8 Day Botswana Wildlife Safari with Victoria Falls
Countries: Zimbabwe , Botswana
Destinations: Victoria Falls , Chobe National Park , Okavango Delta
Group Size: 2
Duration (days): 8
Number of Adults: 2
Number of Children: 0
Discover the allure of Africa’s waterways and experience the essence of true wilderness with this Botswana Wildlife Safari tour to Chobe and the Delta and a special stop at the magnificent Victoria Falls. A nation of spectacular natural beauty, friendly people and rich culture, Zimbabwe is a vacation highlight of the continent. Marvel at the magnitude of the Victoria Falls, or experience the different adventure activities in Victoria Falls, and then toast the day with a cruise on the Zambezi River.
Botswana’s biggest drawcard is undoubtedly the largest inland delta in the world, the Okavango Delta, a natural haven for wildlife like no other. Floating on mokoros through the Okavango Delta adds another dimension to this remarkable safari excursion. Explore the wildlife wonders of Kazuma Forest Reserve and the thousands of hectares of a private concession bordering the Chobe National Park and Moremi Game Reserve. Guided game drives and intimate bush walks open up the world of elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo and countless other species. Add a cultural touch with a visit to Mababe to learn more about the rich local history.
Itinerary Outline
| Day | Location | Accommodation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Victoria Falls | Ilala Lodge |
| 2 | Victoria Falls | Ilala Lodge |
| 3 | Chobe National Park | Camp Kuzuma |
| 4 | Chobe National Park | Camp Kuzuma |
| 5 | Okavango Delta | Mogotlho Safari Lodge |
| 6 | Okavango Delta | Mogotlho Safari Lodge |
| 7 | Okavango Delta | Mogotlho Safari Lodge |
| 8 | Day of Departure |
Day 1 - 2 : Victoria Falls
Start your journey with a relaxing sunset cruise on the Zambezi River. The next morning a guided tour of the mighty Victoria Falls will bring this member of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World up close and personal. The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure to explore and participate in a variety of optional activities on offer. These include scenic helicopter flights and adrenaline-fueled adventures like bungee jumping, gorge swinging and zip lining. Remember to pack appropriate clothing should you wish to participate in these.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe - Making its way back into the tourist market, Zimbabwe is able to offer some incredible wilderness and exciting wildlife, along with the wonder that is Victoria Falls.
Zimbabwe's political climate and issues have been well documented through the world's media, and it is no secret that tourist numbers to the country have dropped substantially.
However, everything which made Zimbabwe one of the most popular safari destinations is still available, with operators moving back into the world famous areas of Hwange, Mana Pools, the Lower Zambezi and Lake Kariba.
Victoria Falls thunders mightily on the Zambezi River, and the canoeing and rafting experiences are as exciting as ever.
The people of Zimbabwe have always been one of the major highlights, and it is particularly pleasing that tourists are filtering through the borders again, rewarding the patience of the fantastic guides and conservation workers who have remained dedicated to Zimbabwe's wildlife areas.
Victoria Falls
"Mosi Oa Tunya", or "The Smoke That Thunders", Victoria Falls are as magnificent on the 10th visit as they are on the 1st, and their thundering roar makes everything else seem strangely quiet once you leave them behind.
As the mighty Zambezi flows over a chasm of 1 mile wide, and 110 metres high, to violently crash on the rocks below, the resultant spray is sent tens of metres up into the air, before it lands back down in a continuous rainfall. The water then rushes through an opening of only 50 metres, as the Zambezi races further along, over churning rapids and through the deep Batoka Gorge.
While the Falls are the major drawcard, there is a thriving tourist industry developed around them, with adventure activities of all forms being available.
Tourism has been evident here ever since David Livingstone was the first European guided by the local tribes to this remarkable natural wonder.
Ilala Lodge
Ilala Lodge Hotel is a family-run hotel that offers luxury and comfort in the heart of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Nestled in attractive gardens, the well-appointed hotel is a mere eight-minute walk from Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Ilala Lodge Hotel is ideally located and it is very easy for guests to access all the historical sites, restaurants and activities available in Victoria Falls. The friendly and attentive staff of this welcoming hotel makes sure that your visit is perfect in every way.
Day 3 - 4 : Chobe National Park
The tour is followed by a road transfer to Chobe, Botswana where you will be given a fitting welcome to Botswana, a cruise on the Chobe River. The Chobe River lunch cruise is the best way to experience one of the most beautiful rivers in Africa. After this you will carry on to Camp Kuzuma, a true hideaway in the Chobe Region. Located on a busy Elephant Corridor between Chobe and Hwange, this boutique tented camp provides an exclusive safari in a pristine environment. On arrival you can relax on your own private deck or at the pool area, before an afternoon game drive on our concession. Your days will be spent traversing our 11 000 hectare Camp Kuzuma concession in this wildlife-rich area that boasts one of the greatest concentrations of elephants found in Africa. During game drives you may encounter wildebeest, buffalo, antelope, sable, giraffe, zebra, lion and leopard in the expansive grassland, natural pans and Mopane tree forests. There is also time for rest and relaxation on your own private deck or at the pool area.
Botswana
Well known as one of the great safari destinations in Africa, Botswana offers some of the most beautiful, luxurious, and active safari experiences in Africa.
A Botswanan safari can never be long enough, and never experienced often enough. Although one of the flattest countries you will ever visit, Botswana is blessed with an incredible variety of landscapes and eco-systems.
