What to expect on your wild camping safari
Ucango on Safari have hosted biannual wild camping safaris since 2017. Our co-host is Kalahari Breeze Safaris, a family-owned safari operator based in Maun, Botswana. They provide experienced, professional guides, camp cooks and the camp crew, who erect the tents, cook superb meals, dismantle the camp on moving days and generally look after our guests’ safety and well-being.
All that is left for our guests to do is enjoy the incredible variety of wildlife that Botswana offers. Our guests do not erect or dismantle tents. They do not cook and they do not even have to light the campfire. All this is taken care of by the professionals.
Game drives are undertaken in a specially modified Landcruiser, which is open sided for fantastic game viewing and has a canvas roof to shade guest from the African sun. Also on board is a drinks fridge battery charging facilities, a first aid kit, a satellite phone for emergencies and a radio for contacting other drivers or the office back in Maun when there is no mobile phone signal (which is most of the time).
The tents are 2.5m x 2.5m dome tents. It is possible for most people to stand up in them. The beds are comfortable stretcher beds complete with sheets, blankets, a warm duvet and a pillow. Hot water bottles are provided on cold nights. Each tent has a shower/toilet annex which is accessed via a back entrance to the tent. Showers are bucket style with hot water. The toilet is a pedestal/frame over a long-drop hole. After using your toilet you will find a small bucket filled with sand and a trowel. Just tip a couple of trowels of sand into the hole. This works much better than the water flushing style camping toilets in killing any odours. Towels are provided, as is shampoo, bodywash and moisturizer.
Meals are cooked in a camp kitchen and the Kalahari Breeze cook constantly surprises the guests with the quality of meals he produces. There is always lots of variety and certain dietary requirements are catered for. Breakfast is taken around the campfire. Lunch, when taken at the camp is a sit-down affair around the dining table, as is dinner. Tea, coffee, hot chocolate and soft drinks are available all day. There is of course an unlimited supply of safe drinking water.
About the safari itself. (Note. Our Okavango in Depth Safari does not visit Savute.)
This safari is an immersive African wildlife experience, for some it had proved to be life changing. We camp in private camp sites in Moremi, Khwai Game Reserves and Savute, which is a unique area of Chobe National Park rich in predators. Our group size is just seven, plus your host, who is there to ensure that everything runs smoothly and to help interpret bird and animal sightings.
Please do not expect glamping. You can, however, most certainly expect to be comfortable and well fed. The main reason for partaking in this safari is of course the wildlife, and in the three areas that we visit it is abundant, and you will have some memorable up close and personal encounters. Our guests are often amazed at how close the animals come to our vehicle. Safety is paramount of course, and our experienced professional guides not only have eagle eyes for spotting the animals, but they also know how to read their behaviour and body language.
At night in the safety of your tent you will hear many of the animals that you’ve seen during the day. You’ll hear the calls of lions, hyenas, jackals, elephants and hippos as well as countless night birds. This is one of the great joys of the safari. It’s always fun to compare what you’ve heard with the other guests over breakfast around the campfire.
You can expect fine, dry weather throughout, with warm, sunny days and cool to cold nights.
There is a lower age limit of 14 years, but no upper age limit. There is no particular fitness requirement because there is very little walking involved. However, you MUST be agile enough to climb into the back of the game viewing vehicle and you MUST be able to safely negotiate uneven sandy ground unaided.
Travel insurance is mandatory.
