rockabelle

Having loved every minute of my (extremely) expensive safari in June, I'm now desperate to go back. Since this time I'll be paying, I can't begin to afford the luxury camps. Which fortunately doesn't bother me - I'm quite happy camping. So I've been looking at mobile safaris, probably in Botswana (very open to suggestion on this, I just don't like seeing lots of other cars around animals, so Bots seemed a good idea).

I've come across GameTrails who have the following itinerary:
3 Nts camping in Xakanaxa, Moremi Game Reserve.
Activity guide: game drives, Okavango boat cruise
2 Nts camping in the Khwai Community Area bordering Moremi Game Reserve
Activity guide: game drives, night drives, guided walks
3 Nts camping in Savuti, Chobe National Park
Activity guide: game drives
2 Nts camping in Chobe, Chobe National Park
Activity guide: game drive, Chobe river cruise

Is it likely to be good in March/April? And does anyone have any other suggestions (this is pretty much at the very top end of my price range, at $330 per night). I'm probably going to be going on my own, and don't really want to pay a huge single supplement.

As always, I'd be very grateful for any suggestions of outfitters, countries, anything really!

bots

Nothing wrong with mobile safaris.
May Nzai pan might be good .
Have a look at this I think it comes to less than 330 a day, for 14 nights about Us$2500, not sure about single supp.
http://www.botswanasafari.co.uk/vict...lsbotswana.htm
They are a operator selling all the type of mobile safaris.
Have a look at the budget mobile safari for $1340.(8 days)

rickmck

Hi rockabelle,

I've just returned from a mobile in Botswana with Wilderness Safaris ("Migration Routes" mobile). I haven't posted pics yet (still sorting through), but a brief trip synopsis is posted at

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35087419

Itinerary on the mobile was:

2n Xigera Mokoro Trails. Delta location. Transfer from Maun by air to Xigera airstrip, then 2.5-hr mokoro to camp. Mokoro and bush walk activites. Great camp, location, and staff.

2n Lechwe Island. Selinda Spillway near Maswiri. Transfer from XMT by mokoro to Xigera airstrip, then by air to Vumbura airstrip, then by road (3.5 hrs, but game opportunities along the way; very good Cheetah sighting near Vumbura!). Game drives and canoe activities. Resident Lions.

1n Savuti, Chobe Nat'l Park. Long and difficult day-long road transfer, but worth it for the 2-hr respite mid-way in the prolific area of Zib Lagoon. Game drive activities.

2n Linyanti Adventure Camp. Near Linyanti Tented Camp and Kings Pool. Transfer by road. Very prolific game area, would have liked to stay longer. Game drive activities.

1n Shackleton's Lodge, Zambia, on the Zambezi River. Air transfer from Kings Pool airstrip to Kasane. Riverboat lunch cruise on the Chobe River. Speedboat crossing of the Zambezi from Bots to Zam at Kazungula (avoiding long waits for the ferry), then by road to Shackleton's (very nice and luxurious, especially after the camping!).

Victoria Falls tour (Zam side). 2 hrs by road from Shakleton's. Onward travel from Livingstone Airport.

There are some changes to this itinerary for 2008, as you will see from my earlier post.

Happy to provide further details and/or answer any questions you have have.

rickmck

rockabelle

Thanks Bots and rickmck.

Rickmck - I found your itinerary and thought it looked fantastic, though it's a little out of my budget (I could stretch it, but if I can find something for less, life would be easier) Plus, I think they'll probably be fully booked by now for next year. But having been to Vumbura in June, I'd love to go back, and I wanted to book Kings Pool before so I may just give in to temptation!

Bots - they look good (And certainly I'm liking the prices). However they all look like the drives between camps is really long - I don't know if that's just them being more honest about it, but ideally I"d like to spend more time on game drives. I'm going to read the details more thoroughly tonight (I'm technically at work now..) so thank you very much.

HariS

rockabelle,

The options that i keep hearing about for mobiles are

Masson's, gametrails and Capricorn safaris. Write to all three of them and see what suits you best! On the other thread ..... there was a mention of Masson's being able to tailor make your mobile safari.

Hari

rockabelle

Thanks HariS. I've emailed Massons and Capricorn for the details of their safaris.

atravelynn

Rockabelle, If you can share any of your findings with us that would be wonderful. Thanks.

Wingi

rockabelle,

Have a look at Botswana Safaris www.mobilesafaris.com

We went on one of their tours about 7 years ago.

The tents, loo and showers were like those on the site that Bots mentions. Cooking and chores were done for us though - on the most budget trips you are expected to join in with these!

We really enjoyed it (and I am not a natural camper).

WildDogs

Hi Rockabelle

in June '07 I was camping in Xakanaxa, Moremi Game Reserve, went on game drives and took an Okavango boat cruise, spent 2 nights camping by the river Khwai up near North Gate, camped at Savuti campsite in Chobe National Park and finally camping at Ihaha on the river Chobe. I went with Safari Drive. For more info, which I think you would find useful as the itinerary you are considering so closely matches where I went, see the trip report at http://wilddogsandenglishmen.wordpress.com/
WD

suzic

Your game trails itinerary looks great, I have done 2 mobiles (both luxury), in Xakanaka, and Khwai, which were wonderful! Game Trails has a good rep, I would check other outfitters as well. I will looks up several and getr back to you, as names are just not registering in my brain at this moment!!

Suzi