When is it necessary to book?
Jan 25th, 2011, 10:02 AM
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When is it necessary to book?
Hi -- we are planning a trip to Botswana (and probably Capetown) for May 2012. I want to use frequent flyer points and we are flexible about our exact date of travel. Therefore, ideally I would like to wait til July to book our trip, which will be 10 months out, or a bit more. We are interested in Wilderness Classic Camp, and have a number of camps we are interested in but haven't narrowed it down completely yet. Will we likely have a good selection of camps 10 months in advance, or should we book sooner and modify once we are ticketed?
Thanks for your advice or experience.
Thanks for your advice or experience.
Jan 25th, 2011, 08:06 PM
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We always book the FF flights first, then the camps. There should be plenty of time to book the camps you want. We actually have been very lucky - just be flexible and you'll be OK with both the flights and camps.
Jan 27th, 2011, 08:45 AM
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Lsinden,
I just logged onto Wilderness Safari's agent access site to look at camp space. For classic camps in May, I recommend Chitabe or Chitabe Ledibe + Savuti or Duma Tau (3 days each camp) for a good six day dry land game viewing (i.e. land rover) experience. Then you should add a water activity camps like Little Vumbura, Xigera, Tubu Tree, etc.
May is the peak flood month. It is also a time when many travel agents travel to Botswana so the camps are a bit fuller than April. Expecially at Vumbura Plains and Tubu Tree, the flood will effect the environment less if you travel in April. I recommend April instead of May given the floods in 2010 and the coming floods for 2011.
Using Chitabe Camp as an example, I just looked at space for April and May 2012.
Chitabe is sold out on April 21,22,23 and May 12,13,14,17,18,19,20. It is almost sold out on May 1,2,3 and 21-25. All other dates are wide open. Other camps mentioned above have similar "stats".
I recommend booking the safari now if you really want to go. Wilderness should allow you to adjust the dates IF SPACE IS AVAILABLE for no penalty as long as you don't attempt to go on a cheaper trip when you change the dates. Make sense?
I have been to every Wilderness Safari camp in Botswana and I have also been there in March, April, May, and June. I recommend you go in April instead. I have been to every camp in May. Some are VERY wet.
Craig Beal - owner - Travel Beyond
I just logged onto Wilderness Safari's agent access site to look at camp space. For classic camps in May, I recommend Chitabe or Chitabe Ledibe + Savuti or Duma Tau (3 days each camp) for a good six day dry land game viewing (i.e. land rover) experience. Then you should add a water activity camps like Little Vumbura, Xigera, Tubu Tree, etc.
May is the peak flood month. It is also a time when many travel agents travel to Botswana so the camps are a bit fuller than April. Expecially at Vumbura Plains and Tubu Tree, the flood will effect the environment less if you travel in April. I recommend April instead of May given the floods in 2010 and the coming floods for 2011.
Using Chitabe Camp as an example, I just looked at space for April and May 2012.
Chitabe is sold out on April 21,22,23 and May 12,13,14,17,18,19,20. It is almost sold out on May 1,2,3 and 21-25. All other dates are wide open. Other camps mentioned above have similar "stats".
I recommend booking the safari now if you really want to go. Wilderness should allow you to adjust the dates IF SPACE IS AVAILABLE for no penalty as long as you don't attempt to go on a cheaper trip when you change the dates. Make sense?
I have been to every Wilderness Safari camp in Botswana and I have also been there in March, April, May, and June. I recommend you go in April instead. I have been to every camp in May. Some are VERY wet.
Craig Beal - owner - Travel Beyond
Jan 27th, 2011, 10:16 AM
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Just wondering Craig if the terminology of "sold out" means those dates are paid for and secured at this time or if it means those dates are being held, pending deposits.
Your April vs. May comments are interesting.
Your April vs. May comments are interesting.
Jan 27th, 2011, 07:26 PM
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Hi Lynn,
Sorry for the confusion. I was being a bit simplistic. The camps show as "confirmed" in the system. In fact they could be on hold for a "brochure set-departure tour operator" without actual names for the rooms. Either way, they are not available for booking right now by lsinden. Usually Wilderness does not allow tour operators to hold blocks of rooms for months and months if the operator does not have a good track record of selling all of them. So, I would not expect these rooms to ever become available again.
