ANCIENT WISDOM WILD PLACES TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCES
Twenty-five years ago, while living in Maun, I read "The Lost World of the Kalahari", by Laurens van der Post, describing his expedition to the sacred Tsodilo Hills in 1957. From that moment, I was determined to travel to the far northwestern corner of Botswana to experience those ancient hills for myself. It was not an easy journey, and to be honest, the experience overwhelmed me. I did not yet understand what I was seeing.
Over the years, I returned to Botswana many times, leading small groups on safari through some of the most extraordinary wilderness left on Earth. Yet somehow, the Tsodilo Hills always remained quietly in the back of my mind. Last year, I decided to step away from Africa for a while. Perhaps, I thought, that chapter of my life had come to an end. But as my longtime guide and friend Peace often says: “You are saying goodbye, Debs, but I know your heart remains in Africa.” He was right.
Twenty-five years ago, while living in Maun, I read "The Lost World of the Kalahari", by Laurens van der Post, describing his expedition to the sacred Tsodilo Hills in 1957. From that moment, I was determined to travel to the far northwestern corner of Botswana to experience those ancient hills for myself. It was not an easy journey, and to be honest, the experience overwhelmed me. I did not yet understand what I was seeing.
Over the years, I returned to Botswana many times, leading small groups on safari through some of the most extraordinary wilderness left on Earth. Yet somehow, the Tsodilo Hills always remained quietly in the back of my mind. Last year, I decided to step away from Africa for a while. Perhaps, I thought, that chapter of my life had come to an end. But as my longtime guide and friend Peace often says: “You are saying goodbye, Debs, but I know your heart remains in Africa.” He was right.
This time, however, I wanted to return differently. Not simply for safari, but to go deeper into the ancient stories, the sacred landscapes, and the enduring wisdom still held within them. And so, September 21, 2027, we begin our journey into the Tsodilo Hills.
Rising unexpectedly from the flat expanse of Botswana, the Tsodilo Hills are the only mountains for hundreds of miles around. For more than 200,000 years, people have lived among these hills. And, they painted...there are over 4,500 individual rock paintings spread across more than 400 sites among the four major hills, which cover just 10 sq. kilometers. The paintings span a period from 24,000 years ago to just a few centuries, and have become known as the "Louvre of the Desert". Today, they remain one of the few places on Earth where some of humanity’s earliest cultural and spiritual expressions still survive, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
For this extraordinary beginning to our journey, we are deeply fortunate to be joined by my dear friend, Dean Liprini, who for more than 30 years has been regarded as one of the foremost experts on the sacred sites of southern Africa. Born on the lower slopes of Table Mountain in Cape Town, Dean has spent decades studying and guiding at many of Africa’s most significant sacred landscapes.
Rising unexpectedly from the flat expanse of Botswana, the Tsodilo Hills are the only mountains for hundreds of miles around. For more than 200,000 years, people have lived among these hills. And, they painted...there are over 4,500 individual rock paintings spread across more than 400 sites among the four major hills, which cover just 10 sq. kilometers. The paintings span a period from 24,000 years ago to just a few centuries, and have become known as the "Louvre of the Desert". Today, they remain one of the few places on Earth where some of humanity’s earliest cultural and spiritual expressions still survive, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
For this extraordinary beginning to our journey, we are deeply fortunate to be joined by my dear friend, Dean Liprini, who for more than 30 years has been regarded as one of the foremost experts on the sacred sites of southern Africa. Born on the lower slopes of Table Mountain in Cape Town, Dean has spent decades studying and guiding at many of Africa’s most significant sacred landscapes.
We will be bush glamping at the sacred Tsodilo Hills with Dean's great friend, the Kung Bushman elder, Xontae. He will take us to the Serpent Cave (see photo with Dean, on the left) considered the oldest earth temple of humankind, 70, 000 yrs old. Inside lies a massive, six-meter-long quartzite rock naturally shaped like a python’s head and body, which prehistoric humans enhanced with over 300 deliberate carved indentations to resemble scales. It represented the Milky Way, and was a conduit to the stars; prayers were offered through the serpent to the star gods and goddesses. We will explore the antiquity of human spirituality through this and many paintings in the Hills, which remain the largest collection of San Bushman rock art that exists.
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Why Botswana?
