Nine-Day Safari - Nxai Pan, Elephant Sands & Chobe
Overview
This 9-day itinerary blends the vast green-season grasslands of Nxai Pan National Park (zebra migration spectacle), the unique elephant-viewing oasis at Elephant Sands Lodge (a bush lodge with a natural waterhole drawing dozens of elephants daily), and the iconic Chobe Riverfront (massive elephant herds, river cruises, and game drives).
A balanced split: 3 nights Nxai Pan (core migration), 3 nights Elephant Sands (relaxed elephant immersion), 2 nights Chobe Riverfront (river highlights). Fly-in transfers recommended for efficiency; road drives are scenic but sandy (4x4 needed).
Tour Overview
Included
- Park fees
- Excluded All activities mentioned (unless clearly labeled as optional)
- Excluded Meals (as specified in the day-by-day description)
- Excluded Roundtrip airport transfer
- Excluded A professional driver/guide
- Excluded All transportation mentioned (unless clearly labeled as optional)
- Excluded All Taxes/VAT
Excluded
- International flights (from/to the client's home country)
- Excluded Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Excluded Tips
- Excluded Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees and other personal items)
- Excluded Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
Itenary
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Days 1-3: Nxai Pan National Park (3 Nights)
Day 1: Arrive Maun; road transfer (~4-5 hours, sandy tracks) or short flight to Nxai Pan airstrip. Afternoon game drive on emerald plains – witness thousands of zebras grazing in massive striped herds, plus springbok, giraffes, and predators (cheetahs, lions trailing).
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Days 2-3: Full days of game drives – explore waterholes for action; must-visit Baines' Baobabs (ancient trees on a pan island, framed by herds). Green season magic: lush grasses, foals, and migratory birds.
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Overnight: South Camp (basic) or Nxai Pan Camp (luxury tents overlooking plains).
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Days 4-6: Elephant Sands Lodge (3 Nights)
Day 4: Morning Nxai drive; transfer south (~3-4 hours via Nata area) to Elephant Sands (53km north of Nata on a private 16,000-ha unfenced conservancy). Arrive to elephants at the natural waterhole—watch them drink, bathe, and play right in front!
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Days 5-6: Relaxed exploration – optional game drives or bush walks on the conservancy (lions, eland, zebra, giraffes, wild dogs possible); spend afternoons at the pool/bar overlooking the waterhole for endless elephant viewing. Green season: fresh grasses draw more herds.
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Days 7-8: Chobe Riverfront (2 Nights)
Day 7: Transfer north (~3-4 hours to Kasane area); afternoon boat cruise on Chobe River – close-ups of massive elephant herds drinking/bathing, hippos, crocs, and birds.
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Day 8: Dawn game drive along floodplain – elephants, buffalo, lions; afternoon optional second cruise. Green season: lush banks, great birding.
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Day 9: Morning Activity & Departure
Final early drive/cruise; transfer to Kasane Airport (or road to Maun ~5-6 hours) for onward flights.
