition, an open-air boma and secluded swimming pool complement the public area facilities.

About Shinde

About Chobe Game Lodge

This gives you a smorgasbord of choices about where to lay back, unwind and take in the incredible views in between activities. Add to this a large swimming pool and impeccable waiter service! The game-viewing activities are outstanding at Chobe Game Lodge. With either water or land-based safaris on offer, the choice is yours on how to split your time between the magnificent river and this legendary national park.

Lion, painted wolves (African wild dogs), puku, red lechwe, sable, giraffe and roan antelope are also regularly seen. And if you are lucky you may even spot an elusive leopard prowling the rich, riverine forests. The river itself is full of life, from hippo and crocodiles to a rich variety of birdlife, from the beautiful African fish eagle to the yellow-billed stork.

Please note: This special offer does not include international flights to and from Maun International Airport, premium spirits and drinks and items of a personal nature, which will be for your own account.

PLEASE CONTACT US FOR SINGLE RATES AND FULL Ts AND Cs

Enquire Now

Fill in the form below and one of friendly consultants will get back to you asap

Botswana 7-night special featuring Victoria Falls

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 09:46:23 GMT

Enjoy a spectacular safari that takes in the best of Botswana and a visit to the majestic Victoria Falls, with stays in the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park putting you in the middle of the game viewing action...

· Green : USD 6523 (Jan – March + December)

· Shoulder : USD 8205 (April – June + November)

· Peak: USD 10117 (July – October)

Botswana 7-night special featuring Victoria Falls

Meet at Maun International Airport where you will be whisked away on the adventure of a lifetime, visiting the world-renowned Okavango Delta and superlative Chobe National Park, staying at the beautiful Camp Moremi, Shinde and Chobe Game Lodge as well as a visit to the breathtaking Victoria Falls.

This wonderful safari includes:

Air transfers between the Okavango Delta and Chobe and Maun International Airport

Daily game activities including boat cruises and game drives in an open safari vehicle

Visit to Victoria Falls

All meals

Local spirits and drinks

Park and entry fees

Welcome gift pack

About Camp Moremi

areas, including the elevated dining area, connect by boardwalk to the fire pit in front of the camp. In addition, an open-air boma and secluded swimming pool complement the public area facilities.

About Shinde

About Chobe Game Lodge

PLEASE CONTACT US FOR SINGLE RATES AND FULL Ts AND Cs

Enquire Now

Fill in the form below and one of friendly consultants will get back to you asap

Botswana 7-night special

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 09:37:16 GMT

Head out from Maun on the adventure of a lifetime, visiting the Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park and wetland paradise of Shakawe and experiencing some of the best game viewing Botswana has to offer...

· Green : USD 5490 (Jan – March + December)

· Shoulder : USD 6694 (April – June + November)

· Peak: USD 7892 (July – October)

Botswana 7-night special

Taking in the world-renowned Okavango Delta, superlative Chobe National Park and wonderful wetlands around Shakawe in the north of Botswana, this seven-night, eight-day itinerary kicks off on arrival at Maun International Airport, where you will be met by a Best African Safaris representative and whisked away on an adventure like no other, staying at the beautiful Shinde , Chobe Game Lodge and Xaro Lodge . You'll also have the chance to visit the incredible Tsodilo Hills World Heritage Site while at Xaro Lodge, and marvel at the amazing San rock art that dates back thousands of years.

This wonderful safari includes:

Air transfers between the Okavango Delta and Chobe and Maun International Airport

Return road transfer from Maun to Shakawe

Daily game activities including boat cruises and game drives in an open safari vehicle

Visit to Tsodilo Hills World Heritage Site

All meals

Local spirits and drinks

Park and entry fees

Welcome gift pack

About Shinde

About Chobe Game Lodge

About Xaro Lodge

Located in the north of Botswana not far from Shakawe and the border with Namibia, Xaro Lodge is nestled in a grove of giant mangosteen trees on an island in the Okavango River and is accessible only by boat.

This intimate 24-bed lodge's luxurious Meru-style safari tents, each with en-suite bathroom facilities and private decks looking out over the river, are designed to immerse guests in this tropical paradise surrounded by water.

The tents are raised on wooden platforms and have large, sliding glass doors allowing for uninterupted views from the comfort of the bed! Sunrises are spectacular here!

Xaro's communal lounge and dining areas offer a comprehensive library and plenty of space for relaxing with a pair of binoculars and updating your tick list!

Meals are hearty and home-cooked with love and served either in the dining area or outside, under the stars.

Land-based activities include guided bush walks and day trips to Tsodilo Hills, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its ancient San rock art. Cultural visits to a local village can also be organised.

PLEASE CONTACT US FOR SINGLE RATES AND FULL Ts AND Cs

Enquire Now

Fill in the form below and one of friendly consultants will get back to you asap

Botswana 9-night special featuring Victoria Falls

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 09:29:58 GMT

Visiting the Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park and Shakawe, famous for its birding, this wonderful nine-night, ten-day safari immerses you in the very best that Botswana has to offer...

· Green : USD 6530 (Jan – March + December)

· Shoulder : USD 7734 (April – June + November)

· Peak: USD 8932 (July – October)

Botswana 9-night special

Taking in the world-renowned Okavango Delta, superlative Chobe National Park and wonderful wetlands around Shakawe in the north of Botswana, as well as a trip to the majestic Victoria Falls, this eight-night, nine-day itinerary kicks off on arrival at Maun International Airport, where you will be met by a Best African Safaris representative and whisked away on an adventure like no other, staying at the beautiful Shinde , Chobe Game Lodge, Xaro Lodge and Ilala Lodge . You'll also have the chance to visit the incredible Tsodilo Hills World Heritage Site while at Xaro Lodge, and marvel at the amazing San rock art that dates back thousands of years.

This wonderful safari includes:

Air transfers between the Okavango Delta and Chobe and Maun International Airport

Return road transfer from Maun to Shakawe

Daily game activities including boat cruises and game drives in an open safari vehicle

Visit to Tsodilo Hills World Heritage Site

Visit to Victoria Falls

All meals

Local spirits and drinks

Park and entry fees

Welcome gift pack

About Shinde

About Chobe Game Lodge

About Xaro Lodge

The tents are raised on wooden platforms and have large, sliding glass doors allowing for uninterupted views from the comfort of the bed! Sunrises are spectacular here!

Xaro's communal lounge and dining areas offer a comprehensive library and plenty of space for relaxing with a pair of binoculars and updating your tick list!

Meals are hearty and home-cooked with love and served either in the dining area or outside, under the stars.

About Ilala Lodge

On the doorstep of the Victoria Falls lies the Ilala lodge. From here you visit the falls and explore the bustling town of Victoria Falls

Your time at Victoria Falls will be packed with activities ranging from a helicopter flight over the falls to a relaxing sundowner cruise on the mighty Zambezi River.

The more adventures can go White water rafting or why not do a bridge swing from the bridge over the Zambezi River?

Guests can choose rooms in the Deluxe Wing, the Garden Wing or the Pool Wing. The Deluxe Wing and the Pool Wing boast splendid views of the mesmerizing spray from Victoria Falls as well as the spectacular gardens that Ilala Lodge Hotel is famous for. The Garden Wing gives guests access to the lush and flourishing lawns where the animals visit.

The teak furnishings in all the rooms are made from local Zimbabwean railway sleepers, enhancing the African ambience and laid-back atmosphere of the hotel. All the rooms in the hotel have high-quality cotton linens and luxurious pillows for ultimate comfort.

PLEASE CONTACT US FOR SINGLE RATES AND FULL Ts AND Cs

Enquire Now

Fill in the form below and one of friendly consultants will get back to you asap

Botswana 9-night special

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 09:24:28 GMT

A fully guided overland safari that kicks off in Maun and includes Chobe National Park, Shakawe - famous for its superlative birding and Tsodilo Hills World Heritage Site and the legendary Okavango Delta...

· Green : USD 5601 (Jan – March + December)

· Shoulder : USD 6322 (April – June + November)

· Peak: USD 8663 ( July – October)

Botswana 9-night special

This mobile, overland safari in luxury 4x4 vehicles begins and ends at Maun International Airport, where you will be met by your Best African Safaris driver/guide who will be hosting you on this sensational tour of the best of Botswana. Taking in the world-renowned Chobe National Park, the birding paradise of around Shakawe and the legendary Okavango Delta. This nine-night, 10-day itinerary kicks off on arrival at Maun International Airport, where you will be met by your Best African Safaris driver/guide and whisked away on an adventure like no other, overnighting at Elephant Sands in Nata before staying at the beautiful Chobe Game Lodge , Xaro Lodge and Camp Moremi . You'll also have the chance to visit the incredible Tsodilo Hills World Heritage Site while at Xaro Lodge, and marvel at the amazing San rock art that dates back thousands of years.

This wonderful safari includes:

Private overland safari in luxury 4x4 vehicles from Maun International Airport

Daily game activities including boat cruises and game drives in an open safari vehicle

Visit to Tsodilo Hills World Heritage Site

All meals

Local spirits and drinks

Park fees

Welcome gift pack

Transfer through Namibia

About Chobe Game Lodge

About Xaro Lodge

The tents are raised on wooden platforms and have large, sliding glass doors allowing for uninterupted views from the comfort of the bed! Sunrises are spectacular here!

Xaro's communal lounge and dining areas offer a comprehensive library and plenty of space for relaxing with a pair of binoculars and updating your tick list!

Meals are hearty and home-cooked with love and served either in the dining area or outside, under the stars.

About Camp Moremi

areas, including the elevated dining area, connect by boardwalk to the fire pit in front of the camp. In addition, an open-air boma and secluded swimming pool complement the public area facilities.

PLEASE CONTACT US FOR SINGLE RATES AND FULL Ts AND Cs

Enquire Now

Fill in the form below and one of friendly consultants will get back to you asap

Botswana 9-night special with Savute

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 09:08:48 GMT

Head out from Maun on a fully guided overland safari that includes the Okavango Delta, Savute region, Chobe National Park and the birding paradise of Shakawe, as well as the Tsodilo Hills World Heritage Site...

· Green : USD 6564 (Jan – March + December)

· Shoulder : USD 7682 (April – June + November)

· Peak: USD 9412 ( July – October)

Botswana 9-night special with Savute

This mobile, overland safari in luxury 4x4 vehicles begins and ends at Maun International Airport, where you will be met by your Best African Safaris driver/guide who will be hosting you on this sensational tour of the best of Botswana. Taking in the world-renowned Okavango Delta, the breathtaking Savute region, Chobe National Park and the birding paradise of around Shakawe, this nine-night, 10-day itinerary kicks off on arrival at Maun International Airport, where you will be met by your Best African Safaris driver/guide and whisked away on an adventure like no other, staying at the beautiful Camp Moremi, Savute Safari Lodge , Chobe Game Lodge and Xaro Lodge . You'll also have the chance to visit the incredible Tsodilo Hills World Heritage Site while at Xaro Lodge, and marvel at the amazing San rock art that dates back thousands of years.