Craig Beal - owner - Travel Beyond
Sorry for the confusion. I was being a bit simplistic. The camps show as "confirmed" in the system. In fact they could be on hold for a "brochure set-departure tour operator" without actual names for the rooms. Either way, they are not available for booking right now by lsinden. Usually Wilderness does not allow tour operators to hold blocks of rooms for months and months if the operator does not have a good track record of selling all of them. So, I would not expect these rooms to ever become available again.
Craig Beal - owner - Travel Beyond
Jan 27th, 2011, 09:16 PM
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Thanks Craig, very interesting insights into Botswana camps and months. We get such questions here constantly and I hope we can find/search this (your) post when the questions come up again. Which perhaps begs another question, you say go in April, is April THE best month of the whole year for these camps?
Thanks.
regards - tom
Thanks.
regards - tom
Jan 28th, 2011, 04:10 AM
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Hi Tom,
From an animal viewing standpoint (seeing the most animals per day) July-October would be the best time to go. From a practical standpoint I think March and early April deliver the best "value". May and early June have been too wet the past few years to deliver the same value as March/April even though the price for all four periods is the same.
The prices in April 2011 for a seven day safari (using Wilderness Safari classic camps) are at least 50% cheaper than the prices in July-October 2011. I don't think you see 50% less animals. Therefore, the price per animal seen would be less! Make sense?
Tom - here is an environmental overview from my experience. My recent experience includes visiting every Wilderness Safari camp in Botswana (most more than once) in the past five years, almost all the &Beyond camps, and a handful or lodges from the other operators (Chief's, Orient Express, etc.)
The traditional high season is mid-June to mid-October, but game viewing is “good” year round. The main reason for “high season” is the better quality of animal viewing and a lesser extent cooler weather. Here is a very general overview of how the ecosystem functions from a historical perspective:
The rains typically stop in March. At this point, the environment is greener and the grass is taller. The animals are also spread out as there are temporary water sources (puddle, streams) all over northern Botswana from the rains. Deception Valley in the Kalahari has grass and the animals are also there grazing!
Once the rains stop, the grass quickly browns and the leaves start to fall off the trees. The animals are eating the grass and leaves as fall. Even though the rain has stopped, the Okavango Delta is still filling with water as the catchment area for the Delta is far NW in Angola. The Okavango Delta reaches peak height in May or early June. This is also the time when the volumetric flow rate over Victoria Falls is at the annual high.
With winter setting-in during June, the temporary water sources start to dry-up and the animals begin seasonal migrations to the permanent water of the Chobe/Linyanti/Savute/Selinda/Kwando water systems. They also migrate closer to the Delta. The sight lines improve as the trees defoliate and the grass is eaten or trodden down. This causes the best game viewing to take place in the winter months. Not only are the sight lines better but the animals are in more predictable locations and they are more densely congregated. Most guides spend many years working at one camp so they will know exactly where to go during this time period. During the dry season, the animals are eating plants and germinating their seeds in their digestive system. They scatter these seeds throughout the region.
The moment the rains begin (usually in November) the ecosystem springs back to life. The antelopes have their babies and the animals head back to the previously dry areas to forage and survive during the green/summer months.
March/early April is late in the green season. In my experience, some of the best areas to view animals during that time are in the Linyanti concession at Savuti Camp or Duma Tau. Along with many lesser (in popularity) animals, you can expect to see Leopard, Lion, giraffe, and elephants during a three day stay. Many people have been seeing Wild Dog and Cheetah in this concession as well.
Another great area is the Jao flats. This area is covered with water starting in April-July and starts to dry out in August. Tubu Tree, Jacana, and Kwetsani are all classic camps in this concession. You can expect to see Leopard and Lion especially during the green season at Tubu Tree. You can do mokorro canoe and motor boat rides at any of these camps along with Land Rover game drives. Instead of the Jao flats, another good mixed activity camp is Little Vumbura. The Jao flats and Little Vumbura will have challenges associated with the floods from mid-April until mid-June.
