Orapa Diamond Mine - Visit the hub of the country's economy. Orapa boasts the second largest kimberlite pipe currently being mined, 33% of the worlds rough gem diamonds come from here. We will take you on an interesting tour of this fascinating resource that supports Botswana's economy. Excursions into the famous Makgadikgadi Salt Pans (Kubu or Lekhubu Island) are conducted.
Serowe Village - We show you the historic village of Serowe including local homesteads where you can sample traditional cuisine. We visit the Royal Burial Ground, the Kgotla (place of meeting) and interact with local villagers. There is an opportunity to witness a traditional wedding as well as a visit to the local churches. While in Serowe a visit to the Khama Memorial Rhino Sanctuary will be conducted.
Gaborone & surroundings - the capital city of Botswana, with a population of around
200 000, has a lot to offer. There are guided tours of this modern city. The surrounding villages may also be visited. We visit local schools, health clinics, hospitals, museums and nature reserves in the area.
Other destinations possible on request
MAUN
GABORONE
SEROWE
Savuti
Chobe River
Okavango Delta
ORAPA
Makgadikgadi
South Africa
Zimbabwe
Namibia
Nxai Nxai
GHANZI
Central
Kalahari
Location in Botswana of the places mentioned:
Africa Safaris - Botswana - Wildlife Safaris & Cultural Tours
CULTURAL TOURS PAGE
Tsodilo Hills - World Heritage Site, famous for its Bushman rock art (estimated more than 5 000 individual paintings of between 800 and over 2 000 years old).
A well illustrated site museum has been erected in the area. Good ablution facilities and camping site are provided.
PROPOSED ITINERARIES:
5 Days Nxai – Nxai
No set departure dates.
Cost: US $ 1.400,- per person
Minimum: 4 people
Day 1 – early morning charter flight to Nxai - Nxai (approx 1 hr flight) this will be a day of introducing to you the Bushmen families. The evening is spent around the campfire getting to know this remarkable people.
Day 2 – spend the day searching for signs of game, edible plants and above all, the many varied medicinal plants the Bushmen use to treat every imaginable ailment. Back at camp; see how the woman prepares the various items found either for consumption or for use as medicine.
The evening will be taken up with traditional Bushmen games and story telling around the fire.
Day 3 – this day will be a continuation of the previous day and will include healings with the medicinal plants collected from the bush.
The evening will again be around the campfire with emphasis on dancing. This will begin as the usual pleasure dance and will, if the omens are good evolve into the Healing Trance Dance. This event is an event that will fill your mind and soul and will never leave your memory.
Day 4 – today we visit the Gcwihaba Caves and the neighboring Bushmen villages. We say our goodbyes to the Bushmen.
Day 5 – charter flight back to Maun. End
Price includes: charter flight to Nxai – Nxai and back, accommodation in large tents with stretchers and bedding, all meals and beverages, all a Bushmen activities, excursion to the Gcwihaba Caves.
Price excludes: travel and medical insurance, emergency evacuation, visas, tips, curios and other items of personal nature.
GABORONE - capital city of Botswana
SEROWE - historic village of the great chiefs and of the first
president of BotswanaORAPA - diamond town
GHANZI - capital of the Kalahari, Bushmen area
MAUN - tourism capital of Botswana, gateway to the famous
Okavango Delta, base of Afrika CallsXai Xai - place of the Kung Bushmen
Okavango Delta - one of the last African wild places, spectacular
wetland and wildlife oasisSavuti - part of the Chobe National Park, place of lions, hyaenas,
migrating zebras and buffaloes and of huge bull elephantsChobe River - fantastic game in a scenic river front, biggest herds of
elephants on earth; a bird watcher's paradise.Makgadikgadi - salt pans desert, baobab trees, grasslands
Central Kalahari - spectacular desert wildlife, open spaces,
clear sky and stars like nowhere else
All rights reserved. Copyrights - Pius Tebele.
Bushmen rock art from Tsodilo: drawing of eland - the sacred antelope for the Bushmen.
Eland - the largest antelope still occurring in the Kalahari. Jumping 3m high from standpoint.
Drotsky's Caves (Gcwihaba) - the caves are found in the North-West of Botswana. Dolomite marble, some 1.000 million years old has been carved and re-formed by dripping water into some of the most beautiful stalagmites and stalactites, flowstones and ërfrozen waterfalls and other unusual rock formations. There are camping sites there.
