Showing posts with label Xugana. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Xugana. Show all posts

Monday, 20 December 2021

Desert & Delta Safaris: Top 10 Reasons To Visit Botswana

TOP 10 REASONS WHY BOTSWANA – WITH US – IS THE ULTIMATE POST-PANDEMIC TRAVEL DESTINATION

The global vaccine rollout is helping boost consumer confidence. Airline schedules around the world are ramping up and the road to recovery has begun in earnest. 

We’ve heard of new terms like “Revenge Travel” pop up. The idea that after over a year in lockdown there is a massive pent up demand for international travel and rather than postponing, people are opting for that dream destination they always wanted to visit…now! Spending more and making up for lost vacation time.

Either way, we believe a boom is inevitable and are already seeing more and more guests arrive by the day. Travellers are sensible in their decision making and we believe Botswana should be considered as one of the best places for a post-pandemic travel destination.

In choosing where to go abroad, guests will want safe destinations where they will spend plenty of time in the outdoors, reconnect with nature and be away from people as much as possible. Botswana is all that – and more!

We’ve put together a guide to help you understand why coming on a trip with Desert & Delta Safaris is the best travel choice.

#1 SAFETY FIRST  – EXTREMELY HIGH STANDARD OF HYGIENE & SAFETY PROTOCOLS

Botswana is considered one of the world’s most exclusive international travel destinations. Attracting travellers from around the world to enjoy the highest standard of accommodation, service and of course safari experience.

We’ve ensured that our COVID safety protocols go above and beyond the expected standards for our international visitors.

Not only are the camps ensuring that hygiene standards are at the absolute maximum but travelling in Botswana is a safe way to minimize exposure. The camps and lodges we operate are effectively COVID free bubbles with all staff tested before arriving into camp and movement in and out of camp can only happen with negative test results.

Every international traveller arriving into Botswana needs to present a negative PCR test valid no more than 72 hours from time of test and as an extra precaution the airports of Maun and Kasane (the main gateways to the safari regions) perform a complimentary RAPID Antigen test on arrival at the airport.

#2 BOTSWANA IS CONSIDERED ONE OF AFRICA’S MOST EXCLUSIVE, UNCROWDED SAFARI DESTINATIONS IN AFRICA

National parks, game-reserves and private concessions are all stringently controlled so you can expect to enjoy huge, remote wilderness areas with minimal numbers of other travellers. Try a stay at the private Xugana Island Lodge in the Okavango Delta with thousands of hectares of islands, waterways and open floodplains to explore with a maximum of 16-guests.

#3 NATURAL SOCIAL DISTANCING WHILE ON SAFARI

All our safari activities are already designed to maximise space and privacy. Every game drive vehicle is designed with a guaranteed window seat with ample space, both for photographic purposes and social distancing. All boat activities will ensure the middle seat remains unoccupied. Mokoro activities are designed for a maximum of two-guests at a time or if you’re travelling as a single, just you. While on a walking safari at Camp Okavango or Xugana Island Lodge, each group is split into maximum six guests and you’ll have all the space you will ever need.

#4 WORK WITH OPERATORS WITH A PROVEN TRACK RECORD & ESTABLISHED OPERATION IN THE COUNTRY

Desert & Delta Safaris is the longest standing luxury safari group in Botswana. We’ve been through it all over the years and will come out of every crises wiser and stronger.

Our style of doing business over the years is what has kept us going all this time. You will be looked after like a part of our family from the moment you join us.

#5 ALL YOUR SAFARI PLANS UNDER ONE SOLID OPERATOR

Keep your logistics simple. By working with an operator like us you can keep your whole safari under one company. We have our own charter flight company called Safari Air and own eight different safari lodges around the country. From the Chobe River, home to the highest concentration of elephants, to the renowned Moremi Game Reserve, islands in Okavango Delta and the vast Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. Desert & Delta Safaris covers all the key-ecosystems in Botswana.

#6 THE BEST ADVENTURES IN REMOTE AFRICA AWAIT YOU IN BOTSWANA


During the lockdown we’ve refined two of our most epic sleep-out experiences to appeal to the post-pandemic traveller. We know the lockdown has increased our desire to reconnect with the true remote wilds of the world. Our sleep-out experience on the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans does just that. A maximum of six-people and your specialist guide will venture out into the middle of the world’s largest salt flats to sleep under the stars. Something our guests have called life-changing!

