BOTSWANA, NAMIBIA Jeep Expedition.
ZAMBIA and Victoria Falls
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16 days
6 jeeps for 4 people
16.08 - 31.08.2024
× group is full
DESCRIPTION
For a long time ago, we wanted to organize a full-fledged trip (not to be confused with day trips to Chobe with Zimbabwe) in Botswana. The only thing that stopped us was the insanely expensive local lodges and hotels, where the option of staying overnight from 1000 to 5000 dollars per night is considered normal. However, to get to the land where almost the majority of all elephants of the planet Earth, according to some reports more than 150,000 animals, we really wanted.
In 2021, we have made such an expedition, scouted interesting secluded corners and now we want to please you with an updated program, in which we will make a special emphasis on several inaccessible and little-visited places in Botswana! The Paganels will explore in depth the Moremi National Park in the eastern Okavango Delta, and then travel through the Kwai region through some very wild areas towards the Savuti Game Reserve, famous for its mega prides of lions, large numbers of felines and tens of thousands of elephants.
From there, we will drive through the same inaccessible terrain that can only be traversed by jeeps and 4x4s to the famous Chobe Park. A local tracker guide will join us and with them we will spend several days searching for animals, living in field camps, and observing life in the wildest and least visited areas of Africa
In our opinion, the format of the trip - by jeep, in the conditions of South Africa is the most convenient, interesting, practical, mobile and independent variant of adventures, already successfully tested by Paganels in Namibia many times.
We will start the program in the capital of Namibia - Windhoek, having received our four-wheel drive expedition jeeps with roof tents and necessary camping equipment. After the necessary formalities we move to Botswana for 8 days, where we will live a few days in the area of Okavango River Delta, Moremi National Park, Savuti-Chobe Game Reserve; observe animals; then we will leave the jeeps for storage in the lodge in Botswana, and we will arrive to Zambia by special transfer. Here we have a beautiful lodge with giraffes on the territory and Victoria Falls in the neighborhood + related entertainment.
In our opinion, the format of the trip - by jeep, in the conditions of South Africa - is the most convenient, interesting, practical, mobile and independent variant of adventures, already successfully tested by Paganels in Namibia many times.
We will start the program in the capital of Namibia - Windhoek, having received our four-wheel drive expedition jeeps with roof tents and necessary camping equipment. After the necessary formalities we move to Botswana for 8 days, where we will live a few days in the area of Okavango River Delta, Moremi National Park, Savuti-Chobe Game Reserve; observe animals; then we will leave the jeeps for storage in the lodge in Botswana, and we will arrive to Zambia by special transfer. Here we have a beautiful lodge with giraffes on the territory and Victoria Falls in the neighborhood + related entertainment.
If the border allows it, those who wish will be able to observe it from both Zimbabwe and Zambia! Then we return to Botswana, pick up our iron horses, cross the border to Namibia and move westward along the Caprivi Strip. We spend the night on the Kwando and Okavango rivers in very beautiful lodges, studying the river life, after that we rush to visit the Bushmen - the oldest people on Earth, where we will listen to hunting tales, dance and enjoy life.
Then Paganel's path will lead us to the private game park of Omaruru, where we can literally cuddle with giraffes and elephants, see white rhinos, ostriches, zebras and many other African animals up close. And we will finish the program in the capital of Namibia - Windhoek, in the same place where we started!
The program will be extremely active and intense. We will have to drive really off-road, sands, gravels. We will drive about 3500 km or a little more for 16 days. You will bring a million impressions and first-class photos - to the envy of everyone :)
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IN THE COST OF EXPEDITIONIT INCLUDES:
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transfers to/from the airport (if you arrive and depart on dates exactly according to the program of our trip);
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accommodation in comfortable 4-3 star hotels and lodges (double occupancy);
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rent of expedition jeeps for all days of the trip with refrigerator, camping equipment, tents, 2 spare wheels, dishes, gas for the kitchen, designed for 4 people - each;
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all travel within the program;
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full car insurance;
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entrance tickets to national parks;
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excursions and safaris - according to the program;
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3!!! nights in campgrounds in the Moremi, Savuti and Bushmen area;
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fuel for 3500 km;
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breakfasts, as well as other meals specified in the program;
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services of local guides, drivers and rangers;
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rent of buses, boats, boats along the route;
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services of Ukrainian-Russian-speaking guides of Paganel Studio team;
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master classes on photography and DSLR video.
