This tour has concluded.

Botswana's remote Okavango Delta is the last water wilderness in the world and a secret oasis to the Kalahari. Alive with birds and animals and largely undeveloped country, has more acres of wildlife reserves than roads. The setting of the popular #1 Ladies Detective books, Botswana is unique above all other safari countries. The safari ends with two nights at the Victoria Falls Hotel.

Your Tour includes...

Round trip economy class air transportation San Francisco to Atlanta to Johannesburg and flights Johannesburg to Gaborone, Maun & Johannesburg, as per itinerary • ight aircraft flights: Maun/Kanana/Shinde/Kasane • All airport transfers and road transfer Chobe to Victoria Falls • Sundowner Cruise on the Zambezi • Deluxe accommodations in Victoria Falls and Gaborone • Deluxe safari accommodations at all camps • All meals as specified (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner) • All beverages (including alcoholic beverages in reasonable quantities, featuring South African wines) at Shinde, Kanana & Chobe Game Lodge • All tours in Gaborone per the itinerary • All safari activities in Botswana Game areas • Daily laundry service at Shinde, Kanana, & Chobe Game Lodge • All fees, VAT and service charges on land arrangements< • Emergency evacuation service in Botswana • Personally escorted by an experienced Tour Manager from the U.S.A.

Itinerary
Monday, October 17—Overnight USA
Your safari begins this morning as you board your morning flight to Atlanta. Upon arrival this afternoon you will be met and transferred to the Airport Radisson Hotel. Enjoy the rest of the evening at your leisure.

Tuesday, October 18—Depart USA
This morning at 10:30am you will depart from Atlanta aboard South African Airways. You will enjoy SAA's renowned in-flight service on this flight to Johannesburg.

Wednesday, October 19 —Johannesburg/Botswana
You will arrive in Johannesburg this morning at 8:15am and remain in transit for your 10:40am flight to Gaborone. Arrive in Gaborone at 11:40am where you will be met and transferred to the hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure and a Buffet Dinner this evening. D

Thursday, October 20 —Gaborone
Today you will enjoy your tour into the life of Mma Ramotswe. Transfer to the President Hotel, one of Mma Ramotswe's favorite tea stops.
With your guide, leave for Mochudi, her ancestral home. In Mochudi where you will visit the fascinating museum run by Sandy and Elinah Grant. Sandy's photos have illustrated the covers of McCall Smiths Mma Ramotswe series and he gives a wonderfully illustrated background to where Mma Ramotswe comes from. There will be opportunities here to purchase postcards, printed material and crafts from Mochudi.
Next you visit a traditional home and take lunch at a local restaurant. With vibrant music and a bustling atmosphere you will sample traditional cooking, the usual fare being chicken or beef, rice, maize pap or salads.
You find the spot where McCall Smith 'met' Mma Ramotswe - more accurately, the lady who provided the inspiration for the character, and hear the story behind this…
2:30 Depart Mochudi for Gaborone where you find the location of the detective agency and Mma Ramotswe's rambling house in Zebra Drive.
4:30 Drop off at the Grand Palm Hotel. Dinner will be on your own tonight. B/L

Photo by John Camozzi

Friday, October 21 —Gaborone
Today you will continue to explore Botswana during your second Mma Ramotswe Tour.
After breakfast. leave on a circuit of adventure following the exploits of Mma Ramotswe
to the "edge of the Kalahari". You will pass by the original home of Dr David Livingstone, another of Botswana's famous residents. Mma Ramotswe's investigations take you as far afield as Molepolole and Lobatse.
You will stop in the village of Otse for a welcome lunch break. If 3:30 Returning north you call in at Mokolodi Nature Reserve for a preview of future plots and twists.
An afternoon game drive around the reserve is followed by an early evening bush braai (barbecue) under the stars. Return to The Grand Palm. BL/D

Saturday, October 22 —Gaborone/Okavango Delta
Today you will board your morning flight from Gaborone to Maun where you will then fly by light aircraft to Kanana Camp. Upon arrival at camp, you will have time to unpack and sip a beverage before setting-out on an afternoon game drive.

Click Map to Enlarge

Kanana means paradise in Setswana and you will appreciate this as you explore this necklace of islands on the Xudum River, in the more remote reaches of the Okavango delta. This deluxe tented camp is situated among spectacular ebony and acacia trees concealing the eight traditional safari tents with en-suite facilities. The view is breathtaking as the permanent tents are on raised platforms overlooking the surrounding floodplains. The dining and lounge areas encircle a massive ancient fig tree, which is the focal point of the camp's public area.

