A dream vacation for anyone captivated by Alexander McCall Smith's memorable series. Walk the same streets as Precious Ramotswe — Botswana's leading, and only, female private detective.

ITINERARY:
DAY 1: ARRIVE JOHANNESBURG, D’OREALE GRANDE

Welcome to Johannesburg, South Africa! Johannesburg is a vibrant and modern city whose roots stem from the discovery of gold. A high voltage city, Johannesburg is fast-paced, fun, and exciting, and its modern architecture and design conflict beautifully with the sedate yet elegant gardens in the affluent neighborhoods of the city. Peaceful sanctuaries located within upscale neighborhoods are picture perfect on any given day, and at night, the city comes alive with music, celebrations, and a zest for life like no other city in Africa. Fabulous restaurants, incredible luxury hotels, and boutique one-of-a-kind lodgings make Johannesburg the perfect destination to begin or end any African adventure.

On arrival in Johannesburg, you will be met and transferred to your accommodations at the D’Oreale Grande. Inside the magnificent five star D'Oreale Grande at the Emperor’s Palace Gaming and Convention Resort, luxury beckons at every turn. Richly cloaked surroundings such as exquisite hand painted murals and frescos, marble floors, plush carpets, and intricate mosaics create an atmosphere of intimacy and elegance. The graceful deluxe rooms comprise king or twin beds augmented by a sleeper couch, writing desk, easy chair and marble topped coffee table. The en suite bathroom has a shower over the bath and a spacious vanity.

Located on the ground floor of the D’Oreale Grande is a fully equipped gym which guests are able to access 24 hours a day with their room key. At the Emperor’s Palace, guests can experience a variety of outstanding cuisine and dazzling entertainment. The casino is sure to offer players 24-hour fun, glamour, sophistication and excitement in gaming entertainment. When strolling through the spectacular Emporium retail concourse, it is easy to imagine you are in fashionable Rome.
Overnight D’Oreale Grande

DAY 2: JOHANNESBURG/GABORONE, GABORONE SUN

This morning you will be transferred to O.R. Tambo International Airport for your flight to Gaborone, Botswana. Gaborone is the bustling capital and largest city in Botswana and lies near the southeastern border only nine miles from South Africa. Proud of its achievements, Gaborone is host to political and financial institutions, fashionable shopping complexes as well as traditional and modern art shops, music venues, resorts and restaurants. In spite of the terrific growth of Gaborone in the past decade, it has retained its local customs and charms unique to Botswana life and culture.

On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your accommodations at the Gaborone Sun. The Gaborone Sun Hotel & Casino offers world travelers and business people a sophisticated conference and meeting place with the added advantage of a premium casino. The Gaborone Sun's hotel rooms provide a home-away-from-home feel where you can relax or catch up quietly on after hours work. The beautiful rooms in their soft African-hued furnishings offer a serene escape from the bustle of the casino. Guests can enjoy the casino’s blackjack and American Roulette tables, and the slot machines with their progressive jackpots. The adjacent Gaborone Country Club golf course offers complimentary membership to all guests, and access can be arranged to the Phakalane Golf Estate.
Overnight Gaborone Sun B

DAY 3: GABORONE ~ THE MMA. RAMOTSWE TOUR, MCCALL SMITH REST CAMP 

After breakfast, you will be met at your hotel to begin your full day tour to learn about Mma Ramotswe’s world and the background of the popular series.

The tour begins with a stop along Zebra Drive outside Mma Ramotswe’s house before heading off into the city. Travel to the location of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, JLB Matekoni’s house, and other local places of interest, including the President Hotel, one of Mma Ramotswe’s favorite spots, where you can sample her favorite drink, red bush tea.

Move on to Mochudi where you will visit Sandy and Elinah Grant’s fascinating museum and gallery. Sandy’s photos have been featured on the covers of McCall Smith’s No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, and the museum provides a wonderfully illustrated background in Mma Ramotswe’s culture and history. This is also a great place to find souvenirs.