It is the very flatness of Botswana which has created some of the world's most special wilderness areas, and exploring the Kalahari, Okavango Delta and Makgadikgadi Salt Pans rewards you with memories for a lifetime.
Easily accessible from Johannesburg, and simply combined with Victoria Falls, Botswana needs to be on your safari list if you are planning a visit to Southern Africa.
As soon as you land in Maun or Kasane, you will know that you have arrived in a country which operates like nothing you have experienced before.
With the warthogs running through the streets of Kasane, and the hippos grunting in the Chobe River, your welcome to Botswana is one which tells you straight away you are in Africa's wilds.
Chobe National Park
Accessed easily via a 1.5 hour flight from Johannesburg, or a 1 hour drive from Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park is the most visited park on a Boswana safari itinerary.
With an enormous elephant population, as well as magnificent birdlife and a huge array of herbivores and aquatic animals, it is often hard to believe that Chobe National Park is for real.
The game viewing starts from the moment you land at Kasane Airport, or drive across the border from Zambia or Zimbabwe, with warthogs foraging in the streets, buffalo being habitual visitors to the town, and hippos lazing around in the river.
Camp Kuzuma
Camp Kuzuma is a boutique eco-lodge in Botswana that borders Chobe National Park and Hwange National Park. Found in an exceptional safari area made up of vast open plains and a forest reserve, that form part of a busy wildlife corridor.
The seven well-appointed tents are incredibly spacious, boasting deep Victorian baths and king-sized beds draped in mosquito nets. With a true commitment to eco-tourism, the camp is completely off the grid yet offers all the comforts guests may desire on their Botswana Safari Experience.
Every new day is announced by the gentle hum and rhythmic beat of African drums, rousing guests for another day of riveting wildlife experiences in the wilds of Botswana. The boutique safari camp is found in a busy animal corridor and part of an ancient elephant migratory route, the area is splendidly full of wildlife but impressively empty of other people besides our guests and camp staff, making it a true hideaway.
The stone and canvas suites have charmingly luxurious old-world touches such as high-backed Victorian baths, leather couches, and silver trays & teapots interspersed with distinctly Botswanan accents. Your tent has a private viewing deck as well as a refreshing outdoor shower. In the main area, a rim-flow pool overlooks the busy waterhole where herds of elephants drink and bathe, and during the dry season other animals line up to wait their turn. The sunken fire pit just off the deck is a space that invites quiet contemplation in the cool afternoon breeze and a gathering place for bush tales around the campfire in the evening. Look forward to Boma dinners under the stars and a Shebeen Chic experience, a down to earth dinner with a delightfully local African flavour.
Our expert guides will astound you with their knowledge of fauna and flora as will the amount of wildlife to discover. Besides journeying through the bush in an open-air safari vehicle, guests also have the incredible opportunity to experience the area by water! A Chobe River boat cruise is an absolute must-do, hippos and crocodiles bask in the sun on the banks of the river while elephants get right in the water and walk across to the other side – an up close and personal experience!
Day 5 - 7 : Okavango Delta
Soak in all that this wildlife wonderland has to offer. There are a handful of opportunities for game drives and bush walks while relaxing next to the pool will bring respite from all the exploring. A cultural tour can also be arranged with the community from Mababe as Mogotlho proudly supports local culture and history. The best is saved for last with a float through the thick vegetation of the various channels of the lower part of the Okavango Delta in mokoros (dug-out canoes). Discover the myriad of species of this pristine wilderness area and end your African adventure on a high.
Okavango Delta
The very word "Okavango" evokes a sense of adventure and exploration, and this is exactly what the Okavango Delta is about. Often called the Okavango Swamps, this intricate maze of waterways and sandy islands is an explorer's dream, and the destination should be on the wishlist of anyone looking for a unique travel experience.
The geology of the Delta is fascinating, with its creation being attributed to tectonic plate action from thousands of years ago causing the Kavango River to flow from Angola into the Kalahari Desert as opposed to the Atlantic Ocean.
So while the vegetation is lush, and the wildlife plentiful, the waterways are actually cutting through Kalahari Desert sand, and the entire delta is an enormous oasis.
Termites are credited with the creation of the many islands around which the water slowly flows, as their mounds, common features of the landscape, are responsible for the formation of sand and foliage around them.
There is a continuous scurry of life in the Delta, from the smallest of creatures to the largest of elephants, and every twist and turn of the channels brings some new form of life into view. The Okavango Delta is truly one of nature's greatest creations.
Mogotlho Safari Lodge
Mogotlho Safari Lodge emanates the essence of Africa and delivers an intimate Botswana holiday on the Khwai River. This Khwai River safari lodge, bordered by the Chobe National Park and Moremi Game Reserve, is a choice for the conscious safari enthusiast. The luxury tented camp is built off-grid, seamlessly blending into the lush natural surroundings. Guests can immerse themselves into a true African experience with an array of excursions on offer, including game drives and walking safaris, guided and hosted by Mogotlho’s passionate guide team.
Each of the 13 tents at this Botswana safari camp has been placed to ensure unspoiled panoramic views of the African bush. With each tent having an unspoilt view of the Khwai River, there will be ample opportunity to observe the local wildlife and ever-changing landscape from the privacy of your balcony.
Day 8 - Day of Departure
Our safari ends after breakfast. You will be transferred to Maun Airport by road (optional chartered flight available) in time for your departure flight.