This morning after breakfast you will transfer to Kasane to clear customs. Then fly low along the magnificent Chobe River before entering the Okavango Delta. One of the most sought after wilderness destinations in the world, the Okavango Delta gives entrance to the spectacle of wild Africa such as dreams are made of –the heart-stopping excitement of big game viewing, the supreme tranquility and serenity of an untouched delta, and evocative scenes of extraordinary natural beauty.

Located on a private 77,000-acre concession deep in the extreme northern reaches of the Okavango Delta, lies Duba Plains Camp. The word “remote” could not be more relevant than here, a place only accessible by plane for most of the year, thanks to Botswana’s Okavango Delta seasonal floods. Six beautifully appointed tents overlook vast floodplains and create an authentic atmosphere of discovery for 12 guests. Wild animals often wander through camp – a truly magical experience to be celebrated rather than feared! This is “home” for Great Plains Conservation co-founders, and National Geographic Explorers in Residence, Dereck and Beverly Joubert and the remarkable, ever-present lions whose story they have so wonderfully documented over the years. Renowned for their pursuits of the huge buffalo herds which roam the plains, Duba Plains’ indomitable lions have become legends, hunting primarily in broad daylight, at home in water as well as on land as they swim the permanent channels which separate the jigsaw of islands which dot the landscape. But they are not the only inhabitants here… Wildlife diversity is guaranteed at Duba Plains, which offers large concentrations of iconic game such as red lechwe, impala, kudu, tsessebe, hippopotamus and crocodiles viewed all year round. Birdlife is abundant, as are the elephant herds which traverse this magnificent wilderness.

Flight time Kasane to Duba Plains - Approx 1 Hour 20 Mins

Overnight Duba Plains Camp (BLD)
http://greatplainsconservation.com/duba-plains-camp/

Enjoy the scheduled morning and afternoon game viewing activities. The daily safari routine usually involves an early morning wake-up call with tea/coffee and freshly baked muffins. As well as the clean early morning air and dazzling sun rise, an early departure greatly increases the chances of unusual sightings, as the majority of mammals are active at the beginning and end of the day when temperatures are lower. Morning, afternoon and evening game drives are offered in specially adapted open safari vehicles as well as dug out canoe and power boat explorations of the channels, lagoons and floodplains of the Okavango Delta.

The boat experience is a soothing tonic, a contrast to the vigorous efforts of searching for mammals from a vehicle or on foot. Sit back and while away the hours, stopping to gaze at a multitude of spectacular birds and bathing elephant and enjoy the vistas of the river systems. However, don’t be surprised should the peace be shattered by the snort of a territorial hippo warning the boat of his presence!
The traditional dugout canoe is surely the definitive Okavango Delta experience. The complete stillness of an early morning, disturbed only by the sound of the water dripping from the ‘ngashe’ (wooden pole used to move the canoe), and the eerie call of the fish eagle echoing across the water, is a sublime experience. The Mokoro was designed to move across areas with low water levels by the indigenous peoples who inhabited the Delta and who explored the waterways and floodplains in search of food. Today, these same Mokoros provide an opportunity to glide through this varied and unique habitat using the traditional skills handed down through the generations. (Makoro and boat excursions are seasonal and Okavango delta flood dependent)

Overnight Duba Plains Camp (BLD)

This morning you will fly via Kasane to Vic Falls and transfer to your House Boat. At the confluence of the Chobe and Zambezi Rivers lies Impalila Island, which is also the meeting place of four African countries, namely: Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe. This phenomenon is the only one of its kind in the world and it is within this unique geographic area that the Chobe Princess operates.

The Chobe Princess provides the ultimate luxury cruising safari on the Chobe River. Small and intimate, this houseboat provides guests with the opportunity to stay overnight within the Chobe National Park at prime docking sites along the river. There is something incredibly relaxing about cruising on the Chobe River, along the banks of the Chobe National Park, watching the outstanding wildlife and birdlife from the houseboat.

The accommodation deck comprises five bedrooms. Each spacious double guest bedroom can be configured either as twin or double and has en-suite bathroom facilities and sliding windows opening onto the water, spanned by a transparent mosquito screen.

