Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

 Welcome to   mesmerising g Zambia – where both predators & prey, wander through unfenced camps, where night-time means swapping stories around the fire.

Arrive in Livingstone - the relaxed & friendly town - gateway to the Victoria Falls.

After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? - Livingstone Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport, subsequent to Immigration & Customs &, you will be met by The Journeys representative / Tour-guide who will ensure your comfort & discuss the program for the next few days.

Livingstone or Maramba is a historic colonial city & present capital of the Southern Province of Zambia, a tourism centre for the Victoria Falls lying 10 km north of the Zambezi River, and a border town with road & rail connections to Zimbabwe on the other side of the Falls. The name Maramba predates Livingstone as the name of the river flowing on the eastern outskirts & the large township next to it. The name is used for a number of places & features in Livingstone and has been proposed as a new or alternative name for the city as a whole. Livingstone is the only non-African name for a town or city town in Zambia not changed since independence, largely due to the influence of first president Kenneth Kuanda, whose father was educated by Scottish missionaries who followed in David Livingstone's footsteps.

You will proceed directly from the Airport for a guided tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Victoria Falls on the Zambian side.

Taking its place alongside the Pyramids & the Serengeti, Victoria Falls is one of Africa’s original blockbusters. And, although Zimbabwe & Zambia share it, Victoria Falls is a place all of its own, one of Earth’s great spectacles & one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. A Waterfall presentng a spectacular sight of awe-inspiring beauty & grandeur on the Zambezi River, forming the border between Zambia & Zimbabwe in southern Africa.

It is clearly visible from the Zimbabwean side, which also has the town Victoria Falls named after the falls. It was described by the Kololo tribe living in the area in the 1800’s as ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’ (‘The Smoke that Thunders’). At 1708 metres wide, it is the largest curtain of water in the world & drops 103 metres into the basalt depths of the sheer Zambezi Gorge.

The wide, basalt cliff over which the falls thunder, transforms the Zambezi from a placid river into a ferocious torrent cutting through a series of dramatic gorges. Columns of spray can be seen from miles away as, at the height of the rainy season, more than five hundred million cubic meters of water per minute plummet over the edge, over a width of nearly two kilometers, into a gorge over one hundred meters below..

Facing the Falls is another sheer wall of basalt, rising to the same height & capped by mist-soaked rain forest. A path along the edge of the forest provides the visitor prepared to brave the tremendous spray, with an unparalleled series of views of the Falls.

View it directly as a raging mile-long curtain of water, in all its glory, from a helicopter ride (Optional - direct payment) or peek precariously over its edge from Devil's Pools; the sheer power & force of the falls is something that simply does not disappoint.

One special vantage point is across the Knife-edge Bridge, where visitors can have the finest view of the Eastern Cataract & the Main Falls as well as the Boiling Pot, where the river turns & heads down the Batoka Gorge. Other vantage points include the Falls Bridge, Devils Pool & the Lookout Tree, both of which command panoramic views across the Main Falls.

Whether anyone is here purely to take in the sight of a natural wonder of the world, or for a serious hit of adrenalin via rafting or bungee jumping into the Zambezi, Victoria Falls is a place where they are sure to tick off numerous items from that bucket list.

Later, proceed to the nearby Mosi-O-Tunya National Park where you will spend the night.

The Park is situated along the upper Zambezi stretching from & including the Victoria Falls for about 12 km up the Zambezi River above the Falls.  It is only 66 square kilometres but there are plans to extend the Park further up river.  Because the Park is small, it affords a wonderfully relaxing drive alongside the river for much of the circular route & the whole variety of species can be seen.

The Park provides a home for numerous antelope species, giraffe, zebra, warthog, a variety of birds &d smaller animals.  Elephants cross the Zambezi & freely walk through the park and the surrounding area.  One can take a pleasant drive around the park in a couple of hours & all the species there should be seen at close range. Since there are no predators, they are very relaxed & afford some excellent photo opportunities.