This wonderful safari includes:

Private overland safari in luxury 4x4 vehicles from Maun International Airport

Daily game activities including boat cruises and game drives in an open safari vehicle

Visit to Tsodilo Hills World Heritage Site

All meals

Local spirits and drinks

Park fees

Welcome gift pack

Transfer through Namibia

About Camp Moremi

areas, including the elevated dining area, connect by boardwalk to the fire pit in front of the camp. In addition, an open-air boma and secluded swimming pool complement the public area facilities.

About Savute Safari Lodge

Expansive private decks offer stunning views over the bush and waterhole where elephants and other game often gather and each chalet has its own lounge area as well as en-suite facilities.

About Chobe Game Lodge

About Xaro Lodge

The tents are raised on wooden platforms and have large, sliding glass doors allowing for uninterupted views from the comfort of the bed! Sunrises are spectacular here!

Xaro's communal lounge and dining areas offer a comprehensive library and plenty of space for relaxing with a pair of binoculars and updating your tick list!

Meals are hearty and home-cooked with love and served either in the dining area or outside, under the stars.

PLEASE CONTACT US FOR SINGLE RATES AND FULL Ts AND Cs

Enquire Now

Fill in the form below and one of friendly consultants will get back to you asap

Botswana 10-night special

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 08:55:49 GMT

This fully guided overland adventure features the legendary Okavango Delta, Savute and spectacular Chobe National Park from the comfort of luxury 4x4 vehicles and staying in superlative safari lodges en-route...

· Green : USD 6343 (Jan – March + December)

· Shoulder : USD 6983 (April – June + November)

· Peak: USD 8211 ( July – October)

Botswana 10-night special

Kicking off at Maun International Airport, you are met by your Best African Safaris driver/guide in your luxury 4x4 and head out to explore the wildest parts of Botswana, taking in the world-renowned Okavango Delta, superlative Chobe National Park and the waterland around Shakawe, before returning to Maun. You'll stay at Camp Moremi , Chobe Game Lodge and Xaro Lodge , with an overnight at Elephant Sands and Maun's Waterfront en-route. You'll also have the chance to visit the incredible Tsodilo Hills World Heritage Site while at Xaro Lodge, and marvel at the amazing San rock art that dates back thousands of years. You'll also visit the "Smoke That Thunders" - Victoria Falls!

This wonderful safari includes:

A mobile, overland round trip in luxury 4x4 vehicles from Maun International Airport

Accommodation in luxury lodges

Game activities including boat cruises and game drives in an open safari vehicle

Visit to Tsodilo Hills World Heritage Site

Visit to Victoria Falls

All meals, transfers and entry fees

Local spirits and drinks

Park fees

Welcome gift pack

About Camp Moremi

Camp Moremi’s communal areas include a sunken bar, masterfully built around a large termite mound and ebony tree, an expansive lounge area with a beautiful brass and soft finishes, leading towards an extended library and private deck. These areas, including the elevated dining area, connect by boardwalk to the fire pit in front of the camp. In addition, an open-air boma and secluded swimming pool complement the public area facilities.

About Chobe Game Lodge

About Xaro Lodge

The tents are raised on wooden platforms and have large, sliding glass doors allowing for uninterupted views from the comfort of the bed! Sunrises are spectacular here!

Xaro's communal lounge and dining areas offer a comprehensive library and plenty of space for relaxing with a pair of binoculars and updating your tick list!

Meals are hearty and home-cooked with love and served either in the dining area or outside, under the stars.

PLEASE CONTACT US FOR SINGLE RATES AND FULL Ts AND Cs

Enquire Now

Fill in the form below and one of friendly consultants will get back to you asap

Botswana 10-night special featuring Victoria Falls

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 08:43:44 GMT

Experience a fully guided overland round trip from Maun that takes in the legendary Okavango Delta, Savute and spectacular Chobe National Park as well as a visit to the majestic Victoria Falls...

· Green : USD 5609 (Jan – March + December)

· Shoulder : USD 6168 (April – June + November)

· Peak: USD 7031 ( July – October)

Botswana 10-night special featuring Victoria Falls

Kicking off at Maun International Airport, you are met by your Best African Safaris driver/guide in your luxury 4x4 and head out to explore the wildest parts of Botswana, taking in the world-renowned Okavango Delta, the Savute/Linyanti region, superlative Chobe National Park and the waterland around Shakawe, before returning to Johannesburg via Maun and Orapa. You'll stay at Camp Moremi , Savute Safari Lodge , Chobe Game Lodge, Xaro Lodge and Ilala Lodge , with overnights at Tuuthebe Lodge and Elephant Sands en-route. You'll also have the chance to visit the incredible Tsodilo Hills World Heritage Site while at Xaro Lodge, and marvel at the amazing San rock art that dates back thousands of years. You'll also visit the "Smoke That Thunders" - Victoria Falls!

This wonderful safari includes:

A mobile, overland round trip in luxury 4x4 vehicles from Maun International Airport

Accommodation in luxury lodges

Game activities including boat cruises and game drives in an open safari vehicle

Visit to Tsodilo Hills World Heritage Site

Visit to Victoria Falls

All meals, transfers and entry fees

Local spirits and drinks

Park fees

Welcome gift pack

About Camp Moremi

About Savute Safari Lodge

Expansive private decks offer stunning views over the bush and waterhole where elephants and other game often gather and each chalet has its own lounge area as well as en-suite facilities.

About Chobe Game Lodge

About Xaro Lodge

The tents are raised on wooden platforms and have large, sliding glass doors allowing for uninterupted views from the comfort of the bed! Sunrises are spectacular here!

Xaro's communal lounge and dining areas offer a comprehensive library and plenty of space for relaxing with a pair of binoculars and updating your tick list!

Meals are hearty and home-cooked with love and served either in the dining area or outside, under the stars.

About Ilala Lodge

On the doorstep of the Victoria Falls lies the Ilala lodge. From here you visit the falls and explore the bustling town of Victoria Falls

Your time at Victoria Falls will be packed with activities ranging from a helicopter flight over the falls to a relaxing sundowner cruise on the mighty Zambezi River.

The more adventures can go White water rafting or why not do a bridge swing from the bridge over the Zambezi River?

PLEASE CONTACT US FOR SINGLE RATES AND FULL Ts AND Cs

Enquire Now

Fill in the form below and one of friendly consultants will get back to you asap

Botswana 14-night special

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 08:33:36 GMT

Set off on the road trip of a lifetime from Johannesburg with this fully guided safari through some of the wildest parts of Botswana and connect with incredible wildlife and wonderful people along the way...

· Green : USD 9448 (Jan – March + December)

· Shoulder : USD 11044 (April – June + November)

· Peak: USD 13272 (July – October)

Botswana 14-night special

Kicking off at Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport, you are met by your Best African Safaris driver/guide in your luxury 4x4 and head out via Orapa and Maun to explore the wildest parts of Botswana, taking in the world-renowned Okavango Delta, the Savute/Linyanti region, superlative Chobe National Park and the waterland around Shakawe, before returning to Johannesburg via Maun and Orapa. You'll stay at Camp Moremi , Savute Safari Lodge , Chobe Game Lodge and Xaro Lodge , with overnights at Tuuthebe Lodge and Elephant Sands en-route. You'll also have the chance to visit the incredible Tsodilo Hills World Heritage Site while at Xaro Lodge, and marvel at the amazing San rock art that dates back thousands of years.

This wonderful safari includes:

A mobile, overland round trip in luxury 4x4 vehicles from OR Tambo International Airport

Overnight stays in Orapa and Maun en-route

Accommodation in luxury lodges

Game activities including boat cruises and game drives in an open safari vehicle

Visit to Tsodilo Hills World Heritage Site

All meals, transfers and entry fees

Local spirits and drinks

Park fees

Welcome gift pack

About Camp Moremi

About Savute Safari Lodge

Expansive private decks offer stunning views over the bush and waterhole where elephants and other game often gather and each chalet has its own lounge area as well as en-suite facilities.

About Chobe Game Lodge

About Xaro Lodge

The tents are raised on wooden platforms and have large, sliding glass doors allowing for uninterupted views from the comfort of the bed! Sunrises are spectacular here!

Xaro's communal lounge and dining areas offer a comprehensive library and plenty of space for relaxing with a pair of binoculars and updating your tick list!

Meals are hearty and home-cooked with love and served either in the dining area or outside, under the stars.

Please note: This special offer does not include international flights to and from Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport, premium spirits and drinks and items of a personal nature, which will be for your own account.

PLEASE CONTACT US FOR SINGLE RATES AND FULL Ts AND Cs

Enquire Now

Fill in the form below and one of friendly consultants will get back to you asap

Botswana 14-night special featuring Victoria Falls

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 08:24:10 GMT

An overland tour-de-force, taking you from Johannesburg on a fully guided safari in luxury 4x4 vehicles through some of the wildest parts of Botswana and to the amazing Victoria Falls...

· Green : USD 8760 (Jan – March + December)

· Shoulder : USD 9878 (April – June + November)

· Peak: USD 11604 (July – October)

Botswana 14-night special featuring Victoria Falls

Kicking off at Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport, you are met by your Best African Safaris driver/guide in your luxury 4x4 and head out via Orapa and Maun to explore the wildest parts of Botswana, taking in the world-renowned Okavango Delta, the Savute/Linyanti region, superlative Chobe National Park and the waterland around Shakawe, before returning to Johannesburg via Maun and Orapa. You'll stay at Camp Moremi , Savute Safari Lodge , Chobe Game Lodge, Xaro Lodge and Ilala Lodge , with overnights at Tuuthebe Lodge and Elephant Sands en-route. You'll also have the chance to visit the incredible Tsodilo Hills World Heritage Site while at Xaro Lodge, and marvel at the amazing San rock art that dates back thousands of years and will experience the might of the Victoria Falls - the largest falling sheet of water in the world.

This wonderful safari includes:

A mobile, overland round trip in luxury 4x4 vehicles from OR Tambo International Airport

Overnight stays in Orapa and Maun en-route

Accommodation in luxury lodges

Game activities including boat cruises and game drives in an open safari vehicle

Visit to Tsodilo Hills World Heritage Site

Visit to Victoria Falls

All meals, transfers and entry fees

Local spirits and drinks

Park fees

Welcome gift pack

About Camp Moremi

About Savute Safari Lodge

Expansive private decks offer stunning views over the bush and waterhole where elephants and other game often gather and each chalet has its own lounge area as well as en-suite facilities.

About Chobe Game Lodge

About Xaro Lodge

The tents are raised on wooden platforms and have large, sliding glass doors allowing for uninterupted views from the comfort of the bed! Sunrises are spectacular here!

Xaro's communal lounge and dining areas offer a comprehensive library and plenty of space for relaxing with a pair of binoculars and updating your tick list!

Meals are hearty and home-cooked with love and served either in the dining area or outside, under the stars.

About Ilala Lodge

On the doorstep of the Victoria Falls lies the Ilala lodge. From here you visit the falls and explore the bustling town of Victoria Falls

Your time at Victoria Falls will be packed with activities ranging from a helicopter flight over the falls to a relaxing sundowner cruise on the mighty Zambezi River.

