Day 1: South Africa / Botswana
Johannesburg / Maun / Savuti
You will be met at Johannesburg International Airport at 08:30 at the Air Botswana check-in counter by an Orient-Express Safari representative, who will assist with your check-in on Air Botswana flight BP212 at 10:00 direct to Maun arriving at 11:40.

On arrival in Maun, after clearing immigration and customs formalities, you will be met by an Orient-Express Safaris representative and escorted to your waiting light aircraft for your transfer to Savuti, an area renowned for its high concentration of Elephant and dramatic ecosystem.

Your time in Botswana will be spent game viewing, exploring the beautiful and incomparable wilderness and surrounding areas of Okavango Delta. Over 1100 species exist in the varied ecosystems, which comprise the Delta. Wise use of natural resources is the watch-word here and the delta is a treasure house to satisfy even the most ardent enthusiast. Few people in this busy world are privileged enough to visit this inaccessible area and the abundance of wildlife and utter tranquillity of the camps are proof enough of this.

Savuti Elephant Camp, a luxurious tented camp, sits on a rise overlooking the dry river channel. This aspect enhances the vista and excellent game viewing is possible from the camp environs. The rocky hills of Savuti vary from heavy sandveld and mopani forests to open marshland and acacia savannah. This provides a habitat to many different species of animals and birds and large game migrations can be seen during April/May and November. Enjoy a relaxed atmosphere around a central dining room and campfire. Guests may also relax around the swimming pool. The camp is graced with large lace like trees and clean, fine sand underfoot. Savuti is famous for its herds of big game and large prides of lion.

Afternoon tea will be served in the dining area overlooking the waterhole, before departing on an afternoon game drive "working" viewing activities. Enjoy a candlelight dinner that will be served outside under the stars in the dining area. After dinner, enjoy a slide presentation. Overnight at Savuti Elephant camp on a fully inclusive basis.

Day 2: Savuti / Chobe National Park
The world acclaimed game viewing of Savuti is an experience not to be missed. Here wild dogs hunt in the channel where crocodiles swam only twenty years ago. The Gubatsa Hills shelter leopard and klipspringer and rock paintings of early man's wildlife sighting.

Dry season game viewing concentrates on Savuti's resident bull elephants, antelope and lion prides around half-empty pans and permanent waterholes. Black-backed jackal, bat-eared foxes, tsessebe, kudu, impala and ostrich abound. The summer rains bring a feast for lion, hyena and cheetah as thousands of migrating zebra and wildebeest assemble in a chaotic pattern on the Savuti marsh. Cape buffalo herds arrive and migrant birds swell Savuti's 300 resident species, thrilling bird watchers with their spectacular antics. Carmine bee-eaters perch on the back of kori bustards and red-crested korhaans plummet from the sky in daring aerobatic mating displays.

After an early morning wake-up with tea or coffee, and a light breakfast, you will then be taken on a "working game viewing activity" with a stop at the bushman paintings for instruction by Phillip and Ingrid on photographic techniques relevant to the area. Return to camp to freshen up for brunch and "class time " with Ingrid and Phillip in the dining area.

Later in the day enjoy sundowners around the swimming pool to watch to nocturnal animals coming down to drink from the waterhole. Overnight at Savuti Elephant Camp on a fully inclusive basis.

Day 3: Savuti / Moremi Wildlife Reserve
After an early wake up with tea or coffee and a light breakfast, enjoy a working game viewing activity to photograph small and large fauna in the area, returning to camp to freshen up for brunch. Later on in the morning you will be taken on a short flight by shared light aircraft to the game rich Khwai area of the Moremi Wildlife Reserve.

Khwai River Lodge is situated on the shady banks of the Khwai River, affording a front row seat for the parade of African wildlife taking place around you. Accommodation is in twin-bedded thatched luxury tents, all with en suite facilities. Daily activities include excellent bird watching and game drives in open game drive vehicles. For those so inclined a swimming pool invites you for a leisurely afternoon swim or your may choose to spend time at the secluded hide watching the elephants, hippo, and other wildlife which come to drink at the riverbank.

