Elephant Family Safari

Arrive at Livingstone Airport, where you will pass through customs and are then met at the airport and transferred by road to your private family house at Tongabezi Lodge to begin your African vacation. Livingstone is a historical town which was founded by the first European explorers to ‘discover’ the impressive Victoria Falls, and is today the tourism capital of Zambia. Mosi-Oa-Tunya is directly translated as ‘the smoke that thunders’, the local name for the Victoria Falls. Included in your stay is a guided tour of Falls, Africa sunset cruise, daytime cruise, fishing, island picnics, guided birding safari, guided village walk, guided tour of the town and local markets. Livingstone is rated as one of the world’s top destinations for adrenaline and river activities. The most popular of these include (at additional cost) seasonal white water rafting, bungee jumping, gorge swing, micro-lighting over the Falls, brunch and breakfast canoe trips on the Zambezi and Falls edge dining.

This morning you will be transferred by road and boat to Kasane to meet the light aircraft transfer to your private safari camp, Footsteps Across the Delta. At this unique mobile camp you enter one of the great, untamed regions of Africa, the spectacular Okavango Delta, and experience the astonishing contrasts created when the mighty Okavango River flows into the arid Kalahari Desert. The result is a variety of habitats, riverine forest, palm islands, permanent swamps and dry sandveld all with an unparalleled wealth of animal diversity. Spend the next few days exploring this breathtakingly beautiful and diverse environment with your private guide.

The emphasis on your stay at Footsteps is on guided walking safaris through the African wilds where you have the time to focus on learning about tracking wildlife and understanding animal movement, patterns and behavior. Immerse yourself in the sights, scents and sounds of the bush as you learn about the trees, grasses, butterflies and insects. Being on foot offers a unique perspective of your surrounds often missed from a vehicle. Other possible activities include game-drives, mekoro trips or fishing, which vary throughout the year.

Bid your guide and the camp staff farewell and fly from the Delta airstrip north to the Linyanti Reserve. Situated adjacent to Linyanti Bush Camp, Linyanti Ebony is in a private concession on the banks of Linyanti Marsh which borders the western boundary of Chobe in the Chobe Enclave. The marshes are the only water source for miles around and attract water-adapted and desert-adapted African wildlife and large numbers of bird life. Linyanti Ebony offers a diverse range of water and land activities throughout the year. These include game drives in open 4WD safari vehicles, walking excursions with an armed professional guide, boating and Mekoro excursions, and fishing the recently-replenished water-filled lagoons.

The magnificent area boasts of unparalleled Africa wilderness with highlights of big herds of buffalo in the dry season and close encounters of unique wildlife species such as aardvark. Large herds of elephants can be viewed at the rivers and waterholes of this Botswana safari destination, and thousands of zebra concentrate in the winter before heading south. Other wildlife seen includes lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog, giraffe, eland, sable, hippo, hyena, aardvark and various other nocturnal species.The endless vistas of the Linyanti marsh makes an incredible playing field for the avid bird watcher combined with breath taking views of a scenery carved by defiant forces of nature. Water birds, including pelican, are common.

Sadly on day 9, it’s time to depart.
Take your last looks and photos of your amazing African surrounds today before you are transferred to the airport mid morning for your departing flights. You leave Africa behind with a renewed sense of wonder and an appreciation for the amazing wilderness and wonderful people you’ve met as well as lifetime of memories of this special family safari adventure.