Discover Botswana

Your round trip to Botswana and Zimbabwe begins at dawn. You leave Johannesburg and drive through North West Province to the Botswana border near Lobatse. Once all the entry formalities are completed, your journey continues into the dry plains of the Kalahari, stretching to the horizon. After a long day of driving you reach today’s destination, the Khama Rhino Sanctuary (KRS). The KRS is a community-based wildlife project founded in 1992 to help save the endangered rhino. Today the KRS is one of the best areas in Botswana to see both black and white rhinos.

You wake up early today and set off on the first of many game drives in an open vehicle on this tour. Together with your guide, you explore the Khama reserve in search of rhinos and the many other animal species that live in this unique environment. After brunch at camp, the journey continues north, past remote villages and the Makgadikgadi salt pans. In the late afternoon you arrive at today’s accommodation: Drifters Maun Lodge, on the banks of the Boteti River. Fall asleep tonight to the deep grunts of hippos. You spend the night in tented chalets.

After an early start you leave the lodge and drive back to Maun. Your destination today is the famous Okavango Delta. The Okavango River flows into Botswana’s Kalahari Desert and forms an inland delta unique in the world, an ecosystem rich in a great variety of animals and plants. Your camp for the next two nights lies on the edge of a large lagoon and serves as your base for exploring the Okavango Delta. Look forward to mokoro trips into this unique water world and bush walks across unspoilt islands. From your local guides you learn not only a great deal about the delta’s wildlife and plants, but also about their life in this remote area. At camp there is also plenty of time to relax. From a wooden deck you can enjoy the view over the lagoon with a cold drink or cool off in the swimming pool. On one of the afternoons, a sunset boat cruise is on the programme. You spend two nights in tented chalets.

You start the day early and head back to Maun. Here you can take an optional scenic flight over the Okavango Delta – a truly impressive experience (not included in the tour price). After a short drive you finally reach Drifters Maun Lodge on the banks of the Boteti River. Let the afternoon drift gently by on the riverbank, watching the colourful bustle of the birds, or refresh yourself in the swimming pool. The bar tempts with cold drinks – perhaps you will treat yourself to a delicious gin and tonic at sunset? You spend the night in tented chalets.

Over the next four days you undertake many extended game drives in the Khwai region. Depending on the season and wildlife activity, you explore the Khwai Concession, Moremi Game Reserve and the Savuti region. These safari days are certainly a highlight of your tour. The vegetation changes frequently – from open plains with palm trees through marshland to dense mopane woodland or acacia scrub. This variety of habitats offers excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing. We take only our cameras and daypacks, a small picnic and drinks for the road. Around sunset we return to our camp in the bush, where the crew has prepared a warm fire to welcome us. You camp on a private campsite on the banks of the Khwai River, completely remote and undeveloped. Depending on conditions in the national parks, you may also explore the vast Central Kalahari Game Reserve or Makgadikgadi Pans National Park.

After your safari adventure you leave this wild region this morning. First you head towards Maun, where you stop for a lunch break at Drifters Maun Lodge. After lunch you continue your journey east and visit the spectacular Makgadikgadi salt pans. Oceans of golden grass give way to the gleaming white pans. Today you camp in glorious seclusion. The adventurous among you can sleep under the open starry sky. You will be rewarded with the breathtaking spectacle of the southern night sky. At certain times of year the pans are very difficult to reach. In that case you camp at a waterhole that is frequently visited by elephants.

Today the journey continues north to the Chobe River – an ideal habitat for hippos and crocodiles as well as some of the largest elephant and buffalo herds in the world. In the afternoon you enjoy a long boat trip on the river within Chobe National Park. You glide close to the bank and watch animals come to the water’s edge to drink. Back on land, you cross the border into Zimbabwe and make your way to your accommodation. The lodge is centrally located, only a few minutes’ walk from Victoria Falls and other attractions.

Today you wake up in the adventure capital of Africa: Victoria Falls! Also known as “Mosi-oa-Tunya” – the smoke that thunders – the falls are the main attraction of the region. Today you spend a second night in Victoria Falls and so have plenty of time for optional activities: besides the classic visit to the falls, you can book a boat trip on the Zambezi River, white-water rafting, bungee jumping or a scenic flight. Alternatively, you can explore the little town of Victoria Falls. In the evening you dine at a local restaurant (at your own expense). Relax to the sounds of the African night and the distant roar of the falls, and toast your adventure together with your fellow travellers.

After breakfast you drive the short distance to the famous Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe’s leading game reserve. Famous for its huge elephant and buffalo herds, the park is home to over 100 mammal and 400 bird species. Lions, leopards and African wild dogs are also seen regularly. This afternoon you go on a game drive in an open safari vehicle with local guides, who explain the area to you in great detail.

Today you drive south to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second-largest city, with its uniquely wide streets. You continue to the Matobo region, where in the afternoon you take a drive in an open vehicle into Matobo National Park. A highlight awaits you here: you get out of the vehicle to track rhinos on foot in the bush. It is a truly exciting and moving experience to see these huge, endangered animals in their natural environment. Today’s accommodation is perched high on a granite dome amid the rocks of the Matobo Hills, with magnificent views over the park.

After crossing the border into South Africa this morning, you follow a scenic route through the Waterberg Mountains before entering Johannesburg, Africa’s economic hub and the City of Gold. The tour ends with arrival in Johannesburg in the late afternoon.