(No availability) 7 Day Central Kalahari - Nxai Pan Safari
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Safari in Botswana
This tour will allow a perfect viewing of the flat grasslands of the reserve’s northern reaches teem with wildlife which gather at the best grazing areas. The wildlife includes springbok, gemsbok as well as wildebeest, hartebeest, eland, and giraffe. At other times of the year, when the animals are more sparsely distributed the experience of travelling through truly untouched wilderness of seemingly unending dimensions is amazing.
Key information
- Maximum group size: 8
- Children policy: The minimum age for participation is 6 years old
- Starting point and ending point: Maun
- Languages spoken: English
- Park fees included
Highlights
- Game drives / viewing as per the itinerary
- Explore Central Kalahari Game Reserves + Makgadikgadi and Nxai pans
- Wildlife: springbok, wildebeest, hartebeest, eland, and giraffe
- 6 nights accommodation
- Meals and non-alcoholic drinks
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation
Skill level
- Beginner
Styles
Accommodation
The tents are en-suite with showers and portable flushable toilets with camper beds in tents all night. The Xaa Safaris team will set up the tents including bedding (stretcher beds, foldable mattresses, linen, towels), and have your showers ready with warm water. Tent veranda will have chairs for reflection.
Cooking of all meals will be done by the Xaa Safaris team and dinner will be served in a dining tent.
- 2 nights in Central Kalahari Game Reserve
- 2 nights in Makgadikgadi
- 2 nights in Nxai Pan
Program
Day 1: Hello to the Central Kalahari Game Reserves
The departure from Maun to the destination camp (Deception Valley) in Central Kalahari Game Reserves will be on an early morning. The 316 km journey will be done on a safari vehicle which will allow perfect viewing on the flat grasslands of the reserve’s northern reaches teem with wildlife which gather at the best grazing areas during and shortly after good summer rains (September to January).
The wildlife includes springbok and gemsbok, as well as wildebeest, hartebeest, eland and giraffe. At other times of the year, when the animals are more sparsely distributed, the experience of travelling through truly untouched wilderness, of seemingly unending dimensions, is amazing.
The arrival at camp will be met with lunch and an afternoon siesta. An evening and sunset game drive around Deception Valley will be in order and upon return to the camp guest will be treated to a hot camp shower before proceeding to dinner around a campfire. Guests will then retreat to their 3.2 x 3.2m tent or meru tents equipped with a stretcher bed, a veranda and an attached bathroom with flushable toilet, shower and sink.
Day 2: Good day in the Kalahari
Rise and shine and say hello to a fresh morning over coffee/tea and rusks for a 06:30 hours morning game drive to Sunday Pan waterhole, and have brunch at Passarge Valley. Under the dense umbrella thorn Acacia tortillas thickets where cheetahs and lions rest up in the midday heat.
Central Kalahari Game Reserves also boasts an amazing variety of birds, believe: Secretary bird, Kori Bustard and Ostrich are the most prominent of the species to be spotted, with good chances of seeing Lappet-faced Vulture and White-backed Vulture too.
The exploration will continue along this amazing landscape in search of its beauties. The final leg of the morning drive will take you back through Leopard Pan to arrive at camp for lunch and enjoy an afternoon siesta. After a well-deserved rest you will depart for an evening game drive to Deception Pan where you will enjoy a great sunset. Once the sun goes down you will head back to camp.
Day 3: Farewell Kalahari and hello Makgadikgadi Pans
At the crack of dawn, you get ready in the early morning drive with a cup of tea and some rusks. Camp is vacated around 6:30 a.m. in hopes of spotting cheetah, a resident pride of lion and several leopards whose territories include parts of the pan.
You will head back to camp around mid-morning to enjoy warm shower before a scrumptious breakfast. Once you have had breakfast you will embark on the vehicle for a leisurely drive to Makgadikgadi Pans. The reserve might have little farewell surprises as you drive back “home” so keep those cameras ready to capture the last memories of the Kalahari.