Nxai-Nxai - The Kung! Bushmen are found in the remote North West of Botswana. They still lead a simple lifestyle and observe their traditions and customs. Join them on nature walks, traditional trance dancing and learn from their story telling and games.
Healing dance with the visitors.
These two women looked into each others eyes for some time - long time.
It was the only way they could communicate.
There is a language that all people can understand - the language of love and respect.
Ghanzi - Experience magical days with the Bushmen in Ghanzi area. We offer a recreated Bushmen village, where you can learn more about traditions
and culture of the Bushmen.
Makgadikgadi Pans, Kubu Island - These, the world’s biggest salt pans, are made up of two giant pans, Ntwetwe and Sowa. There is not much game in and around the pans, but bird life, following rains, can be spectacular. At Sowa, subject to sufficient rainfall, tens of thousands of Greater and Lesser Flamingos breed in the shallow waters in the early part of the year.
Witness first hand the Bushmen's unparalleled skills in tracking animals and their ability to survive in the desert.
A good place to observe these flamingos and other aquatic species such as pelicans, ducks, geese and waders, is from Nata Sanctuary at the northern end of Sowa Pan. Access to the hide in the sanctuary may be impossible in the rainy season.
In the southern section is a rocky ridge, an island studded with baobabs, and surrounded by an endless, featureless, flat “panscape”. This island, known as Kubu (Lekhubu) has a unique atmosphere that touches everyone who is intrepid enough to visit it (travelling across the pan by 4x4). There are archaeological remains on the island, notably a stone wall which may be two or three hundred years old.
Endemic Makgadikgadi agama - small well camouflaged lizard.
Kuru San Dance Festival - an annual 3-days celebration of the San - Bushmen culture. Every year in August the Bushmen from the whole Kalahari (Botswana, South Africa, Namibia and sometimes other countries) come to a small village of D'Kar to dance, sing, play, talk and make traditional music around the fire.
Collecting food ...
3 Days Tsodilo Hills
No set departure dates
Cost: US $ 540,- per person
Minimum: 2 people
Day 1 – road transfer to Tsodilo Hills (approx 5 hours drive) Afternoon tour of the Museum.
Day 2 – early morning guided tour of different Bushmen Paintings Trails covering the Female and Male Hills. Return to camp for lunch and afternoon visit to the Bushmen village.
Day 3 – early morning trekking to the peak of Male Hill (highest point in Botswana +- 1400m above sea level) Return to cam for breakfast and drive back to Maun. End.
Price includes: transfer to Tsodilo Hills and back, guided tour of the Paintings and Bushmen village, accommodation in large tents with stretchers and bedding, all meals and beverages.
Price excludes: travel and medical insurance, emergency evacuation, visas, tips, curios and other items of personal nature
7 Days Botswana Cultural
Cost: US $ 1.260,- per person
Minimum: 2 people
Day 1 – arrive Gaborone ex Johannesburg. Transfer to hotel. Afternoon tour of the city with visits to the National Museum and Art Gallery and the Government Enclave.
Day 2 – early morning tour of the Mokolodi Nature Reserve for close contact with cheetahs and elephants.
Day 3 – depart early to Serowe with a detour to the Morupule – to visit the Coal Mine, the main source of electricity power in Botswana. Overnight at Khama Rhino Sanctuary.
Day 4 – morning tour of the Serowe village with visits to the Village Kgotla (traditional meeting place) the Royal Burial Sites, sample schools and some homestead. Traditional lunch in the village. Return afternoon to the Sanctuary for a late afternoon game drive.
Day 5 – after breakfast, drive to Kubu Island in the Makgadikgadi Pans. Enjoy a magnificent sunset in the open pans.
Day 6 – wake up very early to catch the sun coming up over the pans. After breakfast drive to Orapa Diamond Mine. Afternoon at leisure.
Day 7 – early morning guided tour of the Diamond Mine. After the tour drive to Maun. End
Price includes: all transfers and game drives, 2 nights hotel accommodation in Gaborone, 2 nights accommodation in chalets at Khama Sanctuary, 1 night tented accommodation at Kubu Island, 2 nights hotel accommodation at Orapa, all meals and drinks only when camping, all activities stated in the itinerary.
Price excludes: travel and medical insurance, emergency evacuation, visas, tips, curios, drinks in hotels and items of personal nature.
