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quad bike, glide through the delta in a mokoro, join the herd on a horseback safari, meet the meerkats, mobile camping safari, letaka safaris, northern highlights, botswana.

Letaka Safaris Northern Highlights

You will love.

• Traditional mobile tented safari
• Camping under the stars
• Diverse game viewing and activities
• Excellent safari guides
• Exclusive bush experience

Let us design your perfect itinerary.

10 UNFORGETTABLE DAYS

Please note:.

This example itinerary is based on the ‘Botswana‘s Northern Highlights’ 10-day safari. The journey is also available in reverse and with alternate routings taking in the Kalahari or crossing the border into Zambia or Zimbabwe (to see Victoria Falls) or Namibia (for the Caprivi Strip). Please contact us for full itineraries and details of set departures.

DAY 1-3 | MOREMI GAME RESERVE | 3 NIGHTS

Charter from Maun to the Xakanaxa airstrip in the Moremi Game Reserve to commence your ‘Northern Highlights Mobile Camping Safari’.

Adjacent to, and partially surrounded by the Okavango Delta, the Moremi is amongst the best game reserves in Africa. Xakanaxa has a resident herd of several hundred buffalo, whose range covers the territories of at least four prides of lion which may often be seen flanking the ever-moving herd. Breeding herds of elephant move between their browsing areas in the mopane forests and the fresh water of the Okavango. The birdlife variety is outstanding.

DAY 4-6 | KHWAI COMMUNITY AREA | 3 NIGHTS

Today travel North-East towards the Khwai Community Area. The Manuchira Channel is known as the Khwai River at its eastern most extremity. The day’s journey follows this water course, with the track weaving from the riverside and floodplains into the mopane veld and the woodlands. Not being in the reserve means you can explore after dark, viewing nocturnal animals that are rarely encountered during the day.

The Khwai region boasts excellent populations of both bull elephant as well as breeding herds. Lion, leopard, serval, and African wildcat are common predators, with wild dog and cheetah less so. Buffalo use this area seasonally with large herds moving in during the summer rains and the swampy areas in the west are home to ungulates such as tsesebe, blue wildebeest, giraffe, kudu, sable antelope, roan antelope, impala and red lechwe. Truly a smorgasbord of wildlife!

DAY 7-9 | CHOBE NATIONAL PARK | 3 NIGHTS

Head further north en-route to Chobe National Park staying in the Savuti region which is located right in the heart of the Chobe between the Moremi and Chobe Rivers.

For many years, the Savuti channel which is fed from the Selinda/Linyanti river systems was dry. Only recently and due to shifting tectonic plates, the channel is filling in the wet season, creating a unique wildlife spectacle with more animals and birdlife flocking to the area for life sustaining water.

Unlike the vast majority of the country, Savuti is not flat landscape. Large outcrops of volcanic rock reach up out of the Kalahari sands, towering over the endless savannah. This landscape is ideal for ungulate populations and is home to strong prides of lion and hyena clans which makes for dramatic wildlife interaction and excellent game viewing opportunities.

Undoubtedly it is the interaction between lion and elephant that is the most interesting aspect of Savuti. These remarkable lion, whose prides range from 20-30 members, have learned over the years how to hunt these massive pachyderms that are supposedly above predation.

DAY 10 | CHOBE RIVER | END OF SAFARI

On your final day on safari you will leave Savuti to travel along the Chobe River, arriving at Chobe Safari Lodge where you will stop for lunch before taking a leisurely afternoon boat cruise before ending your safari.

NEED TO KNOW

9 nights / 10 days, please enquire for pricing, start: maun, botswana     |     finish: kasane, botswana.

Letaka Safaris operate set departures – please enquire for dates. Private departures also available – and highly recommended for families or small groups! Operates year round. Peak season: July to November. Miminimum 2 / maximum 7 guests on safari (except on tailormade private departures when exceptions may be possible) Minimum age: 12 years on scheduled departures / 5 years on private safaris. Single supplement may apply Flights and insurance on request Terms and conditions apply – please request a copy of our booking form for all details. Price is subject to change due to currency fluctuation and unforeseen changes beyond our control Please contact us for pricing, dates and a full itinerary

Exellent and wonderful, reaching way above expectations.

Julia you did a fantastic job - everything was first class. Well organised, efficient and stress free. We all agreed it was the best holiday we've ever had. Cant wait to travel with CSC again.

We are so happy we put our trust in CSC, we had an amazing adventure and would recommend them to anyone.

The trip exceeded my expectations and was the best family holiday I have ever had. Our children simply loved it and now I know more about African wildlife than they do about our own farm animals.

Classic Safari are the people who genuinely know other culture and offer incredible insight to perfectly meet your expectations.

We loved it all. Our son wants to go back tomorrow. We would ALL go back again!

An amazing experience - the best family holiday we have ever had. We were extremely impressed by the meticulous attention to our itinerary. I can't speak highly enough of all the elements of this exciting journey!

Thank you for making our trip to Africa so spectacular. The attention to detail really made it special. It really was the trip of a lifetime.

Very knowledgeable and patient. Our trip was all that we hoped for. Wonderful!

