Chitabe Botswana Safaris

The Chitabe team have outdone themselves in creating the perfect ambiance. We were made to feel like part of the family. the food was superb and the game fantastic. We will return. B.S. and V.K/, USA

Vacationtechnician personalized luxury adventure travel transports you to the most exquisite wilderness and chill out retreats on Earth. Conserving rare biodiversity through low volume tourism; our aim is your indulgence -at no one's expense. Plan now to be assured a rejuvenating escape at a restful pace -to an unspoilt gem in the purest sense.

Botswana Safari Field Reports
Meet our expert Botswana Safari Guides

" best guides = best safaris ~ a bad guide in the best camp will ruin your safari."

Camp Description: Chitabe (pronounced Chitaabee) is located in a 28000 hectare photographic reserve alongside the Moremi Game Reserve. The reserve's boundary in the east is the Gomoti Channel and the Santantadibe River in the west. The area is made up of a superb variety of habitats, which include waterways and marshlands, dry acacia and mopane woodland, riverine areas, open grasslands and seasonally flooded plains. Chitabe has the classic Okavango scenery. Chitabe offers guests game drives in open 4x4 vehicles during the day and at night, as well as nature walks. This is not a water activities camp. Chitabe has been operational since 1997 and has developed an outstanding reputation.

The camp itself is situated on one of the most beautiful islands in the Delta. Surrounded by ancient ebony, leadwood and sausage trees, Chitabe offers eight luxurious, twin~bedded, East African style tents, built on elevated wooden decks under a lush canopy of indigenous trees. Each luxury tent has en suite facilities with hot and cold running water. A separate thatched dining room, pub, lounge and pool area is linked by raised walkways. The raised decks offer superb views over the open floodplain in front of the camp.

Game Viewing Wildlife seen here includes Elephant, Buffalo, Lion, Leopard and Cheetah. Wild Dog are among the major game attractions of the area. Guests should also see Zebra, Reedbuck, Red Lechwe, Impala, and all the plains game. Night drives can be very rewarding, giving rare opportunities to view animals such as Pangolin, Civet Cat, Genet Cat, Porcupine and Aardwolf.

Chitabe (and Chitabe Trails) is owned by Dave and Hélène Hamman, two well~known and respected characters in the Okavango. Dave and Hélène have managed a number of camps in Botswana. It was during their time at Mombo that they really became enthusiastic about wild dogs. They got to know individual dogs and started to follow them on a daily basis and learnt more of their life histories, their trials and tribulations. Three years later they co~produced the book Running Wild ~ Dispelling the Myths of the African Wild Dog, the definitive book on these wonderful animals. Dave's passion for photography and his knowledge of the dogs made him the logical choice to be the cameraman for National Geographic's documentary on the wild dog of the Okavango. They have moved on from Mombo and now have built and own Chitabe ~ camps which are in an area where wild dog are regularly sighted. Hélène oversees the day to day operation from their Maun base, while Dave still spends much of his time on assignment with National Geographic's photographers.

Wild Dog Conservation Fund A portion of the accommodation charges from each guest goes towards a wild dog conservation fund which Chitabe has established. Dr Tico McNutt began the wild dog research project in 1989, with a study area of about 3000 square kilometres. About 160 wild dogs in ten to twelve packs inhabit this region. Chitabe is part of this study area.

Client Comments

The rooms were so comfortable and had a pleaseant atmosphere. The food was fantastic; the table settings so beautiful. I like the way the day was arranged so that there was a lot of time for the game drives. The total ambience of the camp was wonderfol a real "get away from it all" place.
B.B. & C.B., USA

Chitabe Trails what a camp ( long may you keep a few like this) The staff were simply the best, cheerful, friendly and great fun. Carol and Kerry , how luck you are to have such "stars" nothing was too much trouble. Ben is an exceptional guide and his knowledge of birds was second to none. A special place indeed!
P.S.,UK

The Chitabe team have outdone themselves in creating the perfect ambiance. We were made to feel like part of the family. the food was superb and the game fantastic. We will return. B.S. and V.K/, USA

CHITABE CAMP

Fact File:

In a private reserve, South eastern Okavango Delta
Moremi Game Reserve borders the north and east.