Or if you want a more luxurious adventure try our romantic sleep-out deck at Camp Okavango. Just you and your loved one under the vast Botswana sky on a raised deck, with a large double bed, on a private corner of the island.

#7 CONTINGENCY PLANS IN PLACE FOR THE NW WAY OF TRAVEL

We know there is a certain amount of apprehension with travelling post-pandemic but rest-assured we have considered every eventuality and have a contingency plan for everything. We also have a strong relationship with the government, local authorities and our partners in providing COVID tests. We’ve got it covered.

We want you to feel completely relaxed while knowing all the ground arrangements are taken care of.

#8 A BUMPER YEAR FOR WILDLIFE & SAFARI THIS 2021

Rains were phenomenal in the season earlier this year. Around double the average in some places. This means that those looking to enjoy the water activities in the Chobe & Okavango will be treated to brimming levels of water and outstanding scenery. Perfect on the lush floodplains in a traditional mokoro (canoe).

Generous rainfall results in more grasses, more birds and herbivores and of course with the plethora of life comes an increase in predator activity.

So this year promises to be a remarkable Botswana safari year!

#9 RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL IS AT THE HEART OF THE DESTINATION

The pandemic has made us realise we need to be responsible in the way we travel. Too many destinations have become overcrowded and unsustainable. Botswana, on the other hand, has had a strict low-volume and high-revenue model since independence in the late 60’s. Putting conservation at the heart of the way we run our business.

It’s also critical that responsible tourism empowers the citizens of Africa as well as protect the wildlife. At Desert & Delta Safaris empowerment of the local community is the pillar of our success. One of the first premier safari circuits in the country to be full run and managed by Botswana citizens.

We’ve retained and supported all our staff throughout the pandemic.

Your safari with us goes a really long way in making a lasting positive impact on the people and protection of the environment.

#10 CHOOSE THE PERFECT DESTINATION – NOT THE BEST DEAL

At Desert & Delta Safaris we are proud of our exceptional value. Offering a world-class safari in Botswana for an affordable rate. Coming to our country will leave you feeling enriched and energised. Pure, unadulterated African wilderness delivered at a time, after a year of lockdown, when you need that connection to nature again!

Purchase photo/4K video: portfolio1 portfolio2
Aerial photo/video service/inquiries: info@traveltonamibia.com

Thursday, 2 December 2021

Botswana: Desert & Delta Safaris: 20-Minute Free Helicopter Flight

Desert & Delta Safaris: Special Offer - 20-Minute Free Helicopter Flight

SPECIAL OFFER

Free 20-Minute Helicopter Flight over the Okavango Delta

To celebrate international travellers' return to Botswana and help you secure those last-minute green season bookings, we're offering a unique value add for all NEW eight or more night BODDS packages. 

Valid for new bookings travelling between 01 December 2021 and 31 March 2022 (minimum two pax), guests booking an eight or more Night BODDS package with Camp Okavango or Xugana Island Lodge included in the itinerary will enjoy a complimentary 20-minute scenic helicopter flight.  

RATE FROM US$ 4,365 PER PERSON SHARING

Valid for travel from 01 December 2021 to 31 March 2022 - MIN 2 PAX

Enjoying an open-door scenic flight over the Okavango Delta

Botswana's flora & fauna have come to life with the arrival of the season's first rains. The sudden burst of colour adds an element of excitement to life in the wilderness. With all our migratory birds arriving and many antelope species giving birth to their young, morning and afternoon activities are full of unique and intimate sightings of healthy and happy wildlife.

Take advantage of the quieter travel season and expansive regions of Botswana's wildest areas at a fraction of the peak season price.

Email info@traveltonamibia.com to book your Best of Desert & Delta Safaris travel package and claim the free 20-minute helicopter scenic flight.

Purchase photo/4K video: portfolio1 portfolio2
Aerial photo/video service/inquiries: info@traveltonamibia.com

Wednesday, 17 November 2021

Botswana: Desert & Delta enlarges its portfolio with Nxamaseri | Нксамасери Лодж Ботсвана

DESERT & DELTA SAFARIS INCREASES ITS PORTFOLIO WITH THE ACQUISITION OF NXAMASERI ISLAND LODGE

Desert & Delta Safaris is delighted to announce a new addition to its luxury lodge portfolio. The company which is based, owned and operated in Botswana, has purchased Nxamaseri Island Lodge, increasing its stunning range of lodges and camps to a total of nine. The addition of Nxamaseri Island Lodge truly complements the existing eight lodges and camps, which comprises of Chobe Game Lodge, Chobe Savanna Lodge, Savute Safari Lodge, Camp Moremi, Camp Xakanaxa, Camp Okavango, Xugana Island Lodge and Leroo La Tau. Nxamaseri Island Lodge will enhance their offering and the inclusion of this stunning property strengthens its presence making Desert & Delta Safaris a company with the most comprehensive portfolio of regions in Botswana today.

