Green BotswanaApril 16 – 30, 2020

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Photos: Leopard (Cover), African Elephant, Lilac-breasted Roller

Botswana’s green season—when the air is cleaner, the colors are richer,

and the babies are everywhere. After the rains, life explodes in the

once-monochrome, semi-desert landscape of the Kalahari. Flowers spring

forth from the sand, and crusty saltpans turn into shimmering wetlands full

of honking water birds and colorful migratory species. Gemsbok and Eland

swarm the plains of Deception Valley as new grass shoots sprout. Droves

of wildebeest and zebra wind their way through the Makgadikgadi

grasslands. Water-adapted antelope take to the floodplains of the Okavango

Delta. And with all this game, predators are never far away. The legendary

Kalahari Black-maned Lion, Black-backed Jackal, Leopard, Cheetah and wild

dog are all on the hunt, making the green season the best time to watch the

great “circle of life” in action. Join Apex as we take in the sheer abundance of

life during Botswana’s most productive and vibrant time of year.

Expedition Over view

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Thursday, April 16: Arrive Johannesburg Arrive in Johannesburg. Meet your expedition leaders and fellow travelers at a welcome dinner and overnight at the Southern Sun O.R. Tambo Airport Hotel.

Friday, April 17: Johannesburg / Maun / Kalahari Game Reserve Transfer to the airport this morning for your scheduled flight to Maun. Once through customs and immigration, board your light aircraft flight to Tau Pan Camp, located in one of the most remote parts of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR). The CKGR is the largest conservation area in Botswana and, at 12 million acres, one of the largest in the world. Thanks to a diversity of habitats—grassy plains, seasonal pans, wooded Acacia islands, fossil riverbeds—healthy game populations move through the area all year long. But this time of year, new grass shoots in the pan systems draw Kalahari Springbok, Gemsbok and Blue Wildebeest by the hundreds and thousands. This abundance of plains game, many with defenseless babies in tow, attracts predators such as the Kalahari Black-maned Lion, Black-backed Jackal, Leopard, and Cheetah. In the green season, Botswana’s birding goes from superb to sensational, as characteristic residents such as the African Openbill, Bateleur and Lilac-breasted Roller are joined by migratory counterparts like Abdim’s Stork from equatorial Africa, Steppe Eagle from Asia and European Roller from Europe. Dinner and overnight at Tau Pan Camp.

Saturday, April 18: Kalahari Game Reserve Tau Pan Camp is quite unusual for flat Botswana, as it stands on the elevated ridge of an ancient sand dune, affording guests amazing panoramic views over the famous Tau Pan, recognized for its stark beauty and remoteness. From this vantage point, it is likely that you’ll spot animals from the breakfast table. However, morning and evening game drives, and optional “Bushman walks” will get you even closer to the wildlife. Track massive herds of Oryx, desert-adapted Springbok and Wildebeest

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Photos: Lion, Black-backed Jackal, Springbok

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around Tau, Sunday, Piper and Passarge Pans. Look for the rare Brown Hyena in Deception Valley, lurking alongside smaller predators such as Honey Badger, Bat-eared and Cape Fox, and the endearing Meerkat. Keep an eye out for such bird specials as Lanner Falcon, Double-banded Courser and Kalahari Scrub-robin. Dinner and overnight at Tau Pan Camp.

Sunday, April 19: Makgadikgadi Pans National Park This morning, head to the airstrip for a flight to San Camp at the eastern edge of Makgadikgadi Pans, the world’s largest saltpan landscape. Normally a stark white desert, it fills with grass and wildflowers during the green season, inviting Africa’s longest zebra migration, as well as Oryx, Springbok, Aardwolf and Brown Hyena. Dinner and overnight at San Camp.

Monday, April 20: Makgadikgadi Pans National Park Rise early and spend the morning alongside the habituated, and incredibly friendly, Meerkats of San Camp. Watch as they stick their noses out of their burrows to sniff for signs of danger, then emerge and position themselves with their chests to the rising sun to shake off the night’s cold. Sit with them long enough, and they may use your head as a sentry point to watch for eagles, their greatest predator. Later, take a game drive to Nwetwe Pan, admiring the magnificent ancient Baobabs along the way. Nwetwe is one of southern Africa’s most important Lesser and Greater Flamingo breeding sites. Pink clouds of flamingoes fill the air this time of year, as Ostriches, korhaans and Secretary Birds scour the grass below. See great herds of Wildebeest, zebra and Impala grazing, while Lion, Cheetah, Leopard, Jackal and hyena lurk nearby, awaiting their opportunity. Dinner and overnight at San Camp.

