If you're staying for a few days at either Chitabe Camp, or Chitabe Lediba, then the more adventurous might like to add one night on the Chitabe Walking Trail to their stay.
A short walking safari, and overnight stay out in the bush, provide a bite-sized adventure and an interesting contrast to day and night game drives. A walking safari is a great opportunity to learn more about the history of the landscapes and their flora in particular. Getting too close to big game is not the idea and emphasis is placed on the small things which you would often miss on game drives. You will learn about tracking animals and reading their spore and about the smaller creatures that often go unnoticed, but form a vital part of the larger ecosystem.
On these walking trails, a maximum of four guests can sleep out in game hides under a mosquito net, have food cooked on an open fire, and walk with an armed guide during the day. Not for the nervous, this is strictly for those who want to get up close and personal with Botswana's wildlife.
At night you will sleep on comfortable bed rolls which are laid out on the first-floor wooden deck. A large mosquito-net is hung from the ceiling and tucked in around the roll mattress, and you are provided with pillows and plenty of blankets to keep you warm. The “bedroom” is lit by paraffin lanterns and you are also given torches in case you need to get up in the night. The guides sleep downstairs in their own tent.
When I walked this trail in May 2007, I stayed here for just one night. (This was the maximum stay possible allowed by Wilderness safaris at the time.) The walking element of the day lasted barely 2½ hours – and we had to work quite hard to persuade the guides not to curtail that into a game drive.
Thus Chitabe Walking Trails are really very short and gentle by the standards of even the normal camp walking safaris in Zambia, or elsewhere in Botswana. They're great for a 'bite-sized' taste of walking and sleeping out, but if you want a more serious walking experience in Botswana, then look towards the walking trails at Footsteps or Shinde.
Please note that these trips only operate between May and September.
Lodge overview
Lodge type: Safari
No. of bedrooms: 2-3
Season: Seasonal
Ideal length of stay: Only 1 night's stay is currently permitted.
Central facilities: The hide is two storeys high. The first-floor deck is where your bed is set up at night time, and the upper deck is used for sundowners. On ground level a table is set up for dining, and next to it a camp fire surrounded by chairs where you can sit around and swap stories after dinner, and also warm yourself at breakfast.
There is one bathroom which is shared by all. This is set a discrete distance from the hide and consists of a long-drop toilet (open to the plains in front of you!) and also a bucket shower and sink. Water for the bucket shower is heated over the fire for you. Note that there is no running water.
Directions: The walk usually commences directly from camp. It is a 2 ½ to 3½ hour walk to the hide, where you stop for your overnight stay.
Accessible by: Fly-and-Transfer
Food & drink
Usual board basis: Full Board
Food quality: On our last stay at a Chitabe Walking Trails hide, after enjoying sun-downers on the top deck of the hide, we were served up a filling and traditional evening meal - pounded beef, mealy meal, chakalaka and vegetables for the main course. Custard pudding afterwards!
Dining style: Group Meals
Dining locations: Outdoor Dining
Cost of meal e.g. lunch: Included
Drinks included: Yes, save for champagne and premium brands which may be requested in advance if required.
Special interests
Walking: Learn about the history of the landscapes, and about the smaller things including plant-life and insects. Getting too close to big game is not the idea - you will learn about tracking animals and reading their spore and about the smaller creatures that often go unnoticed, but form a vital part of the larger ecosystem.
- See more of our suggestions of the best places for Walking
Children
Attitude towards children: The camp is happy to accept children over 12 years of age on the Walking Trails.
Activities: None.
Equipment: No special equipment for children is supplied.
Central communications
Power supply: None
Communications: Guides are able to contact the main camp via radio, in case of emergency.
Health & safety
Malarial area: Yes
Medical care: Guides are in contact with the main camp via radio and are first-aid trained. The nearest doctor is in Maun, a short flight away.
Dangerous animals: High Risk
Security measures: On walks, you are led from the front by a trained (and armed) guide who is backed up, at the rear, by an armed assistant. He will be responsible for getting guests to safety in the unlikely event of a charge.
Extras
Disabled access: Not Possible
Laundry facilities: Laundry is included and can be done at the main camp whilst you are on your walking safari.
We want you to understand more about Chitabe walking trail. We're also confident that a trip there with us cost you the same or less than booking it any other way, even directly. So follow the links below.
Chitabe walking trails homepage Click here for the Chitabe walking trails homepage on Wilderness Safaris website. (Wilderness run the camp!) It's slow to load - but worth it.
