Join like-minded safari travelers as you take off toward southern Africa on the world’s largest and most luxuriously spacious private jet, the Crystal Skye. This lavishly outfitted Boeing 777-200LR has been completely transformed to the highest standards of aviation design, featuring handcrafted, fully-reclining flatbed seats, a dedicated stand-up bar and social lounge, a team of Crystal Skye Butlers and an Executive Chef preparing exceptional Michelin star-inspired cuisine.
In Botswana, guests will have exclusive access to a once-in-a-lifetime, 9-night safari experience while staying in the Wilderness Safaris Premier Camps; Mombo, King's Pool & Vumbura Plains. Having exclusive use of some of the most productive and uncrowded big-game safari areas on the continent is sure to produce exciting and memorable wildlife sightings in gorgeous natural settings. Prepare to be spoiled and to learn! While on safari you will be in the trusted hands of some of the most accomplished safari guides, wildlife photography experts, and food and wine aficionados who will personalize and enhance your experience for you. This is a limited-access experience held for a select group of our valued guests.
A maximum of 66 guests may participate in this unique journey. Upon arrival into Africa guests will be dispersed to the 3 camps as each rotates through all three locations over the 9 nights. While in each camp the Wilderness Safaris field and hospitality teams will work with each room to ensure that their stay is as personalized and private as the guests request.
Itinerary Outline
May 7, 2023 - Arrive into Sarasota/Tampa/Ft. Myers where you will be greeted and transferred by road to a downtown Sarasota luxury hotel for check-in. Enjoy your day in sunny Sarasota!
This afternoon/evening, we will have a welcome reception to prepare all travelers for our departure to Africa tomorrow.
May 8, 2023 - Mid-morning private road transfer to Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport for private check-in, dedicated TSA screening and boarding of the Crystal Skye aircraft.
Late morning, we depart from Sarasota, Florida, U.S.A. for the direct non-stop flight to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Overnight in your most comfortable surroundings aboard the Crystal Skye.
.
May 9, 2023 - Upon arrival into Victoria Falls, all guests will pass through health, immigration and customs formalities before connecting by light aircraft to our three safari locations in the Okavango Delta and Linyanti regions. Flying time is an easy 1 hour 50 minutes and includes passing through health, immigration and customs formalities into Botswana. Your face will be glued to the window as these wild areas look amazing from 2,000 ft to 5,000 ft. When your light aircraft touches down in the bush you will be greeted plane-side by your field team who will welcome you and transfer you to the camp for welcome, orientation and check-in for 3 nights.
May 10 & 11, 2023 - On safari from your first safari location.
May 12, 2023 - After your morning game-viewing activity, transfer by light aircraft to your second safari experience where you will be greeted and welcomed plane-side by the field team and transferred to the camp for welcome, orientation and check-in for 3 nights.
May 13 & 14, 2023 - on safari from your second safari location.
May 15, 2023 - After your morning game-viewing activity, transfer by light aircraft to your third safari experience where you will be greeted and welcomed plane-side by the field team and transferred to the camp for welcome, orientation and check-in for 3 nights.
May 16 & 17, 2023 - on safari from your third safari location.
May 18, 2023 - After your morning game-viewing and breakfast, transfer by light aircraft to Victoria Falls to board Crystal Skye for your direct non-stop flight to Sarasota, FL.
May 19, 2023 - Arrive into Sarasota, FL and clear health, immigration and customs formalities into the USA.
On Safari with Wilderness Safaris
Conservation as a way of life
Founded in Botswana in 1983, Wilderness Safaris is widely acclaimed as the continent’s foremost ecotourism operator, dedicated to conserving and restoring Africa’s wilderness and wildlife. We do this by creating life-changing journeys for our guests in some of the most remote and pristine areas in Africa – and in so doing help conserve Africa’s spectacular biodiversity and share ecotourism’s benefits with the communities that live alongside these areas.
Behind everything we do there is a purpose; indeed, we have always been driven by purpose. Everything we do is aimed at conserving Africa’s wilderness and wildlife and including local communities in this process. Everything we do is aimed at creating journeys that change lives and inspire positive action.
