African Wildlife and Environment Issue 67

DESTINATION

One-stop shop for self-drive visitors Due to the slightly complicated arrangement where there is no centralised reservations office covering all public and community campsites, it is sometimes better to contact a booking agent such as McKenzie 4x4 for park bookings. They also hire out 4x4s, and have a very useful vehicle recovery service (for breakdowns). Contact details as follows: • McKenzie 4x4 Tel: +267 6861875 info@botswanaselfdrive4x4.com www.mckenzie4x4.com Other options The Okavango Panhandle is a prime birding area where many ‘Okavango specials’ can be seen. The following places are recommended: • Drotsky’s Cabins Tel: +267 6875035 E-mail: drotsky@botsnet.bw • Lawdon’s Tel: +267 6875035 E-mail: drotskys@info.bw • Xaro Lodge Tel: +267 72610064 E-mail: xarolodge@info.bw For boat trips to the heronries in Moremi, contact: • Okavango Boating/Ngami Marine Tel: +267 6860364 E-mail: nm@info.bw Game-viewing flights • Mack Air Tel: +267 6860675 E-mail: reservations@mackair.co.bw Accommodation in Maun en-route to/from the Delta • Artists and Birders Retreat Tel: +267 71675175 or 74731553 E-mail: okavangoceramics@gmail.com • River Nest Luxury Cottages Tel: +267 6840400

Travel Advisory Treat yourself to a flight over the Delta and you will be enthralled at its immensity and near-pristine beauty; follow hunting lions or African wild dogs while on a game drive and experience the thrill of the chase; take an intimate mokoro ride across floodplains strewn with water lilies and decorated with Pygmy geese and jewel like reed frogs. Up-market safari companies There are many reputable safari companies operating up-market lodges in the Okavango, including &Beyond, Desert and Delta Safaris (Chobe Holdings), Ngamiland Adventure Safaris, Okavango Wilderness Safaris and Sanctuary Lodges, among others. There are also numerous mobile safari operators such as Birding Botswana, Bona Safari Services, Kalahari Skies, Royale Wilderness Safaris and Elephant Trails, among others. For more information, visit the Botswana Tourism Organisation website www.botswanatourism.co.bw. Public campsites in Moremi Game Reserve Visits to public campsites in Moremi can be booked through the Parks and Reserves Reservations Offices (PARRO) run by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, although many campsites have been privatised. The details are as follows: • PARRO Gaborone Tel: +267 3180774 E-mail: dwnp@gov.bw • PARRO Maun Tel: +267 6861265 The two above-mentioned Reservations Offices are pay points for entrance and camping fees, since payments are no longer accepted at the entrance gates. In addition, there are pay points at the Department of Wildlife and National Parks offices in major towns throughout the country, as follows: Tshabong, Kang, Ghanzi, Kasane, Letlhakane and Francistown. Bookings for privatized campsites in Moremi are as follows: • Kwalate Safaris Tel: +267 6861448 E-mail: kwalatesafari@gmail.com This company manages campsites and does bookings for Maxwee (South Gate) and Xakanaxa in Moremi and Tel: +267 6865365/6 and +267 6250113 E-mail: reservations@sklcamps.co.bw sklcamps@botsnet.bw This company manages and does bookings for campsites at Khwai (North Gate) in Moremi. • Xomae Group Tel: +267 6862221 E-mail: xomaesites@botsnet.bw Community campsites • Mogotho campsite, Khwai Development Trust Tel: +267 6801211 E-mail: khwai@botsnet.bw • Kaziikini campsite, Sankuyo Trust Tel: +267 75662865 E-mail: santawanistmt@botsnet.bw Ihaha in Chobe. • SKL Camps

E-mail: rivernestmaun@gmail.com reservations@rivernestcottages.com

• The Kraal Lodgings Tel: +267 72320090

E-mail: liversedge@info.bw • Thamalakane River Lodge

Tel: +267 6800217 or +267 6864313 E-mail: reservations@thamalakane.com General Travel Services • Endurance Travel Tel: 6863643 E-mail: endurancetravel@gmail.com reservations@endurancesafaris.com

• Tete Travel

Tel: +267 6863239 Cell: +267 71471908 and + 267 72648132 E-mail: tetetravel@botsnet.bw

Peter Hancock Wildlife Ecologist who has worked on ecosystem management in the Okavango Delta for the past 20 years birdlifemaun@gmail.com

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