FACT FILE SELINDA ADVENTURE TRAIL · The distance of the Selinda Adventure Trail differs depending on whether it is a walking or canoeing adventure. Walking distance is just over

A FOUR DAY HELI-CANOEING/HELI-WALKING EXPEDITION ALONG THE SELINDA SPILLWAY

The high waters flowing through northern Botswana in 2009, together with subtle tectonic movements, caused the waters of the Okavango River to flow in a way that it has not done for nearly three decades, pushing east along the previously dry Selinda Spillway to meet the waters of the Linyanti in the west. This enabled adventurers the opportunity to experience a rare first, canoeing along the Selinda Spillway.

As the waters of the Selinda Spillway ebb and flow each year, some years with higher flood levels than others, so the name of the Selinda Canoe Trail was changed to reflect a more inclusive guided walking safari and is thus now known as the Selinda Adventure Trail.

The Selinda Adventure Trail team is run under the guidance of professional guides and occasionally led by Kane Motswana, a River Bushmen from the Gudikwa village located in Botswana’s Okavango Panhandle – an area to the west of the Selinda Reserve. Your guide’s intimate knowledge of the bush curates a memorable physical, spiritual and cultural journey through the wilderness.

The trail replicates the safari experiences of old as we chart a course along the Selinda Spillway and into the remote woodlands of the vast 320,000 acre Selinda Reserve. As over previous year’s we are always mindful of the climatic variances and changes that naturally occur in our remote locations. Following the ecosystem’s natural changes along the Selinda Spillway during the course of 2017, we have adapted the experience for 2018 to a 4 Day / 3 Night adventure.

The experience either entails a traditional canoe and walking safari following the route, whilst exploring side channels of the Selinda Spillway (subject to high-enough water levels); or a pure guided walking safari following a similar route (should the Spillway be dry or too shallow to canoe).

Please make sure you arrive at the Selinda Reserve airstrip by lunch-time on day 1 of the Adventure Trail so that you are able to join us on the scheduled helicopter air transfer which takes you to the starting point of your 4 day adventure. This may require you to overnight prior to commencement of the Selinda Adventure Trail, ideally at one of our camps such as Duba Expedition Camp or Duba Plains Camp.

The distance of the Selinda Adventure Trail differs depending on whether it is a walking or canoeing adventure. Walking distance is just over a total of 20 kilometers over the 4 days and canoeing is approximately 40 kilometers over the 4 days. Along either route we expect to come across several diverse species of wildlife that inhabit the Selinda Reserve. The area is well known for some of Botswana’s largest herds of buffalo, elephant, roan antelope and African wild dog.

W W W . G R E A T P L A I N S C O N S E R V A T I O N . C O M / I N F O @ G R E A T P L A I N S C O N S E R V A T I O N . C O M

FACT FILE SELINDA ADVENTURE TRAIL NORTHERN BOTSWANA

Other possible sightings include cheetah, lion, leopard and a wide variety of other species. It is also a birder’s paradise with over 300 species possibly seen. The best time of year for canoeing is generally mid-June to end of August but water levels vary annually.

All three nights are spent in fly camps along the Selinda Spillway at pre-arranged sites. The days are spent paddling or walking along the Spillway and into the woodlands of the reserve, depending on which option is available at that time, with regular stops whenever there is something of interest to be seen along the way.

When canoeing, each canoe has two guests as well as their bed-rolls and soft bags. Participants paddle their own canoes each day. No previous paddling, canoeing or walking safari experience is needed as tuition and safety briefings are given – but participants must be fit enough to paddle their own canoes and be prepared to walk between camps when water levels are not sufficiently high on the Selinda Spillway.

Guests are not expected to put up their tents or help with the cooking and camp chores as our staff are always on hand to ensure your meals are spent relaxing. Walk-in canvas Kodiak tents are provided as they are comfortable and large enough for two people. Separate screened bucket showers with hot and cold water are also supplied.

When walking each guest will be supplied with a day backpack, which will include water and snacks. An armed, qualified walking guide as well as an experienced tracker will be with you at all times as you explore the banks of the Spillway as well as the more remote areas of the Selinda Reserve.

Walking is an integral component of the adventure and allows for access to new islands and lagoons. Even when you are on a canoe safari, each day includes walking experiences to investigate areas of regular predator activity or wildlife sightings. In addition if there happens to be wildlife activity that warrants investigation whilst canoeing, we stop on the banks and take a short walk into the bush.

