Sundance Spirit

As you exit the Customs Hall into the awaiting public area after you have cleared South African Immigration & Customs formalities, look for the gentleman with a ‘Sundance Spirit’ sign displaying your surnames - he is your personal escort / driver who will transfer you to your hotel.

In Johannesburg you are staying two nights in the suburban city of Sandton at the hotel of your choice. Here, a wonderful selection of mid-market to top class hotels are dotted around & adjacent to the largest shopping mall on the African Continent. Sandton is considered a ‘very safe’ upper market area, ideal for those requiring more than simply a transit overnight stay.

Purposely we have left today entirely free for you to catch up on some sleep & have a good relaxing breakfast before starting out perhaps to explore the Sandton Mall or taking in a local sightseeing attraction. The Sandton Mall is huge & offers the full gambit of choices & types of shops. If it is clothing, sports goods, camera equipment, antiques bric-a-brac, right up through a diverse range of diamond wholesalers you are seeking then you’re sure to find it here in the Sandton Mall.

Take the opportunity to stock up on camera film if you haven’t already purchased quantities. You are unlikely to find better prices anywhere & certainly, on your itinerary you’re going to need a good quota.

And when pangs of hunger make their presence felt, there are many choices of restaurants ranging from the basic sandwich bars right up through fine dining establishments within the Mall.

An early breakfast, check-out & then you will be picked up & transferred to JNB International Airport for Air Botswana’s non-stop service to Maun.

Current schedules would have you arriving into Botswana’s gateway city to the Okavango Delta at approx. 1230hrs. On arrival & after clearing Customs & Immigrations procedures, you’ll be met & then transferred by light aircraft to Camp Moremi on Chief Island in the heart of the Moremi Reserve. The flight is approx 40 minutes & on arrival at the landing strip, you’ll be provided cooling drinks & driven to Camp Moremi, located 10 minutes away on the shoreline of the Xakanaxa Lagoon. (2 nights all inclusive stay)

There is nowhere on this planet quite like the Moremi Reserve for the remoteness, the myriad of eco-systems, the animals, birds, reptiles, insects & flora to be seen.

Camp Moremi is set out in & amongst giant Ebony trees. It offers only 11 secluded East African tented accommodation units, each built 3 feet above ground on a wooden deck with a separate but connected private en-suite bathroom with flush toilet, separate basin, hot & cold running water & a good sized shower cabinet. The Safari Tents have solid wood framed doors & are each of the 8 window panels are double canvass with a bug screen muslin gauze in-between interior & exterior layering.

There is a small private sundeck off the back door of each unit, with 2 Directors chairs, a table and lantern. Power is locally generated and available from 0500 until midnight each day. The bedside table lamps operate off a separate small 12 volt battery that is on continuously.

You will partake in an afternoon Game Drive, or if you wish, a makoro canoe safari – as camp Moremi has both water based & land based game viewing activities available depending upon guests choice. Mokoro canoes are traditional dugout wooden vessels, poled along by your professional game Ranger in and amongst the slow flowing river channels from where you can get very close to all manner of aquatic birds, hippo & elephant.

All meals, locally branded alcoholic beverages, beers, fine wines, soft drinks, bottled water, tea, coffee, snacks, safari drinks & laundry service is included with accommodation in your daily tariff at Camp Moremi.

Morning & afternoon Game drive or water based activities at Camp Moremi & in addition should you desire, a mid-morning game walk with your Ranger is available & highly recommended.

An early start & a water based transfer from Camp Moremi to Xugana Island Lodge ( pronounced Coo-Gana ).

This water transfer will take you through the many papyrus reed covered channels, lagoons & the main flow of the Okavango River. It undoubtedly will provide you wonderful up-close encounters with many species of birds & likely sightings of hippo, crocodile & elephants who like to wade belly deep in the cooling waters. Half way through the three hour water transfer, you’ll stop on one of the small islands that dot the Okavango for tea, coffee & biscuits & to stretch your legs.

Xugana Lagoon is widely accepted as the most pristine & spectacular of permanent water sites in the entire Okavango Delta. It is very private, having capacity for a total of 16 guests. The accommodation units are large, spacious thatched chalets, set out apart on the fringe of the island each with a lagoon view.

All game viewing & bird watching activities at Xugana are water based in addition to which, Ranger guided bush walks are to be recommended. On arrival your Camp Manager will meet you & run through a camp briefing before introducing you to your appointed Rangers who will take you on all safari related activities. Then, they will show you to your accommodation unit. Afternoon water based safari activities will commence approximately 1600hrs after which you’ll return to camp for dinner .

Safari activities, bird watching, sports fishing (Tiger Fish are highly prized fighting fish) & Ranger guided Mokoro canoe or bush walking is available as you choose, today.

All meals, locally branded wines & beers , soft drinks, bottled water & all safari related activities plus laundry service is included with your accommodation at Xugana Island Lodge each day.