Everything was perfect! Advice and information on destinations and activities hit everything I had hoped to experience. I contacted the Classic Safari Company upon recommendation and have now, in turn, recommended to others.

You can't improve on perfection. I had my best birthday and holiday with my family celebrating my 80th birthday in Africa. Everything that Julia organised was perfect and the whole trip was a highlight!

The trip of a lifetime, couldn't have dreamt of a better adventure if I tried.

Absolutely everything was first class & so well organised.

Classic Safari Company has done it again! A unique experience that ticked all the boxes - wildlife, culture and dining experience. A dream come true!

Their experience and knowledge of Africa is evident and we couldn't have been happier with the total package. This has given us a taste for Africa - now we are ready for more.

If you want the most sensational experience in Africa let Julia and the staff at Classic Safari Co plan it for you! Their knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm for their job means your every wish will be fulfilled.

Classic Safari is the place to go to for "top end" adventure travel.

Classic Safari Company were brilliant - 10/10

The Classic Safari Company is the best I have dealt with. Extremely knowledgeable & professional, friendly, patient & understanding of first timers to Africa.

It certainly was the best trip we have EVER had. The experiences were mind blowing.  We want everyone we know to experience Africa - the animals, the people - magical.

Would do it all again and not change a moment. Best holiday ever!

An absolutely fantastic travel company - every one of the many trips they have organised for us over 22 years have been faultless and fabulous.

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Letaka Safaris Mobile Camping

Letaka Safaris mobile camping in Botswana: for excellent guiding, simple but good quality accommodation and a wonderful safari experience.

Letaka Safaris tent, Botswana

© Letaka Safaris

Throughout Botswana Botswana

Tribes style: modest.

• Quality guiding
• Comfortable tents
• Experience unspoilt wilderness
• Variety of locations

Letaka Safaris operates group mobile camping trips in Botswana to a very high standard. We recommend these safaris to those seeking the excitement of camping in the wilds of the country whilst experiencing some comforts such as en-suite bathroom facilities and enjoying the company of a small group. We can choose an itinerary to suit your dates and requirements, the most popular being the Northern Highlights .

Letaka Camping takes place using large tents. The tents have a high roof and are kitted out with solid base beds (all linen and towels included) and a 2m x 3m shade verandah with camping chairs to the front and a similar size en-suite bathroom area through a zip door at the back. Water for your bucket shower is heated as needed on campfires and the toilet is a long-drop loo.

Top-quality meals are prepared seemingly out of nowhere as your highly skilled camp staff bake bread and prepare feasts while you are out with your guide on a game drive! Dine under the stars at proper tables with good South African wines to wash down a three-course dinner and sit around the campfire with a nightcap, listening to the noise of the bush. Mess tent shelters are erected in camps for shade and weather protection.

The safaris operate a variety of routes covering Moremi, Savuti, Chobe, Central Kalahari, Nxai Pan, Makgadikgadi Pan and the Okavango Panhandle. Extensions to Victoria Falls and Livingstone can be arranged.

Letaka Safaris are run by Brent and Grant Reed, known locally as 'the Letaka Brothers', the name coming from a local word which sounds like Letaka that means 'reeds'! Originally all safaris were owner-guided but the company has now grown and employs 7 additional guides. The quality of guiding is at the forefront of a Letaka safari, Brent and Grant have strong ties with the Okavango Guiding School which they founded to successfully elevate the standard of guiding throughout Botswana.

Call:  01473 890499

Start planning your tailor-made holiday now. Tell us what you want, and we will tailor make your perfect trip.

Client Rating for Botswana 5/5 from 120 reviews

We have had many wonderful holidays over the years, including two self-drives in southern Africa. This has to be one of the best all-round experiences we have had and Letaka has a lot to do with that, we feel very privileged to have had their expertise and friendship whilst we were their guests.

High-quality mobile camping safaris in northern Botswana.

If you’re looking for a high-quality tailor-made travel experience crafted with thoughtfulness and enthusiasm by friendly experts, we’d love to hear from you.

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Letaka Safaris

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Letaka Safaris - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Letaka Safaris - Maun

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Letaka Safaris - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2024)

• Letaka Safaris
• Botswana Safari Mobile Safaris

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&Beyond Mobile Expeditions

Letaka Safaris was established in the year 2000 and the owners have over 40 years combined guiding experience. Mobile tented safaris in Botswana are, without a doubt, the best way to experience one of Africa’s last unspoilt wilderness areas.

Letaka mobile safaris are arguably the finest mobile safari operation in all of Botswana. Owned managed and guided by the Reed brothers, Grant and Brent whom have over 40 years if guiding and safari experience between them.

They excel where others have failed with their offerings of set departure group trips on predetermined routes. Generally speaking we are not usually supportive of group safaris but in the case of mobile safaris we feel the potential negative dynamic of individual personalities potentially clashing is mitigated by the sense of adventure one must have to take part in these trips.

Letaka safaris offer multiple trip options from 3 nights to 10 nights safari adventures visiting various national parks and reserves. They do also offer fully tailor made and private safaris, which we are most keen but there is of course a fairly big big price jump from group safari trips to private itineraries.