Brunch is taken around mid-morning and light snacks are available throughout the day for sustenance until dinner. At night, the deep silence is punctuated by nocturnal sounds, from croaking frogs to roaring lion or the hyena’s whooping call.

On the last morning of the Selinda Adventure Trail, after a short morning walk or canoe, we end with a relaxed game drive from your final camp to the Selinda Airstrip for your onward departure. Ideally you could and should elect to stay on for an additional night or two at our Selinda Explorers Camp, Selinda Camp or Zarafa Camp and Dhow Suite.

The Selinda Adventure Trail truly defines adventure whilst bringing you closer to nature and creating a sense of being immersed within the wilderness.


SELINDA ADVENTURE TRAIL NORTHERN BOTSWANA



Rendezvous Point(Canoeing Start Point)

NIGHT 1

Selinda Explorer’sCamp

NIGHT 2 & 3

GUIDEThe entire trail is guided and hosted by professional and passionate walking and canoeing guides, who have extensive experience in big game areas and excellent interpretive skills to bring the environment alive. Your guide is armed for safety whilst on the water, during your walks and whilst in the camp.

EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCEThe Selinda Spillway is an ideal setting for this canoeing or walking adventure safari. The route begins downstream from the Selinda airstrip in the north-east of the Okavango Delta and migrates eastwards along the Selinda Spillway through the private 320 000-acre Selinda Reserve, ending near Selinda Explorers Camp.

ITINERARYDAY 1: On arrival at the starting point of the adventure trail along the spillway, your guide will brief the group, before taking guests on a short, late-afternoon walk or canoe paddle to aclimatise to your surroundings before arriving at your first night in camp, where the evening is spent around the fire discussing the adventures that lie ahead.

DAY 2: After an early wake-up call, tea or coffee and a light breakfast is served, before we head off on foot or canoe along the Selinda Spillway enjoying the natural splendours of the Selinda Reserve as they appear before us.

Dependant on water levels, most of the day will be spent canoeing, with a few stops before lunch is served en route to the fly camp for that night. A lunch stop is served en route and if the water

levels are too low, the group will then head “inland”, exploring on foot, before arriving at our second camp which will be your base for the next two nights.

DAY 3: An early breakfast fuels us for a morning of exploration as we head off on foot, to remote meanders of the complex Selinda Spillway. Expect to see antelope a plenty and large herds of elephant and buffalo; a truly humbling experience. The length of day is tailored around the wildlife in the areas, with cold refreshments and a lunch stop.

DAY 4: Our last morning is a final canoe or walk to the trail-end along the Selinda Spillway. From there we take a slow paced game drive allowing you to see as much wildlife as possible before you get to our airstrip. Once at the airstrip we share our highlights one final time and bid farewell to the adventure.

PRE-TOUR INFORMATION & REQUIREMENTS SELINDA ADVENTURE TRAILWe look forward to hosting you at the Selinda Adventure Trail in Botswana in the near future. In order to ensure that you have the best experience possible, we ask that you read the following information carefully.

GROUP SIZEThis safari is guaranteed on a set scheduled departure basis with a maximum group size of eight guests and minimum of two guests. Private and flexible tailor-made safaris where a group books out an entire departure are welcomed and encouraged.



On the canoe safari, each canoe will have two guests, their bedrolls and soft luggage bags.

Participants paddle their own canoes or walk to their campsite each day.

No previous paddling or canoeing experience is needed as tuition will be given – but participants must be fit enough to paddle their own canoes.

On the walking safari, guests will be lead by an armed, experienced walking guide as well as a knowledgeable tracker. All luggage and equipment will be taken by road to the following night’s campsite. Guests will be given a camelback daypack for hydration purposes.

STAFFEach safari will be hosted by between four and six staff members. There is usually one cook, three camp hands and our armed, experienced guide (and tracker if on the walking safari).

When on our canoe safari experience our staff will be in their own canoes with most of the equipment, although we may spread the weight of drinks and food for the day and other gear throughout all the canoes.

AGE LIMITWe recommend children join us from the age of 14 due to the daily walking distances that we can enjoy. For guests with children from 10 - 13 years, we look forward to consulting with you to create a private

tailor-made safari, which may be subject to an additional cost.

VEHICLESAs we walk and canoe through areas that are inaccessible to vehicles, there are no back-up vehicles that accompany the route we follow when canoeing.

