16 dagen – Zimbabwe & Botswana

(B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner)
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.

Day 1: Breakfast is not included
Day 1: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 1: Dinner provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group

Includes: Entrance to Kruger National Park & afternoon game drive.
Distance/time: ±550km, 8h00 actual driving time. It’s a long day to start the trip, but we want to get into Kruger for an afternoon game drive, so with stops and lunch, we expect a total travel day of ±10h30.
Overnight: Kruger National Park Chalets – we stay in national parks board chalets. 1 night chalets Letaba – twin chalets (or lodge tent) shared facilities, swimming pool & restaurant. WiFi not available.

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, wild dogs 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 the Kruger.

Day 2: Breakfast provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 2: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 2: Dinner will be a set meal provided by the lodge

Includes: Entrance to Kruger National Park and full-day game drive
Distance/time: ±305km, 8h00 actual driving time which is a full day game drive through Kruger so with a restful lunch break midday it’s a total travel day of ±11h00 (subject to gate closing times).
Overnight: Awelani Lodge – en suite tents, restaurant. Awelani Eco-Tourism Park is owned and run by the local Mutele community. WiFi not available

Entering Zimbabwe at the Beit Bridge border post, we travel north to our overnight stop. The following morning we visit the Great Zimbabwe Monuments. These well preserved ruins are some of the oldest and largest stone structures in Southern Africa and were built during the 11th to 14th centuries. We explore these ancient stone structures on an informative walk with a local guide.

Day 3: Breakfast will be provided by the lodge
Day 3: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 3: Dinner will be a set meal provided by the lodge

Includes: Entrance and guided tour of the Zimbabwe Ruins.
Distance/time: ±480km, 6h30 actual driving time. We need to get to Beitbridge border post as early as possible and depending on the border today (which can be slow) should be less than a ±9h30 travel day.
Overnight: Great Zimbabwe Hotel – hotel, twin rooms with en-suite facilities, restaurant & bar.
WiFi not available.

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.

Day 4: Breakfast provided by the Great Zimbabwe Hotel
Day 4: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 4: Dinner will be a set meal provided by the lodge
Day 5: Breakfast will be provided by the lodge
Day 5: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 5: Dinner will be a set meal provided by the lodge

Includes: Entrance to Matobo National Park and game walk
Distance/time: ±340km, 5h00 actual driving time. Rolling hills, a few roadblocks and a lunch stop should mean a travel day of ±6h30.
Overnight: Hermits Peak – chalets – twin rooms with en-suite facilities (hot showers), swimming pool. WiFi not available

Named after a local Nhanzwa chief, Hwange National Park is the largest Park in Zimbabwe occupying roughly 14 650 square kilometers. Hwange 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.

Day 6: Breakfast will be provided by the lodge
Day 6: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 6: Dinner provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 7: Breakfast will be provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 7: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 7: Dinner provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group

Includes: Entrance fees, full day game drive in open 4WD game viewing vehicle
Distance/time: ±335km, 5h00 actual driving time, with an early start and tarmac roads we aim to arrive for lunch with a total travel day of ±5h30.
Overnight: Miombo Safari Lodge – for 2 nights at Hwange National Park, we stay in twin chalets with en-suite facilities, swimming pool and central boma area. (Subject to availability, we may stay in twin en-suite tree houses). WiFi not available

We enjoy a spectacular guided walk through tropical vegetation to the very edge of the “Mosi oa Tunya” or “the smoke that thunders” – Victoria Falls. There are opportunities to white water raft on the mighty Zambezi River, bungi jump or take a “flight of angels” (own expense).

Day 8: Breakfast will be provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 8: Lunch will be an own expense meal
Day 8: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant
Day 9: Breakfast will be provided by the hotel
Day 9: Lunch will be an own expense meal
Day 9: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant

Includes: Entrance Fees to see the Victoria Falls
Distance/time: ±200km, 3h00 actual driving time, with a visit to the Painted Dog Sanctuary, we expect to be in Vic Falls for lunch, a total travel day of ±4h00
Optional Activities: White water rafting, sunset cruises, scenic flights & many more
Overnight: Rainbow Hotel, en-suite twin rooms. Swimming pool, restaurant, bar and telephone. Free WiFi available

Entering Botswana, we head to the town of Kasane and our accommodation 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 large herds of elephants and other wildlife as they quench their thirst at the end of the day.

Day 10: Breakfast will be provided by the hotel
Day 10: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 10: Dinner provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group

Includes: Chobe N.P entrance fees & sunset cruise on Chobe River
Distance/time: ±85km, 1h00 actual driving time, the border crossing is relatively fast and we aim to be in Botswana before midday for a less than ±3h00 travel day.
Optional Activities: N/A
Overnight: Thebe River Safaris – twin chalets with en suite facilities. Swimming pool, bar, restaurant, telephone. WiFi available

This morning we venture into the Chobe National Park in an open 4WD in search of big cats and elephants. Thereafter we head south through the Kasane Forest Reserve to the Nata area for our overnight stop.

