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FROM US$12,230-US$21,930

Wild Dog Safari

An in-depth discovery of northern Botswana’s wilderness, from Chobe and the private Kwando Reserve to the Moremi and iconic Okavango Delta with a great variety of activities and wildlife.

Wild Dog Safari: Day-by-day

More detailed information of what each day entails, and the various places you’ll stay on the Wild Dog Safari. Everything we do is completely tailor-made so while this is an idea which works well, we’ll always design an itinerary just for you.


Day 1

Starts: Kasane Airport

Day 1

Kasane to Muchenje by road

At the small Kasane Airport, you'll be warmly welcomed by a driver from Muchenje for the air-conditioned drive of around 50 minutes to the lodge. As you travel along paved roads through Chobe National Park, keep an eye out on either side for wildlife, from antelope to elephant.

Muchenje Safari Lodge
Days 1-3

Muchenje Safari Lodge

2 nights
Full Board & ActivitiesChobe National Park, Botswana

Traditional yet informal, Muchenje is perched on an escarpment with commanding views over the Chobe River. And those views are magnificent! Spread out on either side of the river are seasonal floodplains, their open spaces a magnet for wildlife. Just to watch from your chalet, or from the viewing deck by the pool, is to become absorbed in the comings and goings below. Zebra and wildebeest, elephant and giraffe, the predators largely hidden in the dense bush behind.

Muchenje Safari Lodge

Traditional yet informal, Muchenje is perched on an escarpment with commanding views over the Chobe River. And those views are magnificent! Spread out on either side of the river are seasonal floodplains, their open spaces a magnet for wildlife. Just to watch from your chalet, or from the viewing deck by the pool, is to become absorbed in the comings and goings below. Zebra and wildebeest, elephant and giraffe, the predators largely hidden in the dense bush behind.

Like the surroundings, Muchenje feels almost fixed in time. Comfortable and solidly built, it’s a place to exhale and enjoy, with good yet relaxed service, and excellent guiding.

The guides do their utmost to ensure that you make the most of your time here, whether it’s venturing up the Chobe River by boat, or exploring the varied habitats of Chobe National Park in an open-sided 4WD. Take a picnic for a full-day’s excursion, or return for lunch in the heat of the day. Or perhaps – a bonus of Muchenje’s location outside the national park – walk with a guide into the forest reserve, or head out after dinner in search of Botswana’s nocturnal creatures.

"a spectacular location!"

Family PfromCirencester

Arrived 8 Jun 2023, 2 nights

Then make your way to the firepit for a nightcap: a fitting end to a fascinating day. See our full report on Muchenje Safari Lodge

96%
171 reviews of Muchenje Safari Lodge by travellers since August 2007

Activities

4WD Safari

Birdwatching

Boat trip

Cultural excursion

Mokoro

Day 3

Muchenje to Savute by road & light aircraft

Depending on timings, your return to Kasane could be through the national park, arriving in time to board your light aircraft for Savute Safari Lodge. As the plane heads south-west, lush forest vegetation gives way to open Kalahari woodlands before landing at Savuti - and a 20-minute drive to camp.

Savute Safari Lodge
Days 3-6

Savute Safari Lodge

3 nights
Full Board & ActivitiesChobe National Park, Botswana

Perched on the banks of the Savuti Channel within Chobe National Park, Savute Safari Lodge offers a good location from which to explore the nearby Savuti Marshes. Comfortable without being luxurious, the camp enjoys views over the Savute Channel and its two pumped waterholes, which – especially during the dry season – attract vast numbers of elephant to drink in the afternoons and evenings.

Savute Safari Lodge

Perched on the banks of the Savuti Channel within Chobe National Park, Savute Safari Lodge offers a good location from which to explore the nearby Savuti Marshes. Comfortable without being luxurious, the camp enjoys views over the Savute Channel and its two pumped waterholes, which – especially during the dry season – attract vast numbers of elephant to drink in the afternoons and evenings.

