Botswana and Zimbabwe Explorer

Departing Johannesburg at 06:30am we head into the world famous Kruger National Park. We visit the northern part of the park and stay in the Letaba area of the reserve. We enjoy morning and afternoon game drives in our safari vehicle and hope to spot lion, elephant, rhino and other animals in this icon of wildlife conservation. Overnight in basic National Park chalets.Approx. distance/time: 580 kms, ±8 hrs, not including stops for sightseeing and lunch.NB: Breakfast is not included; Lunch & Dinner will be provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group.

Kruger National Park is the largest game reserve in South Africa stretches north to south over approximately 500km and is home to the Big Five, as well as numerous other species of fauna and flora. The largest game reserve in South Africa boasts the world's greatest concentration of species, and has an amazing 16 different ecosystems. Exciting game drives provide us with excellent game viewing. Spot the “Big 5” (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo) and many other animals in this true African wilderness.This morning we wake early and game drive north through the park to the Pafuri region. The northern Kruger is dominated by mopane veld and is the domain of large elephant bulls, wilddog and lions. As we reach the Limpopo Valley the vegetation changes to forest and birdlife is prolific. We exit the park, late in the afternoon, and overnight at a lodge just outside Kruger. Overnight lodge. Approx. distance/time: 300 kms, ±8 hrs, game viewing drive, excluding stop for lunch.NB: Breakfast & Lunch will be provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group; Dinner will be a set meal provided by the lodge.

Entering Zimbabwe at the Beit Bridge border post, we travel north to our overnight stop. The following morning we visit the Great Zimbabwe Monuments, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its massive curving walls (some 11m high), constructed from millions of granite blocks fitted together without mortar, remain the largest ancient stone structure in sub Saharan Africa, and were built during the 11th to 14th centuries. The city had an estimated 18,000 inhabitants and archaeological artefacts including Chinese pottery shards and coins from Arabia suggest a vast trading network. We explore these ancient stone structures on an informative walk with a local guide. Overnight hotel. Approx. distance/time: 450 kms, ± 6.5 hrs, excluding stops for border crossing (which can take 2 to 4+ hrs) sightseeing & lunch.NB: Breakfast will be provided by the lodge; Lunch will be provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group; Dinner will be a set meal provided by the lodge.

Travelling via the city of Bulawayo we move on to the Matobo National Park and our chalets on the outskirts of the park. This afternoon we enjoy sundowners from the granite ridge overlooking the park. The following morning we visit World’s View and the historical site of Cecil John Rhodes’ grave. Unusual rock formations are home to an array of ancient bushman paintings which we visit while on our game drive and walk. This area is also home to Zimbabwe’s rhino which we hope to see on our excursion in the national park. Overnight chalets. Approx. distance/time: 360 kms, ± 5 hrs, excluding stops for sightseeing, shopping & lunch.Day 4: (In 2023) Breakfast & Lunch will be provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group; Dinner will be a set meal provided by the lodge.(In 2024) Breakfast will be provided by the hotel; Lunch will be provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group; Dinner will be a set meal provided by the lodge.Day 5: Breakfast & Dinner (set meal) will be provided by the lodge; Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group.

Named after a local Nhanzwa chief, Hwange National Park is the largest Park in Zimbabwe occupying roughly 14,650 square kilometres and is located in the north-west corner of the country. It is famed for its large elephant population. Our chalets are in the game management area that borders the park, and we explore the park with our local guide, on a full day game drive in an open 4WD game viewing vehicle. Overnight chalets. Approx. distance/time: 340 kms, ± 5 hrs, excluding stops for sightseeing, game viewing & lunch.Day 6: Breakfast will be provided by the lodge; Lunch & Dinner will be provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group.Day 7: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner will be provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group.