After the museum, you will visit a traditional home before having lunch at a local restaurant. Your tour ends with a trip to the spot where McCall Smith met the woman that inspired the character of Precious Ramotswe and hear the story behind the story.

Accommodations this evening are at the new McCall Smith Rest Camp, a beautiful but rustic tented camp situated deep within the Mokolodi Nature Reserve
Overnight McCall Smith Rest Camp B,L,D

DAY 4: GABORONE ~ TO THE EDGE OF THE KALAHARI TOUR, GABORONE SUN 

Tour One was spent educating fans on the background of Mma Ramotswe and her detective agency, and today’s tour ventures further into her story with investigations of selected cases from all nine books. Begin your morning on a circuit of adventure following Mma Ramotswe’s exploits to “the edge of the Kalahari”, passing first by the original home of Dr. David Livingstone.

Mma Ramotswe’s investigations can take travelers as far out as Polokwe and through the family farms where cattle are raised and melons are grown. Experience life here as it continues on its traditional pace, where “old Botswana morality” can often be observed.

Stop at the village of Otse for lunch, after which you will head north to Mokolodi Nature Reserve, which was featured in “Blue Shoes and Happiness”. A special game drive will follow Mma Ramotswe’s route around the reserve.
Overnight Gaborone Sun

DAY 5: GABORONE/MAUN/OKAVANGO DELTA, KANANA CAMP

This morning, you will be met and transferred to Sir Seretse Khama International Airport for your flight to Maun. Upon arrival in Maun, you will be met and assisted with checking in for your light aircraft flight to the Kanana Camp airstrip in the Okavango Delta. Camp staff will meet you at the airstrip and transfer you to the camp.

In the north, the Okavango Delta is the lifeblood of Botswana, drawing massive herds of elephants, huge concentrations of game, and other wildlife and birds. A blend of pans, marshlands, reed banks, forests of giant acacia trees, and mopane woodlands, the Okavango is arguably one of the finest wildlife sanctuaries in Africa. It is protected and preserved for the benefit of wildlife and tourism and achieves a delightful balance of both. Incredible and exclusive game viewing experiences like nowhere else on earth exist here. Glide effortlessly through the delta in a mokoro canoe, a specially outfitted motor boat, or exclusively with a private game guide in an open 4x4 safari vehicle.

“Kanana” means “paradise” in San, and you will appreciate this as you explore the necklace of palm islands and myriad waterways in the more remote reaches of the Okavango Delta. Your accommodations are spacious tents with an en suite shower and toilet on raised teak decks overlooking the Okavango floodplain. Kanana is not fenced, and it is quite common to see elephants and other game in camp. (Your camp manager will advise you on the necessary precautions.)

Dinner is served in the main dining area overlooking the lagoon. After dinner, enjoy an aperitif around the camp fire just at the edge of the lagoon, where your camp manager will advise you of the following day’s activities.
Overnight Kanana Camp B,L,D

DAY 6: OKAVANGO DELTA, KANANA CAMP

This private concession has some of the best areas in the Delta for exploration by mokoro, an ideal way to sample the variety of bird life including the rare Pel’s fishing owl. The walks with an armed guide generally take place on one of the many secluded palm islands. Elephant, impala, giraffe, lechwe, and occasionally lion and leopard can be seen on walks. A power boat is a great way to see “the Heronry”, a breeding and nesting ground for thousands of resident birdlife, and is also a great vehicle for interesting game viewing including possibly seeing elephant crossing the main river channel. In season, the fishing at Kanana is also excellent.
Overnight Kanana Camp B,L,D

Day 7: OKAVANGO DELTA, SHINDE CAMP

Today, camp staff will transfer you to the Kanana Camp airstrip for your light aircraft flight to the Shinde Camp airstrip. Camp staff will meet you and transfer you to your accommodations.