Day 11: Breakfast will be provided by the lodge
Day 11: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 11: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant

Includes: Chobe N.P entrance fees & morning game drive
Distance/time: ±300km, 4h00 actual driving time. Departing after a morning game drive, with lunch en route it’s an easy travel day of ±4h30
Optional Activities: Game drive in Chobe NP
Overnight: Nata Lodge – twin share luxury tents with en suite facilities. Swimming pool, bar, restaurant, telephone. WiFi not available

We transfer into the 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) to our pre-erected tented camp. The delta forms as rainwater from the Angolan highlands flows out over the flat Kalahari Desert sands, forming a delicate, green oasis for birds and wildlife. Our camp is on a remote island in this amazingly dynamic environment and we enjoy bush walks, bird watching and swimming in the clear waters. Camping with our local guides we learn more about their lifestyle and culture. Returning to Maun in the afternoon of
day 14 there is time for an optional scenic flight over the Okavango (own expense).

Day 12: Breakfast provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 12: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 12: Dinner provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 13: Breakfast will be provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 13: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 13: Dinner provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 14: Breakfast will be provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 14: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 14: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant

Includes: Entrance to Okavango Delta, Mokoro excursion, morning and afternoon game walks with local guides
Distance/time: ±300km, 4h00 actual driving time, followed by a 4×4 transfer and then a mekoro trip for a total travel day of ±7h00, ±50km, 2h00 actual driving time from mekoro station to Maun. Depending location of delta camp, the travel day is approximately ±3h30 including mekoro.
Optional Activities: Scenic flight over the Okavango Delta (+/-USD95-120) pp depending on number of people in each aircraft)
Overnight: 2 x nights Okavango Delta – wilderness tented camping – 2 nights tented camp in the Okavango. Each tent has twin camp beds with linen and an en suite chemical toilet. Shared bucket shower tent with hot water off the fire. Tents have built-in insect nets. We need to take our own water and all equipment. Wild tented camping can be very enjoyable but please remember that we leave no trace of our stay and take all rubbish away with us. The wilderness tented camp supplies all linen blankets and pillows. The camp chairs have a backrest. You will need to bring your own towel. WiFi not available.
1x night Maun Island Safari Lodge, chalet – twin share bedrooms with en suite facilities. Swimming pool, bar, restaurant, telephone. WiFi not available.

Heading south from Maun, we cross the wide open spaces of the Kalahari Desert on our way to Khama Rhino Sanctuary. This is a community-based wildlife project established in 1992 to assist in protecting rhino and restore an area formerly teeming with wildlife to its natural state. The reserve provides economic benefits to the local Batswana community through sustainable use of natural resources. We hope to spot rhino on an afternoon game drive.

Day 15: Breakfast will be provided by the lodge
Day 15: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 15: Dinner provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group

Includes: Entrance fees and afternoon game drive.
Distance/time: ±520km, 6h30 actual driving time. Botswana is flat, and today we can prove that – total travel day of ±7h00
Optional Activities: Night game drive in open game viewing vehicle
Overnight: Khama Rhino Sanctuary, 2 twin share bedrooms in each chalet with 1 bathroom shared between 2 rooms. WiFi not available

Crossing back into South Africa, we make our way to Johannesburg where the tour ends at +/- 18:00.

Day 16: Breakfast will be provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 16: Lunch own expense meal
Day 16: N/A

Includes: N/A
Distance/time: ±630km, 7h30 actual driving time, so an early start with a border crossing and lunch stop, we expect a total travel day of ±9h30.
Optional Activities: N/A
Overnight: N/A

Please note: we do a free drop off at Johannesburg airport on day 16 at 17:00pm so you can book your flight out for the last day of the tour.

Please Note: The distance and travel times quoted above are an estimate only, and subject to local road conditions and animal
sightings!

Please note: That the accommodation specified above and in the itinerary, is a guide only and is subject to availability.
Alternatives will be of a similar standard, and accommodation changes will be made without notice.

Special Interest:
Great Zimbabwe Monuments is a UNESCO World Heritage site and 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. The city had an estimated 18,000 inhabitants and archaeological artefacts including Chinese pottery shards and coins from Arabia suggest a vast trading network.

Sustainable Tourism:
Zimbabwe has for many years been off the tourist chart. Conservation has been a challenge for many Zimbabweans working in the national parks and on private land. In Matobos and Hwange national parks we use locally owned camps, operators and guides. Bringing tourist revenue back to the people on the ground will help support the protection of these beautiful wildlife regions.