Tuesday, April 21: Okavango Delta As an exercise in contrasts, fly today to the wondrous wetland within the Kalahari, known as the Okavango Delta. Produced by seasonal flooding, the delta is comprised of nearly 6,000 square miles of water channels, lagoons, and islands. Declared one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa in 2013, it boasts some of the densest wildlife concentrations on the continent. Large numbers of more widely distributed mammals and birds occur alongside specialties that are rarely encountered elsewhere in Africa, such as the charismatic and endangered African Wild Dog, Zambezi Sitatunga, and Wattled Crane. Kwara Camp is located in a private concession to the north of the delta, known for its abundant birdlife during the rainy season. Dinner and overnight at Kwara Camp.

Wednesday–Friday, April 22–24: Okavango Delta Enjoy morning and late afternoon game drives. The area will be rife with palatable grasses and productive Mopane and Acacia woodlands, which lure many species of plains game, including elephant, giraffe, zebra, Sitatunga, Red Lechwe, Tsessebe, Impala, Hippo, and, on rare occasion, White Rhino. Lion, Cheetah and Leopard are seen frequently. The variety of bird life is impressive, with woodland specialties such as Bateleur Eagle, Red-crested Korhaan, Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill, Dickinson’s Kestrel, Meyer’s Parrot and the glamorous Crimson-breasted Shrike, and a vast array of wetland birds, such as the highly localized Slaty Egret, African Skimmer, Pel’s Fishing Owl and Black-chested Snake-eagle on the waterways. A fine way to see the wetland wildlife is to light out on the Delta’s crystal-clear water in a traditional dug-out canoe called a mokoro, from which you can watch the wildlife at eye level, or a double-decker boat that visits the Godikwe Lagoon in the waters of the Moremi Game Reserve. Dinners and overnights at Kwara Camp.

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Photos: Meerkats, Spotted Hyena, Leopard, Giraffe

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Saturday, April 25: Okavango Delta / Kwando Reserve It is farewell to the Okavango as you fly north to the wild banks of the Kwando River in Botswana’s remote Linyanti region, skirting the border with Namibia. Densely wooded with Ebony and Marula trees, the Kwando Reserve has a well-earned reputation for big game and large herds of elephant and buffalo. A wild dog pack regularly dens close to the camp, and the excellent viewing opportunities have led to Lagoon Camp’s reputation as the place to see African Wild Dog in Botswana. Dinner and overnight at Lagoon Camp.

Sunday & Monday, April 26 & 27: Kwando Reserve Take two full days to soak up Kwando’s exquisite scenery and varied habitats. Along with morning game drives to seek out the area’s Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, and African Wild Dog, night drives will reveal a whole separate array of nocturnal species such as Lesser Bushbaby, Spring Hare, Large Spotted Genet and, if you’re lucky, the elusive Aardwolf or Serval. The birding is spectacular, with such specialties as Slaty Egret, White-rumped Babbler, and Wattled Crane. Walking safaris will bring you even closer to the wildlife, and a boat cruise down the Kwando River is a breathtaking experience not to be missed. Meals and overnights at Lagoon Camp.

Tuesday, April 28: Kwando Reserve / Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe After breakfast, fly due east to Kasane, then load into vehicles for an hour-long drive that takes you across the border to Zimbabwe. Settle into Old Drift Lodge, perched on the banks of the Zambezi River, upstream from Victoria Falls. A glance across the Zambezi may well reveal great pods of hippo or herds of elephant gathered at the water’s edge. This evening, board a boat for a river safari to see a staggering number of Hippos and Nile Crocodiles. Listen for the grunts of Hippos, the trumpet of elephants and the call of fish eagles as you drift to sleep tonight. Dinner and overnight at Old Drift Lodge.

Wednesday, April 29: Victoria Falls Before breakfast, take in the grandeur of Victoria Falls, or Mosi-oa-Tunya (The Smoke That Thunders) in the local Tonga language. Venture close enough to feel its spray, and marvel over the sheer size of the world’s largest sheet of falling water. This afternoon, enjoy a game drive through the park, looking for elephant, buffalo and Lion, a healthy Leopard population, herds of Sable, Eland, Kudu, Waterbuck and Impala. Birds to look for include bee-eaters, darters, eagles and storks, as well as many species of kingfisher—Pied, Giant, Woodland, Malachite and Brown-hooded— are all common here. This evening, gather with your expedition leaders and fellow travelers for a farewell dinner. Dinner and overnight at Old Drift Lodge.

Thursday, April 30: Depart Victoria Falls This morning, transfer by vehicle to the Victoria Falls Airport for your connecting flights home.