I always recommend Chitabe Camp or Chitabe Ledibe any time of year. This is a classic dry-land activity camp in the heart of the Okavango.
Last May I chartered a helicopter and re-visited every Wilderness Safari camp in Botswana (except Chitabe where I had been twice before). I also had a chance to see some Kwando, Orient Express, &Beyond, and Chobe Holding camps. One camp that I LOVE and highly recommend during December-March is Kalahari Plains camp (maybe not April). The vibe at camp is awesome, the management is superb and the Orynx, Springbok, and Cheetah sightings were fantastic.
I have been to Botswana in every season and it always delivers! In late March/early April you can expect mostly clear skies, 85F daily highs, 55-65F daily lows, and very little rain. The water over Vic Falls will be pretty spectacular if you can get up there. You will not see large herds of elephants. If I had to make a GROSS estimation, you will see 35% less animals in March vs June and 45% in March versus July or August. Of course, this is a figure I am making up on my own and your game viewing will depend on many other factors.
Craig Beal - owner - Travel Beyond
From an animal viewing standpoint (seeing the most animals per day) July-October would be the best time to go. From a practical standpoint I think March and early April deliver the best "value". May and early June have been too wet the past few years to deliver the same value as March/April even though the price for all four periods is the same.
The prices in April 2011 for a seven day safari (using Wilderness Safari classic camps) are at least 50% cheaper than the prices in July-October 2011. I don't think you see 50% less animals. Therefore, the price per animal seen would be less! Make sense?
Tom - here is an environmental overview from my experience. My recent experience includes visiting every Wilderness Safari camp in Botswana (most more than once) in the past five years, almost all the &Beyond camps, and a handful or lodges from the other operators (Chief's, Orient Express, etc.)
The traditional high season is mid-June to mid-October, but game viewing is “good” year round. The main reason for “high season” is the better quality of animal viewing and a lesser extent cooler weather. Here is a very general overview of how the ecosystem functions from a historical perspective:
The rains typically stop in March. At this point, the environment is greener and the grass is taller. The animals are also spread out as there are temporary water sources (puddle, streams) all over northern Botswana from the rains. Deception Valley in the Kalahari has grass and the animals are also there grazing!
Once the rains stop, the grass quickly browns and the leaves start to fall off the trees. The animals are eating the grass and leaves as fall. Even though the rain has stopped, the Okavango Delta is still filling with water as the catchment area for the Delta is far NW in Angola. The Okavango Delta reaches peak height in May or early June. This is also the time when the volumetric flow rate over Victoria Falls is at the annual high.
With winter setting-in during June, the temporary water sources start to dry-up and the animals begin seasonal migrations to the permanent water of the Chobe/Linyanti/Savute/Selinda/Kwando water systems. They also migrate closer to the Delta. The sight lines improve as the trees defoliate and the grass is eaten or trodden down. This causes the best game viewing to take place in the winter months. Not only are the sight lines better but the animals are in more predictable locations and they are more densely congregated. Most guides spend many years working at one camp so they will know exactly where to go during this time period. During the dry season, the animals are eating plants and germinating their seeds in their digestive system. They scatter these seeds throughout the region.
The moment the rains begin (usually in November) the ecosystem springs back to life. The antelopes have their babies and the animals head back to the previously dry areas to forage and survive during the green/summer months.
March/early April is late in the green season. In my experience, some of the best areas to view animals during that time are in the Linyanti concession at Savuti Camp or Duma Tau. Along with many lesser (in popularity) animals, you can expect to see Leopard, Lion, giraffe, and elephants during a three day stay. Many people have been seeing Wild Dog and Cheetah in this concession as well.
Another great area is the Jao flats. This area is covered with water starting in April-July and starts to dry out in August. Tubu Tree, Jacana, and Kwetsani are all classic camps in this concession. You can expect to see Leopard and Lion especially during the green season at Tubu Tree. You can do mokorro canoe and motor boat rides at any of these camps along with Land Rover game drives. Instead of the Jao flats, another good mixed activity camp is Little Vumbura. The Jao flats and Little Vumbura will have challenges associated with the floods from mid-April until mid-June.
