Botswana

Botswana Family Holiday – Canoe in Africa

Last updated 8th June 2017

 

Why go?

Fancy a spot of parent-teen bonding on an intrepid wildlife adventure? We suggest a four-day, 45km canoe along Botswana’s Selinda Spillway. On this once-in-a-lifetime trip you’ll have the bush pretty much to yourself, as there’s never more than one small-sized group (maximum of eight) on the trail at a time. Though paddling may sound daunting, the conditions are ideal for amateurs; water is shallow, pace is gentle, and the Canadian tandem canoes are easily managed.

Activities

Animal spotting is the main activity. You’ll see exotic, brightly-plumaged birds and, if you’re lucky, elephants, stampeding buffalo, giraffe and impala. You’ll also learn about the environment as you explore with a programme of bush walks and snorkelling trips in the company of an expert guide.

Don’t miss: Pods of chubby, wallowing hippos. Your wildlife guide will help you to spot them.

Food: Delicious three-course feasts prepared by the camp chef will satisfy all appetites. And budding Mary Berrys can even try out bread-making.

The lowdown

Price: Rainbow Tours offer a four-day/three-night trip on the Selinda Canoe Trail with Wilderness Safaris from £1,150pp. This includes meals, drinks, bush walks and transfers to Selinda airstrip. Tents are spacious, with comfy bedrolls, as well as ‘proper’ showers and loos.

How long? A flight from London to Johannesburg is 11 hours, then it’s just 2 hours to Maun and a 45-minute small plane to Selinda.

How to get there? Fly with British Airways to Maun from £1,168. Note that flights stop in Johannesburg and connections are via Air Botswana or South African Airways. Then enjoy an epic small plane flight to Selinda.