Custom Afri an Journeys with Michael Turnerwildplaces-africa.com/.../05/Luxury-Safari-final.pdf ·...
Transcript of Custom Afri an Journeys with Michael Turnerwildplaces-africa.com/.../05/Luxury-Safari-final.pdf ·...
Wild Places
www.wildplaces-africa.com
Luxury Safari
Custom African Journeys
with Michael Turner
Wild Places
www.wildplaces-africa.com
ITINERARY FOR 9 DAY LUXURY SAFARI Immersing yourself in the wild places of Africa is a once-in-a-lifetime experience –
particularly in the blissful comfort of our luxury camps. These permanent luxury camps are
situated in private concessions for the exclusive use of the guests. Camps vary in size from
four to ten walk-in tents which offer a comfortable camp bed and an en-suite bathroom
including a hot shower.
A luxury safari camp combines the largest and most elegant accommodation with
outstanding service, cuisine and phenomenal wildlife interactions. Guests who choose a
luxury safari desire to enjoy the absolute best in terms of the comforts in camp and their
safari experience.
Jao Camp: day 1-3 Duration: 3 nights Location: Okavango Delta,
Botswana
Sumptuous Jao Camp is set in an area where
islands fringed with riverine forests meet open
floodplains. Its spacious and beautifully-designed
tents are situated beneath a canopy of shady
trees and have en-suite facilities, as well as an
outdoor shower.
Built on raised decks, each has a private sala for
afternoon siestas with views of the spectacular surrounds. In addition to the lounge and
dining area, there are two plunge pools, a boma for dining under the stars and a spa with
a wide range of massage therapies.
Jao is acclaimed for its architecture and individually
handcrafted units and prides itself on being the
epitome of luxury in the most remote, scenically
splendid setting.
Days are spent exploring this incredible place in the
lap of luxury. Game drives and bush walks with
Michael allow for incredible game-viewing
experiences. The Delta’s waterways are best
explored by traditional mokoro (dug-out canoe). At
Jao we even have several glass-bottomed mokoros
for an entirely out of this world experience!
Relax at camp with extraordinary views, go fishing
in the Delta, treat yourself at the spa – the choice is yours. Departing Joa we fly across the
Delta to the Kwedi reserve and Duba Plains.
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Duba Plains: day 4-7
Duration: 3 nights
Location: Okavango delta, Botswana
Duba Plains is located at the base of the pan handle
of the Okavango Delta on a remote 30,000-hectare private concession, the Kwedi
Reserve. Inaccessible for most of the year by any means other than aircraft, it is this
remoteness that solidifies Duba Plains as the soul of ‘wild Africa’.
It is known for the titanic clashes between buffalo and lion and was the setting for
‘Relentless Enemies’, an award-winning National Geographic documentary that records
the classic interaction between the two species.
This camp prides itself on the intimacy of
‘home’ with all the touches of personal
service and superb safari experiences. Built
on a wooded island, the camp is small and
intimate with magnificent views over the
floodplains. The main area of Duba Plains
Camp comprises a large split level deck with
boma and campfire pit. Each night, after
dinner, drinks and stories are enjoyed around
the fire. A small plunge pool with sun
loungers has a wonderful view of the
surrounding floodplain.
This pristine area is home to lion, leopard, lechwe, tsessebe, warthog, elephant and huge
herds of buffalo. Thousands of buffalo take advantage of the rich grasslands found in the
Duba area and they alone support the concentrations of lions and hyenas that prey on
them. These huge buffalo herds are hunted almost daily by up to four different prides of
lions which live in and around Duba Plains. The abundance of waterbirds along the
flooded areas and water pans is exceptional – a multitude of herons, egrets, lapwings
and jacanas are seen. From Duba we will enjoy a short Helicopter transfer to the Selinda
concession in the Linyanti, and into Zarafa Camp.
Wild Places
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Zarafa Camp: day 8-10
Duration: 3 nights Location: Selinda
Reserve, Botswana
Zarafa Camp, located in the 320,000-
acre Selinda Reserve is synonymous
with exclusivity and perfection. It
embodies authenticity, luxury and
simplicity to create a camp that has
been clearly considered, and
thoughtfully planned to be as
environmentally sensitive as possible. It
is the culmination of years of safari
experience.
The camp sits on an island in the
floodplains of southern shores of
the Zibadianja Lagoon, which is
the source of the Savute
Channel. Positioned in the
extreme eastern side of the
Selinda Reserve, its location is in
prime wildlife territory. Each of
the camp’s four immense tented
suites are raised up on wooden
decking and shaded by a
canopy of African ebony and
Red ivory trees, each with
uninterrupted views.
