Botyburps

After coming across a faded random A4 sized poster outside a cafe in Ranfurly, Joy and James signed up with Self drive tours Botswana for a 35 day Grand Circuit of a country they have always wanted to visit together. Now we are retired (almost) we are looking to see the world. Joy had been to Botswana 50 years ago, just after they gained independence from being a British protectorate. Botswana was never colonised as it was a trade route used by all the countries surrounding it, and was very economically underdeveloped. Soon after gaining independence, diamonds were discovered and this has helped the country boom. There are 4 large game parks covering about 40% of the country which is about the size of France but only has 2.2 million people.

So, we have booked our self drive tour, accommodation and sightseeing excursions- all done by the company advertised in Ranfurly run by Graeme and Gillian Bremner- kiwis from Dunedin who have farming interests in Botswana (among other things). They are not Nigerian royal family – we checked! We are vaccinated, passported and packing to go on 29 April. Leaving Auckland business class on Qatar (thanks Craig!) via Doha and Johannesburg to Gaborone.

I will attach our itinerary and hope to blog daily with photos for our friends and family to follow.

101: James Leslie

2 adults | Grand Circuit i nerary

Car Rental: Hertz Toyota Corolla Cross Auto or similar

Start: Friday, 02 May 2025, Gaborone

End: Thursday, 05 June 2025,

Friday, 02 May 2025 Gaborone Aquarian Tide Standard Room Bed & Breakfast

–

(B&B)

Saturday, 03 May 2025 Gaborone Mokolodi Nature

Large Chalet Self-catering Night game drive

Reserve

Sunday, 04 May 2025 Gaborone Mokolodi Nature

Large Chalet Self-catering Crocodile Pools Boat trip

Reserve

Monday, 05 May 2025 Lobatse Firethorn Cottage Self-Catering

Self-catering –

Cottage

Tuesday, 06 May 2025 Lobatse Firethorn Cottage Self-Catering

Self-catering –

Cottage

Wednesday, 07 May 2025 Jwaneng Cresta Jwaneng Standard Room Bed & Breakfast

–

(B&B)

Thursday, 08 May 2025 Tsabong Tsabong Eco Camel

Executive Tent Self-catering –

Park

Friday, 09 May 2025 Tsabong Tsabong Eco Camel

Executive Tent Self-catering –

Park

Saturday, 10 May 2025 Kang Echo Lodge Executive with

Self-catering –

Aircon

Sunday, 11 May 2025 Ghanzi Thakadu Bush Lodge Chalet Bed & Breakfast

–

(B&B)

Monday, 12 May 2025 Ghanzi Thakadu Bush Lodge Chalet Bed & Breakfast

Bushman walk

(B&B)

Tuesday, 13 May 2025 Okavango

Nguma Lodge Ensuite Meru Tent Purchase meals

Transfer from Etsha 13 to

Delta

from the

Nguma Lodge

RestaurantWednesday, 14 May 2025 Okavango

Delta

Nguma Lodge Ensuite Meru Tent Purchase meals

from the

Restaurant

Boat Hire all day

Thursday, 15 May 2025 Shakawe Drotsky’s Cabins Cabin Dinner, B&B

(DBB)

Transfer from Nguma

Lodge to Etsha 13

Friday, 16 May 2025 Kongola,

Namibia

Mukolo Safari Camp Self-Catering

Cabin

Dinner, B&B

(DBB)

–

Saturday, 17 May 2025 Kongola,

Namibia

Mukolo Safari Camp Self-Catering

Cabin

Dinner, B&B

(DBB)

Boat cruise 3 hrs

Sunday, 18 May 2025 Muchenje Mwandi View Elevated Tented

Units

Dinner, B&B

(DBB)

–

Monday, 19 May 2025 Kasane Chobe Big5 Lodge Double Chalet Bed & Breakfast

(B&B)

Private Boat sunset

cruise, Chobe National

Park Fees

Tuesday, 20 May 2025 Kasane Chobe Big5 Lodge Double Chalet Bed & Breakfast

(B&B)

Vic Falls day trip

Wednesday, 21 May 2025 Kasane Chobe Big5 Lodge Double Chalet Bed & Breakfast

(B&B)

Private Game Drive

Chobe NP, Chobe

National Park Fees

Thursday, 22 May 2025 Lesoma Senyati Safari Camp Double Chalet Dinner, B&B

(DBB)

–

Friday, 23 May 2025 Gweta Gweta Lodge Luxury Room Bed & Breakfast

(B&B)

Nxai Pan full day

excursion

Saturday, 24 May 2025 Gweta Gweta Lodge Luxury Room Bed & Breakfast

(B&B)

Half-day Ntwetwe Pan

visit and meerkat

excursion

Sunday, 25 May 2025 Maun Island Safari Lodge Heritage Room Bed & Breakfast

(B&B)

–

Monday, 26 May 2025 Maun Island Safari Lodge Heritage Room Bed & Breakfast

(B&B)

-Tuesday, 27 May 2025 Orapa Makumutu Lodge Luxury Ensuite

Tent

Bed & Breakfast

(B&B)

45-minute Okavango

Delta Scenic Flight

Wednesday, 28 May 2025 Orapa Makumutu Lodge Luxury Ensuite

Tent

Bed & Breakfast

(B&B)

–

Thursday, 29 May 2025 Francistown Tantebane Self-Catering

Chalet

Self-catering Guide around Mosu

Friday, 30 May 2025 Francistown Tantebane Self-Catering

Chalet

Self-catering –

Saturday, 31 May 2025 Mathatane Selepswe Resort Double Room Bed & Breakfast

(B&B)

–

Sunday, 01 June 2025 Mathatane Selepswe Resort Double Room Bed & Breakfast

(B&B)

–

Monday, 02 June 2025 Tswapong

Hills

Goo-Moremi Gorge

Resort

Two-bedroom

chalet

Bed & Breakfast

(B&B)

–

Tuesday, 03 June 2025 Tswapong

Hills

Segaigai Farm Porcupine Cabin 1

room

Bed & Breakfast

(B&B)

Foraging & wild foods

dinner

Wednesday, 04 June

2025

Gaborone Aquarian Tide Standard Room Bed & Breakfast

(B&B)

–

Thursday, 05 June 2025 Fly Out – – – –