Summary of this Budget Safari
This Victoria Falls to Kruger Budget Camping Safari takes in some major Southern African highlights.
On this affordable African trip you can expect to go large with the:
massive Victoria Falls, considered the world's biggest sheet of falling water
some of Africa's most enormous elephant populations in Chobe, Botswana
huge plains of Makgadikgadi, one of the largest salt pans in the world
vast wilderness of South Africa's Kruger Park, home to the Big Five of Africa
Be impressed by the sheer scale of Africa's natural wonders and inspired by its rugged beauty and rich cultures!
Itinerary for this Tour
Days 1 & 2: Victoria Falls – Zimbabwe
Welcome to Africa! Our remarkable journey through Southern Africa begins at Victoria Falls, the adventure capital of Africa.
We start our safari with an important tour briefing, held at 1:00pm on the first day.
On day two at Vic Falls in Zimbabwe we head to the spectacular waterfall to discover for ourselves why this natural wonder is called Mosi oa Tunya, which means 'The Smoke that Thunders'. Victoria Falls is considered the largest sheet of falling water in the world, at 1.7km's wide and 108m's high - an awe-inspiring sight year-round.
As the Zambezi plummets into the narrow gorge below Victoria Falls sends up a magnificent spray reaching over 400m into the sky, during the rainy season when it can be spotted from miles away. Although not as thunderous during the dry season, Victoria Falls and the gorge below are clearly visible at this time, because there is less mist rising off the falls.
We stay at a conveniently located campsite in Victoria Falls town, close to all the action and adventure activities. You have the option of upgrading your accommodation at the camp's reception (extra cost). During our time in Victoria Falls you will have plenty of optional activities to choose from, as well as free time to relax at the hotel and explore the historic town on your own.
Please Note:
We strongly recommend attending the tour briefing on day one, as this is when we collect your Local Payment, important contact information and insurance details from you. If your flight is set to arrive too late for the meeting, then we advise booking a flight for the day before the tour, so that you can join the meeting. Pre-tour accommodation can be arranged with us if required.
Responsible Travel Note:
During your time at Victoria Falls you may come across an optional 'Walk with the Lions' activity. We do not recommend this activity as professional wildlife conservationists advise that habituating lions to humans can shorten their life span and may lead to human-lion conflict.
For the optional Helicopter Flight (12 minutes or 25 minutes ) we recommend using Zambezi Helicopter co CAA Zimbabwe and your guide can help make arrangements for this activity.
Included Activities at Victoria Falls:
Visit Victoria Falls
Optional Activities at Victoria Falls:
Canoe trail - USD140
Flying fox - USD40
Gorge swing - USD90
Helicopter flight (12 minutes) - USD140
Helicopter flight (25 minutes) - USD275
Horseback safari - USD80
Jet boat - USD95
Rafting & river boarding combo (half day) - USD180
Whitewater rafting (full day) - USD140
Whitewater rafting (half day) - USD140
Village & township tour - USD50
Bungee jumping - USD130
Victoria Falls Accommodation:
Two nights of camping (with facilities)
Day 3: Chobe National Park – Botswana
On day three we cross into neighbouring Botswana and make our way to the famous Chobe National Park, renowned for its huge elephant populations.
This afternoon we take a relaxing boat cruise on the Chobe River, an excellent opportunity to get up close to elephants, as well as other wildlife and plenty of birds. As we cruise along we look out for elephants along the banks, or even swimming in the river, along with the abundance of hippos and crocodiles lurking in the shallow waters. Other wild animals that are often sighted on this laid-back boat cruise include lions, zebras, cheetahs, buffalos and a range of antelopes.
Chobe Park is home to some of the highest concentrations of game in Africa and was the first national park established in Botswana.
Travel: 100 km (about 3 hrs)
Included Activities in Chobe Park:
Chobe River cruise
Chobe Accommodation:
One night of camping (with facilities)
Day 4: Nata – Botswana
This morning you have the chance to take an optional sunrise game drive in Chobe National Park to explore its diverse habitats in search of the wild animals and birds inhabiting this scenic game park.
Leaving Chobe we drive south to the small town of Nata, located on the fringes of the vast Makgadikgadi Pans.
Here you can explore the otherworldly salt pans on an optional three-hour open vehicle drive, to experience the endless horizons of this desolate terrain. Once an enormous inland lake the now dry Makgadikgadi Salt Pans stretch out over 12000km² in deep silence, amid the ancient Kalahari Desert.
In the rainy season the pans are transformed into grassy plains dotted with shallow lakes, attracting various wild animals and numerous migratory birds, including impressive flocks of flamingos. In the dry season however the strange mirages and empty, cracked-clay landscapes return to Makgadikgadi, one of the largest salt pans in the world.
Facilities at our campsite include a swimming pool, souvenir shop, restaurant and lounge-bar area.
