Diz01

Many thanks to all those who took the time to respond to my post a few weeks ago on where to start our planning for our 1st Africa trip. From what we read, having had a good read of the Fodor Safari guide (very helpful!) and looking at a few tour operators' websites we have narrowed our choice down to Botswana.

We are now considering how best to divide our time. It seems that the best parks are Okavango, Moremi, Chobe and Kwando. Excluding travel time from and back to the UK we will probably have 14 or 15 days on the ground. If we went to each park that would mean 3 or 4 days at each.

Our preference when we travel long haul is not to move around much but to see a lot of a little rather than spending all of our time travelling. Ideally we would rather spend 4 or 5 days at 3 places and do lots of trips with safari drives, walks, boat trips, elephant rides (?) etc. That being the case which of these parks should we save for another trip? I think the Okavango is a must for us so I will be interested in what others think of which other 2 we should visit.

Or is 3 days approximately about right in each location? That's what a lot of the operators' standard trips seem to suggest.

Also have I made a mistake by ruling out some of the other areas such as the Kalahari?

I will be grateful for your thoughts.

Thanks

canadian_robin

Hi Diz01!
<i>That being the case which of these parks should we save for another trip?</i>
I like your attitude - first trip not yet undertaken and already planning for the next trip!!

I'm sorry - I must have missed your first post - are you planning to fly from camp to camp? This isn't a self-drive trip, is it? Three nights at each camp would seem about right to me.

I can't offer input on specific camps in Moremi and Chobe because we have only camped - however, there are lots of experts on this forum who will give plenty of good advice.

We spent 12 days (self-driving and camping with a roof-top tent) in Moremi and Chobe this past August and loved both. We ended our visit with two nights traveling up and down the Chobe River on a houseboat - the Ichobezi. It was a wonderful way to end the trip. Some great game viewing, including a leopard. Have a look at: www.ichobezi.co.za. There are two houseboats - the Ichobezi Moli and the Ichobezi Mukwae - we were on the latter of the two, which is newer - launched in 2007, I believe.

Have a look at the following link - starting near the bottom of pg 29
http://bert-and-bin.smugmug.com/gall...18318816_Pyvk6

Just an idea! Robin

Diz01

Thanks Robin for the ideas.

To clarify this is not a self drive. I expect we will use an operator to make the bookings and then fly in/out. Too much for 1st timers to self drive I think!

And yes we are always planning the trip after the next one!

cybor

You mention public parks above. Are you looking to stay at private reserves or go to public parks - big difference.
Also without knowing your budget or your likes and dislikes it's hard to make recommendations. i.e. wildlife, Victoria falls, cultural visits, etc.

Momliz

The way I narrowed down what to see on our trip was to go to different ecosystems - so, we saw a part of the delta, we were in the Kalahari, and we saw some grassland. We did a Wilderness package - the Green Desert since we were there in the rainy season (when it never rained) - and added on a few days at Lebala.

Worked for us.

atravelynn

Did you state when you are are traveling? Sorry if I missed it. That would have a bearing on which parks you chose.

Diz01

Thanks for the replies so far. I do not necessarliy need to filter it down to specific camps yet - I'm more looking for guidance on general areas. We will be travelling in late September or early October.

atravelynn

Moremi is techincally in the Okavango. You can decide how much water activity you want to do, which can help steer you toward certain camps or away from them within the Okavango. There are great delta camps not in Moremi.

In Moremi are the Mombos (around $1500/pp/pnt), Chief's Camp, Camp Moremi, Xakanaxa, Camp Moremi. Bordering Moremi is Chitabe. Along that Moremi border it was lush and the way I remembered Moremi, but the rest of the Chitabe concession was much drier terrain when I was there in Aug. Game viewing was good all over--a little sporatic, but some outstanding sightings.

There are probably more Moremi camps too than these.

Kwando and Chobe would be go well with the delta. Be aware that Chobe would have more visitors than any of the other areas discussed.

atravelynn

"There are probably more Moremi camps too than these."
Khwai River is one.

cary999

Here's a neat satellite map of the Okavango Delta showing the location of many (about 30) safari camps. (Thanks safarichuck). It may be a bit hard to read as is on your monitor so suggest save it to file, reopen and then zoom in on it.
http://tomgraham.smugmug.com/gallery...317_9eL5H-O-LB

regards - tom