Botswana, Zimbabwe · Safari

9-Day Victoria Falls, Chobe and Okavango Safari with Elephant Sands

9 Days Round trip from Victoria Falls Easy pace

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The journey

Trip highlights

01 Witness the awe-inspiring beauty of Victoria Falls as it cascades into the Zambezi River
02 Explore the diverse ecosystems of Chobe National Park by river cruise and game drive
03 Experience Elephant Sands, where elephants gather at a natural waterhole just meters away
04 Venture across the vast Ntwetwe Salt Pan and meet habituated meerkats
05 Discover Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta and its wetland landscapes
06 Navigate the intricate channels and lush waterways of the Okavango Delta

This compact and action-filled tour takes you through three of Southern Africa's top destinations - Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park, and the Okavango Delta - with wildlife-rich stops in Botswana along the way. Experience guided visits to Victoria Falls, river cruises, game drives, Elephant Sands, the Makgadikgadi Pans, and Maun, the gateway to the Delta. With accommodation, transport, park fees, and meals as specified included, this journey combines scenic adventures, abundant wildlife, and memorable safari experiences across Zimbabwe and Botswana.

Lanterns are lit as the magical sunset settles over the river, and a wonderful 3-course dinner is served.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 9 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Yes

Cities Victoria Falls, Maun, Chobe National Park, Gweta, Kasane, Makgadikgadi Pan, Moremi game reserve, Okavango Delta

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Arrival in Victoria Falls with Sunset Dinner Cruise

Your driver will wait for you at the airport, 21 km southeast of Victoria Falls town. You will be transferred to Dzimbahwe Guest Lodge, a comfortable lodge located in the peaceful area of Victoria Falls, close to the game corridor. It is approximately 3 km from the main falls, where you will stay for two nights.
On the same day, you will be picked up for the sunset dinner cruise, which offers splendid scenery with exotic birdlife and many hippos, crocodiles, and elephants crossing the river to feed on the island. Lanterns are lit as the magical sunset settles over the river, and a wonderful 3-course dinner is served.
The following day, you will be picked up from your lodge for a guided tour of Victoria Falls. Later in the day, you will go on a village tour. As the evening approaches, you will enjoy an unforgettable African experience infused with Zimbabwean cuisine - the buffet Boma dinner.

Day 02

Into Chobe National Park

You will check out of your lodge in the morning and head to Botswana. Upon completing immigration formalities, you will be treated to coffee, tea, muffins, and fruit at the launch site.
After your mini breakfast, it is time for a morning cruise on the Chobe River, renowned for its huge herds of elephants, hippos, crocodiles, and an abundance of birdlife that is thrilling to see and experience.
After the boat cruise, you will enjoy a buffet lunch, then embark on an afternoon game drive in Chobe National Park, where once again you can enjoy an abundance of wildlife as you explore the Chobe Riverfront by open safari vehicle.
After the day tour, you will be dropped off at Chobe Safari Lodge, where you will spend two nights enjoying charming hospitality, beautiful accommodation, and breathtaking river views.
The following day, you will be picked up for an early morning game drive. After lunch, you will go on a relaxed afternoon cruise and conclude your night with a buffet dinner.

Day 03

Transfer to Elephant Sands

After breakfast, you will leave for Elephant Sands, a bush lodge and campsite in the northeastern part of Botswana along Nata. Built around 2002 by Ben Moller, it is located 250 km from Chobe or Kasane. Enjoy viewing the elephants at a natural waterhole in front of the lodge. Watch these impressive creatures as they drink only a couple of meters away from you - a unique experience with breakfast and buffet dinner included.
During this one-night stay, you can book an optional activity: a bush dinner with a game drive or a braai under the African sky illuminated by a galaxy of stars.

Day 04

Makgadikgadi Pans and Meerkat Encounter

After your stay at Elephant Sands, enjoy breakfast and embark on the road to Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. You will check in at Gweta Lodge, situated only a short distance from the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. Here, you can see the very entertaining meerkats, the impressive baobab trees, and the region's incredible biodiversity.
Later, enjoy a half-day Ntwetwe Salt Pan adventure and a meerkat visit. A guide will take you to see a colony of habituated meerkats living on the edge of the Ntwetwe Salt Pan. These meerkats are human-habituated, giving guests a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to observe their natural behaviours and charming personalities from almost touching distance.
After visiting and interacting with the meerkats, you will be transported to the vast Ntwetwe Salt Pan, which forms part of one of the largest salt pans in the world. Likened to being on the moon's surface, the sight of the salt pan is truly one to behold.

Day 05

Transfer to Maun, Gateway to the Okavango Delta

After breakfast at Gweta Safari Lodge, you will be transferred by road to Maun. Here, the Okavango Delta is found, a unique wetland system of rivers, crystal-clear channels, islands, and lagoons that create a haven for innumerable bird and wildlife species.
You will stay at Island Safari Lodge, which offers comfortable accommodation in a lush garden setting. It is well spaced out, and each room has a lovely view across the tree-lined garden toward the banks of the Thamalakane River, a cool and welcoming oasis in the heart of Maun. Shaded under a huge canopy of large trees, the lodge overlooks the river and floodplain.
You have optional activities such as scenic Okavango helicopter flights and horse riding across the river.

Day 06

Okavango Delta and Moremi Safari Adventure

Explore your day trip activities on the Delta channels from a unique vantage point on a mokoro canoe. Here, you will navigate the waterways of the Okavango by boat to the magical Chief's Island, whose fascinating heritage and wildlife will fill you with a sense of wonder as you traverse a range of interesting Delta landscapes for about 200 km. Alternatively, explore the lush wildlife area of Moremi in open safari vehicles, where you will witness the rich and diverse fauna and flora. This area offers photographic opportunities of a lifetime.
You will stop at a scenic area to enjoy a light and wholesome lunch and then continue exploring Moremi for the rest of the day. During the Chief's Island tour, you can stop for lunch, but the rest of the day will be spent on the boat. Please note that this activity is only available when water levels in the Delta allow access to Chief's Island. Explore the Delta's channels as you make your way back to Maun.

Day 07

Departure from Maun

After an eventful journey exploring Zimbabwe's most popular and iconic landmark - Victoria Falls - and Botswana's most diversified national parks, where you will experience eye-catching activities characterised by large numbers of wild animals, it is time to say goodbye.
After breakfast, head to Maun Airport to catch your flight back home.

Where this trip takes you

Victoria Falls, Chobe River, Elephant Sands, Ntwetwe Salt Pan

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Victoria Falls 8 cities · 9 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Park fees (for non-residents)
All activities (unless labelled as optional)
All accommodation (unless listed as an upgrade)
A professional driver/guide
All transportation (unless labelled as optional)
All taxes/VAT
Round-trip airport transfer
Meals (as specified in the day-by-day section)
Drinks (as specified in the day-by-day section)

What's Not Included

International flights (from/to home)
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
Tips (tipping guideline: US$10.00 pp per day)
Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
Any government-imposed increase in taxes and/or park fees
Some meals (as specified in the day-by-day section)

Know before you go

A bush dinner with a game drive or a braai under the African sky at Elephant Sands is optional.
Scenic Okavango helicopter flights and horse riding across the river in Maun are optional activities.
The Chief's Island activity is only available when water levels in the Delta allow access.

Logistics