The more adventures can go White water rafting or why not do a bridge swing from the bridge over the Zambezi River?

PLEASE CONTACT US FOR SINGLE RATES AND FULL Ts AND Cs

Enquire Now

Fill in the form below and one of friendly consultants will get back to you asap

Baobab Ridge

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 10:35:35 GMT

Klaserie, Greater Kruger, South Africa

T his wonderful four-star safari lodge focusses firmly on creating a relaxed, home-from-home atmosphere that allows you to unwind, feel at ease and become part of the Baobab Ridge family. You arrive as a stranger and leave as a lifelong friend!

Located on a low ridge overlooking the southern section of the Klaserie - part of the Greater Kruger National Park and open to this legendary neighbour with no fences in between, Baobab Ridge is named for the wonderful baobab trees that grow on the ridge and in the lodge gardens.

With just seven luxurious private, freestanding guest suites, Baobab Ridge sleeps just 16 people, making it perfect for groups of family and friends. It's communal areas are designed for unwinding and relaxation, especially up on the gorgeous pool deck with its oversized loungers and plump, cozy couches.

The bar and lounge area are complemented by a small TV lounge upstairs and a spacio us indoor dining room that's perfect when the weather's not favourable for al fresco, outdoor meals.

At night, the boma is the place to be, with a roaring log fire as the focal point. This is where dinners are served on a regular basis, under the canopy of stars that make up the African night sky.

Bushwillow Private Villa

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 10:32:01 GMT

Hoedspruit, Greater Kruger, South Africa

O ffering the ultimate home-from-home safari experience in the heart of the Greater Kruger region, Bushwillow Private Villa on Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate sleeps a maximum of six people in three luxurious, air-conditioned en-suite bedrooms.

The villa features the best in modern, open-plan living, with sumptuous organic décor and flowing spaces opening out onto a spectacular outdoor area with its own private plunge pool, fire pit and boma.

The entire villa is surrounded by the pristine African bush which is home to an amazing variety of wildlife from kudu, waterbuck, impala, bushbuck and nyala to giraffe, zebra and warthog. Leopard and hyena also occur on the estate, as do monkeys and porcupines.

You are able to explore the 700ha estate on foot, on bicycles (there are dedicated cycling trails) and on horseback. There are also game drive routes which allow for self-drive game viewing and exploration.

Xaro Lodge

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 10:29:42 GMT

Shakawe, Botswana

Located in the north of Botswana not far from the border with Namibia, Xaro Lodge is nestled in a grove of giant mangosteen trees on an island in the Okavango River and is accessible only by boat.

The tents are raised on wooden platforms and have large, sliding glass doors allowing for uninterupted views from the comfort of the bed! Sunrises are spectacular here!

Xaro's communal lounge and dining areas offer a comprehensive library and plenty of space for relaxing with a pair of binoculars and updating your tick list!

Meals are hearty and home-cooked with love and served either in the dining area or outside, under the stars.

Land-based activities include guided bush walks and day tri ps to Tsodilo Hills, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its ancient San rock art. Cultural visits to a local village can also be organised.

Savute Safari Lodge

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 10:28:21 GMT

Savute Region, Chobe National Park, Botswana

W ith its 11 luxurious timber and thatch guest chalets and two-bedroom family suite strung out along a tree-line overlooking a waterhole in the heart of the beautiful wilderness of the Savute, Savute Safari Lodge is the epitome of authentic African safari style, immersing guests into the wild environment while offering high levels of luxury and pampering.

Expansive private decks offer stunning views over the bush and waterhole where elephants and other game often gather and each chalet has its own lounge area as well as en-suite facilities.

Chobe Game Lodge

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 10:25:15 GMT

Chobe National Park, Botswana

T he only permanent lodge situated inside Chobe National Park, Chobe Game Lodge is a luxury, five-star eco lodge that is highly acclaimed for its eco sustainability credentials. It offers 44 air-conditioned rooms, all of which are river-facing with their own private terraces. There are also four river-view suites with their own plunge pools and lounge areas.

This gives you a smorgasbord of choices about where to lay back, unwind and take in the incredible views in between activities. Add to this a large swimming pool and impeccable waiter service!

The river itself is full of life, from hippo and crocodiles to a rich variety of birdlife, from the beautiful African fish eagle to the yellow-billed stork.

Camp Xakanaxa

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 10:22:28 GMT

Okavango Delta, Botswana

O verlooking the Khwai River and the Xakanaxa Lagoon, Xakanaxa is one of the few camps in this region that can offer a year-round land and water safari experience, thanks to its network of permanent water channels and lagoons. This gorgeous tented camp has just 11 spacious Meru-style luxury safari tents, all with private decks offering views out over the lagoon.

There is an elegant lounge area and dining room, all built from local timber, reed and thatch and an expansive deck with its own plunge pool, sala and day-bed that's the perfect place to lay back and watch wild Africa pass by.

The boma deck is out over the river and is wonderful for relaxing after dinner with drinks around the fire, sharing stories of the day's adventures. In the grounds is a larger swimming pool with another elevated sun deck.

The game viewing activities at Camp Xakanaxa are superlative, with the option of land-based and water-based safaris. Game drives take place in the Moremi Game Reserve, exploring the region around the camp which is rich in wildlife. Sightings of elephant, buffalo, lion and leopard are commonplace and the birding is spectacular. You will also see a variety of plains game from giraffe, wildebeest and kudu to waterbuck and red lechwe.

Water-based safaris take place in specially adapted powerboats offering you a unique vantage point from which to explore this area of the Okavango Delta. Hippos and crocodiles abound and you may also see huge herds of elephants as they come to drink and cross the channels to islands. Add to this visits to stork rookeries and the array of diverse birdlife and you have the perfect combination of Delta experiences.

Why Botswana is for the birds!

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 10:04:36 GMT

Grab your binoculars and tick list...

If you're a keen birder or interested in making bird-watching a hobby then there's no better place to raise your binoculars than Botswana!

With more than 550 species recorded across the country, this is birding heaven and a country where you can tick off a whole host of "lifers" and special sightings. The best time to bird in Botswana is during the wet season, known as the "emerald" season because of the rich, lush vegetation that the rains bring across this land-locked country. This is when you have the added thrill of seeing some of Africa's most spectacular summer migrants who come South to spend the summer months and nest, raising their chicks.

Birdlife tends to concentrate in specific areas across Botswana, from the arid landscapes of the Kalahari where you'll see huge flocks around the limited waterholes to the vast wetlands of the Okavango Delta where they gather in breeding colonies, around pools and lagoons in the dry season and in abundance when the annual inundation of floodwaters begins.

Out on the pans of the Makgadikgadi you'll find both greater and lesser flamingos after good rains when the entire area becomes waterlogged. When the water is high enough the flamingos will breed.

While Botswana does not have any endemic species (species found nowhere else) it does have very important populations of rare and endangered birds such as the wattled crane and slaty egret, found predominantly in the Delta.

The area around Shakawe in the north of the country, along the Okavango River, is also renowned as a birding hotspot, and this is where you'll find amazing species like Pel's fishing owl, the white-backed night heron, African skimmer and, of course, the iconic African fish eagle.

Summer nesters that are always a delight to see include the African paradise flycatcher, Southern carmine bee-eater and Wahlberg's eagle. Cruise along the Chobe River and visit the yellow-billed stork rookeries and watch swathes of red-billed queleas as they flock together when the grasses are in seed, closely followed by a selection of raptors including yellow-billed kites.

Make sure you have a good bird app on your smartphone (we can recommend Roberts Bird Guide and the Sasol eBirds of Southern Africa) to help you keep track of your sightings. Most lodges have tick-lists available either in printed form or downloadable from their websites.

A good pair of binoculars is a great investment. Generally speaking, an 8x magnification (such as an 8 x 42 range) is great for birding, but a 10x option will also serve you well, although it's harder to keep an image steady the larger the magnification gets (just like with cameras).

Ask us for more information about birding in Botswana and we'll help you put together a wonderful itinerary that's guaranteed to give you wonderful sightings and an incredible birding exper ience.

The best of both worlds with Best African Safaris

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 09:59:19 GMT

Enjoy a bush and beach escape

Salt and pepper, gin and tonic... Some things just go together perfectly, which is why the excitement of an African safari and the beauty of the Indian Ocean are a winning combo!

Where else in the world could you be getting up close and personal with iconic wildlife one day and relaxing on a pristine beach, palm fronds swaying gently above you, the next? Africa is the answer, and here at Best African Safaris we specialise in putting the bush and the beach together, creating one of the most popular "couples" in the tourism world!

Be it surf or turf, sand or savannah, there's some amazing destinations that just work magically together. From South Africa's wonderful Greater Kruger region and the endless pristine beaches of Mozambique to Botswana's legendary Okavango Delta and the untamed beauty of South Africa's stunning coastline.

Africa’s landscapes are as diverse as they are vast, as colourful as they are captivating and more beautiful than any on the planet… There's something incredibly special about blending the greens of the wilderness with the azure blues of the ocean, the terrestrial Big Five with the marine Big Five and the big skies of Africa with the vast horizons of the ocean.

The secret of success when it comes to bush and beach combination holidays lies in the undoubted appeal – the desire to immerse yourself into pristine environments far from the madding crowd, where connection with nature is given and the beauty of the surroundings almost overwhelming.

It's a complimentary but entirely difference holiday combination, with the thrill and adventure of the African bush, the heat and dust and raw energy acting as the perfect pre-cursor to a few precious days spent relaxing and unwinding, soft sand beneath your feet, a warm ocean lapping at your toes and paradise all around you.

The wildlife is still there, but to explore its habitat you need to get in the water and experience the wonder of snorkelling and diving on pristine coral reefs. South Africa and Mozambique have some of the most popular dive and snorkelling sites in the world and are renowned for their pristine marine environments and protected marine eco-systems. Think Sodwana Bay when it comes to South Africa's diving "capital" and the coastline along the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, especially around Mabibi. Further north lies Kosi Bay and the border with Mozambique.

The protected reef system off Vilanculos is one of the best in the world and makes this part of Mozambique and the Bazaruto Archipelago marine reserve an absolute hotspot for dive and snorkelling enthusiasts. Its beaches are just gorgeous and its hotels and resorts outstanding.

We'd be delighted to put together a spectacular bush and beach combo safari for you, so please get in touch and let us give you our recommendations and create some African magic for you!

Six-Night Greater Kruger Explorer

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Mon, 01 Feb 2021 12:04:21 GMT

Greater Kruger and

Panorama Route

Six nights / Seven days

Day 1

Arriv e Hoedspruit and overnight, Bushwillow Private Villa

You will be met on arrival at Hoedspruit Airport and transferred to Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate and your home-from-home for the next two nights - Bushwillow Private Villa.

You'll be checked into Bushwillow and all arrangements for the duration of your stay will be explained to you. Your stay at Bushwillow is on an exclusive-use basis, so this beautiful private villa will be yours, and yours alone for the duration of your stay.