Vehicle safaris and full day game drives are interspersed with ad-hoc big game walking safaris and tracking dangerous game, along with Mokoro and boat safaris when in the Okavango Delta.

It is important to note that whist walking safaris are very common in Africa, it is really only the Zimbabwe professional guides, Zambian and Botswana professional guides that are truly comfortable and skilled enough at tracking and approaching big and dangerous game such as elephant, lion and rhino. Herds of buffalo will be approached but solitary male buffalo and leopard will be kept at some distance.

Letaka have an incredible reputation for the quality of their guides and indeed as a result of that have set up the Okavango guide training school to which Botswana’s main operators, Wilderness Safaris, Kwando, &Beyond etc all send their guides to rather than running their own in house guide training programme. They now employ 7 of Botswana’s top guides, all having gone through this excellent school?

We love Letaka simply for their authentic, pioneering, old school approach to mobile safaris. Extremely comfortable, semi luxury camps, serviced to a very high standard yet in extraordinary locations with all the freedom that mobile safaris offer.

Letaka offer multiple set departure and bespoke private safari itineraries throughout Botswana for a varying number of nights to best suit our clients . The guide price below is based on their 9 night set departure safari that takes in Chobe National Park, Savuti and the Okavango Delta. Please speak to one of our Botswana specialists to discuss all the set departure options or help design a bespoke mobile safari with Letaka.

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Letaka Safaris - Khwai

Letaka safaris – khwai.

Letaka Safaris is run by Grant and Brent Reed, brothers who were brought up in Botswana and therefore know and understand the area and its wildlife extremely well. If you love Africa and the truly wild regions, then your ideal safari is probably a small private camp away from the well-trodden tourist routes, which you can do with Letaka with a private guide included. They offer private trips and group set-departure trips and will take you to some of Botswana’s most beautiful and remote areas.

Accommodation & Facilities Letaka Safaris use a private campsite in the Khwai Community adjacent to the Moremi Game Reserve. Your camp will be set up on arrival, and consists of 4x3m walk-in sahara style tents with en-suite bathrooms. The bathrooms feature a safari loo and a bucket shower. The camp also has a dining tent, should it be needed, although mostly you’ll eat outside. Meals are prepared over a camp fire, and there’s always a good supply of cold drinks, tea and coffee, and water to keep thirst at bay.

Wildlife & Activities Activities here include day and night game drives, guided walks and mokoro (dug-out canoe) trips, all of which will add a very different dimension to your safari.  The opportunity to watch hippo in one of the many pools which form on the Khwai River is a highlight.  Thanks to several large permanent channels leading from the Moremi Game Reserve and the Okavango Delta, the Khwai region has a plentiful water supply, and as a result there are excellent populations of both bull elephant and breeding herds. Lion, leopard, serval and African wildcat are common predators of the region, while wild dog and cheetah can sometimes be seen.  Buffalo also use this area seasonally with large herds moving in during the summer rains. Red lechwe like the swampy areas in the west, and the other species which can be spotted include tsessebe, blue wildebeest, giraffe, kudu, sable antelope, roan antelope and impala.

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Letaka Fully Serviced Tented Safari

Providing the Okavango Delta’s premier mobile safaris, Letaka Safaris provides trips right across the region. Operating since 2000, this excellent outfit has established itself as a market leader in mobile safaris in Botswana, offering a full range of itineraries on a scheduled departure basis. Letaka stand out for the excellent levels of guiding, comfortable camps and service. In addition to their excellent standard itineraries they also offer specialist birding safaris.

Letaka Fully Serviced Tented Safari, operated by top safari guides Brent and Grant Reed, provides a wide variety of mobile safari options including tented safaris, driving and walking and lodge based safaris. Specialist birding safaris are also offered on scheduled birding departures to their mobile safaris, the leaders in this field.

Letaka Safaris use tried and tested walk-in wilderness tents (3 x 4m). These tents have a separate en-suite bathroom with long drop facilities and bucket showers, with water heated to order. Each tent has a veranda to the front. Tents are lit with oil or paraffin lamps on the veranda and bathroom, but for safety an LED rechargeable light is provided in the tent.

With a focus on guiding, Letaka Fully Serviced Tented Safari offers a high level service provided by well qualified guides with a passion for the bush. Partnering with the Okavango Guiding School, which strives to empower the citizens of Botswana in the tourism industry and thus promoting conservation through education, Letaka Safaris makes a meaningful contribution to guide development within Botswana.

Letaka Fully Serviced Tented Safari accept anyone over the age of 12 on scheduled departures, however on private trips all ages can be accommodated. For itineraries which include guided walks a minimal level of fitness is required, but guides will discuss this with guests and select appropriate walks for the safety of the whole group.

Guests are accommodated in spacious wilderness tents with en-suite bathrooms and a shaded entrance area. All tents have good quality solid base camp beds with comfortable mattresses, duvets, sheets and pillows. The en-suite bathrooms have long drop facilities and bucket showers. Water for these showers is ordered from the camp staff. Tents are lit with a traditional oil/paraffin lamp at the entrance and the interior by a LED rechargeable camp light. Families travelling with children on private departures are accommodated in a specially designed family tent.