On arrival, Check-in at The River Club Lodge.

The River Club lies dreaming in dappled shade on the Zambian banks of the Zambezi River, 18 km upstream from the world-famous Victoria Falls. Its main area is a well-appointed Edwardian-style house, with a comfortable lounge, large dining room, impressive library and wide veranda on which breakfasts and teas are taken. Manicured lawns (where midday meals are often served) spread out beneath the trees & a croquet court is an ideal venue for a Pimm's-soaked croquet game. The Infinity pool has been built to seem part of the river itself & a secluded deck with hammocks & loungers provides respite. Meals can also be enjoyed in the summer house or gazebo.

Ten luxury thatched chalets overlook the Zambezi River and have en-suite facilities including a bath, shower, toilet & basin. All the rooms have fans & air-conditioning (hot & cold). The rooms are all completely open in the front, giving uninterrupted views of the Zambezi.

Balance of the day is at leisure.

After breakfast, depart for Linyanti Wildlife Reserve in Botswana, via Chobe National Park.

Drive to the Border at Kazungula, a point where the four countries of Botswana, Zambia, Namibia & Zimbabwe meet & with your vehicle, board a ferry for the short trip to Chobe National Park (but note that it can be a slow trip as a result of the many heavy trucks lining the road for kilometres on both sides of the border).

Welcome to Botswana.

Arrive at Chobe National Park & enjoy a Chobe River safari cruise aboard a double-decker boat and watch for large crocodiles, numerous pods of hippos & large herds of elephants that come down to drink and play in the water. The Park’s beautiful wetlands also lure a wealth of birdlife to the region & you may glimpse any of the 460 species that either live here or migrate through, including raptors, vultures & waterfowl.

After partaking Lunch in Chobe, continue driving to Linyanti Wildlife Reserve.

This interesting drive exposes the group to the rural way of life along the northernmost tip of Botswana and also affords views across the Chobe & Linyanti Rivers into Namibia's Caprivi Strip. This part of the Linyanti is famed for its myriad of changing landscapes from riverine to savannah & from forest to plains.

The Linyanti region’s life giving perennial waters attracts herds of wildlife that walk well-worn game paths to slake their thirst in the dry season. Predators follow in their footsteps and, coupled with the area's diversity of habitat, make for an exciting game viewing.

Linyanti Wildlife Reserve a 125 000 hectares area of pristine wilderness & Botswana’s most under rated wildlife area is located to the north of the Okavango Delta. Fed by the Kwando River, the Linyanti Swamp is the heart of the reserve & is the attraction for the tens of thousands of elephants, one of Africa’s largest elephant population & other animals that concentrate during the dry season. Across the water is Namibia’s Caprivi Strip & to the east is the Chobe National Park.

The Reserve area is renowned for predators & large concentrations of game, particularly Elephant & Buffalo which move to the Linyanti River at the start of the dry winter months (May - June) &  stay until the arrival of the first rains (late November - December) when they disperse into the vast wilderness. Sable & Roan Antelope, Lion, Leopard & Wild Dog are among the wildlife that can be seen in the Linyanti Reserve area. The marshland is home to Red Lechwe, Sitatunga, Hippo, Crocodiles & spectacular birdlife. Other wildlife include Kudu, Zebra, Buffalo, Waterbuck & Impala.

The Linyanti River & marshes are complemented by the contrasting dry woodlands inland. Lagoons & rivers abound with papyrus & phragmites. There are many varied habitats within the Linyanti, including marshes, waterways, riverine forests, dry woodlands & open grasslands.

On arrival, Check-in at Linyanti Adventurer Camp.

Balance of the day at leisure.

Full day of game viewing.

Evening at leisure.

Full day of game viewing.

Evening at leisure.

After breakfast, drive to the airstrip for light aircraft transfer to the Khwai area in the Okavango Delta.

