16 days London to London.
This is the ideal southern African air safari for a small group. It is a totally unique trip with each safari escorted by a private naturalist guide and private pilot, with the exclusive use of a light aircraft for the duration of the trip.

Days 1 & 2. Depart London
Depart London on the overnight flight to Johannesburg, where you spend the night at the Mount Grace Hotel.

Days 3 & 4. Sossusvlei, Namibia [B, L, D]
Today you meet your guide and board the flight to Windhoek and Sossusvlei Wilderness Camp where you spend two nights. Sossusvlei Wilderness Camp is situated on a 19,000 hectare private reserve, affording close access to Sossusvlei, but also offering privacy and exclusivity. It consists of nine superbly appointed rooms, each with en-suite bathroom and a private plunge pool.

Activities offered here include early morning excursions by 4-wheel drive to the dunes, as well as to the 'vlei' itself at the end of the Tsauchab River. (A vlei is a dry river bed that flows only with exceptional rainfall.) Generally breakfast is then served under the shade of camelthorn trees, before returning to the camp at midday. Afternoon and evening excursions then follow on the private reserve, with the possibility of seeing Springbok, Gemsbok and ostrich, with Spotted Hyena, Cape Fox, Bat-eared Fox and Aardwolf on night drives. It is however, the magnificent changing colours and desert landscape that many come to see and photograph. Wonderful early morning ballooning safaris are also available as an optional extra.

Days 5 & 6. Etosha, Namibia [B, L, D]
This morning's flight takes you over the dunes of the Namib and over Sossusvlei itself for an alternative view from the air and then westwards to Meob Bay on the shores of the southern Skeleton Coast. There is spectacular desert and Skeleton Coast scenery, where the dunes and the desert meet the Atlantic Ocean. The flight up the coast takes you over the site of the Eduard Bolen shipwreck, past Conception Bay and around Sandwich Harbour and its famous lagoon. Landing at Swakopmund you transfer to Walvis Bay harbour for a boat trip (weather permitting) to view seals, schools of dolphins and even penguins. You may also see turtles, sunfish, and a wonderful variety of birds. Following a seafood lunch you depart on a scenic flight up the Skeleton Coast, past Cape Cross Seal Colony, before turning east to fly up the Huab River to Ongava Lodge for two nights (see page 51 for more information). Here you will enjoy game drives into Etosha where Lion, Elephant, Cheetah, Gemsbok, Springbok, and Hartebeest can be seen at many of the waterholes in the park. In addition, night drives, game-viewing from hides, and walks with armed guides can be enjoyed on the private reserve.

Days 7 & 8. Okavango, Botswana [B, L, D]
Depart for Botswana and the Okavango Delta, flying via Grootfontein and Maun to clear customs and immigration. From Maun you fly into the heart of the Okavango for a 2- night stay at Tubu Tree Camp. (For information on this camp please see page 42.)

Days 9 & 10. Linyanti, Botswana [B, L, D]
From Tubu Tree Camp you fly to the Linyanti for the game-viewing highlight of the safari where you stay at Savuti Camp for two nights.

Savuti Camp is in the southern part of the Linyanti Reserve built along the Savuti Channel and can accommodate eight guests amongst wide-open grassland. It has five large tented rooms, each with its own en-suite bathroom with a shower, hand basin and flush toilet. Activities on offer include game drives during the day and night, together with walking safaris. There are also a number of hides nearby from where it is possible to view wildlife away from vehicles. The gameviewing in the area is excellent - Lion, large herds of Cape Buffalo, Cheetah, Wild Dog, Elephant, Hyena, giraffe, Blue Wildebeest and Burchell's Zebra are all in abundance. Leopard sightings here are also good.

Days 11 & 12. Victoria Falls, Zambia [B, L, D]
After a morning game drive, you head for Kasane and then Livingstone, the small town on the Zambian side of Victoria Falls where you spend two nights at the River Club.

The River Club which has ten luxurious rooms overlooking the Zambezi River, is a short distance from the Falls and offers a full range of activities both on the water and at the Falls. (See page 59 for additional information on the River Club.)

Days 13 & 14. Lower Zambezi, Zimbabwe [B, L, D]
Drive across the famous Zambezi bridge with its great views of the Falls and then take time to explore the Falls region from the Zimbabwean side before flying onto Mana Pools for a 2-night stop at Chikwenya Camp on the boundary of Mana Pools National Park.

The area is a photographer's paradise, as tall Acacia albida trees dot the open flood plains, with the mountains of the Rift Valley providing the backdrop. The area is renowned for its large numbers of Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Hippo, Crocodile, Leopard, Lion and Eland that concentrate along the river when the inland waterholes dry up. You will be game-viewing in open 4-wheel drive vehicles, on foot, in hides and in Canadianstyle two person canoes.

Day 15. Homeward [B]
After your last game activity in the Mana Pools area, you fly to back to Johannesburg where you land in the afternoon and connect with your flight to London.

Day 16. Arrive home
Arrive into the UK in the early hours.

Costs...
 

From £6,895 Prices above are per person where 2 or 4 are travelling together. We can operate this safari with up to 12 people and prices will reduce accordingly.

£1,295

Flights, meals as indicated, transfers, most drinks & guided activities

Safari camps & lodges

Thursdays, Saturdays & Mondays throughout the year, based on 2 or 4 people travelling together

How to book...

Call us on 0845 003 2214