You’ll need to buckle up for this epic overland journey through Botswana and Zambia, which will introduce you to the best of Southern Africa. This adventure is all about the landscapes, which on this tour will include the vast Kalahari Desert to the iconic Victoria Falls. Along the way, you’ll glide through the lush waterways of the Okavango Delta by traditional mokoro, encountering unique wildlife who live in this magical place, spend an unforgettable evening with the San people, learning about their ancient culture, enjoy watching the magnificent concentration of elephants in Chobe National Park, and stand in awe of the thundering spray of Victoria Falls.
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Itinerary
The departure point is the Garden Court OR Tambo. From there you’ll be transported through the North-West Province of South Africa to the Botswana border. After sorting out the border formalities and entering Botswana, the trip ends at the overnight stop.
Overnight at Kang Ultra Lodge on a dinner, bed & breakfast basis
Head to the Ghanzi District today, in the Central Kalahari. This area is home to the fascinating San people, who have been living in these harsh environments for many years. The evening is spent with this gentle tribe, where they will share through dancing and singing, their culture of story-telling, dance and songs.
There is a San guided walk on offer, which is optional and for your own account
Overnight at Ghanzi Trail Blazers on a dinner, bed & breakfast basis
An early morning and it’s off to Maun. From here you will be transferred in small safari vehicles to the Khwai Conservation area.
Overnight at Magotho / Boga Campsite on a dinner, bed & breakfast basis
Today is one of those days that you’ll remember for a very long time as you will be participating in one of the iconic activities Botswana is known for, namely the Mokoro excursion. Your poler will steer you through the narrow, reed-lined channels that tend to open out onto beautiful lagoons. While the primary reason for these Mokoro excursions is not a game viewing activity, chances are very good that you will spot certain of the local wildlife.
After lunch, enjoy a game drive back in the Khwai Conservation area. These drives vary in route, based on the high flood levels experienced during the rainy season.
Overnight at Magotho / Boga Campsite on a dinner, bed & breakfast basis
Today is a long day as most of it is spent travelling through the Savute Game Reserve, but the area is known for having one of the largest concentration of wildlife in Southern Africa, so you’ll be treated to some wonderful wildlife interactions.
Overnight at Thebe River Safaris on a dinner, bed & breakfast basis
This morning is either at leisure, or you can join the optional game drive that goes through the Chobe National Park. After lunch, spend some time relaxing before enjoying a leisurely boat cruise which will bring you close to the large elephant herds that come to drink from the river in the afternoons.
Overnight at Thebe River Safaris on a dinner, bed & breakfast basis
Crossing another border today, into Zimbabwe, you are welcomed with a visit to the iconic Victoria Falls, at your leisure. Victoria Falls is known as an adrenaline capital with loads on offer, from bungy-jumping, whitewater rafting, helicopter flights etc etc. These are ofcourse, all for your account. And for those who would just like a day getting to know thae locals, there are many craft markets and coffee shops to visit
Overnight at Shearwater Explorers Village on a dinner, bed & breakfast and lunch basis
Your tour ends today, and you can spend time for further activities until your onward arrangements
COST
From: ZAR 34,850.00 Per Person Sharing
INCLUDED
- 1 Night accommodation at Kanga Ultra Lodge
- 1 Night accommodation at Ghanzi Trail Blazers
- 2 Nights at Magotho / Boga campsite
- 2 Nights accommodation at Thebe River Safaris
- 1 Nights accommodation at Shearwater Explorers Village
- All meals which are prepared and served at the overland truck
- Transport throughout the itinerary, as mentioned
- Qualified crew
- Entrance fees to National Parks
NOT-INCLUDED
- Flights not mentioned
- Transfers not mentioned
- Travel insurance
- Optional excursions, including entrance fees related to them
- Expenses of a personal nature (telephone calls, curio shop purchases, additional activities, wellness treatments, laundry, gratuities
Visa fees (where applicable) - Airport taxes
Kanga Ultra Lodge
Kang Ultra Lodge can be considered a perfect stopover between South Africa and Namibia if you are travelling on the Trans-Kalahari Highway.
