Welcome to Botswana! On arrival at Maun Airport you will be met in the arrivals hall and transferred to the hotel, a drive of about 20 minutes.

It will have been a long journey for most travellers. You will have time this afternoon to settle into your room, relax by the pool and freshen up before the group gathers.

Around 6pm the group comes together for sunset canapes and drinks with your hosts Sir Alexander and Mats, a chance to get to know your fellow travellers and hosts.

This evening will be a relaxing dinner at the hotel.

Today is a full day of cultural experiences where we learn about traditional rural life in Botswana.

We begin in Shashe (a residential ward on the outskirts of Maun) where we meet the Kgosi (Chief) for a tour of the Kgotla, a public meeting area which forms the heart of every local community. Over tea and coffee we will hear about some of the local customs and how they are enforced. As we explore Shashe with our guides we begin to understand the daily rhythm of life in Maun.

In Shashe we will meet a local Women’s Empowerment Group, a program supported by this tour, which aims to give women the confidence and foundational skills to become financially self-reliant and successful entrepreneurs. A cause which we feel Mma Ramotswe would support!

Leaving Shashe we head further out of town to a small rural cattle post, Xhoo.

A traditional cattle is a scene which will be familiar in the minds of many No. 1 Ladies’ fans. The cattle post is an integral part of Botswana life- essentially it is a small farm, often grouped together in family units. Cattle are an integral part of Botswana – as all readers will surely remember. This visit offers us a fascinating insight into traditional rural life in Botswana, we’ll hear stories of old customs and modern life in these rural areas.

After our introduction to the village we will enjoy lunch in a pretty shaded location overlooking a floodplain. After lunch there will be an optional short walk through the forest to learn about some of the traditional plant medicine.

Next we visit a homestead where we will learn about traditional building techniques, life in a rural village and traditional farming methods. Maggie, a key member of the village, show’s us her home and talks about local traditions and ceremonies.

Finally we bid farewell to the village and return to the hotel where there will be a few hours to relax before dinner. Tonight one of Botswana’s finest chef’s, Ednah Rosen, takes us on a culinary tour of Botswana. We end the evening outside around the fire.

Today the focus will be on conservation and learning more about the challenges of human-wildlife conflict in Botswana. We will visit Elephant Havens, an elephant orphanage set on the edge of the Okavango Delta which rescues orphaned and abandoned elephants.

After an early breakfast we will depart for the elephant sanctuary. This is a pretty drive of about an hour past rural villages to the outskirts of the Okavango. Arriving at Elephant Havens we will begin by learning more about the sanctuary and their work in rescuing young elephant orphans with the aim of reintroducing them to the wild.

At 9am the elephants arrive with great excitement for their morning feed- which you will be part of. Together with their devoted handlers you will interact and feed the elephants and to learn more about elephant behaviour.

Having had a chance to meet the elephants up close and personal we leave them to roam their large sanctuary and retreat to the shade for lunch, perhaps watching the elephant wallow in mud baths in the distance.

After lunch we begin our journey back to Maun, passing by an art gallery to meet some local artists and learn more about the art scene in Botswana.

Finally we return to the hotel, with time for everyone to relax before dinner.

This morning we will have an early breakfast before setting off on our cultural tour of Maun. This is an immersive local experience, which brings to life many of the aspects of Batswana culture captured in the No.1 Ladies' books.

This tour offers an authentic glimpse of city life in Botswana. From the surprising social life around the local carwash to the sights, smells and sounds of the marketplace.

We end our tour at the Airport, bidding farewell to Maun as we set off to the Okavango wilderness where our safari begins! A 20 minute flight takes you to the north west of the Okavango, to the first camp, Qorokwe. Once you’ve settled into camp you will have some time to rest before your first game drive later that afternoon.

Qorokwe (pronounced ‘Korokwe’) is a luxurious lodge located in one of the finest game viewing areas in Botswana. The lodge sits on a large private concession in a high-density game area of the south-eastern Okavango. This area is well known for the high density of predators, with frequent big cat sightings. Elephants numbers are good too as well of course as general plains game. Exploring Qorokwe reveals a world of diverse Delta habitats supporting a wealth of wildlife, earning the area’s well-deserved reputation as a top Botswana safari destination.

