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Wild and Exotic exclusive Salt and Spray Botswana itinerary 15th – 26th June 2012

Wild and Exotic have teamed up with two of the best riding safari operators in Africa to create a unique 10 day riding safari in two of Southern Africa’s most precious and beautiful ecosystems. The rides combines three nights at a camp in the Kalahari Desert, two nights fly camping on the Makgadikgadi Saltpans followed by four nights in the luscious Okavango Delta.

The ride begins with adventures in the southern Saltpans that are home to a diverse array of wildlife including habituated meerkats, bat eared foxes, honey badgers and black mained Kalahari lion as well as plains game. In addition to riding through this pristine wilderness environment you will have the chance to spend time with native Bushmen, before being transferred by private charter flight across Botswana to the luxurious Macatoo camp, located within a 500,000 hectare private concession on the western side of the Okavango Delta. Mornings are devoted to exploring the game rich Delta landscape, with shorter rides, walks and mokoro expeditions available after a lunchtime siesta.

Friday June 15 2012: South African Airways flight SA0235 departs London Heathrow at 19:00hrs.

Saturday June 16: On arrival into Johannesburg at 07:00hrs we will have plenty of time to check into our Air Botswana flight BP212 to Maun, which departs at 10:10hrs. On arrival into Maun at 11:50hrs we will be met and transferred by private charter flight to Camp Kalahari, where we will be met by our host and guide David Foot. Camp Kalahari s located amongst the acacias and Mokolwane palms of Brown Hyena Island, on the edge of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans and adjacent to the Makgadikgadi-Nxai Pans National Park. 

The camp is refreshingly simple, yet comfortable, with a thatch library, living/dining area and a swimming pool for hot Kalahari days. There are 10 spacious Meru tents: 7 twin tents, 2 double tents and a family tent consisting of 2 adjacent tents, accommodating 2 guests in each with an inter-leading bathroom. All have en-suite outdoor bathrooms, flush loos, hot and cold running water, along with comfy beds, crunchy cotton sheets, stripy African blankets and hot water bottles in winter.

After tea in the beautiful afternoon light, we will head out for an introductory ride – primarily to match horse and rider but also our first opportunity to experience the beauty of this magical area.  After our ride we will return to camp for sundowners followed by dinner and to kraal the horses close by (put them in a pen), before the lions of the Kalahari commence their nightly prowling.

Sunday June 17: This morning we will rise with the dawn and enjoy a light breakfast followed by a long morning ride through the “land of a thousand islands”.  Stranded on the ancient lake bed, these sand dunes covered in palm trees are one of the most beautiful and fascinating areas of the Botswana wilderness.  During the migration season, the islands and adjoining grasslands are awash with zebra, wildebeest, hartebeest and ostrich and the attendant predators. The white encrusted pans between the islands provides excellent going for the horses but if there has been heavy rain many of these areas will be full of water and possibly full of thousands of flamingos feeding on invisible brine shrimp. We will return to camp for lunch and rest through the heat of the day in the welcome shade of the camel thorn trees or cool off in the camp swimming pool.

After tea, we will head off by vehicle to see some unique desert species such as springbok, gemsbok, red hartebeest and the elusive brown hyena; these consummate desert specialists survive in arid areas where both food and water are scarce. The brown hyena is a timid nocturnal, solitary forager, rarely seen by humans, but in spite of this, they are very social animals, living in clans of up to 10-12 hyenas. We will enjoy a night game drive back to camp, and with the aid of a spot light, look for nocturnal desert inhabitants such as aardvark, bat eared foxes, aardwolves, porcupine, honey badgers and perhaps even a black maned Kalahari Lion. On arrival back to camp we will be served a delicious dinner.

