Africa

Intimate Botswana & Zimbabwe Encounter 2027

15 Days. From AUD $11,333pp.
Small Guided Groups
Details

Overview

With some of the world’s greatest wildlife, Botswana and Zimbabwe are perfect partners for a safari. Enjoy our guides’ expertise and knowledge of both countries and get to explore two of Southern Africa’s most enigmatic countries from endangered wild dogs, rhino tracking, iconic Victoria Falls a traditional canoe trip, and a relaxing houseboat experience on the Zambezi River.

Itinerary Highlights

  • Chobe: Morning game drive in the game-rich national park Game viewing by boat on the Chobe River
  • Lake Kariba: Exploration of the lake aboard a houseboat Various activities available including game viewing, guided walks, fishing, boat trips
  • Makgadikgadi Pans: Visit to the Nata Bird Sanctuary and Sowa Pan Ntwetwe Pan Expedition and afternoon baobab walk

Itinerary in Brief

  • Day 1: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
  • Day 2: Victoria Falls to Chobe National Park, Botswana
  • Day 3: Chobe National Park, Botswana
  • Day 4 & 5: Chobe, Botswana to Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
  • Day 6 & 7: Zambezi River, Zimbabwe
  • Day 8 & 9: Matobo Hills, Zimbabwe
  • Day 10: Matobo Hills, Zimbabwe to Nata, Botswana
  • Day 11: Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana
  • Day 12: Maun, Botswana
  • Day 13: Greater Moremi Area, Botswana
  • Day 14: Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
  • Day 15: End of Tour

Travelling with Eclipse

Peace of Mind
  • Eclipse Travel is Australian owned and run, and an ATAS accredited travel agent.
  • 24/7 emergency numbers and local contacts provided for support while you’re abroad.
  • We provide all the information you need to organise your visas and vaccinations, making travel preparation stress-free.
  • No currency surcharges. Once your deposit is paid, your price is guaranteed.
Specialists
  • Our consultants are true destination experts, with firsthand experience and extensive travel in the regions we offer.
  • Expect quick, professional responses and dedicated service from our knowledgeable team.
  • We conduct regular checks on destinations, hotels, and services to ensure quality for every trip.
Authentic Travel
  • Tailor-made itineraries designed around your unique requirements.
  • Freedom to select your preferred style and standard of accommodation.
  • Unique itineraries that take you beyond the major highlights, immersing you in each location.
  • Committed to responsible travel: we reinvest in the environment and local communities across our destinations.

Day 1: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

On arrival into Victoria Falls Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the afternoon may be spent at leisure enjoying one of the many activities available in Victoria Falls. This evening you will meet your guide and the rest of your group at the lodge at 18h00 for your pre-departure meeting.

Day 2: Victoria Falls to Chobe National Park, Botswana

After breakfast 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”. We then travel to Kasane in Botswana, the gateway to the 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 elephant found on the African continent. The afternoon is at leisure to partake in optional activities or to relax by the pool.

Breakfast included.

Day 3: Chobe National Park, Botswana

Enjoy a morning game drive in Chobe National Park, followed by a late breakfast and time at leisure back at the lodge. In the afternoon, depart at around 15:00 for a boat cruise on the Chobe River, you may encounter elephants, hippos, crocodiles and a variety of birdlife, offering excellent close-up photographic opportunities.

Breakfast included.

Day 4 & 5: Chobe, Botswana to Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe

This morning we make our way across the border into Zimbabwe and to our lodge situated in a private concession in the North West corner of Hwange National Park. Over the following two days, we 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 great herds of elephant, buffalo, and zebra and has a very large concentration of giraffe. It is also home to many predators and endangered species plus varied birdlife.

If time allows, you can partake in an optional game drive on the concession in the afternoon. The whole of the next day is spent exploring this magnificent area on a full day game drive in Hwange National Park.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 6 & 7: Zambezi River, Zimbabwe

Today we board our flight to Deka Airstrip. Road transfer to Msuna Island on the Zambezi River, where we will board a houseboat for a relaxing two-night trip. Nested in the mountains, Lake Kariba is a man-made inland sea, guarded by enormous reserves of game and made beautiful and savage by sun and storm, earth and water. Our voyage takes us to the between Msuna River towards Mibizi area which forms the beginning of Lake Kariba. Continue for a sunset cruise with game viewing along the way, followed by dinner on board.

In the morning and afternoon, you will have the opportunity for some leisurely fishing, guided walks or game viewing depending on your preference. When we return, brunch will be served whilst cruising along the lake.

Accommodation: Zambezi Trader Houseboat or similar (cabins with en-suite bathrooms, plunge pool & dining room area)

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 8 & 9: Matobo Hills, Zimbabwe

After disembarking, we transfer back to Deka Airstrip for your flight back to Hwange Airport. We continue via road transfer to your lodge. The next day we visit the majestic Matobo Hills, an area of exquisite beauty, steeped in tribal history, ancient mystery and dramatic rock landscapes. The national park has been given UNESCO World Heritage status and is home to both white and black rhinoceros and sable antelope. Birdlife is prolific and includes the highest concentration of black eagles in the world. Once the home of the San (Bushman), this area contains the richest source of the rock art found anywhere. Not only is it here that the Ndebele people buried their great king, Mzilikazi, but Cecil John Rhodes was also laid to rest on the “Hill of the Benevolent Spirit” or “World’s View” as named by him. Start the morning with tracking rhino spoor by vehicle and foot. In the afternoon we further explore the scenery and wildlife of the park on game drives, ending with a visit to Rhodes’ grave.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 10: Matobo Hills, Zimbabwe to Nata, Botswana

We leave Matobo Hills and drive through the savannas of southern Matebeleland en-route to Botswana. In the afternoon we visit the Nata Bird Sanctuary, where we will have 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.) We arrive at our lodge in the late afternoon.