Nxamaseri Island Lodge has eight stunning suites, all under the shade of huge Jackalberry trees and wild date palms. The size and atmosphere dovetail perfectly with Desert & Delta’s ethos and its CARES philosophy.

Nxamaseri Island Lodge on a secluded island in the Okavango Panhandle.

Located in the centre of two UNESCO world heritage sites: Tsodilo Hills and the Okavango Delta – it is one of the very few places in the entire world where two world heritage sites meet. Nxamaseri Island Lodge is the closest property to explore Tsodilo Hills – a remarkable cluster of huge rocky hills in the otherwise flat Kalahari Desert and home to one of Africa’s most impressive collections of ancient rock art, with over 4,500 paintings located around 400 different sites. The paintings are classified as Southern African Rock art and a combination of a favourable dry climate, and the unique caves and crevices have helped preserve the art which dates back as far back as 100,000 years.

San Paintings at Tsodilo Hills

The unique rock paintings visible at Tsodilo Hills

Nxamaseri is nestled along an ancient fossil river that once flowed from the Kavango River past the Tsodilo Hills. Today the channel connects Nxamaseri to the Panhandle of the Kavango River before it fans out to form the great Okavango Delta. Keen anglers will be attracted to the region as Botswana’s fishing hotspot for catch & release fishing for the fighting Tiger Fish.

“The addition of Nxamaseri Island Lodge is an exciting region for us to promote. Those with a good level of fitness can climb to the top of Botswana (1,400m/4,900ft asl) and travellers will feel enchanted by the presence of such impressive hills and the rich history they possess. The combination of the rocky hills amongst the harsh desert and the lush waterways with the forested islands of the Okavango panhandle makes Nxamaseri Island Lodge a prime destination. Our goal is to encourage international and regional travellers to explore the incredible cultural heritage we offer in Botswana in a manner that is environmentally and ecologically responsible and sustainable.” Enthuses, James Wilson, Marketing Director, Desert & Delta Safaris.

Fishing in the Okavango Delta with Nxamaseri Island Lodge

Desert & Delta Safaris will be including flight charter rates directly to the Nxamaseri airstrip through their sister company, Safari Air and have created several packages that combine key regions of the country to make it easier for international travellers to access this richly diverse region.

For booking information, please contact info@traveltonamibia.com

ABOUT DESERT & DELTA SAFARIS

One of the original safari operators in Botswana, founded in 1982, Desert & Delta Safaris’ nine camps are set in prime locations in northern Botswana’s famous game reserves and national parks with one just across the Chobe River in Namibia’s Eastern Zambezi Region. Together these luxurious lodges offer an outstandingly diverse safari experience whilst providing the personalised service and attention to detail for which Desert & Delta Safaris is known. Guests are immersed in a safari experience which develops an understanding of the animals, people, and geography of this magnificent country.

At the heart of the company is developing the human potential of tourism in Botswana. The CARES philosophy is the foundation on which Desert & Delta Safaris is built, highlighting their core values in developing human potential and building a sustainable tourism model. They employ approximately 337 staff members within the eight safari lodges and all the guides are recruited from nearby villages. The company places a strong focus on training through a highly successful skills development program as well as focusing on healthcare, environmental responsibility, and equality.

Purchase photo/4K video: portfolio1 portfolio2
Aerial photo/video service/inquiries: info@traveltonamibia.com

Monday, 11 May 2020

Botswana: update Desert & Delta Safaris

From Desert & Delta Safaris

Facebook:

NAMIBIA:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/namibia.namibia

TRAVEL NAMIBIA:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/travelnamibia

DRONE NAMIBIA:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/dronenamibia

TRAVEL TO NAMIBIA:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/traveltonamibia

Dear Industry Partner,

In this newsletter we are sharing with you very important news and updates.
We know your inbox has been flooded with updates and letters, so we decided to sit tight to deal with this challenge and provide one comprehensive update for you and your teams.

We’ll be sharing important information about our 2021 rates and exciting new packages, a few insights into camp changes/news and our most recent terms for new and existing bookings.

