SUMMARY
Exciting itinerary offering safaris in both Botswana and Zimbabwes Hwange National Park. Areas visited in Botswana are deep in the Okavango Delta and Linyante which offer equisite game viewing in the remote African bush. Break your safaris with gazing at the magnificent Victoria Falls just as David Livingstone once did. This trip is a gem offering traditional safaris in the heart of Africa.
BEST TIME TO GO
July – October high game concentrations around water sources, good visibility of game due to leafless woodlands, flood waters in Okavango make for good boating, cold nights and warm/dry days
June moderate climate
Jan – March and Dec; summer bird migrants are in breeding plumage, lots of babies, great light and green colors
HIGHLIGHTS
• Visit unique habitats in three of the best Big-Five game locations
• Private guided Tour of Victoria Falls and Authentic Dinner & Entertainment
• Experience 4×4 open vehicle, walking and night drive safaris, canoe and motorboat safaris
• Very small and intimate camps for a true authentic bush experience
ITINERARY MAP
Use the route map below to explore the destinations & accommodation on this tour
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FULL DAY BY DAY ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrive in Johannesburg from your overseas flight and take the shuttle to the Protea Airport Hotel for rest and relaxation.
Day 2: Take a mid morning flight to Victoria Falls from where you will transfer to the Bomani Tented Lodge in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe. Hwange has always been renowned for its incredible diversity of wildlife, and to this day it boasts more varieties of mammal and bird species than any other Zimbabwean National Park. There are at least 100 species of mammals, including 19 large herbivores such as buffalo, eland, sable and wildebeest, and over 400 bird species. However, the area is particularly famous for its population of elephant, some 40,000 strong – combined with the elephants of northern Botswana this is the world’s largest contiguous elephant population. Your tent has a private en-suite bathroom, hot running water and electricity by diesel/solar generator and is raised 3 feet above the ground on a wooden deck and overlooking the Ngamo Plain.
Day 3 and 4: Search for game by vehicle, on foot or on a night drive. Watch birds behind blinds or join the staff on all day “pump-run” when available to drop off fuel for the pumps keeping the waterholes filled. Meet the local villagers and kids during a visit to the school. At night be sure to listen for the roar of lions or the cackle of a hyena.
Day 5: This morning transfer by road to Victoria Falls where the A’Zambezi River Lodge awaits you nestling on the banks of the mighty Zambezi river within the periphery of the Zambezi National Park. Your air conditioned room will be facing the river front.
Day 6: Your day includes a tour of the magic Falls , “Mosi-oa-Tunya”, The Smoke that Thunders,. While Victoria Falls is neither the highest nor the widest waterfall in the world, it is classified as the largest, based on its width of 5,604 ft and height of 354 ft resulting in the world’s largest sheet of falling water (depending on season and rainfall). Victoria Falls is roughly twice the height of North America’s Niagara Falls and well over twice the width of its Horseshoe Falls. Then head over for dinner and entertainment at the famous “Boma” Restaurant.
Day 7: This morning head to Muchenje Safari Lodge which enjoys a unique position to the west of Botswana’s famed Chobe National Park. It sits on an escarpment with wonderful views of the Chobe River, and Namibia’s Caprivi Strip and seasonal flood plains. It is in a more quiet area tourist wise but rich in wild life.
Day 8 and 9: As the Lodge is located in the Chobe Forest Reserve, twice daily game drives or walks and night drives are also available, which add immeasurably to the wildlife experience. Or enjoy game viewing by boat on the Chobe River – a wonderful chance to see huge herds of elephants, as well as many other mammals and birds attracted to the water’s edge, not to mention those animals which also live in the River!
Day 10: Return to Kasane where you will board a bush plane to fly into the Okavango Delta. Described as ‘the jewel of the Kalahari’, the Okavango Delta – a tranquil and isolated oasis set in the harsh and arid surroundings of Botswana’s bush and desert – is widely regarded as one of Africa’s best safari destinations, with its rich diversity of fauna and flora. The delta is one of the largest and most important inland wetlands of the world, with 2500 species of plants, 65 fish species, 20 large herbivores and their attendant predators, and more than 450 species of birds.
Settle in at Kadzora Camp beneath a majestic stand of trees and along a peninsula, commanding uninterrupted panoramic vistas of the delta. The camp has been set out to afford each luxury tent absolute privacy.
Day 11 and 12: Enjoy early morning and late afternoon safaris whilst scanning the area from the camp over lunchtime. In addition to open vehicle and walking safaris, mokoro excursions will provide the ideal position from which to explore the endless flow of rivers and tributaries, this tranquil experience permits close encounters with an abundance of bird and wildlife.
Day 13: After your last game drive, take a bush plane to Maun to connect to your flight to Johannesburg.
Included: Game viewing activities, meals and accommodation, transfers, park fees, flights Johannesburg-Victoria Falls; Northern Botswana – Okavango Delta – Maun-Johannesburg.
Excluded: Airport fees/taxes, visas, US$50 Park fees paid directly to park service. Flight to and from the USA to Johannesburg. Premium drinks.
Note: Tour starts and ends in Johannesburg. Tour is an example and may be booked individually, no minimum group size or fixed departure dates.