Make yourself at home, relax and soak up the beautiful atmosphere of this wonderful luxury villa, surrounded by the African wilderness. Take a dip in your private plunge pool or relax on the terrace with a refreshing drink, watching the comings and goings of the local wildlife.

A lovely three-course dinner will be prepared for you, either inside in the elegant dining area or outside on the terrace.

About Bush Willow Private Villa

Offering the ultimate home-from-home safari experience in the heart of the Greater Kruger region, Bushwillow Private Villa on Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate sleeps a maximum of six people in three luxurious, air-conditioned en-suite bedrooms.

Day 2

At Bush Willow Private Villa

After an early breakfast you will be collected by your driver-guide for a full-day tour of the beautiful Panorama Route, kicking off with the short drive from Hoedspruit to the magnificent northern Drakensberg escarpment, traversing the Abel Erasmus pass and winding your way upwards through the spectacular peaks and valleys.

Once atop the escarpment you will follow its edge along the famed Panorama Route which takes in some of the most spectacular scenery South Africa has to offer. Your first stop will be at the Three Rondavels Lookout Point, overlooking the incredible Blyde River Canyon.

Your guide will explain to you all about this amazing "green" canyon, which is the third largest in the world and point out the various geological formations of interest. You will be blown away by the amazing vistas from the various viewing points so make sure you have your cameras at the ready.

There are curio stalls and toilet facilities at this viewing point.

From here you will drive a short distance to your next point of interest - Bourke's Luck Potholes, stopping for a tour of this fascinating geological formation created through water erosion at the point where the Blyde and Treur rivers meet.

Spend time exploring the amazing rock formations and wondering at the potholes themselves before continuing with the tour.

Next up are stops at the breathtaking Lisbon and Berlin waterfalls, where you can marvel at the beauty of nature and incredible landscapes created by this rainfall rich environment. The tour also takes in amazing lookout points like God's Window along the way.

In the early afternoon you will arrive at the small town of Graskop close to the edge of the escarpment and visit the incredible Graskop Gorge Lift. This unique attraction transports you down a sheer cliff in a glass lift to the bottom of Graskop Gorge where you alight to explore the fascinating fauna and flora of the gorge floor.

Before you descend there's time for lunch in the wonderful restaurant with phenomenal views over the gorge and of the distance lowveld.

Descending in the lift to the bottom of the gorge is a wonderful experience. Once down, a wooden walkway with interactive information points along the route takes you on a circuitous journey around the floor of this deep cleft in the edge of the escarpment, past a stunning waterfall, over a rope suspension bridge and into the heart of a hidden rainforest.

Once you have finished exploring, go back up in the lift and explore what's above. From art and craft shops to curio stalls and an adventure centre offering gorge swings and ziplining, there's a lot to discover at Graskop Gorge Lift.

We will depart late in the afternoon for the scenic journey back to Hoedspruit, arriving back at Bushwillow Private Villa in time for some relaxation before dinner is prepared and served out on the terrace.

Day 3

Full-day Kruger National Park

Today you'll experience the thrill of a full-day privately guided safari in an open game vehicle in the world-renowned Kruger National Park!

You'll be collected very early, well before dawn, for the 45-minute transfer to the Orpen Gate of the Kruger National Park. After completing entrance procedures you'll begin your incredible adventure exploring one of the most game-rich areas of this legendary African game reserve.

You'll be provided with breakfast packs which you can enjoy en-route. And we will pack cooler boxes with refreshments and a picnic lunch for you as well. Your guide will stop at a designated picnic spot for lunch where you can get off the vehicle and enjoy a rustic, al fresco lunch in the middle of the Kruger!

You will spend the day exploring the game drive routes around the Satara region, including the fabled S100, renowned for its big cat sightings and frequent elephant herds.

You will return to Hoedspruit at around 5pm and enjoy an early dinner and drinks before turning in for the night at Bushwillow Private Villa.

Day 4

Nyani Cultural Village and transfer to Baobab Ridge, Klaserie Private Game Reserve

After a leisurely breakfast and check-out, you will be taken to Nyani Cultural Village where you will spend a few hours sampling the flavours of our local African culture!

Including a wonderful, interpretive demonstration of tribal dancing, drumming and music, you'll also get to tour the village and learn all about the traditions of the local Shangaan people. The visit is topped off by a traditional African lunch.

After lunch you will be collected for your transfer to the Klaserie Private Game Reserve and the beautiful Baobab Ridge safari lodge.

On arrival at Baobab Ridge you will be greeted by your hosts and following check-in formalities you'll be shown to your spacious and luxuriously appointed freestanding guest chalet, with views out over this stunning Big Five private game reserve.

Take time to relax and explore the lodge, taking in the stunning pool deck with views out over a waterhole and the incredible northern Drakensberg escarpment on the far horizon.

Afternoon tea is served at 15h00 on the main deck and is followed by the afternoon/evening game drive, during which you'll explore some of the amazing landscapes that make this part of the Greater Kruger National Park so special.

The Klaserie is home to the Big Five - leopard, lion, elephant, rhino and buffalo - so watch out for some amazing wildlife along the way. It's also known for its painted wolf (African wild dog) sightings.

You'll stop en-route for that time-old African tradition - sundowners - getting off the open safari vehicle to stretch your legs and raise a glass to the setting sun. The last part of your game drive will be in the dark, with the guide using a spotlight to find interesting nocturnal species and possibly some predator action!

You'll return to the lodge in time for a wonderful three-course dinner in the boma (weather permitting) next to a roaring log fire.

About Baobab Ridge

This wonderful four-star safari lodge focusses firmly on creating a relaxed, home-from-home atmosphere that allows you to unwind, feel at ease and become part of the Baobab Ridge family. You arrive as a stranger and leave as a lifelong friend!

The bar and lounge area are complemented by a small TV lounge upstairs and a spacious indoor dining room that's perfect when the weather's not favourable for al fresco, outdoor meals.

At night, the boma is the place to be, with a roaring log fire as the focal point. This is where dinners are served on a regular basis, under the canopy of stars that make up the African night sky.

Day 5 and 6

At Baobab Ridge

Choose from early morning game drives or perhaps a guided bush walk, or perhaps stay in bed late and pamper yourself with a massage which can be given in your room (booking essential).

A marvellous bush brunch is served at around 10am on the main deck, after which the rest of the day is at leisure, giving you ample time for relaxation, swimming, sun-bathing and enjoying this gorgeous safari lodge.

At 15h00 it's time for afternoon tea and preparing for the afternoon/evening game drive. You never know what you are going to see on safari, so each game drive is different to the last, so the excitement keeps on coming!

Make the most of this amazing safari destination and drink in your wild surroundings. Baobab Ridge is extremely relaxed and prides itself on its laid-back, family atmosphere, so unwind in style and reboot body, mind and soul while having incredible wildlife experiences.

Day 7

Journey's end

There's time for one last game drive this morning before enjoying your final brunch. Then it's time to go and you'll be collected for your transfer to Hoedspruit Airport for your flight home.

PLEASE CONTACT US FOR RATES AND Ts and Cs

This itinerary is available for both fly-in and self-drive options

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Fill in the form below and one of friendly consultants will get back to you asap

Five-Night Botswana Birding

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Mon, 01 Feb 2021 11:59:06 GMT

Okavango Delta and

Shakawe

Five nights / Six days

Day 1

THE OKAVANGO DELTA

Arrival Maun and overnight: Camp Xakanaxa, Moremi Game Reserve

Your international flight arrives in Maun, a small town on the southernmost edge of the legendary Okavango Delta that's the capital of Botswana's safari industry. You will be met on arrival and guided through to your connecting, small plane flight to Camp Xakanaxa (pronounced ka-ka-na-ka!) in the Moremi Game Reserve.

On arrival at Camp Kaxanaxa's airstrip you will be met by your safari guide and transfered to the camp in an open safari vehicle. It's a short drive and you may see game along the way.

You will be greeted in camp by your hosts and shown to your tent after check-in formalities have been finalised. Flights into camp usually arrive in time for you to participate in an afternoon game activitiy, so you will be briefed on arrangements and offered the chance to either go on a guided game drive in the Moremi Game Reserve or take a boat-based safari, exploring the lagoon and its channels.

You will return to camp after your game activity in time for drinks around the boma fire on the fire deck and a sumptuous three-course dinner, marvelling at the richness of the African night skies and the cacophany of sounds that the African night offers up.

About Camp Xakanaxa

Overlooking the Khwai River and the Xakanaxa Lagoon, Xakanaxa is one of the few camps in this region that can offer a year-round land and water safari experience, thanks to its network of permanent water channels and lagoons. This gorgeous tented camp has just 11 spacious Meru-style luxury safari tents, all with private decks offering views out over the lagoon.

The tents all have their own en-suite showers, hand basins and toilet facilities and offer a blend of rustic African charm, home-from-home comfort and luxurious finishes. The camp's main buildings are raised on platforms that extend out over the Khwai River to maximise the stunning views. There is an elegant lounge area and dining room, all built from local timber, reed and thatch and an expansive deck with its own plunge pool, sala and day-bed that's the perfect place to lay back and watch wild Africa pass by.

The game viewing activities at Camp Xakanaxa are superlative, with the option of land-based and water-based safaris. Game drives take place in the Moremi Game Reserve, exploring the region around the camp which is rich in wildlife. Sightings of elephant, buffalo, lion and leopard are commonplace and the birding is spectacular, especially in the spring and summer months when you can expect to see a range of summer migrants nesting. From southern carmine bee-eaters to Wahlberg's eagle. Lifers include the Gabar goshawk, Pel's fishing owl and African hawk eagle. Wildfowl and waders are also abundant.

You will also see a variety of plains game from giraffe, wildebeest and kudu to waterbuck and red lechwe.

Day 2

At Camp Xakanaxa

You will have an early wake-up call this morning, shortly before dawn, so you can take part in a morning game activity, choosing between a game drive in the Moremi Game Reserve or a water-based activity.

You'll gather around the camp fire for coffee and rusks before heading out just as the sun begins to break over the horizon. This is one of the most exciting times of day in the African bush as nocturnal animals and predators seek places to rest and the diurnal species begin their daily routines, finding water and food.

Get your binoculars primed for the African pygmy goose, slatey egret and African skimmer, all of which are endemic to the Delta.

Morning activities are interrupted by a coffee stop at a suitable place selected by your safari guide, where you can stretch your legs and enjoy a mug of tea, coffee or hot chocolate and some wonderful home-baked goodies! Try a tot of Amarula in your coffee if you dare! It's a wonderful African cream liqueur made from the fruits of the marula tree and its an absolute must!

You'll return to the camp for a hearty breakfast and some siesta time, either relaxing by one of the pools or back in your tent. A late lunch is served before you ready yourself for the afternoon/evening game activity of your choice.

Afternoon game activities are interrupted by a safari tradition of note - sundowners. This is where you get to toast the setting sun and absorb the spirit of wild Africa, digesting what amazing things you've seen and done during the day and welcoming the coming night.

On a water-based safari you will return to camp after sundowners. On a game drive you will continue the last part of your drive in darkness with a spotlight, looking for nocturnal species you rarely see during the day like civet, genet and birds such as owls and nightjars.

