Okavango Delta | Botswana
WILDchild Eco-guide Challenge in Botswana
Teenagers and their parents get to reconnect and make an impact
JOIN A GROUP OF 6-18 GUESTS ON THIS LIMITED EDITION SET-DEPARTURE
HOSTED BY OUR SKILLED REGIONAL GUIDE TRAINER
LEARN ALL THE TRICKS OF THE GUIDING TRADE
JOIN WILD DOG RESEARCHERS AND LEARN ABOUT BAOBAB CONSERVATION MEASURES
DISCONNECT TO RECONNECT WHILE MAKING AN IMPACT
Galebotse 'Dux' Mareja
Regional Guide Trainer – Botswana
A passionate nature conservationist with a wealth of experience in the tourism industry, Galebotse Dux Mareja is an excellent ambassador to &BEYOND and Botswana. His career has spanned over 20 years and over that time he has worked in administration, marketing, guiding and as a ranger trainer and specialist guide in various fields including birding.
Your journey at a glance
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a teenager* and their parent to make a difference to Botswana’s iconic Okavango Delta
Calling all aspiring conservationists, planet warriors, budding rangers, or any teenager who loves the wilderness and its special creatures and wants to make sure that they leave our world a better place. This 5-day limited edition itinerary has been specially crafted for a teenager and their parent who wish to go behind and scenes of what ranger life is all about in the Okavango Delta.
Read More
You and your parent will have the unrivalled opportunity to connect with other like-minded teens and their parents; whilst reconnecting in the luxurious surrounds of &Beyond Xaranna Okavango Delta Camp. Hosted by an &Beyond Ranger Trainer, you will have the exclusive opportunity to learn the tricks of the ranger trade from bird, dung, and plant identification to animal tracking, stargazing and basic astronomy. Not only will you have insider access to the daily exploits of our rangers but (most importantly) you will learn about caring for the land, wildlife and people of this unique destination; and thus, the significant impact you and your parent can make by becoming an ambassador for Africa’s wild places.
What makes this a WILDchild Eco-Guide Challenge? You and the rest of teens on this adventure will be challenged, just as our guides are, on what you have learnt whilst out on your excursions, earning certificates and prizes that will be handed out at a fun-filled ceremony dinner at the end of the journey.
4 nights Okavango Delta
*This itinerary has been specially curated for a teenager (14-18) and their parent. In the spirit of giving back, your teenager will only be costed at 50% of the adult rate.
TAILORMAKE YOUR STAY
Talk to one of our travel specialists to tailormake your stay to any of our destinations
A taste of what to expect…
Okavango Delta
Xaranna Okavango Delta Camp
- Today, you and your parent will touchdown at Maun airport, where a representative from &Beyond will welcome you and show you onto a light aircraft flight taking you into the heart of the Okavango Delta.
- After a quick orientation, and the opportunity to freshen up, you will meet the other teens and their parents before embarking on your first afternoon game drive.
- In the evening, at dinner, you will meet your host, the Botswana Regional Trainer for &Beyond; who will give you an overview of your programme for the next few days.
Okavango Delta
Xaranna Okavango Delta Camp
- After an early morning wake-up call, you will hop aboard a game drive vehicle for your first day of the challenge.
- Enjoy an informative nature walk followed by the unrivalled opportunity to learn a few ancient bushmen skills (think: hunting, identifying plants for medicinal uses, survival skills and bushmen games).
- in the afternoon, learn all about the Okavango Delta’s life-giving waterways, try your hand at catch-and-release fishing and enjoy enjoy sunset drinks whilst taking in the beautiful surrounds
- At dinner, lose yourself in the night sky with an evening of stargazing.
Okavango Delta
Xaranna Okavango Delta Camp
- Today, you will learn about the painted wolf (African wild dog), search for the iconic baobab tree, and enjoy some birding activities.
- Meet up with the wild dog research team and spend the morning tracking and interacting with the dogs and finding out all about the packs and the project. With 9% of the Okavango Delta in our care, we support the Botswana Predator Conservation Trust with their African Wild Dog Dispersal Study. By assisting with tracking the locations of wild dogs, the project provides an understanding of how and where wild dogs disperse, and assesses connectivity between sub-populations which is fundamental for the management and conservation of the species.
