Botswana & Zimbabwe Safari
10 days
from Victoria Falls to Maun
From
$ 5599
Duration10 days
Experience the ultimate wildlife adventure with this 10-day trip through some of the best wildlife reserves you'll ever see. Keep your camera at the ready to capture the lions and elephants of Hwange National Park, fly to the panhandle of the Okavango Delta for a wildlife walk with a local guide, and cruise along the banks of the Chobe River to watch the elephants drink along its banks. Make memories to last a lifetime among the incredible animals and landscapes of southern Africa.
This tour is operated by
-
Duration: 10 daysService level: Upgraded
-
Starts in: Victoria FallsPhysical Grading: Light
-
Ends in: MaunAges: 12+
Tour Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1: Victoria Falls
Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer included.
Your arrival transfer is included from the Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (VFA) airport. Should you choose to fly into Livingstone, Zambia (LVI), we can arrange a transfer at an additional cost. Please speak to your agent for details.
Day 2: Victoria Falls/Hwange National Park
Examine the life and struggles faced by the Painted Dog (wild dog) population in and around Hwange national park and the efforts made by the conservancy to prevent poaching and the damage done by snare traps that have endangered the Painted Dog population in Zimbabwe. The ultimate goal of the project is to release rehabilitated animals back into the wild and to work with local children and communities in an effort to educate and shift behaviors away from poaching.
Enjoy free time in the morning and opt to visit the falls. Later, visit the Painted Dog (Wild Dog) conservancy and meet with a conservationist to learn about the work being done to rehabilitate injured animals as a result of poaching. After, travel to Hwange, Zimbabwe's largest national park, and enjoy a safari drive on the lodge concession in search of wildlife. This evening, arrive at the lodge, located just outside the park entrance, and enjoy dinner.
Road conditions in the region can range from good to very poor. As such, we slow our traveling speed in the rough spots and enjoy some sand and bumps – all part of the adventure of traveling in Africa.
Please note that hot water shortages, low water pressure and power outages can occur in Southern Africa. We appreciate your patience and understanding that these occurrences are outside of our control. Wifi is available in most places (extra charge may apply), but in remote areas there can be service interruptions. A/C is not generally available in the accommodations we use, really it isn't needed as evenings tend to cool down. Floor or ceiling fans are usually available.
Please note that hot water shortages, low water pressure and power outages can occur in Southern Africa. We appreciate your patience and understanding that these occurrences are outside of our control. Wifi is available in most places (extra charge may apply), but in remote areas there can be service interruptions. A/C is not generally available in the accommodations we use, really it isn't needed as evenings tend to cool down. Floor or ceiling fans are usually available.
Meals: B, D
Day 3: Hwange National Park
Start place: Hwange National Park
Take a full-day wildlife safari drive in the park which is home to large elephant herds, lions, and the rare African wild dog. This evening, relax on the sun deck with a cool drink, keeping an eye out for local wildlife visiting the lodge's watering hole.
End place: Hwange National Park
Meals: B, L, D
Day 4: Hwange/Chobe NP
Start place: Hwange National Park
Keep an eye out for Chobe bushbuck and puku antelope, which are found only in this part of Botswana. The Chobe River is home to the world’s largest elephant herds; buffalo, hippos, and lions can also be seen here.
Depart Hwange and head north, crossing the border into Botswana and arriving in Kasane, gateway to the stunning Chobe National Park. This afternoon, enjoy a boat safari on the Chobe River in search of bathing elephants, hippos, and crocodiles.
Meals: B, D
Day 5: Chobe NP
Opt into the photo wildlife safari on the Chobe River at sunset; you’ll be accompanied by an expert wildlife photographer and guide who will help you get the perfect shot.
In the morning, continue our wildlife viewing with a safari drive along the banks of the Chobe River. In the afternoon, opt to take a photography river safari on a specialized photography boat.
Meals: B, D
Day 6: Kasane/Okavango Delta
Catch a flight into the “Panhandle” area of the Okavango Delta and check into our remote camp in the wilderness. Enjoy lunch before taking a walk to the research camps of the National Geographic-funded Okavango Wilderness Project. Meet with someone from the research team and learn about their work and projects in the area.
Planes used to fly into the Delta are small and weight restrictions are mandatory. For this reason luggage restrictions are 15kg per person for checked in luggage and 5kg for Hand luggage for a maximum of 20kg per person. As well, the airline requires the weight of each passenger, your CEO will collect this information from you privately, at the beginning of the trip.
End place: Delta de l'Okavango
Meals: B, L, D
Day 7: Okavango Delta
Start place: Delta de l'Okavango
Tonight we enjoy a unique and adventurous stay in a remote bush camp (known locally as a fly camp). Accommodation will be in simple dome tents on cots, and facilities are wash basins and out house/long drop toilette (simple but clean) which are shared amongst our group. There is no electricity and lighting in the evenings is by lantern, so please bring a flashlight. While basic, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to immerse yourself into the wilds of Africa. Our local guides and staff add some comfortable touches, excellent food and spin some fantastic campfire stories.
Explore the stunning Delta Panhandle with expert local guides to view wildlife from mokoros (African dugout canoes) and on bush walks. This evening, we will stay at a unique bush camp on one of the remote Islands within the Delta. Here, we enjoy a three-course meal around a roaring campfire, sitting back and listening to the night calls of the Delta wildlife.
End place: Delta de l'Okavango
Meals: B, L, D
Day 8: Okavango Delta
Start place: Delta de l'Okavango
Depart from our island camp and continue wildlife viewing on foot and by mokoro with our expert local guides. Return to the main camp later this afternoon and opt to relax or take a swim. This evening, relax on the deck overlooking the lagoon with hidden seating areas and a fire pit — perfect for stargazing.
End place: Delta de l'Okavango
Meals: B, L, D
Day 9: Okavango Delta/Maun
Start place: Delta de l'Okavango
Transfer to the frontier town of Maun and enjoy an evening of culture and traditional foods with celebrated author Bonty Botumile and the Thari-E-Ntsho Storytellers. This local enterprise is dedicated to preserving Botswana’s heritage and providing youth with employment opportunities in the arts. Option to take a scenic flight over the delta.
End place: Maun
Meals: B, L, D
Day 10: Maun
Start place: Maun
Depart at any time.
End place: Maun
Meals: B
Inclusions
Included
- Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Painted Dog Conservation, Hwange National Park Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Okavango Wilderness Project Experience, Okavango Delta Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Botswana Storytelling and Traditional Dinner, Maun
- Arrival transfer
- Open-vehicle wildlife safari drives in Hwange and Chobe National Parks
- Chobe boat safari
- Wildlife excursions by boat and foot in the Okavango Panhandle
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
-
Transport
Private vehicle, 4x4, Walking, Boat, Mokoro, Plane -
Accommodation
Hotels (2 nts), Safari lodges/camp (6 nts), Bush camp (1 nt)