Over time, the Khwai area has metamorphosed into a wide range of exciting wildlife habitats - some of the most varied to be found in the entire Okavango Delta: a blend of forests, floodplain, wetland and grasslands. The narrow Khwai Channel is home to large mammals such as hippo and crocodile with buffalo and red lechwe often seen grazing along the fringe. The beautiful gallery riverine woodland found along the river provides further sanctuary to birds, primates & leopard. Elusive roan antelope often come to the river to drink. Activities focus around day & night game drives, nature walks and seasonal ‘mokoro’ excursions.

Away from the river there is a wonderful mix of acacia and leadwood trees of varying sizes that abuts into mopane woodland. The latter, together with the permanent presence of water, attracts large numbers of elephant to the area. Larger predators include lion, wild dog & spotted hyena, while birdlife found here is just as varied, thanks to the colourful palette of habitats.

You will be met on arrival at the airstrip & transferred to Khwai Adventurer Camp.

The Camp is located in a private concession just north of the Khwai River above the Moremi Game Reserve. The Khwai Concession is one of the most diverse areas in northern Botswana which seldom disappoints when it comes to producing extraordinary wildlife experiences. The life source for this area is the Khwai River - the northernmost "finger" of the Okavango Delta alluvial fan, which provides vital sustenance to numerous animals.

Balance of the day at leisure.

Full day of game viewing.

Evening at leisure.

Full day of game viewing.

Evening at leisure.

Morning, transfer to the Airstrip & fly by light aircraft to the water-filled paradise of the remote Xigera area, within the Moremi Game Reserve.

Xigera is the ultimate Okavango Delta experience, with serene waters flowing through innumerable channels around remote islands & a profusion of plants & animals & birds.

There is no better way to experience the Okavango than to travel through it by mokoro (traditional dug-out canoe) walking & camping out on a vegetated island - all essential elements of the Xigera Mokoro Trails. The experience is aimed at highlighting the permanently flooded inner Delta, in the serene waterways and on the islands of trees & bush.

Permanent water year-round allows an unparalleled variety of activities such as mokoro trips, game drives & motorboat outings; being the only camp in the area ensures total privacy.

When water levels permit, game drives are an attraction. During drier years, drives are available throughout the year, but if there has been a very high flood, drives take place only from late September to April.

Activities include mokoro ride and walking safaris on remote islands, which enable up-close encounters with an excellent diversity of birdlife (including Pel's Fishing-Owl), frogs & some game species, some specially adapted to water, such as the familiar red lechwe. Walking activities vary in length & duration depending on the season, especially in the months when the Okavango is at peak flood (June, July, August) where walks become shorter as more islands are flooded.

Check in at Xigera Camp.

The camp consists of ten luxuriously furnished tented rooms each with en-suite facilities & an outdoor shower. Raised on wooden platforms & walkways, each tent offers superb views of the seasonal floodplain and lagoon and a feel of living in the midst of a riverine forest. Meals and evening drinks are enjoyed in the lounge, pub & dining area overlooking a permanently flowing channel or under the stars in a traditional African boma. For those hot days there is a small plunge pool in which to cool off.

Guests are sometimes treated to close-up views of lion or leopard using the footbridge connecting Xigera's island to the next! The camp "newspaper" (a sand pit built into the bridge to capture paw prints) is "read" each morning & provides information on unseen nightly visitors to camp.

A mokoro ride is mandatory at this Camp. On this traditional dug-out canoe, the only sounds are the rustling of the wind through the reeds, the lapping of the water against the boat & the call of the African Fish-Eagle. The blue of the sky is mirrored in the water, broken only by large round water lily leaves & their stunning purple & white flowers.

Later in the afternoon, accompanied by a Ranger, proceed on a walking safari.

Evening at leisure.

Full day of game viewing.

Evening at leisure.

Finally, the experience comes to an end and it is time to say good-bye.

Bid farewell as you are transferred by light aircraft to Maun Airport from where you continue on your onward journey (*our Services end with the Flight Transfer to Maun Airport). B

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