Wild Places

www.wildplaces-africa.com

Luxury Safari

Custom African Journeys

with Michael Turner

Wild Places

www.wildplaces-africa.com

ITINERARY FOR 9 DAY LUXURY SAFARI Immersing yourself in the wild places of Africa is a once-in-a-lifetime experience –

particularly in the blissful comfort of our luxury camps. These permanent luxury camps are

situated in private concessions for the exclusive use of the guests. Camps vary in size from

four to ten walk-in tents which offer a comfortable camp bed and an en-suite bathroom

including a hot shower.

A luxury safari camp combines the largest and most elegant accommodation with

outstanding service, cuisine and phenomenal wildlife interactions. Guests who choose a

luxury safari desire to enjoy the absolute best in terms of the comforts in camp and their

safari experience.

Jao Camp: day 1-3 Duration: 3 nights Location: Okavango Delta,

Botswana

Sumptuous Jao Camp is set in an area where

islands fringed with riverine forests meet open

floodplains. Its spacious and beautifully-designed

tents are situated beneath a canopy of shady

trees and have en-suite facilities, as well as an

outdoor shower.

Built on raised decks, each has a private sala for

afternoon siestas with views of the spectacular surrounds. In addition to the lounge and

dining area, there are two plunge pools, a boma for dining under the stars and a spa with

a wide range of massage therapies.

Jao is acclaimed for its architecture and individually

handcrafted units and prides itself on being the

epitome of luxury in the most remote, scenically

splendid setting.

Days are spent exploring this incredible place in the

lap of luxury. Game drives and bush walks with

Michael allow for incredible game-viewing

experiences. The Delta’s waterways are best

explored by traditional mokoro (dug-out canoe). At

Jao we even have several glass-bottomed mokoros

for an entirely out of this world experience!

Relax at camp with extraordinary views, go fishing

in the Delta, treat yourself at the spa – the choice is yours. Departing Joa we fly across the

Delta to the Kwedi reserve and Duba Plains.

Wild Places

www.wildplaces-africa.com

Duba Plains: day 4-7

Duration: 3 nights

Location: Okavango delta, Botswana

Duba Plains is located at the base of the pan handle

of the Okavango Delta on a remote 30,000-hectare private concession, the Kwedi

Reserve. Inaccessible for most of the year by any means other than aircraft, it is this

remoteness that solidifies Duba Plains as the soul of ‘wild Africa’.

It is known for the titanic clashes between buffalo and lion and was the setting for

‘Relentless Enemies’, an award-winning National Geographic documentary that records

the classic interaction between the two species.

This camp prides itself on the intimacy of

‘home’ with all the touches of personal

service and superb safari experiences. Built

on a wooded island, the camp is small and

intimate with magnificent views over the

floodplains. The main area of Duba Plains

Camp comprises a large split level deck with

boma and campfire pit. Each night, after

dinner, drinks and stories are enjoyed around

the fire. A small plunge pool with sun

loungers has a wonderful view of the

surrounding floodplain.

This pristine area is home to lion, leopard, lechwe, tsessebe, warthog, elephant and huge

herds of buffalo. Thousands of buffalo take advantage of the rich grasslands found in the

Duba area and they alone support the concentrations of lions and hyenas that prey on

them. These huge buffalo herds are hunted almost daily by up to four different prides of

lions which live in and around Duba Plains. The abundance of waterbirds along the

flooded areas and water pans is exceptional – a multitude of herons, egrets, lapwings

and jacanas are seen. From Duba we will enjoy a short Helicopter transfer to the Selinda

concession in the Linyanti, and into Zarafa Camp.

Wild Places

www.wildplaces-africa.com

Zarafa Camp: day 8-10

Duration: 3 nights Location: Selinda

Reserve, Botswana

Zarafa Camp, located in the 320,000-

acre Selinda Reserve is synonymous

with exclusivity and perfection. It

embodies authenticity, luxury and

simplicity to create a camp that has

been clearly considered, and

thoughtfully planned to be as

environmentally sensitive as possible. It

is the culmination of years of safari

experience.

The camp sits on an island in the

floodplains of southern shores of

the Zibadianja Lagoon, which is

the source of the Savute

Channel. Positioned in the

extreme eastern side of the

Selinda Reserve, its location is in

prime wildlife territory. Each of

the camp’s four immense tented

suites are raised up on wooden

decking and shaded by a

canopy of African ebony and

Red ivory trees, each with

uninterrupted views.

