Falls & Okavango Wilderness Discovery

This adventure begins in Victoria Falls. We meet this afternoon for a serene sunset dinner cruise on the mighty Zambezi River. Enjoy the beautiful scenery and keep a look out for elephants, buffalo, buck, hippo, and birdlife along the riverbanks. We then return to our accommodation for the night or you can head out to enjoy the local nightlife.

Please note: This tour starts at 15:00 on Day 1 with a pick-up from the hotel.

After breakfast, we visit Victoria Falls National Park to witness one of Africa’s most spectacular sights. Stroll along the pathways to view the mighty Victoria Falls from different view points. The rest of the day is free to spend at leisure or enjoy some of the many exciting optional activities on offer at Victoria Falls. From white river rafting and canoeing, to scenic flights and bungee jumping. Alternatively you could relax and enjoy afternoon tea at the beautiful Victoria Falls Hotel.

Victoria Falls - Chobe National Park (Botswana). From Victoria Falls, we cover a short distance to the Botswana border, crossing into the small town of Kasane and travelling on to our lodge. In the afternoon, we enjoy a boat cruise boat cruise on the Chobe River in Chobe National Park.

Chobe is widely known for its populations of elephant, but the park also contains lion, leopard, hyena, giraffe and a host of antelope and birdlife. The Chobe floodplains and Chobe River provide a sensitive eco system which attracts much of the wildlife of the region especially in the dry season when it is not uncommon to see between 500 and 2000 elephants on the floodplains at one time. One highlight of Chobe is the combination of wildlife, birdlife and reptiles seen along the banks of the Chobe River. We take the afternoon cruise for a unique perspective of river-side wildlife. This evening, we relax and overnight at the lodge.

Chobe National Park - Nata. This morning we head out to explore the Chobe National Park on an open vehicle game drive where we may have the opportunity to spot not only elephant that are so prolific in the park, but also lion and different antelope species.

Driving south we may be lucky to encounter elephant or buffalo alongside (or on) the road, often strays to the migratory herds which roam freely throughout the area in search of pasture and water. We stop in the small settlement of Nata for the night. If we are lucky, we will see plenty of bird species including Southern yellow-billed hornbills, pied and arrow-marked babblers, glossy starlings and paradise whydahs from the comfort of the pool deck, bar or breakfast table.

Nata - Maun. Following an early breakfast, we embark on a guided walk through a local village, gaining insights into the community's life. After our tour, we head west to Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta. Maun has experienced rapid growth in recent years and is a bustling provincial centre. The afternoon is free for leisure, allowing us to relax with a refreshing beverage and pack for the Delta excursion the following day.

Maun - Okavango Delta. Setting out early after breakfast, we begin our journey into the Okavango Delta. The initial part of the trip involves a 4x4 ride over rough sandy paths to the 'mokoro' station, where the river level is reached. Here, we meet the local Tswana 'polers,' our guides for the excursion, and transfer our luggage and equipment to the mokoros (dug-out canoes). Navigating through giant lily pads, tall grasses, and labyrinthine channels in these shallow canoes, we reach our camp on the edge of the Okavango.

The afternoon is dedicated to a guided walk, offering a chance to spot prolific birdlife and larger mammals in the reserve. The Okavango Delta, spanning over 1,600,000ha, is a natural wetland in northern Botswana, providing an ideal habitat for freely roaming wildlife. We savour the evening wilderness experience, with many finding the overnight camp stay to be an unforgettable adventure.

Okavango Delta - Maun. This morning we embark on a nature walk through the wilderness. It's a wonderful opportunity to appreciate the sights, sounds, and smells of the natural world. After our venture into the bush, we indulge in a hearty breakfast and then pack up onto our mokoros, leaving behind nothing but footprints. Bidding farewell to our polers, we return to Maun in our 4x4.

This afternoon there's the option to join our guide for a shopping trip in town. Another popular activity is the optional scenic flight over the 'Delta,' offering a bird’s eye view of the vastness we explored by mokoro and on foot.

Maun - Khama Rhino Sanctuary - Stevensford Game Reserve. It's another early rise as we embark on a long journey skirting the greater Kalahari, catching glimpses in the distance of the vast salt pans of central Botswana. Our destination is the Khama Rhino Sanctuary which serves as a prime habitat for white rhino, zebra, wildebeest, and giraffe. Here we embark on a game drive to catch sight of some rhinos, with guides sharing interesting facts about the local fauna and flora.

Our final night on safari is spent on a private nature conservancy situated on the Limpopo River in Botswana’s Tuli Block, home to a variety of wildlife, including antelope, crocodile, hippo, zebra, giraffe, and numerous bird species.

Stevensford Game Reserve - Pretoria, South Africa. On our last morning, we join the main route along Martin’s Drift border post. Crossing the mighty Limpopo River into South Africa, we absorb the scenic views and observe changes in vegetation, infrastructure, and populated areas. Our journey ends in Pretoria.