Vehicles accommodate a maximum of 9 guests and are specially adapted for these safaris with inverters and strip plugs providing battery charging facilities throughout the trip. With a fridge in either the vehicle or trailer, guests are assured of cold drinks throughout the safari.

Letaka Safaris use the extensive network of exclusive Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB) sites. These unspoiled wilderness sites have no fixed infrastructure with the entire camp being constructed and deconstructed by the support team.

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Northern Highlights - northbound

Chobe river - mababe river private reserve - moremi game reserve - savuti - chobe national park --> maun xakanaxa mababe central chobe chobe river.

The best way to appreciate Africa is light of foot and in the thick of it. Our mobile safaris, run by some of the most experienced guides, will take you off the beaten track and show you true wilderness in unmatched style.

Game Drives

Night Drives

Guided Walks

Mokoro Excursions

Daily Activity

Maun - Moremi

Letaka Tented Camp

Daily Detail

After your arrival at Maun International Airport you will be met by Mack Air for your charter flight at approximately 14h00 to the Xakanaxa airstrip in Moremi Game Reserve where you will be met by your guide.

If you are staying in Maun prior to the safari, please request an airport transfer, Mack Air will liaise with your accommodation the day before to confirm the flight departure time. Alternatively, if you are coming from one of the many safari lodges, you can organize to fly directly into Xakanaxa Airstrip with the lodges preferred charter company although we do request that these flights land only after 12h00 in order for our guide to be there to meet you. Our first three nights are spent in the Xakanaxa region where we explore the surrounding wilderness on morning and afternoon game drive excursions.

Wildlife: From the air only the larger animals are easily seen. These include large breeding herds of African elephant that live in the mopane scrub. On the open plains large herds of buffalo and lechwe can be seen and in the waterways, pods of hippopotamus are a common sight. Once you land in Xakanaxa and board your land cruiser, the smaller game animals can be found.

Birding: A good day for raptors with African Hawk-Eagle, Gabar Goshawk, Shikra, Little Sparrowhawk, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Tawny Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle* and Steppe Eagle* all inhabiting the mopane and adjacent woodlands. Other birds common along this route includes most of Botswana’s hornbills including Red-billed, Southern Yellow-billed, African Grey, Bradfield’s and the Southern Ground Hornbills. A large number of brood-parasites may also be seen. Diederick Cuckoo*, Levaillant’s Cuckoo*, Jacobin Cuckoo*, Great-spotted Cuckoo*, African Cuckoo*, Common Cuckoo*, Shaft-tailed Whydah, Pintailed Whydah, Eastern Paradise Whydah, Greater Honeyguide, and Lesser Honeyguide.

Habitat: Moremi lies on the eastern extremity of the Okavango Delta. Habitats here range from wide-open floodplains, marshes, lagoons, papyrus fringed channels, vast stands of Miscanthus and Phragmites, woodland and savannah. As a result of the extremely variable habitat the diversity of both wildlife and birdlife is excellent.

Wildlife: Moremi is amongst the best game reserves in Africa for viewing the endangered African wild dog. Xakanaxa is home to a resident herd of several hundred buffalo whose range covers the territories of at least 4 prides of lion which may often be seen flanking the ever moving herd. Breeding herds of elephant move between their browsing areas in the mopane forests and the fresh water of the Okavango. Red lechwe are one of the more unusual antelope species and commonly found here.

Birding: The swampy areas of Xakanaxa are home to African Rail, Coppery-tailed Coucal, Black Coucal*, Red-chested Flufftail, African Crake*, Black Crake, Chirping Cisticola, Luapula Cisticola, Purple Swamphen, Allen’s Gallinule to name but a few. The open waters attract African Skimmer, Saddle-billed Stork, Yellow-billed Stork, Intermediate Egret, Goliath Heron, African Fish Eagle as well as the globally threatened Slaty Egret and Wattled Crane.

Moremi - Mababe

Following an early morning breakfast you take a slow drive through Moremi Game Reserve north-east towards the Khwai and Mababe Areas. On this moving day we shall do a mokoro excursion in the calmer back-waters of the Khwai and Mbudi channels as opposed to doing the mokoro in the quicker moving section of the Khwai River that runs through Mababe. Habitat: The Manuchira Channel is known as the Khwai River at its eastern most extremity. The day’s journey follows this water course, with the track weaving from the riverside and floodplains into the mopane veld and the woodlands that to the Mababe Private Reserve where we camp on the banks of the Khwai River before it flows out and into the Mababe Depression. We pass the magnificent Dombo Hippo Pools in the morning stopping to enjoy the scenery and the antics of the resident hippo and shall game drive through Khwai until we reach Mababe.

