PLAINS OF AFRICA – For those on a first time visit or those ‘hooked’ on Africa, we invite you to take your African journey with us. Our beautiful safari portfolio has a carefully selected safari portfolio to a range of destinations that provide you with a thrilling experience, in safety, comfort and style.
For the more adventurous we have safaris that focus on rustic safari styles. You may opt to trek on foot & lower your carbon hoof print.
Our wildlife safaris in our portfolio offer different styles that travel to remote corners of Africa.
Why Travel With Us?
Plains of Africa – will arrange all your safari logistical requirements. We provide standard rates with no hidden costs or extras. All safaris are carefully selected to enable you to explore remote wilderness in exclusive camps and lodges. Customer care and attention to your safari requirements is our priority.
What We Can Do for You?
Provide competitive rates for star rated camps & lodges.
Provide excellant customised safari itineraries to the top and unique safari destinations in Africa.
Provide experienced professional guides.
Provide important information to assist you on your safari.
Offer exclusive special interest conservation expeditions where your dollar directly supports endangered wildlife and community development..
Safaris Styles
These are graded in a number of ways and again individual safari companies put their own respective charm to the overall experience:-
• Luxury:
All camps offer a fully inclusive rate, whilst the accommodation is spacious, comfortable with en-suite facilities. A large main complex can be found at each property.
• Classic:
All camps offer a fully inclusive rate. Accommodation is comfortable with rustic en-suite facilities. An intimate main complex serves the property
• Rustic:
All camps offer a fully board with activities rate .Accommodation is rustic with rustic en-suite facilities. An intimate main complex serves the property
AUTHENTIC GRADE’ – FULLY SERVICED MOBILE SAFARIS
FULLY serviced mobile safaris into any of the National Parks, or to remote regions. Top quality equipment is used and a support vehicle goes ahead to set up camp. All meals are prepared by our safari chef.
Botswana is an exciting destination, with about 80% of the country is covered by Kalahari Sands. Located in these sands is the Okavango Delta and River systems to the north including Kwando, Linyathi and Chobe River systems. The abundant water offers a haven for both flora and fauna and is renowned for its great beauty and diversity. Botswana has a rich mix of African cultures the largest tribal group being the Botswana forming about 50% of the population. The original inhabitants some 2000 years ago were the San Bushmen. A fascinating Kalahari safari experience with these most ancient of all people is almost a ‘must do’ in your itinerary. Plains of Africa have hand picked the best destination in Botswana to suite a variety of tastes. Take a look at some of them here
Climate
Botswana can be visited at any time of the year – summers are generally hot and winters mild with a few cold spells. Seasons: High July 1 to October 31; Shoulder: March 1 to June 30 & November/December 1 to 31
Places Of Interest To Explore! SAFARI HOTSPOTS!
Chobe National Park – Famous for large herds of elephant along the Chobe river, excellent birding and game viewing. There are a number of lodges in the northern section at Kasane However, service and standards are varied and it tends to be touristy. Traveling into the Savuti region situated in the heart of the park along the Mababe depression is excellent for predators and other game and more of a rugged wilderness experience.
Magadikgadi National Park – 140,000 sq kilometer ancient sea, formed approx. two million years ago is renown for its beauty and incredible vistas. It is a major breeding site for greater and lesser flamingos. The western grasslands are home to huge herds of migrating zebra and wildebeest and lion prides between February and March.
Moremi Game Reserve – Situated on the Eastern edge of the Okavango Delta offers a wide diversity of habitats and species of wild game and has become a popular tourist destination. Best game viewing time is from April to October.
Okavango Delta – a vast 15,000 square kilometer wetland oasis in the heart of the Kalahari sands. A mired of flood plains, lagoons, islands, a tropical paradise with incredible wildlife and bird life viewing. Exclusive camps and lodges in magnificent settings, a must do!
Tsodilo Hills – In the remote northern western part of the Kalahari is a group of four isolated hills. Among these 800 million old hills are more than 4000 rock paintings by the ancestors of the san people and have deep mythological and religious value. Some paintings are older than 2000 years. A unique and fascinating experience to hike up into the hills and exploring the ancient rock art.
WHAT TO DO?
Culture – a wide diversity of tribal peoples with their interesting traditions and ceremonies reflecting their heritage. Special focus on the Kalahari Bushmen.
Game Drives – these are operated in open vehicles, usually at dawn and dusk to seek out the most interesting wildlife. Night drives are also available in private reserves.