Shinde is nestled on a lush palm dotted island in the heart of the northern Okavango Delta. Located at the edge of a lagoon, it is surrounded by clear waterways, which flow over yellow sands and past palm-fringed islands teeming with birdlife and game. This is a photographer’s delights. Its remoteness has ensured that the innocent wildlife has not been subject to the pressures of mass tourism.

The island is especially favored by members of the antelope family, including the elusive sitatunga whose elongated and splayed hooves enable it to walk on the unstable beds of reeds floating on the water. Shinde’s well-equipped Delta craft may take you on an interesting trip where you will see fascinating breeding colonies of herons, egrets, pelicans, and storks. Your guide will also arrange walks to show you insects as well as a wide variety of birdlife and game. Shinde’s abundant wildlife and the silent waters of the Okavango combine to make your stay a rare experience indeed.

There are nine large, twin-bedded safari style tents each with private en suite bathrooms with hot and cold running water, sink, shower, and flush toilet, and the camp accommodates only 16 guests in total.
Overnight Shinde Camp B,L,D

DAY 8: OKAVANGO DELTA, SHINDE CAMP

Shinde offers guests the opportunity to enjoy every type of activity that is available in the Delta. These range from game drives in open four wheel drive safari vehicles, power boat excursions to witness the spectacular evening sunsets, and walks in the company of an armed guide to the serene experience of gliding noiselessly through the papyrus-lined channels and lagoons in a mokoro poled by an expert guide.

Fishing is another featured activity at Shinde, with great excitement for both the seasoned and novice angler. The camp also has an enclosed swimming pool, a tranquil place to relax and cool off in the heat of the day.
Overnight Shinde Camp B,L,D

DAY 9: OKAVANGO DELTA/KASANE/CHOBE NATIONAL PARK, CHOBE CHILWERO LODGE

Today, camp staff will transfer you to the Shinde Camp airstrip for your light aircraft flight to Kasane Airport. You will be met on arrival by a representative from Chobe Chilwero Lodge and transferred to your accommodations in the Chobe National Park.

Located in the northern region of Botswana, Chobe National Park offers enormous wildlife diversity, which is centered along the Chobe and Savute Rivers. Botswana's second largest park, at 4,100 square miles, is best known for its huge concentrations of game, particularly elephants. Chobe is unique in that it consists of four distinct eco-systems, each one supporting a variety of game and plant life. The park is most famous for its elephant population. Not only is it one of the largest concentrations of elephants on earth, but they have also been recorded as being the largest in body size.

Deep in the heart of Botswana wilderness lays Chobe Chilwero Lodge, one of the most enchanting places on earth. With gorgeous, breathtaking vistas as a backdrop, you will come face-to-face with the abundant creatures of the bush and some of the most spectacular sunsets Mother Nature bestows.

You will enjoy creature comforts like elegantly appointed accommodations, silver service, gourmet meals, and fine wines. Relax in the luxurious thatched cottages, with en suite sunken handcrafted baths, indoor and outdoor showers, private gardens, and terraces overlooking the magnificent Chobe River. There is also a library, a curio shop and a communications center. Although located in Botswana, this small, intimate lodge is easily accessed from Zambia and the world famous Victoria Falls.
Overnight Chobe Chilwero Lodge B,L,D

DAY 10: CHOBE NATIONAL PARK, CHOBE CHILWERO LODGE

Game activities at Chobe Chilwero are scheduled flexibly, according to the whims of guests and the changing habits of the game (subject to vehicle availability). Thrilling guided game drives in open vehicles bring you to the heart of Africa's largest concentration of elephants, as well as hippo, buffalo, puku, antelope, lion, and other creatures that gather on the Chobe River's banks. You can join acclaimed guides on a wondrous water safari on specially adapted motorboats. Sundowner cruises are particularly spectacular on the Chobe River. Fishing excursions are also available in season.

