2024 Ultimate Okavango Delta, Botswana & South Africa Wildlife Safari

Dates:  January 4 – 21 January, 2024 (17 nights)
Tour size:  Cindy plus 7 - SOLD OUT
Locations:  Okavango Delta, Botswana, South Africa
Cost:  $25,682.00 per person – Double Occupancy.

EMAIL CINDY FOR WISH LIST & ADVANCED PRIORITY

Join Cindy and experience the three very best wildlife reserves in Southern Africa.  This ultimate 17-night adventure offers unparalleled photographic opportunities: incredibly diverse and ample wildlife, vast landscapes and migrating birds of all feathers.   Be inspired, motivated, and challenged to improve all aspects of your photographic skills. Learn how to determine and control every technical, artistic, and physical element of your photograph. You are guaranteed to return home with intimate portraits and incredible action shots of the wild animals who call Africa home.  

The itinerary has been crafted especially for photographers but will no doubt thrill non-photographic companions as well.  We have chartered bush planes and paid for extra seats to allow each person a 77lbs total luggage/gear allowance (as opposed to the standard 32lbs) At each camp we will have private use of two safari vehicles for just the eight of us. This means complete freedom and spontaneity to do and see more. It also means that each person will have unobstructed views and a bench seat to themself.  

We will spend 3 nights at Wilderness Chitabe Camp in the Okavango Delta, which is renowned for thrilling predator/prey photography opportunities and outstanding wildlife and birding. Two diverse habitats, the Okavango and Kalahari, makes Chitabe a wildlife photographer’s dream.

We will spend 8 nights at Mashatu Lodge, Botswana.  My favorite camp, located in a remote and unique location can be ablaze in yellow Devil’s Thorn flowers in January.  Known as the land of the giants, this exceptionally diverse landscape provides intimate wildlife opportunities and stunning backdrops. Also famous for leopards, lions and cheetahs along with the unforgettable Mashatu and Baobab trees.

We will spend 4 nights at the famous MalaMala Camp located on the wild and famous Sand River between Kruger National Park and the Sabi Sand reserve in South Africa.  MalaMala can give us a Big Five or even the Magnificent Seven photo opportunity in just one game drive. 

Cindy is partnering with Mark Smith of andBeyond for this safari. He will handle your deposit and final payment. He will provide us with 24/7 safari support starting now and throughout our journey.  He can also assist with flight reservations and extensions.

Tour Price Includes: 17 nights lodging as specified. All meals, drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic, excluding premium brands) limited laundry and private game activities at Chitabe, Mashatu, and MalaMala Camps. Fantastic breakfast at The Residence Boutique Hotel two mornings. VIP Meet and Greet plus private transfer from OR Tambo to The Residence Boutique Hotel, Johannesburg.  Private transfer from The Residence Boutique Hotel to OR Tambo Airport with a Meet & Greet to board our commercial flight to Maun International Airport.  Meet & Greet at Maun Airport to our private charter flight to Chitabe Airstrip.  Private charter flight from Chitabe airstrip to Limpopo airstrip and transfer to Mashatu Lodge. Private charter flight from Mashatu to MalaMala airstrip. Private charter flight MalaMala to Federal Air Hanger and then private transfer to OR Tambo International Airport.  Meet & Greet at OR Tambo International Airport to escort us to our departing flights. 

Tour Price Does NOT Include:  Flights to/from your home to OR Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg). Lodging/meals before or after the workshop. Excess baggage fees for the commercial flight from OR Tambo to the Maun Airport. (paid direct at airport) Dinner and lunch at The Residence Boutique Hotel.  Visas, passports, travel insurance, personal purchases, immunizations, medications, etc. Gratuities for drivers, guides and camp staff. We estimate gratuities will total $600.00 from each of us for the entire trip. 

Mark will be following up this email with ETF information so you may confirm your space with the deposit and to provide you with additional pre-tour information.

You must purchase trip insurance within 14 days of making your deposit.  This is a helpful site for comparing Travel Insurance plans. 

DETAILS:

Thursday January 4, 2024

Plan to arrive in OR Tambo Airport (Johannesburg) this afternoon or evening. Meet & Greet Assist and private transfer to The Residence Boutique Hotel. Luxury rooms, includes breakfast. Relax and unwind.

Friday January 5, 2024
Enjoy a fantastic breakfast at the hotel and then stroll the gardens, relax by the pool, have a massage, whatever you like as you recover from jetlag, meet your travel companions and prepare for safari life.
2:00 pm meet in the hotel board room for orientation, equipment check, and photographic lecture.
7:00 pm Dinner together at The Residence.

Saturday January 6, 2024 

AM Transfer from The Residence hotel to OR Tambo Airport to board our flight to Maun International Airport. Meet & Greet at Maun Airport to our private charter flight to Chitabe Airstrip – spend 3 nights at Wilderness Chitabe Camp with 2 private safari vehicles. 

Tuesday January 9, 2024

AM private charter flight from Wilderness Chitabe Camp, to Mashatu Lodge, Botswana.

Spend 8 nights in Luxury Suites with 2 private safari vehicles.

Wednesday January 17, 2024

AM private charter flight from Mashatu to MalaMala Camp in South Africa.

Spend 4 nights in Luxury Rooms, with 2 private safari vehicles

Monday January 21, 2024

Am private charter flight from MalaMala to OR Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg).  Workshop ends.

To reserve your spot please email Cindy.

For those of you who may be concerned that Cindy will have you working from sunup to sundown, this is for you.   A typical day on safari goes like this: You will be awakened about an hour before sunrise and shortly thereafter escorted to the main lodge for a light breakfast. Just before dawn we will load into our safari vehicles for our first game drive of the day. We will generally have a spot of tea and a snack while in the savannah, and depending on the wildlife activity, we will return to the lodge late mid-morning for a delicious brunch. We will then have until 3:30 or so to download, swim, read, take a siesta, or work on photos with Cindy. High Tea happens next with all kinds of nibbles and beverage choices. Then off for our second game drive that will last until the sunset, which can include a “sundowner” (yes, more drinks and nibbles) as we relax in the wild and watch the magic as the African sun disappears.  However, we often skip the sundowner and instead photograph during the golden hour including giraffe silhouettes against the colorful sunset.  Upon our return to camp a delicious dinner awaits as we recap the day’s events. There is a rhythm to safaris that you will embrace as we roam and engage with the incredible landscape and its inhabitants.