On safari it is possible to see a tremendous diversity of species, from resident prides of lion
to huge herds of elephant and packs of wild dog.
It is also home to the ungulates, from the rare roan to the ubiquitous zebra. Nocturnal
wildlife is prolific as well, and there are frequent sightings of aardwolf and civet.
Exploration of this vast area defies imagination... by foot, 4x4 open game drive vehicle,
and pontoon boat. We leave the lush Linyanti swamps and fly deep into the Kalahari
Desert to the Makgadikgadi salt pans.
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San Camp: day 12-15
Duration: 3 nights Location: Makgadikgadi Salt Pans
Today we fly by light aircraft to the edge of the vast and mysterious
Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, the remnant of an extinct super lake that
once covered most of Botswana. San Camp is regarded as one of the most beautiful and
peaceful of all camps in Africa, the perfect balance between authentic and luxury. Turn
360° and nothing crosses the eye but the bowl of the sky. Classic white tents stand
majestically on the shore of an enormous sparkling salt pan, each sheltered by a cluster of
stately desert palms.
We will spend our days here with unforgettable people
and animals. Guests are invited to walk with Zu/’hoasi
Bushmen trackers. Offering a window into the past, they
teach us how they have survived in this harshest of
environments, using their vast and ancient knowledge
of plants, animal behaviour and survival skills. We will
also visit the habituated meerkat colony and spend
time with these incredibly social, superbly adapted
animals. Guests are also invited to embrace the endless
expanse of the salt pans and adventure across them on
quad bikes.
San Camp is surrounded by golden grasslands and white saltpans, dotted with palm–
treed islands teeming with birdlife and game. This is a photographer’s delight. Its
remoteness has ensured that the innocent wildlife has not been subject to the pressure of
mass tourism. This area is especially favoured by desert adapted animals, such as the
elusive brown hyena, bat eared foxes, aardwolf, aardvark, the delicate steenbok and
huge Kalahari lions, to name a few. We will depart from the Makgadikgadi onto Maun to
connect with our international flight home or onto our next adventure.
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“I was completely unprepared for the
impact that Africa would have on me.”
– Laura Hunter, Wild Places safari guest.
Wild Places
www.wildplaces-africa.com
Important Information
Hygiene
Hot bucket showers will be and we provide hand basins and soap near the dining area. Clean drinking
water is available at all times and recommended to use. Toilets are pit latrines, and are ‘flushed’ with ash
from a bucket using a small trowel. Each safari vehicle has a tap on the side and a bar of soap, which you
are free to use at any time to wash your hands especially before eating or after using the bush toilet.
Health and Entry Requirements
A valid passport is required and visas are required by some nationalities. American citizens will be issued at
the airport on arrival at no cost. We recommend clients check requirements with visa authorities well in
advance. No inoculations are required at this time but anti-malaria tablets are advisable all year round.
Clothing and Climate
Light-weight clothing with rainwear from November to March. The evenings can be cool from May to
August, during the winter months, so dress in layers. Neutral colours are best on safari and smart casual is
suitable for evenings (camouflage clothing is not permitted) there is a 20kg baggage limit on the internal
flights and soft bags are recommended. There is a daily laundry service in most camps. Sun block,
sunglasses, hats, and insects repellents are essential.
Included in the Price
Accommodation
Services of a professional guide
Services of a back-up crew including chef and waiter
All transport while on safari
All meals
Tea, coffee, fruit squash and 1.5 litre of mineral water per day (all drinks on luxury mobiles)
National Park entry fees
All camping equipment
Laundry service daily while on safari
Excluded from the Price
All international flights,
All premier drinks
Staff and guide gratuities
Compulsory travel insurance that includes a medical evacuation and repatriation plan.
Helicopter evacuation coverage, $50
Our Philosophy
Going on safari is an expedition like no other. We aim for our guests to return from their safari entertained,
educated and moved by their experience. This never occurs in the same way but is aided by the process of
planning that perfect safari for you as the individual, and laying this out amongst the greatest backdrop in
the world.The perfect safari is like a good suit. Each is tailored to fit your specific preferences and no two are
the same. Your needs and desires - like the measurements carefully taken when tailoring a suit - are used to
shape a custom-made journey that you will remember for the rest of your life. This, in essence, is our aim on
each safari and we never stop working to ensure that we achieve it.