Wildlife: The south-east mopane veld is home to mostly breeding herds of elephant whilst the more northern reaches of Mababe is home to some impressive old bulls. The mature bulls revel in the cool waters of the Khwai River and are far more approachable while drinking and bathing than the breeding herds. The river has an unusually high density of hippo as well as some huge crocodile. Leopard- (western part of NG41), cheetah, serval and lion are common predators along this route and both Xakanaxa as well as Mababe are included in the home ranges of different packs of wild dog. General game includes southern giraffe, Burchell’s zebra, tsessebe and red lechwe with roan and sable antelope being less common residents

Birding: In the mopane woodlands African Hawk-Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Gabar Goshawk, Little Sparrowhawk, African Harrier Hawk and Shikra are common raptors. Mixed bird parties move through the canopy and include Red-headed Weaver, Stierling’s Wren-Warbler, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Neddicky, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Chin-spot Batis, Diederik Cuckoo* to name but a few. The verges of the swamp form breeding grounds for the Rosy-Longclaw, Black Coucal*, Long-legged Bustard and the African Crake*.

The Khwai River meanders through the concession giving ample riverside routes to explore. We spend the following two nights camping at an exclusive campsite in the Mababe concession that has a strict max of 20 vehicles for the whole concession at any given time, exploring the river banks, Kalahari shrub to the east, cathedral mopane to the south on game drives both during the day and at night. Exploring after dark with spotlights offers you an opportunity to experience some of the nocturnal animals that are rarely encountered during the day.

We will also have the opportunity to explore the surrounding wilderness on foot (please note that this activity is seasonal based on rains and grass height, your guide will determine the safety of walking in Mababe) to enjoy an up close and personal encounter with Botswana’s flora and fauna. It is important to note that night drives and guided walks are not permitted within the national parks and reserves. These activities are conducted outside the boundaries of the Moremi Game Reserve in the Mababe Private Reserve.

Habitat: We spend our time between the dry-land habitats of the lead-wood and camel-thorn woodlands and savannahs and the riverside and marshy back-waters of the Khwai.

Wildlife: The Khwai region boasts excellent populations of both bull elephant as well as breeding herds. Lion, leopard, serval and African wildcat are common predators of the region with wild dog and cheetah being less common. Buffalo use this area seasonally with large herds moving in during the summer rains. The swampy areas in the west are home to red lechwe. Other ungulates include tsesebe, blue wildebeest, giraffe, kudu, sable antelope, roan antelope and impala.

Birding: Truly one of Botswana birding Mecca’s. The western reaches are prime habitat for the uncommon Rosythroated Longclaw. The entire length of the river is hunting domain for the Bat-Hawk. Other interesting raptors here are Cuckoo Hawk (rare), Long-crested Eagle and Black Sparrowhawk. More commonly Tawny Eagle, Steppe Eagle*, Lesser-spotted Eagle*, Martial Eagle, Bateleur and African Hawk-Eagle. The waterways host Africa Rail, African Crake*, Greater Painted Snipe, Allen’s Gallinule*, Lesser Jacana and Lesser Moorhen*.

Mababe - Central Chobe

We head further north en-route to Central Chobe region, exploring the desert-like landscape on game drives.

Habitat: A fascinating days drive looking at some of the evidence of the Paleo-Lake Makgadikgadi that dried up some ten thousand years ago. The most challenging part of the trip is crossing the Magwikwe Sand-ridge that formed the shoreline for this massive inland sea. The winding track through this deep sand makes for interesting travel in the early summer! The old lake bed is now the Mababe Depression. The dense clay floor of the depression result in high protein feed for wildlife and the area teams with game after the rains. During the rainy season the depression is impassable due to the “cotton soil” and alternative routes must be used. Wildlife: A day when anything could happen. The range of habitat that is covered encompasses most of the habitat types of northern Botswana. We pass through excellent lion country and some of the best cheetah country that our safari will cover. Elephant occur throughout the drive but are more common at the start and end of the drive where permanent surface water can be found.

Birding: The Mababe Depression is a birder’s paradise. The nutritious grasses that grow on the rich soils provide excellent seed for an impressive array of estrillids and viduids. Among these are the magnificently coloured Violet-eared Waxbill, Black-cheeked Waxbill, Village Indigobird, Shaft-tailed Whydah and Paradise Whydah. These in turn provide a good food source for small raptors such as the Little Sparrowhawk, Shikra, Gabar Goshawk, Red-necked Falcon and Lanner Falcon. It is not only the small birds that feed on the grass seeds, but rodents too. There are annual outbreaks of huge numbers of rats and mice. As a result, huge numbers of Secretary Bird, Tawny Eagle, Black-shouldered Kite, Steppe Eagle*, Lesser-spotted Eagle*, Wahlberg’s Eagle* and Steppe Buzzard* can be found.

Central Chobe

Habitat: Unlike the vast majority of the country, Central Chobe is not a totally flat landscape. Large outcrops of volcanic rock reach up out of the Kalahari sands, towering over the endless savannah. These hills provide habitat for a completely different array of small wildlife, birds and plants. The Savuti Marsh has been the stage for many of the most dramatic wildlife documentaries in Africa. The wide open country, good ungulate populations and particularly strong prides of lion and hyaena clans make for dramatic wildlife interaction and excellent viewing opportunities. The now dry Savuti Channel runs through this landscape linking the dry sand-veld, the waterholes, the hills and the grassland that was the Savuti Marsh.

