I’m very excited to announce that I’ll be taking a group of Africaphiles with me on safari in the world famous Okavango Delta in the first week of December this year! This is truly the jewel of Africa, in my opinion, and I’ve been dying to go back there to remind myself just how beautiful nature can be. Half a dozen have already signed up to this safari and there are a total of 12 places only, so if you’d like to join us please get in touch with me here as soon as possible.
In line with my new safari company’s philosophy to send business to safari operators that make a difference on the ground, I’ve chosen areas and camps where I know they are doing a good job of looking after the wildlife and local communities. The safari kicks off from Maun on 26th November, and from there we fly to Banoka Bush Camp in the Khwai Concession, bordering Moremi Game Reserve. The camp is part of a local community partnership and is 100% solar powered. Its name hails from the original inhabitants of the area, the River San (Banoka).
Banoka Bush Camp
After 2 nights at Banoka, we fly to Xigera Camp for 2 nights in the heart of the Okavango Delta. This camp is also 100% solar powered and supports a local school and a counselling centre for HIV AIDS sufferers. Here, we’ll have the chance to view the Delta’s abundant game from a mokoro on the verdant, riverine wetlands, a once in a lifetime experience. This is a great place to see the rare sitatunga, an antelope species that has been on my ‘must see’ list for a long time…
Xigera Camp
Finally, it’s off to Chitabe for 3 nights, where the safari operators have played a major role in building up endangered African Wild Dog populations as part of a long term research project. This is a great place to see Africa’s big predators, like these cheetahs photographed there recently (below). The camp also participates in the Children in the Wilderness project, which helps get local kids out into the bush and promotes leadership and education among rural children.
Cheetahs at Chitabe
All three camps are in areas that are wildlife meccas, and the camps are of the highest standard that you’d expect from Wilderness Safaris and its partners. All meals, non-imported drinks, park fees, top notch accommodation, private guide and vehicle and internal flights between camps are included in the price for 7 nights, which in total is US$5,300 per person. International return flights to and from Maun (via Johannesburg) are not included in the price.
So if Africa is your dream, and you’ve never been to the Okavango Delta, get in touch with me here and I’ll show you why this is one of my absolutely favourite parts of Africa. Half the spots are already taken, so grab yours before they run out!
Elephants in the Okavango Delta
Thanks Guy – I’ve dropped you an email 🙂
Dear Tammie,
Have just finished your latest book Planet Elephant- wonderful. You are a very talented lady. Is the documentary Elephant Wars still in storage? If so can we(It will take a lot of us) try to resurrect it somehow?
Best regards and keep up your wonderful conservation work.
D.Guy Perry BVSc Onderstepoort 1971
Thanks so much Bud! I’ve had two cancellations for my Okavango trip this year (26 Nov for a week) so do let me know if you know anyone who might like those places. Leave your website details here so people can learn more about the great work you’re doing with the kids in townships in CT.
Oh Tammie,
I adore wonderful Xigera ! I first fell in love with the camp when I was invited to the opening 15 years ago and have been wowing groups with that slice of heaven, ever since. I wrote about Xigera in ‘African Eulogy’.
I have posted your safari details to a few of my Oz contacts – so hopefully it will whet their appetite to join you.
They may like to visit me in Cape Town – and experience mass feedings of all my poor kids in the townships, with my NPO – Tinmugs –
Warmly
Bud Higgins
Hi Sue – many thanks for your comments and good to hear the messages in ‘Planet Elephant’ hit home with you! I will definitely be running more trips to Botswana in future, so please join my mailing list to hear about them. I’d love to have you on one of my trips!
Hi Tammie
Your safari sounds amazing and would love to do but can’t this year. I am hoping you might run similar again. I love your passion and commitment to Africa, the people, animals and organisations who support them. I have just finishing reading your book ‘Pllanet Elephant’ given to me by my very good friend Wendy Fairweather. We are hoping to do our first trip to Africa with Wendy and Frank next year. I was so saddened though to read about the increase in the poaching of ivory and subsequent decline in the elephant and rhino populations and the suffering of those poor animals. But also the inspirational people who work tirelessly and often in dangerous conditions to save these wonderful animals. Thank you for telling your story.