EXPEDITION COST DOES NOT INCLUDE:
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International airfare from your home to Namibia and back;
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visas;
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meals not included in the program;
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personal insurance;
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single occupancy supplement;
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surcharge for additional activities and events.
ADDITIONAL:
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International driver's license, left-hand drive... drivers are given priority.
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Airfare from Europe (approximately): 800-1000 euros
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Expenses for additional meals per day: approximately 30 euros
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The requirement for blank pages in the passport and the validity of the passport: 3 pages. The passport must be valid for another 6 months from the date of entry into Botswana.
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Extra charge for 1 double night: 100-120 euros
VISA:
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price for Ukrainian citizens - 35 euro
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peculiarities of obtaining: online
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Other nationalities not requiring visas: Baltic States
IMPORTANT!
Due to the fact that our expeditions do not include international flights to the starting point of the program, we cannot be held responsible for changes in flight conditions by airlines or airport requirements. Since our travelers fly from many different countries and cities, we never participate in the purchase of air travel and limit ourselves exclusively to advisory services in the selection of flights. Air agents or airlines from which tickets were purchased are responsible for the purchase and technical support.
ITINERARY
Day 1
16.08.2024
Flight from your city. Arrival in the capital of Namibia, Windhoek, at Hosea Kutako International Airport. Transfer to Hotel 4*, the distance from the airport to the hotel is about 40 km. Accommodation in the hotel, rest after a long flight. You can go to the city and buy yourself a SIM card with internet, if you have not done it at the airport. Have dinner in one of the restaurants of the city. From the evening, we recommend to buy drinks, snacks, and goodies for future trips. We have a long journey ahead of us and it is necessary to prepare in advance. In the evening, the drivers together with the guides have a briefing, discuss the route, and check how the points and maps work in their mobile devices.
Day 2
17.08.2024
We will start the first day by waking up early in the morning and going to watch one of the unique seasonal phenomena - the migration of Monarch butterflies.
Early getting up. Breakfast at the hotel. Morning coffee. We leave things at the hotel. We take trekking shoes, hats, cameras, water, and a good mood with us.
We load into the bus and drive for about 2 hours into the mountains. Just before our arrival, the sun begins to warm and the butterflies begin to fly actively. To see the place where the colony nests, we go trekking one way for an hour.
Drivers go out to pick up their cars, quickly go through the briefing, finish all the formalities with car registration and run back to the hotel, where by this time all the crews are already assembled and ready to leave. We have to drive today 532 km. The road will be good, asphalted. On the way, we stop for coffee, a snack and a restroom. We make necessary refueling stops on the way. We pass the border with Botswana. Late in the evening we reach our lodge.
We get into the cabins. Shower. Rest. Dinner at the restaurant. No more strength for the evening of acquaintance, so we will spend it the next day.
Meals: included - breakfast.
Day 3
18.08.2024
We wake up quietly. Breakfast at the lodge. Check the cars, check the wheels. We pack up and hit the road. Today we have a drive - 300 km to the famous Botswana Okavango Delta, where we will spend the night in a nice lodge. The road is not as good as in Namibia. We drive carefully. Watch the speed limit. We try not to run over animals, which from time to time try to jump out on the road.
We arrive at the lodge in the afternoon. Before that, we stop at a big supermarket in Maun town, where we make a thorough stock of food for 2 camping overnight stays, for independent breakfasts and snacks. We do not forget to buy firewood and coals for barbecue. In other words, we fill our refrigerators to the brim.
In the evening after dinner among the stars and night Delta, by candlelight in the restaurant of our cozy and comfortable lodge we hold a traditional evening of the Paganel introductions. Presentation of expedition name T-shirts and badges.
We sleep. We have a rest after two tense days on the road.
Meals: included - breakfast.
Day 4
19.08.2024
Wake up. Breakfast. This day is dedicated to the amazing Moremi National Park. In the morning we meet our local trail guide who will be traveling with us for a few days on this exciting adventure through Botswana's national parks.
We take a snack for lunch and drive to the South Gate into the park for our self-guided game drive.
