Your journey begins…
Guests embark on a transformative 16-day journey through Botswana, from scenic drives through South Africa’s North West Province to the Botswana border, to the vast Kalahari Plains. They explore the Khama Rhino Sanctuary, a convergence of wildlife, conservation, and community. Delving into the enchanted Okavango Delta, guests enjoy mokoro rides and sunset cruises. A 4-day private safari in Botswana’s national parks, including Khwai, Moremi, and Savute, offers thrilling game drives under the African sky. They experience tranquility at the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, a boat safari in Chobe, and awe-inspiring Victoria Falls. Tracking rhinos on foot in Matobo, guests conclude with a reflective end along the Limpopo River.
- Khama Rhino Sanctuary
- Okavango Delta & flights
- Okavango mokoro excursion
- Delta walks
- Chobe River boat cruise
Day 1
KHAMA RHINO SANCTUARY
The grand adventure kicks off at 6.30am when guests depart from Johannesburg. Today’s route takes them through the dry thornveld of South Africa’s North West Province, en route to the border with Botswana at Martin’s Drift.They will cover quite a distance on their way to Khama Rhino Sanctuary, their first stop and an apt way to begin the adventure. After being prepared by their guide for the coming days, they retire in comfortable accommodation on this vast tract of land, and sleep soundly knowing they sleep with purpose, ready for the glorious adventure to come.
Overnight at Khama Rhino Sanctuary – Breakfast and dinner.
Day 2
MAUN
Guests will enjoy their first cup of coffee before they head out in an open safari vehicle to explore the Khama Sanctuary in search of white and black rhino. They will travel through remote villages with friendly faces and skirt the immense Makgadikadi Salt Pans before the Boteti River reveals itself and leads them home to their stop for the night. A good day draws to its close at the water’s edge.
Overnight at a lodge – Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Days 3-4
OKAVANGO DELTA
It’s an early start this morning as guests have a light aircraft to meet in Maun. They take a flight into the Okavango Delta, a standalone natural phenomenon. Gliding through the maze of watery lagoons in a dug-out mokoro with their local guide. Walking on uninhabited islands, picnic in the wilderness, enjoy a relaxing sunset cruise, or a helicopter flip – or simply relaxing and take it all in from the comfort of their camp on the edge of a lagoon.
Overnight in Twin-bedded Tented Units – Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Days 5 –8:
Flexible Game Reserve Schedule Khwai Area
Guests take to the skies again as they board their next early morning flight into another world. Their safari odyssey starts up high, over the vast expanse of the Okavango Delta and Moremi National park, towards the Khwai airstrip, now in the heart of Botswana’s protected wilderness of the Khwai Concession, Moremi, and Savute. Guests are met by Drifters’ ground crew for their transfer in an open vehicle to the secluded campsite on the banks of the Khwai River. Their tent is pitched, and luggage waiting.
This 4-night safari, with daily game drives, is an unscripted adventure that takes shape according to the season’s migrations. Guests will spend long, lazy hours at hides and waterholes, traveling with local Motswana guides in well-equipped, open 4WD Land Cruisers built for wild places where roads are just tracks in the sand. After a day of rugged adventure, they arrive back at the oasis that is their camp at sunset. Depending on the ever-changing conditions in the National Parks, they may venture into the Central Kalahari Game Reserve or the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park.
Overnight in serviced camping – Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 9
Maun
This morning guests take a leisurely game drive back to Maun. Explore the town and enjoy lunch at their leisure before they head to the comfort of their lodge for a good meal.
Overnight at Drifters Maun Tented Lodge- Breakfast and dinner.
Day 10
Makgadikgadi Salt Pans
Today’s start is a relaxed one. Guests can be tranquil along the river bank, lounge at the poolside, or take a short walk to Chenoga Village. They won’t find Chenoga on any tourist’s map. This is an authentic African homestead with a local villager as their guide. After an early lunch, they venture eastward toward the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. They continue on to their next stop for the night.
Overnight at Elephant Sands Lodge or similar – Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Day 11
Chobe NATIONAL PARK – Victoria Falls
Guests are northbound today to Chobe National Park, known for its elephants. But it’s experiencing a safari from a boat on the water that makes this part of the journey special. Back on Terra Firma, they cross the border into Zimbabwe and head to Victoria Falls.
Overnight at Shearwater Explorers Village or similar – Breakfast and lunch.
Day 12
Victoria Falls
This is an adventure-lover’s paradise! Raft through white-water rapids frothed by the Falls’ fury or plummet on a bungy rope from the towering bridge into a rocky chasm below. Explore the town, including its tribal village and curio market. Perhaps an aircraft flip over the Falls or a boat trip on the mighty Zambezi River is more to their liking? This experience is entirely theirs for the crafting.
Overnight at Shearwater Explorers Village or similar – Breakfast.
Day 13
Greater Hwange
We leave the bustle of town behind us and make our way to Hwange – a vast, remote landscape recognised by its mopane woodlands and granite outcrops.
Think mammoth elephant herds, predators (including lion, leopard and wild dog) on the hunt, and a treasure chest of bird and animal species beyond the ‘Big 5’. Hwange has its own unique personality, and we get to enjoy it on an afternoon game drive with local guides.
Overnight at Camp Silwane or similar- Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 14
Bulawayo – Matobo
The journey continues south to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second-largest city. Guests continue to mystical Matobo, a surreal wilderness dotted with precariously balanced granite boulders and ancient San rock paintings. This afternoon they head into the Matobo National Park for a very different game drive because today, guests will get off the vehicle and set off on foot to find rhinos. Until they’ve stood in the quiet company of these peaceful giants, they cannot fully appreciate the enormity of the threat they face and the impact of their possible extinction. Tonight guests rest up high on a granite dome of Matobo Hills, with an uninterrupted view over the reserve’s panorama.
Overnight at Big Cave – Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 15
Limpopo
It’s the penultimate day of this Botswana adventure, and guests travel to a private game reserve located on the banks of a mighty river. This iconic landmark is the perfect closing chapter to this Botswana adventure.
Overnight at Stevensford Game Reserve Lodge Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 16
Johannesburg
Crossing into South Africa, guests enjoy a scenic route through the Waterberg Mountains, ending their adventure in Johannesburg in the late afternoon.
Inclusions
Accommodation: As per itinerary
Meals: As per itinerary
Entrance fees: Victoria Falls National Park, Chobe National Park, Matabo National Park
Green Seat Levy
Activities:
- Delta Okavango flights
- Guided Delta walk
- Mokoro excursion
- Sunset boat ride
- 4WD open-vehicle game drives
- Village walk
- Rhino tracking
- Chobe River boat cruise
Exclusions
- All alcoholic and soft drinks
- Gratuities and items of a personal nature
- Travel, medical and personal accident insurance
- International and regional scheduled flights and visas
Optional activities en route:
- White water rafting
- Bungee jumping
- Heliflip over the Okavango Delta
- Scenic helicopter flight over Victoria Falls
- Zambezi River sunset cruise