Monday June 18: Today is a long ride eastwards to Xau Xai Fly Camp, so an early start is imperative.  Be sure to pack a few essentials for the next two days of adventure. The journey will take us away from the edge of the Pans and through the mopane and acacia woodlands interspersed with short grasslands allowing for lovely long, relaxed canters.  Whilst the area is rich in birds of prey, bustards, korhaans and numerous other unusual dry woodland bird species; there is also a chance that we will sight kudu and the odd elephant bull. By lunchtime we will reach the famous Greens Baobab proudly positioned alongside the well-travelled Missionary Road, traversed by David Livingstone on his journeys northwards.  The magnificent trunk of this ancient tree is scarred with the initials of early travellers dating back some 150 years thus providing a living testimony to the rich history of this area. We will stop for lunch at the adjacent Gutsa Pan under a stand of palm trees where we may find Stone Age artefacts and the hunting blinds used over millennium by the Bushmen. After a rest and siesta in the midday

heat and tea we will continue the journey on to Xau Xai Fly Camp.

Xau Xai fly camp will be made up of comfortable dome tents, a central mess tent, loos and bucket showers. On arrival we will enjoy a long cool drink as we watch the sunset followed by dinner out under the magnificent Kalahari sky.

Tuesday June 19: This morning we will wake to a steaming hot cup of coffee and a light breakfast, before heading off on our horses in search of some of the Kalahari’s most fascinating inhabitants, the meerkats. Thanks to an ongoing habituation programme it’s possible for us to get up close and personal with these captivating creatures. Remember, they are not tame – just used to our non-threatening presence. On chilly mornings, we might well find a meerkat snuggling up to us for warmth. Or, in the absence of a termite mound or tree, using our head as a sentry lookout post. By spending quality time with these incredibly social, superbly adapted animals, we will see how they interact with each other and their environment. As the day warms up, we will leave the meerkats to continue foraging, remount our horses and follow trails leading to the resident herds of zebra and large congregations of ostriches attracted to the area by permanent freshwater in hidden waterholes. We will return to Xau Xai for lunch, a refreshing shower and a siesta in the shade of the mess tent.

In the late afternoon we will ride straight out into the middle of an ancient lakebed, until all that can be seen is the vast flatness stretching in every direction. This is one of the only places in the world where the silence is so complete you can hear the blood circulating through your ears. There is not one visual landmark to be seen on 16,000 square kilometres of baking soda void that is home to countless millions of brine shrimp. We will camp for the night here, sleeping on bedrolls under the silence of a star studded sky having watched a spectacular sunset.

Wednesday June 20: This morning will be like waking up on the moon as dawn greets this extraordinary landscape and the last of the stars disappear, we will ride across the Pans back to Camp Kalahari. We will break for lunch at Chapman’s Baobab, also known as the Seven Sisters, in the distance. Measuring 25 metres around its trunk, this tree is acknowledged to be one of the largest in Africa, and was the campsite used by early explorers such as Livingstone and Selous. Afterwards we ride back across the grasslands into camp arriving in time for a refreshing shower and a final lamp lit dinner.

Thursday June 21: Early this morning the horses are loaded and transported back to their home base in Maun. A non riding day commences with an early morning walk with Zu/’hoasi Bushmen trackers of the Western Kalahari. The Bushmen will demonstrate how they have survived in this harshest of environments, using their vast and ancient knowledge of plants, animal behaviour and survival skills. After this fascinating experience lunch awaits at Camp Kalahari before we board a private charter flights straight to the watery Okavango Delta, approximately one hour’s flight to the north. On arrival at African Horseback Safari’s Macatoo Camp we will be met and offered refreshments before an evening ride where we can get to know our horses, before returning to a to a candle-lit dinner.

Friday June 22: After being woken by a cup of tea or coffee in bed, followed by a light breakfast with homemade toast and muesli, we will a ride out from camp to stretch our legs and explore this magical area. As the water levels will be high this may involve some galloping, swimming through the flood waters or pushing-on through seas of tall grass following giraffe, zebra, antelope, elephant and buffalo. We will return to camp for a brilliant open air lunch with the guides and there's usually some wine to encourage a little nap before tea. This evening ride is deliberately slower-paced and is a good opportunity to ask questions and take photographs. Leopard sightings are not infrequent, the bird-life is some of the best in the world and towards sunset there is often elephant or hippo interaction to enjoy. We will enjoy a sun downer out in the bush before riding back to camp to freshen up. There's no guarantee that dinner is always eaten in the same place...

