Day 1: Maun, Botswana Safari Begins
On arrival at Maun International Airport, you will be met and transferred to Thamalakane River Lodge, located on the banks of the Thamalakane River. It is just outside of Maun and en-route to the famous Okavango Delta. The rest of the afternoon of your first day on safari in Botswana may be spent at leisure enjoying one of the many activities available at the lodge. This evening you will meet your guide and the rest of your group that you are travelling with.
Day 2 & 3: Maun to Okavango Delta, Botswana
After breakfast, we head to Etsha 13, on the western border of the Okavango Delta. Unlike other deltas, it flows deep into the Kalahari Desert without reaching the sea. The next day is spent exploring the network of water pathways through thick vegetation in mokoros (traditional dugout canoes), discovering a variety of birds and wildlife. We have the opportunity to stop at a secluded island for a 1½ hour guided walk during which you may spot elephants, waterbuck or other animals living in this water-filled paradise.
Day 4: Greater Moremi Area, Guided Safari Botswana
After breakfast, we head south, travelling via Maun to our second camp in the delta. It is situated in a private concession in the Greater Moremi area. This large expanse of pristine delta vegetation is renowned for its concentration of mammals. It is not unusual to see many different types of wildlife during a game drive. Game viewing is seasonal and depending on the time of the year, you may see different species in different areas. The best time for game viewing in the delta is towards the end of the dry season and spring from August to November. During this period we will drive further to get closer to the rivers and channels for the best game viewing. In the summer, the abundant birdlife often means exceptional sightings of wildfowl, waders and raptors.
Day 5: Game Drives in Greater Moremi Area Botswana
We have the opportunity to explore the Greater Moremi area on morning and afternoon game drives as well as during a very special night drive. Expect exceptional game viewing from the vehicles and we hope to show you the rare nocturnal animals that call this area home on the night drive.
Day 6: Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
Today we head into the famous Moremi Game Reserve deep in the heart of the Okavango Delta. It is known as one of the most beautiful and varied reserves in Africa, with an unprecedented concentration of wildlife. A full day is spent in the unspoiled nature of the Moremi Game Reserve with guided mokoro safaris through the waterways.
Day 7: Moremi Game Reserve to Nata, Botswana
Leaving the Moremi bush behind us, we travel east towards the Makgadikgadi Pans on this leg of our Botswana safari. The area was once a large river-fed lake that has become saline and empty and incorporates a multitude of salt pans and vast grass plains dotted by palm islands. Together this forms the Great Makgadikgadi which is the largest area of salt pans in the world, covering some 37,000 square km. We arrive at our lodge on the edge of the pans in the late afternoon.
Day 8 & 9: Nata to Chobe National Park Botswana
We head off to Nata Bird Sanctuary in the morning, which offers us the opportunity to enjoy the magnificent view over the Sowa pan, which is part of the Greater Makgadikgadi Pans (please note a visit to the pans is subject to the road conditions and water levels as well as time constraints). After breakfast, we continue our journey north to Kasane, the gateway to your safari into Chobe National Park. Chobe, which is the second-largest national park in Botswana and covers 10,566 square km, has one of the greatest concentrations of elephants found on the African continent. The afternoon is at your own leisure to partake in optional activities or to relax by the pool. Start your morning of day 9 with a spectacular game drive in Chobe National Park. You will return to the lodge for a late breakfast and chill time until your boat cruise on the Chobe River starts around 3 pm. This Chobe River cruise offers excellent opportunities to photograph elephants, hippos, crocodiles and a variety of birds. You can have your PCR test on arrival on day 8 at the lodge at your own expense. You’ll need this test result to enter the Zimbabwe border on day 10.
Day 10, 11 & 12: Chobe Botswana to Hwange National Park Zimbabwe
Today we make our way across the border into Zimbabwe and to our lodge located in a private concession within Hwange National Park. You will spend the next three nights in this wildlife-rich area. This afternoon you can partake in an optional game drive if time allows. Over the following two days, you will have plenty of time to explore this vast wilderness on game drives. Hwange National Park is one of Africa’s finest havens for wildlife and is home to massive herds of elephants, buffalo, and zebra and has a very large concentration of giraffes. It is also home to many predators and endangered species plus varied birdlife. You will also visit the Painted Dog Conservation Centre to witness the work that is done to protect these endangered species. During your stay, you can also meet with the anti-poaching unit and learn what drives these conservation warriors.
Day 13: Hwange to Victoria Falls Zimbabwe
After breakfast and the end of your safari in Hwange, we head back towards Victoria Falls. Spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure enjoying one of the many activities that Vic Falls has to offer.
Day 14: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Explore Victoria Falls at your leisure today. The town offers unique eperiences, from adventure activities to cultural experiences. Your guide will take you on a tour of the mighty Victoria Falls, known by the local Kololo tribe as Mosi oa Tunya- “the smoke that thunders”. In the afternoon we embark on a relaxing sunset cruise on the mighty Zambezi River.
Day 15: Vic Falls, Zimbabwe
Our Botswana and Zimbabwe safari ends after breakfast. You will be transferred to Victoria Falls Airport in time for your departure flight. We hope to welcome you again one day on another of our African adventures.