Travel: 302km (about 5hrs )
Optional Activities in Chobe & Nata:
Chobe sunrise game drive - BWP240
Nata Pan excursion - BWP190
Nata Accommodation:
One night of camping (with facilities)
Day 5: Blouberg – South Africa
Today we get up early for the long journey through Botswana and into South Africa.
We arrive at our next stop in the late afternoon. Our overnight camp is set at the foot of the majestic Blouberg (Blue Mountain) range in the Limpopo Province of South Africa
Arriving at the Blouberg Mountains we set off on a short guided walk in the scenic foothills, where some of South Africa's best rock climbing can be found. This area is rich in both natural and cultural diversity, and as we walk our guide shares tales about the local community and its traditions.
First we visit the old deserted village of Bochum, which was once a Lutheran mission station. After our glimpse into the cultural dynamics of the past we move on to a local village to experience the present.
Here we stop in at an informal tavern, called a shebeen, to try out the locally brewed beer and meet the friendly locals. Then we tuck into a locally prepared dinner to sample traditional foods, including dishes such as chicken stew (Malana), maize, watermelon (Thopi) and a green vegetables (Marogo).
We visit the small Hananwa community on this unique cultural experience, encountering people who still live according to old traditional ways. The original lifestyles of some locals have been well preserved due to the remote and inaccessible location of the village, at the base of the rugged Blouberg where roads are absent.
Travel: 600km (about 10hrs)
Included Activities
African Ivory Route cultural dinner (limited vegetarian options - your guide can arrange alternatives by arrangement)
Accommodation
One night of camping (with facilities)
Days 6 & 7: Kruger National Park – South Africa
On day six we drive to Kruger National Park, South Africa's premier safari destination and one of Africa's best game parks.
As we enter Kruger Park the Big Five game viewing adventure begins! Our game drive takes us to game-rich areas of this world-famous national park, in search of the Big Five of Africa (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino), along with a staggering array of other wild animals and birds.
Day seven begins early in the morning, with a refreshing coffee and some rusks (tea biscuits), before setting off into the bush on a game drive. Mornings are an excellent time for game viewing as many animals are at their most active in the early morning hours.
The bulk of our day is spent exploring this untamed wilderness area on game drives, stopping at watering holes en route to spot wildlife and birds.
This evening you can embark on an optional night game drive conducted by a park's guide. These exciting night drives take you in search of the unusual and shy nocturnal creatures of Kruger Park.
Covering some 19 485 km² of African bush, Kruger is one of Southern Africa's biggest game reserves, inhabited by 150 mammal species, more than 500 bird species and 100 reptile species. In addition to the Big Five of Africa, Kruger Park is also home to endanger wildlife, including African wild dogs and black rhinos.
On both nights we camp inside Kruger Park at a campsite featuring shared facilities with hot and cold water.
Travel: 350 km (about 8hrs)
Included Activities in Kruger National Park:
Kruger Park game drive
Kruger Park Optional Activities:
Kruger Park night game drive - ZAR220
Kruger National Park Accommodation:
Two nights of camping (with facilities)
Day 8: Johannesburg – South Africa
On the final day of our Victoria Falls to Kruger Budget Camping Safari we leave the African wilderness behind and make our way back to the dynamic city of Johannesburg.
We take a leisurely drive back to the city, travelling through the beautiful Blyde River Canyon on the Panorama Route. This is one of the most scenic parts of South Africa, a country blessed with plenty of spectacular scenery.
Along the way we stop at some of the viewpoints to admire the breathtaking vistas over the deep canyon and rolling Lowveld beyond. Arriving at a selected hotel in Johannesburg our unforgettable safari comes to a close.
We recommend booking flights after 10:00pm on the last day, or staying in Johannesburg for an extra day or two after the tour to explore. Post-tour accommodation can be arranged with us, when you book your safari.
Travel: 600 km (about 8-9 hrs)
Included Activities on the Panorama Route:
Blyde River Canyon
Tour Details
Optional Activities:
Activities listed as optional in the itinerary are not included in the tour price and are for your own expense. See Optional Activities & Excursions tab.
Safari Group Size:
This safari travels with a maximum of 16 clients and single bookings are accepted.
Tour Accommodation:
This tour includes 11 nights of camping accommodation (with facilities), two nights of bush camping (with no facilities) and one night of hotel accommodation.
On this tour accommodation is primarily in two-man dome tents at basic campsites with facilities.
Meals on Safari:
On this tour 6 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 5 dinners are provided. We recommend a budget of USD150 for meals not included in the itinerary.
Tour Participation:
This camping safari is an overlanding trip, which means that group participation is required along the way. Participation is usually in the form of helping with meal preparation and the setting up or dismantling of tents, and sometimes helping your guide/cook with shopping for supplies.
Please Note:
The above itinerary serves as a guide and is subject to changes (such as last minute route changes), due to factors including weather conditions and seasonal variation.