Botswana is unlike anywhere else in Africa.
It is a country of extraordinary stability, gentleness, and wildness — a place where democracy works, where crime is uncommon, and where vast landscapes remain largely untouched.
Much of modern Botswana’s story begins with Seretse Khama, the man who was destined to become king of the Bamangwato people. While studying law at Oxford, he fell in love with and married an Englishwoman, Ruth Williams, despite enormous opposition from the apartheid government of neighboring South Africa. Rather than divide his country, he renounced his claim to kingship and later became Botswana’s first president in 1965.
Under his leadership, Botswana became one of Africa’s great democratic success stories.
Today, Botswana is the world’s leading producer of high-quality diamonds, with profits carefully invested into the country’s infrastructure, healthcare, education, and conservation efforts. More than one-third of the nation is devoted entirely to wildlife and protected wilderness.
Tourism here is intentionally limited.
Unlike many safari destinations, Botswana has chosen a “low-volume, high-quality” approach to tourism, protecting both wildlife and the integrity of the experience itself. Often, my small group has been the only people for miles in landscapes filled with elephants, lions, giraffes, and endless herds of antelope.
This is not mass tourism.
It is a rare opportunity to experience Africa in a way that has largely disappeared elsewhere in the world.
The warmth of the people, the sense of safety, and the profound stillness of the land are part of what keeps drawing me back. As many of you know, I have traveled extensively across the world, yet Botswana remains one of the few places where I feel completely at peace.
Perhaps you remember The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency or the beloved BBC television adaptation. Those stories captured something real about Botswana — its kindness, dignity, humor, and humanity.
It is a vast country, roughly the size of France, with just over two million people and some of the greatest concentrations of wildlife left on Earth.
And in 2027, we will experience it not simply as tourists, but as thoughtful travelers moving through one of the last truly wild places that remain.
Botswana is unlike anywhere else in Africa.
It is a country of extraordinary stability, gentleness, and wildness — a place where democracy works, where crime is uncommon, and where vast landscapes remain largely untouched.
Much of modern Botswana’s story begins with Seretse Khama, the man who was destined to become king of the Bamangwato people. While studying law at Oxford, he fell in love with and married an Englishwoman, Ruth Williams, despite enormous opposition from the apartheid government of neighboring South Africa. Rather than divide his country, he renounced his claim to kingship and later became Botswana’s first president in 1965.
Under his leadership, Botswana became one of Africa’s great democratic success stories.
Today, Botswana is the world’s leading producer of high-quality diamonds, with profits carefully invested into the country’s infrastructure, healthcare, education, and conservation efforts. More than one-third of the nation is devoted entirely to wildlife and protected wilderness.
Tourism here is intentionally limited.
Unlike many safari destinations, Botswana has chosen a “low-volume, high-quality” approach to tourism, protecting both wildlife and the integrity of the experience itself. Often, my small group has been the only people for miles in landscapes filled with elephants, lions, giraffes, and endless herds of antelope.
This is not mass tourism.
It is a rare opportunity to experience Africa in a way that has largely disappeared elsewhere in the world.
The warmth of the people, the sense of safety, and the profound stillness of the land are part of what keeps drawing me back. As many of you know, I have traveled extensively across the world, yet Botswana remains one of the few places where I feel completely at peace.
Perhaps you remember The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency or the beloved BBC television adaptation. Those stories captured something real about Botswana — its kindness, dignity, humor, and humanity.
It is a vast country, roughly the size of France, with just over two million people and some of the greatest concentrations of wildlife left on Earth.
And in 2027, we will experience it not simply as tourists, but as thoughtful travelers moving through one of the last truly wild places that remain.
The Journey Continues....
From the sacred silence of the Tsodilo Hills, our journey continues westward toward the remote northeastern corner of Namibia, where we will spend two nights beside the great Okavango River, at Ngepi Lodge.
Here, life slows.
The river flows quietly past fishing villages and palm-lined shores, elephants move silently through the reeds, and each sunset seems more extraordinary than the last. After our time immersed in the ancient stories of Tsodilo, this pause along the Okavango allows us time to absorb, reflect, and simply be present in one of Africa’s most beautiful landscapes.
From the sacred silence of the Tsodilo Hills, our journey continues westward toward the remote northeastern corner of Namibia, where we will spend two nights beside the great Okavango River, at Ngepi Lodge.