An open game drive vehicle is used to transport guests from their last camp to the Selinda Airstrip.

ACCOMMODATION/CAMPING EQUIPMENTThis safari is all about taking us away from today’s hectic, busy and interconnected world. The Selinda Spillway runs through a remote part of the private Selinda Reserve in northern Botswana, in areas where you will be completely removed from the modern world. We will be carrying all of the equipment on the canoes with us, or transporting them via vehicle when on the walking safari. Your campsites will be of a rustic but comfortable nature.

Walk-in canvas Kodiak tents are provided as they are comfortable and large enough for two people. They are furnished with comfortable bedrolls and quality linen. We provide enough camp chairs for dinners at a well-appointed dinner table and for guests to sit around a fire at night. The cook, enhancing that safari atmosphere of old, will prepare our meals on the fire experience.



Our ablution facilities are ‘short drop’ toilets with separate screened bucket showers offering hot and cold water in the evenings, all of which our staff prepare before your arrival at each overnight campsite.

LANGUAGESOur safaris are all conducted in English, and it is therefore required that all participants on the safari are able to understand and communicate in English. This is primarily due to safety factors.

JOINING AND/OR LEAVING THE SCHEDULED SAFARISThis adventure safari will start and end at the Selinda airstrip. Due to the early departure of the Trails, guests may need to overnight at an alternative safari camp in the area prior to arriving. A few nights at either Duba Expedition Camp or Duba Plains Camp prior to the start is highly recommended beforehand.

Please also ensure that you have all the correct information for this safari. Should you have any doubts concerning the below instructions please do not hesitate to contact your booking agent.

Please note that the safari and our guide’s services start on OUR Day 1. The trail begins at the Selinda Airstrip on Day 1 at noon, and ends at around 10h30 at the Selinda Airstrip airfield on Day 4; it is important that connecting air transfers are arranged

for you prior to arrival to and from the Selinda Airstrip should you not be staying at our camps either before or after the Selinda Adventure Trail.

Please ensure that your departure flight from Maun, Kasane or Victoria Falls is booked for after 14h00 if your regional or private charter flight back home is on the last day of this safari.

INCLUSIONS ON THE SAFARI • Accommodation;• All meals from lunch on day 1 to breakfast at

the end of the scheduled safari;• A reasonable amount of soft drinks, wine and

beer at meal times;• Selinda Reserve fees.

EXCLUSIONS ON THE SAFARI • All internal and regionals flights and air

transfers; • Visas;• Compulsory medical and travel insurance;• All relevant entry and departure government

taxes;• Gratuities;• Pre and post safari tours, meals or

accommodation before or after the safari.

ITINERARIESThe route we follow will be flexible, changing with the season to maximise each guest’s experience. Please ensure that you have the correct information.



We also reserve the right to change itineraries due to water levels in the Selinda Spillway, unusual game concentrations or any reason beyond our control. If there is a change to an itinerary, this will be advised as timeously as is possible.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTSAll visitors to Botswana must have a passport, which is valid for at least six months beyond their intended departure date from Botswana. Visitors to Southern Africa must ensure they have enough blank pages in their passports bearing in mind they may be visiting several different countries.

Visitors must also be in possession of outward travel documents and have sufficient funds for the duration of their stay.

Further visa information is available on the following website:www.botswanatourism.co.bw/getting_in/visas.html

Please note we have provided this website as a guideline for further information, and we cannot be held responsible for the content thereof.

TIPPING / GRATUITIESTipping is not compulsory. If, however, you have received excellent service and would like to leave a token of your thanks, the following are guidelines:

• Guide: $10 per guest per day;• Camp staff (collectively): $10 per guest per day.

Please ensure you have a sufficient amount of US Dollars/Euro in cash of small denominations to cover for gratuities should you wish to tip the guide and camp staff as there are no credit card facilities available on this safari.

LUGGAGENo formal clothes are needed; however we recommend that you keep your luggage to a minimum. Bright colours and white are NOT advised and army camouflage clothing or army hats are strongly discouraged (this excludes khaki-coloured clothes).

For safety and space reasons, we have a maximum 20 kilogram limit on luggage. Please ensure this is packed in a soft bag.

Please remember that you will have to paddle your own canoes with your own luggage and bedrolls. The lighter your canoe is, the easier it is to propel going forward.

