Royal Sable Safari (Small Group)

Maramba Lodge
Ideally located just 4km from Victoria Falls on the outskirts of Livingstone, Zambia, Maramba River Lodge provides a most attractive year-round base in a shaded woodland setting. The Lodge is situated on a bluff overlooking the Maramba River and features a rock pool with a view of the water.

Facilities at Maramba include a restaurant, garden terrace, swimming pool and gift shop. Free WiFi access is available in the public areas. The lodge is often visited by resident wildlife and elephants wander through the grounds at certain times of the year.

After clearing the border, you head further into the Caprivi Strip of Namibia to Camp Kwando, where you stay one night.

Camp Kwando
Camp Kwando has a lovely vista over the Kwando River, a tributary of the Chobe River, which forms the border between Botswana and Namibia. There are 14 standard tented rooms all raised on wooden platforms with thatched roofs. Each room has a verandah with deck chairs. The rooms are simply furnished with wooden beds, open sided wardrobes and tables and chairs. There is an ensuite bathroom with flushing toilet, wash basin and shower – all open air. There is a small swimming pool set in pretty gardens and a shaded sitting area, which is a lovely spot to relax.

Return to the lodge late morning for lunch and a short siesta. In the afternoon, enjoy a leisurely boat cruise on the Kwando River.

Upon returning to the lodge feel free to enjoy a drink before a hearty dinner, then head off to bed to the sounds of the African bush.

From Poppa Falls continue to Botswana, entering Mahango Game Reserve just before the border. Situated on the floodplains of the Okavango River, Mahango Game Reserve is well known for its sightings of red lechwe, sable and other wildlife.

Late afternoon, continue to the border crossing with Botswana, and then south to the Okavango Delta. Check-in at Nxamaseri Lodge for two nights.

Nxamaseri Lodge
Nxamaseri is a small lodge with only 7 stone-and-thatch rooms, built amidst the riverine vegetation and overlooking the Okavango floodplains. Each room has an ensuite open-plan bathroom with shower and toilet, and a wooden verandah overlooking the lagoons and waterways of the Delta. All of the rooms are linked by raised wooden platforms. The lounge and dining areas are surrounded by tall Jackalberry trees and furnished with comfortable seating made by local craftsmen.

In the evening, enjoy a sundowner around the fire followed by a delicious dinner.

The morning’s motorboat safari is just the start of your day of exploration in the heart of the Okavango Delta. After the boat cruise, you’ll swap the motorboats for an altogether more traditional mode of transport, the mokoro (a form of dugout canoe), and enjoy a river safari at a more relaxed pace – perfect for appreciating the birdlife and more skittish wildlife that is less easily spotted on a motorboat safari.

Return to Nxamaseri Lodge at sunset for dinner and overnight.

Check-in at Maun Lodge, a comfortable retreat situated between Maun Airport and the city centre, for one night.

The rest of the afternoon is free. Maun is a good place to shop for unusual gifts. Alternatively, you have the option of taking a scenic flight over the Delta (45 min. Maun to Maun scenic flight. This must be booked locally). This magical experience provides another perspective of the Okavango Delta’s distinctive water system. During the flight it is possible to spot large animals such as elephant, giraffe and hippopotamus, but most impressive are the landscapes, with the Delta visible in all its vastness from the sky.

The next two days will be spent in this superb game-viewing region of the eastern Okavango, enjoying morning and afternoon game drives.

Overnight at Khwai Guesthouse.

Khwai Guesthouse
Khwai Guesthouse is a simple property situated on the edge of Khwai Village. The design is a blend of African and modern. Furniture is locally-made and the décor makes the most of vibrant fabrics and colours. All rooms have ensuite bathrooms with open-air showers.

After a stop for lunch enroute, you will arrive at the Pans late in the afternoon. Overnight at Nata Lodge.

Nata Lodge
Nata is a small lodge set on the edge of Pans. It offers ten custom-made Meru-style safari tents, all with ensuite bathroom. The tents are shaded by huge Marula trees and are slightly raised on wooden platforms, so as to make the most of the views of the salt pans.

Continue towards Kasane, where you check-in for two nights at the Old House. The Old House is a pleasant family run lodge in Kasane overlooking the Chobe River.

The next two days will be spent exploring northern Chobe from your base in Kasane, on a mix of guided game drives and boat safaris.

The most famous of Botswana’s big game safari parks, Chobe is sustained by the Chobe River, which provides a constant water source, attracting plentiful wildlife throughout the year. Herds of elephant and buffalo are a common sight, as are families of giraffe, prides of lion and plentiful antelope, including zebra, kudu and wildebeest. Less commonly sighted species include rhinoceros, cheetah and wild dog.

The rest of your stay in Livingstone is at your leisure. You’ll likely want to visit the spectacular Victoria Falls. There are also other activities available locally, which your guide will help you organise if you wish. These include white water rafting, canoeing and helicopter flights over the Falls.