PRICING

January - end June - shoulder rates
July - end October - highest prices
November - end December - shoulder rates

ACCOMMODATION

Number of tents: 8 luxury tented rooms consisting of:
7 twin bedded tents
1 kingsize-bedded honeymoon tent
1 twin guide room in staff quarters, 2 single beds, more rustic, en-suite facilities.
This camp can accommodate 16 guests with tour leader.

Tent details:
o Tents on raised decks
o All tents are mosquito proof
o Door entrances
o En-suite facilities within tent
o Fans in all guest tents
o Soaps, shampoos and insect repellents are supplied in each room

CAMP DESCRIPTION

Communal Area:
o On raised wooden platforms & walkways linking communal area with tents.
o There is a lounge and diningroom, both under thatch as well as an area for after dinner campfires.
o Plunge pool
o Curio Shop

GAME VIEWING

The area is a combination of open grasslands, dry forest and shallow waterways. Therefore gameviewing is varied. Buffalo, elephant, lion, warthog, lechwe, hippo, leopard, cheetah, tsessebe, serval, aardwolf and wild dog plus all the plains game.

ACTIVITIES

Game Drives:
o Land game drives in open 4x4 Land Rovers - the camp has 3x 10-seater Land Rovers each accommodating a maximum of 7 guests, allowing all guests an outside seat.
o Night drives with spot light.

Walking Safaris:
o Walking Safaris are offered from camp on a request basis.
o There is a hide within walking distance of the camp.

Water Activities:
o Guests see lots of water and in years of high water levels (like 2000), Chitabe can offer mokoro safaris.

SUGGESTED DAILY ACTIVITY SCHEDULE

All times are a guide only. Times can and do change depending on local conditions.

summer/winter
05h00/06h00 - Wake up call. Light continental breakfast consisting of cereals, tea/coffee/juices and pastries to be served in the dining area.
05h30/06h30 - Depart on morning activity, returning to camp at approximately 10h00.
10h00/11h00 - Brunch wil be served, this will consist of a selection of breakfast and lunch dishes. From now until afternoon tea, guests are at leisure.
16h00/15h00 - Afternoon tea is served - this consists of a selection of sweet and savoury snacks.
16h30/15h30 - Depart on afternoon game viewing activity - drinks and snacks will be served for sundowners during the course of the activity.
19h30/19h00 - Return to camp after dark so guests have a night drive (but could be later if there are good game sitings).
20h00/19h30 - Pre-dinner drinks and snacks are served at the pub.
20h30/20h00 - Three course dinner - generally speaking the starter and desert is served, whilst the main course is buffet style.

21h30/21h00 - Coffee and liqueurs will be served at the camp fire.

ELECTRICITY & WATER

o Camp has a 220v generator. Electricity is run in the kitchen and main areas when guests are not in camp. When guests return from daily activities, generators generally switched off (for peace in camp).
o 12v battery power (charged by the generator) is used for lighting and fans in each guest tent 24hrs a day. Hairdryers etc cannot work here.
o Video battery can be charged by the generator when guests on game drives. Hence bring spare battery and charging unit.
o Solar heated water for showers etc.

DRINKS POLICY

All local drinks beers, wines and mineral water are included in the nightly tariff, with the exception of premium wines & champagne, and premium liqueurs & spirits.

LAUNDRY POLICY

Laundry is done on a daily basis and inclusive in the nightly tariff with the exception of 'smalls' ie underwear, which are not washed due to local customs.

EXTRAS PAYMENT

Curios and or imported drinks will be billed to the guest and settled on check out. Payment can be effected by cash (US$), travellers' cheques or the following credit cards: Visa or MasterCard. If guests feel that they want to tip, our recommended tipping schedule is as follows:
Guides - US$5.00 per person per day
General Camp Staff - US$3.00 per person per day
Specialist Guides (if applicable) - US$10.00 per person per day
(This is the suggested gratuity schedule only and is subject to service standards)

FLYING TIMES

to/from Maun 20 minutes
to/from Kasane 1hr 20 minutes
Kasane to Victoria Falls 20 minutes but allow additional time for customs and immigration

AIR STRIP DETAILS

Located 20 minutes' drive from camp
Licensed for heavier aircraft up to 5700kg MAUW (maximum all up weight), can take aircraft up to King Air size.
Air strip co-ordinates: S19.27.86, E023.22.45

Botswana Safari Field Reports
Meet our expert Botswana Safari Guides

" best guides = best safaris ~ a bad guide in the best camp will ruin your safari."

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