Savute Safari Lodge has a down-to-earth feel and attracts an eclectic mix of guests who enjoy great hospitality, friendly staff and some excellent guiding, all in a top game-viewing region, particularly during the dry season. The lodge itself may not suit those wanting a more bushcamp feel, but the dining area overlooking the channel and nearby waterhole is a big plus. The region also offers a good contrast to the Okavango Delta, although a greater number of visitors than in the private reserves can make it feel less exclusive.

"should I return to Botswana I would want to return here"

Mr JfromCoventry

Arrived 26 Jan 2018, 3 nights

STOP PRESS: Savute Safari Lodge temporarily closed for refurbishment on the 15th October 2023 and will re-open on the 1st of June 2024. See our full report on Savute Safari Lodge

94%
36 reviews of Savute Safari Lodge by travellers since August 2007

Activities

4WD Safari

Birdwatching

Helicopter

Day 6

Savute to Lagoon by light aircraft & 4WD

There's normally time for a final activity at Savute before heading to the airstrip for the next stage of your safari. During the flight of around 20 minutes, experience the changing lanscape, from sandridges to the Kwando River, then watch our for wildlife during the half-hour drive to Lagoon Camp.

Lagoon Camp
Days 6-9

Lagoon Camp

3 nights
Full Board & ActivitiesKwando-Linyanti area, Botswana

Mention wild dogs and it’s not long before Lagoon Camp, in the vast private Kwando Reserve, comes into the frame. On the banks of the Kwando River – and at the heart of the action – the camp takes safaris seriously, with many a vantage point for the wildlife enthusiast.

Lagoon Camp

Mention wild dogs and it’s not long before Lagoon Camp, in the vast private Kwando Reserve, comes into the frame. On the banks of the Kwando River – and at the heart of the action – the camp takes safaris seriously, with many a vantage point for the wildlife enthusiast.

To maximise sightings, game drives through the riverine forest onto the open plains are led by both a guide and a tracker, while river trips on a double-decker boat give elevated views over the reeds.

Wildlife watching from camp is pretty good, too, with numerous vantage points. Start in the early hours from your bed, raised above the lounge area in front, or from a deck chair on your private veranda, before moving to the campfire for breakfast.

At lunchtime, keep watch from the dining table; in the afternoon from the free-form pool, the swing seat, or the cosy tree-level lounge.

Both chalets and central area are spacious and airy, their stretched canvas walls and open sides – or huge mesh windows – accentuating the openness of the environment.

"been to Lagoon several times..game sightings were still good."

Miss KfromKent

Arrived 14 Nov 2023, 3 nights

Décor is generally muted and uncluttered; thatched roofs blend into the surroundings; and linking it all are expanses of wooden decking, gleaming in the sun. No wonder an air of comfort and relaxed efficiency prevails. See our full report on Lagoon Camp

95%
265 reviews of Lagoon Camp by travellers since August 2007

Activities

4WD Safari

Birdwatching

Boat trip

Fishing

Guided walking safari

Helicopter

Night drive

Day 9

Lagoon to Xakanaxa by 4WD & light aircraft

Today you'll head into the heart of the Delta, driving to the airstrip for the scenic flight of half an hour or so to the beautiful Moremi Game Reserve. Here, a guide from Xakanaxa will be waiting for your 15-minute 4WD transfer through wildlife-rich woodlands to the waterside camp .

Xakanaxa
Days 9-11

Xakanaxa

2 nights
Full Board & ActivitiesMoremi Game Reserve, Botswana

In the north east of the public area of Moremi Game Reserve, Xakanaxa is a traditional-style camp located in one of the most beautiful areas of the Okavango Delta. The whole camp is shaded by Kigelia and leadwood trees overlooking the Xakanaxa Lagoon. The game viewing in this area has historically been very good.

Xakanaxa

In the north east of the public area of Moremi Game Reserve, Xakanaxa is a traditional-style camp located in one of the most beautiful areas of the Okavango Delta. The whole camp is shaded by Kigelia and leadwood trees overlooking the Xakanaxa Lagoon. The game viewing in this area has historically been very good.

