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Family
Holidays: Young Explorers Itinerary
Our
Young Explorer’s package provided by Ker Downey is a
specially designed safari offering families the
opportunity to discover the wonders of the African
wilderness together.
One of the special attractions of this program is it exclusivity. Each family has the use of a
private six-bedded camp, two professional guides, personal
chef, waiter, housekeeper and Mokoro guides. We are quite
literally there to explore the bush at our leisure, while
never losing sight of the fact that being in the
wilderness is also about having fun. The Young Explorer's
in the delta is based at Footsteps Camp, an intimate 6
bedded camp in the Shinde private concession. Each family
books out exclusive use of the camp, thereby overriding
the normal walking program at Footsteps Camp and the
normal minimum age requirement.
The Young Explorer's in the
Kalahari is based at Edo's Camp, a private 8 bedded camp
on a game conservancy in the western Kalahari. Again the
family books out exclusive use of the camp, thereby
overriding the normal safari experience at Edo's with the
specific family program. Young Explorer's Combination
safari, as the name suggests, combines the two packages to
offer a broader experience for the families in the
contrasting Delta and Kalahari areas.
Package
Price for the 3 night Young Explorers (excluding
flights)
Shoulder Season: Mar to
June and Nov
Family
of 3 persons: $1752 USD per person
Family of 4 persons: $1314 USD per person
Family of 5 or 6 persons: $1050 USD per person
Peak
Season: July to October
Family of 3 persons:
$1977 USD per person
Family of 4 persons: $1482 USD per person
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Proceeds
from this journey will be donated to the African Wildlife
Foundation in your name. We will purchase one annual
membership per family and you will receive AWF’s quarterly
newsletter and our 15-month calendar with stunning photos of
African wildlife. Plus, you can take pride that you
are making a difference for Africa’s wildlife and wild
lands.
You
will also receive a sturdy AWF Tote for your travels, and we
will adopt one endangered orphaned leopard per traveler!
Individual adoption kits will be in the name of each and every
traveler on your confirmed reservation. We are very proud
to support the efforts of this wonderful organization. For
more information about the great work by African Wildlife
Foundation, or to make your own contribution go to: www.awf.org.
Note: Donations are made on your behalf once your travel
is completed.
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Day
1 Maun/Okavango Delta
On arrival in Maun you will be
met by a Ker & Downey representative, complete a registration
card and indemnity form, then board a light aircraft transfer to the
Shinde Private concession. The flight is approximately 25 minutes
and you will be amazed as the desert transforms to delta before your
eyes. At the airstrip you are met by your guides and transfer in a
4x4 safari vehicle to camp. Over a refreshing drink and light lunch
you will be briefed on activities and safety during your stay, then
it is time to settle into camp. |
Later in the afternoon it is time
to begin your first lesson in bush craft and some rules regarding
animal behavior and respect for all the inhabitants of the
wilderness. We set out on a short walk, allowing you to become
accustomed to some of the sights sounds and smells that make up the
language of the African Bush.
We return to camp for a piping hot
bucket shower under the starts followed by a tasty dinner. Around
the campfire we discuss the lessons of the day and learn more about
and the history of the country and it’s people. For those that can
stay awake long enough we can examine some of the stars in the
African night sky before heading to bed – ready for an early start
the next day.
Overnight Footsteps Camp
L/D
Day 2 Okavango Delta
The day begins before sunrise with coffee around the fire,
and a light breakfast before heading out to see what the bush has in
store for us. Following the water’s edge gives us the chance to
examine some of the tracks left by overnight visitors, as well as
identifying some of the multitude of animals, birds and insects that
inhabit the forests. Let's follow the honeyguide bird, and see if it
will lead us to a honey nest!
Following another delicious lunch
prepared on charcoal, parents are left to a lazy afternoon napping
or reading while their young cubs are watched over by their guides,
recording the morning’s observations and discoveries in our Bush
Journals, learning some traditional bush skills, such as basket
weaving or carving the seed of the palm nut into a necklace for Mum!
After no time at all, we are off out again, this time in the mokoro
(dugout canoe) and if we are lucky we may spot the sitatunga,
one of the world’s most unusual and secretive antelope, while your
guides teach you some of the ways to survive in this vast wetland
wilderness.
In the evening its off to the bush
kitchen and be astounded as you learn how the mouth-watering fare is
produced on the fire and fresh bread and cakes in the amazing bush
oven. Who needs electricity anyway?
Overnight Footsteps Camp
B/L/D
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Day 3 Delta
With the sunrise comes an introduction to driving large 4x4
vehicles, which are vital out here in the bush. Any idea how to
change a tyre on a 4x4? While out and about we are sure to bump into
some of the many species of large mammals that inhabit the Okavango
Delta including wild dogs, elephants, lion, buffalo, cheetah,
wildebeest and impala. Spending time quietly observing these mammals
will give you an insight into the structure of their society and how
we may understand them through their body language. |
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That afternoon while your Dad’s
snores echo around camp you will learn some of the rules and skills
required in order to handle a rifle safely. This is an important
tool in our world is not a toy, and should be respected at all
times! Under your guides experienced and watchful eyes you can learn
to shoot our pellet gun on our own bush range! Later, you may wish
to try your angling skills Okavango style, either along the banks of
lagoons and channels or, for the more adventurous from the mokoro!
Here you will learn how to catch, handle and release a fish
correctly ensuring you do it no harm, though we may wish to keep a
couple for dinner!!
The final dinner is cause for
celebration though the safari draws to an end, toasting new friends,
reminiscing over unique experiences and lifelong memories. The grown
ups would like to drift off to sleep with the ever-present chorus of
the hippos and the tinkle of the reed frogs. But for
the trainee bushrangers it is the perfect opportunity to head off
with a spotlight to try and identify some of the many species that
wake up as the sun sets!!
Overnight Footsteps Camp
B/L/D
Day 4
Okavango/Maun
The morning is spent discussing your stay and your guides
will ask you to identify several tracks, birds and animals, and to
explain some of the skills that you might use to survive in the
bush. After this informal bush evaluation you will then be awarded
your Okavango Delta certificate and shirt making you an official
member of a truly select group of bushrangers, the Ker & Downey
Young Explorers!!
After farewells to the camp staff
and your guides you transfer by light aircraft onto your next
destination.
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