Botswana

Wilderness SafarisAfrica
Written By Norman Howe

The Legendary Kalahari & Epic Okavango

Explore the crystal clear waterways of the legendary Okavango by ancient makoro canoes and travel across the vast Makgadida salt pans in the company of ancient San bushman trackers. Discover a breathtaking diversity of habitats, see a dazzling diversity of wildlife, sample a mouth-watering array of bush cuisine, and sleep in romantic luxury tented camps.

Inspiring Places: Persian rugs underfoot and cool cotton sheets form a striking contrast with the rugged wilderness viewed from the comfort of one’s own verandah.

Details: 8 days/7 nights; available year-round; from $7,995usd/person

Itinerary: Maun | Kalahari| Okavango | Chobe

 

Trip Ingredients

 
 

Favourite Hotel: Jack’s Camp

HV Travel Member Benefits:

Our value proposition is simple. In return for your loyalty and membership, we will deliver tangible benefits and exclusive perks. You will have access to trip planning expertise and privileged relationships, and we will share travel intelligence and reviews. Choose fro different levels of membership based on your budget and your travel needs.

Norman Howe

Norman is an Oxford-educated lawyer and itinerant wordsmith who stuck with law long enough to prove that he was tough enough to handle the pressure, but not long enough to be stupid about it (about 3 years, for the record).

He then made the fatal mistake of guiding for Butterfield & Robinson (B&R), the world’s best luxury travel company, during the supposedly brief interregnum prior to taking up a career in academia. Shortly thereafter, he abandoned all pretence of responsibility and embraced the peripatetic pursuit of pleasure on behalf of B&R.

After a decade of nomadic explorations and travel innovation, having exhausted the possibilities for trying out new roles within B&R, he took a seven-year sabbatical during which time he bought, reinvented and sold Horizon & Co, one of Canada’s oldest and most storied travel companies. Along the way, he also managed to marry an awesome wife (Emily) and produce three delightful offspring – Grace, Max & Oscar.

Norman eventually returned to B&R as President & CEO, where he found the company in a downward spiral and was able to turn it around, doubling revenue and travellers and returning it to profitability. Most importantly, he did it without sacrificing the culture of creativity or the commitment to excellence (NPS increased by 20% and B&R won the coveted #1 spot on the T+L list of world’s best travel outfitters).

After a successful 8-year run, the inevitability of a founder-driven, family-business dynamic kicked in and Norman left B&R in 2019. He now spends his time advising and working with entrepreneurs and luxury travel brands to help them grow and innovate.

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