Who hasn’t watched a BBC documentary about the Okavango Delta? Who doesn’t know the story of Dr Livingstone, who “discovered” and named Victoria Falls, and who doesn’t want to see herds of thousands of elephants?
This tour has it all!
Botswana has the reputation of being one of the world’s best safari countries – not to mention prohibitively expensive unless you sleep in tents and drive long distances every day. Fortunately, this isn’t necessarily so. We’ve put together an affordable tour where you get to experience why the country has its well-deserved reputation as a phenomenal safari destination – without you having to spend all 10 nights in a tent.
You get right up close to the wildlife and nature on a proper camping safari in the mighty Okavango Delta. You will sleep in a tent with your own (bush) toilet and shower and be able to hear the elephants, the lions and the impala through the canvas.
In Chobe, you will stay at a lovely lodge overlooking the wide Chobe River. You will go on game drives and boat trips and enjoy the sight of the large herds of elephants and the enormous crocodiles.
You round off your tour at yet another wonderful lodge at the fabulous Victoria Falls, where you can simply enjoy the sight of the falls on your own or purchase one of our many exciting excursions.
Today is departure day, and you will be flying to Botswana with connecting flight(s) on the way.
On your arrival in Maun, you will be picked up from the airport and driven to your hotel. You will spend one night in Maun before your delta experiences begin. The rest of the day is your own to relax after the journey.
You set off from the hotel in the morning and head to the eastern section of the Okavango Delta – a trip of around 100 km. En route, you can enjoy the sight of local villages, mopane trees and perhaps even the first wild animals. Neither national parks nor game reserves in Botswana are fenced in, so in the dry season the elephants can easily find their way into the villages in their hunt for water.
The landscapes in this part of the delta are very varied. From tall mopane trees and dense bush to flat areas that are sometimes flooded with water and at other times dry plains with ghostly, dead trees, and to rivers which are home to hundreds of hippos.
Tonight you will stay at a tent camp in the midst of the wilderness. You arrive at the camp, which is ready and waiting for you with tents, mess tent and a camp fire – and a crew that is busy making dinner for you. Lanterns make the camp really cosy, but they don’t pollute the sky with artificial light, so sit yourself down by the fire, grab a cold drink and tilt your head back. The starry sky is phenomenal!
You are woken up early – often before sunrise. You have surely also been woken up a couple of times by the sounds of animals. Most often, you hear impalas grunting at each other. Trumpeting elephants are also not uncommon, and if you listen closely, you may hear the deep far-carrying call of a lion. You are completely safe in your tent, and, with that in mind, it is an indescribable feeling to lie in the African night knowing that you are sleeping where the animals live.
From the morning, tea, coffee and juice are served before departure for the first game drive of the day. What the morning has to offer is impossible to say! You will probably see elephants, zebras, giraffes, warthogs, hippos, lions, impalas, waterbucks – and, if you are lucky, maybe a leopard, wild dogs or a herd of sable antelopes. Along the way, there is sometimes time for a cup of morning coffee and something sweet, but it obviously depends on what experiences the morning brings.
Late in the morning, the game drive heads back to the camp, where the crew is ready with a delicious brunch. Being on a safari makes you both hungry and tired. You will probably feel like taking a nap after the excitement, the fresh air and the early start. Fortunately, there is time for that, and when you are ready, you just ask the staff to prepare your shower. They heat up a large bucket of water and get your bucket shower ready, so that you can rinse the dust off you.
After a shower, a rest and a cup of coffee, we depart for the second game drive of the day. Maybe the guide has heard rumours about the presence of a leopard somewhere, maybe you need to check whether the lions are still where they were this morning – or maybe the game drive heads for the elephants that are standing in the river and drinking some of the 200 litres of water that an elephant drinks a day.
The sunsets in the Okavango Delta are quite indescribable. The sight of half-dead trees reflected in the water, elephants that become silhouettes and the sky that turns completely purple and pink takes most people’s breath away.
When the sun goes down and the temperature drops, the nocturnal animals emerge. With a special lamp, the guide points the light out into the darkness of the night, and now it is all about looking for eyes in the night. Again, no one knows what to expect. Maybe lions and hyenas out hunting – maybe a chameleon – and probably a lot of hares. You simply need to keep your eyes peeled.
Back in the camp, another lovely dinner awaits you before you can turn in for the night in your tent.