Afternoon tea will be served in the dining area, after which you will be taken on a game drive to view the prolific wildlife in the area. Dinner will served overlooking the Khwai River, after which Ingrid and Phillip discuss photographic technicalities. Overnight at Khwai River Lodge on a fully inclusive basis.

Day 4: Moremi Wildlife Game Reserve
Khwai has amazing game viewing opportunities and the impressions formed here will stay with you forever - driving through the bush into a herd of elephant, the sound of lion roaring in the distance, a family of baboons squabbling across the river, the lullaby of nesting birds as you sit contemplating the day's activities, the comfort of the camps and the friendliness of the staff all contribute to an unforgettable experience. Most of all you will feel the special relaxation that freedom "away from it all" brings and will benefit from being part of the wilderness and touching the wild.

Early morning rise with tea and coffee and a light breakfast will be served on the viewing deck, then depart for a 'working' game drive. Return to the camp for relaxation and brunch. 'Class time' with Ingrid and Phillip will be on the viewing deck and immediate surroundings. You will be able to pick specimens (only from in and around the camp) for photographic purposes. Instruction on the making of a wildlife journal will be given. Enjoy a 'working' game drive this afternoon. Return to camp to freshen up for dinner. Overnight at Khwai River Lodge on a fully inclusive basis.

Day 5: Moremi Wildlife Reserve / Okavango Delta
After a morning activity and brunch, you will be taken on a short flight by shared light aircraft to Eagle Island, an island paradise on the edge of a tranquil lagoon. This exclusive lodge accommodates a maximum of 24 guests in 12 spacious luxury en suite tents. Shaded by tall trees, the lodge includes two bars, a swimming pool and provides excellent cuisine. Eagle Island Camp at Xaxaba offers prolific bird life on the island and surrounding delta. All one hears is the "swish" of the paddle and the cry of the fish eagle as you take a tranquil mokoro trip through the Delta. (All water activities are subject to the water level in the Delta).

This afternoon after a light tea, enjoy your first excursion in the Okavango Delta. Dinner will be served overlooking the exciting Okavango Delta with the background music of the hippos and reed frogs. Overnight at Eagle Island Camp on fully inclusive basis.

Day 6: Okavango Delta
The Okavango Delta is one of the world's largest inland water systems, the only inland delta of its kind and a unique oasis of life in the centre of the Kalahari Desert. It stretches over 16,000 square km and supports a staggering variety of animal, plant, fish and bird life. The water was once thought to have reached the sea, but this is no longer the case. After a series of tectonic uplifts and earthquakes running along geological fault lines, the land at the edge of the Delta now lies lower than that of the surrounding area. Hence the water very rarely flows further South than Maun. The Okavango Delta consist of a multitude of main channels, smaller tributaries and lagoons as well as floodplains, island and mainland areas. The watercourses are constantly changing due to annual flooding as well as a combination of sediment transport, seismic activity, the construction of termite mounds, and the continual opening up of new channels by feeding hippopotamus and the closing of others by new vegetation growth.

Enjoy a light breakfast around the fireplace, before you leave for a 'working' game viewing activity, allowing you to photograph flora and fauna found in the Delta region. After brunch some activity 'Class time' before having time at leisure. Later, after tea, enjoy a late afternoon working game activity. Overnight at Eagle Island Camp on a fully inclusive basis.

Day 7: Okavango Delta
After an early wake up with tea or coffee and a light breakfast, enjoy a working game viewing activity to photograph small and large fauna in the area, returning to camp to freshen up for brunch. Tonight enjoy a candlelit dinner, after which Ingrid and Phillip will hold a group discussion on what you have learnt in the last 6 days. Overnight at Eagle Island Camp on a fully inclusive basis.

Day 8: Okavango Delta / Maun / Johannesburg
Early this morning depart for one last game drive, before returning to camp in time to freshen up and have brunch. Later after brunch take a short flight to Maun Airport for your scheduled flight to Johannesburg.

An approximate 50-minute light aircraft transfer will leave Savuti Elephant Camp for the connecting Air Botswana flight from Maun at 15:00. You will be advised of the departure time by the camp manager the night before.

Depart for Johannesburg at 15:00 on Air Botswana flight BP211 arriving at 16:40, where, after clearing immigration and customs formalities, you will be under your own arrangements.