Wildlife: Undoubtedly it is the interaction between lion and elephant that is the most interesting aspect of Savuti. The area is inhabited by a huge pride of lions with numbers fluctuating from 20-30 members. These remarkable lions have learned over the years how to hunt these massive pachyderms that are supposedly above predation. Launching their attack under darkness and using their numbers, they manage to kill adolescent and even young adult elephant. The marsh is prime cheetah country and in the wet season it is not unusual to have the wild dog hunting here in Central Chobe.

Birding: The surface water that is pumped by the Government here provides a major attraction for birdlife. In the dry season thousands of dove and sandgrouse come down to drink in the mornings and are under constant surveillance by Yellow-billed Kite*, Tawny Eagle and African Hawk-Eagle. Red-crested Korhaan are common in the Kalahari Apple-leaf (Lonchocarpus nelsii) veld. The marsh is the summer home for good numbers of Caspian Plover* and Montague’s Harrier* as well as Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark, Grey-backed Sparrowlark, Northern Black Korhaan, Rufous-naped Lark, African Pipit and Desert Cisticola. Dickenson’s Kestrel, Amur Falcon* and Red-necked Falcon are found along the perimeter of the marsh.

Central Chobe - Chobe River

On our final day on safari we will leave Central Chobe early to travel along the Chobe River arriving in Kasane where we will stop for a picnic lunch before taking an afternoon boat cruise to end the safari. As today is a long day we recommend either spending a night or two in Kasane at Chobe Safari Lodge or two nights in Livingstone at Taita Falcon Lodge or Victoria Falls at Ilala. For those transferring to lodges in Kasane or across to Zambia/Zimbabwe it is recommended that your transfer be organized to meet you at Kalahari Tours at 15h30.

Habitat: The habitat on today’s drive takes us through the stunted mopane scrub of the Goha clay basin, across the sand-ridge and through the wonderful Zambezi teak woodlands of the Chobe Forest Reserve and along the Chobe River itself. The Chobe floodplain is tens of kilometers wide and in years of exceptional rains the water stretches as far as the eye can see.

Wildlife: While there are community areas that we pass through that are settled by local tribes, for the vast majority of the day’s drive we pass through wild country where wildlife moves un-inhibited by fences or man. Roan and sable antelope thrive in the teak woodlands where the low density of predators and lack of competition for food by other ungulates makes this prime habitat for these large ungulates. Leopard occur in these woodlands in low numbers but they are highly secretive and seldom seen. The Goha region has natural waterholes that hold water well into the dry season and herds of buffalo, Burchell’s zebra, greater kudu and elephant come down to drink.

Birding: The most unusual species are to be found in the teak (Baikea plurijuga) woodlands. This broad-leafed woodland, or miombo as it is locally known, provides good pickings for insectivorous birds that favour canopy habitat. Grey Tit-Flycatcher, Ashy Flycatcher, Paradise Flycatcher, Pallid Flycatcher, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Amethyst Sunbird, Yellow-throated Petronia, Red-headed Weaver and Violet-backed Starling are only some of the species that move around in the “bird parties” in the canopy. Dickenson’s Kestrel, Red-necked Falcon, Peregrine Falcon* and Lizard Buzzard are some of the raptors to keep an eye out for, while the diminutive White-faced Owl can often be seen roosting in the road-side vegetation. Flappet Lark, Fawn-coloured Lark, Dusky Lark*, Olive-Tree Warbler* and Neddicky are species more likely to be enjoyed by the birding enthusiast.

Safari Accommodation

The tents are 4 x 3m Sahara style tents with high roof with a 2 x 3m en-suite bathroom and a 2 x 3m covered area in front of the tent. The tents are fitted with solid base camp beds made up with mattresses, sheets, duvets and pillows. The tents have en-suite long drop toilet facilities and a bucket shower at the rear of the tent. Showers can be ordered as hot, cold or warm and the water is heated in a bucket on the fire. Showers may be taken at any time but on Kalahari safaris the guide withholds the right to limit water use and showering depending upon the availability of water. Both hand towels and bath towels are supplied for the guests’ convenience but please note that guests should bring their own personal items and toiletries.

Each tent has an oil/paraffin lamp on the veranda and in the bathroom and within the tent itself, a LED rechargeable camp light is supplied along with a side table in the sleeping area and in the bathroom. Although each tent has lighting and there are lamps strategically around the camp for navigation, an essential tool for your safari is a headlamp which lets you read a book at night in your tent or catch up with your safari journal as you listen to the sounds of the wild outside! If you don’t buy it from us make sure you buy it from someone and take our advice – don’t pack the free headlamp you got at the supermarket with your battery purchase. Spending a little bit of money will save you a lot of frustration. If you are travelling as a couple then pack one per person.

For families travelling with younger children on private trips, Letaka Safaris have designed a family safari tent, ensuring the children’s safety and their parent’s peace of mind. A family tent is a two-bedroom unit with an adjoining bathroom and lockable exit/entrance with each tent taking 2 people in each.

Extend Your Safari

or fixed-wing scenic flight over the Okavango

Multi-day extension

to a lodge in the Okavango Delta

to a lodge in the Chobe region

to Victoria Falls

This safari includes

Spacious and comfortable tented accommodation, including beds, bed linen and towels, with a private bathroom en-suite.

