Belmond Safaris introduces 'STARS, SAPIENS AND SAND', a new expert-led philosophical voyage

Eagle Island Lodge in the heart of the Okavango Delta and Savute Elephant Lodge in a remote corner of the Chobe Desert, both Belmond Safaris, launch inaugural experiences by specialist safari guide and anthropological researcher Paul Sheller for an enlightening rediscovery of the night sky and humanity’s connection to it. In the pristine wilderness of the Botswana bushveld, guests are invited to reconnect with the natural world on this exclusive four-night luxury safari and delve into the lost language of the stars. ​

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Under the vast dark skies of Botswana’s wild landscapes, Belmond’s two perfectly positioned safari lodges provide the setting for Paul Sheller to share his passion for archaeology, geology and astronomy, as well as knowledge gained from his rare and intimate relationship with Kalahari bushman communities. Sheller will shed light on the significance of local sites of special interest: pristine rock paintings which chart a world before us; the sacred UNESCO World Heritage site of Tsodilo Hills; and the dry plains of the Kalahari teeming with wildlife - which are appreciated from the air during a breathtaking helicopter journey that soars low over the Okavango Delta. ​

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“Reflecting on the experiences I had during my time with traditional bushmen, and underscoring our differences in world perspectives, I’ll be weaving in some of the history, geology, anthropology and mythology of Botswana that was shared with me about the stars. I hope guests will take this carefully tailored Belmond Safari experience and the harmonised relationship that the bushmen have with the wild and find their own connection with the beauty of the natural world,” says Sheller. ​

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 FROM SUPERNOVAS TO SAPIENS    ​

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Unbelievably, most elements in our bodies have travelled through at least one supernova. This staggering revelation is just one of the astonishing truths that Sheller will delve into, creating further connections between humans and the universe. Tracing the journey from stars to soil, then to animals and man – all within the context of Botswana’s majestic landscapes and wildlife, Sheller will lead guests on a thought-provoking exploration of the cosmos. 

Paul will venture back millions of years and establish how tectonic activity paved the creation of the Kalahari Basin, Lake Makgadikgadi and, much later, the Okavango Delta. Thanks to the concentration of essential nutrients, the Delta has one of the highest wildlife concentrations in Southern Africa. These nutrients are part of a harmonious life cycle that secures biodiversity.  ​

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HARMONIOUS HUMANITY, AN ANCIENT APPROACH  ​

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Unearthing age-old ways of living, a one-hour private helicopter ride from Eagle Island Lodge gives guests the opportunity to admire the rocky Tsodilo Hills, rising dramatically out of the flat Kalahari plains. Home to one of the largest concentrations of Bushman rock art in the world, mapping out life as it was 20,000 years ago. Pivotal to this journey is the company of both Sheller and an indigenous guide from either the Ju/’hoansi or Hambukushu tribe, both of whom will add rare and authentic insight into how early man arrived in this part of the world and how plants and animals have adapted to life on the Delta through time.  ​

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Fuelled by a delicious brunch, guests will depart for Savute Elephant Lodge, in the Chobe Desert. Here, Sheller shares a deeply rooted philosophy of the Kalahari bushmen, who have adapted their own existence to be in harmony with nature’s law, rather than changing or removing natural surroundings for human life. Intimately in tune with nature, the bushmen’s approach underpins conservation and probes the sustainability of humanity’s existence.  ​

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As Chobe is endowed with some of the darkest skies in the southern hemisphere, guests will be drawn closer than ever into the cosmos. Using his state-of-the-art telescopes, Sheller will shine a light on Jupiter, the four Galilean moons, and the Andromeda Galaxy, some 2.5 million light years away. ​

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With boat trips along the Delta, sumptuous island lunches, mesmerising sundowners beneath ancient baobab trees and captivating star shows, this illuminating experience is totally unique to Belmond guests, who are invited to find a deeper connection through the abundant wildlife of Botswana, its ancient past and to the universe at large. ​

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