You will return to the camp in time for dinner and another wonderful night's sleep in the African wilderness.

Day 3

SHAKAWE

Transfer to Xaro Lodge, Shakawe

After your morning game activity and breakfast, you'll be transferred the Xakanaxa airstrip for your connecting flight to Shakawe in northern Botswana on the Okavango River.

After landing at Shakawe airstrip you will be met for your transfer by road and boat to Xaro Lodge. After check-in formalities you'll be taken to your beautuful luxury safari tent where you can freshen up before joining an afternoon boat cruise along the Kavango River.

Your afternoon cruise will take you along the Okavango River, looking for some of the incredible bird species that make this area such a legendary birding destination!

After your cruise, enjoy a wonderful, home-cooked dinner at the lodge, enjoy drinks around the fire and marvel at the night skies, filled with glittering stars.

About Xaro Lodge

Located in the north of Botswana not far from the border with Namibia, Xaro Lodge is nestled in a grove of giant mangosteen trees on an island in the Okavango River and is accessible only by boat.

The tents are raised on wooden platforms and have large, sliding glass doors allowing for uninterupted views from the comfort of the bed! Sunrises are spectacular here!

Xaro's communal lounge and dining areas offer a comprehensive library and plenty of space for relaxing with a pair of binoculars and updating your tick list!

Meals are hearty and home-cooked with love and served either in the dining area or outside, under the stars.

Day 4

At Xaro Lodge

Today is a special day as we take you to visit the incredible Tsodilo Hills UNESCO World Heritage Site.

There will be time to freshen up and relax before pre-dinner drinks and a wonderful dinner, discussing the day's adventure.

Day 5

At Xaro Lodge

After breakfast you'll have the chance to explore the area on an island walk that brings you into close contact with the unique fauna and flora of this area.

This fully guided walk takes in the 30ha island and gives you the chance to spot lifers like Pel's fishing owl and the beautiful narina trogon, as well as learning about the endemic species of plants and trees that make Xaro so special.

You'll return to the lodge in time for a light lunch and some down-time before you head out on a river cruise and some more birdwatching. Or perhaps you'd like to stay at the lodge and relax - the choice is yours!

It's your last night here in paradise, so we'll raise a few drinks to a successful birding safari before we tuck into a wonderful dinner and bid you good night.

Day 6

JOURNEY'S END

Transfer to Kasane for onward journey/home

It's the end of your wonderful Best African Safaris journey taking in some of the most beautiful destinations Botswana has to offer.

After breakfast, you'll be transferred to the airstrip for your flight to Kasane where you will connect for your onward journey or take your flight home and we will bid you farewell. We hope to see you again!

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Explore South Africa's Greater Kruger

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 13:27:33 GMT

Spectacular scenery and wildlife...

When it comes to outstanding safari experiences, South Africa's amazing Kruger National Park and its surrounding game reserves offer some of the best destinations to include on your Best African Safaris itinerary.

Together, the Kruger Park and the game reserves that share a common border with it, whose fences have been removed to open them up to their famous neighbour, are known as the Greater Kruger National Park. This includes the Sabi Sand, Timbavati, Klaserie, Manyeleti and Balule reserves.

The tourism region on the border of these reserves, which stretches from the city of Nelspruit in the south of Mpumalanga to the town of Phalaborwa in Limpopo province in the north, has popularly become known as the "Greater Kruger Region".

At the heart of this region is the little town of Hoedspruit which is the safari "capital" of South Africa and full of amazing places to visit and sights to see, as well acting as a major hub to some of the richest, most diverse big game viewing in South Africa.

The Kruger National Park was proclaimed on 31 May 1926, but was originally set aside by the President of the Transvaal Republic, Paul Kruger, in 1889. The park was named after him as a result.

Kruger first mooted the necessity of protecting the rich biodiversity of South Africa's "Lowveld" (which literally means "low field") - an area of between 150m and 600m above sea level with gently rolling hills, wide valleys and savannah at the foot of the Northern Drakensberg escarpment, fed by good perennial rivers flowing west to east.

The escarpment proved as much a barrier to wildlife as it did to humans, so the concentrations of big game in the area proliferated, helped by a mild year-round climate and good annual rainfall.

Today, the area around Hoedspruit is renowned for its game reserves and wildlife and its proliferation of safari camps and lodges within easy driving distance of Pretoria and Johannesburg. It's also the perfect base from which to explore the Kruger Park itself and the Greater Kruger region, which includes the impressive Panorama Route and the Blyde River Canyon, Bourke's Luck Potholes and wonderful Graskop Gorge.

The town of Hoedspruit is dominated by the impressive rocky massif of the northern Drakensberg escarpment and towering Mariepskop, which at 1,945m above sea level is the highest point of the Blyde River Canyon system. It acts as a stunning backdrop to this scenically beautiful area.

Indeed, the Greater Kruger Region is one of the most spectacular in terms of scenery, from the sweeping mountain passes of Magoebaskloof and towering peaks of the northern Drakensberg to the lush, fertile Letaba and Olifants River valleys.

It's also an area of incredible geological formations as north of the Olifants River the topography changes dramatically, punctuated by soaring granite and sandstone outcrops called "koppies" in the local vernacular.

So talk to us about arranging your Greater Kruger adventure. We have a wonderful range of fabulous places to stay and exciting things to do to include in your itinerary as well as some fantastic, Big Five game viewing.

How to pack the perfect safari bag!

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 13:17:08 GMT

Take the headache out of packing...

It's one of the biggest headaches when planning your African adventure - what to take and what to leave behind. Packing everything but the kitchen sink is just not going to cut it when it comes to going on safari, especially if you're going to be travelling in small planes between destinations where strict weight limits and baggage specifications apply. So you have to be discerning and use what weight and space you have wisely. Here are some tips and tricks we've picked up over the years that will help you pack the perfect safari bag...

Choose the right luggage

When it comes to going on safari, the bag maketh the journey. It's got to be lightweight, soft enough to be able to be squished into the smallest of spaces in the hold of aircraft that look like you may have to literally pour yourself into them, roomy enough to get everything you need into it and hardy enough to cope with the rigours of international air travel. Does such a bag exist? Yes it does! In fact, there's a wealth of quality options out there. So how do you choose the right one for you?

Firstly, go for a duffel-style bag with a flat bottom (or a bottom that will be flat once you pack it properly). A lot of airlines now insist that soft-sided bags have a more solid, flat bottom to allow them to travel smoothly on the luggage conveyor belts without getting stuck and causing log-jams and damage to the machinery. If your bag doesn't have a flat bottom, be prepared to have it wrapped with a piece of cardboard to give it one.

Duffels are the best style of safari bag because they give you the room you need with easy access in a compact and practical shape. However, when choosing your duffel there are some things you need to take into account:

1. Make sure your access zips can be locked easily with a padlock. Security is strict in airports across the world so you need to ensure your bag can be locked properly for your own safety and for the safety of others.

2. Make sure there are no straps or loose pieces that could get snagged on other bags or on the luggage conveyor belt.

3. Try and go for zippers that are concealed and protected from possible damage during the luggage handling process at airports. You don't want your bag to come out the other end with a broken zip and half of your clothing missing.

4. Weigh the bag empty. Go for the lightest bag you can to give you maximum carrying capacity for those tight weight limits on small planes between camps and lodges. Weight restrictions can vary depending on the aircraft being used and the airline in question, but they can be anything from 12kg (26lbs) to 20kg (44lbs). Most international airlines only allow 20kg for economy class luggage. We will always tell you what the weight restrictions are in advance, so you know what to expect.

5. Assess the durability of the bag. It has got to make it through the manhandling of international flights, flights in small planes and jostling on the back of a game viewing vehicle from the airstrip at your destination to the lodge you are staying in. It's also a good idea to opt for weatherproof or weather resistant material!

6. Look at the straps: Make sure they are strong, and give you the option to carry the bag in your hand or with a shoulder strap. Some duffels have reinforced adjustable webbing straps that wrap around them to keep whatever you pack in shape which we thoroughly recommend.

What to pack

So, you've got your bag. Now comes the task of filling it!

First of all, select clothes that are light and can easily be layered. The secret to a successful safari is layers that you can add or remove according to the temperature, especially on early morning game drives and game activities when even in the middle of summer it can be chilly!

Go for neutral, cool colours. Khaki, beige, cream, taupe, greys and browns are always a good option. White is never practical, especially on game drives, as it can make you stand out. Black can attract insects like tsetse flies and also absorbs heat. Blues are OK as long as they are not too bright.

Opt for three or four tee-shirts, two long-sleeved shirts, two or three pairs of shorts and/or cargo pants, a pair of long trousers or two. For the ladies, a pashmina is a wonderful addition. All lodges offer laundry services, so you can easily recycle your clothing. Choose mix and match outfits to get the maximum wardrobe opportunities out of what you pack!

Check what season you are travelling in and choose items accordingly. If its winter (June to August each year) it's going to be cold in the early mornings and evenings, and you will need a fleece or windbreaker, beanie hat, scarf and gloves. Yes. Africa DOES get cold. And when you're on an open game viewing vehicle at 6am with the wind chill factored in it gets VERY cold! Lodges provide blankets on the morning drive and some even offer hot water bottles!

In spring and summer (September to March) it can still be a little on the cool side first thing in the morning but nowhere near as chilly as winter. So a lightweight sweater or jersey should suffice.

When it comes to shoes, give yourself options. Thongs or flip-flops are great for wearing around the lodge, as are sandals. But if you want to walk, closed walking shoes with a good sole are a must to fend off things like thorns and prickly seeds. A pair of long pants and a long-sleeved shirt are a good option too, as they protect against biting insects and sunburn.

You won't need high heels in the bush. But in winter a good pair of flat, comfortable boots are a wonderful addition!

You will need a hat, or two. And sunglasses. And a swimsuit and sunscreen!

When it comes to personal items, toiletries and cosmetics, don't forget that lodges have wonderful amenities like shampoo and conditioner, body wash, soap and body lotion so it's not absolutely essential to pack these, unless you prefer your own brand. Make sure you pack a bag with any medicines you may need.

Once you have selected your items, it's a good idea to lay them out on your bed or a dining room table and organise them in sections - underwear, T-shirts, Shorts, Long pants, shirts, skirts, sleepwear and swimwear, jackets and jerseys, shoes etc.

Then comes the task of packing them into your bag. There are lots of "tricks" that can be used to save space, from rolling each item as tightly as possible and stacking them neatly and evenly in the bag to using small, mesh pouches to put like-for-like items in and packing these "bags" within the bag! Pop shoes into ziploc reusable plastic bags (or recycle plastic shopping bags) to protect your clothing.

Carry-on bags

Choose a soft carry-on bag to match your duffel bag with compartments for your travel wallet (don't forget your passport, ID books, pocketbook, etc) and other things you may want to use like reading glasses, sanitiser, moisturiser, smartphone or tablet.

Don't put valuables in your check-in luggage - keep them with you in your carry-on bag. Add to this a camera bag with space for binoculars.

