Botswana Luxury (7 days)

Luxurious Wilderness Vumbura Plains lies in an area that is a mix of water and dry land. The wildlife is diverse, so that both land and water activities on vehicles, mekoro and boats deliver an all-round African safari experience.

Wilderness Vumbura Plains comprises two separate but linked camps, consisting of a total of 14 raised, spacious rooms, unique and contemporary in design with indoor and outdoor showers and an en-suite bathroom. Additional features include a private plunge pool and 'sala’ –from where you can watch the passing parade of wildlife or even enjoy a relaxing soothing massage.

Explore the Channels on a boat ride along the calm waters of the Okavango Delta. This is another idyllic form of water wildlife viewing. Experience a mokoro ride. There is no better way of exploring the Okavango than by traditional mokoro (dugout canoe). These excursions reveal the fascinating smaller creatures of the Delta including colourful frogs and lively waterbirds. Swap your game drive for a guided nature walk and marvel at the smaller things you may miss when seated on a game vehicle.

Morning and afternoon game drives bring you closer to of the many thrilling interactions being played out in the wild. After-Dark Game Viewing on night drives with filtered spotlights allow you to find intriguing nocturnal animals.

Float above the Delta - take to the skies in style and soar silently over the rich ecosystem of the Okavango Delta in a hot air balloon.

Transfer to the heart of the Okavango. Luxurious Wilderness Jao is set amongst islands fringed with riverine forests and vast, floodplains with prolific wildlife. The camp (rebuilt in 2019) comprises a main area elevated into the tree canopy, two exclusive villas and five twins all with private plunge pools, lounge and dining areas, and en-suite bathrooms, including indoor and outdoor showers. The two Wilderness Jao Villas, accommodating four people each in two identical guest rooms, share a main area, and also have an exclusive vehicle, guide, chef and butler.

The fresh and contemporary design, in the same lovely location, continues the sense of adventure that Jao has always prized, adding an element of surprise and delight in ever-evolving sculptural and architectural language.

Underpinning it all is our commitment to the pristine environment around Jao, minimising our footprint and allowing our guests to experience the Delta in its fullest sense. Innovative insulation ensures comfort, while gauze and glass panels let natural light and the outside in. The suites and villas are cooled with a silent evaporative cooler, at a fraction of energy used by conventional air-conditioning, and Calore ‘fireplaces’ provide heating during the colder months.

Enjoy a full-day game drive, along with a picnic, on wildlife-rich Hunda Island. The game viewing at Jao is superb. Huge herds of red lechwe can be seen, followed by their primary predator – prides of lion. Other game typical of the area includes elephant, buffalo, leopard, tsessebe, zebra, hippo and crocodile as well as the uncommon sitatunga and spotted-necked otter. Many bird species are resident such as Meyer's parrot, African harrier hawk, black heron, coppery-tailed coucal, and black crake being some of the avian treasures found at Jao.

Take to the water again - at Jao we have two glass-bottomed mekoro for an extraordinary above-water experience! A boating excursion allows us to reach and explore the more distant waterways and clear, deep channels.

In the afternoon, visit Wilderness Jao’s museum and gallery, with its emphasis on learning and knowledge sharing of the area.

Tucked away under magnificent African ebony trees overlooking cool, calm water, the Jao Spa is an enchanting setting where you can rest and feel utterly restored. Choose from a full menu of spa therapies and massage treatments.

Transfer to Maun for your onward journey.