Tailor-made safaris and travel to Southern Africa
BEST OF SOUTHERN AFRICA WING SAFARI
This safari is modeled by Liyatshwa Safaris and incorporates many of its highlights. The Best of Southern Africa Wing Safari is a superb 13-day flying safari where a small group of ten to twelve guests travels through the very prime habitats of southern Africa staying in the best camps.
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A fast, twin-engine aircraft departs from Johannesburg and remains with the group all the way through the safari, eliminating the delays and wasted time associated with scheduled airlines and their timetables. Guests experience the very best camps and landscapes of Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Mana Pools, before returning to Johannesburg. An experienced pilot / guide will host guests on their safari - backed up by professional local guides at each camp.
The safari departs early morning from Lanseria Airport in Johannesburg. The group will meet their pilot/guide and fly to Sossusvlei Wilderness Camp in the heart of the Namib Desert (clearing customs en route).
Spend two comfortable nights in this magical desert environment. Activities at Sossusvlei Wilderness Camp comprise early morning excursions in 4x4 vehicles to the magnificent Sossusvlei dunes (the highest in the world), vleis and canyons. Afterwards, a desert brunch is served under camel-thorn acacias surrounded by the dunes.
Afternoon activities are enjoyed on the Sossusvlei Wilderness Camp's private property, where guests can spend time experiencing the desert scenery and its unique fauna and flora by open Landrover or on foot.
Days 3 and 4
A special morning flight takes us over the dunes of the Namib and over Sossusvlei itself for an alternative view from the air. We are treated to spectacular scenery, where the dunes and desert meet the icy Atlantic Ocean. We land at Swakopmund airport, and will enjoy a boat trip in Walvis Bay (weather permitting), affording us the opportunity to view seals, schools of dolphins swimming alongside the boat, and perhaps even penguins. Following a delicious seafood lunch, we are driven to Swakopmund to enjoy a tour of this charming "Bavarian" town.
In the afternoon we depart from Swakopmund for a scenic flight further up the Skeleton Coast, past the Cape Cross Seal Colony, before turning east to fly up the Huab River to Ongava Game Lodge for two nights' stay.
This impressive stone and thatch lodge is situated along the southern boundary of Etosha National Park in the 68,000 Acre, privately owned Ongava Game Reserve. Activities include game drives in open Landrovers into the Okaukuejo area of Etosha where Lion, Elephant, Cheetah, Gemsbok, Springbok, and Hartebeest can be seen. In addition, night drives, hides and walks with armed guides are enjoyed on the private reserve. Ongava boasts resident White and Black Rhino, affording guests wonderful opportunities to see both species at close quarters, and perhaps track them on foot.
Days 5 and 6
Today we depart Ongava, clear customs en route, and fly into the heart of the Okavango Delta, its lush landscape providing a complete contrast to the Namib Desert.
We will spend 2 nights at the spectacular Jao Camp, located in a remote area of the Delta on a large island, with glorious views over palm-fringed flood plains and savanna. The activities at Jao include game viewing from Mekoros and motorized boats, day and night game drives in open Landrovers, and guided walks. Jao's broad range of activities, its spectacular location, and wonderful style and ambience make this arguably the Okavango Delta's most special water-based camp.
Days 7 and 8
From Jao, we fly to Mombo Camp for arguably the game-viewing highlight of the safari.
Mombo is situated on Mombo Island, adjoining the northern tip of Chief's Island, within the Moremi Game Reserve in northern Botswana. The camp offers complete exclusivity and privacy in the central Okavango, coupled with abundant big game, arguably the best game-viewing in Botswana. Activities at Mombo include morning and afternoon game drives in open Land Rovers. The game viewing in the area is excellent, and guests could see Lion, Leopard, large herds of Buffalo, Cheetah, Wild Dog, Elephant, Hyena, Giraffe, Wildebeest and Zebra as well as all the plains game.
Days 9 and 10
After a last morning's game drive, we depart Mombo for Livingstone, a small town on the Zambian side of Victoria Falls. From Livingstone it's a short road transfer and then a boat ride to The River Club, where we will spend two nights.
Set in indigenous bush and forest, right on the banks of the Zambezi River upstream from the Victoria Falls, The River Club offers a tranquil and romantic retreat from which to experience the full magic of 'Mosi-oa-Tunya' ('the smoke that thunders') and the mighty Zambezi River. We will enjoy personally guided tours of the Falls on the Zambian side, and will also be offered a host of activities on the quiet stretch of river on which the Lodge is located - fishing for Tiger Fish, enjoying sundowner cruises on the river, and a visit to a nearby Lozi village are among the main highlights.
Days 11 and 12
Today we cross the famous bridge over the Zambezi River to view the Victoria Falls from the Zimbabwean side. We will enjoy a guided tour of the Falls from this perspective (and perhaps a drink at the grand old Victoria Falls Hotel) before flying on to Mana Pools, where we will be staying at Chikwenya or Ruckomechi.
These camps are situated on either side of the Mana Pools National Park, and provide possibly the scenic highlight of this safari. The focal point is the magical Zambezi River, its backwaters, and the surrounding flood plains and forests. The area is a photographer's paradise, as tall albida trees dot the open flood plains, with the mountains of the Rift Valley providing the backdrop. Mana Pools is renowned for its large numbers of Elephant, Buffalo, Hippo, Crocodile, and Eland that concentrate along the river when the inland waterholes dry up. Activities are varied and wildlife viewing is enjoyed from open Landrovers, motorized pontoons, on foot, in hides, and in canoes.
Day 13
After our last game activity in the Mana Pools area, we fly to back to Johannesburg. From here, guests will connect with their onward arrangements, which could include Cape Town and the Winelands, one of South Africa's famous luxury trains, or any number of enchanting destinations which we would be pleased to discuss with you.
To find out more about the Best of Southern Africa Wing Safari, or to make a reservation, call on
27-11-463-7889 or email us.
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Photo credits: Wilderness Safaris