The Five Rivers Safari.  A journey we designed to forever stay with you, an adventure in discovery, an opportunity to truly explore our wilderness and experience our African contrasts – water and thirstlands.

Fifteen Days. Driving yourself through the bush, camping next to five desert rivers, setting out on the water in simple dugout canoes and luxury houseboats, being pampered and challenged, Africa as few have ever experienced it. A professional guide, safari chef, and camp assistant to take care of all your needs.

Self Drive Adventures. You drive your adventure; we take care of the details.

Your Five Rivers itinerary:

Day one – Maun
You are met at Maun International Airport by a member of Self Drive Adventures and transferred to your hotel. In the afternoon, all driver participants are collected for the driver and vehicle orientation course. Once completed, return to your hotel to spend an evening with your guide, going over your routes, having your questions answered, and programming your GPS.

Optional extra
We can additionally arrange a game flight over the Okavango Delta. This will give you an idea of the beauty and the enormity of the area you will be travelling through. Please note that this flight is not included in the safari price.

Day two – Moremi Game Reserve – Third Bridge campsite
Departure from your hotel is 08.00. All vehicles, fully equipped and supplied with food and drinks, will be waiting for you at reception at 07.00. Your guide and the safari chef, who will lead your tour in their own vehicle, will meet you.
After packing your luggage and accounting for everyone, you will set off to the famous Moremi Game Reserve and the Third Bridge campsite. The drive will take most of the morning, mainly through the reserve where game abounds. The group will stop for a tea break just before entering the reserve.
On arrival at Third Bridge your camp will be set up and a light lunch served.
After a siesta those interested will go on a game drive in the surrounding area; those who might wish to stay in camp and rest are welcome to do so.
Everyone will be back by sunset. The fire will be lit, it is time for our famous sundowners with ice cold drinks and our chef will be preparing dinner with the help of those ambitious in learning the art of cooking on an open fire.
After dinner relax around the campfire, listening to the night sounds of wild Africa.

Day 3: Moremi Game Reserve – Xaxanaka campsite
After a hearty breakfast we depart to Xaxanaka campsite via an extended morning game drive. We arrive at the campsite at ten, setting up camp. While our staff stays in camp, the personnel of Xaxanaka boat station will be at your service to take you on an afternoon boat cruise on the Khwai River to the heronry. A light lunch and drinks will be on board. Here you will view the spectacular bird life of the wetlands, as well as crocodiles, hippos and all the game coming to drink on the river.
As sunset approaches, our chef will be waiting with sundowners and a roaring campfire. Relax after a full day as our guide elaborates on the culture and folklore of Botswana.

Day 4: Khwai Community Concession – Mogoto campsite
After an early breakfast we follow and cross the Khwai River to Mogoto campsite in the Khwai Community Concession. We set up camp and after a light lunch, it is off in the vehicles to explore the Khwai River from its northern side. Game abounds and there are fewer driving restrictions in this wildlife management area. Lion and elephant come very close to the camp; enjoy these spectacular scenes from your camp chair. Today we have an early dinner, as we will be doing a night drive through the area to see nocturnal animals in their natural habitat. Caracal, lion, leopard, hyena and serval cats hunt at night and are not easily spotted during daytime. Honey badgers, mongooses and the “African kangaroo” - the springhare - abound and are active. As we return to camp, the chef will have a nightcap ready before we settle in for the night.

Day 5: Chobe National Park – Savuti Camp
Our destination today is Savuti Camp. After our by now usual morning routine, we head off towards the Mababe depression in the Chobe National Park. This is a more challenging drive, as the sandy track will make progress slow. Yet it is a beautiful area and we appreciate the changes in scenery from one kilometre to the next. We have our tea break at the Mababe Gate and then proceed towards Savuti Camp. The Savuti flood plains have dried out due to tectonic activity in the earth’s crust. Thus the Kalahari Desert is starting to reclaim this area on the one hand, while on the other swamp vegetation still abounds. Savuti is known for its lion prides and elephant herds. As there are large patches of open veldt, the chances are very good in spotting cheetah in their preferred environment. There are two tracks leading to the campsite, and depending on the season, we choose either the marsh route or the sand ridge.

We arrive at the campsite and after checking in with the Department of Wildlife, we proceed to set up camp and the chef will prepare a light lunch. After a siesta we set off to explore the area. We return to the camp at sundown to ice cold drinks and a roaring fire. Dinner is then served and we relax around the campfire.

Day 6: Linyanti National Park – Linyanti campsite
Our route takes us to the Linyanti River and its flood plains. The Linyanti River is an extension of the Kwando, which flows through Namibia into its own swamp. Game abounds and we will see a unique and completely separate wetland. The drive is not that far, but very heavy going, so it will be a challenge for every driver. We reach the campsite and set up camp, while all participants explore the Linyanti up to the Kachikau village. Sundowners are served and we enjoy another sunset on a different river. The chef will prepare dinner and we turn in.