- Your next stop will be to find the Delta’s towering baobab trees. You will be helping our teams in treating and wrapping a baobab with wire and chili to assist it in surviving hungry elephant herds.
- Following a delicious lunch at the lodge (and the opportunity to unwind a little), you will set off for an afternoon game drive to learn about bird identification and their calls, and a challenge will ensue to see who can spot as many of &Beyond’s Star Bird species.
- In the evening, you will have to earn your dinner by joining the lodge chefs in an interactive cooking competition over an open fire, at the lodge boma.
Okavango Delta
Xaranna Okavango Delta Camp
- It’s another fun-filled day today! Kick-start your morning with a game drive, followed by breakfast at the lodge. Afterwards, teens and parents go their separate ways. You and your fellow teens will embark on an all-important sustainability audit at the lodge, engaging with different staff members to find out how the lodge is leaving a light footprint in the Delta. In the meantime, your parent can catch up on some well-deserved “me time” and enjoy a morning at their leisure (we recommend indulging in a wellness treatment or just relaxing by the pool).
- In the afternoon, the both of you will head out learning about wildlife track identification and other signs to see if wildlife have been in the area.
- Tonight will be your Eco-guide Challenge award ceremony.
Okavango Delta
Departure
- Squeeze in one last morning game drive or just sleep in (you deserve it) before we wave a fond farewell to you for your homeward flight.
Jewel of the Kalahari
A local interpretation of the Okavango Delta by Dux Mareja
What's included
- Meet and Greet at Kasane Airport
- Twin accommodation
- Meals on a full board basis at each lodge
- Soft drinks, house wine, local brand spirits, local beer, teas and coffees (premium brands to own account)
- Refreshments on game drives
- Laundry
- Seat on charter flights as per the specific itinerary above
- Activities as mentioned in the itinerary
- National Parks entrance fees
- Transfers to/from lodge airstrips
- Domestic airport tax within Botswana
- Emergency medical evacuation insurance
- Administration Fee
What's not included
- Gratuities and all items of a personal nature
- Champagne, cognacs, cellar wines, cigars and cigarettes
- Visas (visit our partner, Sherpa, for reliable and convenient access to all visa-related requirements, supporting information, and costs)
- Travel insurance (visit our partner, Global Rescue, for more information)
- Flights to/from Maun Airport
- Scheduled flight cost as optional extra: From USD 600 per person return
- OR Tambo International Airport / Maun Airport / OR Tambo International Airport
- Scheduled flight cost as optional extra: From USD 600 per person return
Conditions
- *Rates are quoted based on 1 adult and 1 teenager (14-18) sharing a twin room. In the spirit of giving back, your teenager will only be costed at 50% of the adult rate. The itinerary per person rate is calculated taking this saving into account
- This unique journey requires a minimum number of guests to travel. However, if we aren’t able to reach the minimum number; &Beyond reserves the right to cancel BUT you will be reimbursed the full amount for the journey. We will confirm the journey numbers at least 5 months prior to departure.
- Minimum 6 guests / 3 rooms to guarantee the departure
- Maximum 18 guests / 9 rooms per departure
- Due to the nature of activities on this itinerary, children under 14 years old not permitted
- Flight cost is subject to availability and rates are subject to change
- This offer may not be combined with other offers. However, additional nights may be added by using the applicable long stay rate. Should you wish to travel on different dates with your own party, please contact one of our dedicated Travel Specialists to plan your adventure
- Flight cost is subject to availability and rates are subject to change
- &Beyond may need to pass on cancellation/amendment costs once bookings including the flight offer have been confirmed
- The rates quoted are subject to change without warning if there are any increases in bed levies, park fees, fuel, sales tax or VAT, third-party services or any other circumstances beyond our control
- Rates are subject to currency fluctuations and ROE
- &Beyond trading terms apply.
Stay here on this journey
Limited edition experiences
Celebrate our 30 year anniversary with us
I dream of travel that leaves our world a better place
You’re just 5 easy (and fun) steps away from creating your ideal Travel Dream Board.
Step 1: Start with where
Step 2: Clarify what kind of traveller you are
Step 3: Tick off those grand bucket list experiences that will fire your imagination
Step 4: Log in to create and add to your Dream Board
Step 5: Share & start dreaming
Discover more about Botswana
years