6 Day Safari In the Okavango Delta

Unsure where to book our first ever trip to Africa we hit Google and discovered Safaribookings.com which gave us the opportunity to request quotes from several booking agents. Discover Africa were the first to respond and quickly offered one of their representatives (Antoinette) to meet us in video chat to discuss our needs and wishes.

Meeting Antoinette online was a pleasure and gave us real confidence we were in good hands. We discussed what we wanted to achieve out of a visit to Botswana and the Okavango Delta. Antoinette asked us the right questions to get a good understanding of what we really wanted and then offered to come back to us with some suggested itineraries, once she checked availability.

Chiefly, we wanted to try and see the big five and also experience the Okavango Delta in an authentic boots on the ground way rather than a plastic fantastic over luxurious way. Antoinette came back with three great options, all different but all focused on what we wanted. It was a hard job to choose which to go for.

In the end, we went for three nights at Camp Xakanaxa, in the Moremi Game Reserve, and two nights at Camp Okavango, in the heart of the Delta.

Once chosen, we received a secure payment link from Discover Africa. We paid online and were ready to go. About a month before travelling, Antoinette sent through final itinerary information, travel vouchers and a useful information booklet about the area we were travelling to. We had everything we needed, but Antoinette provided us with direct contact details including Whatsapp and made it clear if we needed anything we could get in touch at any time.

Mikes Safari Experience

Once travelling everything ran like clockwork. We landed in Maun and were immediately met by the team from the safari operator who assisted us with luggage, immigration forms and when to go next. Our light aircraft flight into the Delta was a real highlight, in 40mins in the air we saw dozens of elephants, impalas, and Water buck.

On arrival at Camp Xakanaxa we were taken back by the beauty of the camp, its location and the warm welcome from the staff. Our bags were taken to our room for us and we were offered a quick welcome snack and refreshing lemonade. Then straight out on the first of 6 game drives. Moremi is safari perfection, we saw everything we had hoped for including Leopard, lion, Cheetah, Elephant, Giraffe, Impala, Water Buck, Buffalo, Hyena, Jackal and many many more…

Camp Okavango was further up into the delta and gave a real authentic experience with game drives on foot and by boat. We watched families of elephants eating together at the waters edge, saw countless Hippo and the bird life is incredible. Again the camp, the staff and the food were all amazing. We literally cannot fault any part of our experience.

The temperatures in Botswana in October are very high in the middle of the day. We recorded 42C on one day. However this did not affect our experience. Game drives take place in the morning and late afternoon when it is much cooler. During the heat of the day we relaxed back at camp, in the pool or in our room so the temperature was really not an issue for us.

This was our first trip to Africa and before leaving we were concerned we had spent a lot of money and whether we would feel it was value for money. Having now returned we are so happy, it was money well spent, Discover Africa and, in particular Antoinette exceeded our expectations at every turn.

Safari planned by: Antoinette van Heerden