Itinerary | 13 Day Victoria Falls and Botswana Safari with Desert and Delta | African Ubuntu Safaris

13 Day Victoria Falls and Botswana Safari with Desert and Delta

Countries: Zimbabwe , Botswana

Destinations: Victoria Falls , Chobe National Park , Okavango Delta , Makgadikgadi Salt Pans & Nxai Pan National Park

Group Size: 0

Duration (days): 13

Number of Adults: 2

Number of Children: 0

A fantastic 13 day safari which starts at the Victoria Falls followed by an extensive safari through all the key safari areas of Botswana. 

Itinerary Outline

Day Location Accommodation
1 Victoria Falls Shongwe Oasis
2 Victoria Falls Shongwe Oasis
3 Chobe National Park Chobe Game Lodge
4 Chobe National Park Chobe Game Lodge
5 Okavango Delta Camp Moremi
6 Okavango Delta Camp Moremi
7 Okavango Delta Camp Moremi
8 Okavango Delta Camp Okavango
9 Okavango Delta Camp Okavango
10 Makgadikgadi Salt Pans & Nxai Pan National Park Leroo La Tau
11 Makgadikgadi Salt Pans & Nxai Pan National Park Leroo La Tau
12 Makgadikgadi Salt Pans & Nxai Pan National Park Leroo La Tau
13 Day of Departure

Day 1 : Victoria Falls

You will be met at Victoria falls Airport and transferred to Victoria Falls town to spend 2 night at Shongwe Oasis on a bed and breakfast basis. You have the remainder of the day at leisure or activities of your choice and dinner at your choice of venue.

Zimbabwe

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.

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.

Shongwe Oasis

Exclusivity, quality, and tranquility are at the heart of what Shongwe Oasis provides. The newly-opened sister lodge to the award-winning Shongwe Lookout, Oasis is an adults-only retreat complete with an on-site spa, jacuzzi, sit-in infinity pool, and a restaurant and bar area.

Situated only 2 kilometres from the majestic Victoria Falls, Oasis is exactly what the name suggests; a haven of relaxation in the heart of our beautiful town.

Victoria Falls’ first adults-only lodge offers 19 luxuriously furnished rooms set amongst stunning tropical gardens.

Head to our spa for a couple’s massage, bathing therapy, or on-site beauty care, sit back and sip your favourite cocktail in our infinity pool, or just enjoy a quiet moment in our jacuzzi before you head to dinner at our open-air restaurant.

Best of all do it knowing that you are contributing to our town and the region.

Shongwe Oasis is a proud member of Africa’s Eden, a not-for-profit collaborative company comprised of 400 members across Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.    Together, we work towards promoting our region, and supporting local charities, conservation organisations, and small, local businesses on the periphery of tourism.

Day 2 : Victoria Falls

This morning you will be taken on a guided walking tour of the spectacular waterfalls. You have the remainder of the day at leisure before being collected for your sunset cruise on the mighty Zambezi River.

Day 3 : Chobe National Park

After breakfast you will be transferred across the Botswana border to Chobe Game Lodge to
spend 2 nights on a fully inclusive basis. Set out this afternoon on a sundowner cruise on the
Chobe River or a game drive exploring the Chobe 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.

Chobe Game Lodge

The only permanent game lodge situated on the banks of the Chobe River within the famous Chobe National Park, Chobe Game Lodge is Botswana’s premier venue for guests looking for a perfect base from which to explore the National Park and Chobe Riverfront. This five-star Lodge has full eco-grading by Botswana Tourism Board.

Day 4 : Chobe National Park

Today will be spent on your choice of morning and afternoon game drives in the national park or boat cruises along the Chobe River, allowing you a varied perspective on the wildlife.

Day 5 : Okavango Delta

After a morning activity you will be transferred to Kasane Airport and assisted on to a light aircraft flight flying on a circuit to the Okavango Delta. On arrival at the airstrip you will be met and driven to Camp Moremi, where you will spend the next 3 nights on a fully inclusive basis. This afternoon will be spent on a game viewing activity.

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.

Camp Moremi

Camp Moremi has a well-deserved legacy in the Botswana tourism industry for being able to deliver the classic African safari experience. Completely rebuilt in 2018 as a modern luxury safari lodge, Camp Moremi is located within the world-renowned Moremi Game Reserve.

Camp Moremi boasts 12 expansive, modern styled thatched safari tents, including one family room, and accommodates a maximum of twenty-four guests. The family room which includes two separate bedrooms and bathrooms connects through interleading doors.

Day 6 - 7 : Okavango Delta

You have the full day to enjoy the varied and pristine habitat of the Delta and view the remarkable wildlife with day and afternoon game drives, and boat excursions.

Day 8 : Okavango Delta

You have a short flight today from Camp Moremi to Camp Okavango, where you will spend 2 nights on a fully inclusive basis. Camp Okavango is a water-based camp and game-drive activities, using safari vehicles, are not possible. This afternoon you can begin to explore the area on land by foot or on water by mokoro or motor boats.

Camp Okavango

Botswana’s magnificent Okavango Delta situated within the heart of the newly declared World Heritage site, is the world’s largest inland delta, and is a maze of deep lagoons, large lakes and hidden, meandering channels.  Camp Okavango, a unique and exclusive African safari camp is situated on the remote Nxaragha Island.  This hidden treasure, in the heart of the permanent Okavango Delta, assures its guests of an unparalleled year-round water wilderness experience.

Day 9 : Okavango Delta

Today you continue to explore the waterways and floodplains by boat and mokoro, and the
islands on guided walking safaris. You will also be taken on a thrilling scenic helicopter flight during your stay.

Day 10 : Makgadikgadi Salt Pans & Nxai Pan National Park

After breakfast this morning you will return to the airstrip for your light aircraft flight to the
Makgadikgadi National Park, where you will spend the next 3 nights at Leroo La Tau
on a fully inclusive basis.

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.

Leroo La Tau

Leroo La Tau is situated on the western bank of the Boteti River, which forms the boundary of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. The Boteti River provides a lifeline for the wildlife which inhabit the arid national park and is a critical link in the annual zebra migration. Leroo La Tau is the perfect base from which to explore this truly unique piece of Botswana paradise.

Day 11 - 12 : Makgadikgadi Salt Pans & Nxai Pan National Park

You will have these two days to enjoy guided morning and afternoon game drives. Depending on the water levels of the Boteti River, boat activities can also be provided. Cultural excursions can
be arranged to visit Khumaga Village, as can guided nature walks in the area surrounding the
lodge. Also included is a full day game drive to Nxai Pan National Park.

Day 13 - Day of Departure

This morning you fly in a light aircraft to Maun Airport in time to board your onward flight.