Moremi National Park currently covers about 20% of the Okavango Delta, which is 15,000 square kilometers of unspoiled African wilderness. Elephants, buffalo, giraffes, lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas and jackals can be seen here. As well as countless antelopes of all species and sizes. Moremi is also home to 30% of the world's population of wild African dogs.
We quickly get all the entry permits and spend the rest of the day looking for animals and observing them. The park is incredible, huge, with many different African animals.
If we are lucky, we will meet a great many elephants, giraffes, buffalo, hippos, various amazing birds, and possibly lions and leopards.
In the evening before sunset we have to leave the park. At sunset, the gate closes. We get to the campground, unzip our special African tents on the roofs of jeeps. We barbecue.
We obey the commands of our local guide who will talk about safety issues, how to behave in the evening and at night, where to go and where not to go.
All around us is truly wild night Africa, you can hear the trumpeting of elephants, the cackling of monkeys, the roaring of lions, the hoarse laughter of hyenas. We are not in a zoo and we need to be as careful as possible.
Such adventures are memorable for life! We fall asleep and enjoy everything that happens to us.
Meals: included - breakfast.
Day 5
20.08.2024
We wake up quietly. We check if all the Paganels are in place) Prepare breakfast. Pack up camp. We load up the jeeps. We leave for new African adventures.
This day we will devote to the area of the river Kwai, which is not a national park and here you can find human settlements somewhere, but along with people here with the same probability you can meet dozens of lions wandering somewhere on their own, groups of elephants, hyenas, giraffes, leopards. There are also a great number of antelopes and zebras.
These places are some of the wildest and most untouched by civilization in all of Africa and to find yourself here in the heart of this pristine nature is truly a great blessing!
For lunch, we stop at a safe place chosen by our local guide. The roads here are often sandy, and in early May, there are still large puddles of water, so we move carefully to avoid getting stuck. Before leaving the camp we turn on 4x4, deflate wheels for driving on deep sands.
The abundance of fauna in this region is amazing. In addition to the already mentioned animals, there are about four hundred species of birds and up to seventy species of fish.
In the afternoon, we move northeast of Moremi National Park to a beautiful lodge, where we check in for the next night.
We scrub up. We swim. We share photos and impressions. We check the refrigerators before going to bed to make sure that we do not spoil the food for the next camping trip. Charge all batteries and necessary devices. Dinner. Sitting around the campfire. Rest.
Meals: included - dinner.
Day 6
21.08.2024
We wake up early to leave the lodge early, as we know that all animal activity takes place in the morning and evening. Breakfast. We pack up and get ready to go. Checking wheels, checking machines. We set route points on our mobile devices. We hit the road. Today we drive into the territory of the interesting Savuti Reserve, which is already a part of the big Chobe National Park.
The area of the Savuti Nature Reserve itself is a savannah landscape, formerly home to a large lake, which gradually turned into savannah and in some places into a swamp. The swamp is now fed by the unstable Savuti Canal, which dries up over a long period but then flows again. But despite this minimalistic looking landscape, the area boasts one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Africa! Especially lions.
Savuti Reserve is particularly famous for the fact that here lions join together in mega-prides of 40 individuals and hunt single adult elephants. And it is here that one can often find traces of such hunting. According to the latest data, the current Savuti mega-pride has split into two groups of 20 lions each. Our task will be to find lions, elephants, leopards, which are also very numerous in these parts.
Let's hope that luck will be on our side. The places there are wild and incredibly beautiful. You will feel like a real pioneer of Africa and understand what Africa was like 100-200-300 years ago.
For the night we become our tent camp in a guarded campsite with all conditions. There are showers, toilets, fire pits on the territory. We put the cars near the river, unzip our cozy tents, pull out tables and chairs. We light fires.
In the evening, we cook dinner ourselves from the supplies we have stored in the refrigerators of our jeeps. We go to bed to the incredible sounds of wildlife.
Despite the fact that the campground is guarded, local baboons and young elephants can often come to camp at night. So we should be careful.
Meals: breakfast is included.
Day 7
22.08.2024
Wake up. Breakfast. Check the cars, wheels, load up and hit the road. Today is our final push to civilization. We have to get to the town of Kasane, which is in the north of Chobe National Park.
