Kaie Tours
Bushman Kalahari tours and Botswana safaris

SAFARI 1 ITINERARY

Into the Kalahari with Bushmen guides

Duration: 4 days / 3 nights

The special feature of this safari is the walks guided by Bushmen. The aim is to learn about the hunter/gatherer way of life. As you walk the guides will explain the uses of different plants, identify animal spoor and demonstrate how to find everything necessary for survival in this wilderness.

Day 1: We drive north-west from Gaborone through Molepolole and Lethlakeng. The journey takes about four hours with a picnic lunch stop along the way.

After Lethlakeng the road surface changes to gravel and sand, passing through several attractive rural communities. At Kaudwane, a recently established settlement a few kilometres from Khutse Game Reserve gate, we meet our guides. Our campsite is in a wilderness environment just outside the reserve. Having set up camp and had refreshments we take a late afternoon walk to investigate the surrounding area. The guides point out both food and medicinal plants and reveal the amazing variety of life in this apparently harsh landscape. The sun is dipping down as we return to camp in time for sundowners, dinner cooked over the fire, and the tranquillity of an evening in a remote wilderness environment.

The evening after supper is spent stargazing and sharing stories with our hosts, the Bushmen.

Day 2: You will be given a dawn wake-up call and hot drink before we set off on foot into the bush. The duration of the walks is open-ended depending on the weather and your energy! The emphasis during this outing is on bush survival techniques and the guides will demonstrate how they make use of plants to provide for their needs.

You may wish to try your hand at some of these techniques! After a leisurely brunch we break camp and drive into Khutse game Reserve. Along the route to our next campsite we pass through a landscape characteristic of the Kalahari with wide vistas of bush dotted with clumps of trees and interspersed with open plains or 'pans'. The game tends to concentrate on the pans and our chances of spotting the more elusive species are enhanced by the sharp eyes of the Bushmen.

All three of the big cats, lion, leopard and cheetah live in Khutse and there is a wide range of other species from the dainty steenbok to the towering giraffe. Lunch is a picnic stop in a shady spot overlooking a pan. Our campsite is situated under a mature camelthorn acacia overlooking a pan. Having settled into our camp we relax watching the animal activity on the pan.

Day 3: After the usual dawn wake-up call and hot drink we set off in the vehicle to explore a string of pans to the north of our campsite. Wherever we stop to stretch our legs the guides will give you the story behind the animal tracks and point to the fascinating detail that is too easily missed from a vehicle. The midday is passed relaxing in the shade back at camp perhaps reading up in the reference books what was seen in the field. The Bushmen will demonstrate more of their survival techniques. As the sun starts to dip down we take a late afternoon drive to a pan with the Kalahari sunset as a backdrop for sundowners and where there is a good chance of seeing game coming to drink.

Day 4: We take a final look around the edge of the pan making the most of the solitude in that remote place and see what new visitors have arrived. Meanwhile the camp assistants break camp and pack so we can take an early morning game drive through the reserve on our way back. We bid farewell to our Bushman guides and stop off at a lodge for a swim and full breakfast in the lap of luxury arriving back in Gaborone before sunset.

Included: Tented accommodation, bedding and camping equipment, meals with limited wine and beer, reserve fees, 4WD transport, the services of a full professional guide and bushman guides.

Not included: Hard liquor and fizzy drinks.

Please note:

• Guidelines for what to pack are included in the pre-departure information but all that you need should fit into a medium-sized soft bag and a small day pack to keep inside the vehicle.
• This is a true wilderness experience. There is a pit latrine and bucket shower at the campsite but the use of water is limited to what we can carry in.
• This is a 'self-help' safari with camp duties shared by the participants although the Bushman camp assistants have now learned most of the chores.
• All clients must have travel insurance - both in case of cancellation penalties and also for medical cover while on safari.

All-inclusive rates per person sharing (Mohata level):

• US$ 1012.00 - 2 people
• US$ 662.00 - 3 or 4 people
• US$ 487.00 - 5 or 6 people

Singles supplement US$ 16.

Rates for larger groups of up to 16 people are available on request.

Children aged 5 to 12 travel half-price.

The specifications for all equipment can be found on the facts page. Those requiring more comfort can choose the ‘Motlopi’ level camping with the following: camp beds, walk-in tents, a dining tent and minimal assistance from guests in camp. For ‘Motlopi’ level camping add US$18 per person sharing per night to the above rates.

For further information contact:

Christopher Toye: Tel 3973388, Cell 72261585, e-mail safaris@kaietours.com

..........We hope you have a great time and enjoy touching your past..........