Day 1: Kruger National Park
Departing Johannesburg at 06:30am we head into the world famous Kruger National Park. We visit the northern part of the park and stay in the Letaba area of the reserve. We enjoy an afternoon game drive in our safari vehicle and hope to spot lion, elephant, rhino and other animals in this icon of wildlife conservation.
Includes: Entrance to Kruger National Park & afternoon game drive.
Distance/time: ±580km, 8h00 actual driving time. It's a long day to start the trip, but we want to get into Kruger for an afternoon game drive, so with stops and lunch, we expect a total travel day of ±10h30.
Lunch and Dinner included.
Day 2: Kruger National Park
This morning we wake early and game drive north through the park to the Pafuri region. The northern Kruger is dominated by mopane veld and is the domain of large elephant bulls, wild dogs and lions. As we reach the Limpopo Valley the vegetation changes to forest and birdlife is prolific. We exit the park, late in the afternoon, and overnight at a lodge just outside the Kruger.
Includes: Entrance to Kruger National Park and full-day game drive.
Distance/time: ±250km, 6h30 actual driving time which is a full day game drive through Kruger so with a restful lunch break midday it's a total travel day of ±9h00 (subject to gate closing times).
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 3: Great Zimbabwe
Entering Zimbabwe at the Beit Bridge border post, we travel north to our overnight stop. The following morning we visit the Great Zimbabwe Monuments. These well preserved ruins are some of the oldest and largest stone structures in Southern Africa and were built during the 11th to 14th centuries. We explore these ancient stone structures on an informative walk with a local guide.
Includes: Entrance and guided tour of the Zimbabwe Ruins.
Distance/time: ±450km, 6h30 actual driving time. We need to get to Beitbridge border post as early as possible and depending on the border today (which can be slow) should be less than a ±8h30 travel day.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 4 and 5: Matobo National Park
Travelling via the city of Bulawayo we move on to the Matobo National Park and our chalets on the outskirts of the park. This afternoon we enjoy sundowners from the granite ridge overlooking the park. The following morning we visit World’s View and the historical site of Cecil John Rhodes’ grave. Unusual rock formations are home to an array of ancient bushman paintings which we visit while on our game drive and walk. This area is also home to Zimbabwe’s rhino which we hope to see on our excursion in the national park.
Includes: Entrance to Matobo National Park and game walk.
Distance/time: ±360km, 5h00 actual driving time. Rolling hills, a few roadblocks and a lunch stop should mean a travel day of ±6h30.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 6 and 7: Hwange National Park
Named after a local Nhanzwa chief, Hwange National Park is the largest Park in Zimbabwe occupying roughly 14 650 square kilometers. Hwange is famed for its large elephant population. Our chalets are in the game management area that borders the park, and we explore the park with our local guide, on a full day game drive in an open 4WD game viewing vehicle.
Includes: Entrance fees, full day game drive in open 4WD game viewing vehicle.
Distance/time: ±340km, 5h00 actual driving time, with an early start and tarmac roads we aim to arrive for lunch with a total travel day of ±5h30.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 8 and 9: Victoria Falls
We enjoy a spectacular guided walk through tropical vegetation to the very edge of the “Mosi oa Tunya” or “the smoke that thunders” - Victoria Falls. There are opportunities to white water raft on the mighty Zambezi River, bungee jump or take a “flight of angels” (own expense).
Includes: Entrance Fees to see the Victoria Falls.
Distance/time: ±190km, 3h00 actual driving time, with a visit to the Painted Dog Sanctuary, we expect to be in Vic Falls for lunch, a total travel day of ±4h00.
Breakfast included.
Day 10: Chobe National Park
Entering Botswana, we head to the town of Kasane and our accommodation on the banks of the Chobe River. The river flows lazily along the northern boundary of the Chobe National Park attracting some of the largest herds of elephant in Africa. A highlight of any trip to the Chobe is the afternoon game viewing cruise where we hope to see large herds of elephants and other wildlife as they quench their thirst at the end of the day.
Includes: Chobe N.P entrance fees & sunset cruise on Chobe River.
Distance/time: ±85km, 1h00 actual driving time, the border crossing is relatively fast and we aim to be in Botswana before midday for a less than ±3h00 travel day.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 11: Nata
This morning we venture into the Chobe National Park in an open 4WD in search of big cats and elephants. Thereafter we head south through the Kasane Forest Reserve to the Nata area for our overnight stop. In the late afternoon we visit Nata Sanctuary for sunset and look out across the expanse of the Makgadikgadi Pans. During dry months, the pans appear as endless white expanses, while summer rains create shallow waters that attract flamingos, pelicans, and migratory herds.
Includes: Morning game drive and entrance fees to Makgadikgadi Pans.
Distance/time: ±340km, 4h30 actual driving time. Departing after a morning game drive, with lunch en route it's an easy travel day of ±5h30.
Breakfast and Lunch included.
Day 12 and 13: Okavango Delta
We transfer into the delta by open 4WD game viewing vehicle. Our local guides will take us deep into the heart of the Okavango Delta on Mokoro (dugout canoes) to our pre-erected tented camp. The delta forms as rainwater from the Angolan highlands flows out over the flat Kalahari Desert sands, forming a delicate, green oasis for birds and wildlife. Our camp is on a remote island in this amazingly dynamic environment and we enjoy bush walks, bird watching and swimming in the clear waters. Camping with our local guides we learn more about their lifestyle and culture.
Includes: Entrance to Okavango Delta, Mokoro excursion, morning and afternoon game walks with local guides.
Distance/time: ±340km, 4h30 actual driving time, followed by a 4x4 transfer and then a mekoro trip for a total travel day of ±7h00.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 14: Maun
Returning to Maun in the afternoon of day 14 there is time for an optional scenic flight over the Okavango (own expense).
Breakfast and Lunch included.
Day 15: Goo Moremi Gorge
Heading south from Maun, we cross the wide open spaces of the Kalahari Desert. Along the route we might encounter small herds of zebra interspersed among cattle herds between remote villages. As we approach Goo-Moremi the Tswapong Hills rise above the horizon. Here endangered Cape Vultures nest on the gorge cliffs above the ancestral waterfalls in the protected conservation area of Goo-Moremi Gorge. Time permitting we take an afternoon guided walk to stretch our legs.
Includes: Entrance fees and afternoon guided walk.
Distance/time: ±665km, 8h30 actual driving time. Botswana is flat, and today we can prove that - total travel day of ±9h30.
[Please note: You can end this tour in Maun on day 15 at 08:00am after breakfast to catch flights out of Maun. Flight not included. Please contact us for more information.]
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 16: Johannesburg - Tour Ends
Crossing back into South Africa, we make our way to Johannesburg where the tour ends at +/- 18:00.
Distance/time: ±515km, 6h30 actual driving time, so an early start with a border crossing and lunch stop, we expect a total travel day of ±8h30.
Breakfast included.