Dependant upon the light aircraft transfer schedule, your mornings timetable of activities may vary. Usually, you will awake, have a light breakfast & be transferred to the close by bush airstrip for your approximate 1 hour flight to Savute Safari Lodge. Located in the heart of the Chobe National Park which is a dramatic wilderness region, dominated by seven rock outcrops guarding a relic marsh & now dry river channel. Savute is famous for a huge array of animals, many of whom are high on the endangered species lists. ( such as African Wild Hunting Dog )

Here too, are the Gubatsa Hills which are ideal hunting territory for elusive leopard, but more-so, offer glimpses into Africa’s time-warp with many examples of ancient man’s hand-painting of the animals they hunted.

Savute is famous for the herds of buffalo, zebra, wildebeest and resident bull elephants that inhabit this region. Over 300 species of birds & all of the predatory cats, elephant, giraffe, hyena, wild dog & many antelope species, are here and likely will be spotted during your 4 x 4 ranger conducted game drive experiences.

Accommodation at Savute is in twin-bedded safari suites, each privately located, with large sliding glass doors that sets this camp aside from all others. Daily tariff includes all locally branded alcoholic beverages, all meals, all snacks & safari drinks, bottled water, soft drinks & laundry services. You will be at Savute Safari Lodge 2 nights.

Savute Safari Lodge – game drive activities morning & evening & ranger guided bushwalks available at guests request. During the middle of the day laze around the pool or simply read a book, the choice is yours as after all, this is your vacation.

Dependant upon light aircraft schedules your activities today will include breakfast, perhaps a morning game drive, a light aircraft transfer to Kasane followed by a road transfer (2 hours) from Kasane out of Botswana clearing Immigration for both countries at a border post & on through to Victoria Falls.

There are a number of choices to consider & location is important in Victoria Falls. If you are keen to be close to the markets & the town centre the Ilala Lodge & The Kingdom are moderate standard properties. The Victoria Falls Hotel located in the centre of town is the ‘grand old lady’ - beautifully maintained & with all of the comforts of bygone eras, such as a private library, cigar & smoking lounge, ladies only lounge & rose garden terrace within earshot of thunderous Victoria Falls.

The most prestigious property is the 5* Stanley & Livingstone. This is luxury personified, however it rightly commands top dollar.

Out of town some 10 minutes is located the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge &
The Inter-Continental Elephant Hills.

These two properties are superior properties: the Inter-Continental boasts a superb 18 hole International golf course, although having elephants, warthogs & antelope as frequent visitors on the fairways does tend to slow play down at times.

Whichever property takes your fancy, you will spend the next two nights
here in Victoria Falls.

After a leisurely breakfast, you’ll be collected & taken on a private walking excursion of the Zimbabwe side of the Victoria Falls. The first European to set eyes upon what are considered to be one of the eight natural wonders of the world, was Dr David Livingstone. Here, formed millions of years past by tectonic plate movement, the mighty Zambezi river plunges over 90 metres into a narrow gorge which hurls the spray back skywards, often to be seen 15 kms away. The natives christened the falls ‘the smoke that thunders’ – a description that certainly captures their unrelenting power.

This afternoon is at leisure – time to wander the wonderful local arts & crafts markets ( some truly amazing bargains to be made here on stone or ebony carved animals & faces, pottery & handicrafts).

This evening you will be treated to a sundowners cruise on the Zambezi River including snacks & beverages. If you fancy a good dinner, we would recommend you make reservations to go to a famous restaurant called ‘The Boma’. It is no more than a 5 minute taxi ride & offers a huge array of game meats, fish, buffet salads, fresh vegetables & diet crushing deserts.

After breakfast, you will be collected & taken by minibus to the Victoria Falls International Airport & then transferred by light aircraft to the Linkwasha bush airstrip in the heart of the Hwange National Park. Hwange is considered one of the last remaining havens in Southern Africa for huge herds of elephant, buffalo, zebra & many species of antelope plus, the accompanying array of predators who pursue them.

Many diverse habitats shelter these large concentrations of beasts & equally, attract more than 400 species of birds. The two private safari camps located each on their own respective private concessions within Hwange that we recommend are Makalolo Plains & Linkwasha.

Both camps accommodate less than 18 guests so they are secluded & deliver an exquisite personalized service & product. Game drive activities are carried out in 4 x 4 customized safari vehicles or, guided with an armed Ranger on bush walks dependant upon guest preferences.

All locally branded alcoholic drinks, soft drinks & bottled water, snacks, morning & afternoon tea, all meals & laundry service is provided with your accommodation at these two Wilderness safari operated locations. Both Makalolo Plains & Linkwasha come highly recommended. ( 2 nights all inclusive stay )

Today you will have a morning & afternoon-evening safari game drive within the private concessions of Makalolo Plains or Linkwasha in the Hwange National Park. Between game drives, you will be returned to camp for relaxation time & lunch. Both camps have swimming pools & guest lounges which ideally are suited to a ‘siesta’ or quiet reading time.

Leaving Hwange National Park after morning game drive activities & breakfast, fly the short transfer to Victoria Falls and connect to South African Airways flight to JNB (1 night in airport location hotel)

After an early breakfast, a shuttle transfer to JNB International for your flight to Nairobi, Kenya departing JNB at 0930. The South African Airways flight to Nairobi is a 4 hour sector. On arrival, & after clearing Kenyan Immigration & Customs formalities you will be met & transferred to your choice of city hotels ( 1night accommodation, bed & breakfast basis )

Departing from your hotel after breakfast to Wilson airport from where you will fly first to Kilimanjaro in Tanzania & there, transfer to another aircraft for the flight to the eastern Serengeti & Kirawira Camp.