Day 7: Chobe National Park – Ihaha campsite
On departure from the Linyanti area, we drive into the Chobe National Park to the Ihaha campsite, which lies directly on the river. With the backdrop of a number of hills, game is visible over large areas and you can see the elephants trekking towards the water from kilometres away. Buffalo and hippo abound and you get to see most of Chobe’s wildlife from your camp chair. After setting up camp, we explore the riverfront towards Kasane and follow the game on their routes. The chef will travel to Kasane and restock the kitchen and the bar. He will have a roaring fire burning and dinner will be served after sundowners.

Day 8: Chobe National Park- Ihaha campsite
We rise very early to a light breakfast. After our routine vehicle maintenance we explore the Chobe National Park. Most game will be visible as the sun rises, so we are expecting, among many other species, to see rare Roan and Sable Antelopes. We return to camp for a brunch, after which the more adventurous might go for another game drive.

Late afternoon a sunset cruise on the Chobe River is on the cards, while the chef prepares dinner.

Day 9: Caprivi – Mudumu National Park
After an early breakfast we leave the Chobe Park for Namibia and the eastern Caprivi via Ngoma Bridge. We follow the Linyanti from the Namibian side and set up camp in the Mudumu National Park. This forms part of the Kwando wetlands and is a unique swampland all on its own. We experience Namibian hospitality and settle down to some Windhoek Lager and Namibian culinary specialities.

Day 10: Caprivi - Mahangu National Park
Our route takes us through the Susuwe triangle, and we rejoin the tar road between Katima Mulilo and Rundu. At Bagani we turn off towards the Mahangu National Park, which leads back to the Botswana border on the western side of the Okavango Delta. In the Mahangu National Park we visit the Mahangu Lodge, where an afternoon boat trip awaits us. We enjoy another night of Namibian hospitality. Our chef has a well-deserved night off and we enjoy dinner at the lodge.

Day 11 & 12: Okavango panhandle - Seronga
We leave Namibia today via the Mohembo border crossing and return to Botswana. On the Botswana side, we cross the Okavango River northwards on a ferry and travel towards Seronga, a large village on the northern side of the Okavango Delta. This trip is about 120 kms, and as the road is rather bad, it will take us most of the morning. On arrival in Seronga we are met by the Okavango Houseboats staff at the mooring station. Before embarking on a completely different adventure, a light lunch will be served.

The houseboat casts off its moorings and travels upstream. Our staff wave goodbye, as they do not accompany you on this part of your adventure. (While you enjoy these two days on the water, our staff does vehicle and equipment maintenance, laundry and re-supply to make sure everything is shipshape on your return). On the houseboat you will enjoy fishing, excursions on motorboat and mekoro, and get acquainted with Hambukush culture, the predominant tribe in this area.

Day 13: Okavango panhandle - Shakawe
On return from the houseboat we retrace our route back towards Mohembo. After re-crossing the Okavango River, we turn off at Drotsky’s Cabins for the next leg of our adventure. Jan and Eileen Drotsky welcome us and after some refreshments and lunch, we embark on a river trip by boat. There is a tremendous variety of bird life on this part of the river, and we hope to catch a glimpse of the elusive and rare Pel’s Fishing Owl. On return from the boat trip, our chef prepares a scrumptious meal on the fire.

Day 14: Okavango panhandle - Tsodilo Hills
The Tsodilo Hills are some 100 kms from Shakawe, where we will set up camp for our last night of this adventure. While our staff prepares the camp, the group, under leadership of our guide, explore the Tsodilo Hills. There are 4 hills, including two small villages, one Hambukush and one Bushman. Archaeologists have established that human occupation of these hills has lasted for over 100,000 years; there are many Bushman paintings and a recent exiting discovery of ancient mines. There are six paths that lead into and around the Hills. There is a museum on site, which enhances the understanding of the significance of these Hills to the various groups of people who have lived here. Signs of a small lake have been found, explaining the reason for human habitation for such a long period. The Tsodilo Hills have been established as a World Heritage Site.

Our chef prepares a special last dinner, before we sit around the campfire and reminisce and recap our adventure.

Day 15: Maun
Our road takes us back to the main North – South road, which will lead us back to Maun. This trip will take about 5 hours and we arrive in Maun in the early afternoon. We stop at your hotel, where Self Drive Adventure staff will be waiting to collect the vehicles from you. After checking in, we say our goodbyes and leave you in the capable hands of your hotel staff who will transfer you to the airport the following morning for your return flight home.