Best of Botswana Adaptive Safari

Our trip starts in Maun, Botswana – the gateway to the Okavango Delta. Maun is reached via international flights connecting from Johannesburg, Addis Ababa or Windhoek. To disembark the plane in Maun a ‘Washington Chair’ is used with assistance from airport staff. After transferring back to your chair, clearing customs and collecting your luggage you will be met at the airport by your guide. We have adapted 4×4 safari vehicles with a hydraulic ramp, once in the vehicle you can transfer to one of our seats or we can secure your chair to our vehicle.

Our trained guides and staff will be on hand to support where required. Today you are staying on the outskirts of Maun, at Thamalakane River Lodge; located on the banks of the Thamalakane River, impressing with incredible sunsets over the water. The hotel has adapted rooms with roll in showers and ramps but no handrails. This afternoon you will take a sunset boat cruise (water level dependent) keeping an eye out for kingfisher, heron, stork, hippo and many other wetland species found in the area.

The next morning after a good breakfast you are out on safari in our adapted vehicle. You’re heading into the Moremi Game Reserve, deep in the world-famous Okavango Delta. This is a pristine wilderness, Moremi is almost 5,000 square kilometres of protected environment, dedicated to wildlife conservation. This is the land of David Attenborough documentaries, where prides of lion do battle with mega herds of buffalo and wild dog chase their prey across huge wetlands. You’ll be driven for 5-6 hours, slowly winding your way across the Moremi, always on the lookout for elephant, leopards and some of the 550 bird species that are found here.

Our luxury camp, set on the edge of Xakanaxa Lagoon, is a haven for birdlife, including Pel’s fishing owl, fish eagles, and pied kingfishers. The raised decking connects all areas for easy access. You will spend two nights here. This afternoon, take a guided boat trip into the lagoon, using a ramp for boarding. The two-hour excursion offers chances to see hippos, crocodiles, and possibly elephants feeding at the water’s edge. Enjoy drinks and canapés during the sunset cruise, soaking in the sights and sounds of this pristine wilderness.

This morning you’ll wake with the dawn to head out on a game drive in our adapted safari vehicle. A day on safari starts early, as during these cooler hours is when the predators are most active. After a hot drink you’ll be in the land cruiser and on the lookout for lion, leopard and many of the other large species that are home here. You’ll spend 3 hours or so out on safari before returning to camp for a big breakfast and then time to relax. As the day cools you’ll re-board your safari vehicle for an afternoon safari. This will last until the day light disappears, and you’ll come back to camp.

For the next 3 nights you are staying at our specially designed mobile camp. We use large tents of 4.5 m x 3m x 2 to 2.5 m, built with a thick layer for insulation on the ground and a partition between the bedroom and private bathroom interior. The camp has been designed for wheelchair users, the bathrooms are equipped with chairs with padded seat and folding armrests for transfer from wheelchair to shower or toilet. The camp is fully serviced with our chefs, guides and camp staff. Hot water is brought for your showers and fresh water is available for drinking and cleaning teeth.

You have 3 nights at our mobile camp to explore the beautiful Khwai area. Game drives are the main activity here, this is a key area for many big predators and offers some of the best game viewing in Botswana. Your day will follow the familiar schedule of morning and afternoon game drives. Evenings are spent around the fire, telling stories, discussing the day’s sightings and getting excited for the following day. Being outside, around the fire, with the sounds of the bush all around you; this is the real African safari; it is not the most luxurious, but these are the nights that you will always remember.

This morning you’ll leave our mobile camp, wave goodbye to your chefs and camp crew and make your way south, stopping in Maun for lunch before heading down to the Boteti River, on the edge of Makgadikgadi National Park. Your camp is located on the banks of the Boteti River, with sweeping views across the floodplains. The camp sits on the route of the zebra and wildebeest migration in Botswana, not as famous as the Great Migration in Tanzania but equally spectacular. The herds can be seen from your lodge, even your room! This area is semi-arid, much different from your experience in the wetter delta areas in the previous day’s safaris.

Game drives are the focus here, following the banks of the river looking for predators and different species found here such as brown hyena, genet and caracal. The lodge is joined via decking between rooms and main areas. There are a couple of points in the lodge (not to the rooms) where there are small steps. We will either support your access with a ramp or camp staff will help if necessary. You’ll spend the night two nights here on safari before returning to Maun where your safari ends. We can extend the trip with a flight to Vic Falls or Cape Town to continue your adventure.