Services of a professional guide, safari chef and camp assistants, complete with a supply vehicle.

Game drives and local transfers in customised safari vehicles.

Exclusive camping in private campsites within the national parks and reserves.

All entrance and camping fees within the national parks and reserves.

All meals and drinks (mineral water, soft drinks, beer, wine and G&T) whilst in Letaka Tented Camps All activities as specified in the itinerary.

12% Value Added Tax.

This safari excludes

Travel Insurance.

All flights unless otherwise indicated.

Items of personal nature.

Staff gratuities.

Optional safari extensions.

Any drinks at lodges or accommodation other than Letaka Tented Camps.

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20% Deposit to confirm booking. Balance due 6 weeks prior to departure. Payment by bank transfer or credit card (card payments carry 3.5% service charge).

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Letaka Tented Camp

Okavango Delta, Botswana

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Is the Letaka Tented Camp for Me?

Only the most exclusive campsites within private concessions are used to set up this lovely tented camp.

Each location is picked for its outstanding natural beauty and easy access to various wildlife areas for fantastic sightings.

Letaka Tented Camp solely uses particular wilderness sites managed by the Hospitality & Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB).

These locations don’t have any permanent structures, and the team sets up the entire camp before you arrive at each site.

The centre is quite cosy, each tent has a private shower, and even though you’re in the middle of some of Botswana’s wilderness, you can still eat some of the best food.

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Wilderness Safaris: an extraordinary brush with nature in Botswana

“The lioness is watching that herd of buffaloes,” our guide Jonah whispers, shutting off the engine of his safari vehicle. He can sense a predatory tension in the air but, outnumbered by about six to one, the odds are well and truly stacked against the big cats.

The lionesses break away from their cubs, hoping to surround the herd. The cubs follow shortly after, treading carefully towards the standoff: the buffaloes can see the lions and vice versa – it is a case of who makes the first move.

“They’re going for it,” our guide says in excitement, kicking our vehicle into gear and driving at breakneck speed in pursuit of the action. Our view is clouded by a cloud of dust from charging buffaloes. For the lions, it is an opportunity missed. “One of the lions had caught a calf, but her hold was not strong enough, so it slipped,” Jonah sighs.

Encounters like these are rare but often come to those with the patience to stop and observe. In Qorokwe, in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, the slowing down happens instantly through the scattered acacia woodlands, the wild sage-scented wind that hits your face, the drama of dead, sculptural trees and wildlife at every turn. We watch lions heading into denser forests at dusk, hyenas scouting for their next kill by dawn, teenage elephants showing their antics and gnarled buffaloes.

Qorokwe, meaning “the place where the buffalo broke through the bush into the water”, is one of the high-density game zones within the delta, thanks to its position next to Moremi Game Reserve. The vast concession area is known for its predator sightings and diverse habitat types – from savannahs, dry mopane woodlands, palm-dotted islands and permanent floodplains.

Set amid this landscape is Wilderness Qorokwe Camp , a contemporary nine-villa safari lodge designed to complement the terrain it occupies. The property was built in 2017 by architect Joy Brasler and interior designer Michelle Throssell who took inspiration from the natural setting of Botswana. The result is tented suites built on stilts and constructed using easy-to-install, low-carbon impact materials such as steel infill walls, timber decks and canvas. Connected by a walkway, the villas stretch along the lagoon where rhinos submerge for hours, and herds of elephants make the occasional pit stop.

We entered the property into an open area with a bar, a large dining table, an intimate seating lounge and an infinity pool, all of which overlook a circular fire pit designed to gather guests once the dramatic sunsets and sundowners have settled. With next to no light, it is also the ideal spot for gazing at twinkling stars in the blue-black sky.

The villas are an extension of the communal areas: wooden-framed, airy and light, decorated with African art coupled with muted natural fabrics that echo the colours of the soil. They are a sanctuary of calm and comfort, with an informal-looking sitting corner, a small kitchenette, a bed (with a much-needed mosquito net) and a study. The wardrobe comes stocked with specially designed robes, kikois (African sarong), dumbbells and a yoga mat.

On the other side of the canvas-covered divider awaits an equally large and modern space with a freestanding bath, a separate shower and a double-basin vanity unit with organic earthy-smelling soaps and lotions. A floor-to-ceiling window wall, which travels across the room, opens to a balcony below where curious red lechwe, elephants and baboons sometimes appear.

Qorokwe is one of four camps in an almost 65,000-acre concession. The cap allows authorities to monitor tourism and provide an exclusive experience. You could be out all day and not see another safari vehicle around or behind you. Building on such precious land comes with the responsibility to co-exist rather than conquer. At Qorokwe, 100 per cent of the energy is solar-powered, and all water is heated through thermodynamic solar geysers, helping to mitigate carbon emissions.

The food menu changes according to the produce in season, most of which is grown and sourced locally. The camp tackles food waste by making pickles and dehydrated fruits and vegetables. Friendly chefs greet you before meals to explain the menu and answer any questions on ingredients and traditional dishes.