Best wishes,
Sue
Hi Cynthia
Thanks for the lovely feedback. There really IS hope for endangered species because increasingly we’re seeing the public getting involved and joining causes to make change happen. Please join my Let Elephants Be Elephants anti-ivory campaign in Asia and help us spread the word that it’s not cool to buy ivory – https://www.facebook.com/LetElephantsBeElephants?ref=hl
Two people have just dropped out of my Okavango safari for this Nov/Dec – why not join us?! This is a special price that I won’t be able to repeat again due to the opening of my company 🙂
Tammie
Wow, what I wouldn’t give to see the glorious Okavango Delta. Having just read your first book I fell in love with Africa all over again. Your vivid and very human writing style inspired me and gave me renewed hope for the future of the beautiful animals that the world would be so much poorer without. As an artist on a mission to paint endangered wild cats it was thrilling to read about your wonderful experiences and so gratifying there are people like you in the world to speak for those who cannot.
Cheers
Cynthia
Wow, what I wouldn’t give to see the glorious Okavango Delta. Having just read your first book I fell in love with Africa all over again. Your vivid and very human writing style inspired me and gave me renewed hope for the future of the beautiful animals that the world would be so much poorer without. As an artist on a mission to paint as many endangered wild cats it was thrilling to read about your wonderful experiences and so gratifying there are people like you in the world to speak for those who cannot.
Cynthia
Hi Gillian
I’d love to have you on one of my safaris. I’m making plans for conservation-focused safaris to Namibia and Kenya next year, and I’ve added you to my subscriber list so you’ll be up to date as the information comes in. If there’s enough interest I may do the Okavango Delta again too.
Hi Bill and Gail
Thanks for your comment and great to have your interest in my Okavango Delta conservation adventure in Nov/December.
The dates have moved a few days earlier, so we kick off on 26 November in Maun, and return on 3rd December.
I hear you on the weather front and it will be warm at that time of year. The good thing about those camps, which you know if you’ve been there, is that the rooms are built for maximum ventilation and they also have fans in the rooms. The rains cool things down too. I do love winter in the Delta as well, but there’s something special about the wet season that so few people see (the locals know this, which is why often that’s when more locals travel there!). When I lived in Africa it was actually my favourite time of year. In short, it’s the ‘green’ season which means (1) it’s green and luxuriant (2) you get amazing big storms (great photographic opportunities around the cloud formations and sunsets), (3) there’s lots of water for mokoro-based game viewing and (4) best of all, there’s lots of baby animals. Apart from being super cute, all those newborns also provide a feast for predators like jackals and cheetahs. Some of my best ever sightings have been in Africa’s green season!
Here’s a great site where you can read more about December in the Delta – http://www.wilderness-safaris.com/countries/botswana/when-to-visit
Being from Brisie and having lived in Zambia I’m sure you’d be fine (I say as a fellow Qlder who also lived in Africa!), but it’s really up to you. Another advantage of going in Nov/Dec is its much less expensive! Let me know what you think. I still have a few spots left on this trip, but they’ll go in the next two weeks and deposits to secure accommodation are due next week as these camps book out at a crazy rate, even in low season!
Best,
Tammie
Hi Tammie Gail and I are interested. Can you provide a little more detail especially re the weather in December. We have been to Botswana twice staying at Xigera and Chitabe. Both are really good for animal viewing. We also lived in Zambia for 3 years so we are really comfortable in Africa. Just need a little more info please especially re climate as it might be too hot at that time of year for us.
If this was a winter trip we would definitely be in.
regards
Bill and Gail Dalby (we are in Brisbane)
Hi Tammie, my dream would be to come on one your Safari’s. I can’t make this December but wondered if you are planning to do any next year?
Regards
Gillian
Looks terrific! The above photos are top drawer, and it’s satisfying to choose places that give back to Africa! Robert