CAPE TOWN & BOTSWANA - SAVUTE & OKAVANGO DELTA

Day 1 : Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, Cape Town, Cape Town (B / - / -)

On arrival in Cape Town you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel - an oasis in the heart of the city. 

You will have the next 3 full days to explore the Mother City - we will be able to suggest and arrange activites for your depending on your preferences. 

Fynbos Sunset Walks on Table Mountain :

Discover the rich diversity of the Cape Floral Kingdom’s Fynbos on Table Mountain with Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel

The Cape Floral Kingdom is one of only six Floral Kingdoms in the world and is geographically by far the smallest, yet the richest, most diverse of these plant kingdoms.

It is widely recognised as one of the most special places for plants in the world in terms of the number of endemic species. Fynbos (fine bush), the indigenous mountain vegetation, forms a major part of this Cape Floral Kingdom. 

Mount Nelson, a Belmond  Hotel offers guests a unique opportunity to discover the remarkable diversity of the Fynbos of the Cape Floral Kingdom on Table Mountain, one of the world’s Seven Wonders of Nature.

Enjoy a ramble along the lower slopes of Table Mountain with a dramatic outlook over Camps Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, with an expert mountain and Fynbos guide who will share interesting stories about the “Big Five of Fynbos”– the plant families of Proteas, Ericas, Restios, Bulbs (Irises and Lilies) and Daisies – and uncover many aspects of the natural and cultural history of the Cape and Table Mountain. There will also be plenty of opportunity to photograph plants and flowers encountered during the walk.

The Fynbos Sunset Walks will take place in the late afternoon so guests can enjoy sundowners from an elevated position on the mountainside, watching the sun sink below the horizon of the Atlantic Ocean, a typical Capetonian activity. The tour will last two and a half hours in total which gives guests the opportunity to enjoy a day out and about and still be back in time to appreciate this lovely early evening experience.

Historical tree and garden tour :

A zippy one-hour walking tour of ten trees that live in the hotels’ expansive gardens will reveal many fascinating threads of Cape Town’s history. Trees such as the 80 Canary Island Palms that line the driveway entrance or the nearly 200 year old wild Olive Tree have borne silent witness to the colourful ebb and flow of historic events at the Cape and indeed of this historical 116 year old hotel.  

Marine Biologist Experience  :

Discover the extraordinary world that lives beyond Cape Town’s shores in the company of shark scientist Justin Blake. Embark on an ocean expedition through the Cape Kelp Forests, exploring the same octopus gardens made famous in the 2020 Oscar-winning documentary My Octopus Teacher. Snorkel with friendly sharks, explore fascinating sea caves and discover spectacular views of Cape Town, both above and below the surface.
Afterwards, feast on a sustainably sourced seafood picnic.   

A Wild Adventure :

Veer off-piste on a wine tasting jeep trail. Plunging into the famed Constantia Winelands, the scenic tour visits three historic wine estates using private roads rarely open to visitors.

Highlights include tasting the “best Sauvignon Blanc in the world”, meeting the region’s youngest female winemaker and feasting on tapas with sparkling méthode cap classique refreshments.

Overnight: Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, Cape Town
Meals : Bed and Breakfast

Day 2 : Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, Cape Town, Cape Town (B / - / -)

Overnight: Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, Cape Town
Meals : Bed and Breakfast

Day 3 : Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, Cape Town, Cape Town (B / - / -)

Overnight: Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, Cape Town     View iBrochure
Meals : Bed and Breakfast

Day 4 : Savute Elephant Lodge, A Belmond Safari, Botswana, Savuti - Chobe National Park (B / L / D)

Transfer back to Cape Town International Airport for your flight to Maun (possibly via Johannesburg).

Meet and greet on arrival and assistance to your scheduled charter flight to Savute. 

Check-in and orientation at the lodge, afternoon tea is served before your first afternoon activity.

