Victoria Falls to Moremi via Botswana and Zimbabwe
DAY 1: VICTORIA FALLS, ZIMBABWE
On arrival at 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.
Accommodation: Shearwater Explorers Village or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, bar & restaurant)
Lunch: For your own account
Dinner: For your own account
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES IN VICTORIA FALLS
- Below is a list of some of the most popular optional activities on offer in Victoria Falls. Pre-booking is recommended to avoid disappointment. The rates are per person and are quoted in US Dollars.
- All activities are subject to availability and may require a minimum number of passengers to operate. Certain activities only operate at specific times of the year.
- Please contact our reservation office for further information.
- Should you wish to partake in an activity that is not listed below, we will gladly assist you with rates and reservations.
- 15 Minute Helicopter Flight Flying Fox (Cable Slide)
- 22 Minute Helicopter Flight
- Gorge Swing Boma
- Dinner Incl. Transfers
- Zip Line
- 12-13 Min. Flight of Angels
- Horse Back Safaris (Novice)
- 25 Minute Flight
- Livingstone Island: Lunch Departure
- Bungee Jump Victoria Falls
- Bicycle Tour Bridge Slide
- Canopy Tour
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 Chobe National Park. Chobe, the second largest national park in Botswana, covers 10,566 square km and 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.
Distance: 100 km
Departure: 08h00
Accommodation: Cresta Mowana Safari Resort & Spa or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool & restaurant)
Breakfast: At Shearwater Explorers Village or similar
Lunch: For your own account
Dinner: For your own account
DAY 3: CHOBE NATIONAL PARK, BOTSWANA
Start your morning with a hopefully spectacular game drive in Chobe National Park. You will return to the lodge for a late breakfast and relaxation until our boat cruise on the Chobe River starts around 3pm. Here, we can watch elephants, hippos, crocodiles, and a variety of birds, making for excellent up-close photo opportunities.
Accommodation: Cresta Mowana Safari Resort & Spa or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, bar & restaurant)
Breakfast: At Cresta Mowana Safari Resort & Spa or similar
Lunch: For your own account
Dinner: For your own account
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, as well as 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.
Distance: 183 km
Departure: 08h00
Accommodation: Nantwich Lodge or similar (chalets with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool & bar area)
Day 4 Breakfast: At Cresta Mowana Safari Resort & Spa or similar
Lunch: At Nantwich Lodge or similar
Dinner: At Nantwich Lodge or similar
Day 5 Breakfast: At Nantwich Lodge or similar
Lunch: Lunch pack on game drive
Dinner: At Nantwich Lodge or similar
DAY 6 & 7: ZAMBEZI RIVER, ZIMBABWE
Today we board our flight to Deka Airstrip, followed by a road transfer to Msuna Island on the Zambezi River, where we will board a houseboat for a relaxing two-night trip. Nestled 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 between the Msuna River and the 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 while cruising along the lake.
Distance: 393 km
Departure: 07h00
Accommodation: Sovereign Houseboat or similar (cabins with en-suite bathrooms, plunge pool & dining room area)
Day 6 Breakfast: At Nantwich Lodge or similar
Lunch: Lunch pack from Nantwich Lodge or similar
Dinner: At Sovereign Houseboats or similar
Day 7 Breakfast: At Sovereign Houseboat or similar
Lunch: At Sovereign Houseboat or similar
Dinner: At Sovereign Houseboat or similar
DAY 8-9: MATOBO HILLS, ZIMBABWE
After disembarking, we transfer back to Deka Airstrip for your flight back to Hwange Airport. We continue by 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 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 on foot. In the afternoon, we further explore the scenery and wildlife of the park on game drives, ending with a visit to Rhodes' grave.