Our 9 nights on safari in the most capable hands of the Wilderness Safaris field and hospitality teams will be split so that each traveler is able to enjoy 3 nights of safari in all 3 camps as the three locations compliment each other. They are notably different in geography, camp setting and design. All 3 camps operate on exclusive use wildlife areas and while at each location every gamedrive easily has the potential to show you the most amazing wildlife sighting you have ever seen.
Watch this video of Mombo with the sound turned up high so that you can enjoy one of Africa's most beautiful sounds.
Mombo
Long known as “the Place of Plenty,” Mombo boasts enormous concentrations of plains game and predators and is considered to be one of the best areas for game viewing in Africa.
Rebuilt in 2018, Mombo aims to maintain the traditions and history of the camp, as well as to celebrate our Conservation Purpose – indeed, one of our greatest conservation successes: the reintroduction of black and white rhino into the wilds of Botswana.
The eight spacious tents afford sweeping views over a floodplain teeming with wildlife. The sitting room, separate bedroom and bathroom, indoor and outdoor showers and bathtub with copper and brass fittings all contribute to Wilderness Safaris' ideal of responsible luxury.
King's Pool
Steeped in nostalgia and named for Scandinavian royalty, newly-renovated and elegant King’s Pool overlooks the handsome oxbow lagoon of the same name in the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve, bordering Chobe National Park and at the crux of the important wildlife corridor that straddles Angola, Namibia, Zambia and Botswana.
This 100% solar-powered camp has eight luxurious thatch and canvas rooms, each boasting a large bedroom area and lounge leading to a veranda that soaks up the gorgeous views. The river along which King’s Pool is located hosts numerous species of birds and is a magnet for game, especially elephant, in the dry winter months.
The sumptuous main area comprises a lounge, library, dining and a convivial bar area stylishly set on expansive raised decks close to the water’s edge. There is also a pool and an open-air 'kgotla' for evening dining under the stars.
Vumbura Plains
Luxurious Vumbura Plains lies in an area that is a mix of water and dry land. The wildlife is diverse, so that both land and water activities on vehicles, mekoro and boats deliver an all-round African safari experience.
Vumbura Plains comprises two separate but linked camps, consisting of a total of 14 raised, spacious rooms, unique and contemporary in design with indoor and outdoor showers and an en-suite bathroom. Additional features include a private plunge pool and 'sala’ –from where you can watch the passing parade of wildlife or even enjoy a relaxing soothing massage.
As a guest of Wilderness Safaris, no matter which table you find yourself at and no matter what meal you are about to enjoy, you can be sure that your meal will include the freshest ingredients which have been sourced locally, passionately crafted and presented in a flavorful dish that is sure to introduce you to flavors and textures of this region.
On each of our 9 full days of safari we will enjoy twice-daily gamedrives in search of unique African big-game encounters and animal behavior safely by vehicle with your Guide. There are also a number of other options and activities that you can enjoy as a guest; spa treatments, boutique and gallery, game walks, mokoro & motor boat.
Watch the videos below to hear some of the most wonderful African sounds. This is something you should aim to see in person as it will move you and settle in your soul forever.
Pricing being finalized, please inquire directly
Inclusions:
- Roundtrip international airfare on Crystal Skye aircraft from Sarasota, Florida, USA to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
- 3 nights at accommodation at Mombo on an all-inclusive basis
- 3 nights accommodation at Selinda OR Kings Pool Camp on an all-inclusive basis
- 3 nights accommodation at Vumbura Plains on an all-inclusive basis
- all light aircraft transfers between camps
Seats on the aircraft, camps and room preferences will be allocated on a first-come, first served basis.
Minimum number of 50 participants required for this departure to travel
U.S.A. Department of Transportation Public Charter approval number ***
Deposit Requirement
$10,000.00 per person deposit required to secure your space on this departure. Your deposit payment is fully refundable until 75 days prior to departure. Final payment due at 75 days prior to departure.