The game drives go far, although it could never cover the vast expanse of the reserve. Each ride begins with expectation and uncertainty and concludes with several emotions: the thrill of watching the Big Five, the dread from an approaching elephant and the wonder of looking at giraffes and zebras – with intervals of humour provided by tail-wagging warthogs and jumping impalas. Evening drives always finish in style, parked at a stop where the sun burns the sky to darkness in the most exquisite setting.

On our last evening in Qorokwe, we took a calming mokoro (traditional canoe) ride along the Santantadibe River, cutting through long, supple grass surrounded by pink and white water lilies. The soothing sound of water sliced by the oar, the gentle sharp scent of fresh grass on top of which smaller red-spotted frogs perch created one of those unexpected moments that are what it is all about.

The journey north

We arrived further north, in Linyanti , on a small 12-seater plane, flying over acre after acre of swampland and bush. We had flown on a similar aircraft to Qorokwe from Maun, our port of arrival in Botswana, and knew it would be a smooth ride under the clouds. Next to the tiny airstrip stood a man in a crisp white shirt in front of a shiny red helicopter – our ride to the next camp, DumaTau.

“There, can you spot the elephants?” pilot Fondy asks, his voice muffled through the noise-cancelling headset. Pinning your eyes on a speck of grey in a sea of lush greenery seems remarkably difficult. “That is a rhino, another herd of elephants, and there is your camp,” he points towards a cluster of tents along a long river – this time in clear sight.

In under ten minutes, we were overlooking the pristine Osprey lagoon from the outdoor deck of our magnificent villa. DumaTau’s seven couple suites and one family suite were rebuilt in 2021 by Luxury Frontiers , the San Francisco/Johannesburg-based international design firm behind the award-winning Nayara Tented Camp in Costa Rica and Camp Sarika in the United States. They also added four new tents next to the current site and called it Little DumaTau.

The revived campus blends effortlessly into its surroundings with quirky wall art designed by local artist Gina Waldman. A carefully curated curiosity box is the delight of every villa with snare wire wild dogs and elephant paintings alongside an eclectic mix of letters and a magnifying glass stuck on a large map. The interiors carry a similar vibe with art deco tiles and lights in the vanity room, tan leather couches and chunky wooden cabinets.

Time passes slower on the deck, where a private plunge pool and sun loungers give you front-row seats to life unfolding in the wilderness. The stillness of the air, the chirping of waterbirds and then, unexpectedly, an elephant passes metres from your tent, trampling down branches. They appear from the animal passages created on the walkway, which connects the villas, to allow the free movement of wildlife from the reserve to waterbodies.

DumaTau in Setswana means “the roar of the lion”. While it is possible to hear that occasionally, one sound you become accustomed to is the grunting, honking, croaking and squealing of hippos. “Hippos can be aggressive sometimes,” our guide Niq mentions as we speedboat along the meandering lagoons passing a carpet of water lilies. The ears appear, then the eyes and within a few seconds, it is ripples. As the sun sets and the sky turns orange, they turn to black bobbling silhouettes.

While hippos might creep up on you, elephants wander across in full vision. Linyanti Concession is famed for its elephant herds. With an estimated 50,000 in Chobe National Park, it is the highest concentration in Africa. “Elephants love water lilies. They pluck them out, clean the roots and eat them like spaghetti. It also helps purify the water,” Niq says as we watch one chewing the stringy roots.

Even on our fourth day of early starts, the thrill of game drives never diminishes. As we pass through mopane woodlands, Niq keeps stopping to observe footprints. “There should be a lion somewhere around,” he says in his soothing tone. How he can say this with certainty with a quick glance at muddled marks is a testament to his experience and knowledge. Then right on cue, a lion appears to the left of the safari vehicle. He is walking in the same direction as the lone lioness we saw a few minutes ago.

“This is almost mating season,” Niq tells us as we carefully follow the lion to an open grassland where the lioness is waiting under the shade of a tree. We wait, in anticipation, for thirty minutes in the hope that someone would make a move. How long could this take? I ask. “It may take hours, or it may not even happen today. The lion looks tired,” he replies. Shortly after, they both fall asleep.

Back at camp, Monday evenings are Boma nights, an opportunity to dine at one long table with other guests and experience the culture through songs and dance. Under a large tree, surrounded by fairy lights, the staff of DumaTau put on quite a celebratory and emotional display. A fitting end to our time in magical Botswana.

Getting there

British Airways flies from Heathrow to Johannesburg twice daily with economy tickets from £650 and premium economy from £1,500. AirLink operates a connecting service to Maun once a day. From Maun, Wilderness Safaris will fly guests to their camps in a light aircraft operated by Wilderness Air. Book at www.ba.com and www.flyairlink.com

Stays at Wilderness Qorokwe start from $1,320 per person per night on a full-board basis and includes two daily game drives, a mokoro tour and bush walks when possible.

Stays at Wilderness DumaTau start from $1,560 per person per night on a full-board basis and includes two daily game drives, speedboat tours on the Linyanti, fishing tours and a beautiful lunch on the barge.

To book, visit wildernessdestinations.com

Read about the impact your trip can make at wildernessdestinations.com/impact

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