Sands & Waters - A Luxury Safari by Ker & Downey Botswana

Upon arrival at Maun Airport, your local host will warmly welcome you and assist you with your light aircraft flight to Dinaka. 

Upon landing, your safari experience begins immediately with a game drive en route to camp, offering your first opportunity to encounter the wildlife of this private reserve.

After settling into your elegant tented suite, enjoy lunch at the lodge and time to relax while taking in the peaceful surroundings and views over the waterhole.

Later in the afternoon, set out with your expert guide on your first game drive as the Kalahari comes alive in the golden afternoon light. Return to camp after sunset for dinner and your first evening beneath Botswana's magnificent star-filled sky.

Every day at Dinaka is different, with activities adapted to the season, weather, and wildlife sightings. The following is a sample itinerary.

Start the day with an early morning wake-up call, then have coffee or tea before heading out on a game drive with your professional guide. Early morning is one of the best times to observe wildlife, and your drive may include sightings of lions, cheetahs, giraffes, antelope, and a wide variety of birdlife. On selected mornings, guests may also have the opportunity to join a guided walk with members of the San Bushmen community, offering fascinating insight into their traditional tracking skills, survival techniques, and deep connection to the Kalahari. Depending on conditions, your guide may also include a visit to the underground photographic hide or a meerkat encounter.

Return to camp for a leisurely brunch, then enjoy free time to relax in your suite, take a swim, or watch wildlife at the nearby waterhole.

Enjoy one final early morning safari activity at Dinaka, making the most of your last opportunity to experience the unique landscapes and wildlife of the Central Kalahari. 

Following the activity, continue directly to the airstrip for your scenic light aircraft flight to the Okavango Delta. Upon arrival, you will be met by your guide and transferred to Kanana Camp, with your first game viewing opportunities often beginning en route to the lodge.

After settling into your accommodation, enjoy lunch and some time to relax before gathering for traditional safari high tea. Later in the afternoon, depart on your first safari activity in this remarkable wetland ecosystem, where waterways, islands, and floodplains create a striking contrast to the Kalahari. Return to camp in the evening for dinner and your overnight stay.

Kanana Camp is located in the southwestern Okavango Delta, within the private Kanana Concession, one of Botswana's most diverse wildlife areas. The concession is shared exclusively by just two camps, creating a highly private safari experience with very few vehicles. Its setting combines waterways, floodplains, palm-fringed islands, open grasslands and mopane woodland, creating an exceptional variety of habitats and wildlife.

Depending on water levels and local conditions, guests can experience a combination of land and water-based activities. Game drives explore the concession's varied landscapes, while mokoro excursions and motorboat safaris offer a completely different perspective of the Delta when conditions allow.

Kanana is particularly renowned for its outstanding birdlife and is one of the places in Botswana where guests may have the opportunity to spot the elusive Pel's Fishing Owl. The area also supports elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, red lechwe, hippo and crocodile, as well as predators including lion, leopard, African wild dog and occasionally cheetah.

Begin the day with an early morning wake-up call and coffee or tea before setting out on your first safari activity. With your expert guide, explore the varied landscapes of the private Kanana Concession as the Delta awakens, following fresh tracks and discovering the constantly changing scenery.

Return to camp for a leisurely brunch and time to relax. Spend the middle of the day enjoying the peaceful setting, unwinding by the pool, or simply taking in the views from camp.

Later in the afternoon, gather for high tea before departing on your second included safari activity of the day. Depending on water levels and local conditions, this may be a game drive, mokoro excursion, or motorboat safari, offering another perspective on the Okavango Delta. Return to camp in the evening for dinner and a relaxing night in the heart of the Delta.

Enjoy one final morning activity at Kanana before departing for the next stage of your safari. Depending on water levels and wildlife activity, you may explore the Delta by motorboat or mokoro, join a guided walking safari, or set out on a final game drive.

After breakfast, transfer to the airstrip for a scenic light aircraft flight to Shinde in the northern Okavango Delta. Upon arrival, your guide will meet you for a game drive to the camp, providing your first introduction to this wildlife-rich concession.

After settling into your suite, enjoy lunch and some time to relax before gathering for traditional safari high tea. Later in the afternoon, head out on a game drive to explore the diverse habitats surrounding Shinde, where you may encounter elephant, buffalo, giraffe, antelope, and predators. Return to camp in the evening for dinner and your overnight stay.

Shinde is located on a lush palm island in the northern Okavango Delta, within the private Shinde Concession. Surrounded by waterways, floodplains, and islands of mature woodland, its diverse landscape supports excellent wildlife viewing year-round. The private concession allows for a flexible safari experience while maintaining an exclusive atmosphere with relatively few vehicles.

Depending on water levels and local conditions, guests can enjoy a mix of land- and water-based activities, offering different perspectives of the Okavango Delta.

Safari activities may include morning and afternoon game drives, night drives, guided walking safaris, mokoro excursions, motorboat safaris, birdwatching and seasonal fishing. The variety of habitats makes each outing different and allows activities to be adapted to conditions and wildlife movements.

The concession supports excellent concentrations of elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, hippo, crocodile and numerous antelope species. Lion, leopard, African wild dog and hyena are also regularly seen, making Shinde one of the Okavango Delta's most rewarding safari destinations.

Enjoy another full day at Shinde, with two safari activities included, each outing shaped by the day's conditions and opportunities.

Begin early with coffee or tea before setting out with your guide. Depending on water levels and local conditions, you may explore by game drive, mokoro or motorboat, or head out on foot for a guided walking safari.

Return to camp for brunch and time at leisure, with the afternoon free to relax and enjoy Shinde's beautiful setting. Later, gather for high tea before setting out on your second activity. This may include a different way of exploring the concession, followed by the opportunity to continue after sunset on a night drive.

Return to camp for dinner and another peaceful evening in the Okavango Delta.

Enjoy one final early morning safari activity at Shinde before bidding farewell to the Okavango Delta. Depending on the day's conditions and your departure time, you may set out on a final game drive, a peaceful mokoro excursion, or a motorboat safari, giving you one last chance to appreciate this remarkable ecosystem and its wildlife.

Return to camp for breakfast before transferring to the nearby airstrip for your scheduled light aircraft flight to Maun Airport. Upon arrival in Maun, connect with your onward commercial flight, taking with you unforgettable memories of Botswana's extraordinary landscapes, abundant wildlife, and warm hospitality.