DAY 2

Day 2
We leave the Game Lodge in the early morning and drive to the Nogatsaa region of the park. The drive into the heartland of the park takes about two hours, there are no facilities here but we will be based in comfortable and luxurious tents, with shared ablutions, for our two-day visit.

An adult elephant eats up to 260 Kilograms of food and drinks up 400 litres of water a day. In an effort to draw substantial numbers away from the Chobe River front, several waterholes were built in the Nogatsaa region in the hope that during the dry season this would encourage some herds to remain in the hinterland and not congregate along the already overpopulated riverfront.

In combination with the Chobe Wildlife Trust we will perform animal counts to determine exactly how many elephant are utilising these waterholes as well as which other animals are doing so and any interaction between species. We need to find out if the waterholes are having the desired effect, and if the habitat can support these numbers. Are the waterholes and increased elephant numbers negatively affecting other species of wildlife, which would normally utilise this area?

The trip has been scheduled to co-inside with the full moon and if possible the counts will continue into the night. All our findings will be collated and the data recorded will be added to that from past counts. This data will be handed over to the Chobe Wildlife Trust and from this, conclusions in “ future elephant management through the provision of artificial watering points” will be drawn.

Overnight: Camping at a private camp site on a full board basis in spacious 3m x 3m tents with camp beds and shared facilities
Location: Chobe National Park

DAY 3

Day 3
During the morning and early afternoon the count will continue. At times it may be quiet at the water holes and other times they will become hives of activity. Whatever happens we will utilise the time to record everything.

In the late afternoon the count will stop, this night will give us the opportunity to relax and catch up on sleep from the night before. The dinner around the campfire gives us the opportunity to share experiences and compare notes on the goings on during the previous two days.

Overnight: Camping at a private camp site on a full board basis in spacious 3m x 3m tents with camp beds and shared facilities
Location: Chobe National Park

DAY 4

Day 4
It is another early start for Savuti, this is even further into the park and should take about 5 hrs of continuous travelling. We get to the extremely comfortable and luxurious Savute Safari Lodge in time for a late lunch. We make full use of the comfortable chalets and swimming pool to cool down and wash away the dust from our days at Nogatsaa.

The afternoon is spent either exploring the area in our safari vehicle or for those short on sleep, just relaxing at the lodge with its private waterhole situated a stone’s through away.


Overnight: Savute Safari Lodge
Location: Savute (Chobe National Park)

DAY 1

Day 1
You will be collected from either Victoria Falls or Livingstone airport and transferred to Chobe Game lodge. The lodge is situated in the Chobe National Park on the banks of the Chobe River. This is your introduction to elephant country; at certain times of the year there can be thousands on the floodplains at any one time. Apart from seeing these mighty beasts and many different species of other antelope and birds, one can begin to comprehend the enormity of sustaining more then 100 000 elephants in Northern Botswana.

Included in the first afternoon is a boat cruise on the Chobe River, which gives us the chance to view the game from a different perspective.


Overnight: Chobe Game Lodge
Location: Chobe National Park

DAY 5

Day 5
We should have recovered enough to set out early in the morning to visit the three pumped waterholes at Savuti. Here the Department of Wildlife has retained the responsibility for the upkeep of one water hole and handed over the two others to the local operators in conjunction with the Chobe Wildlife Trust. While we should have seen and recorded many breeding herds at Nogatsaa, Savuti is bull elephant country. The area is very dry and the bulls tend to monopolise the water holes not letting any other animals quench their burning thirst.

We spend the day exploring the famed Savuti marsh with its seven rocky centennials guarding what was once Botswana’s eden. We will see many other animal species, and at certain times of the year may catch the magnificent Zebra migration on the marsh, lion are normally plentiful and whatever we find will not disappoint.


Overnight: Savute Safari Lodge
Location: Savute (Chobe National Park)

DAY 6

Day 6
It is a long 6-hour drive, back through Kasane to Victoria Falls where we overnight at the famed “Ele Camp” just outside of Victoria Falls. Here we get chance to interact with these gentle giants on a one to one basis. We walk with them, bath with them and more then anything else realise just how special they are and why it is so important to look after them for future generations.

Overnight: Elephant Camp
Location: Victoria Falls

DAY 7

Day 7
After breakfast we can choose to either visit the mighty Victoria Falls or spend
our last few hours with these animals we have come to admire. The tour ends and you will be transferred to the airport in time to board you flight home, richer and more rewarded then you thought possible.

More information

Price
Low season Jan 1 2004 - June 30 2004 USD 3390 per person sharing


High season July 1 2004 – Oct 31 2004 USD 3650 per person sharing


Single supplement: high season only USD 400 per person

What is included in the tour

All accommodation in lodges and semi luxury tents, as per the itinerary above including all meals and drinks

The services of a professional guide and fully equipped 4 x 4 safari vehicle for the entire duration of the safari

All park and camping fees relating to the safari

Camping at Nogatsaa as per the attached “modus operandi”

What is not included
in the tour

No international or regional flights
Any items of a personal nature
(camera film etc)

Staff gratuities

Premium brand drinks
(those that are imported)