All the rooms are air-conditioned and have DStv. Kang Ultra Lodge offers reasonably priced accommodation and you can choose between a double room with a double bed, or a twin room with two single bed. The luxury double rooms have a bath and shower and a small fridge. All these rooms have coffee/ tea facilities.
Kang Ultra lodge offers budget block rooms available for those travelling on a smaller budget. These rooms have air-conditioning and two single beds, a toilet, a shower, tea/ coffee facilities and a television.
Kang Ultra Lodge also offers campsites in Kang.
Ghanzi Trail Blazers
Ghanzi Trailblazers is a recreated San/Bushman village with amenities that Western cultures are accustomed to. It is situated 10 km south of Ghanzi, on the western side of the main highway. The camp is well signposted and therefore easy to find for self drives. The guests of Ghanzi Trail Blazers have the opportunity to get a glimpse of a San/Bushman culture that is fast disappearing. Accommodation offered includes chalets, bushman huts and camping. The chalets have solar powered lights and en-suite bathrooms which are partially roofed, remaining open to the night sky.
The bushman huts are equipped with two stretchers with mattresses and mosquito nets, a bedside table, and a solar powered light. There are no en-suite facilities connected to the bushman huts, the guests camping and staying in the huts have use of a communal ablution facility.
In the main area of the lodge there is a bar, office, dining area, and a kitchen where the staff prepares traditional Afrikaans or San/ Bushman cuisine (pre-booking required).
Ghanzi Trail Blazers offer their guests a genuine San/Bushmen experience which comes highly recommended. Optional activities include guided walks, village visits and the option of participating in dancing sessions when traditional dancing takes place. The camp also offers swimming in The Gat – a man made quarry.
Thebe River Safaris
Look no further than Thebe River Safaris Lodge for the perfect accommodation option during your visit to the Chobe. Offering a family room and twin rooms nestled around a tranquil courtyard, all our rooms are en-suite and offer convenient amenities such as air-conditioning, refreshment stations and complimentary WiFi to ensure you have a perfect stay. Guests can also make use of our swimming pool which overlooks the beautiful Chobe River.
Shearwater Explorer Village
Explorers Village offers the modern pioneer a perfect haven from which to investigate Victoria Falls, widely recognized as the adventure capital of the African continent. Shearwater has been developing and honing adventure, scenic and wildlife experiences in Zimbabwe for over 30 years and the Explorers Village is the ideal melting pot for like-minded individuals to explore the wonders of Victoria Falls and launch themselves into some unforgettable adventures.
Located merely 400m from the Victoria Falls, 100m from the epicenter of the Vic Falls town with its craft and curio markets, bohemian cafes and overlooking natural African bush panorama, the Explorers Village is the perfect “Base Camp”. Comprising of 5 bespoke Overland camping sites, modern ablution facilities and 42 private rooms, the village represents budget accommodation at its finest – clean, cool, relaxing, elegant, excellent traditional food, ice cold drinks and exceptionally friendly hosts ready to welcome you and guide you through your Vic Falls experience.
Frequently asked questions
The Kalahari Desert is the second-largest desert in Africa, known for its unique red sand dunes, its fascinating desert-adapted wildlife, and for generally being a stunningly beautiful place to visit.
The Okavango Delta is an oasis in an otherwise dry landscape. You can expect a real African adventure here, one where you’ll explore waterways by mokoro (a traditional canoe) and come across animals like elephants, hippos, giraffes, and a variety of birdlife.
Chobe National Park is renowned for its massive elephant herds. This park is famous for having some of the best elephant viewing opportunities in Africa.
These two iconic destinations are so unique that there is no “better” option. But if you are short on time and if you want to see as much wildlife as possible, Chobe is the best option for you.
Setting aside 2 to 3 days to explore Chobe National Park is the ideal amount of time to spend here. Because of its large wildlife populations, you will be able to see quite a lot in this somewhat limited amount of time.
Recommendations & Extension Options
