5 day Romantic Botswana Getaway

Day 1: Baines' Camp, Botswana

Arrive at Maun Airport, the 'Gateway to the Okavango Delta', where you will be met by your pilot and escorted to the plane for your flight to Baines' Camp. The approximate flying time is 15 minutes. On arrival at Baines' Camp private airstrip, you will be met by your guide and transferred to the lodge in open 4x4 vehicles. The staff of Baines' Camp will be waiting to welcome you with cheerful song and dance.

Set amongst the shady trees and water of the Okavango Delta, the small intimate Baines' Camp features just 5 luxurious suites set on elevated platforms. Wooden decks offer expansive views over the permanent water of the Boro River and a lagoon teeming with life. The suites feature spacious bedrooms with mobile four-poster beds giving guests the choice of slumber under star laden skies. Avid astronomers will delight in stargazing from the privacy of their own deck.

This exclusive lodge is named for famed nineteenth century explorer and painter, Thomas Baines. The inspiration for his paintings is evident when looking at the waterscape that lies beyond the lodge. The main area features an oversized deck for outdoor dining, views over the permanent water of the lagoon, as well as swimming pool for refreshing sunbathing. The unique and educational Elephant interaction programme offered at Stanley's Camp is also available to guests at Baines'.

After having time to freshen-up in the comfort of your rooms, your guide will take you on a discovery of Baines' private concession. Game drives at Baines' are conducted in open vehicles that offer unencumbered views. The accompanying professional guides are amongst the best in Botswana. Return to camp in early evening in time for dinner.

Day 2: Baines' Camp, Botswana

Early morning wake up call with fresh tea/coffee and biscuits served in your room followed by a morning game drive. This area, situated on a private concession neighbouring the Moremi, is superb for viewing all animal and bird species. Guests may explore by land and water, often into the night to discover nocturnal species.

The water of the camp will reveal a world of floating safaris atmospherically silent at the gentle pace of a poled mokoro, or faster in a comfortable shaded motorized boat. A myriad of waterways, feathery beds of papyrus, and animal species, large and small, are waiting to be discovered. Sometimes there is no better way to tune into the bush than on foot. Walking safaris will be a speciality at Baines', with skilled, armed guides introducing the area's natural wonders.

Game viewing in the area is extremely good with excellent numbers of predators and plains-game on offer. The area houses one of the largest Buffalo populations in the Okavango Delta. In the dry season, the population can concentrate into a herd in excess of 2000 head. Please note that the Elephant Activity is excluded from package prices.

Return to camp after the morning game activity for a hearty brunch. Afternoon at your leisure to enjoy the facilities on offer. Mid-afternoon high tea will be served prior to your next game drive, which may extend into a night drive should you so wish. Return to camp for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Chobe National Park, Botswana

Early morning wake up call with tea/coffee and biscuits served in your room. Depending upon your flight times, you will experience a mokoro excursion (water levels dependant), exploring the. Breakfast will follow and after that you will be transferred to the airstrip for your shared flight north to Chobe National Park. Time of departure will be confirmed by the Camp Management.

The approximate flying time one hour 30 minutes. Arrive at Kasane Airport. A Chobe Chilwero representative will welcome you before the transfer to the lodge. In the local language of Setswana, Chilwero means 'place of high view', an apt name for a lodge whose accommodations look out over lush flood plains towards Namibia on the horizon.

Chobe Chilwero lodge offers 15 luxury air-conditioned units, each individually appointed with furniture and fittings from all corners of the continent. In addition, each unit has its own private 'sala', both indoor and outdoor showers, along with large handcrafted sunken baths. Chobe Chilwero also offers a split-level swimming pool.

If business cannot be kept at bay, a small business centre offers telephone, email and fax services. In addition, a small library houses a television, VCR and slide projector, ideal for nature talks by guest lecturers.

Safari activities at Chobe are diverse, exciting and tailored to suit individual requirements. Game drives are conducted in open 4x4 vehicles, normally in the early morning and late afternoon, under the leadership of qualified Botswana guides. Chobe floodplain is known for its concentrations of Buffalo and Elephant, the late evening in particular, provides spectacular viewing. All vehicles have two-way radio systems facilitating optimum sightings of the major species.

Day 4: Chobe National Park, Botswana

For the true lover of unspoiled Africa, these safaris will capture the magnificence and very real essence of Botswana's natural landscapes and wildlife heritage. Game viewing and fishing from small boats is a special Chobe experience. Additionally, there is a sunset cruise, which provides spectacular wildlife viewing and vistas of an African sunset. Afternoon game viewing in the Chobe area, returning to the lodge for dinner.

Day 5: Chobe National Park, Botswana

The Chobe National Park covers a wide variety of habitat : riverine forest, flood plain, periodic marsh, mopane and miombo woodland and a few rocky outcrops. Such diversity of habitats implies a wide range of wildlife, from water animals such as Hippopotamus, Crocodile, Otter and Fish, to forest and dry-land species such as Elephant, Buffalo, Giraffe, Zebra and Eland. In all areas, predators abound, including Lion, Leopard, Cheetah and both species of Hyena. Dependent upon time, you may be able to do a short morning game drive, then return to camp for a light breakfast before you are transferred back to Kasane Airport for the flight to Maun Airport. The approximate flying time is one hour 30 minutes.

Please Note:

When travelling in the Okavango Delta by light aircraft, the luggage limit is 12kg or 20kg packed in a soft bag. The 20kg luggage limit does not include hand luggage and photographic equipment, which need to be kept to a reasonable weight and quantity. Rotation of camps may change.