Chobe National Park includes vast landscapes, open plains, baobab trees, and ancient woodlands. Wildlife in Chobe roams free in profusion and diversity. For example, the elephant population, estimated to number in excess of 45,000, is the largest single concentration in Africa surviving within the confines of a National Park. However, Chobe is not fenced and its elephants are free to wander where they choose.

During the dry season, the herds migrate from south to north and congregate along the perennial Chobe River and fertile floodplains. The sight is spectacular and unforgettable with red winter sunsets, elephant, and buffalo in their thousands. The quality of timeless Africa is real and very strong, and the vistas are of an almost bygone era.
Overnight Chobe Chilwero Lodge B,L,D

DAY 11: CHOBE NATIONAL PARK/KASANE/LIVINGSTONE, ISLANDS OF SIANKABA

Today, you will be transferred back to Kasane Airport where you will clear customs and board your light aircraft flight to Livingstone, Zambia.

The town of Livingstone lies about six miles from the Zambian side of Victoria Falls. Named for the famous missionary and adventurer, David Livingstone, this town serves as a gateway to a number of exciting destinations and sites in and around Zambia. Visit Mosi Oa Tunya National Park, home of the Victoria Falls itself and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

On arrival in Livingstone, you will clear immigration and be met by a representative from Islands of Siankaba for your transfer to the lodge. (Note: U.S. citizens require a visa for Zambia.)

Known as The Jewel of the Zambezi and perfectly placed just upstream between the Victoria Falls and the Chobe National Park, Islands of Siankaba emphasizes exclusivity, luxury, and high standards. The lodge is situated on two densely forested sand islands in the Zambezi River.

The Islands of Siankaba have been developed as a luxury five star lodge accommodating just twelve guests. The two islands are linked by a wood and rope suspension bridge leading to an overhead walkway in the tree canopy connecting the elevated chalets to the dining room, bar, and lounge.

There are six comfortable, private, and elegant chalets situated on the small island, while the larger island houses the dining room, lounge, and swimming pool. All chalets are equipped with an en suite bathroom, ball and claw bath and separate shower, mini bar, large mosquito nets, ceiling fan, and private safe. They are raised above ground level into the tree canopy and their balconies extend out over the river. This unique position means that you can see everything the area has to offer while relaxing in the comfort of your chalet.
Overnight Islands of Siankaba B,L,D

DAY 12: LIVINGSTONE, ISLANDS OF SIANKABA

Afternoon tea is served daily on the main lodge decking, allowing guests to enjoy magnificent views of the mighty Zambezi River. The shade forest canopy that surrounds the swimming pool is an ideal place to relax and enjoy an afternoon drink. The up-market African dining room and lounge offers a unique experience of comfort and relaxation in a truly African setting. There is a wide choice of activities, which complements the attractions of this elegant camp.

Among the activities are romantic mokoro cruises, sundowner cruises, cultural visits to the nearby village, trips to Victoria Falls and Livingstone, walking safaris on the nature trails, and helicopter and micro-light flights to name a few.
Overnight Islands of Siankaba B,L,D

TRIP COST:

Aproximately $8,400.00 per person

Please contact us for current prices.

RATE INCLUDES:

• all accommodations
• all costs of a dedicated guide throughout as per this inclusions list, in guide accommodation
• all game viewing activities: boat cruises, morning and evening game-drives, walks and fishing (unless specifically noted as optional extra)
• sight-seeing as noted
• meals as indicated after each itinerary day (B&B = bed & breakfast, B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner)
• all drinks, beer and local wine
• daily laundry
• road and boat transfers as noted

RATE DOES NOT INCLUDE:

• Porterage
• Insurance not mentioned above
• All accommodation not mentioned above
• All meals not mentioned above
• All international and domestic flights and airport taxes not mentioned above
• All transport not mentioned above
• All expenses of a personal nature i.e. telephone calls, laundry, etc.
• Tips and gratuities
• Beverages not mentioned above
• Entrance Fees not mentioned above
• All other services not mentioned above