Botswana and Zimbabwe Encounter

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. At the lodge you will meet your guide and the rest of your group at 6pm for your pre-departure meeting.

Overnight: Shearwater Explorers Village (or similar)

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. The next morning enjoy a 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.

Cresta Mowana Safari Resort & Spa (or similar)

This morning we make our way across the border into Zimbabwe and to our lodge situated in the northwest corner of Hwange National Park. The next two days, we will have plenty of time to explore this vast wilderness on game drives drives. You’ll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the true wilderness of Hwange National Park, spotting many species of wildlife along the way, including elephant, zebra, giraffe, and even the elusive predators like lions and leopards. 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.

Hideaways Nantwich Lodge (or similar)

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.

Sovereign Houseboat (or similar)

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.

Overnight: Shashani Matobo Hills Lodge (or similar)

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.

Nata Lodge (or similar)

A very early morning departure leads us to Planet Baobab near Gweta, from where we begin an expedition to Ntwetwe Pan to explore some of Botswana’s distinctive landscapes in this area known as the ‘baobab capital’ of the world.

Overnight: Planet Baobab (or similar)

On this day we travel to Maun, a bustling safari town which serves as the gateway to the Okavango Delta. 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 site.

Overnight: Thamalakane River Lodge (or similar)

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 amazing 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 take a night game drive in the concession – a fantastic opportunity to spot some nocturnal animals that are more difficult to encounter during the day. The next day we head into the famous Moremi Game Reserve. The full day is spent spotting wildlife in large concentrations in this unspoiled haven of African nature.

Overnight: Mankwe Tented Retreat (or similar)