Overnight Chobe Princess Houseboat (BLD)
http://ichobezi.co.za/house-boats/

Game viewing by boat into the Chobe National Park is a remarkable experience - where huge herds of elephants come down to drink together with an extensive array of other game such as buffalo, giraffe, leopard, lion, kudu, waterbuck, puku, lechwe, impala, baboons and the endemic Chobe bush buck. The evening boat trip provides the guest with the unforgettable experience of witnessing a true African sunset, while being surrounded by herds of elephant and sipping on a cold sundowner.

The excellent guides are internationally known for their success in landing Tiger fish, especially when fly-fishing. For the novice fisherman, landing a Tiger is an accomplishment to aspire to and will undoubtedly provide memorable stories for years to come. The houseboat has fishing access to over 30kms of the Chobe River, over 120kms of the Zambezi River and many kilometers of waterways in the Kasai and Indibe wetlands. Each of these areas offers a different fishing experience.

Bird watching is a year-round pleasure with over 400 recorded species and a combination of water birds and woodland birds to be seen. There is a wide variety of habitats covered by the vessels and all guides are competent birders.

Mokoros (dugout canoes) can drift into the small islands which exist in the Chobe River and form part of the rapid system. The experienced ‘polers’ are also knowledgeable with all the various bird species to be found during the trip. This activity is influenced by river conditions.

Walks can be arranged on Impalila Island. These are very interesting as there is a varied ecology and the villages offer an insight into traditional African life. From the top of an ancient Baobab tree on Impalila Island one can view the meeting place of the four countries – Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana.

Overnight Chobe Princess Houseboat (BLD)

This morning you will fly North through Lusaka and on into the South Luangwa National Park in eastern Zambia. Experts have dubbed South Luangwa to be one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world, and not without reason. The concentration of animals around the Luangwa River, and its oxbow lagoons, is among the most intense in Africa.

The Luangwa River is the most intact major river system in Africa and is the life-blood of this 9059 km2 Park. The Park hosts a wide variety of wildlife, birds and vegetation. The now famous ‘walking safari’ originated in this Park and is still one of the finest ways to experience Africa’s pristine wilderness first-hand. The changing seasons add to the Park’s richness, ranging from; dry, bare bushveld in the winter, to a lush, green wonderland in the summer months. There are 60 different animal species and over 400 different bird species in South Luangwa National Park.

Flight time Kasane to Lusaka airport - Approx 1 Hour 52 Mins
Flight time Lusaka to Lukuzi Airstrip (South Luangwa) - Approx 1 Hour 30 Mins

Overnight Tafika Camp (BLD)
http://www.remoteafrica.com/tafika-camps/

Tafika Camp, located in South Luangwa, offers exceptional game viewing combined with a selection of exciting activities including walks, visits to Mkasanga village and for the more energetic daily mountain bike rides. With 6 comfortable and spacious en-suite chalets, each with its own romantic outdoor shower, the camp offers a truly intimate experience.

Situated just outside the Nsefu Sector of the South Park it boasts some if the finest Leopard viewing in Zambia. The Leopard sighting opportunities combined with the unusual and exhilarating safari activities, and the camps friendly atmosphere, make Tafika Camp (or Nsefu Camp) the perfect place to base your South Luangwa wildlife experience.

Overnight Tafika Camp (BLD)

Today you will fly North to Likoma Island set in the crystal-clear waters of Lake Malawi.

Likoma Island is found towards the northeastern part of Lake Malawi, within the territorial waters of Mozambique but part of Malawi and linked to the rest of the country by a steamer service. The island is quite hilly in places, mostly dry and sandy since it lies in the rain shadow of the Mozambique shore. Baobabs are a common feature of the landscape, but big trees are generally scarce. The population is over five thousand people, scattered in little villages throughout the island.

Kaya Mawa is set on a rocky promontory on the southern tip of the Island. The name means 'maybe tomorrow' and is the perfect phrase for this wonderful retreat. Having been sensitively refurbished and a new central lounge and dining area has been built with lighter colours and contemporary styling. It is a perfect location for beach dinners or a relaxing lunch, with comfortable sofas with huge cushions, so you can listen to the water lap the shore whilst having a G&T.

There are 11 rooms in total, each is individually designed and built in sympathy with the rocks on the island and often built around the boulders themselves. There are four standard, three premium rooms and four houses tucked away on the beach.

Flight time Lakuzi Airstrip to Mfuwe - Approx 18 Mins
Flight time Mfuwe to Mzuzu - Approx 1 Hour 5 Mins
Flight time Mzuzu to Likoma Island - Approx 23 Mins

Overnight Kaya Mawa (BLD)
http://www.kayamawa.com/

Depart Likoma Island and Fly north along the shores of Lake Malawi before crossing into Tanzania and flying into Ruaha National Park, Tanzania’s largest National Park at 20,226 square kilometers.