Savuti - Chobe National Park :

Savuti, also known as Savute lies in the heart of Botswana’s beautiful Chobe National Park. This dynamic wilderness is a sweeping expanse of savannah brooded over by several rocky outcrops which guard a relic marsh and the dry channel that was once its lifeline. The Savute goes through wet and dry cycles, where wild dogs hunt in the dry river channel where crocodiles swam only twenty years ago. Visitors to this spectacular area can spot abundant wildlife including: a variety of birds, elephants, antelope, lion prides, black-backed jackal, bat-eared foxes, tsessebe, kudu, hyena, cheetah Cape buffalo herds, and thousands of migrating zebra and wildebeest.

Game Drives :

It’s dark outside as a cup of steaming coffee and a freshly-baked pastry is brought to your tent. The first rays of sun are sneaking over the horizon as you set out with your guide. As the light intensifies, the scent of wild sage perfumes the air.

Early morning and late afternoon game drives take you out and among Africa’s largest populations of elephants. Big cats are on the prowl, from leopards to lions.

Depending on the season you will also experience the great migrations such as zebra and antelope. Rare sightings might include the endangered wild dog, rock-climbing klipspringers and the elegant roan antelope.

Equally atmospheric and exciting are evening drives, as the shadows lengthen and the sky turns red. Animals and birds emerge from their siesta, and suddenly the bush is alive with sights and sounds.

Game viewing vehicles sit up to only 6 guests, allowing all on board to enjoy the wildlife from a window seat.

Lookout Hide :

Head to our new viewing hide to enjoy a front-row seat of the action as elephants, hyenas and leopards gather at the watering hole for their daily drink.

Bird Watching :

It is a fascinating time to spot birds at Savute as the intermittent Savute Channel, dry for 30 years, is flowing past the camp again. With it has come a host of new bird species. Dry land birds such as bustards and secretary birds have suddenly been joined by more aquatic varieties. Simply sit out on your terrace and watch the show, especially at dawn and sunset, as they come to splash and drink right in front of your eyes.

Keen birders should also take note of the seasons. At certain times of year you may encounter annual migrations such as flocks of carmine bee-eaters on the move. Some ride on the backs of kori bustards an amazing sight.

Bushmen Paintings and Baobab Trees :

Out in the bush, where rocks rear up among stony hills you will find a collection of paintings that take your breath away. These works by Bushmen are thought to be more than 1,500 years old beautiful images of elephant, giraffe, sable and eland antelope. Normally these types of painting might be found hidden in caves, but here, unusually, they are out in the wide, open landscape. No-one knows what materials the bushmen used, but the paint is thought to be a mixture of snake venom, blood and plant juices.

After viewing these paintings, continue to the amazing baobab grove—a cathedral-like cluster of 13 giant trees that rival the Bushmen’s paintings in age. Stand among these towering columns at sunset, as the evening light bathes them in a russet glow and wonder at this ancient land.

Star Gazing :

The open skies around Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge make it the perfect place to experience the vast, dark dome of the African night sky. “A jewel box” is how one of our guides describes it, and certainly it is a wealth of riches from the Milky Way to Orion and Venus. Discover how Bushmen used the stars to locate the true south. And, using a powerful telescope, gaze on constellations that visitors from the northern hemisphere may never have seen before, including the Southern Cross.

The Boma :

Gather around the campfire in this circular log hut and exchange your day’s adventures, much as local villagers do in similar buildings throughout Botswana. Flames flicker and lamps glow as drinks are served; a choir sings traditional songs and invites you to a buffet of African specialities.

Then take a comfortable seat and listen as camp guides recount tales of the bush. Musicians strike up traditional songs and the evening often ends with everyone on their feet, dancing to rhythms handed down through generations.

Dining at Savute Elephant Lodge :

Enjoy a relaxed meal overlooking the stunning Savute channel in our raised restaurant. 

Throughout the day you will have the opportunity to relax is in the quiet atmosphere of the lounge  taking in the remote landscape.

Restaurant times:
Early breakfast (served around 6am)
Light snacks, tea and coffee on morning activity
Midday meal is served between 10h30-13h30
Afternoon tea (served around 4pm)
Drinks and snacks on afternoon activity
Dinner (served around 8pm)

Overnight: Savute Elephant Lodge, A Belmond Safari, Botswana     
Fully Inclusive - Bed, All Meals, Fees and Activities 
All Local Brands (Spirits, Wine and Beers) Included

Day 5 : Savute Elephant Lodge, A Belmond Safari, Botswana, Savuti - Chobe National Park (B / L / D)

Full day on safari with twice daily safari activities.

