Sspecial Personally Hosted Safaris

We occasionally get back to Botswana to purchase more crafts to stock Cecilia’s shop and host very special safaris ( check out some photos from one of our trips). The trips combined incredible game viewing with unique cultural experiences. Come see our favorite spot and meet the people that made living in Botswana so special to us. There are only a few seats left so don't wait to contact me if you're interested.

This 8 day Eco-cultural tour starts and ends in Maun, Botswana. The trip offers unique cultural experinces only offered by African Excursions.

Day 1 :Maun - You will arrive at Maun International Airport where we'll meet and take you to your lodge located on the Thamalakane River where we'll spend your first night.

Day 2: Maun - After breakfast at the lodge, you'll then spend the day around Maun meeting with various craft producers. You'll be hosted by Mma Kushonya, one of Botswana's premier basket makers and owner of a small craft shop, Botswana Quality Baskets. Lunch and dinner will be as restaurant in Town.

Day 3: Maun to Tsodilo Hills - After an early Breakfast you load up in a safari vehicle and drive west past Lake Ngami then turn north along the western edge of the Okavango Delta to Etsha 6, the epicenter of Botswana's basket making communities. This is where Mma Kushonya is from. In Etsha 6 you'll get to meet a few more basket makers and see how they live. Next is a push north to Etsha 9 to see some wood carvers. This is a real up close view of traditional HaMbukusu village life. Then on to Tsodilo Hills, home of the Gods and a world heritage site, where you'll set up camp at the foot of the hills for the evening. .

Day 4: Tsodilo Hills - Today we explore Tsodilo Hills, a world heritage site because of its 100's of ancient rock paintings. Recently the oldest known evidence of human religion was found there. We'll be shown around the "Mountains of the Gods" by a local Bushman guide. Tsodilo is a really cool place that gets few international tourists. In addition to the rock paintings there are numerous caves for the adventurous to explore.

Day 5: Tsodilo Hills to D'Kar - There is time for a little more exploration of the hills before you eat brunch, break camp and drive south again then turn west into the Kalahari proper to the cattle farming town of Ghanzi. Ghanzi is at the cross roads of many cultures. First there were the San Bushmen, then various black tribes such as the Bahereros, the Bakgalagadi, and the Batswana, then the white Afrikaners, who first settled in the area in the late 1800's. Add to that the more recent western expatriate development workers and you've got Ghanzi. You'll spent the night at a Bushmen cultural village. You be going to Dqae Qare Game Farm to attend the Kuru Dance Festival. The Kuru Dance Festival is a celebration of Bushmen culture and is a very special experience You'll set up camp at one of Dqae Qare campsites and have an early dinner before the Festival begins that evening.

Day 6: Kuru Dance Festival. Today will be spent at the Dance Festival. We’ll attend the opening ceremonies and watch the unique mix of Bushmen, Herero, Hambukushu, and Wayeyi dances, listen to native musical instruments, and you can try your hand at some traditional games.

Day 7: Ghanzi.After Breakfast in camp you'll then drive into the town of Ghanzi where we used to live. We'll visit with Namashwe Kikonyane, who coordinates the the ostrich eggshell bead making for me. At her home, she'll give us a demonstration of how theostrich eggshell beads are made and you'll learn how most Bushmen live today. In the afternoon, after lunch in town and a chance to check you emails or stop by a grocery store, we'll drive outside of town and go on a bushwalk. A bushwalk is a guided walk lead by Bushmen who show you how they used to survive in the desert. They'll gather plants for food and water and start fire by really rubbing two stick together (see http://www.african-excursions.com/photos/makingfireweb1). Back into town and dinner at the infamous Kalahari Arms Hotel. Then back to Dqae Qare for the night.

Day 8: Ghanzi to Maun- Breakfast in camp, then you'll break it down, pack it away then drive back to Maun. You spend your last night in Botswana relaxing at the lodge.

Day 9: You'll be driven into Maun and catch your flight home.

Tour size: The tour is be limited to a maximum of 8 participants.

Estimated Cost is $2250 includes all transportation, accommodations, and meals for 8 days, except for 3 lunches and 3 dinners (expect to pay slightly less than what you'd pay in the States). The camping (Tsodilo Hills and Dqae Qare) is participatory which means you help set up the tents and the cooking but you'll have an experience guide with you who will be very helpful. There are flush toilets and showering facilities at both places but admittedly a little crude. Not included are drinks and tips for the guides, and of course any crafts bought or things of a personal nature. All costs are subject to major currency fluctuations, fuel price fluctuations and other significant items that might be beyond our control.

A single supplement will be charged if you wish to have single accommodation. If we cannot provide you with a rooming partner although you choose to share, the single supplement will become applicable. We will make all reasonable efforts to ensure that a rooming partner is found if you do wish to share.

Notes for all hosted trips -

The trips are limited to a maximum of 8 guests and designed to be at a relaxing pace yet still cover a lot of ground. We almost always stay two nights in each location. The accommodations are a mix of established lodges and fully catered luxury camping (Mobile Safaris are the traditional safaris). Transportation will be in a customized Land Rover game viewing vehicle with a canvas top and roll down windows with an accompanying support Land Rover.

We will also provide you with all kinds of pre-trip information such as what to expect, what clothes and accessories to pack, and a list of books that cover the wildlife, culture, and history of the places and people we’ll be visiting.

We can also add on additional days of game viewing to the beginning or end of the trip.