Today it’s time to say goodbye to the Okavango Delta. You’ll be driven to the small airstrip from which you will fly to Kasane. The plane serves almost as a shuttle bus, and you may find that there are stops at other airstrips before you arrive at Kasane. Enjoy seeing the delta from the air!
On your arrival in Kasane, you will be picked up from the airport and driven to the hotel where you will be staying for the next three nights. Kasane is a small town, so the drive only takes 10 minutes – unless there’s an elephant blocking the road! It’s not uncommon in Kasane… A stone’s throw from the town, you will find the entrance to Chobe National Park, which is a veritable mecca for elephants. More than 120,000 elephants are believed to live in Chobe, so it’s little wonder that they sometimes stray into the town! The rest of the day is yours to do whatever you please – we’re guessing you’ll spend a fair bit of time just looking out at the river and the abundant wildlife found here.
Today, you will experience the national park. The day features a relaxing boat ride on the river, offering every opportunity to get up close to hippos, in addition to a completely traditional game drive on land.
Sustainable tourism is a focus area of the Botswanan government, so you will experience unspoiled, exciting nature with fantastic and abundant wildlife. In Chobe National Park, you are in with a chance of seeing buffaloes, elephants, lions, cheetahs and leopards. Keep an eye out for the incredible bird life on this tour as well – including Botswana’s gorgeous national bird, the lilac-breasted roller.
In the evening, you are back at the lodge, where dinner awaits you.
Exciting experiences await you in the national park again today. The order is reversed compared to yesterday, allowing you to get the most out of your stay here. You will therefore be starting with a game drive in the park in the morning, with sailing on the river in afternoon. Naturally, there will also be time for you to enjoy the pool and perhaps have a massage.
You will be picked up from the hotel and set off on the drive to Zambia, a drive of around 4–5 hours, depending on the waiting time at the border crossing in Kazungula. Kazungula is a small village located right on the banks of the Zambezi River where no fewer than four different countries meet: Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia. Zambia and Botswana are linked by a bridge. A fun fact: The bridge arches in the way it does, so as not to clash with the boundaries of Namibia and Zimbabwe.
You will be driven all the way to your hotel in Livingstone in Zambia, where you will spend three nights on the banks of the Zambezi.
The days at Victoria Falls are spent at your leisure. However, we recommend that you book a couple of excursions from home as they are extremely popular, and in some places there are limits to the number of participants on the tours.
It goes without saying that a walk around the waterfalls is a must. We particularly recommend the walk on Knife Edge Bridge from which you get a unique view of the waterfalls. During the rainy season (around November–April), you should be prepared to get pretty much soaked through on the walk. But the air temperature is warm, so it’s actually fun to feel the forces of nature at such close quarters!
There is a lot to see and do. The area is a veritable activity mecca offering a wealth of experiences.
The time has come to say goodbye to Africa – unless, that is, you have chosen to extend the tour to include a city break in Cape Town or perhaps a beach holiday in Mauritius?
On your departure, you will be picked up from your hotel and driven to the airport, from which the journey home – or the ongoing journey – continues.
You will arrive at your chosen airport after a wonderful holiday.
From £649 pp including flights
Children under 12 years from £649
Single room supplement from £269
Cape Town has an impressive location at the foot of Table Mountain and a beautiful waterfront out to the Atlantic. Trendy cafes and restaurants, combined with a relaxed atmosphere, markets and exciting attractions make Cape Town a fascinating city where shopping, relaxation and excursions which can all be found and combined.
The days in Cape Town are at your own leisure.
The stay includes breakfast.
From £1259 pp including flights
Children under 12 years from £1199
Single room supplement from £559
The tropical island of Mauritius is one of the most exclusive and fascinating islands in the Indian Ocean. With its delightful climate and friendly population, this little slice of paradise is the perfect setting for an exotic holiday. The island is typically associated with relaxation and romance, but it is also ideal for everyone who loves gastronomic treats, water sports and beautiful countryside. Mauritius is ringed with beautiful beaches lined with swaying palm trees, crystal clear water and brightly coloured coral reefs. The landscape features lush forests, fields of sugar cane, tall mountains, roaring waterfalls and dramatic stretches of coast dotted with small lagoons. The capital, Port Louis, is home to a variety of fine shops and fascinating museums.
The days on Mauritius are yours to do with as you wish.
The stay includes half board.
Children under 12 years from £4509
Single room supplement from £2289
Catriona is passionate about helping other people fulfill their travel dreams, as she knows how much travel has only improved her life for the better!
