Botswana and Zambia (February 2010)
I jointed yet another tour sponsored by a zoological society. This time to Botswana and Zambia. Because of the small turnout, the tour company combined two groups to form a group of nine. Two of the members were former zoo directors.
The itinerary included 3 nights at Kalahari Plains Camp in Central Kalahari Game Reserve, 2 nights each in Chitabe Camp and Xigera Camp in Okavango Delta, and 2 nights at Toka Leya Camp, near Victoria Falls, in Zambia.
Click here to view a larger map
Days 1 & 2:
Since we were from various parts of the country, we met at Atlanta International to catch a flight to Johannesburg (JNB), South Africa. After a long (15+ hours) but pleasant overnight flight, we reached JNB in late afternoon. We checked into a nice hotel near the airport, had a group dinner at the hotel, and hit the sack.
Day 3:
We took an early flight from Johannesburg to Maun, Botswana, on an ATR 72 twin-turboprop operated by Air Botswana. We then transferred to a 12-passenger single-engine plane to head to an airstrip in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.
We drove about 30 minutes from the airstrip and checked into the Kalahari Plains Camp, where we would spend the next three nights. Although this was the most rustic of the 4 camps where we stayed, we didn't have to "rough it" at all. The facilities and the services were superb.
Main Tent (Dining Room, Bar, Lounge, Observation Deck)
Individual Room
After an afternoon tea, we went on our very first game drive in Botswana. We saw a pride of seven lions in the distance, but they were heading toward us. In fact they marched right by our vehicles. What a start! We pestered them for a while and then headed back to the camp. Since the pride was heading toward the watering hole by the camp, we could see them from the camp, too.
After seeing the lions disappear into a beautiful sunset, we had a nice diner and went to bed early because we were expected to wake up at 4:30 a.m. next morning.
The itinerary included 3 nights at Kalahari Plains Camp in Central Kalahari Game Reserve, 2 nights each in Chitabe Camp and Xigera Camp in Okavango Delta, and 2 nights at Toka Leya Camp, near Victoria Falls, in Zambia.
Click here to view a larger map
Days 1 & 2:
Since we were from various parts of the country, we met at Atlanta International to catch a flight to Johannesburg (JNB), South Africa. After a long (15+ hours) but pleasant overnight flight, we reached JNB in late afternoon. We checked into a nice hotel near the airport, had a group dinner at the hotel, and hit the sack.
Day 3:
We took an early flight from Johannesburg to Maun, Botswana, on an ATR 72 twin-turboprop operated by Air Botswana. We then transferred to a 12-passenger single-engine plane to head to an airstrip in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.
We drove about 30 minutes from the airstrip and checked into the Kalahari Plains Camp, where we would spend the next three nights. Although this was the most rustic of the 4 camps where we stayed, we didn't have to "rough it" at all. The facilities and the services were superb.
Main Tent (Dining Room, Bar, Lounge, Observation Deck)
Individual Room
After an afternoon tea, we went on our very first game drive in Botswana. We saw a pride of seven lions in the distance, but they were heading toward us. In fact they marched right by our vehicles. What a start! We pestered them for a while and then headed back to the camp. Since the pride was heading toward the watering hole by the camp, we could see them from the camp, too.
After seeing the lions disappear into a beautiful sunset, we had a nice diner and went to bed early because we were expected to wake up at 4:30 a.m. next morning.
Day 4:
A wake-up call (not by phone, of course) at 4:30 a.m., a simple breakfast 5:00 a.m., and off we went for an early morning drive. We explored various "pans" near the camp. We were fortunate to find three cheetahs heading to a watering hole, and we were able to observe them engage in various activities for a long time! No hunt, however.
After such a great show, other animals like springboks, oryxes, jackals, and birds seemed rather mundane. It's amazing how quickly one becomes jaded! We returned to the camp at about 11 a.m., enjoyed nice lunch, and has some free time until the late afternoon game drive after wonderful afternoon tea at 4 p.m.
Since the camp is in a national game reserve, nobody is allowed to be out of the camp after 7 p.m., meaning that we had a rather short game drive. The main find of this drive was the same pride of lions that we saw the previous evening. This time, they were just lounging around.
We then enjoyed some snacks and drinks while viewing yet another beautiful sunset. I think the wine made the sunset appear even more beautiful.
Day 5:
After a breakfast at 5 a.m. we drove toward Deception Valley, so named because a part of the valley appears to hold water because of the mirrage effect. On our way to the valley, we encountered a road blockade by guinea fowls.
Although the animals we saw in Deception Valley were pretty much the same as those we saw near the camp, we enjoyed the scenenry with more trees and different vegetation. We did see ostriches and a large herd of hartebeests
A wake-up call (not by phone, of course) at 4:30 a.m., a simple breakfast 5:00 a.m., and off we went for an early morning drive. We explored various "pans" near the camp. We were fortunate to find three cheetahs heading to a watering hole, and we were able to observe them engage in various activities for a long time! No hunt, however.
After such a great show, other animals like springboks, oryxes, jackals, and birds seemed rather mundane. It's amazing how quickly one becomes jaded! We returned to the camp at about 11 a.m., enjoyed nice lunch, and has some free time until the late afternoon game drive after wonderful afternoon tea at 4 p.m.
Since the camp is in a national game reserve, nobody is allowed to be out of the camp after 7 p.m., meaning that we had a rather short game drive. The main find of this drive was the same pride of lions that we saw the previous evening. This time, they were just lounging around.
We then enjoyed some snacks and drinks while viewing yet another beautiful sunset. I think the wine made the sunset appear even more beautiful.
Day 5:
After a breakfast at 5 a.m. we drove toward Deception Valley, so named because a part of the valley appears to hold water because of the mirrage effect. On our way to the valley, we encountered a road blockade by guinea fowls.
Although the animals we saw in Deception Valley were pretty much the same as those we saw near the camp, we enjoyed the scenenry with more trees and different vegetation. We did see ostriches and a large herd of hartebeests