No other National Park in Tanzania has the diversity of Ruaha. Elephant in huge numbers are a common site, large herds of Giraffe, zebra and impala among the other herbivores. Both greater and lesser kudu, the magnificent eland, sable and roan antelope can all be spotted in Ruaha. The Ruaha River provides an ecosystem on its own with its huge Nile crocodiles, pods of hippo and many smaller mammals and reptiles. Ruaha has an abundance of predators, and particularly a very healthy lion population - it's not uncommon to see a pride with twenty or more. Leopard, cheetah and the African hunting dog are also resident in the Park and often seen on game drives.

At the center of the Park is the Ruaha River which flows into the Rufiji River in the Selous, and on to the Indian Ocean. A number of smaller seasonal rivers all flow into the Ruaha including the Mzombe and the Mwagusi. These waterways are a vital life-source and make for a picturesque backdrop to the animal action. Complimenting this picture are the many low hills and the escarpment that is actually part of the Great Rift Valley. Between this and the plateau that rises in the southwest and runs all the way towards Lunda in the north is the low lying bush at Ruaha's heart.

Flight time Likoma Island to Mzuzu - Approx 23 Mins
Flight time Mzuzu to Mbeya - Approx 1 Hour 5 Mins
Flight time Mbeya to Msembe (Ruaha) - Approx 47 Minutes

Overnight Kigelia Ruaha Camp (BLD)
http://www.nomad-tanzania.com/south/kigelia-ruaha

This camp is included due to its’ amazing location in the best game area of Ruaha National Park. We felt it to be a perfect spot from which to explore the park - the camp's focus on the essence of safari with only six tents in old safari style ensures a small private experience. The tents are well furnished with locally crafted pale wood furniture and there's a hot safari-style bucket shower under the stars.

The camp kitchen whips up some tasty feasts - simple but satisfying meals served in the intimate dining tent or better still, under the stars. Like all bush camps, there's a camp-fire where the essential sundowner can be enjoyed as the hot day gives way to cool night.

Overnight Kigelia Ruaha Camp (BLD)

This morning you will fly northwards to Selous Game Reserve.

Located in Southern Tanzania, the Selous Game Reserve is Africa’s largest game reserve and is without doubt one of our favorite wildlife viewing areas in Africa. Few areas in the world offer such freedom and variety as the Selous, where the rivers and lakes are the lifeblood of a park that hosts some fabulous wildlife. The Selous offers an amazing introduction to untainted Africa, with the wilderness offering some of the most untouched places in Africa. With walking, game drives and boating excursions Selous has the greatest diversity of safari activities of all the Tanzanian parks. The wildlife in the Selous is particularly interesting as it attracts both east and southern African species of wildlife, both resident and migratory, and over 440 known species of birds. Lion are particularly strong here and there are large numbers of leopard. The park is home to over 50% of the remaining endangered African wild dog, and also hosts very good populations of buffalo, giraffe, eland, hyena, sable, hippo, crocodile, kudu, baboon, wildebeest, zebra, impala, hartebeest, colobus and vervet monkeys.

Flight time Msembe (Ruaha) to Selous Airstrip - Approx 1 Hour 18 Minutes

Overnight Sand River Selous (BLD)
http://www.nomad-tanzania.com/south/sand-rivers-selous

With 8 rooms all designed for maximum comfort Sand River Selous offers the perfect place to stay while exploring the Selous - wonderful beds, plenty of space and panoramic views out over the Rufiji river make this camp something truly special.

Sit around the bar at the end of the day, the drinks are cold and there's always good stories to be told.

The main mess is spacious, open-fronted and cool. There's a chill-out area near the library and then acres of dining spots - around the main pool, privately tucked away in a quiet corner of the mess or on the social managers table.

For activities enjoy either game drives in open 4x4 safari vehicles, game viewing by boat on the Rufiji river or get some exercise with a game walk with experienced guides.

Overnight Sand River Selous (BLD)

After breakfast, fly to Dar es Salaam or Nairobi (Via Dar es Salaam).

Flight time Selous Airstrip to Dar es Salaam - Approx 33 Minutes
Flight time Dar es Salaam to Nairobi - Approx 2 Hours 26 Minutes (Optional)