Here, life slows.
The river flows quietly past fishing villages and palm-lined shores, elephants move silently through the reeds, and each sunset seems more extraordinary than the last. After our time immersed in the ancient stories of Tsodilo, this pause along the Okavango allows us time to absorb, reflect, and simply be present in one of Africa’s most beautiful landscapes.
From there, we return to Maun and board a bush plane bound for the legendary Okavango Delta, the largest inland delta on Earth and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Flying low above the winding channels, floodplains, and endless wilderness is itself unforgettable.
Our remote lodge lies along the Khwai River, an area renowned for extraordinary wildlife encounters. Lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, buffalo, and vast herds of antelope move freely through this untamed landscape, while hippos fill the waterways and African fish eagles call overhead.
This is one of the great wildlife regions left on our planet — wild, remote, and astonishingly alive.
Flying low above the winding channels, floodplains, and endless wilderness is itself unforgettable.
Our remote lodge lies along the Khwai River, an area renowned for extraordinary wildlife encounters. Lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, buffalo, and vast herds of antelope move freely through this untamed landscape, while hippos fill the waterways and African fish eagles call overhead.
This is one of the great wildlife regions left on our planet — wild, remote, and astonishingly alive.
There are 450 species of birds in the Okavango Delta...even if you are not a birder, you will most likely become one with so many exotic feathered friends to catch your attention. My favorite remains the African Fish Eagle because, when I lived on the Thamalakane River in Maun, it woke me up every morning with its haunting call. Click on this link to listen to the haunting call of the Fish Eagle: here
After four unforgettable nights in the Okavango, we once again board a bush plane and fly eastward across the vast northern wilderness of Botswana toward legendary Chobe National Park.
Waiting for us in the frontier town of Kasane will be my dear friend and longtime guide, Peace, who has led my safaris through Chobe for more than fifteen years. From there, we leave the paved roads behind and venture deep into the wilderness in his safari vehicles, making our way to our private bush camp beneath the great African sky.
And this is where Africa often becomes unpredictable.
No matter how many times I return to Chobe, I never know what awaits us around the next bend in the road. A pride of lions resting in the shade. Wild dogs moving silently through the bush. Elephants crossing the river at sunset. A leopard draped across a tree branch overhead. Or perhaps nothing at all but silence, birdsong, and the distant rumble of hippos in the dark. This is part of the magic of Chobe.
Waiting for us in the frontier town of Kasane will be my dear friend and longtime guide, Peace, who has led my safaris through Chobe for more than fifteen years. From there, we leave the paved roads behind and venture deep into the wilderness in his safari vehicles, making our way to our private bush camp beneath the great African sky.
And this is where Africa often becomes unpredictable.
No matter how many times I return to Chobe, I never know what awaits us around the next bend in the road. A pride of lions resting in the shade. Wild dogs moving silently through the bush. Elephants crossing the river at sunset. A leopard draped across a tree branch overhead. Or perhaps nothing at all but silence, birdsong, and the distant rumble of hippos in the dark. This is part of the magic of Chobe.
It is not a zoo. It is not curated. It is one of the last great wild ecosystems remaining on Earth, overflowing with life and constantly changing from moment to moment.
For four nights, we will live immersed in this extraordinary landscape — listening to hyenas calling around the campfire at night, waking to the sounds of birds at dawn, and experiencing Africa not from behind glass, but from within the wilderness itself. We are now a part of it.
“It was an adventure that was amazing, robust, alternately gobsmacking and unbelievable — and filled with wonderful people and unforgettable sights. I still have not mentally or emotionally recovered from the excitement… and I’m loving every moment of that. (And yes, google the lilac-breasted roller in flight.)”. — Richard Tremaine
Roanoke, Virginia • August 2023
For four nights, we will live immersed in this extraordinary landscape — listening to hyenas calling around the campfire at night, waking to the sounds of birds at dawn, and experiencing Africa not from behind glass, but from within the wilderness itself. We are now a part of it.
“It was an adventure that was amazing, robust, alternately gobsmacking and unbelievable — and filled with wonderful people and unforgettable sights. I still have not mentally or emotionally recovered from the excitement… and I’m loving every moment of that. (And yes, google the lilac-breasted roller in flight.)”. — Richard Tremaine
Roanoke, Virginia • August 2023
The Silence of Africa
One of the things guests speak about most after returning home is the night sky.