Saturday June 23: This morning we will leave camp early to investigate fresh game tracks, joining semi-aquatic red lechwe as they thunder through the water meadows. The water in the delta is at its highest levels so there will be plenty of opportunities to ride through the water. A champagne breakfast is waiting for us under a large baobab tree. The evening ride is spent exploring the lower flood plains where elephant often gather at a pool, large herds of lechwe are forming in the wetlands and perhaps there maybe hippo and crocodile in the area. There is also a good potential of buffalo sightings with impala, tsessebe and kudu moving inland onto the islands.  As dusk closes in we will gather for drinks around the fire before dinner.

Sunday June 24: This morning we will ride deeper into the heart of the delta, along some of the high palm islands which offer great sweeping views of the Delta plains. After tea we will do a slower ride to the magical tree house where we will have the option to spend the night out, sleeping high up in the tree tops under the stars. To be out in the wilderness so freely in the Okavango bush like this is a wonderful experience and one that few people experience.

Monday June 25: After waking up amongst the trees to the call of the African Fish Eagle, we will splash through water on the vast open plains, home to blue wildebeest and Burchell's zebra. The riding may be fast as we approach deep reedy areas full of bird life including open-billed storks, squacco herons, slaty egrets, egyptian geese and many more. We will return to Macatoo along the myriad of waterways lined with large trees to prepare for our onward private charter flight back to Maun. On arrival into Maun we will check in to our Air Botswana flight BP211, which departs at 14:50hrs and arrives into Johannesburg at 16:30hrs allowing us plenty of time to check in to our South African Airways flight SA0234, which departs at 20:00hrs.

Tuesday June 26: South Africa Airways flight SA0234 arrives into London Heathrow at 06:25hrs. End of Wild and Exotic services.

Notes:

The price of this itinerary is £4,420 per person on a full board basis based on two people sharing accommodation and inclusive of all 3 private charter flights. A single supplement may apply to anyone who does not wish to share accommodation.

The price is inclusive of all activities described and all transfers as per the itinerary.

The price does not include international flights to Johannesburg, flights from Johannesburg to Maun, items of a personal nature, gratuities, and visa fees.

ATOL license holders (#6445) we can book seats on most major airlines at competitive prices. We are able to make the booking (and fix the best price, less taxes and fuel charges) up to a year in advance with payment not normally due until 8 weeks before departure - this means that we can release your seats at anytime up until payment is due without penalty.

South African Airways return international flights as per the itinerary are available from £420 per person plus taxes subject to availability.

The Air Botswana return flights as per the itinerary are available from £250 per person plus taxes subject to availability.

Please note that it is the responsibility of the client to ensure they obtain the correct visa prior to travel. Wild and Exotic will assist with visa applications if instructed but cannot be held responsible for a client’s failure to obtain a visa for whatever reason. UK citizens currently do not require a visa for South Africa and Botswana. Please note a valid South African transit visa is required for non UK clients travelling to Botswana.

Neither Wild and Exotic nor the operators or suppliers can accept any responsibility for changes to itineraries or dates that may arise due to weather or unforeseen circumstances such as changes, disruptions or delays to airline flights for whatever reason. This holiday is subject to Wild and Exotic’s terms and conditions, a copy of which is enclosed with your booking form.

 Wild and Exotic exclusive Rocha Province Mobile ride itinerary 24th March - 6th April 2012

This unique and exclusive itinerary in the beautiful Uruguayan province of Rocha has been devised by Wild and Exotic and our partners in Uruguay following a research trip in early 2011. The concept has been to provide a geniune 9 day riding safari covering some 300 kilometres of varies landscape. Along the way guests will experience sweeping grassy estancias, expansive groves of ancient palm trees, clean fresh water lagoons combined with a rural hospitality and way of life that is second to none. The holiday finishes with two days of fun and relaxation at the exquisite El Charabon and a ride or transferto the ocean for those who wish. This ride is unique to Wild and Exotic and is not offered by any other tour operator in the world.