On the walking safari your luggage will be taken by road to your next overnight campsite.

As the dress code on this safari is very informal, we recommend that you take the minimum possible. It is highly recommended that comfortable and suitable walking shoes/boots, and a pair of strops/rafting shoes or “Crocs” are brought on this safari.

Additional luggage can be collected off you at the Selinda Airstrip and stored for you, for your return.



Please bring your own high quality binoculars and camera equipment to enhance the enjoyment. Ensure you have sufficient charged camera batteries, as there are NO charging facilities on this experience. Waterproof camera bags are strongly recommended.

TORCHES/FLASHLIGHTSAs all camps selected for the adventure trail are unfenced, it is essential that you bring a good torch as you may encounter wild animals in camp at night. We suggest at least a TWO D-cell torch/flashlight.

A good quality headlamp type of torch / flashlight with you for nighttime walking to your tents is recommended. You should also bring a spare globe as well as batteries as they are often unobtainable locally.

PHOTOGRAPHIC TIPSThe choice of the correct camera equipment will determine the quality of your photographs on safari. For photography of birds and animals, a good digital SLR camera and telephoto lens is necessary.

High-resolution digital cameras are outstanding and give superb quality images, especially if you are using a digital SLR camera body, with inter-changeable lenses. Camera bodies from Canon, Nikon and Sony are excellent.

Spare batteries are essential (we recommend that you bring 3 spare batteries) and an image storage device of some sort is recommended.

Make certain you have enough card storage – most people take more photographs than they expect to. There are no charging or downloading of images facilities; so all batteries need to be charged before arriving here.

CHARGING FACILITIESCharging facilities for cameras and video cameras are unfortunately not available on the trail, so please bring enough batteries to last you the full 4 (or 5) days of the adventure trail.

SUGGESTED CLOTHING LISTMAXIMUM 20 KGS IN BOTSWANA, PACKED IN A SOFT BAG - (Including camera equipment within reason)

• Good quality sunglasses with good UV protection preferably polarised;

• Wide brimmed bush hat;• T-shirts and long-sleeved “Columbia Fishing

Style” cotton shirts;• Shorts/slacks/skirts and swimming costume;• Long trousers;• Warm track suit, anorak/parka (polar fleece

is good), head “beanie” and gloves (essential for the very cold June/ July/ August early mornings);

• Underwear and socks;• Comfortable walking shoes/boots with suitable

socks to prevent blisters;• Rafting shoes/Strops/”Crocs”;• Sweater/jersey;• Camera equipment and sufficient spare camera

batteries;



• Tissues/”Wet Wipes”;• A good LARGE flashlight, which takes at least

2 large batteries. Please bring spare batteries and a spare globe;

• GOOD QUALITY BINOCULARS - ESSENTIAL;• Moisturising cream and sun block with a strong

SPF rating;• Insect repellent;• Personal toiletries, in addition to those specified

above;• If you wear contact lenses we recommend that

you bring along a pair of glasses in case of eye irritation from the dust;

• Light rain gear;• Water proof bag or Pelican case for cameras;• Soft bag for clothes (preferably waterproof).

HEALTHThere are a few basic health matters that require care and attention. The following points are recommended guidelines only. Please consult your doctor and also check with your health department prior to departure for any changes in health regulations.

MALARIAEven though the canoe trail takes place miles away from any villages, northern Botswana is still regarded as a malarial area.

Malaria prophylactic recommendations for travellers to southern African:

Expert opinion differs regarding the best approach to malaria prophylaxis. It is important to bear

in mind that malaria may be contracted despite chemoprophylaxis, especially in areas where chloroquine resistance has been reported. Both chloroquine-resistant and normal strains of malaria are prevalent in Africa.

Please remember that the best precaution is the preventative kind:

• Avoid being bitten by using mosquito repellents liberally.

• Please bring your own repellent and wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers/slacks in the evenings.

Malaria is transmitted by a very small percentage of female Anopheles mosquitoes. They are mainly active in the early evening and throughout the night. Malaria transmission is at its highest during the warmer and wetter months of November through to April. From May through to October the risks of acquiring malaria are reduced. There is also less prevalence in remote areas where our camps are situated; nonetheless, you need to consider taking preventative measures.

WATERIt is very important that you drink plenty of water whilst on the adventure trail. It is generally recommended that guests drink at least 2 to 3 liters of water per day to limit the effects of dehydration. This excludes tea, coffee and alcoholic beverages, which act as diuretics and therefore can actually contribute to dehydration.