Although we're always slightly hesitant about using camps within the national parks because of the number of self-drive vehicles around, and the restrictive park rules, Xakanaxa is an old favourite of ours and very well run. As long as you accept that there are likely to be more vehicles within the park than in one of the Okavango Delta’s private reserves, it is a great option for high densities of wildlife – particularly during the dry season. See our full report on Xakanaxa

90%
31 reviews of Xakanaxa by travellers since August 2007

Activities

4WD Safari

Birdwatching

Boat trip

Day 11

Moremi to Splash by air & 4WD

Leaving Xakanaxa mid-morning, you'll board your light aircraft for an all-too-brief view of the Delta, usually landing at Kwara Airstrip just minutes later. A guide from Splash Camp will be waiting to drive you to camp by 4WD, a journey of around 45 minutes depending on any wildlife you spot.

Splash Camp
Days 11-14

Splash Camp

3 nights
Full Board & ActivitiesOkavango Delta Safari Reserves, Botswana

Overlooking a significant waterhole within a private reserve of the Okavango Delta, Splash puts the "luxury" into safari. Within the treeline in the heart of the Okavango Delta, Splash Camp arises like a crescent-shaped oasis in the wilderness.

Splash Camp

Overlooking a significant waterhole within a private reserve of the Okavango Delta, Splash puts the "luxury" into safari. Within the treeline in the heart of the Okavango Delta, Splash Camp arises like a crescent-shaped oasis in the wilderness.

Right in front of this substantial camp, and visible from almost every angle – tented chalets, lounge, plunge pool, firepit – is an extensive waterhole that is a magnet for animals big and small, especially as the dry season progresses.

It’s an alluring prospect, a haven of luxury that retains an outdoors feel. Largely constructed of wood, with stretched canvas walls, the airy buildings are mellowed by thatched roofs. Their wide frontage makes the most of the aspect, while admitting plenty of light.

Bedrooms are smart and well appointed, with views from veranda and bed alike. Light-coloured sofas invite relaxation in the contemporary lounge. And in the open-sided dining area, ceiling fans rotate lazily above the long table while you tuck into substantial yet interesting meals.

It's all about the wildlife here – "digital detox" is not just a slogan, it's camp policy – so your experience of the wildlife and wilderness won't be marred by any pesky emails or other digital disturbance from the outside world.

"I was VERY pleased...and would recommend ... to anyone."

Mr D.fromEdinburgh

Arrived 14 Oct 2023, 2 nights

You’ll explore this exclusive area by 4x4 – no more than six guests to a vehicle – with guides who are particularly experienced in tracking predators. In season, slip into a mokoro and glide almost silently along the shallow waterways or – towards the end of the year – take a motorboat to a nearby heronry: a particular bonus for birdwatchers and photographers. See our full report on Splash Camp

96%
77 reviews of Splash Camp by travellers since August 2007

Activities

4WD Safari

Birdwatching

Boat trip

Fishing

Guided walking safari

Helicopter

Mokoro

Night drive

Day 14

Splash to Maun by 4WD & light aircraft

There's often the opportunity of a last activity before leaving Splash for the airstrip. As your light-aircraft heads south, absorb your final views of the Okavango Delta waterways, before arriving in Maun after about half an hour - in good time to check in for your onward flight.

Day 14

Ends: Maun Airport

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Experiences you can add to this trip.

Optional extra day-trips and excursions possible whilst staying at lodges on this trip. These are usually best arranged in advance so talk to us.


Helicopter Flight - Botswana

Helicopter Flight - Botswana

Various: from 30 minutes to half a day.

Low-flying, agile and offering superb views, helicopters are an ideal way to move around the Okavango Delta.You can use them instead of fixed-wing inter-lodge transfers or as an addition to other wildlife watching activities, and of course, helicopters can hover to allow that perfect pic, whereas fixed-wings can’t.

More about Helicopter Flight

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