Botswana > Safaris > Scarab’s Great Wilderness Journey

Trip Summary | Locations




At the turn of the century, explorers and adventurers made their way leisurely along the dusty paths of Africa. Experience a nostalgic camping / lodge safari that recreates the sense of a game-viewing adventure reminiscent of the times of the great African explorers. The Great Wilderness Journey takes time to experience and explore Botswana's scenic northern areas: from the blue-green wetlands of the Okavango Delta to the diverse and wildlife-rich Linyanti and Chobe River systems, ending with the world-famous Victoria Falls on the Zambian side of the Zambezi River.

This route combines comfortable lodges with fully serviced camping in private concession areas. To ensure privacy and exclusivity, most areas in which you will travel are private concessions in prime locations.

To maximise guests’ travel time, a variety of transport modes that bring out the best of each area is used: private air charters and overland transfers provide both a bird’s-eye view and an in-depth experience of the contrasting landscapes of Botswana. The entire safari is guided and hosted by professional guides, who share their in-depth knowledge to present a seamless safari experience.

Days 1-3: Jacana Camp, Jao Concession, Okavango Delta
After arrival in Maun, you will be met by your guide or representative and fly by light aircraft over the shimmering water world of the Okavango Delta. The Delta encompasses life at its most fertile: abundant water, sunlight and nutrients fuse to produce a wetland paradise teeming with life.

Lush Jacana Camp is situated in a permanently flooded region of the private Jao Concession of the Okavango Delta. A true water camp, it represents the essence of the Delta, with year-round mokoro safaris as well as island bush walks and, water level permitting, motorboat cruises. In fact, when the flood levels are at their peak we are able to motorboat from the airstrip to the lodge, a truly surreal camp arrival! On one of the full days, we will also enjoy game drives around the productive Jao flats region to the north of camp.

Jacana Camp is set in one of the wetland areas most densely populated with sitatunga and red lechwe. Wildlife concentrations depend on the water flow and volume, thus changing from season to season, but all the large animals can be found in the area including elephant, lion, leopard and buffalo. Pel's Fishing-Owl is a favourite amongst birders as well as African and Lesser Jacana.

Jacana Camp has five Meru-style tents. Each tent is on a wooden deck overlooking the floodplains and has an en-suite bathroom with flush toilet and shower. The bathroom is enclosed but roofless, allowing for showers by starlight. The camp has a plunge pool for cooling off from the midday sun. The main dining area is on an elevated wooden deck between two magnificent sycamore fig trees and surrounded by dense wild date palms. Downstairs, there is a cosy pub and lounge with an area perfect for an open fire under the stars.



Days 4-6: Motswiri Camp, Selinda Spillway, Okavango Delta
We depart this morning by aircraft to Motswiri Camp located in the south-western sector of the Selinda private concession, in the seasonally flooded portion of the Okavango Delta where it joins into the Selinda Spillway.

Accommodation is in 6.3m x 3.5m walk-in Meru-style tents (maximum of two guests per tent). The tents are airy and designed to recreate the accommodation style of the early explorers, with richly coloured teak director chairs and simplistic camp features. Separate bedside tables with 12v reading lamps, canvas and wood wardrobes, bathrobes, comfortable beds, flushing toilets and mirrors are provided. Camp amenities (conditioning shampoo, soap, shower gel and body lotion) are elegantly displayed for use and private, en-suite separate toilet and shower areas are part of the main structure.

The area in which the camp is located is scenic with generous shade provided by leadwood and russet bushwillow trees. Open floodplains and woodlands spread out in front of camp. Activities concentrate on nature walks and canoeing, providing a superb view from the canoe of big game coming to the water's edge to drink. Game drives (by day and night) are possible and often reveal sightings of the rare roan and stately sable antelopes, in addition to an array of other general game species. Seasonally, "catch and release" fishing is offered as an alternative activity.



Days 7-9: Linyanti Discoverer Camp, Linyanti Concession
After a light breakfast, we fly north-eastwards to the private Linyanti Concession; after a short game drive we arrive at our private Discoverer camp, which is elegantly set up under African ebony and knobthorn acacia trees overlooking panoramic vistas of the Linyanti Swamps.

The landscape of the Linyanti varies from floodplains to open dry land savannah and forest with sweeping views, creating a paradise for a high diversity of wildlife and bird species. Activities include game drives in the private northern sector of the concession, exploring a range of habitats from riverbanks to scrub and forest, with a myriad of wildlife en route to slake their thirst from the river. The seldom-seen sitatunga can also be spotted in the waterways, as well as rare plains game such as roan and sable antelope and of course their predators, the lion and leopard - with the endangered wild dog as an incredible bonus.