On safari it is possible to see a tremendous diversity of species, from resident prides of lion

to huge herds of elephant and packs of wild dog.

It is also home to the ungulates, from the rare roan to the ubiquitous zebra. Nocturnal

wildlife is prolific as well, and there are frequent sightings of aardwolf and civet.

Exploration of this vast area defies imagination... by foot, 4x4 open game drive vehicle,

and pontoon boat. We leave the lush Linyanti swamps and fly deep into the Kalahari

Desert to the Makgadikgadi salt pans.

Wild Places

www.wildplaces-africa.com

San Camp: day 12-15

Duration: 3 nights Location: Makgadikgadi Salt Pans

Today we fly by light aircraft to the edge of the vast and mysterious

Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, the remnant of an extinct super lake that

once covered most of Botswana. San Camp is regarded as one of the most beautiful and

peaceful of all camps in Africa, the perfect balance between authentic and luxury. Turn

360° and nothing crosses the eye but the bowl of the sky. Classic white tents stand

majestically on the shore of an enormous sparkling salt pan, each sheltered by a cluster of

stately desert palms.

We will spend our days here with unforgettable people

and animals. Guests are invited to walk with Zu/’hoasi

Bushmen trackers. Offering a window into the past, they

teach us how they have survived in this harshest of

environments, using their vast and ancient knowledge

of plants, animal behaviour and survival skills. We will

also visit the habituated meerkat colony and spend

time with these incredibly social, superbly adapted

animals. Guests are also invited to embrace the endless

expanse of the salt pans and adventure across them on

quad bikes.

San Camp is surrounded by golden grasslands and white saltpans, dotted with palm–

treed islands teeming with birdlife and game. This is a photographer’s delight. Its

remoteness has ensured that the innocent wildlife has not been subject to the pressure of

mass tourism. This area is especially favoured by desert adapted animals, such as the

elusive brown hyena, bat eared foxes, aardwolf, aardvark, the delicate steenbok and

huge Kalahari lions, to name a few. We will depart from the Makgadikgadi onto Maun to

connect with our international flight home or onto our next adventure.

Wild Places

www.wildplaces-africa.com

“I was completely unprepared for the

impact that Africa would have on me.”

– Laura Hunter, Wild Places safari guest.

Wild Places

www.wildplaces-africa.com

Important Information

Hygiene

Hot bucket showers will be and we provide hand basins and soap near the dining area. Clean drinking

water is available at all times and recommended to use. Toilets are pit latrines, and are ‘flushed’ with ash

from a bucket using a small trowel. Each safari vehicle has a tap on the side and a bar of soap, which you

are free to use at any time to wash your hands especially before eating or after using the bush toilet.

Health and Entry Requirements

A valid passport is required and visas are required by some nationalities. American citizens will be issued at

the airport on arrival at no cost. We recommend clients check requirements with visa authorities well in

advance. No inoculations are required at this time but anti-malaria tablets are advisable all year round.

Clothing and Climate

Light-weight clothing with rainwear from November to March. The evenings can be cool from May to

August, during the winter months, so dress in layers. Neutral colours are best on safari and smart casual is

suitable for evenings (camouflage clothing is not permitted) there is a 20kg baggage limit on the internal

flights and soft bags are recommended. There is a daily laundry service in most camps. Sun block,

sunglasses, hats, and insects repellents are essential.

Included in the Price

Accommodation

Services of a professional guide

Services of a back-up crew including chef and waiter

All transport while on safari

All meals

Tea, coffee, fruit squash and 1.5 litre of mineral water per day (all drinks on luxury mobiles)

National Park entry fees

All camping equipment

Laundry service daily while on safari

Excluded from the Price

All international flights,

All premier drinks

Staff and guide gratuities

Compulsory travel insurance that includes a medical evacuation and repatriation plan.

Helicopter evacuation coverage, $50

Our Philosophy

Going on safari is an expedition like no other. We aim for our guests to return from their safari entertained,

educated and moved by their experience. This never occurs in the same way but is aided by the process of

planning that perfect safari for you as the individual, and laying this out amongst the greatest backdrop in

the world.The perfect safari is like a good suit. Each is tailored to fit your specific preferences and no two are

the same. Your needs and desires - like the measurements carefully taken when tailoring a suit - are used to

shape a custom-made journey that you will remember for the rest of your life. This, in essence, is our aim on

each safari and we never stop working to ensure that we achieve it.