Breakfast and Dinner included.

Day 11: Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana

A very early morning departure leads us to Planet Baobab near Gweta, from where we embark on an expedition to Ntwetwe Pan to encounter some of Botswana’s distinctive landscapes and extraordinary creatures.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 12: Maun, Botswana

Today we travel to Maun, a bustling safari town which serves as the gateway to the Okavango Delta. The name Maun is derived from the San word “maung”, which means “the place of short reeds”. The afternoon is yours to spend at leisure, either relaxing next to the pool at the lodge or if you are keen for some excitement, why not book an optional scenic flight over the delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and truly glorious oasis.

Breakfast included.

Day 13: Greater Moremi Area, Botswana

After breakfast we take a drive to the mokoro station. From here, we will float in dug-out canoes through the thick vegetation of the Okavango Delta discovering a variety of birds and wildlife. Unlike other deltas, it flows into the Kalahari Desert without ever reaching the coast. After this spectacular excursion and lunch, we make our way to our camp, which is situated in a private concession in the Greater Moremi area. After settling into our camp, we will enjoy dinner and embark on a night game drive in the concession – a fantastic opportunity to spot some nocturnal animals that are more difficult to encounter during the day.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 14: Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana

Today we head into the famous Moremi Game Reserve known as one of the most beautiful and varied reserves in Africa with an unprecedented concentration of wildlife. The full day is spent in the unspoiled nature of the Moremi Game Reserve.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 15: End of Tour

Our safari ends after breakfast. You will be transferred to Maun Airport in time for your departure flight. We hope to welcome you again one day on another of our African adventures!

Breakfast included.

DatesFromAdditional
26 Feb 2027 - 12 Mar 2027A$11333ppContact us
15 Mar 2027 - 29 Mar 2027A$11333ppContact us
19 Apr 2027 - 03 May 2027A$11333ppContact us
05 May 2027 - 19 May 2027A$11333ppContact us
14 May 2027 - 28 May 2027A$11333ppContact us
14 Jun 2027 - 28 Jun 2027A$11333ppContact us
07 Jul 2027 - 21 Jul 2027A$11333ppContact us
14 Jul 2027 - 28 Jul 2027A$11333ppContact us
04 Aug 2027 - 18 Aug 2027A$11333ppContact us
18 Aug 2027 - 01 Sep 2027A$11333ppContact us
01 Sep 2027 - 15 Sep 2027A$11333ppContact us
15 Sep 2027 - 29 Sep 2027A$11333ppContact us
24 Sep 2027 - 08 Oct 2027A$11333ppContact us
13 Oct 2027 - 27 Oct 2027A$11333ppContact us
22 Oct 2027 - 05 Nov 2027A$11333ppContact us
15 Nov 2027 - 29 Nov 2027A$11333ppContact us

** Prices are per person based on twin / shared accommodation.

** Single supplements may apply

Suggested Accommodation
CityAccommodation
Victoria Falls Shearwater Explorer Village or similar
Chobe National Park Cresta Mowana Safari Resort & Spa or similar
Hwange National Park Hideaways Nantwich Lodge or similar
Matobo Hills Shashani Matobo Hills Lodge or similar
Nata Nata Lodge or similar
Makgadikgadi Pans Planet Baobab or similar
Maun Thamalakane River Lodge or similar
Moremi Game Reserve Mankwe Tented Retreat or similar

What's included?

  • Accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary or of similar standard
  • All transport in fully kitted vehicle
  • Return Flights from Hwange Airport to Deka Airstrip
  • Game drives and activities as mentioned
  • Meals as per itinerary
  • Experienced local guide
  • Airport transfers on day of arrival and departure of tour
  • Park Fees & Activities

What's not?

  • International Flights
  • Pre and post tour accommodation
  • Optional activities
  • All drinks
  • Gratuities
  • Personal expenses such as telephone calls, curios etc.
  • Travel insurance

Price Assurance

At Eclipse Travel, our expert destination knowledge and decades of travel planning experience come at no extra cost to you. While many think booking through a tour operator is more expensive than planning a trip independently, that’s not the case. We’re paid by our travel partners—such as hotels, activity operators, and cruise providers—via commissions, not by our clients.

Our team negotiates the best rates for you and ensures you receive unbiased advice, with no preference for any particular supplier. In fact, where we secure higher commissions, we often pass the savings on to you, giving us a competitive price edge.

Additionally, we lock in exchange rates at the time of your deposit, ensuring no surprise costs when it’s time for final payment. You can rest easy knowing we’ll handle the details with our suppliers. The only exceptions are national park fee increases or fuel surcharges imposed after your booking, though these are rare.

Take advantage of our team’s expertise and let us help you plan the perfect holiday—hassle-free!

Destination: Africa

From its endless deserts and burning sunsets, to its abundance of wildlife and diversity of culture, the African Safari has it all. There is nowhere else on the planet with such incredible natural beauty and rich traditions than Africa. Discover your own Africa with a tailored tour through some of the most dynamic and stunningly beautiful natural landscapes the world has to offer.

Downloadable travel guide

Planning your next adventure has never been easier with our free downloadable travel guides. Get in-depth insights into local attractions, dining options, and hidden gems, all curated by our team of travel specialists with decades of experience.

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Intimate Botswana & Zimbabwe Encounter 2027

15 Days. From AUD $11,333pp.