Upon arrival at Makgadikgadi camp you will have a snack and enjoy a well-deserved siesta moment after the day’s events. You will set out to scout the pans and have a sunset moment. Upon return to the camp, guests will be treated to a hot shower in the en-suite tents before proceeding to dinner and campfire activities.
Day 4: Get to know Makgadikgadi Pans
You will be gently woken up at 5:30 a.m. to go on an early morning game drive after coffee/tea and rusks. The drive departs just after sunrise to smell the early morning air and once again connect with nature as the day begins.
Upon return to camp, you will be treated to full warm breakfast before heading back at 10 a.m. for a leisurely drive. You will break off for a light lunch and make some rounds in search of some animals, passing through lagoons and pools along the river channels as well as flat plains. You will then make your way back late afternoon as you reflect on your sightings.
Upon arrival, you will freshen up and thereafter do camp activities depending on timing (this ranges from traditional cooking master classes). You will be treated to a hot shower in the privacy of your en-suite tent and proceed to enjoy your camp dinner.
Day 5 and 6: Hello Nxai Pan
On this exciting morning, camp will be taken down and ready to move to Nxai pans. You will head out on your safari vehicles on leisurely drive to your next camp. This will be your last chance to take in the last views of the pans in all its glory before you leave the following day.
You will break off for a light lunch after your journey to the Nxai Pans and make some rounds in search of some animals, passing through lagoons and pools along the river channels as well as flat plains. You will then make your way back late afternoon to as you reflect on your sightings at camp.
Upon arrival, you will freshen up and thereafter do camp activities depending on timing (this ranges from traditional cooking master classes). You will be treated to a hot shower in the privacy of your in-suite tent and proceed to enjoy your campfire dinner.
Day 7: Travel back!
Rise and shine to a warm delicious breakfast before you head out to exploring more of the renowned Nxai Pans for some great game viewing. Early mornings are quite ideal for bird watching. As you have over 400 species of birds, grab your binoculars and get ready to explore. From bird watching to tracking animals, be prepared for an up-close experience with your wildlife.
You will arrive back in Maun in time to catch your flight back home. It is at this point that you will experience a great deal of fulfilment coupled with feelings of sadness for not only are you bidding goodbye to the wilderness that you had just become a part of, but also bidding farewell to a family that you have spent 7 days with. This is the true spirit of the Botswana.
Location
The first leg of your safari will take you to The Central Kalahari Game Reserve. During and shortly after good summer rains (September to January), the flat grasslands of the reserve’s northern reaches teem with wildlife, which gathers at the best grazing areas. These include springbok and gemsbok, as well as wildebeest, hartebeest, eland and giraffe. At other times of the year, when the animals are more sparsely distributed, the experience of traveling through truly untouched wilderness, of seemingly unending dimensions, is amazing.
The second destination for this tour will be Makgadikgadi National Park. This Makgadikgadi salt pans are best known for their hash beauty and landscape. During the summers, you could observe the migration of zebras from Tanzania, they trek south into the Makgadikgadi National Park where they feed on green pastures and make use of the many small water holes from June to November.
The final leg of this tour will be in Nxai National Park which is separated from Makgadikgadi by tar road. It is most famous for the Baines Baobabs. These amazing botanical, succulent trees surround endless plains, and have always captivated travellers visiting Botswana.
Food
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
What's included
- Park fees (for non-residents)
- 6 nights accommodation - camping equipment
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation
- All taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport/hotel transfer
- Meals and non-alcoholic drink
What's not included
- International flights
- Additional accommodation (before and at the end of the tour)
- Tips (recommended 10 USD per person per day)
- Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, and others)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and / or park fees
- Alcoholic drinks (can be arranged on request at an extra fee)
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Maun Airport
268 km
Transfer included
Arrival by airplane
Please book your flight to arrive at Maun International Airport (MUB). Transfer from and to the airport is included. Xaa Safaris will pick you up from the airport.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 50% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