We are taking many pictures. We have to be careful and attentive, because there are giraffes, elephants and zebras in large numbers on the surrounding roads. And of course we look out for lions, hyenas, wild African dogs.
We stop for lunch at a beautiful place. The end of our expedition program for today is a cozy comfortable hotel located next to the Chobe National Park, which we will be exploring all the next day. In the neighborhood are the borders of Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia. We arrive at the hotel in time for lunch. We park the cars in the parking lot of the lodge.
Check in for two nights! Clean up. We have a quick lunch. Then we get on a big boat and sail to the Chobe River for an evening safari. We see many elephants eating reeds, hippos, crocodiles etc.
Just after sunset we return to the lodge. Full of impressions we gather for dinner.
Sharing successful photos and emotions. Rest.
Meals: included - breakfast and dinner.
Day 8
23.08.2024
Relaxing day. Today we are looking at the most famous beaches of the island, for which travelers and tourists from all over the planet flock here.
Chobe National Park is Botswana's oldest national park and the third largest in the country. It covers an area of 10,566 km². It was established in 1967, although the first protected area, although much smaller, was established here in 1931. It is located in the northeast of the country, on the northeastern edge of the Kalahari Desert, in the basin of the Kwando River, which below the Lnyanti Swamps is called the Chobe.
The park is one of the largest concentrations of wildlife both on the African continent and worldwide.
Chobe National Park is sometimes referred to as the elephant capital of the world because it has the largest population of elephants in all of Africa (various estimates range from 60,000 to 80,000) and several dozen species of other large mammals.
By evening tired and full of impressions we return to the lodge. Dinner. Rest.
Meals: included - breakfast and dinner.
Day 9
24.08.2024
Breakfast. We leave our cars in the hotel parking lot. We take our belongings, documents and everything valuable with us. We gather at the hotel reception, as transfer buses to Zambia will pick us up there. On the way - the border, getting visas to Zambia on the spot). Checking into a beautiful Resort for 2 nights.
This comfortable hotel is notable for two things: its very close proximity to Victoria Falls and the antelopes, giraffes and zebras that live on the resort grounds.
When checking in, we immediately agree in advance at the hotel what we will do tomorrow. "Bukai" activities. Victoria Falls are only 100 meters away. Lunch. We go for a walk and admire numerous rainbows over the legendary waterfall.
In the evening - walks in town or at the waterfall. Rest.
Meals: included - breakfast.
Day 10
25.08.2024
Breakfast at the hotel. This day is free and is built around the activities and adventures that you make up for yourself. Local travel agents offer a choice of several options of extreme and not so extreme activities that you can do. It's either go whitewater rafting on the Zambezi River. The option is interesting for those who love water and everything related to it.
The next option is bungee jumping at Victoria Falls, or rather from the bridge connecting Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Flights over Victoria Falls by helicopter or motorized doltoplane.
Or just go to the Zimbabwean side, admire the waterfall. Take a walk. It's very beautiful there too and you can take wonderful photos.
Please note that it is necessary to return back to Zambian territory before the border crossing closes. In the evening gather at the hotel. Dinner. Exchange of impressions. Rest.
Meals: included - breakfast.
Day 11
26.08.2024
Wake up quietly. We have breakfast. We can go to the waterfall at dawn and admire the dawn rainbows.
By 9 a.m. we are already at the reception. Buses are coming for us and taking us across the border with Botswana to our jeeps, which we left at the parking lot of the lodge in Chobe. We load into the jeeps and make our way to Namibia. We have to cross the Botswana-Namibia border and then head west along the Caprivi Strip to a very atmospheric and cozy lodge site.
Total kilometers driven to date is 277 km.
The lodge is located on the bank of the Kwando River. It is very beautiful in the evening at sunset.
However, we should be careful, because sometimes hippos, the "best friends" of people, crawl out on the shore to walk and graze on the grass. Dinner in the lodge. Rest.
Meals: included - breakfast.
Day 12
27.08.2024
We slowly wake up to the sounds of the morning river, birdsong and grunting hippos nearby. Breakfast. We drink our morning coffee.
