Countries: South Africa , Botswana , Zimbabwe
Destinations: Johannesburg , Panorama Route , Limpopo , Makgadikgadi Salt Pans & Nxai Pan National Park , Chobe National Park , Victoria Falls
Group Size: 16
Duration (days): 12
Number of Adults: 16
Number of Children: 0
Travel through the scenic Panorama Route to the famous Kruger National Park. Visit the beautiful and rich in history Mapungubwe National Park before crossing into Botswana and soak in the unforgettable Makgadikgadi pans. Relax on the banks of the Chobe River and experience breath taking sunsets and game viewing in the Chobe National Park. Ending the tour with the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls.
Itinerary Outline
Day 1 : Johannesburg
On arrival guests are transferred to their hotel. The tour starts with a pre departure meeting at 18h00 in the reception of the hotel. Overnight at Safari Club (or similar).
For a varied, diverse, exciting and fulfilling holiday, one would be hard pressed to find a country in Africa, or the world, which offers more. South Africa has it all, including wildlife, mountains, deserts, beaches, forests, numerous cultures, first world cities, untouched landscapes, casinos, amusement parks, exciting activities, excellent roads and infrastructure, off road 4 x 4 routes, fantastic food, good wine, great sports stadiums, incredible people and a triumphant history.
Although usually only used for quick stopovers by most travellers, Joburg is an exciting and vibrant city, with some excellent hotels, fantastic shopping facilities, loads of historic signifcance, and a flourishing sporting culture.
With the launch of the Gautrain in 2010, the Sandton district is now only 10 minutes from the airport, and this places one in a position to easily access most of the city's highlights.
Born out of a desire to offer guests a true safari feel throughout their entire African trip, we created the ultimate bespoke overnight accommodation only 5 minutes from OR Tambo airport. 100% privately owned and managed, The Safari Club is one of the best loved airport stays in Johannesburg.
Day 2 : Panorama Route
We depart Safari Club in Johannesburg at 08h00 and travel to the famous Kruger National Park. The largest game reserve in South Africa is home to the Big Five, as well as numerous other species of fauna and flora.
We spend the afternoon exploring the Panorama Route of the Blyde River Canyon, Bourkes Luck Potholes & Gods Window. We arrive late afternoon to our lodge.
The Panorama Route in Mpumalanga starts at Nelspruit where you can visit the Lowveld Botanical Garden.
It moves on to White River where you can go play golf and visit a Motor Museum. Sabie brings tons of adventure with activities like 4x4 trips and abseiling. Pilgrims Rest has a few spectacular pubs and restaurants, which is a must if you want to experience the culture of the town.
Graskop is the highlight of the Panorama Route, with attractions like:
- God's Window
- Lisbon Falls
- Berlin Falls
- the Pinnacle
- Bourke`s Luck Potholes, and
- Blyde River Canyon
The Panorama Route ends at the Swadini Forever Resort, which has tons of activities from boat trips to Microlight fights.
Hippo Hollow Country Estate is a comfortable, family-friendly hotel situated on the banks of the Sabie River near Hazyview in South Africa. It is an ideal destination from which to access nearby Kruger National Park and the spectacular sights of Mpumalanga Province.
Set within indigenous gardens, Hippo Hollow offers Hazyview accommodationin a choice of Courtyard Rooms, River Chalets and Garden Chalets. The 18 thatched River Chalets overlook the famous Sabie River and are perfect for small families. The 19 Garden Chalets are the preference of couples and our 54 Courtyard Rooms are best suited to business travellers. All feature en-suite bathrooms and modern amenities.
Day 4 : Panorama Route
Most of the day at lesiure, followed by a late afternoon game in the Kruger Park.
Day 5 : Limpopo
We depart the Kruger area and travel north through the Limpopo Province towards the Botswana border. Mapungubwe National Park and Mapungubwe Hill is the centre of the World Heritage Landscape where the first southern African kingdom was established in the 13th Century and San rock art sites.
Mopane Bush Lodge Wilderness Tented Camp
Discreetly tucked away on a hillside with stunning mopane bushveld views is the Wilderness Tented Camp. Each luxuriously appointed tent has an ensuite bathroom with large tub, outdoor shower and quality bedding. The units are set apart so as to enjoy privacy while offering comfortable furnishings, ensuring all nature lovers can relish their time in this secluded and mystifying area of South Africa.
Day 6 : Limpopo
In the morning we enjoy a morning walk to view the Kaoxa Bushman paintings and a Sunset drive with spectacular views over the Baobab laden landscape.
Day 7 : Makgadikgadi Salt Pans & Nxai Pan National Park
Departing after breakfast we cross into Botswana and travel to the Nata area. Late afternoon or the following morning we visit the Makgadikgadi Pans. Overnight Nata Lodge (or similar).
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.
Makgadikgadi Salt Pans & Nxai Pan National Park
Pronounced "Makgadikgadi," these salt pans in the centre of Botswana are the remnants of the largest lake in Africa, which dried up thousands of years ago. The shimmering white, deadly landscape adds to Botswana's adventurous reputation, with only the bravest of early explorers having the courage to try and cross the seemingly endless wasteland.
