Focus on Botswana Wildlife Safari
with Roy Toft
 This safari gives you an opportunity to explore three different habitats in northern Botswana. Your adventure begins in the heart of the Delta, which offers one of the finest nature and game photo opportunities in Africa. We also visit Moremi, and the Linyanti area where we will photograph many elephants. Besides your normal plains game, these areas have good concentrations of roan, sable, lion, leopard, cheetah and wild dog. Large herds of elephant also move through the area.
Our safari will include day and night game viewing in open 4x4 vehicles, nature walks, and excursions on the scenic waterways of the Okavango Delta. Your stay ends with an overnight at the famous Victoria Falls, "the smoke that thunders."
Maximum Number of Photographers: 8 with a maximum of 5 photographers in the vehicle
Photographer Leader: Roy Toft
Our Itinerary
Friday, 14 March 2008
Johannesburg
You arrive this morning and transfer to your hotel. Africa Center Guest Lodge
Saturday - Monday, 15 -17 March 2008
Johannesburg – Maun - Okavango Delta – Moremi Reserve
We depart for Maun and continue by chartered flight to the heart of the Okavango Delta. Rains for over 600 miles away in northern Angola form the Okavango. This life-giving moisture travels down the Okavango River and spills out onto the Kalahari Desert creating the world's largest inland delta. A rich tapestry of channels flowing with crystal-clear water, the Okavango Delta stands as an oasis within a surrounding desert landscape. Over 1,100 species exist in this beautiful and exceptional wilderness. Kwara Camp (BLD) 3 nights
Kwara is located in the remote northern part of the stunning Okavango Delta within the private Kwara concession. The camp fronts onto a huge floodplain, adjacent to the permanent water of the Delta and is backed by extensive bush. It is a magnificent wilderness area in excess of 650 square miles, bordering the Moremi Reserve. No trip to Botswana is complete without a visit to the Delta, the shimmering and unique watery jewel in the middle of the Kalahari desert. Kwara encompasses a wide diversity of habitats, ranging from the clear Delta waters with reed-lined lagoons and channels, to open grasslands, mopane woodlands and palm-fringed islands.
 The eight luxury safari-style tents are built on raised decks, within a grove of huge and ancient African Ebony trees. Resident hippos will generally serenade you year round from the water on the floodplain in front of the camp. Each tent has its own viewing deck, private en-suite facilities including hot and cold running showers, flush toilets and modern amenities.
The forested island on which the camp sits is typical of those encountered throughout the vast 4 million acres of the Okavango Delta. At Kwara, you will discover why the Okavango is considered one of the ecological wonders of Africa and indeed the world. It is mysterious, calming, unpredictable and very wild.
Tuesday - Wednesday, 18 -19 March 2008
Okavango Delta – Linyanti Wetlands
This morning we leave the Delta and fly further north to the Linyanti Wetlands. This area is best known for its enormous herds of Elephant, which move down to the Kwando River at the start of our winter months and retrace their steps inland once the main rains arrive. Sable and roan antelope occur, as well as lion, leopard and wild dog. The marshes are home to red lechwe, sitatunga, hippo, crocodiles and wonderful birdlife. Moving along the fringes of the waterways, guests can see kudu, zebra, buffalo, waterbuck, and impala. Lagoon Camp (BLD) 2 nights
Lagoon Camp lies on the shady banks of the Kwando River among tall and ancient African Ebony and Marula trees, under the watchful gaze of the resident hippos.
Lagoon Camp accommodates only 12 guests in 6 twin bedded luxury safari-style tents. Each tent looks out over the water and has private en-suite facilities, including 24 hour hot and cold running water, open-air showers, flush toilets and modern amenities.
Over the years, many of our guests have commented that Lagoon Camp stands out as one of the most beautiful settings of any safari camp.
 Morning and night game drives are conducted by our specialist guides and trackers in open safari vehicles. This area is home to huge herds of elephants and buffalo. There are few places in Africa where such concentrated numbers of these animals exist, especially in the dry season.
The shady, treed environment of the camp hosts a great variety of birds and squirrels that visit daily. A family of hippo and an elephant or three are regularly sighted from the tents. This contributes to the relaxed calm that prevails at Lagoon. The predators are also well represented by lion, hyena, leopard, cheetah and wild dog. These animals are generally very relaxed in the presence of vehicles, meaning the sightings are usually at close range.
Among the great variety of antelope species found at Lagoon, the endangered Sable and Roan are often seen. Seasonally, large herds of elephant drink almost daily at the river bank in front of the camp, in full view of the guests. The big herds attract big predators. The lions of Kwando are famous for their elephant, hippo and buffalo kills. Playful spotted necked otters are commonly seen performing in the Lagoon right in front of the tents.
Boat cruises along the Kwando River provide excellent opportunities for birding. We also offer specialist fly fishing and spinner fishing for Tiger fish and Bream. Some excellent catches have been made by Kwando guests. Lagoon's staff is there to look after you quietly and efficiently, so as to ensure a relaxing, peaceful stay.
There is a guest pool in which to cool off during the hot months.
Freshly prepared delicious meals are served in the thatched dining room overlooking the tranquil waters of the lagoon.
Lagoon Camp is also the venue of our legendary Guides Training Courses which are held annually to train our guides and some limited numbers of paying guests. For the ultimate safari experience book yourself onto one of these courses.
