8 Days Springbok Trail Safari in Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana

Day 1: Pick up / arrival day

On arrival at Maun Airport (MUB) you will be met by your guide, and depart from the airport driving to the Central Kalahari Game Reserve where you will spend three nights in a private campsite at Deception Valley.

Days 2 and 3: Deception Valley, Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Your days will consist of exploring the Deception Valley and Passarge Pan in depth with morning and afternoon game drives daily. You will rise early each morning and have a quick coffee and biscuit before heading out in search of the game before they retreat deep into the bush to escape the heat of the day.

You will return to camp in time for brunch and then get to relax for a time before. You will leave the camp again in the later afternoon, hoping to catch the animals as they begin moving towards water holes after the dry day. Each evening, you will get to enjoy the peace of the camp, the delicious meals cooked by the bush chefs, and sitting around the campfire listening to the sounds of the night.

Days 4 and 5: Piper Pan, Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Today, you will move your camp to Piper Pan, and this is as far south as most people visit in this area. The road to get to Piper Pan is badly corrugated and potholed, but the pan itself is worth the drive. It is only a few kilometers wide but is a beautiful piece of perfectly flat grass that is green when the rains come and dry gold without. Conservation of this area has provided you with a sanctuary that is still pure and untouched. Days will be spent in the game drive vehicles exploring this remote destination and viewing the fascinating wildlife. You will spend two nights in this beautiful area.

Days 6 and 7: Leopard Pan, Central Kalahari Game Reserve

You will rise very early and will greet the fresh African morning with coffee and a biscuit before you head out again to Leopard Pan, where you will camp for another two nights. The early morning offers a better opportunity to view the predators. You will spend the morning on a game drive before returning to camp for brunch. The afternoon can be spent at your leisure, taking in the surroundings, catching up on a postcard, or having a well-deserved siesta. The late afternoon takes you back out on the game drive in search of new sightings.

If good rains have fallen, you should expect to see Cape buffalo, spotted hyena, brown hyena, honey badger, warthog, caracal, black-backed jackal, bat-eared fox, Cape fox, leopard, Kalahari lion, blue wildebeest, plains zebra, common eland, sable antelope, gemsbok, springbok, steenbok, impala, greater kudu, Cape ground squirrel, meerkats, Cape hare, Cape porcupine, chacma baboon, red hartebeest, and ostrich. Later in the campsite, you will find your dinner and hot water readily prepared. You will spend the nights in your tents.

Day 8: Drop off / departure day

After the last breakfast cooked by your bush chef, you will wave a fond goodbye to the African bush and head towards Maun Airport (MUB) for your connecting flight home.

Safari vehicle

For your journey through Botswana, you will be driven in what African Big Five Tours and Safaris calls a “Safari Limo” which is a Land Rover / Cruiser game viewer. These are specially adapted vehicles where a frame that sits on the car with bench seats to give you maximum space and view of the landscapes and wildlife you’ll encounter. These can be tricky to climb in and out of but you’ll soon have your own technique and will be a pro by the end of your trip. If you suffer from back problems or have any mobility issues, please let African Big Five Tours and Safaris know in your form so they can help.

Notes

• Maximum traveling hours in a day: 5 to 6 hours
• Minimum traveling hours in a day: 3 to 4 hours
• These hours include game drives.

Your safari journey will take place in Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana. You will explore the area of Deception Valley, Passarge Pan, Piper Pan, and Leopard Pan.

Day 1

• Lunch: Vegetable samosa, green salad, tomato mozzarella, cheeseboard, fruit platter, and fresh bread
• High tea: Poppy seed cake, roasted mushroom or onion tart
• Dinner: Lamb stew, brown rice, cumin spiced carrots, green beans, apple crumble, and custard

Day 2

• Lunch: Chicken kebabs, greek salad, red cabbage salad, cheeseboard, fruit platter, and brown bread
• High tea: Sour cream, cinnamon cake, and Hawaii pizza
• Dinner: Pork chops, roast potato wedges, cauliflower, baby marrow, and malva pudding

Day 3

• Lunch: Vegetable lasagna, sweet potato salad, green salad, cheese board, fruit skewers, and onion bread
• High tea: Banana loaf and chicken shawarma
• Dinner: Chicken roast, savory rice, mixed vegetables, and poached pears in red wine sauce

Day 4

• Lunch: Spaghetti bolognese, green salad, potato salad, cheese board, fruit platter, and seed bread
• High tea: Ginger cake and tuna roll
• Dinner: Sirloin beef steak, mashed potatoes, assorted vegetables, and sticking date pudding

Day 5

• Lunch: Bobotie meat, greek salad, coleslaw salad, spiced rice salad, cheese board, fruit platter, and herd bread
• High tea: Scones and cheese straws
• Dinner: Leg of lamb roast, savory couscous, carrots, snow peas, and baked banana

Day 6

• Lunch: Chicken or beef stir-fry, green salad, three bean salad, cheeseboard, fruit salad, and focaccia bread
• High tea: Carrot cake and meatballs
• Dinner: T-bone steak beef, beans casserole, broccoli, baby corn, and lemon or orange pudding

Day 7

• Lunch: Macaroni cheese, green salad, beetroot salad, cheeseboard, fruit platter, and fresh bread
• High tea: Chocolate cake and vegetable quiche
• Dinner: Traditional food, seswaa, oxtail, chicken pieces, papa, jacket potatoes, fried cabbage, creamed spinach, tomato and onion salsa, and fruit salad

• Boat cruise
• Meerkats
• Mokoro trip
• Scenic flights
• Village / cultural tours

• Game drives and activities in Central Kalahari Game Reserve
• Service of a professional guide with 4 x 4 game drive vehicle
• Information services
• Entrance fee
• Camping fee
• Park fee
• Meals
• Mineral water, cold drinks
• Alcoholic drinks
• 7 nights' accommodation

• Airport tax
• Optional extras / activities / items not specified
• Travel insurance
• Any laundry and telephone calls
• Transfer (500 USD)

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• A reservation requires a deposit of 35% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid 60 days before arrival.