Zimbabwe and Botswana Game Trail

Driving distance day 2: approx. 300 km; pure driving time approx. 8–10 hours

Your round trip through South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana starts early in the morning. You leave Johannesburg at around 6:30 am and drive north-east to world-famous Kruger National Park. In the park you explore the remote and less visited northern part from Letaba to Pafuri. In the morning and afternoon you go on game drives in the overland truck, and with a little luck you will see lions, elephants, rhinos and other animals in this game-rich area. Two nights in tents.

After entering Zimbabwe via the Beitbridge border post, you drive to Masvingo and on to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Great Zimbabwe. The well-preserved ruins are among the largest and oldest stone structures in Southern Africa and were built between the 11th and 14th centuries. You explore this cultural and historic site on foot and will marvel at the secrets of these huge stone constructions and the people who built them. You spend the night in a tent.

Your round trip continues to Bulawayo and Matobo National Park, the heart of the Matobo Hills. In the afternoon you pitch your camp on the edge of the park. Enjoy a great sunset and spend the evening around the campfire. The next morning you set off with a local guide into Matobo National Park, whose landscape is characterised by granite hills and wooded valleys. You visit “World’s View” and the historic site of Cecil John Rhodes’ grave. Also look forward to a game drive and a guided bush walk. With a little luck you will track down rhinos. Your guide will also show you a number of interesting, ancient rock paintings. Two nights in tents.

With an area of almost 15,000 square kilometres, Hwange National Park is the largest National Park in Zimbabwe. It lies in the north-west of the country and is famous for its large elephant population. Your campsite is in the so-called Game Management Area bordering the National Park. On a full-day game drive in an open safari vehicle, together with a local guide, you discover the National Park and its wildlife.

You spend the next two nights at a campsite in the town of Victoria Falls. From here you go on a hike through tropical vegetation along the unique Victoria Falls. The falls are also called Mosi oa Tunya, “the smoke that thunders”. There is also plenty of time for adventurous activities such as a scenic flight over the falls, white-water rafting or bungee jumping (all optional).

Today you cross the border into Botswana and reach the town of Kasane on the banks of the Chobe River. The river flows leisurely along the northern border of Chobe National Park and attracts some of the largest herds of elephants in Africa. A highlight of this round trip is a boat trip on the Chobe in the afternoon, on which you can watch numerous elephants, buffalo, giraffes, various antelope species and other wildlife coming down to the riverbank to drink.

In the morning you have the chance to go on a game drive in Chobe National Park (optional). On the way south you cross Kasane Forest Reserve before finally reaching Gweta. You spend the night at a campsite surrounded by ancient baobab trees.

Driving distance day 14: approx. 50 km; pure driving time approx. 2–3 hours

You reach Maun, from where you are taken into the Okavango Delta by four-wheel-drive vehicle. There you meet your local guides, who take you even deeper into the heart of the delta in their mokoros. Being poled through the winding channels of the delta is an unforgettable experience. The rainwater that flows from the Angolan highlands into the Kalahari forms a delicate, green oasis there for birds and wildlife. You will camp for the next two nights on a remote island in the midst of nature. During the day you go on bush walks and birdwatching in this astonishingly varied environment. Also take the opportunity to swim in the clear water of the delta! Your local guides will also be happy to give you an insight into their way of life and culture. In the afternoon of day 14 you return to Maun. If you wish, you can view this fascinating ecosystem from a bird's-eye view on a scenic flight over the Okavango Delta (optional). You spend the night at a campsite in Maun.

You leave Maun heading south and drive through the vastness of the Kalahari to Khama Rhino Sanctuary. This reserve was founded in 1992 and serves to protect rhinos, to restore the natural state of a once very game-rich area and to generate economic benefit for the local community. During a game drive in the afternoon, with a little luck you can track down rhinos and watch other residents. You spend the night in a tent.

Return across the border to South Africa and drive to Johannesburg, where you arrive in the late afternoon. An eventful round trip through South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana comes to an end.

Breakfast

Note: Solo travellers are welcome to share a tent with other solo travellers of the same sex at no extra charge.