Thursday - Saturday, 20 – 22 March 2008
Linyanti Wetlands
Today we transfer after our morning game drive to our next camp in the Linyanti Wetlands. The wetlands and flood plains around Lebala offer a wonderful variety of wildlife with excellent sightings of elephant, hippo, lechwe, zebra, giraffe, impala, wildebeest, kudu, tsessebe, roan, sable, buffalo and the ever present predators; wild dog, lion, cheetah and hyena. After dark, spotlights are switched on and the game drives expose our guests to nocturnal sightings of rare and elusive species such as, leopard, Selous Mongoose, small spotted genet, and aardwolf, to name a few. Nocturnal bird species that are encountered include Natal Nightjar, Pennantwinged Nightjar and a large variety of owls. Lebala Camp (BLD) 3 nights
 Lebala means wide open spaces in Setswana and the scenery is dominated by vast plains with scattered palms and tree clumps backed by wooded savannas. This wild expanse is contrasted with the casual elegance and luxury of the camp itself. Lebala Camp is situated 30 kilometers to the south of Lagoon Camp and fronts onto the Linyanti Wetlands.
Open grasslands scattered with Illala Palms stretch to the south and west of Lebala. The perennial and southerly flowing Kwando river disappears into the vast marshes before emerging as the Linyanti river, flowing in a north easterly direction. The triangle formed in Namibia by this direction change is home to the Mamili National Park.
The eight spacious tents are unique and were designed by us specifically for this camp. Each one is built on a raised teak deck, laid out with maximum comfort and privacy in mind. The tents have an entrance foyer with a reading and writing area, en-suite bathrooms with Victorian clawfoot bathtubs, "his and hers" washbasins and flush toilets. The bathrooms lead out to a reed enclosed open-air shower with hot and cold running water, powered by LP gas for hot water on demand.
Each secluded tent has its own sundeck, and is set back among the trees. The endless vistas from the large windows and decks across the vast plains, make Lebala one of the finest wilderness camps in Africa.
Sunday, 23 March 2008
Linyanti - Victoria Falls
We fly to Kasane and transfer by road today and cross the border into Zambia. We have the afternoon and the next morning to explore and photograph Victoria Falls, one of the greatest natural wonders on our planet. As the Zambezi River drops 300 feet over a mile-wide sheer basalt fault line, a cloud of spray is created which can be seen up to 20 miles away! There is a bridge across the mighty Zambezi just yards from the falls, which forms the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe and now provides easy access between the two countries. Many people say they prefer the quieter Zambian side of the falls as it is less commercialized and provides graceful relaxation and sedate sundowner cruises at one of the secluded riverside lodges. Songwe Village (BLD) 1 night
 The Victoria Falls is one of the greatest natural wonders on our planet. As the Zambezi River drops 300 feet over a mile-wide sheer basalt fault line, a cloud of spray is created which can be seen up to 20 miles away! There is a bridge across the mighty Zambezi just yards from the falls, which forms the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe and now provides easy access between the two countries. Many people say they prefer the quieter Zambian side of the falls as it is less commercialized and you don't feel obliged to leap off the bungee-jump bridge or throw yourself into churning white water in a raft. Instead you can opt for graceful relaxation and sedate sundowner cruises at one of the secluded riverside lodges.
Monday, 24 March 2008
Victoria Falls - Johannesburg
We depart for Johannesburg where we connect with our flight home. Those continuing on to Zambia’s Luangwa Valley will depart for Lusaka today.
Your Photographic Expedition Leader
 Dedicated to documenting our natural world for future generations, professional photographer Roy Toft is an accomplished conservation photographer. With a background in wildlife and conservation biology, Toft chooses to focus solely on wild images that convey a sense of the animal’s character and spirit. His images have been featured in National Geographic, Smithsonian, Audubon, Wildlife Conservation, Discover magazines and other notable publications to advance conservation efforts globally. As a result, he has been named a founding fellow of the prestigious International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCP). Toft's striking wildlife images are also available worldwide through the National Geographic Image Collection and Getty Images.
Roy shares his love for teaching & photography by regularly instructing photographic classes, tour groups and workshops in the field. Roy's popular Rainforests of Costa Rica workshop was recently filmed for television. The show, Fine Living Network's Fantasy Camp, has appeared on T.V. and airline flights. His home office is in the scenic mountainous region of beautiful north county San Diego.
The Price of Adventure
Photographer's price at $5,495 per person (retail value is $6,995), excluding scheduled airfare
Single Room Supplment: $1,500
Deposit to confirm registration: $1,000 per person
Private Vehicle Option: $250.00 per vehicle per day
Register by printing, filling in and mailing this form:
Your Safari Includes:
All accommodation on a shared basis; meals as specified; all indicated excursions and transfers; twice daily game activities at safari lodges and camps; all air transfers within Botswana as specified; services of the lodge guides and staff; park fees; Botswana accommodation tax and the current Zambia and Zimbabwe Tourism Levy; all lodges on this trip include drinks at lodge and on game drives (except premium wines, champagnes, spirits and liqueurs).
Your Safari Excludes:
All international flights to and from the United States or any other country outside of South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, or Zambia; International flights between South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia or Botswana and airport taxes (chartered flights within Botswana between camps are included in the safari land cost). Clients will need to arrange airfare from their departure city to Maun, Botswana (usually via Johannesburg, South Africa), and their return from Livingstone, Zambia to destination city (again, usually via Johannesburg.) If there are questions concerning available airlines and approximate fares, please call Born Free Safaris at (805) 652-2218. Also not included are all items of a personal nature; meals, drinks, entrance fees, porter age, tours & transfers etc not specified above; cancellation, baggage or medical insurance; visas; any unrelated excursion; staff gratuities; any new Government taxes; Zimbabwe and Zambia visa fees, Zimbabwe airport departure tax of US$30 per person to be paid in US$ cash on departure unless it has been included on your ticket and only if flying out of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe; Zambian airport departure tax of US$30 per person to be paid in US$ cash on departure; lunch and dinner whilst in Victoria Falls or Livingstone; entrance fee to the Victoria Falls National Park or Mosi-Os-Tunya National Park (US$ 20 per person).
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