Saturday March 24 2012: British Airways flight BA0245 depart London Heathrow at 21:55hrs.

Sunday March 25: British Airways flight arrives into Buenos Aires at 07:35hrs. On arrival you will be met and transferred to the Loi Suites hotel, in the beautiful district of Recoleta for an overnight stay.

Monday March 26: This morning you will be transferred to the domestic airport in time to check in to your Aerolineas Argentinas flight to Montevideo.  On arrival into Montevideo you will be met and transferred to the down town hotel. You can explore the downtown streets and experience the typical Rio de la Plata music, the Tango or Candombe with the rhythms and coloured costumes. This afternoon we will have a luxury barbecue at the Mercado del Puerto and city tour to discover Montevideo, a very quiet and safe city that combines museums, street markets, nice restaurants and very friendly people. Overnight at a nice centrally located 3 to 4 star hotel. (L)

Tuesday March 27: This morning we will be driven (4hrs) to the Brazilian border and into Rocha the most beautiful province in Uruguay with pristine beaches, emerald shores and network of lagoons, native forest and palm trees, and wetlands for bird watching. Before arriving at Fortin San Miguel hotel, we will pass through the town of Chuy where the official boundary runs between Uruguay and Brazil down the middle of the main street. The locals speak a strange mix of Spanish and Portuguese!  After a visit to a shop that sells wonderful leatherwear (including tack and boots), we will arrive at Fortin San Miguel. The hotel is built from the same stone as the nearby Portuguese fortress and from here we can admire views out across a huge stretch of water (one of the largest fresh water reserves of South America, the Merin Lagoon). We will arrive at Fortin San Miguel in time for a swim before lunch, after which there will be an afternoon ride to get to know the horses and tack. Dinner and night at Fortin San Miguel.

 
San Miguel

Wednesday March 28: We will leave early this morning on a 48km ride to Estancia El Sauce, riding through rolling hills and stopping for a picnic lunch in the native forest near the river San Miguel. After lunch there will be the opportunity for riders to be transferred for the remainder of the journey by vehicle; for those wishing to continue on horseback we will cross an irrigation canal onto Estancia Campo Alto, and continue to the open grassland of Estancia La Doma, where there will be the opportunity for some fast riding before we arrive a the charming Estancia El Sauce. This property was built in 1920 and we stay here as guests of the owners. In addition to grassland the estancia has a large area of marshlands and rice, teeming with bird life (more than 400 species in this area) including the graceful black-necked swan (the largest populations in the world are to be found here), rare white goose, flamingoes and the ostrich-like rhea. Otters, coypus and capybaras also inhabit the marshlands and streams. We hope to reach El Sauce before sunset and enjoy a home prepared dinner after this long riding day. Dinner and the night Estancia El Sauce.

 
Estancia El Sauce                                       Estancia Guardia del Monte

Thursday March 29: Today we will ride the pure Criollo horses belonging to El Sauce, which are also used to work cattle on the farm. There will be the opportunity to work alongside the gauchos this morning – the mounted stockmen wear traditional berets, bombachas, (South America riding breeches) and carry facones (large knives) tucked into their colourful belts. The 4 hour long ride takes us through eucalyptus forest and across the neighbouring estancia to the historical “Cerritos de Indios”, near a lagoon, which is a cemetery of aborigines that lived 4000 years ago. After an al fresco picnic lunch at the native forest there will be some long canters beneath glorious blue skies before we ride back to the estancia to relax and sunbathe and try out the property’s unique swimming pool before dinner. 

Friday March 30: After a traditional breakfast of homemade bread, jam and traditional cakes, we set off for the neighboring Estancia Cerco De Piedra, which belong to cousins of the owners of El Sauce. After an hour’s ride, we will breast a hill offering commanding views of the beautiful Rocha province and the stone walls from which this property takes its name. At midday, we will have a picnic lunch and a siesta, where riders discover that gauchos saddles are as just as comfortable to sleep on as ride in. Afterwards we will visit Estancia Bella Vista and we will ride through groves of 300 year old palm trees – these are not native to Uruguay, yet no one knows how they arrived here three centuries ago. Many species of wildlife that inhabit these surroundings, including the ostrich-like Rhea, wild boar (known as Jabalí) and capybaras in the rivers.  We will reach Estancia Bella Vista after 3 or 4 hour’s ride and our campsite near a fresh water stream.