Above all, travel as light as you can so there's room to take some of the amazing textiles, arts and crafts you will find on your travels back home with you.

Enjoy!

Xai Xai

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 07:21:22 GMT

A Wonderful Holiday Town!

Just 200km north of Maputo lies the lovely little town of Xai Xai (pronounced "shy shy") which is the capital of Gaza province. This is where the mighty Limpopo River meets the Indian Ocean in a wide, biodiverse estuary that's filled with life and fascinating to explore.

The beaches around Xai Xai are stunningly beautiful and its far less commercialised than many of Mozambique's other "holiday" towns. Thanks to the Limpopo estuary, there are a collection of fresh water lakes within an easy drive of Xai Xai where you can paddle ski, kayak and windsurf. Or just kick back on the water's edge and enjoy some amazing birding from the shore. You can also charter a boat for some fresh water fishing if you like!

South of Xai Xai is the Wenela Tidal Pool, with its natural rock tunnel and blow hole that links it to the Indian Ocean. A reef runs parallel to the shore at Xai Xai, making its beaches wonderfully protected and offering amazing diving and snorkelling opportunities with small pools forming at low tide.

Praia do Xai Xai, some 12km from town, is also a wonderfully protected beach offering safe swimming, as does Chongoene Beach around 8km north of town. Or try the small resort of Bilene on a vast, 27km lagoon bordered by a stunning, white sand beach.

Inhambane

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 06:54:09 GMT

Where Life Really Is a Beach!

With a history dating back to the 11th century, the city of Inhambane is a cultural melting pot with Arabic, Persian and Portuguese influences and is just over 450km from the capital city of Maputo and has its own airport and bustling harbour.

Located on a beautiful bay and renowned for its incredible beaches, including Tofo and Barra, the ocean off Inhambane is filled with a rich diversity of marine life, including one of a last remaining populations of dugong in Mozambique. Its centre offers a vibrant and eclectic collection of shops, restaurants and sidewalk cafes as well as some interesting markets. The harbour is the perfect place to relax with a cold beer and watch dhows sail past.

This is also one of Mozambique's busiest dive centres where you can see manta rays and whale sharks in season. The fishing is also excellent and a variety of watersports are on offer. A wide range of accommodation is available in and around Inhambane, from luxury beach resorts to self-catering cottages on the beach.

Inhambane's Barra peninsula is a wonderful destination for families and couples alike, with its wonderful beaches and estuary. vehicles or transfers. Or visit the Linga Linga peninsula which is only accessible by 4X4 or boat!

Ponta do Ouro

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 06:43:06 GMT

A Mozambican playground!

T he southern town of Ponta do Ouro is one of Mozambique's most popular beach destinations, especially with South Africans, thanks to its easy driving distance from Johannesburg and its proximity to the capital city of Maputo, just 120km away to the north. It's renowned for its amazing diving and snorkelling, as well as deep-sea fishing and is a vibrant, buzzing little town with a host of attractions for visitors of all ages.

Just 10km from the South African border, Ponta do Ouro offers wonderful laid-back charm combined with stunning beaches, dense dune forests and the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. With its open-air market, "cantinas" and curio stalls, it's got a wonderful seaside holiday feel. Rustic restaurants just off the beach offer wonderful traditional Mozambican favourites such as fresh prawns peri peri and, of course, the best seafood you will ever taste!

The name Ponta do Ouro means "tip of gold" and refers to the point of land that defines the southern-most part of town, forming the sheltered bay that offers a range of watersport opportunities.

A handy guide to game viewing on safari

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Thu, 03 Dec 2020 13:43:40 GMT

Get your game face on!

Your African safari will be taking place in some of the best game viewing regions on the continent, where the wildlife is abundant and the wilderness among the best there is... So what can you expect from your game activities?

There's nothing to beat the thrill of a game drive in an open safari vehicle in the middle of pristine African bush... The sights, sounds and smell of the wilderness are unbeatable, and the fauna and flora you will see on your game activities are part of an intricate and interwoven ecological web that's both fascinating and wonderful to behold.

Your fully guided game drives usually take place in the early morning and late afternoon, taking advantage of the best light for photography, and the best times to see wildlife active and on the move. Mornings start at dawn with coffee and snacks, heading out when the temperatures are usually cooler in summer, and warming up in winter.

Afternoon activities take place after high tea, leaving around 4pm, taking advantage of the "golden hour" of afternoon light and including an hour or so's night drive, using a spotlight to pick up nocturnal species, returning to your lodge just before dinner.

You'll be exploring Big Five country, so you have the chance to see the icons of Africa - buffalo, elephant, rhino, lion and leopard. But besides these legendary mammals you also have the opportunity to see cheetah and some of Africa's smaller felines, as well as wild dog, hyaena and a host of other predators. Add to this giraffe, z ebra, most of the antelope species and some amazing birdlife and you'll understand that your game activities are never going to be boring.

Besides game drives, you also have the chance to explore the wilderness on foot with your safari guide on a guided bush walk. This is perhaps one of the best ways to experience Africa as you learn about all of the small and absolutely fascinating creatures and plants often overlooked on a drive.

Your knowledgeable and experienced guide will teach you about medicinal plants and the role they play in local culture and traditions and you'll also learn the fine art of tracking and how to read the signs animals leave behind them.

If you are including a visit to South Africa's beautiful Western Cape in your African safari adventure, then you have the opportunity to see some of the amazing marine creatures that inhabit South Africa's two oceans - the Indian and Atlantic.

From the famed and feared great white shark to the beautiful southern right whale and endangered African penguin, the waters off South Africa's Cape are filled with life and an ocean safari is the best way to experience this fascinating eco-system.

There's a host of great activities available, like ocean cruises, shark cage diving and whale watching (in season), visits to seal colonies and birding. Our whale watching season runs from early winter to late spring (July to November) each year.

You don't have to go on an organised game activity to see game or enjoy some of the amazing wildlife Africa has to offer... Sometimes the wildlife comes to you! At your safari lodge you will be surrounded by the African bush and wild animals can often be seen in the grounds, close at hand. Antelope like impala enjoy the apparent safety and cover the lodges provide, and warthogs are often seen foraging nearby.

Sitting out next to the pool with a pair of binoculars will afford you the chance to see some fabulous birdlife and unless advised against it, you are generally free to walk around your lodge during the day.

Top tips for your South African adventure!

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Thu, 03 Dec 2020 13:43:40 GMT

What to expect on safari in SA!

You've arrived! It's touch down at last on South African soil and your safari adventure is formally under way... So what can you expect? If you are catching an internal flight you need to clear immigration, collect your bags and make your way to the domestic departures terminal for your onward journey.

Some airlines allow bags to be checked to your final destination, so please check with your airline to see if this is possible before you leave home. If you are hiring a car you'll need to make your way to the hire companies which are close at hand at both OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and Cape Town International Airport.

We'll be on hand to greet you on arrival at your lodge and to get you settled in, so relax and enjoy the journey!

Once you've settled in, it's up to you to decide how to spend your time. You'll most likely want to spend your first day getting your bearings and exploring your immediate surroundings.

If you're including Cape Town in your itinerary, it's advisable to spend a couple of full days exploring Cape Town itself, starting at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront and taking in the sights and sounds of South Africa's "Mother City". A trip up Table Mountain, riding the state-of-the-art cableway is an absolute must, as is a visit to the amazing Two Oceans Aquarium. We also recommend taking a township tour, which we can arrange for you, and exploring the nearby Winelands, sampling the Cape's finest vintages as you go.

There's a host of amazing restaurants, activities and things to do and see in the Cape, so all you have to do is ask and we can tailor things to suit your schedule. It's important to find time to just sit and relax at your chosen accommodation as well, and just soak up the views and ambience.

If you're heading into the bush, then game activities are top of the itinerary! Most inclusive safari lodges include game activities with morning and afternoon game drives on offer. In the Greater Kruger there are also lots of additional game activities that can be arranged for you, including full-day drives in the legendary Kruger National Park and guided game and birding walks.

There's a wide range of exciting activities close at hand in the Greater Kruger region and beyond, from exploring historic Pilgrim's Rest to discovering the geological wonders of Bourke's Luck Potholes and the breathtaking views along the Panorama Route, that skirts the edge of the Drakensberg escarpment. We are happy to recommend things to do and arrange day trips and activities for you.

Makgadikgadi Pans

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Thu, 03 Dec 2020 13:24:31 GMT

The world's largest salt pans beckon

Spanning some 16,000 square kilometres, the vast Makgadikgadi Pans are the largest salt pans in the world and the remnants of an ancient lake. The almost blinding ly white expanses of Ntwetwe, Sowa and Nxai pans make up the bulk of this stark and breathtakingly beautiful national park, are are i nterrupted by stretches of sandy desert, mysterious islands of ancient baobabs and dramatic rock formations and the occasional patch of sparse vegetation .

T he Makgadikgadi comes to life each year during the wet season when the pans fill with rain, attracting a rich diversity of wildlife. Huge flocks of flamingos and pelicans make the flooded pans their home and vast herds of zebra and wildebeest migrate here for the grazing, followed (of course) by predators like lion and hyaena. It's one of Africa's great spectacles and makes the Makgadikgadi an absolute must for any Botswana safari itinerary at this time of year

Around 25 , 000 zebra and 10 , 000 blue wildebeest migrate to the Makgadikgadi from the Boteti River in the west as well as from the Linyanti and Savuti regions to the north during the rainy season . The y leave again between March and April once the rainwater has dried up. The pans are also home to large populations of brown hyaena as well as meerkats and aardvarks. Gemsbok, eland, red hartebeest and caracal are also seen regularly.

D uring the dry season (May to September) the pans are incredible to explore, especially by quad bike, with more than 1600 square kilometres of untouched land available to travel over, stopping at islands along the way to camp, sleeping under incredible star-lit skies. This is one of Africa's most unique experiences and is not to be missed.

The Okavango Delta

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Thu, 03 Dec 2020 12:37:43 GMT

An African wonderland like no other

Africa's true Eden, t he Okavango Delta is a vast inland a lluvial fan that empties the contents of the Kavango River and its tributaries into the vast central Kalahari depression, forming one of the world's most biodiverse seasonal wetlands.

With its panhandle in the far north of Botswana, the Delta spreads out to cover some 17,000 square kilometres of the country during its annual flood, which occurs every year between March and June, peaking in July - the height of the dry season. The flood takes place following heavy rains in the Angolan highlands which feed into the Kavango River system. It brings with it a huge migration of plains game from the dry interior, following the life-giving water.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Okavango is an immense and richly diverse ecosystem that's mostly flat - the variation in height across its immense floodplains is actually less than 2m - and dotted with various islands that remain above the water level all year round. Chief's Island is the largest of these and one of the best known regions for game viewing and photographic safaris.

The Delta is a critically important wildlife area that includes the Moremi Game Reserve on its eastern border and numerous private concessions that together help to protect and conserve its wild fauna and flora, while at the same time offering one of Africa's prime safari destinations thanks to its high concentrations of wildlife that includes 160 mammal species, some 530 species of birds and 1500 species of plants.