There's also a game drive to a private area for lunch, then a siesta in hammocks and the possibility of an afternoon canoe trip, before returning to camp at dusk. (This activity is not always possible, as it is dependent on whether there are hippo pods moving in and out of the areas in which we canoe.) Another possible activity is an all-day game drive to the Savute Channel, with lunch en route. This game drive is specifically designed to gain an introduction to the "Stolen River" as well as enjoying a part of the Selinda Spillway with its rich floodplains.

To complete the experience, in the rainy season and on the third day it is possible to enjoy a full-day activity to the Savute Channel, with lunch at a scenic setting under a shade tree. The spectacular but seasonal (rain dependant) zebra migration moves between Linyanti and the Savute Marsh between end November and March, the area also boasting an impressive diversity of mammals, including large elephant herds. When undertaken and during the correct season, this day is specifically tailored to enjoy the seasonal and migratory movements of wildlife, although sighting the zebra migration is not guaranteed.



Day 10: Chobe River boat cruise, Chobe National Park and Toka Leya, Zambia
After a short morning drive and breakfast, we depart by light aircraft to the northern Chobe region of Chobe National Park. This area is famous for its vast herds of elephants in the dry season and other unique species such as the elusive puku and Chobe bushbuck that move to the river in the hottest hours of the day. Enjoy a light lunch on the boat cruise in a catamaran-style shaded boat.

We leave Botswana and fly to Livingstone International Airport, arriving at Toka Leya in the late afternoon. On leaving Botswana, we fly over the Kazangula border, a point where the four countries of Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia meet.

Overlooking the mighty Zambezi River and some of its islands, under a shady canopy of jackalberry and waterberry trees lies Toka Leya. The islands in front of camp are intriguing and part of the braided channel of the Zambezi with some rapids, a main channel and fringing dense vegetation.The camp consists of 12 safari-style tents, each en-suite with a view of the magnificent Zambezi River and some of its islands. The camp's dining and bar area is set beneath a shaded canopy of trees overlooking the River and a swimming pool.


Images supplied courtesy of Wilderness Safaris

Day 12: Victoria Falls, transfer to Livingstone Airport
The grand finale is a guided tour of the Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. At 1708 metres wide, it is the largest curtain of water in the world and drops more than 100 metres into the sheer Zambezi Gorge.

Transfer to Livingstone Airport immediately after the tour of the Victoria Falls and bid farewell to the adventure.





This is a small group trip with scheduled departures throughout the year. Private departures are also possible subject to vehicle and guide availability. Please contact us for details.

Discoverer Camps:

Discoverer Explorations are a deluxe range of mobile safaris that have the advantage of superb locations, taking guests on a select, spectacular journey through the most remote wilderness areas to enjoy outstanding wildlife viewing in Africa.

This safari combines Wilderness Safaris' fixed camps with exclusive trails camps. Such camps are located in private concessions, ensuring not only private accommodation but also meeting other Wilderness Safaris guests.

Innovative Meru-style canvas tent are used for the Discoverer trails camps. The design, with its hexagonal shape, walk-in structure and en-suite separate toilet and shower areas, allows for a sense of space, matchless views and privacy. The interiors of the tents have been redesigned to create a sense of stepping back in time, with flowing linen of pure cottons and essential "old style" finishes.

Paraffin hurricane lanterns and a crackling campfire set the evening camp ambience. Fresh, sumptuous meals are usually prepared around a fire by safari staff, and the dining area is under stars (although a canopy dining tent is always erected), creating that matchless 'camping wilderness' experience. A small reference library is also provided.

Discoverer camps are designed to bring the guest closer to nature; they are specially outfitted to ensure the camping feel with a clear emphasis on necessary and stylish comfortable interiors. This warm, inviting atmosphere, with its lantern-lit meals and cheerful campfire, is complemented by the comfort and added luxury of the permanent lodges visited.

Departure dates:

The trip operates to scheduled departure dates. Private departures are also possible for small groups, subject to vehicle and guide availability. For the scheduled departures there is a maximum of 8 guests per safari.

Sample Botswana Itineraries

Darkling Beetle Trek

Diving Beetle Expedition

Ground Beetle Tracker

Kheper's Adventures

Leaf Beetle Discovery

Scarab's Wilderness Journey

Scarab's Untamed Lands

Siamufumbula's Discovery

Stag Beetle Retreat