Generally, water throughout Southern Africa is safe to drink directly from the tap. However, bottled water is readily available on the adventure trail, so please do not allow yourself to become dehydrated.

DIETARY REQUIREMENTSFor those guests with specific dietary requirements please ensure your agent is notified prior to arrival. We can accommodate most reasonable requests with sufficient prior notice.

MEDICAL CONDITIONSYou need to notify your agent and ourselves of any medical condition you may have prior to your arrival. This includes any allergies e.g. bee stings, nuts, shellfish etc.

INSURANCEIt is a condition of booking, that the sole responsibility lies with the guests to ensure that they carry the correct comprehensive travel and medical and emergency evacuation insurance to cover themselves, as well as any dependants/travelling companions for the duration of their trip to southern Africa. This insurance should include cover in respect of, but not limited to, the following eventualities:

COMPULSORY INSURANCE:• Emergency evacuation expenses;• Medical expenses;• Repatriation expenses.

RECOMMENDED INSURANCE:• Cancellation or curtailment of trip;• Damage/theft/loss of personal luggage, money

and goods.

Great Plains Conservation, including their representatives, employees and agents will take no responsibility for any costs, losses incurred or suffered by the guest, or guest’s dependants or travelling companions, with regards to, but not limited to, any of the above mentioned eventualities.

Guests will be charged directly by the relevant service providers for any emergency services they may require, and may find themselves in a position of being unable to access such services should they not be carrying the relevant insurance cover.

CANCELLATION & CURTAILMENTIf for any reason you cancel a trip close to departure date, you could lose the entire cost of your trip. Should you have to leave before your holiday is finished, we cannot refund you the cost of the portion of the package you do not complete.



RECOMMENDED READINGWe recommend the following books specific to the Botswana region; - Okavango: Wetland Wilderness - Adrian Bailey; - Okavango: An African Paradise - Daryl Balfour; - Chobe: Africa’s Untamed Wilderness - Daryl Balfour; - The Lions and Elephants of the Chobe - Bruce Aitken; - This is Botswana - Daryl Balfour; - The Bushmen - A Changing Way of Life - Anthony Bannister; - Botswana: A Brush with the Wild - Paul Augustinus; - The Kalahari, Survival in a Thirstland Wilderness - Nigel Dennis, Dr Michael; - Newman’s Birds of Southern Africa and Common Birds of Botswana - Ken Newman; - Guide to the Trees & Shrubs of the Okavango Delta - Veronica Roodt; - Guide to the Wildflowers of the Okavango Delta - Veronica Roodt; - Botswana Tourist Map & Guide - Veronica Roodt; - Running Wild: Dispelling the Myths of the African Wild Dog - John McNutt, Lesley Boggs, Dave Hamman &

Helene Heldring; - Wild About the Okavango - Duncan Butchart; - Botswana - The Bradt Travel Guide - Chris McIntyre; - Sasol birds of Southern Africa - Ian Sinclair, Phil Hockey, W. R Tarboton.

Everyone should bring their own pair of binoculars, camera and reference books in order to get the most out of the safari.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY.



GREAT PLAINS CONSERVATIONQUICK CAMP FACTS


(*) This activity is available for an additional fee | (#) This activity is water level dependent

BOTSWANA CAMPS KENYA CAMPS

ACTIVITY ZARAFA CAMPZARAFA DHOW

SUITESSELINDA

CAMPDUBA PLAINS & DUBA SUITES

DUBAEXPEDITION

SELINDA EXPLORERS

SELINDA ADVENTURE TRAIL

OL DONYO LODGE MARA PLAINS MARA EXPEDITION

Day Drives • • • • • • • • •

Night Drives • • • • • • • • •

Guided Walks • • • • • • • •

Boating # • • • • •

Mokoro #

Canoeing # • •

Main Swimming Pool • • •

Private Plunge Pools • • •

Horseback Riding •

Cultural Interaction * • • • • • • • • • •

Hot-Air Balooning * • •

Spa/Massage * • • • • •

Gym • • •

Fishing (Seasonal) • • • • • • •

Mountain Biking •

Hide • •

Documents

FACT FILE SELINDA ADVENTURE TRAIL · The distance of the Selinda Adventure Trail differs depending on whether it is a walking or canoeing adventure. Walking distance is just over