Qorokwe is a stylish property. Instead of traditional tented rooms the lodge has embraced a more contemporary look, with sharper box-like designs – it has a mostly open-plan structure of geometric wrought iron and wood in the main area. The views take in the edge of the permanent lagoon which attracts a steady stream of thirsty animals.

There are nine smart and spacious suites each with a lounge area with a sofa and chairs, with the bed set in the centre of the large room, draped in a mosquito net. There is a private deck on each room, with day beds to relax and take in the views. Each room has both standing fans and fans over the bed, wifi, and tea and coffee making facilities.

This morning you wake early, before sunrise. After a light breakfast you set off on your first morning game drive. This is generally the best time to see predators before they settle down to rest in the shade for the day. Beginning by tracking the movements of the night before, your guide will interpret the ‘news’ from the tracks as you explore the roads around camp and deeper into the concession. Perhaps there were unidentified sounds in the night which you will now follow up on…

Morning game drives usually last around 3-4 hours, depending on sightings, with a coffee break along the way. Returning around mid-morning for a hearty brunch you will then have a few hours to yourself to relax in your room or in the communal areas of the lodge. Most animals rest in midday heat and so will you! There is a pool that provides cool sanctuary in the heat of the day, a great spot to relax between activities.

Around mid -afternoon you will meet your guide for high tea and then set off on your afternoon drive, perhaps following up on the sightings from earlier or tracking new movements. Your guide will find another lovely spot to enjoy the beautiful sunset with some drinks before returning back to camp. As its gets dark – a spot light comes out to search for the nocturnal animals as they begin to emerge. Most predators hunt at night so you will be looking out for the big cats, but also the smaller cats such as servals, genets, African wild cats as well as civets and bushbabies- always a delight to see them leaping between branches.

The rest of your days on safari will follow the same routine with early morning and late afternoon activities, planned and discussed beforehand with your guide.

Today you will explore deeper in the concession – perhaps following up on any interesting sightings from the day before, and always keeping an eye out for new and interesting sights.

Qorokwe means ‘The place where the buffalo broke through the bush into the water’. A suitable name for a lodge located between two permanent rivers visited by buffalo which love the shallow river channels. And where there are buffalo there are inevitably lion, buffalo being their favourite meal! Keep your eyes peeled!

Today you fly to the north eastern Okavango, to your next camp, the magnificent Vumbura Plains. This is an achingly stylish camp with a modern look and excellent range of facilities. The Vumbura reserve in the east of the Okavango is particularly pretty, with open plains, tall palm trees and pristine waterways. The game viewing is varied and exciting. Predators include lion, cheetah, leopard, hyena and wild dog. Numerous plains game are resident in the area, including the rare and beautiful sable and roan antelope. Big herds of buffalo roam this area and frequently clash with the lion prides delivering some explosive game viewing.

A full range of activities are offered here, including game drives (day and night), walking, mokoro and boating - water levels permitting.

Days are spent exploring the concession with morning, afternoon and evening drives. On the water you can explore by mokoro and boat - offering a completely different perspective from the vehicle. Guided walks are also an option here and offer a fascinating insight into the skills your guide has learned as he shares his knowledge of tracking animals and the flora and fauna in the area.

Back at camp - each of the huge guest rooms features a spacious private deck with an outside resting area and swimming pool to relax between activities. A mini bar, tea and coffee making facilities and other thoughtful touches ensure you will be extremely comfortable and spoilt during your stay at Vumbura plains. Rooms come equipped with yoga mats for stretching out after your drives. Spa treatments are available too.

Today you will explore the Vumbura Reserve with morning and afternoon activities- enjoying some down time between activities to relax in this beautiful camp.

Your final day on safari before you depart, make the most of it! You explore deep into the Vumbura Reserve with morning and afternoon activities- during the siesta hour you will relax in camp, take a dip in your private pool, visit the spa or simply relax in a quiet spot and watch the wildlife pass by.

Today marks the end of your tour. You will fly back to Maun, a short fight of about 25 minutes, where you will continue on to your onward flight home or to your next destination.

Time to bid farewell to Sir Alexander and the team- Tsamaya Sentle!