On arrival in Maun, Botswana you will be met by a representative and assisted onto your light charter flight to Selinda, a flight of about 45 minutes. Your guide will be waiting on arrival and will transfer your to camp, a game drive of about 30 minutes, followed by a 15 minute boat ride, depending on water levels.

A warm Botswana welcome awaits. Having been introduced to the camp and team you will settle into your new Botswana home before sitting down with your guide for some light refreshments and an introduction to the area and activities on offer. You will have the chance to set off on your first activity or you may prefer to relax in camp after your long journey.

Selinda Camps offers game drives, bush walks and boating (water levels depending), all of which your guide will discuss with you and plan into your stay to ensure you make the most of your time here.

You will set out on your first activity in the late afternoon, a chance to explore the Selinda reserve and soak up the spectacular sunsets enjoyed in this part of the world. As the sun begins to set your guide will stopping in a scenic spot and with drinks in hand you will toast the setting sun.

As you return the camp is twinkling with lanterns and a welcoming fire. Dinner awaits followed by your first night in the Botswana wilderness

The day begins with a wakeup call before sunrise followed by a light breakfast before setting out as the sunrises for your first activity. Your drives will usually last around 4 hours with a coffee break and snack half way through. Returning around mid-morning for a hearty brunch you will then have time to relax in camp during the heat of the day before embarking on your afternoon activity.

Every day is different on safari here and you will have planned your activities with your guide the day before, enjoying a mix of the various activities on offer.

Game drives allow you to explore deeper into the vast Selinda Reserve and approach and photograph the more dangerous predators such as the lion, leopard and hyena. Wild dog can also be seen here. Keen an eye out for the various plains game found here, work your way through your checklist. These vary with the habitats – in the more wooded areas look out for the beautiful kudu browsing the lower leaves, on the plains the usual suspects include zebra and wildebeest while the wetlands are home to red lechwe and reedbuck. And so much more!

Guided bush walks offer insight into this wild corner of Botswana, this is a dynamic area of the country, the Selinda Spillway is the main artery of this reserve attracting animals to its banks when it flows. An ever changing environment which your guide will bring to life with fascinating facts and stories on these walks. A chance to share his knowledge of the flora, fauna and wildlife as you track animals and learn about the smaller but important aspects of this area.

Boating on the Selina, when water levels permit, is a wonderful experience. Offering a unique vantage point as animals visit the waters edge to drink. As well as thirsty wildlife these excursions offer common sightings of hippo, crocodile, elephant and buffalo which are frequently found around the waters. Aquatic antelope such as red lechwe and reedbuck are also seen there. And of course the birding is wonderful too. A peaceful and scenic safari experience.

This morning you will enjoy one last activity at Selinda (or perhaps enjoy a lie-in) before bidding farewell to the team and flying to the Okavango. Your flight to Duba will take approximately 40 minutes. This is a beautiful flight as you fly east to west, over the Selinda spillway and across the western reaches of the Okavango into the northern corner of the Okavango. The Okavango is spectacular from above- keep a look out for the larger animals which you can view from the aircraft, elephant, hippo, giraffe, buffalo and much more can be seen on this flight.

Your guide will be waiting on arrival to transfer you to camp, a short 5 minute drive, where a warm welcome awaits.

Duba Plains is one of the flagship luxury camps in Botswana. Like Selinda the camp captures the spirit of the original safaris of the 1920s together with all the modern comforts. The camp has a pretty setting below the shade of tall fig and ebony trees overlooking the lush floodplains which attracts a steady stream of animals. Each of the five rooms are beautifully appointed, thoughtfully equipped and feature private decks with plunge pools.

Having met the team you will have a chance to settle into your room and relax a little, perhaps enjoying a dip in your private plunge pool before high tea in the late afternoon.

Your guide will discuss the area and activities on offer and you will chat about your particular interests and plan your activities for the following days. Morning, afternoon and night drives are the main activity here as well as guided bush walks. Boating safaris are offered when water levels permit.

Setting off for your first activity that afternoon you will begin to explore the concession, enjoying a drink as the sun sets. You will return for dinner and begin to plan your activities for the following day with your guide.

By now you will be familiar with the early morning wake up call, though perhaps it may not be getting any easier! After a light breakfast you set off on your morning activity returning for brunch around mid-morning followed by the siesta time, when you have a chance to relax in camp before departing on your afternoon activity.

The safari schedule continues for the next three days as before, with an early morning and late afternoon activity. The magic of safari is that every day is different, with fresh experiences and sightings no drive is ever the same. As your guide can attest. You will have the next three days to explore the necklace of palm-dotted islands, shimmering flood plains and forest of this 33,000 hectare private reserve.

Game drives – morning, afternoon and evening drives are offered here. Being a private concession means off-roading is permitted and allows for more efficient tracking and closer sightings. 4x4 game drives are certainly the most efficient way to explore this vast area and to see the most animals. Game drives in this area stand out in particular for the regular water crossings which are necessary when the flood waters arrive (May-August). The specially designed vehicles drive through high waters over a metre deep, with water gushing into the footwells and sometimes over the bonnet- always an exciting moment! Animals are often seen swimming between island here too.

Boating through the Okavango, when water levels permit, is a very different and special safari experience. While the sightings are not as dramatic as the game drives the eco-systems here are certainly rich in life and very beautiful and offer a more complete insight into the Okavango wetland wilderness. Sunsets on the water, often reflecting a kaleidoscope of colour, are often a highlight.

Helicopter flights are particularly beautiful in this area of the Okavango and can be arranged at an additional cost.

In between activities you will have some time to yourselves to enjoy this wonderful camp and the stunning setting. Relax on your private deck with plunge pool and watch the animals come and go form camp, enjoying the quiet sounds of the Okavango. The main area has plenty of inviting areas too and a good library for the inquisitive keen to learn more about this region.

Today you bid farewell to the Okavango and the team at Duba. The time for your flight to Maun will be finalised the day before and your guide will advise you what time you will be leaving camp. The flight will always be schedule to connect with any onward travel arrangements. Depending on the time of departure, as discussed with your guide, you will enjoy on final morning activity and brunch before bidding farewell to the Okavango. This morning activity will likely be shorter than usual due to your travel to Maun.

The flight to Maun will take approximately 30 minutes, depending on stops along the way. On arrival a representative will meet you to ensure you connect to your onward travel arrangements.

For those interested in visiting Victoria Falls flight to Kasane can be arranged. Please speak to us for more information.