BPZ12J: Kalahari + Okavango + Savute + Victoria Falls

Day 1

You will be met at Johannesburg Airport by your host and transferred 3-hours through the western Transvaal on the first leg of your exciting overland safari through Botswana.

Check into your Transvaal guesthouse near the Botswana border for dinner and overnight.

Day 2

After completing border formalities, today we cross the border into Botswana.

We travel northwards across the sparse and arid Central Kalahari that covers much of this vast and beautiful country, which is the original home of the San Bushmen people. During our journey we stop to view the unusual desert-adapted flora, fauna and bird life of this great wilderness, and also the culture and paintings of the San Bushmen people who survive in these extremely harsh conditions.

Check into your lodge and relax in the Central Kalahari.

Day 3

Today we explore the vast Central Kalahari plains with your guide, setting off early each morning to take advantage of the best game viewing conditions of the day. Wildlife is surprisingly plentiful in the semi-desert conditions of these red sand dunes.

Of the many species of mammals and reptiles that have successfully adapted to the harsh desert conditions, the most famous is the black-maned lion. Other predators include leopard, cheetah and hyena. You should also see water independent antelope such as oryx, eland, springbok and blue wildebeest.

The rest of the morning can be spent relaxing at your lodge, reading or bird watching, before setting out again in the late afternoon for another game drive. You can hope to see the brown and spotted hyena, black-backed jackals, the curious meerkats, yellow mongoose, porcupines, honey badgers, bat-eared foxes, Cape foxes, African wild cats and many other interesting animals. Bird life is also prolific (260 different species - including over 20 raptors). In the evening relax and enjoy the wonderfully clear skies of the great Kalahari!

You will see some of Africa’s most unusual animals in the Kalahari and many of the “great cats” – lion, cheetah and leopard - but the vegetation does not support elephants, rhino or buffalo

Day 4

This morning we complete our journey to Maun, gateway to the famous Okavango Delta.  Marvel at the contrast between the semi-desert Kalahari which you will travel through for most of the day, and the lush water wilderness you will find on arrival at Okavango Delta.

Check in to your game lodge in Moremi Game Reserve, settle in and relax in this pristine wildlife conservation area.

Day 5 

The seasonal Okavango Delta is flooded annually by the great Okavango River, which flows inland from Angola into the vast Kalahari Desert – never finding the sea but instead forming a great inland delta, whose waters are absorbed by the dry Kalahari Desert, making it one of the great natural wonders of the world and an amazing water wilderness and wetlands ecosystem.

Comprising 6,000 square miles of crystal clear channels, serene lagoons and a myriad of islands, the Okavango Delta is a natural oasis in the middle of the Kalahari for a vast variety of wildlife and birds of all descriptions.

Moremi Game Reserve is situated along the eastern reaches of the Okavango Delta and offers superb game viewing by vehicle and (if water levels are high enough) by mekoro canoe. Track some of the larger species that inhabit the delta such as elephants, buffalo and hippo, before relaxing around a blazing fire under balmy African skies!

Day 6

We continue overland this morning travelling northwards to Chobe Game Reserve, driving on sandy roads suitable only for 4x4 vehicles.

As soon as we enter Chobe Game Reserve, our journey becomes one continuous game viewing drive! We travel all day through this superb wildlife reserve where we should see elephant, lion and maybe even cheetah on the open plains – as well as great variety of other wildlife.

Check in to your Savute game lodge, situated on vast plains surrounded by open savannah and camelthorn trees. Enjoy the enchanting sunset, before dining overlooking a waterhole frequented by elephants.

Day 7

The Savute Plains offer world-acclaimed game viewing – including the famous Savute lion prides, leopard, wild dogs, bull elephants, black-backed jackal, bat-eared foxes, hyena, cheetah, tsessebe, kudu, impala, ostrich and much more.

The summer rains bring a feast for lion, hyena and cheetah, as migrating zebra and wildebeest assemble in a chaotic pattern on the marsh. Cape buffalo herds arrive and migrant birds swell the resident population of over 300 different species, making this a bird watchers delight. Carmine bee-eaters perch on the back of kori bustards, red-crested korhaans plummet from the sky in daring mating displays and marabou stork roost in the trees whilst woodland kingfishers sing you to sleep.

Game drives are conducted twice a day (early morning and late afternoon) in open-top safari vehicles. Each evening enjoy Savute’s enchanting sunsets, before dining overlooking the waterhole.

Day 8

Today we continue northwards to Chobe on the 4x4 road through Chobe National Park.  Chobe is uniquely situated at the confluence of the Zambezi and Chobe Rivers where four African countries meet – Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Check in to your safari lodge, settle in and relax in Botswana’s premier wildlife reserve – surrounded by vast endless landscapes, open plains, baobab trees and the abundant river-based wildlife of Chobe National Park.

Day 9

Rise at dawn to take advantage of the best game viewing conditions of the day and enjoy a thrilling open-top game viewing drive into the great Chobe National Park. This region is home to some of Botswana’s most spectacular wildlife, as well as abundant bird life.

Chobe is home to vast herds of buffalo and elephant, as well as numerous other species which roam in profusion and diversity. During the dry season, vast elephant herds migrate from both south and north to congregate in their thousands along the Chobe River – the largest concentration of elephants in the whole of Africa! Also hope to see lion, leopard, cheetah, giraffe, hippo, kudu, crocodiles, antelope, waterbuck, warthogs, baboons and many other interesting animals before returning to your lodge for breakfast.

The rest of the morning is free to relax by the lodge swimming pool or enjoy more game viewing with your host in his vehicle. Tiger Fishing can also be arranged on the river. In the late afternoon enjoy a game viewing boat ride on the Chobe River to give a completely different wildlife perspective.

After a beautiful African sunset, enjoy the balmy evening and pristine stars of the Milky Way as you have never seen them before – as well as the spectacular Southern Cross.

Children < 12 are not allowed on open top game drives, but can enjoy unlimited game drives in your host's vehicle

Day 10

Transfer 15-minutes to the Chobe River ferry to Kazangula on the Zambian border. After completing immigration formalities, continue 1-hour to your hotel on the banks of the Zambezi River, near the mighty Victoria Falls.

Check in, settle in and relax whilst you catch your first glimpses of the magnificent Smoke That Thunders first discovered by Dr. David Livingstone and still one of the greatest natural wonders of the world.

The flow of water over the Victoria Falls is greatest during the wet months (February to June) but the falls are a magnificent sight at any time of year.

Day 11

Today explore on foot the mighty Victoria Falls, offering magnificent views. Then participate in one of the many optional activities such as a helicopter flight over the falls, an elephant-back safari or relax by the swimming pool and enjoy the facilities of your hotel.

In the late afternoon enjoy a Sunset Cruise on the Zambezi River to see hippos, crocodiles and the abundant bird life.

Please note that Zambia visa charges apply on each entry into the country, so if visiting Botswana or Zimbabwe (even if only as a day visit) but flying out from Livingstone Airport, you will need to pay again to reenter Zambia

Day 12

At leisure to relax on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River near the Victoria Falls.

Adrenalin seekers can participate in many adventure activities such as canoeing in the gentler rapids above the falls, abseiling or white water rafting in the turbulent gorge below the falls (grade 5), or watch bungee jumping from Victoria Falls Bridge!

Take an optional excursion to view the Victoria Falls from the Zimbabwean side of the river*; enjoy a full day safari to the great Chobe Game Reserve in Botswana*; or simply relax on the banks of the great Zambezi River.

Passports are required for this day excursion and Zambian re-entry visa

Day 13

Return transfer to Livingstone Airport for your flight home.