We are fortunate nowadays to explore these pans from the comfort of a 4x4, and the luxury of lodges with swimming pools and shaded tents. However, even with these amenities, the Makgadikgadi Pans evoke a sense of adventure in travellers. Including the salt pans in a Botswana safari adds to the remarkable variety of your holiday, and to the beauty of your photo album.
North of the main pans is Nxai Pan National Park, which is a stunning destination for nature lovers and safari enthusiasts. The park is famous for its vast grass plains, seasonal salt pans, and diverse wildlife, including elephants, zebras, bat-eared foxes, leopards and lions. During the wet season, the landscape transforms, attracting migratory animals and a wide variety of birdlife, making it a prime spot for birdwatching and wildlife photography.
A highlight of the park is the ancient Baines' Baobabs, a cluster of majestic baobab trees that offer a striking backdrop for visitors. The dry season reveals a different beauty, with golden plains and wildlife gathering around scarce water sources, creating serene and memorable moments.
Nxai Pan is a hidden gem in Botswana, offering an authentic African safari experience where untamed nature and breathtaking scenery provide the perfect escape for adventurers and travelers alike.
Nata Lodge is an oasis set among the Mokolwane palms on the edge of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. It is ideally situated close to the entrance to the Nata Sanctuary and is the junction to the Okavango, Chobe and Francistown areas.
The lodge offers 22 luxury air conditioned thatched chalets built on stilts and set in rustic African style, with en suite bathrooms including indoor baths and outdoor showers.
10 luxury safari tents are built on raised wooden platforms which are nestled under the lodges many marula trees. These tents feature en suite bathrooms and include all the amenities offered in any of the lodge’s chalets.
The camping site provides full ablution facilities with hot and cold showers as well as central electrical power banks.
Guest areas include a restaurant, swimming pool, gift shop and a bar/lounge area.
The shady tree canopy surrounding the lodge is a hive of activity, with a bird feeding area and active water feature providing the bird watcher with the opportunity of viewing a variety of species from the comfort of the pool deck, open bar or restaurant.
The Nata River delta feeds the Sua Pan in the Nata sanctuary and forms the breeding ground for a host of water birds including pelicans and flamingo in their thousands, transforming the shore line into a pink haze blending into the western sky.
For keen bird watchers and naturalists, Nata Lodge offers open vehicle excursions into the Nata Sanctuary. Mammal species in the sanctuary include antelope such as springbok, as well as springhares, jackals and foxes.
However the main attraction is the abundance of bird life. Around 165 bird species, including king-fishers, eagles, ostriches, pelicans, spoonbills and both greater and lesser flamingos, have been recorded.
Day 8 - 9 : Chobe National Park
We travel north to Kasane and our lodge situated on the banks of the Chobe River. Chobe is famous for its beautiful scenery, magnificent sunsets and abundance of wildlife and birdlife. The following day is spent on an early morning Game drive in Chobe National Park and a sunset Game viewing boat cruise on the Chobe River.
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.
Chobe Safari Lodge is situated in Kasane on the banks of the Chobe River and shares a border with Chobe National Park. It is the oldest lodge in Chobe and was established in 1959. Right on our doorstep is the meeting of four African countries: Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Chobe Safari Lodge therefore offers an excellent getaway location to Chobe, Victoria Falls or Caprivi.
Day 10 - 11 : Victoria Falls
We arrive midday to Victoria Falls – without doubt one of the greatest and most spectacular sights in Africa (entrance own account). The days are free to browse the local markets and to experience the many optional activities on offer in the adrenalin capital of Africa including helicopter flights over the Falls, sunset boat cruise etc (own expense).
Zimbabwe - a treasure trove of breathtaking wilderness, vibrant wildlife, and awe-inspiring natural wonders. From the iconic Victoria Falls, where the mighty Zambezi River plunges into dramatic gorges, to the serene waters of Lake Kariba and the untamed beauty of Hwange and Mana Pools, Zimbabwe is a safari destination like no other.
This remarkable country offers an unparalleled diversity of experiences. Explore the vast savannahs of Hwange National Park, home to one of the largest elephant populations in Africa, or paddle along the tranquil channels of the Lower Zambezi, where hippos and crocodiles linger at every turn. Thrill-seekers will delight in world-class canoeing and white-water rafting, while nature enthusiasts will revel in walking safaris led by some of Africa's most experienced guides.
What truly sets Zimbabwe apart is its people. Warm, resilient, and welcoming, Zimbabweans add a unique vibrancy to every journey. Their deep connection to the land and dedication to conservation make every visit more meaningful.
Whether you're drawn by the roar of Victoria Falls, the call of the wild, or the chance to experience one of Africa's most storied landscapes, Zimbabwe promises an adventure filled with wonder and unforgettable moments.
"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.
Cresta Sprayview is just 1.4 km from the Victoria Falls Rain Forest entrance. When the Falls are in full flood, the spray from this majestic wonder is visible from the hotel, rising like a column of smoke. It is locally referred to as “Mosi-oa-Tunya” or the “Smoke that Thunders”. Set on eight acres of manicured grounds, the accommodation offers a tranquil oasis from which to enjoy all Victoria Falls has to offer. Alfresco dining and the large swimming pool make the hotel a relaxing retreat for families, international travellers and honeymooners.
