Epic Air Safari: Wolwedans to the Okavango Delta

22nd May

A long day ahead of us.  One of the longest legs: 612 miles from Wolwedans in Namibia to the Okavango Delta in Botswana.  The flying is beautiful, first over the moon land of central Namibia, then over the green savanna all the way to the wetlands near Maun.  A great low-level formation flight takes us to Jao Camp in the heart of the Okavango.  What a contrast from this morning: sandy desert, then flooded plains covered by water.  We fly over herds of elephants before arriving at Jao.

A quick ten-minute drive and we are at the camp, which is exquisite.  Beautifully built on wooden platforms, it is well hidden in the trees.  Despite a long day, our guests are off for an evening safari.  Dinner under the stars next to camp closes a very intense day.




23rd May

This morning we enjoy a full Okavango experience: an hour-and-a-half boat ride among hippos and eles to a nice island, where we go on a game drive.  The first animal to be spotted is a young leopard in a tree on her young lechwe prey.  The drive is great in the lush vegetation of the Okavango.  We see zebras, giraffes, impalas, hippos, and even kudus.  But the best viewing experience is watching the elephants, both on land and in the water.

Lunch is beautifully arranged on a wooden platform in front of a lagoon.  We dine with a huge bull elephant.  Some of us have not had enough flying (yes, it is an addiction!) and decide to fly back to Jao.  I prefer to have a fun moment driving the boat.  A couple of wrong corners in the narrow channels make Pierre and Vikash doubt that we will ever make it back to camp… but we eventually do!  A mokoro (dug-out canoe) evening is the top choice, and guests come back enthusiastic about it.




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