CAU > Seminars and Study Tours > Lands of Disappearing Waters: Botswana and Zambia

Lands of Disappearing Waters: Botswana and Zambia

October 25-November 5, 2008

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Overview

Water is life. All living creatures know that. And they organize their lives accordingly. Water--and its links to life and the land in two of southern Africa's most stable, beautiful, and legendarily wildlife-rich regions--will guide this newest CAU expedition. Led by CAU favorite John B. (J. B.) Heiser, past director of Cornell's Shoals Marine Laboratory, recipient of Cornell's Clark Distinguished Teaching Award, and leader of CAU adventures on every continent, we'll enjoy the renowned Okavango Delta of Botswana and the abundant wildlife of the South Luangwa River in Zambia.

Itinerary

After our flight to Johannesburg, South Africa and an overnight there to relax, we will take an early morning flight to Maun, Botswana with ongoing connections in light aircraft into the Okavango, the biggest inland delta in the world and a jewel in the heart of southern Africa. The Okavango River is doomed to disappear as it flows out onto the sands of the northern Kalahari Desert. But before it vanishes, it spreads out into a wetland of unsurpassed richness. From our base camps of luxury-tented en suite accommodations situated in a private reserve adjacent to the Moremi Wildlife Reserve, we'll take open-vehicle safaris around the delta's maze of channels, lagoons, and islands, which support dense populations of birds and mammals. We'll seek out Nile crocodiles and water monitor lizards, herds of reedbuck, impala, and red lechwe, the ubiquitous hippo, baboons, and perhaps most exciting of all, African hunting dogs. We'll also scout for fabulous birds, including the African jacana and the psychedelically colored pygmy goose.

We'll move on (again by light aircraft) to the Luangwa River valley of Eastern Zambia. A tributary of the mighty Zambezi, the Luangwa is a highly seasonal river: in full flood from February to April, it spreads out, flowing at up to five miles per hour and forcing the closing of most camps and lodges; by our visit in the late dry-season, the river becomes a trickle, connecting stagnant pools clogged with hippos or disappearing beneath its riverbed completely. At this time our beautiful lodge, located between two lagoons (and highlighted in a recent National Geographic magazine), becomes justly famous for its proximity to wildlife concentrations. Day and night, open-vehicle safaris and walking excursions--South Luangwa National Park's speciality--will allow us to experience these natural wonders. The park is home to more than fifteen thousand elephants and an equal number of hippopotami, is perhaps the best place in all of Africa to spot a leopard, and is the only place one can see the endemic Thornicroft's giraffe and Cookson's wildebeest. Lions, hyenas, buffalo, over a dozen species of antelopes, Carmine bee-eaters, crowned cranes, and yellow-billed storks are also abundant in the park.

Program Cost and Travel Arrangements

The program fee (per-person, double-occupancy) of $8,995 includes all lodging, most meals, ground transportation and multiple flights in Africa, all gratuities, taxes and entrance fees, full escort services, emergency medical-evacuation insurance, and the full educational program. (Single accommodations may not be available at all sites for this program, but we'll be happy to match you up with a roommate.) International airfare from New York or Atlanta is an additional $1,667 but you are free to make your own air arrangements if you prefer.

We are planning an extension (or pre-extension depending on air schedules) to Victoria Falls and the nearby Mosi-o-Tunya National Park. On the extension we'll get another look at the "disappearing waters" during a visit to the falls from the Zambian side of the Zambezi. More than twice the size of Niagara, the falls are renowned for their awe-inspiring plunge of 330 feet into the zigzagging, cataract-filled chasm downstream, Batoka Gorge. From our riverside hotel we'll travel the short distance to Mosi-o-Tunya National Park for an elephant-back safari through riverine bush, crossing the river to islands in the Zambezi. Chances to see wildlife from elephant-back are excellent and we'll keep an eye out for the park's five guard-protected white rhinos.

Program Notes

This is a somewhat rigorous trip. You must be able to board various types of vehicles, walk over uneven terrain, and tolerate light aircraft and roads of uneven quality. Daytime temperatures should be warm to hot, but evenings may be chilly. Rain is unlikely.