Far from cities and artificial light, the stars above Botswana feel impossibly bright — endless, ancient, and close enough to touch. The Bushmen say they can hear the stars at night, and here, beneath the African sky, I believe they can.
Often, the only sounds are the distant roar of a lion, the soft crackling of the campfire, or the quiet movement of animals beyond the edge of camp. It is a kind of silence many of us rarely experience anymore.
And yet, it is deeply restorative.
During our mobile safari through Chobe National Park, we will spend time in places so remote that many people have never experienced anything like them before — and perhaps never will again.
Over the years, I began noticing that many guests eventually stopped asking to “see more” and instead simply wanted to sit quietly and absorb where they were. So now, we intentionally make space for that.
We call it “P&Q time” — Peace & Quiet.
At times, one of our safari vehicles may be reserved for guests who wish to experience the bush in silence for a while: no conversation, no rushing, simply sitting together quietly in nature.
It is extraordinary what begins to reveal itself in those moments.
You notice things you never saw before. The movement of birds in the grass. The shifting light. The distant warning calls of antelope. The rhythm of the land itself.
And often, without expecting it, people discover a stillness within themselves as well.
One of the things guests speak about most after returning home is the night sky.
Far from cities and artificial light, the stars above Botswana feel impossibly bright — endless, ancient, and close enough to touch. The Bushmen say they can hear the stars at night, and here, beneath the African sky, I believe they can.
Often, the only sounds are the distant roar of a lion, the soft crackling of the campfire, or the quiet movement of animals beyond the edge of camp. It is a kind of silence many of us rarely experience anymore.
And yet, it is deeply restorative.
During our mobile safari through Chobe National Park, we will spend time in places so remote that many people have never experienced anything like them before — and perhaps never will again.
Over the years, I began noticing that many guests eventually stopped asking to “see more” and instead simply wanted to sit quietly and absorb where they were. So now, we intentionally make space for that.
We call it “P&Q time” — Peace & Quiet.
At times, one of our safari vehicles may be reserved for guests who wish to experience the bush in silence for a while: no conversation, no rushing, simply sitting together quietly in nature.
It is extraordinary what begins to reveal itself in those moments.
You notice things you never saw before. The movement of birds in the grass. The shifting light. The distant warning calls of antelope. The rhythm of the land itself.
And often, without expecting it, people discover a stillness within themselves as well.
And finally, our journey concludes at one of the great historic hotels of the world: Victoria Falls Hotel, perched above the thundering waters of Victoria Falls (Mosi-os-Tunya as locals call it - the smoke that tunders).
After days spent deep in the wilderness, arriving here feels almost timeless.
Built more than 125 years ago during the great age of African exploration, the Victoria Falls Hotel still carries the elegance and atmosphere of another era. Wide verandas overlook rolling green lawns, monkeys wander quietly through the gardens, and the distant mist rising from the Falls drifts across the horizon. There is really nothing like checking into the hotel in your safari clothes, tired from the journey, and ordering a gin and tonic at Stanleys's Bar, "where every pour is done with style, and every sip tells a story"
The Falls is the largest continuous sheet of falling water in the world - 5,604 ft. wide (over one mile!), and 354 ft. tall. The spray rises 1300 feet above the falls during the dry season when we will be there, and can be seen from many miles away.
This was once the place where explorers and great safari expeditions ended their journeys across Africa.
And somehow, it still feels that way.
Yet beneath its history and old-world grandeur, there is also an extraordinary sense of peace here. Afternoon tea beneath the trees. The sound of the Falls in the distance. Sunset light across the bridge connecting Zimbabwe and Zambia. A final chance to slow down, reflect, and absorb all that we have experienced together over the course of this remarkable journey.
It is the perfect ending to an expedition that moves from sacred ancient landscapes to some of the wildest places left on Earth — and finally, to one of Africa’s most iconic and beautiful refuges. We will say our goodbyes here on Saturday, October 9, and return from our great adventure! Your heart may stay in Africa, too....
After days spent deep in the wilderness, arriving here feels almost timeless.
