| Duration: | 7 Day(s) - 6 Night(s) |
| Tour Category: | Culture Tours |
Main features: You will experience village life in Botswana, meet local people and learn something about the social history and democratic system, and go on guided tours with the Bushmen in the Kalahari with guided safaris inside Khutse Game Reserve.
DAY 1: ARRIVAL
Arrive at the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport, where you will be meeting our guides to pick you up at your lodge. Upon arrival before lunch, you will have lunch at the lodge and later after lunch go on a City Tour around Gaborone, visit interesting places such as the Three Chiefs Monument, view the new High Court of Botswana building, view the parliament buildings and the statue of Sir Seretse Khama(firsts president of Botswana), View the set of the No.1 Ladies Detective. Arrive back at the lodge before dark.
MEALS: Lunch & Dinner
ACCOMMODATION: The Big 5 Lodge
DAY 2: FULL-DAY ART & CRAFT TOUR
The route takes us into rural Botswana about fifty kilometers to the north of Gaborone. We pass through two villages, Oodi and Mochudi. At Lentswe la Oodi weavers you have an opportunity to visit the workshop and talk to the village women weaving the tapestries which depict village life.
OODI WEAVERS
Mochudi, home of the Bakgatla people, is now well known as the birthplace of Mma Ramotswe the ‘First Lady Detective’. We drive up into the hills to the Phuthadikobo Museum. As well as the historic displays the building houses a screen printing workshop and a good gift shop. The displays include old photos and artifacts which together show social history and the changes in African village life.
PHUTHA-DI-KOBO MUSEUM
The panoramic views from the museum are quite spectacular and we pause to take refreshments in these peaceful surroundings. Those wishing to stretch their legs can take a short walk down the hill to the village ‘Of Kgotla’. This traditional institution continues to play an important part in Tswana village life and its function will be explained.
Lunch is taken either at a restaurant in the village which offers a choice of tasty local dishes or at an ‘international’ restaurant in Gaborone heading south along the new dual carriageway and back to Gaborone, we continue to Manyana village to view Stone Age rock paintings and the massive tree where Dr. David Livingstone preached.
The circular route through this attractive hill country is completed with a visit to an art and crafts complex in another picturesque village.
MANYANA ROCK PAINTINGS
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
ACCOMMODATION: The Big 5 Lodge
DAY 3: VILLAGE TOUR
After breakfast depart the lodge and head south of Gaborone to a village 75km called Ranaka. By arrival, you will be welcomed by your host family Mr. Mothibedi, who is a well-known member of the community. Enjoy the brief introduction to this interesting family as they share with you the lifestyle of people around the village. Later on, the day takes a tour of the village to the ‘Kgotla’ and meets the chief of the village.
You will sit in the courtyard and learn more about the village culture, and interesting facts about the Botswana Chiefs. After the tour to the Kgotla hear back to the home, see and learn how they prepare your dinner on the fire, and take the opportunity to help cook an African dish on fire. After dinner arrange with your guide on wake-up time and breakfast time.
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
ACCOMMODATION: With home-stead, on mattresses and sleeping bags
DAY 4: 14 km WALKING SAFARI
Early wake-up call with a hot drink and after breakfast, again prepared on the fire, set off into a deep gorge and then onto the Lohawa Hills which loom over Ranaka. This is the most rugged section of the walking trek with a short scramble out of the gorge. The next section over the top of the hills is wild, with no footpath, a compass bearing 60. The Kolobeng River rises in the valley beneath the prominent Pyetle Hill.
Even during the dry season this area is moist and is a habitat for rare orchids. The local guide will point out plants, animal life, and other things of interest. Following the river valley through a well-wooded landscape, you make it to the daily destination, an old cattle post, soon after midday.
After lunch, the owners of the cattle post will show you around explaining traditional farming techniques. There may be an opportunity to help with the harvest, depending on the season. Later there is an opportunity to help prepare the evening meal or to walk up to a viewing point and watch the sun go down while collecting firewood. That evening, there is little sign of the 21st century.
This is a setting in which little has changed for generations. [Walking distance 14kms]
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch snacks, Tea, Dinner
ACCOMMODATION: With home-stead, on mattresses and sleeping bags
WATER ONLY FOR COOKING AND DRINKING
DAY 5: TRAVEL TO KHUTSE
After breakfast leave the cattle post to Khutse 210km from Gaborone, which has short stops on the way to stretch legs, and arrive at Khutse Kalahari Lodge before lunch or just in time for lunch. Have the opportunity to take a bath as well as a deep into the Lodge pool. Later that evening go out of the lodge on a short bushwalk with the Bushmen guides. Learn as they teach you hunting and gathering skills. View the Kalahari Desert sun as it falls as you return to the lodge.
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
ACCOMODATION: Khutse Kalahari Lodge
DAY 6: GAME DRIVE AND TRAVEL BACK TO GABORONE
Wake up early for a morning game drive into the Khutse Game Reserve. View the different types of desert animals, and with the possibility of seeing the black manned Lion. Arrive back at the lodge for breakfast and after breakfast return to Gaborone. Arrive in Gaborone late afternoon.
MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner
ACCOMMODATION: The Big 5 Lodge
DAY 7: RETURN HOME
Check out at the Lodge and our guides will transport you to the airport.