Saturday March 31: There is an early start as today we will be riding nearly 50kms to estancia Guardia del Monte. After a couple of hours we reach the  hills of La Carbonera where gaucho used to hide stolen cattle in years gone by – we will visit the remote farmhouse of Tres Lunas here before continuing downhill through a shady eucalyptus forest. After 3 hours we will reach the Castillos lagoon, and the Ombú Forest reserve where we will break for lunch at a cottage made from natural materials called Barra Grande. The Ombú tree rarely grows in groups of more than 2 or 3, and this forest is considered to be the only one of its kind in the world. Each tree has a unique shape and some are over 500 years old with a 6 foot diameter. On reaching the lagoon we may see black-necked swans, spoonbills, ibis, herons, egret, storks and a legion of other birds (migratory birds arrive here from as far as Alaska and the Falkland Islands). There is the opportunity for long canters along the shore of the lagoon, before reaching Guardia del Monte, which is a lovely working estancia perched on a buff overlooking the lagoon and surrounded by glorious countryside that  has been a reserve since 1996. Home produced food and Alicia’s hospitality will provide a magical evening here, possibly enhanced by the lights of fishermen catching a native fish called pejerrey by night in the lake.  Overnight Estancia Guardia del Monte, where it will be necessary for some guests to sleep in tents should the group number more than 8.

Sunday April 1: The day starts with breakfast at our campsite in the Ombú forest. During the morning, we will ride along the shores of Castillos lagoon to the Valizas Stream, which runs into the ocean a few miles south of Cabo Polonio. We will have lunch beside the lagoon and afterwards ride through the UNESCO Biosphere Natural Reserve, characterized by miles of shifting sand dunes. We will dismount to climb to the summit of the Cerro De La Buena vista, a natural vantage point with stunning views both inland and to the ocean. We will spend the night at a specially prepared campsite in this lovely landscape at the end of a 30km ride.

 
Castillos Lagoon                                                    Wild Capybaras

Monday April 2: With the bulk of the ride now behind us there will be time to sleep in and enjoy a leisurely breakfast this morning, after which we will ride through reserve to Cabo Polonio, a charming fishing village which can only be reached by horse or four wheel drive vehicle. This picturesque village lies between rolling sand dunes and miles of unspoilt pristine beach, and after a refreshing swim in the ocean, we will have lunch at a local beachside restaurant just yards from breaking waves. Afterwards we will visit the seals and sea lions that like to sunbathe on warm rocks beneath the lighthouse and if we are very lucky may spot a migrating whale. There will also be the chance for some more swimming before we bid goodbye to this enchanting place and ride out of the sand dunes to meet the vehicle that will transfer us to El Charabon 30 kms away, a beautiful and very comfortable estancia offering superior accommodation within a short drive of the coast. Facilities include swimming pool, terrace and gardens and whilst staying here guests will enjoy the finest of Uruguayan cuisine.

 
Cabo Polonio

Tuesday April 3: Today we will ride to the coast across pasturelands with plenty of opportunities for fast paced riding on traditional Uruguayan horses. After a picnic lunch on the beach you may choose between riding back to the estancia or staying beside the ocean and returning later by vehicle (a 30 minute drive). Guests can also opt not to ride at all today and transfer to and from the beach by car – or simply stay behind and relax in the grounds and gardens of the lovely estancia Charabon..

 
Estancia Presidential                                                 Inside Estancia Presidential

Wednesday April 4: Today can be spent relaxing at the estancia, riding and playing mounted games such as the traditional “prueba de reinda” before a late lunch on the terrace overlooking the swimming pool. After lunch and a refreshing swim and siesta, you will be transferred back to the airport in time to check into your Aerolineas Argentinas flight back to Buenos Aires. On arrival into Buenos Aires you will be met and transferred to the Loi Suites hotel for an overnight stay. AB, L.