Our last few weeks, like so many others in tourism, have been extremely trying. Never have we been so busy as we spent days trying to keep abreast of a constantly changing situation, getting guests back to their countries swiftly and safely, deferring bookings to future dates and planning our own operations contingency plans as the extent of the impact of the pandemic unfolded.

We would simply like to say a HUGE thank you to all our partners for their patience during this time and well done for everyone’s collective effort in keeping our industry together. When things are better, we will look back on this crisis with lessons we've learned and we’ll be more united and stronger than ever before!

PROTECTING OUR PEOPLE - PROTECTING OUR NATURAL RESOURCES

With reduced income and trying times ahead we have had to make significant changes to our operations in the coming months. True to our CARES Philosophy we are ensuring all full-time staff members retain their jobs for the foreseeable future and will be remunerated generously during these times. It has taken us years of collective dedication and hard work to have so many local citizens in senior roles in our company, we want to protect that!

It is also fundamental to remember that each of our staff members have families to support and as a Responsible Tourism company we are committed to standing by our people.

Each camp remains operational despite the lack of guests. It is imperative we show a presence in these areas to keep the camps meticulously maintained, and protect the local ecosystem.

UPDATED TERMS

Important outtakes from the latest terms:
° We are offering deferment of travel for up to 12-months
° If your guests are unsure of exact new travel dates yet, we will hold dates 1-year out from the original dates for the time being. Amendments to these dates can be made up until 30 June 2020.
° New bookings made and confirmed between 28 February – 30 April 2020; You can cancel these bookings up to 14-days prior to travel should there be COVID-19 travel restrictions in place.
° Extended payment deadlines and lower cancellation fees extended to existing bookings to allow travellers peace of mind to ‘wait it out’.

2021 RATES

We have made the decision to hold our 2020 rates into 2021, making the Desert & Delta Safaris circuits and lodges your go-to, easy to sell, preferred safari supplier!

Don’t forget to take advantage of our unbeatable value packages, especially the 8-night and higher BODDS packages which boasts one free night and the 10-night or more BODDS packages which includes a FREE 20-minute helicopter scenic flip when booking either Camp Okavango or Xugana Island Lodge.

NEW COMMUNITY & CONSERVATION PACKAGE

We are excited to share with you our new Community & Conservation (CC) Package which will replace the Rhino Package for 2021.

This set 6-night itinerary covers a diversity of destinations with two night stays at Leroo La Tau, Camp Moremi/Camp Xakanaxa, and Chobe Savanna Lodge. The package offers guests the chance to witness the incredible zebra migration on the Boteti River, the diversity and exceptional game viewing of the Moremi Game Reserve and the renowned Chobe River from a remote location. A $10.00 per bed night contribution from every CC Package booked will go toward one of our many Corporate Social Responsibility Packages.

NEWS FROM THE CAMPS

Xugana Island Lodge underwent a refurbishment in February. Here’s a sneak peak of some of the changes and experiences at the lodge. The official photos of the refurbishment are postponed for the time being.

Don’t forget, it has only been a year since we totally rebuilt the main area at Savute Safari Lodge. Make sure you are familiar with the amazing results of this rebuild by checking out the Savute Safari Lodge image library and our social media platforms.

Missing the bush during this global lockdown? Be sure to get your fix of the floods on the Chobe River and what wildlife is coming down to drink on the two live webcams on the Chobe Game Lodge website here.

A reminder that all Desert & Delta Safaris camps which operate game drives have received brand new vehicles - now only 9 months old. Camps included are Savute Safari Lodge, Xugana Island Lodge, Camp Moremi, Camp Xakanaxa and Leroo La Tau.
Take care of yourselves and loved ones and just remember that tourism in Africa plays such a huge role in empowering the people and protecting the land. When borders start to open again and things improve, we should urge our travellers to keep their dream alive and visit Botswana!

We wish you strength and health through this process and look forward to continuing our working relations, making dreams come true through Botswana’s most celebrated and comprehensive safari circuit.

Warm Regards,
The Desert & Delta Safaris team

Chobe Game Lodge | Chobe Savanna Lodge | Savute Safari Lodge | Xugana Island Lodge
Camp Okavango | Camp Moremi | Camp Xakanaxa | Leroo La Tau
Purchase photo/4K video: portfolio1 portfolio2
Aerial photo/video service/inquiries: info@traveltonamibia.com