Photos: Cheetah Cub, African Wild Dog, Victoria Falls, Wattled Crane

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A – Johannesburg

B – Central Kalahari Game Reser ve

C – Makgadikgadi Pans National Park

D – Okavango Delta

E – Kwando Reser ve

F – V ic toria Falls

By Air By Road

Expedition Map – Green Botswana

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Jonathan RossouwJonathan Rossouw is one of the world’s most experienced expedition leaders, having guided wildlife trips in over 150 countries on all seven continents. He combines a legendary energy and enthusiasm with a broad knowledge of all aspects of natural history, gained from three decades spent in the pursuit of the world’s mammals, birds, reptiles and coral reef fishes. Indeed, having seen over 9,000 species of birds, 1,000 mammals and 2,000 coral reef fishes, he will likely experience more species of vertebrate animals than anyone in history!

A medical doctor by training, Jonathan was born and raised on South Africa’s east coast. He started a birding travel company in South Africa before joining Peter Harrison and Shirley Metz, to assist in expanding their global portfolio of natural history destinations.

An accomplished photographer, Jonathan’s images have appeared in many books and magazines, and he has co-authored birding site guides to Uganda, Southern Africa and Madagascar.

Marco Tonoli*Marco organised his first expedition into the Drakensburg Mountains at the age of 13 for a group of friends, which ultimately led to an unquestionable love of exploring and sharing the natural world. As soon as he was of legal age, he was on the first plane out of his home country, South Africa, to discover the cultures and environments of the Middle East, Far East and Europe. This love of the world’s wilderness areas and the people within it, led him to pursue what turned out to be an adventurous 16-year career as a naturalist guide throughout Southern and East Africa.

His love of ethology and species adaptations, and their survival in harsh and extreme habitats took him to the Kalahari Desert, where he led and trained a team of specialist guides, as well as lived and worked closely with the region’s best trackers. In due course he developed a passion for the art and science of tracking, conducting desert Black Rhino walking safaris for the next four years.

Marco took a small break from guiding to study wildlife filmmaking and photography in the pursuit of documenting the natural world, which has allowed him opportunities to work on productions by National Geographic and Discovery Channel, as well as having images appear in notable natural history publications throughout the world.

* Marco will join as the second expedition leader with 7 or more participants.

“When it comes to expedition travel, in particular, one needs to be led by a knowledgeable, enthusiastic, entertaining and confidence-inspiring professional. We have yet to meet anyone quite like Jonathan who so completely ticks all these boxes!” – Pat G., Durban

Your Expedition Leaders

“Marco is simply one of the most knowledgeable guides I’ve ever come across, and I’ve come across quite a few! I highly recommend Marco to anyone wanting guiding of the highest caliber.” – Alex W., United Kingdom

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Green Botswana April 16 – 30, 2020$18,470 Per Person Rate

$19,270 Solo Rate

15 Days Trip Length

12 Guests Group Size

Johannesburg / Victoria Falls Start/End

Expedition Details

IncludedApex Expeditions’ rates include all accommodations; all meals, activities and excursions as described in the itinerary;

air Johannesburg to Maun, as well as all flights within Botswana, as noted in the itinerary; services of one Apex

Expedition leader for every six guests, and local guides throughout the itinerary; local beer & wines at lunch & dinner;

all gratuities; airport transfers; permits and entrance fees; all taxes.

Not IncludedCosts not included in the price of your Apex expedition include travel to and from the start and end point of trip;

premium brand drinks and liquor; travel insurance (Trip Cancellation and Interruption, as well as Emergency Medical

and Evacuation insurance, are highly recommended); airport departure taxes; equipment rental; excess baggage fees;

passport and/or visa fees; items of a personal nature (phone calls, laundry, souvenirs, etc.); and independent travel

arrangements pre- or post-trip.

Payments & Terms20% of the trip cost will confirm your place on the expedition. The final balance is due 150 days prior to departure.

All prices are quoted in U.S. dollars and must be paid in U.S. dollars. Per person pricing is based on double occupancy.

The solo rate is paid by participants who specifically request single accommodations and is subject to availability.

If you are traveling alone and wish to share accommodations, we will try to match you with a roommate of the same

gender. However, if a roommate is not available, the published solo rate will be charged. Upon confirming your

reservation you will be required to pay the published Solo Rate, if we are able to pair you with a roommate, the

applicable difference will be refunded at the time that the final trip payment is due for all participants. Please note that

solo accommodations are limited and cannot always be guaranteed throughout. For our full set of Terms & Conditions,

please visit our web site at www.apex-expeditions.com/about/terms-conditions/

One-of-a-kind adventures to the world’s most fascinating places. Join us.

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Green Botswana April 16 – 30, 2020

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