When to go
March – November
Price
From £5,195 pp (including flights)
Flight time
11hrs 02mins
Introduction
Discover the best that Zimbabwe and Botswana has to offer with this memorable 16-day journey. Visit the crashing Victoria Falls, go on a game drive in search of rhino and elephants, and marvel at the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans at sunset. And don’t forget a pleasant canoe trip through the Okavango Delta.
At a Glance
Duration
16 days & 15 nights
Guide price
Group: £5,195pp (including flights)
Cities/Destinations (in order)
Victoria Falls – Chobe National Park – Maun – Okavango Delta – Nata – Makgadikgadi Salt Pans – Zimbabwe – Matobo National Park – Hwange National Park – Victoria Falls
Tour Type
Experienced local tour manager and guided sightseeing
Tour Theme
Group Tour
Activity Level
1 out of 7 - Leisure
Age Range
16+
Star Rating of Tour
Superior
Accommodation
Kwalape Lodge | Crocodile Camp | Wild camping | Rivernest Cottages | Nata Lodge | Hermits Peak Lodge | Miobo Lodge | The Rainbow Hotel
Board Basis
Varied - please see the sample itinerary for details
Min|Max Group Size
Minimum 4 people with a maximum of 12
Start/Finish
Victoria Falls – Victoria Falls
Highlights
Marvel at the Elephant Herds from the Chobe River
From May to September/October, you will find a large concentration of elephant herds at the Chobe River. They come in hordes to drink from the river and play with their young. From the safety and comfort of a fully equipped boat, you will be able to watch these majestic creatures and take magnificent photos to take home with you.
See Black Rhinos in Matobo National Park
Matobo National Park is a must-see destination. It contains a wide variety of wildlife and is most notable for being home to both the black and white rhino. While there you can also view the ancient San art rock caves and the burial site of Cecil Rhodes, a British mining magnate and politician from South Africa who passed on 26 March 1902.
Search for Wild Dogs in Hwange National Park
Home to about 160 endangered wild dogs, Hwange National Park is a safe refuge for these unique animals. During your trip to the park, you will get to see the wild dogs in their natural habitat, who are being preserved here in the face of consistent poaching efforts.
Recommended Hotels
Kwalape Lodge | Crocodile Camp | Wild camping | Rivernest Cottages | Nata Lodge | Hermits Peak Lodge | Miobo Lodge | The Rainbow Hotel
Sample Itinerary
Botswana & Zimbabwe Lodge Safari
On this 16-day sample itinerary, you will travel from Victoria Falls to the Okavango Delta, followed by Zimbabwe where you will visit Matabo and Hwange National Park, going on full day safaris and wild game drives. Along the way, you will admire the spectacular scenery, and the blueprints of a civilization long gone in the form of the ancient San art rock paintings.
Day 1: London
Depart London
(N)
Day 2: Victoria Falls | Chobe National Park
Arrive at Victoria Falls and check in at your hotel. The drive from Victoria Falls to Botswana takes about 2 hours. Then gather for a full tour briefing in the late afternoon or early evening.
Spend 2 nights at the Kwalape Lodge or similar.
(B, L, D)
Day 3: Chobe National Park
In the morning, go on a game drive in one of the park’s many open game-drive vehicles. The park is home to a staggering number of elephants, with approximately 40,000 to 60,000 onsite, along with other species such as leopards, wild dogs, and lions.
Spend about three hours on the safari before returning to the lodge for lunch. Enjoy some free time in the afternoon by exploring the town of Kasane or going on a boat cruise across the Chobe River. Afterwards, board another boat for a three-hour safari.
(B, L, D)
Day 4: Chobe National Park | Maun
Leave Chobe National Park and go on a long drive to Maun. On the way there, you will stop at the Makgadikgadi Pan, one of the largest salt pans in the world, for lunch. You should arrive at Maun by mid-afternoon. Spend the afternoon gathering supplies, such as extra drinks and food, for the next few days.
Stay overnight at the Crocodile Camp or similar.
(B)
Days 5 – 6: Okavango Delta
Travel to the Okavango Delta, one of the largest swamps in the world, and explore the area by foot. Marvel at the eclectic wildlife and beautiful scenery, and head to the mokoro dugout canoes. Upon arrival, set up camp and spend the next 2 days exploring the nearby islands and waterways via canoe.
Spend 2 nights wild camping.
(B, L, D)
Day 7: Okavango Delta | Maun
In the morning, go on one last canoe trip and then return to Maun. Enjoy free leisure in the afternoon.
Stay overnight at the Rivernest Cottages or similar.
Day 8: Nata | Makgadikgadi Salt Pans
Leave Maun and transfer to Nata, arriving by mid-afternoon. Head to the Nata Sanctuary in the late afternoon, watching the sunset over the Makgadikgadi Salt Pan.
Stay overnight at the Nata Lodge or similar.
Day 9: Zimbabwe | Matobo National Park
Head back to Zimbabwe. Then travel through Bulawayo and Francistown to reach the Matobo National Park. The estimated drive time will be about 5 hours; however, crossing the border can take about 2 to 3 hours depending on traffic conditions. Upon arrival, enjoy the sunset overlooking the park.
Stay for 2 nights at the Hermits Peak Lodge or similar.
(B, D)
Day 10: Matobo National Park
Head to Matobo National Park in the early morning. Then go on a game drive, followed by a game walk in search of rhino. The park is home to a large population of black and white rhino, along with an equally dense population of leopards. There are also ancient rock art drawings, as left behind by the indigenous San people, which contain pictures of giraffes and kudu. You will also visit the burial site of mining magnate and South African politician, Cecil Rhodes.
(B, L, D)
Day 11: Hwange National Park
Enjoy breakfast, then stop by Bulawayo for supplies and drive to Hwange National Park. This is the largest national park in Zimbabwe, covering about 5,640 square miles, and is home to more than 400 bird species including various endangered species. The two most famous wildlife are wild dogs and elephants.
Spend 2 nights at the Miobo Lodge or similar.
(B, D)
Day 12: Hwange National Park
Enjoy a 4×4 open game drive for the entire day. Go in search of wildlife in the Hwange National Park.
(B, L, D)
Day 13: Victoria Falls
After a relaxing morning, take one last trip back to Victoria Falls, arriving at the town at around lunch time. Then visit the falls themselves, the largest of its kind in the world.
Stay overnight at The Rainbow Hotel or similar.
(B)
Day 14: Victoria Falls
Check out the various optional activities at Victoria Falls. Go white-water rafting, take a flight over the falls, enjoy a sunset cruise, or cross into the neighboring region of Zambia to see the falls from a unique perspective.
(B)
Day 15: Victoria Falls
End your stay at Victoria Falls and depart for London.
(B)
Day 16: London
Arrive in London.
