| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 26/06/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 48 |
| Copyright: Other |
Big game regions all go wild from dusk ’til dawn
Botswana by Rachael Oakden
Exclusivity means success for specialists
Botswana’s main draw is its landscapes. Best known is the Okavango Delta, a network of channels, islands and lagoons.“It’s the biggest inland delta in the world, densely populated with game, bird life and vegetation,” said Mark Boulle. “You can explore it by ‘mekora’, a dugout canoe, or take drives, walks and fishing trips.’
The delta incorporates the game-rich Moremi Wildlife Reserve. Nearby are the Linyanti Marshes, which attract large herds of elephants in winter. To the east, the Chobe National Park is two hours’ drive from Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.
The country’s other attraction is its exclusivity. “The government is pursuing a low-density, high-revenue strategy,” said Chris McIntyre. “The camps are small and on private concessions, so you are guaranteed a real isolation that many national parks in Africa cannot offer. You get a serious safari, not 13 striped minibuses parked round a zebra.”
McIntyre says, Botswana attracts dedicated safari enthusiasts. They’re also pretty affluent. He estimates a tailor-made 12-night holiday including 10 nights accommodation at three or four camps costs between £2,800 and £3,300 per person,.
On the pre-packaged side Cox and Kings is offering the Great Botswana Safari, an 11-day luxury tour that includes Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe as well as Chobe, Moremi and the Okavango Delta. It leads in at £2,725 per person.
Bales Worldwide has introduced Botswana to its 2001 brochure, with a seven-night safari at three Ker and Downey camps in the Okavango Delta. Prices were not available as Travel Weekly went to press.
African Pride’s 10-day safari takes in Victoria Falls and six nights at three Wilderness Safaris camps in Linyanti Marshes, Moremi and the Okavango delta, leading in at £2,505 per person.
With its diverse landscapes, eco-friendly development and guaranteed exclusivity, Botswana is the country of choice for discerning travellers seeking an African adventure.
The third most popular destination in Southern Africa after South Africa and Zimbabwe, Botswana is having a particularly healthy year as a result of the troubles next door.
“Because we’ve moved people from Zimbabwe, we’ve seen a steady increase in visitors to Botswana,” said Mark Boulle, product and marketing manager for Wild Africa Safaris, which specialises in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana.
Abercrombie and Kent has increased sales to Botswana by 20% this year, and Chris McIntyre of Sunvil Discovery Africa says: “We doubled our brochure coverage in 2000, I expect to increase coverage by another 50% in 2001.”
Operators agree that Botswana’s main draw is its landscapes. Best known is the Okavango Delta, a network of channels, islands and lagoons.
“It’s the biggest inland delta in the world, densely populated with game, bird life and vegetation,” said Mark Boulle. “You can explore it by ‘mekora’, a dugout canoe, or take drives, walks and fishing trips.’
The delta incorporates the game-rich Moremi Wildlife Reserve. Nearby are the Linyanti Marshes, which attract large herds of elephants in winter. To the east, the Chobe National Park is two hours’ drive from Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.
The country’s other attraction is its exclusivity. “The government is pursuing a low-density, high-revenue strategy,” said Chris McIntyre. “The camps are small and on private concessions, so you are guaranteed a real isolation that many national parks in Africa cannot offer. You get a serious safari, not 13 striped minibuses parked round a zebra.”
McIntyre says, Botswana attracts dedicated safari enthusiasts. They’re also pretty affluent. He estimates a tailor-made 12-night holiday including 10 nights accommodation at three or four camps costs between £2,800 and £3,300 per person,.
On the pre-packaged side Cox and Kings is offering the Great Botswana Safari, an 11-day luxury tour that includes Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe as well as Chobe, Moremi and the Okavango Delta. It leads in at £2,725 per person.
Bales Worldwide has introduced Botswana to its 2001 brochure, with a seven-night safari at three Ker and Downey camps in the Okavango Delta. Prices were not available as Travel Weekly went to press.
African Pride’s 10-day safari takes in Victoria Falls and six nights at three Wilderness Safaris camps in Linyanti Marshes, Moremi and the Okavango delta, leading in at £2,505 per person.
Trunk call: with the biggest inland delta in the world there is plenty of wildlife and exotic vegetation
factfile
botswana
Getting around: travel from camp to camp is by light aircraft seating four to eight people. Personal weight restrictions can apply.