Kanana offers a plunge pool for cooling off in the warmer months and daily activities include morning and afternoon game drives, walks, and mokoro excursions. Kanana's private heronry is a rare attraction and can be accessed when the lagoon is in flood. B/L/D

Sunday, October 23 —Okavango Delta
Waking to the morning chorus of bird calls and the smell of fresh coffee or tea served
in your tent. The large walk in tents includes comfortable oversized beds, en suite hot
showers and flush toilets. Three delicious meals are served daily, bottled water is
included as well as a variety of alcoholic beverages from the fully stocked bar.
Enjoy the game activities as organized by the camp manager. B/L/D

Monday, October 24 —Okavango Delta
The short flight to Shinde is by light aircraft. Shinde Camp, on the edge of Shinde Lagoon, is a tranquil haven. Remoteness has protected it against the ravages of tourism. Crystal clear water flows silently through myriad channels, meandering past palm-fringed islands teeming with birdlife and game. Shinde's 'Tree House' offers dining with views westward across the lagoon and airy open lounge areas merging with the trees, which form a pleasing integral part of the overall camp ambiance. B/L/D

Photo by Kevin Dahlke

Tuesday, October 25 —Okavango Delta
Enjoy a day of game viewing in this unspoiled Eden. Lion, leopard, giraffe, hippo, lechwe, zebra, impala and many other big game species can be seen as well as a kaleidoscope of bird life. Lunch is served back in camp, or perhaps as a picnic in the bush. B/L/D

Wednesday, October 26 —Okavanga/Chobe
After an early game drive (if time permits), you will transfer by light aircraft to Kasane Airport in the Chobe area.

Chobe Game Lodge is located on the south bank of the Chobe River in Chobe National Park. The lodge has Mediterranean style architecture and all rooms overlook the river.

The restful air-conditioned rooms have quarry tiled floors open out onto balconies and have overhead fans as well. Chobe is famous for elephants often seen in great numbers in October; Chobe bushbuck, lion, zebra, giraffe, Cape buffalo can also be seen as together with the wart hogs that trim the lawns around the property. B/L/D

Chobe by Melita Thorpe

Thursday, October 27 —Chobe
You may choose from game drives, canoeing or game viewing by boat- especially rewarding in the late afternoon when the animals come to the river to drink. B/L/D

Friday, October 28 —Chobe/Victoria Falls
This morning you will drive from Chobe (approximately two hours west of Victoria Falls) to the beautiful Victoria Falls Hotel.

Victoria Falls Hotel
This colonial hotel, set in meticulously groomed grounds, is located within walking distance of the Falls. Established in 1904, the historical Victoria Falls Hotel overlooks the Victoria Falls Bridge and the gorge below. The elegant décor and the Old World charm of this gracious hotel are reflected in the wide colonial verandahs and the Livingstone room with its fine cuisine. The 140 rooms and suites have all been refurbished to provide all modern amenities without losing this unique atmosphere.

Tonight you will enjoy an informal poolside buffet dinner and show. B/D

Victoria Falls by Randall Olson

Saturday, October 29 —Victoria Falls
Today you will enjoy the day at your leisure.

You may want to enjoy a guided tour of Victoria Falls. One of the great natural wonders of the world and perhaps the single greatest scenic wonder in Africa, Victoria Falls has been attracting travelers for more than a century - since Dr. David Livingstone
reported its existence to the outside world in the mid-19th century. This legendary waterfall, the largest in the world, is created by the entire mile wide Zambezi River plummeting into a huge chasm that separates Zimbabwe and Zambia. In the local
language, Victoria Falls is Mosi-oa-Tunya, "the smoke that thunders. Victoria Falls is twice as high and one and a half times as wide as those at Niagara. The waters have cut back seven gorges over the millennia and the Devil's Cataract marks the starting point of the eighth. As you leave the Devil's Cataract and pass along the blacktop path through the rain forest, curtains of water, separated by islands, eject a fine mist, giving rise to the famous rainbow.

Tonight enjoy 'Sundowner Cruise' on the upper Zambezi River where you witness
hippos and aquatic birds settling down for the night against the setting sun. B

Sunday, October 30 —Victoria Falls/Johannesburg
After a relaxing morning you will board your afternoon flight from Victoria Falls to Johannesburg with enough time to connect with your departing flight back to the USA. B

Monday, October 31 —Johannesburg/Atlanta
You will arrive in Atlanta early this morning and connect with your onward flight to San Francisco.

Interested? Request a Brochure