Makoro (Dugout canoe) Safaris – glide with your private poler through the delta in a traditional dugout canoe. A mokoro was used by the orginal inhabitants of the Okavango Delta. This is a quiet and slow way of travelling throught the shallow channals of the delta, relax and sit back and absorb the magical variety of birdlife, crystal clear waters and beauty of the lagoons and waterways.
Motor Boat Trips – These are used in the deeper channals that are too deep for mokoro’s giving acess to large laggoons. They are noiser and disturb the wildlife and their wake can be harmful in areas where there are nesting birds e.g. the african skimmers nest on sand bars/banks. Boat trips can be good providing they are run considerately – encourage your guide to go slowly, you will see so much more as a result.
Walking Safaris – there is no better way of getting really close to nature than this. Lead by experienced armed guides/rangers/trackers, walkers are able to enjoy the sights, smells and sounds of the bush in harmony with their surroundings.
MAMMALS
The Okavango Delta and surrounding reserves of Northern Botswana support one of the last assemblages of large, free ranging mammals. This includes African elephant, wild dog, tsessebe which occur in the greatest numbers than anywhere else in Africa. The reclusive and rare Sitatunga, an adapted swamp antelope, is found no where else south of the Zambezi . Lion, leopard and cheetah occur in good numbers.
The Northern Chobe /Caprivi river system is the only area in Botswana and in fact Southern Africa where one will find the Puku. This is also found with the red lechwe occur in small herds near water. The riverine habitats are good places to find the Chobe bushbuck with its marvelous colour and coat markings. The Chobe River has plenty hippo, crocodile, and the largest herds of elephant found anywhere in Africa. Sable and Roan antelope are a special especially in the woodland areas, or at pans and rivers when they come down to drink.
The Central Kalahari has specials like the desert lion, brown hyena, gembok and kudu are also common.
A wide variety of mammals occur in Botswana.
BIRDING HOTSPOTS
Did you know that Botswana hosts:
The single largest population (ca 20%) of Wattled Cranes in the world and over 60% of the world’s Slaty Egrets, both birds of global conservation concern?
Approximately 600 species found in a wide variety of habitats.
Situated in the Eastern Caprivi, Zambezi Province of Namibia, a narrow strip of country on the northern bank of the Chobe River, Chobe Savanna Lodge overlooks the vast floodplains of the Chobe National Park’s Puku Flats. The Chobe River is home to large herds of Elephant, Buffalo and Hippo, as well as dense concentrations of other wildlife – including the rare Puku antelope – which come down to the river’s edge to drink and graze.
WHERE TO STAY?
THE LODGE
The Lodge is set in a classic African Savanna environment of sweeping vistas. The focal point of the lodge is a thatched, open-sided main building that features a 270 degree view over the Chobe River and beyond to the Chobe National Park.
Attractive gardens featuring a secluded swimming pool further enhance the lodge’s enviable location. In addition to the scheduled game-viewing activities, the Lodge is also a perfect venue for guests to simply take time out to watch the natural world go by in one of the most spectacular settings imaginable.
ACCOMMODATION
A private and secluded safari experience is guaranteed as the Lodge accommodates only twenty six guests in beautifully furnished thatched chalets, each with a private deck, an integrated bedroom and lounge area and en-suite facilities. Every chalet is air-conditioned and has its own complimentary mini bar.
HOW TO GET THERE?
Guests are linked from one camp to the other by means of light aircraft. Ensuring the crucial links from the hubs of Maun and Kasane to the network of lodges and camps is performed with ease; All of properties are in close proximity to airfields and some of the lodges have their own private airstrips. Unless a private charter is requested and booked as such, your flight transfers have been booked on a ‘seat on plane’ basis. Flight times are arranged according to each day’s requirements to fit in with activities and the movements of all our travellers on any given day. Therefore, aircraft and the day’s scheduling may pick up and drop off other guests en route to your destination. Times will vary from day to day and will be communicated to you the afternoon before departure. Flights to Kasane for the Chobe lodges and for Victoria Falls/Livingstone depart early to meet the scheduled road transfers; so early morning activities for guests departing on these flights could be curtailed. Should you wish, private charters can be arranged, in which case you will be the only guests in the plane and you may specify your departure times. We are happy to quote separately for private charters.
What to do?
ACTIVITIES & WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS
As this is a water-based lodge, guests have a choice of aquatic activities. River excursions in small, easily manoeuvrable boats are ideal for close encounters with the wild visitors to the river’s edge. Fishing is also a popular pastime; our catch-and-release fishing trips for Bream or Tiger Fish are a firm favourite with guests of all ages. Those wishing to experience some of the local Namibian traditions will enjoy a cultural village visit to one of the surrounding communities, where one can observe the ancient heritage of the local people.