This is a traditional East African tented camp that prides itself on Victorian elegance of service coupled to brilliant game viewing. It is heralded as one of the prime locations to excel during the Great Migration as it is bisected by a centuries old game trail used by Gnu & Zebra as they trudge towards the river crossing & on north into the Masai Mara across the Kenyan border. ( 2 nights stay, all meals & game drives included )

At Kirawira Tented Camp – game drive activities are conducted commencing early morning & again in the afternoon-evening. Breakfast is served on your return from morning game drives, then you have time to relax, have lunch & relax again until the afternoon–evening game drive departs. The Serengeti Plains teem with plains game & predator species so expect to be treated to some amazing spectacles

Departing Kirawira Camp by road today heading for what is widely accepted as the most ecologically diverse region in East Africa – the Ngorongoro Crater. En-route have a picnic lunch & expect to arrive at the Lodge mid-afternoon. This once active but now extinct volcano is home to many protected & highly endangered species like the Black Rhino. Large prides of black maned lions roam the floor of the crater which is almost 20kms wide. Perched high up on the crest of the crater rim, lies Ngorongoro Crater Lodge with 3 separate camps limited to no more than 12 suites in two of them & 6 suites in the other. ( 2 nights stay )

Full day Game Drive activities are carried out on the floor of the crater,
below the Camp & you are guaranteed to see the very best of African
wildlife.

Leaving Ngorongoro behind, you now head to Lake Manyara National Park, famous for its tree climbing lions & myriad of bird species. It is nestled below tower 600m red cliffs of the escarpment & backed by a thin line of thick green forest which sustains a wealth of wildlife. The Park also has the most dense population of elephants per sq km of anywhere in Tanzania. On arrival at Lake Manyara & after checking in to your accommodation, safari activities will be the order of the afternoon & early evening. (1 night at Lake Manyara Lodge, bed & breakfast basis )

Day 20 - Lake Manyara / Arusha / Nairobi

After breakfast & some safari activities until mid-morning, from Lake Manyara it is a good two hour drive to Arusha where you will stop for lunch after which, a short flight direct to Nairobi’s Wilson airport where you’ll be met & transferred to your choice of hotel.

After breakfast a transfer to Nairobi’s Wilson airport & a short 50 minute light aircraft hop over the great sprawling plains westward to the Masai Mara National Park. So as to take advantage of location (where the game is quite literally on your doorstep) we suggest staying at Keekorok Lodge.

While Keekorok Lodge is considered 3 star, it is very comfortable accommodation with a good standard of service but in terms of game viewing it is ‘prime’, being in the direct path of the Great Migration. This afternoon game drive activities will be conducted on the rolling flatlands of the Masai Mara Game Reserve before returning to the Lodge for dinner.

Today will be your final day of safari activities. What better way than to start it in celebration of your fantastic African adventures by taking sunrise hot air balloon flight, culminating with a champagne breakfast. If that’s not on the menu, then certainly both morning & afternoon game drives are available or perhaps a walking safari under the watchful & ever vigilant eye of a Maasai warrior guide.

After breakfast, you’ll be transferred by light aircraft from the Keekorok Lodge bush airstrip to Mt Kilimanjaro airport where you’ll clear Tanzanian Immigration & from here, fly on to Nairobi, arriving after midday. South African Airways non-stop service departs for Johannesburg at 1510hrs & arrives at 1900hrs local time.

For those wishing to extend & stay in Nairobi, this can be easily added.

Inclusions :

·	22 nights accomodation in a combination of classic tented safari camps, safari lodges & selected hotels.
·	All meet & greet and transfers specified in the itinerary from airports to hotels & v.v.
·	Water transfer from Camp Moremi to Xugana Island Lodge
·	All Inclusive stay at Camp Moremi, Xugana Island Lodge & Savute Safari Lodge
·	Land transfer Kasane to Victoria Falls
·	Guided walking tour of Victoria Falls
·	Zambezi River sunset cruise
·	All inclusive stay at Makalolo Plains Safari Lodge
·	All meals, game drives & safari activities at Kirawira Camp - Serengeti
·	Land Transfer from Kirawira to Ngorongoro Crater including picnic lunch
·	All inclusive stay at Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
·	Land transfer to Lake Manyara Lodge - accommodation on BB basis, including game drive activities
·	Land transfer from Lake Manyara to Arusha
·	All meals & game drive activities at Keekorok Lodge - Masai Mara

Included air transfers & scheduled flights:

·	Light aircraft transfers in Botswana: Maun to Camp Moremi; Xugana to Savute; Savute to Kasane
·	Victoria Falls to Makalolo Plains airstrip roundtrip
·	Nairobi to Kilimanjaro; Kilimanjaro to Serengeti; Arusha to Nairobi; Nairobi to Masai Mara roundtrip