Thursday April 5: Today under your own arrangements you will transfer to Ezeiza international airport in time to check in to your flight home. British Airways flight BA0244 departs Buenos Aires international airport (EZE) at13:25hrs.

Friday April 6: British Airways flight arrives back into London Heathrow at 06:40hrs. End of Wild and Exotic services

Notes:
The price of this itinerary is £2999 per person based on a minimum of 8 people joining the ride; a surcharge may apply if there are less than 8 riders. The price is inclusive of all activities described, together with full board and lodging, based on two people sharing twin or double accommodation, except in Buenos Aires and Montevideo, where the rate is bed and breakfast only. The price does not include international or domestic flights, items of a personal nature, gratuities, and visa fees. Beer, wine and local spirits are provided when nights are spent under canvas and at picnic lunches but alcohol at estancias, lodges and hotels must be paid for prior to departure.

The single supplement of £90 whilst in Buenos Aires and £160 whilst on the ride will be waived if guests are prepared to share accommodation. There is also a maximum rider weight of 95kg. Guests weighing more than this can be accommodated by prior agreement and with a supplement charge for extra horses.

As ATOL license holders (#6445) we can book seats on most major airlines at competitive prices. We are able to make the booking (and fix the best price, less taxes and fuel charges) up to a year in advance with payment not normally due until 8 weeks before departure - this means that we can release your seats at anytime up until payment is due without penalty.

Our recommendation is that guests fly with British Airways direct to Buenos Aires in Argentina and overnight at our specially selected hotel in the beautiful district of Recoleta both before and after the ride, with short connecting flights between Buenos Aires and Montevideo. The direct international flights to Buenos Aires are easier and less expensive than flying to Montevideo via Sao Paulo. The British Airways flights from London Heathrow to Buenos Aires in economy are available from £602 plus taxes per person subject to availability. Flights between the two cities are available from £88 per person including taxes, subject to availability and a standard booking fee of £20 per person.

If guests would prefer to miss out overnight stays in Buenos Aires, they can fly from London Heathrow to Montevideo with Tam airlines via Sao Paulo. This would reduce the cost of the itinerary to £2730 per person based on two people sharing accommodation. The TAM airlines available flights compatible with this itinerary are as follows:

25th March: Depart London Heathrow at 22:25hrs – arrive Sao Paulo at 06:05hrs the following morning. Depart Sao Paulo at 09:25hrs – arrive Montevideo at 12:00hrs.

4th April: Depart Montevideo at 13:25hrs – arrive Sao Paulo at 15:50hrs. Depart Sao Paulo at 23:40hrs – arrive London Heathrow at 15:00hrs the following day.

The above TAM airlines flights are available from £955 per person including taxes subject to availability. Please note the long connecting time of 7.5 hours in Sao Paulo on the inbound flight on 4th April

This itinerary is designed for experienced riders who are fit and able to ride up to 50 kilometers per day. Enjoyment of the ride will be vastly improved for those ‘riding fit’ and for those that have mastered the art of the sitting trot (necessary for the local saddles). Please note that this is a new and challenging itinerary that will be subject to changes and refinements between now and departure date.

The quality of rooms varies between lodgings, which vary from tents to working estancias. Guests should not expect to be in identical or even similar rooms.

Please note that it is the responsibility of the client to ensure they obtain the correct visa prior to travel. Wild and Exotic will assist with visa applications if instructed but cannot be held responsible for a client’s failure to obtain a visa for whatever reason. UK and US citizens currently do not require a visa to visit Uruguay for a stay of up to 90 days.

Neither Wild and Exotic nor the operators or suppliers can accept any responsibility for changes to itineraries or dates that may arise due to weather or unforeseen circumstances such as changes, disruptions or delays to airline flights for whatever reason. This holiday is subject to Wild and Exotic’s terms and conditions, a copy of which is enclosed with your booking form.