Distance: 470 km
Departure: 08h00
Accommodation: Shashani Matobo Hills Lodge or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, bar, & swimming pool)
Day 8 Breakfast: At Sovereign Houseboat or similar
Lunch: Lunch pack from Sovereign Houseboat or similar
Dinner: At Shashani Matobo Hills Lodge or similar
Day 9 Breakfast: At Shashani Matobo Hills Lodge or similar
Lunch: Lunch pack on game drive
Dinner: At Shashani Matobo Hills Lodge or similar
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 that a visit to the pans is subject to road conditions, water levels, and time constraints. We arrive at our lodge in the late afternoon.
Distance: 375 km
Departure: 06h00
Accommodation: Nata Lodge or similar (permanent safari tents with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool & bar)
Breakfast: At Shashani Matobo Hills Lodge or similar
Lunch: For your own account
Dinner: At Nata Lodge or similar
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.
The Ntwetwe Pan is one of the two major pans that make up the Makgadikgadi Pans and is among the largest salt pans in the world. The pan was fed by the Boteti River until it was left permanently dry following the construction of the Mopipi Dam, which provides water for the diamond mines in Orapa. The waters may have returned to the river, but Ntwetwe is now famous for its extraordinary lunar landscape, particularly the rocky outcrops, dunes, islets, and channels found along the western shore. We explore the area in search of uniquely adapted desert species such as bat-eared foxes, springbuck, kori bustards, and some of the Kalahari's most fascinating inhabitants, the meerkats. By spending quality time with these incredibly social, superbly adapted animals, you will be able to see how they interact with each other and their environment. Due to an ongoing habituation programme, it is possible to get up-close and personal with these captivating creatures.
After lunch, we have the opportunity to explore a nearby village to experience modern African village culture. Learn about the history and traditions of the Batswana people from a local guide whose knowledge has been inherited from their forefathers. Visit the local primary school, 'Sekolo', with its outdoor classes and meet the children, visit the Kgotla - a traditional court that governs the village - and get a glimpse of rural Botswana life. In the late afternoon, we take a stroll with our guide through an impressive baobab grove, as he explains the local ecology, geology, and the unique biology of the baobabs, which are in fact not trees but the largest succulents in the world.
Distance: 200 km
Departure: 05h00
Accommodation: Planet Baobab or similar (Bakalanga huts with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool & bar)
Breakfast: Breakfast packs prepared by Planet Baobab or similar
Lunch: Picnic lunch
Dinner: At Planet Baobab or similar
DAY 12: MAUN, BOTSWANA
Today we travel to Maun, a bustling safari town that 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, booking an optional scenic flight over the delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and truly glorious oasis.
Distance: 225 km
Departure: 07h00
Accommodation: Thamalakane River Lodge or similar (chalets with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, bar & restaurant)
Breakfast: At Planet Baobab or similar
Lunch: For your own account
Dinner: For your own account
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES IN MAUN
Below is a list of some of the most popular optional activities on offer in Maun. Pre-booking is recommended to avoid disappointment. The rates are per person or per flight and are quoted in Botswana Pula or US Dollar. All activities are subject to availability and may require a minimum number of passengers to operate.
Please contact our reservation office for further information. Should you wish to partake in an activity that is not listed below, we will gladly assist you with rates and reservations.
- 45 Min Scenic Flight (5-6 or 7-8 Clients)
- 1 hr Scenic Flight (5-6 or 7-8 Clients)
- Discover the Delta: 45 Min Scenic Helicopter Flight (45 min)
- Okavango Delta through the lens: 1 hr Scenic Helicopter Flight (1 hour)
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.
Distance: 94 km
Departure: 07h00
Accommodation: Mankwe Tented Retreat or similar ((Meru-style tented suites with ensuite bathrooms, swimming pool & bar)
Breakfast: At Thamalakane River Lodge or similar
Lunch: Lunch pack from Thamalakane River Lodge or similar
Dinner: At Mankwe Tented Retreat or similar
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.
Accommodation: Mankwe Tented Retreat or similar (Meru-style tented suites with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool & bar)
Meals: Breakfast: At Mankwe Tented Retreat or similar
Lunch: Lunch pack on game drive
Dinner: At Mankwe Tented Retreat or similar
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: At Mankwe Tented Retreat or similar