Key species are the African elephant, lion, leopard, painted wolf (African wild dog) and hippopotamus. Plains game includes zebra, wildebeest, giraffe and a wide range of antelope species including kudu, waterbuck, red lechwe, impala and sitatunga.

When it comes to safaris in the Okavango Delta, you'll be hard-pressed to find better. With its incredible, sweeping vistas, network of waterways, channels and oxbow lagoons, it really is an African wonderland like no other, filled with an abundance of life at every turn. The birding is exceptional, as is the game viewing and the accommodation on offer is among the best in the world.

Renowned luxury safari brands like Wilderness Safaris, Great Plains and &Beyond share the landscape with award-winning independent lodges and bush camps. There are also some marvellous budget safari options including mobile tented camps and camp sites. Here at Best African Safaris we try to make use of all of these options, creating unique customised safari experiences irrespective of budget.

Talk to us today about putting together the perfect Okavango safari...

Moya Safari Villa

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 08:09:08 GMT

Kruger Area - Moya Safari Villa

Offering the ultimate home-from-home safari experience in the heart of the Greater Kruger region, Bushwillow Private Villa is located on Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate in the wonderful little town of Hoedspruit - South Africa's Big Five safari capital.

The villa sleeps a maximum of six people in three beautifully appointed air-conditioned double bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms. It features the best in modern, open-plan living, with sumptuous organic décor and flowing spaces opening out onto a spectacular outdoor area with its own private swimming pool, fire pit and barbecue facilities.

View more at www.moyasafarivilla.co.za

Six-Night Beauty of Botswana

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 12:43:37 GMT

Okavango Delta and

Chobe National Park

Six nights / Seven days

Day 1

THE OKAVANGO DELTA

Arrival Maun and overnight: Camp Xakanaxa, Moremi Game Reserve

On arrival at Camp Kaxanaxa's airstrip you will be met by your safari guide and transfered to the camp in an open safari vehicle. It's a short drive and you may see game along the way.

About Camp Xakanaxa

Overlooking the Khwai River and the Xakanaxa Lagoon, Xakanaxa is one of the few camps in this region that can offer a year-round land and water safari experience, thanks to its network of permanent water channels and lagoons. This gorgeous tented camp has just 11 spacious Meru-style luxury safari tents, all with private decks offering views out over the lagoon.

Day 2

At Camp Xakanaxa

You will return to the camp in time for dinner and another wonderful night's sleep in the African wilderness.

Day 3

CHOBE NATIONAL PARK

Transfer to Savute Safari Lodge, Savute Region, Chobe National Park

After your morning game activity and breakfast, you'll be transferred the Xakanaxa airstrip for your connecting flight to the Savute marshes region of Botswana, on the eastern edge of the Chobe National Park, famed for its concentrations of wildlife and especially its lions. Here you will be staying at Savute Safari Lodge.

After landing at the Savute Safari Lodge airstrip you will be met by your guide and transfered to the lodge in an open safari vehicle. After check-in formalities you'll be taken to your beautuful and luxurious thatch and timber chalet where you can freshen up before joining an afternoon game drive.

Your afternoon game drive will explore the region around the lodge, taking in the Savute Marsh and Savute Channel which are renowned for their high concentrations of wildlife. Expect to see a wealth of plains game, elephants, buffalo and, if you are lucky, some predator action!

The Savute region stretches from the Linyanti River to the Savute Marsh, taking in the winding waterways of the Savute Channel that brings life to this vast landscape. It's a fickle waterway, having dried up and flooded at various stages of its history irrespective of good rainy seasons and flood levels across Botswana.

About Savute Safari Lodge

Expansive private decks offer stunning views over the bush and waterhole where elephants and other game often gather and each chalet has its own lounge area as well as en-suite facilities.

Day 4

At Savute Safari Lodge

Your early wake-up call will be pre-arranged with you enabling you to freshen up before meeting up for coffee and rusks and then heading out to explore the Savute wilderness as dawn breaks.

You'll meet up again in the late afternoon for tea before embarking on your afternoon/evening game drive, returning back to the lodge for another marvellous dinner.

Day 5

CHOBE NATIONAL PARK

Transfer to Chobe Game Lodge, Chobe National Park

You have the choice of doing a morning game activity or sleeping in, as after breakfast you will be leaving Savute Safari Lodge, heading to the airstrip for your connecting flight on a small plane to Kasane, on the banks of the Chobe River, for your visit to Chobe National Park, staying at Chobe Game Lodge.

On arrival in Kasane you will be met by your Chobe Game Lodge driver for the transfer by road to the lodge. This will take you through the main Sedudu gates of Chobe National Park and into this renowned wilderness area, where you will enjoy a short game drive en-route to the lodge which is 15km inside the park.

On return from your afternoon/evening activity you'll enjoy pre-dinner drinks and a delicious dinner before turning in for the night.

About Chobe Game Lodge

This gives you a smorgasbord of choices about where to lay back, unwind and take in the incredible views in between activities. Add to this a large swimming pool and impeccable waiter service!

The river itself is full of life, from hippo and crocodiles to a rich variety of birdlife, from the beautiful African fish eagle to the yellow-billed stork.

Day 6

At Chobe Game Lodge

Day 7

JOURNEY'S END

Transfer to Kasane for onward journey/home

It's the end of your wonderful Best African Safaris journey taking in some of the most beautiful destinations Botswana has to offer.

After your morning game activity and breakfast, you'll be transferred back to Kasane to connect with flights for your onward journey or your fights home and we will bid you farewell. We hope to see you again!

PLEASE CONTACT US FOR RATES AND Ts and Cs

* DAY 7 OPTIONAL ADD-ON

VICTORIA FALLS

Two nights' extension, Victoria Falls Hotel

Basis: Bed & Breakfast

Opt to extend your journey with a two-night stay in Victoria Falls, experiencing one of the great wonders of the natural world, staying at the "grand dame" of African hospitality - the five-star Victoria Falls Hotel...

Day 7

Transfer from Chobe Game Lodge to Victoria Falls

After your morning game activity and breakfast at Chobe Game Lodge, you'll be transferred by road to Victoria Falls in neighbouring Zimbabwe. It's a 90-minute road journey and your driver will assist with the border crossing and immigration processes before taking you to the beautiful and historic Victoria Falls Hotel - the oldest hotel in the Southern hemisphere.

On arrival at the Victoria Falls Hotel you will say farewell to your driver and complete check-in procedures before being shown to your room. You are then at leisure to choose from a range of activities on offer at the falls.

Indulge in a range of adventure activities, from white-water rafting below the falls to microlighting over them, helicopter flips, game drives in the Victoria Falls National Park, river safaris along the Zambezi and gentle sunset cruises.

We are happy to recommend activities and arrange them for you, or you can book them at leisure at the Victoria Falls Hotel concierge desk.

Choose to eat in the hotel's stunning restaurants or go out and explore the town of Victoria Falls and eat locally.

Overnight: Victoria Falls Hotel

Day 8

At Victoria Falls Hotel

Plan your day according to your mood. Enjoy a wonderful breakfast at the hotel and then indulge yourself in a range of activities available on the doorstep.

Choose whether or when you want to have lunch - perhaps indulge in a gourmet burger at the pool bar down by the wonderful Edwardian pool or sample traditional afternoon tea out on the terrace with views of the distant falls.

Explore the curio markets and pick up some amazing gifts for loved ones back home or additions for your own African art collection!

Enjoy dinner at the hotel or explore other dining options in the area.

Overnight: Victoria Falls Hotel

Day 9

Check-out and transfer to Victoria Falls International Airport

You've come to journey's end. After a wonderful breakfast it's time to leave, with a transfer to the nearby Victoria Falls International Airport for your onward flights. We hope you've enjoyed your time with Best African Safaris and hope to see you soon!

PLEASE CONTACT US FOR RATES AND Ts and Cs

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The Garden Route

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 15:05:46 GMT

SA's Most Gorgeous Coastline

This beautiful 300km stretch of South Africa's stunning eastern coastline takes in both the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces and is delineated by the N2 highway that runs from Cape Town all the way to Durban. Officially, the Garden Route starts in the coastal town of Mossel Bay and ends at the breathtaking Storms River Gorge, but it unofficially extends on up the Eastern Cape coast to the city of Port Elizabeth, taking in St Francis Bay and Jeffries Bay along the way.

It's the perfect route to explore by car, taking in ancient forests, rolling hills and towering mountain peaks as the route snakes its way along the coastline, moving through quaint little seaside towns and villages and some of the most spectacular scenery South Africa has to offer. From George and Wilderness to Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, there's no end to the stops you can make along this route to take in everything the region has to offer.

Artisanal crafts abound, as do world-class restaurants, golf-courses and even wine farms. Winding up through the Outeniqua Mountains to Oudtshoorn - South Africa's ostrich farming capital - the route also takes in some of the most important palaeological sites in the country on its way to the Kango Caves. This is where some of South Africa's earliest known human inhabitants made their home. Explore Calitzdorp, Sedgefield and Brenton-on-Sea and wonder at the majesty of the Knysna Heads and the Tsitsikamma National Park with its legendary forest trails that skirt the ocean.

Linked by the Garden Route National Park which connects it to the Wilderness National Park through a series of lakes and preserved fynbos, the Tsitsikamma is a fascinating mix of eco-systems and well worth exploring for a few days, with its gorgeous, secluded bays and dramatic coastline.

Between St Francis Bay, Plettenberg Bay and Keurboomstrand you can see Southern Right Whales in season (June to November) as they come to the quiet bays off the Garden Route coast to calf. Take an ocean safari from Plettenberg Bay and discover some of the marine animals that call the coast home, from dolphins and porpoises to seals and sharks and a rich variety of seabirds. At Mossel Bay you can cage dive with great white sharks and enjoy sea kayaking and a range of watersports.

We are happy to organise your Garden Route adventure, so feel free to get in touch and let us show you this amazing part of South Africa.

Johannesburg

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 14:59:31 GMT

Be dazz led by the City of Gold!

During your visit to South Africa you should make some time to explore its economic powerhouse - Johannesburg! Known as Egoli - the "city of gold", Johannesburg is full of amazing things to do, exciting places to explore and wonderful sights to see and is rich in history as well as being a veritable cultural melting pot!

In the city itself you absolutely have to take in the vibrant, eclectic precinct of Maboneng! The name means "place of light" and this area of the city is full of fabulous restaurants, great entertainment venues and a variety of shops and art galleries. Maboneng is "Jozies" at its finest and is something of a phoenix, having been a run-down and rather dangerous area of Johannesburg that has been the subject of an ambitious and highly successful urban renewal programme.

Today, it's the city's most hip and happening destination and a drawcard for culture vultures of all ages, offering a fizzy, upbeat vibe that's steadily putting it on the global map, thanks to its creativity and unique brand of urban cool.

If Maboneng represents the Jozies of today, then Soweto is most definitely its yesterday. With more than a million residents and covering an area of around 200 square kilometres that's home to some 355,000 households, it's South Africa's most famous township and a tourism destination in its own right.