We pack up our jeeps and head west. We have about 450 kilometers to cover. It's a long distance, so we're not going to be too long. We try to leave as early as possible. On the way we have our traditional entertainment: stops for toilet, to take pictures, to stretch our legs. Namibia is already civilization, so we will come across towns where there are supermarkets and you can buy a normal coffee.
By the evening we arrive to Okavango river (yes, yes, in the delta of which we have already been on this trip) and check in one more cozy lodge.
The Okavango River is the border between Namibia and Angola. In the evening we will watch the sunset into Angola.
Dinner. Rest.
Meals: breakfast is included.
Day 13
28.08.2024
In the morning after breakfast we make a checkout, load our stuff into jeeps and drive 18 km to the nearby town of Rundu. We buy food for lunch, dinner and breakfast at local supermarket. We refuel. We check wheels and cars. Further on asphalt, and then on gravel road transfer - 250 km to the village of Bushmen, where we will spend the night in tents.
We try to arrive right after lunch. Set up camp. Put the tents on the roofs of the jeeps. Pull out tables and chairs.
Closer to sunset to our camp will come Bushmen, with whom we will sing, dance, learn archery, listen to various outlandish stories from the life of the most ancient people of Africa.
Having had enough of dancing and taking a thousand more photos that will be the envy of all your relatives and friends, we head back to our camp. We prepare a barbecue dinner. In the evening we listen to Bushmen stories around the campfire and admire the incredible African sky with billions of stars around.
Meals: included - breakfast.
Day 14
29.08.2024
We get up early. We have breakfast with supplies prepared in advance the day before. We pack the jeeps, stow tents and camping equipment. We say goodbye to the beautiful Bushmen. We buy some souvenirs from them and take last photos together.
The total drive today is 490km on a good paved road. Our unique and inimitable lodge is located in the southern part of a huge 3400 hectare safari region. Here you will be able to take the most incredible photos with our great friend, Samy the giraffe, and a troop of loveable elephants and rhinos that are just begging to be held.
This evening Instagram will explode with the coolest photos that will be the envy of everyone... even you☺
The group will be divided into two parts. The first half of the group will leave for their safari at 15.00.
The other half of the safari unit goes on safari in the morning.
In the evening, white rhinos, giraffes, antelopes, zebras and many other animals will come very close to the tables where you will have dinner. We only have time to take pictures.
Tired and satisfied from such a busy day, we go to rest in our cozy lodges in the middle of Africa.
Meals: included - dinner.
Day 15
30.08.2024
Wake up, have breakfast. The second half of the Paganel squad is going on a 2-hour game drive through the safari park. Of course, a game drive is always a lottery, but here we have a great chance to see the life of animals in their natural habitat.
Namely, such as: white rhino, elephant, hippo, giraffe, oryx, big kudu, zebra, ostrich, springbok, gnu antelope, impala, warthog, damara wildebeest, baboon, as well as many species of birds. On our return from the game drive we pack up and - back on the road again. Today we have to make a final drive of 260 km to Windhoek. Check-in in a cozy 4-star hotel. Refueling the cars. The drivers are going to hand over our faithful Toyotas to the rental office. The rest of us are resting after a long journey.
In the evening we will gather in the famous beer house "Joe's" and have a farewell party.
Meals: included - breakfast.
Day 16
31.08.2024
In the morning we wake up leisurely, have breakfast. Saying goodbye to each other. Tears. Hugs. Sadness. Transfer to the airport, flight to the homeland. Flight home.
Meals: included - breakfast.
WHY WITH PAGANEL?
We are unique
For many years, we have been traveling the world to our small planet's most remote and unusual places. We do not use the services of domestic travel agencies. The trips we invent and carry out are always unique and have their unique zest, charm, and adventurous spirit.
Creation
The first thing that interests us is creativity in everything. During the expeditions, we shoot a lot of videos, take pictures, write stories, draw pictures. If you are interested in a creative approach to life and travel, then WELCOME... we are very happy to meet you!
Interest
By joining our team, you join a kind of club-family, which already consists of several hundred people who are interested in discovering the world with us.
Since most of the expenses for the organization of the trip are air tickets and travel documents for other types of transport, accommodation, excursions, services of local companies and guides, etc. are not refundable in case of your cancellation of the trip. We simply have no way to return it.
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