Built more than 125 years ago during the great age of African exploration, the Victoria Falls Hotel still carries the elegance and atmosphere of another era. Wide verandas overlook rolling green lawns, monkeys wander quietly through the gardens, and the distant mist rising from the Falls drifts across the horizon. There is really nothing like checking into the hotel in your safari clothes, tired from the journey, and ordering a gin and tonic at Stanleys's Bar, "where every pour is done with style, and every sip tells a story"
The Falls is the largest continuous sheet of falling water in the world - 5,604 ft. wide (over one mile!), and 354 ft. tall. The spray rises 1300 feet above the falls during the dry season when we will be there, and can be seen from many miles away.
This was once the place where explorers and great safari expeditions ended their journeys across Africa.
And somehow, it still feels that way.
Yet beneath its history and old-world grandeur, there is also an extraordinary sense of peace here. Afternoon tea beneath the trees. The sound of the Falls in the distance. Sunset light across the bridge connecting Zimbabwe and Zambia. A final chance to slow down, reflect, and absorb all that we have experienced together over the course of this remarkable journey.
It is the perfect ending to an expedition that moves from sacred ancient landscapes to some of the wildest places left on Earth — and finally, to one of Africa’s most iconic and beautiful refuges. We will say our goodbyes here on Saturday, October 9, and return from our great adventure! Your heart may stay in Africa, too....
“Africa healed my heart. The tone set by Deb, Peace, and the crew created something far beyond an ordinary safari — it felt like family. Each day brought new adventures as we traveled through the Kalahari and beyond, seeing lions, leopards, cheetahs, thousands of elephants, giraffes, hippos, and an astonishing variety of birds and wildlife.
The knowledge of the guides was incredible, but even more than that, this journey changed us. We all came away from the experience feeling richer in life.” — Harry Zabel, 2023
The knowledge of the guides was incredible, but even more than that, this journey changed us. We all came away from the experience feeling richer in life.” — Harry Zabel, 2023
This journey is not physicallly demanding, however, you must be able to climb into and out of the safari vehicles several times a day, without assistance. And, there will be rough roads, so if you have back problems, this might not be the trip for you. We will be doing some hiking in the Tsodilo Hills. Hikes are not that far, most are short and flat with some minor uphill - those uphill are also not too steep or far.
Price: The investment for this adventure is $12,500 USD per person/double occupancy.
Includes all lodging (double occupancy), and breakfasts during the dates mentioned, all meals when at safari lodges. (Ngepi, Okavango Origins). All meals included and freshly prepared during mobile safari, and expert guides and staff 24 hrs./day (see reviews above -there are more on the We Travel site), Purified water, is always available. All camping equipment, all ground transport from Maun to Tsodilo Hills roundtrip, and Chobe to Victoria Falls. Mokoro excursion while at Ngepi, and Chobe River lunch cruise which camping in Chobe National Park. All campsite fees, bush plane flights from Maun to Khwai, and Khwai to Kasane. Transport and assistance through Zimbabwe border to Victoria Falls hotel.
Not included: airfare to Maun, Botswana prior to safari, or from Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe after the safari. Tips, some meals, extra activities you may want to do on your own.
If this journey calls to you and you would like to reserve your space with a $1,250 usd non-refundable deposit, please click on the purple button below, which will take you to a secure site. The balance will not be due until June 21, 2027.
Price: The investment for this adventure is $12,500 USD per person/double occupancy.
Includes all lodging (double occupancy), and breakfasts during the dates mentioned, all meals when at safari lodges. (Ngepi, Okavango Origins). All meals included and freshly prepared during mobile safari, and expert guides and staff 24 hrs./day (see reviews above -there are more on the We Travel site), Purified water, is always available. All camping equipment, all ground transport from Maun to Tsodilo Hills roundtrip, and Chobe to Victoria Falls. Mokoro excursion while at Ngepi, and Chobe River lunch cruise which camping in Chobe National Park. All campsite fees, bush plane flights from Maun to Khwai, and Khwai to Kasane. Transport and assistance through Zimbabwe border to Victoria Falls hotel.
Not included: airfare to Maun, Botswana prior to safari, or from Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe after the safari. Tips, some meals, extra activities you may want to do on your own.
If this journey calls to you and you would like to reserve your space with a $1,250 usd non-refundable deposit, please click on the purple button below, which will take you to a secure site. The balance will not be due until June 21, 2027.