I always recommend Chitabe Camp or Chitabe Ledibe any time of year. This is a classic dry-land activity camp in the heart of the Okavango.
Last May I chartered a helicopter and re-visited every Wilderness Safari camp in Botswana (except Chitabe where I had been twice before). I also had a chance to see some Kwando, Orient Express, &Beyond, and Chobe Holding camps. One camp that I LOVE and highly recommend during December-March is Kalahari Plains camp (maybe not April). The vibe at camp is awesome, the management is superb and the Orynx, Springbok, and Cheetah sightings were fantastic.
I have been to Botswana in every season and it always delivers! In late March/early April you can expect mostly clear skies, 85F daily highs, 55-65F daily lows, and very little rain. The water over Vic Falls will be pretty spectacular if you can get up there. You will not see large herds of elephants. If I had to make a GROSS estimation, you will see 35% less animals in March vs June and 45% in March versus July or August. Of course, this is a figure I am making up on my own and your game viewing will depend on many other factors.
Craig Beal - owner - Travel Beyond
Jan 28th, 2011, 05:50 AM
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Thanks, Craig for your very detailed (and surprising) response about April vs May. Thanks Tom, Lynn, Chris and Sandi for sharing your experiences, and asking great questions before I had the chance! I guess I need to take a step back and ask some other questions, Craig, and would appreciate your advice as I know you are an expert on these areas.
Right now, it seems like our window for our trip is April 15-June 15. March could be a possibility, but I won't know that til much later in the year (late summer?). (We are doing a major renovation on our home and expect to finish in early October, but hard to know how that will go and we haven't stated yet!)
It seemed like May was a good time slot, but I understand about the changes in flooding over the past couple of years so your remarks about April make sense, even though this is the first time I heard someone making this case. However, only the second half of April is probably an option for us.
We are not "Botswana or bust" and would also consider South Africa, or other areas, or SA and Tuli block, if we felt that would work better for our trip within our time frame.
So some questions:
It seems you would recommended March 15-30 over April 15-30 for Botswana, true? Any other areas you would recommend for that time? Alternatively, what about Botswana, without a water camp in our original time frame?
Thanks so much...you through me back a couple of steps in my planning, but I appreciate your opinions.
Right now, it seems like our window for our trip is April 15-June 15. March could be a possibility, but I won't know that til much later in the year (late summer?). (We are doing a major renovation on our home and expect to finish in early October, but hard to know how that will go and we haven't stated yet!)
It seemed like May was a good time slot, but I understand about the changes in flooding over the past couple of years so your remarks about April make sense, even though this is the first time I heard someone making this case. However, only the second half of April is probably an option for us.
We are not "Botswana or bust" and would also consider South Africa, or other areas, or SA and Tuli block, if we felt that would work better for our trip within our time frame.
So some questions:
It seems you would recommended March 15-30 over April 15-30 for Botswana, true? Any other areas you would recommend for that time? Alternatively, what about Botswana, without a water camp in our original time frame?
Thanks so much...you through me back a couple of steps in my planning, but I appreciate your opinions.
Jan 28th, 2011, 08:53 AM
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Lsinden,
If I was in court I would probably have contradicted myself somewhere along the way...
If you are going to Duma Tau, Savuti, Chitabe, Chitabe Ledibe, Mombo, Selinda, Zarafa, or Kings Pool then later is going to be better (f/e May better than April). For most other camps, given the flooding and expected 2011 flooding, it is my opinion that March/early April will offer better LAND activity options than late April/May. This is especially true at Vumbura Plains and Jao. I witnessed the Delta rise over 10 inches in 24 hours at Jao last May.
Craig Beal - owner - Travel Beyond
If I was in court I would probably have contradicted myself somewhere along the way...
If you are going to Duma Tau, Savuti, Chitabe, Chitabe Ledibe, Mombo, Selinda, Zarafa, or Kings Pool then later is going to be better (f/e May better than April). For most other camps, given the flooding and expected 2011 flooding, it is my opinion that March/early April will offer better LAND activity options than late April/May. This is especially true at Vumbura Plains and Jao. I witnessed the Delta rise over 10 inches in 24 hours at Jao last May.
Craig Beal - owner - Travel Beyond
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