We spend 2 nights in the town of Victoria Falls. We enjoy a spectacular walk through tropical vegetation to the very edge of the “Mosi oa Tunya” or “the smoke that thunders” - Victoria Falls. There are opportunities to participate in various optional activities (at own expense and risk). NOTE - It is possible to finish the tour on Day 10 in Victoria Falls - ask us for costs and details. Overnight hotel. Approx. distance/time: 200 kms, ± 3 hrs, excluding stops for sightseeing & souvenir shopping.Day 8: Breakfast will be provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group; Lunch & Dinner will be at your own expense (meal at a local restaurant).Day 9: Breakfast will be provided by the hotel; Lunch & Dinner will be at your own expense (meal at a local restaurant).

Entering Botswana, we head to the town of Kasane on the banks of the Chobe River. The river flows lazily along the northern boundary of the Chobe National Park attracting some of the largest herds of elephant in Africa. A highlight of any trip to the Chobe is the afternoon game viewing cruise where we hope to see a large number of elephants and other wildlife as they quench their thirst at the end of the day. Overnight chalets. Approx. distance/time: 85 kms, ±1 hr, excluding border formalities.NB: Breakfast will be provided by the hotel; Lunch & Dinner will be provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group.

This morning we venture into the Chobe National Park for a game drive. Heading south through the Kasane Forest Reserve we make our way to the Nata area for our overnight stop. Overnight tented lodge. Approx. distance/time: 340 kms, ± 4.5 hrs, excluding stops for sightseeing & lunch.NB: Breakfast will be provided by the lodge; Lunch will be provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group; Dinner will be at your own expense (meal at a local restaurant).

We transfer into the Okavango Delta by open 4WD game viewing vehicle. Our local guides will take us deep into the heart of the Okavango Delta on mokoro (dugout canoes). Being gently poled through the network of channels is an experience not to be missed. The Delta forms as rain water from the Angolan highlands flows out over the flat Kalahari Desert sands, forming a delicate, green oasis for birds and wildlife. We will camp wild on remote islands in this amazingly dynamic environment and enjoy bush walks, bird watching & swimming in the clear waters. Camping with our local guides we learn more about their lifestyle & culture. We return to Maun in the late afternoon of day 14 and have time for an optional game flight over the Okavango (at your own expense, +/- USD95-120pp depending on number of people in each aircraft), which will reveal a different aspect of the Delta. NOTE - It is possible to finish the tour on Day 15 in Maun - ask us for costs and details. Overnight for 2 nights in basic tented camp in the Okavango with twin camp beds and linen, en suite chemical toilet, and shared bucket shower tent with hot water off the fire; and 1 night chalet in Maun. Approx. distance/time: 340 kms, ±4.5 hrs + 2 hr 4WD transfer into the Delta, each way.Days 12 & 13: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner will be provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group.Day 14: Breakfast & Lunch will be provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group; Dinner will be at your own expense (meal at a local restaurant).

Heading south from Maun, we drive through the wide open spaces of the Kalahari Desert on our way to the Khama Rhino Sanctuary. This is a community based wildlife project established in 1992 to assist in saving the vanishing rhino, restore an area formerly teeming with wildlife to its previous natural state and to provide economic benefits to the local Batswana community through tourism and the sustainable use of natural resources. We hope to spot some of the elusive rhino on an afternoon game drive. There may be an opportunity for an optional night game drive in open game viewing vehicle (at your own expense). Overnight in basic chalets with shared bathroom facilities. Approx. distance/time: 540 kms, ± 6.5 hrs, excluding stops for sightseeing.NB: Breakfast will be provided by the lodge; Lunch & Dinner will be provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group.

Crossing back into South Africa, we make our way to Johannesburg where the trip concludes at approximately 18:00. Please note: we can do a free drop off at OR Tambo Johannesburg Airport at around 17:00pm so you can book your flight out for the last day of the tour. Approx. distance/time: 650 kms, ± 8 hrs, excluding border formalities & stops for sightseeing & lunch.NB: Breakfast will be provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group; Lunch will be at your own expense (meal at a local restaurant).