Friday, August 19, 2011

BOTSWANA

TOURS
Heritage Tours Private Travel – 121 West 27 Street, Suite 1201, New York, NY; 212-206-8400 or 800-378-4555; heritagetoursonline.com; operated by Joel Zack; can arrange tours throughout country; can focus on Jewish heritage.



CHOBE NATIONAL PARK
Hotels, Lodges & Resorts
Chobe Chilwero – Chobe Reserve Gates; 011-27-21-794-9050; sanctuarylodges.com; set on hill surveying floodplains; mud-packed buildings with thatched roofs; cottages have private gardens with hammocks from which to spy hippos, puku, etc.
Chobe Game Lodge – Chobe River; 011-27-21-424-1037; desertdelta.com.
Savute Elephant Camp – Savute Channel; 011-27-11-262-6311 or 800-846-1578; orient-express.com.



KGALAGADI
Sights & Sites
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park – Kgalagadi South; 011-27-54-561-2000; sanparks.org/parks/kgalagadi; because straddles border, contact information is South African.



MAKGADIKGADI PANS NATIONAL PARK
Hotels, Lodges & Resorts
Jack’s Camp – Makgadikgadi Salt Pans; 011-27-11-447-1605; unchartedafrica.com; 10 tents; exclusive and intimate; must visit experience.



MOREMI GAME RESERVE & OKAVANGO DELTA
Hotels, Lodges & Resorts
Abu Camp – Maun; 011-267-686-1260; abucamp.com; includes exquisite 2-bedroom villa set in ancient riverine forest, just across lagoon from 5-tent camp; elephant-back safaris; en suite copper bathtub with teak pool deck from which can gaze at fish eagles swooping over water.
Camp Okavango – Nxaragha Island; 011-27-21-788-3580; desertdelta.com; camp on delta island; unheated but well-equipped and elegant tents with private sundecks; on raised teak platforms; elephants and leopards.
Chief’s Camp – Chief’s Island; 011-27-11-262-6311 or 800-846-1578; sanctuarylodges.com; tree-shaded camp on Piajo Channel; built on stilts, thatch-roofed canvas villas have mirrors fashioned onto African shields; mokoro rides; excellent food.
Khwai River Lodge – Maun; 011-267-21-483-1600; orient-express.com; in fig-tree forest; thatch-roof rooms with 4-poster beds; hammock-strung decks with animal views.
Mombo & Little Mombo Camps – Mombo Island; 011-27-21-788-3580; wilderness-safaris.com; 2-part camp near bush, plains, and wetlands; tents on raised platforms linked by walkways; outstanding food.
Vumbura Plains – Moremi Game Reserve; 011-27-31-764-5075; wilderness-safaris.com; simple décor; wall-to-wall windows; nightly drives.



SELINDA RESERVE
Hotels, Lodges & Resorts
Zarafa Camp – “Zarafa” refers to true story of young, Maasai giraffe, which in 1826, appeared at Marseille as gift from Muhammad Ali, Egypt’s Ottoman Viceroy, to France’s Charles X; 1st living giraffe Europe had seen in almost 350 years; remained in Paris for further 18 years until her death; body in museum at La Rochelle; spacious tented rooms are 100 sq ms; each tent positioned along forest edge to take advantage of spectacular view over floodplains and savannas; en-suite bathroom with copper bath and shower and outdoor shower; adjoining, comfortable lounge with private pool; large shady veranda; handcrafted copper fireplace, strategically placed between bathroom and bedroom for winter months; furniture designed and handcrafted specifically for Zarafa Camp; made from recycled ancient hardwoods; camp runs purely on Solar Powered energy.

No comments:

Post a Comment