Its name is an acronym for So uth We stern To wnships, and it was home to some of South Africa's most celebrated struggle heroes from Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu to Walter and Albertina Sisulu and Oliver Tambo. It's a township full of contrasts, from glittering shopping malls and the breathtaking FNB Stadium where the 2010 Soccer World Cup final was played to the shacks on the edge of Orlando West and the history of Vilakazi Street where Nelson Mandela's former home is now a world-class museum and you can sample traditional South African food at a range of wonderful street restaurants.

A short drive from the city lies the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Cradle of Humankind. One of the most prominent pale-anthropological sites in the world, this is where remains of Australopithicus Africans - one of the earliest-known hominid ancestors was found, dating back some 2-million years - and where remains that date back some 3,5-million years have been discovered. Discover all about our early beginnings at the Maropeng Visitors' Centre and explore the Sterkfontein Cave system where many of the remains were found, home of one of the longest-running arch a eological digs in the world.

Of course, Johannesburg is also a major tourism hub for both South Africa and the Southern African region, so it's easy to add a few days to the beginning or end of your safari to give you time to explore this wonderful city. There's a host of fantastic hotels to choose from and we're on hand to recommend where to stay and what to see. So chat to us today.

Cape Town

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 14:44:16 GMT

Discover South Africa's Mother City !

Frequently voted as one of the world's most beautiful cities, Cape Town offers breathtaking scenery, blue flag beaches, culture and history aplenty and is known as South Africa's Mother City, thanks to its status as the country's first European settlement. Officially founded on 6th April 1652 by Jan van Riebeeck of the Dutch East India Company, the Dutch weren't actually the first Europeans to set foot here...

It's known that Portuguese sailors under the command of Antonio de Saldanha made port here on their way to India in 1503 and climbed Table Mountain, causing a fracas with the local Khoi people in the process. Europe's seafaring nations followed Portugal's lead and put into Table Bay for fresh water and provisions, with the Dutch quickly establishing it as a regular lay-over en-route to the East Indies and the spice islands... The Dutch East India Company thus established an outpost and Van Riebeeck arrived to build a fort and proper infrastructure. The rest, as they say, is history!

This small Dutch outpost is now South Africa's most iconic city, loved the world over. Cape Town is a cultural melting pot with a unique, pulsating rhythm that appeals to young and old alike, from the vibrant restaurants, cafes and shops of the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront to the genteel elegance of the Company Gardens and magnificent Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens that sit beneath the ever-present massif of Devil's Peak and Table Mountain.

Located on the Cape Peninsula, close to the Southern-most tip of the continent, Cape Town offers visitors a smorgasbord of things to do and see and ways to do and see them! You can embark on a chauffeured motorbike sidecar adventure exploring the peninsula and the winelands beyond, take to the skies in a helicopter or paraglider, meet great white sharks at close quarters beneath the surface of the Atlantic, taste wine on a myriad wine estates, explore the summit of Table Mountain via one of the world's most jaw-dropping cableways and visit a colony of rare African penguins on a powder-white sand beach lapped by crystal-clear turquoise seas...

And when you're done with the above, there's Nelson Mandela's former jail cell on Robben Island to visit, the world-class Two Oceans Aquarium to explore and Clifton's incredible beaches to relax on before dining out in style at some of South Africa's best-loved eateries...

Spend a few days, a week or more. We'll help you put together the perfect Cape Town itinerary to ensure you get the most out of your stay in the Mother City.

Chobe National Park

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 14:41:07 GMT

The land of the giants...

If you want to see African elephants in huge numbers then there's only one place to go - Chobe National Park! This is where elephant herds can number in the hundreds as they come down to the Chobe River to drink and graze on the grassy banks and islands. It's "Elephant Central" and known the world over as the land of the giants.

There are an estimated 120,000 elephants in Chobe, along with enormous herds of buffalo. The park is also renowned for its predator sightings, especially where lion and leopard are concerned and the river itself has a wealth of wildlife in and around it, from hippos and crocodiles to plains game, as well as incredible birdlife.

The second largest national park in Botswana, Chobe covers 11,700 square kilometres and offers one of the greatest concentrations of game in Africa across its diverse habitats which range from vast floodplains to swamps and woodlands. The Chobe River forms its northern border (and a border with neighbouring Namibia) on its way to meet the mighty Zambezi, and the park is accessed by the bustling safari town of Kasane, which has its own, small international airport.

There are a variety of safari options on offer in Chobe, from luxury riverfront safari lodges to well-run camp sites where we offer the chance to enjoy an "Out of Africa" glamping experience in a luxury mobile tented camp. Set up under tall shade trees close to the edge of the river inside the national park, our mobile tented camps offer guests the chance to immerse themselves in the African wilderness with a full-service, guided safari like no other!

Combine a few nights in a mobile tented camp with a wonderful stay in a five-star lodge on the Chobe River before boarding one of the many luxury houseboats that cruise along the River north of Kasane, hugging the Namibian border. Spend you final nights discovering the upper stretches of the Chobe, stopping along the way for game activities in specially designed safari boats that get you close to the plethora of wildlife that calls the river home.

It's not to be missed!

Central Kalahari

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 14:36:36 GMT

A unique and ancient landscape...

Adapt or die. That's what the desert demands of its inhabitants, and in the case of Botswana's Central Kalahari Game Reserve, those adaptations have proven spectacular! This vast, arid landscape is home to some of the most unique, desert-adapted species in Africa, from the beautiful black-maned Kalahari lions to the region's human inhabitants and Africa's First People - the San.

The Central Kalahari is immense, stretching for more than 52,000 square kilometres across the centre of the country. This makes it Botswana's biggest reserve and one of the largest in Africa and the world. It's a magnificent expanse where the word remote takes on new meaning, offering exclusive safari experiences and wildlife sightings.

From Deception Valley and the Sunday and Leopard pans to Passage Valley and Piper's Pan, this region of Botswana is filled with incredible destinations that are not to be missed and absolutely should be included in your Botswana safari itinerary or tour. In spite of being a "desert" this area is filled with life, most of it unusual and fascinating.

From the beautiful gemsbok which is able to thermoregulate in temperatures that would literally boil the brains of lesser mammals and the springbok which is perfectly at home in this parched land to the graceful cheetah, the world's fastest land mammal , the central kalahari is home to a rich diversity of wildlife. Wildebeest, hartebeest, eland, giraffe and kudu are also regularly seen.

Explore the Kalahari ecosystems with a San guide, learning about the medicinal properties of desert-dwelling plants and how to survive in this harsh environment. Discover the ancient history and traditions of these amazing people from whom we are all descended and understand what it is like to live in perfect harmony with nature.

At night the skies are the colour of black velvet and filled with billions of stars that seem close enough to touch. Stargazing is an absolute must and your guides will share the secrets of the cosmos with you, pointing out important constellations and planets.

There really is no place like the Central Kalahari!

Bazaruto Archipelago

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 14:33:45 GMT

Sun, sea and sand... Paradise found!

Welcome to paradise! The Bazaruto Archipelago is a group of six beautiful islands off the coast of Vilanculos in southern Mozambique and is one of the country's main tourism hotspots, thanks to its powdery, white sand beaches and crystal-clear turquoise ocean.

Part of the Bazaruto national marine park which strives to protect the area's most critically endangered species - the dugong - the biggest of the islands is Bazaruto itself. Known for its impressive sands dunes and stunning beaches, the coral reefs off Bazaruto and its sister islands of Magaruque, Benguerra, Banque and Santa Carolina are also a major drawcard, attracting divers and snorkelling enthusiasts from across the world.

The islands, together with the coastline north and south of Vilanculos, are home to some of the country's finest and most sustainable beach resorts and boutique hotels, giving travellers a lot of different options when it comes to finding wonderful accommodation. Combined with a host of incredible activities from a range of exciting watersports and sundowner cruises in traditional dhows to deep-sea fishing and horse riding.

Vilanculos is also home to a wonderful international airport served by a number of different airlines, making it the perfect "add-on" to a wildlife safari in either neighbouring South Africa or Botswana.

Talk to us about arranging the perfect beach escape in the Bazaruto Archipelago!

Kruger National Park & Greater Kruger

info@bestafricansafari.tours (Alec Green) — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 14:29:31 GMT

Where the Big Five rule!

Africa's best-loved and most renowned game reserve, the legendary Kruger National Park is a global treasure as well as South Africa's flagship wildlife destination. This is the home of the Big Five - lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant - long revered as the most dangerous animals to hunt on foot. The hunting has been consigned to history and the only shooting done in Kruger now is with cameras, so don't forget yours when you visit this incredible national park.

At just short of 19,500 square kilometres in size - giving it roughly 2-million hectares of pristine African wilderness (roughly the size of Israel!) - the Kruger National Park has 11 main entrances, or gates, around its perimeter. Its eastern boundary borders Mozambique, and to the south is the Kingdom of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland). In the north it's bordered by Zimbabwe and it spans two of South Africa's provinces - Mpumalanga and Limpopo. It's 360km long and an average of 65km wide.

Created by President Paul Kruger in 1898, the park opened to tourists in 1927 and in those days entry was £1. Up until that point access to the park had only been available via train (along the old Selati railway line to Skukuza), horse or ox wagon! Cars were only allowed in from 1926 onwards, leading to the establishment of the current road system which has seen all of the main routes tarred. The remaining dirt roads are well-maintained and do not require a 4X4.

There are a variety of well-run camps and camp sites located throughout the Kruger as well as private concessions that are home to some wonderful luxury safari lodges, making Kruger accessible to all budgets, from camping to glamping and beyond! The drawcard is the incredible diversity of wildlife, with 148mammal species, 505 bird species and 118 species of reptiles in residence! Add to that some 1990 taxa of plants and you begin to understand the importance of conserving this incredible wilderness.

A large section of the Kruger Park is open on its western boundary to some of South Africa's premier private game reserves, giving rise to what is known as the Greater Kruger. The Balule Private Nature Reserve, Klaserie Private Game Reserve, Timbavati Private Game Reserve, Manyeleti Game Reserve and Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve are all unfenced along their borders with Kruger, allowing for the free flow of animal species between the reserves and creating an impressive extension of the protection offered by Kruger for wildlife in this area of South Africa.

The Greater Kruger region stretches from the town of Hazyview in Mpumalanga to Phalaborwa in Limpopo and is South Africa's major safari destination, offering as it does a wide variety of safari lodges and camps both in the Greater Kruger reserves and in various private game reserves adjacent to them. It also encompasses the UNESCO Kruger to Canyon Biosphere which includes the Kruger Park and the Blyde River Canyon - the world's third largest green canyon.

It's an area rich in tourism destinations and activities that includes the famed Panorama Route - one of South Africa's most scenically beautiful tourism routes that takes in the magnificent Northern Drakensberg Escarpment that rises almost 1800m above the South African lowveld west of the vibrant little safari town of Hoedspruit.

Don't miss out on this spectacular part of South Africa... T alk to us about putting together an amazing itinerary that includes the best of Kruger and the Greater Kruger region .

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