Overnight: Savute Elephant Lodge, A Belmond Safari, Botswana     
Fully Inclusive - Bed, All Meals, Fees and Activities 
All Local Brands (Spirits, Wine and Beers) Included

Day 6 : Eagle Island Lodge, A Belmond Safari, Botswana, Okavango Delta (B / L / D)

Okavango Delta :

Situated in the northwestern corner of Botswana, the Okavango Delta is a World Heritage Site as it is the largest inland delta in the world. The magnificent Okavango River sprawls out over the dry sands of the Kalahari Desert forming this flourishing waterlogged oasis featuring countless meandering waterways and crystal clear lagoons studded with water lilies, as well as fertile floodplains and reeded islands inhabited with abundant wildlife. The Okavango Delta stretches over an impressive15000 square kilometres. Visitors can enjoy a number of wonderful activities such as game viewing, fishing, bird watching or taking an authentic guided Mokoro excursion through this wetland paradise in a traditional dugout canoe. Commonly spotted animals include: lion, rhino, leopard, giraffe, hippos, elephants, crocodiles and countless species of bird.

Day Itinerary :

Morning activity, check out and transfer to airstrip for scheduled charter flight to the Okavango Delta. 

Check-in and orientation at the lodge, afternoon tea is served before your first afternoon activity.*

* Kindly note that water activities (Mokoro Canoe, Barge Cruise and Motorboat Safari) depend on water levels and are generally not offered during low season when water levels are too low. 

Mokoro Canoe Safari :

This traditional dugout canoe takes you gliding over shallow, clear waters past brilliant water lilies and papyrus grasses to areas inaccessible by boat.

Walking Safari :

On a walking safari through the Delta you are totally enveloped in nature. You spot amazing things close-up: an insect, animal tracks, big game droppings, swarming termite mounds. These small, unexpected aspects of life often make the biggest impression. If a game drive is like reading a book: a walking safari is like actually becoming a character in that book.

Bird Watching :

Many people come to Belmond Eagle Island Lodge purely to experience its huge variety of birds. The 400 land and aquatic species drawn to the watery Okavango Delta make for unrivalled bird viewing.

Motorboat Safari :

Motorboat safaris up the Delta takes to closer to nature and far of areas not acceptable by foot or vehicle.

Barge Cruise :

Take a slow gently cruise down the Delta for sundowners, you might just see a Fish Eagle taking flight or pods of hippos in the distance through an African sunset.

Game Drives :

Morning and afternoon game drives are available in open land cruisers. Night game drives with spotlights and stargazing presentations are also available after dinner. As the lodge is located on a private concession, vehicles are allowed to drive before and after sunset, as well as off road.

Dining at Belmond Eagle Island Lodge

Enjoy superb cuisine under cover or in the open air surrounded by nature and wildlife. 

Our chefs will also happily prepare picnics for you to take on a game drive.

Game drives often start early.  You will be woken with a light breakfast to enjoy in your tent before setting off on your drive.

Restaurant times:
Early breakfast (served around 6am)
Light snacks, tea and coffee on morning activity
Midday meal served between 10h30-13h30
Afternoon tea (served around 4pm)
Drinks and snacks on afternoon activity
Dinner (served around 8pm)

Overnight: Eagle Island Lodge, A Belmond Safari, Botswana
Fully Inclusive - Bed, All Meals, Fees and Activities 
All Local Brands (Spirits, Wine and Beers) Included

Day 7 : Eagle Island Lodge, A Belmond Safari, Botswana, Okavango Delta (B / L / D)

Full day on safari with twice daily safari activities. 

Overnight: Eagle Island Lodge, A Belmond Safari, Botswana
Fully Inclusive - Bed, All Meals, Fees and Activities 
All Local Brands (Spirits, Wine and Beers) Included

Day 8 : End of Itinerary (B / - / -)

After your final morning activity you will transfer back to the airstrip for your scheduled charter flight back to Maun for departure. 

Bed and Breakfast

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