Short time to experience the soul of the southern African bush

I am heading back to my homeland south Africa for a short trip. Starting in cape town for the 3 peaks race followed by some time in Durban with family. While I realize the answer to this will probably be take a tour, aim hoping people out there may now people or something that could help.

I will have just over a week from the 14th of nov to the 23rd of November and I am looking for a way to experience the true soul of the African bush. If I were to describe what I am after it would be a small group or just myself, father and a guide on
a chilled out camping/photography safari. While no one would say no to viewing the big 5. It isn't everything for me. I am more interested in experiencing sunrises, sunsets with true African landscapes, rock formations, rivers, people and wildlife. Photographing a dung beetle while hanging out at a waterhole while waiting for the animals to return from a hot day, means more to me than getting a in your face lion experience with 30 tourists. I though about pure self drive options but local knowledge can make a trip like this. Probably the final challenge is the trip to do the 3 peaks is breaking the bank so money is not plentiful, so happy to take rougher options.

So what am I asking ...... Well a couple of things
The best southern african country to be able to camp and stay close to nature which is safe, affordable and not locked up with rules and controls around everything
Recommended guides/tours
Suggested game parks/countries to experience this
Botswana has come highly recommended - comments
Am I dreaming or does someone know how this can be avchieved

Any thoughts would be appreciated

My wife and I are planning a trip for next spring and have come across a couple of places that might be of interest to you. Not nearly as pricey as many, though it seems that anyplace that offers what you are looking for is going to be expensive unless you have the time and equipment to do some serious self camping.

Here's one in Madikwe, about 3-4 hours northwest of Jo'burg. http://www.thebushcamp.com/

And another in Botswana's Delta region.
http://www.oddballs-camp.com

We don't have personal knowledge of either, but both get good reviews from folks who have been there. If you happen to get to either, please let me know how it was.

Thanks hal48 have shot through some requests to both. Appreciate the feedback

Hi,

My other half and I have spent the best part of the last two years travelling around RSA, Namibia, Botswana Zambia and Malawi. I love Botswana but my personal view is you either have to pay out big bucks or self-drive to experience what you seem to be looking for. And self-drive I think will require more time than you have to be worth it.

If I were you I would stay in South Africa. Having been to most of the NPs in the above countries I am always amazed how often South Africans undersestimate what's on their doorstep. My all time favourite park in this region is Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. Earlier this year in a 7 day period we saw a leopard and cub grooming for half an hour, a lion take down a gemsbok, three cheetah take a springbok (and drag it over to us so they could eat in the shade), caracal chasing a wild cat and much more. The size of the park and limits on guest numbers mean you often have sightings to yourself.

You can camp very economically in campsites where you can sit round the fire and listen to the bush (at Nossob you will almost certainly hear lions and see owls in the trees) or treat yourself to a wildermess camp (just 4 units around a waterhole) which are still cheap as chips compared to Botswana. If you can get the bookings Grootkolk and Urikaruus are fabulous.

You can get there and around 95% of the park in a "normal" car - though a bit of height helps with viewing.

Any questions - about KTP or any of the Botswana parks just pm me. Or f you would like the url to our website to look at some pictures. Though I am off to Botswana myself on Tuesday and won't have internet access for a while ...

Cheers

Itchyfeet

Hi Virtualnomad -

My name is Custard and I was born in Okavango Delta and raised in Maun.
I recommend a private guide if you want to keep the group small because most of the safari companies have minimums. Lataka safaris, Ngoko safaris are worth checking out.
As far as a chilling time, there are campsites with permanent tents for low cost without carriying the stuff. Also a lot of them have waterwhole at the restaurant/bar area. Senyanti Safari Camp in Kasane for one.
Tsodilo hills for cave paintings and rock formations. Okavango Delta is one of a kind.
Kwai Village in Moremi for natives and the bushmen of Kalahari.
I believe you can do this and have a great time but you may not be able to see everything in one trip.
Best of luck to you and your father.

Cheers,
Custard