Day 1 – 2: Kruger National Park, South Africa

Leaving the City of Gold, Johannesburg, at 06h30 we make our way north east into the world-renowned Kruger National Park. We pay a visit to the isolated and barely visited northern region of the Park, from Letaba to Pufuri. We embark on several morning and afternoon game drives in search of lion, elephant, rhino and other game in this fantastic wildlife protection area.

The following morning we enjoy a game drive through the park to from Lataba to Purufi region. We leave the park in the late afternoon and spend out night just outside the park.

Accommodation: 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 or similar. Awelani Lodge (1 night) – en suite tents, restaurant. Awelani Eco-Tourism Park is owned and run by the local Mutele community or similar
Meals: Breakfast x1, Lunch x2, Dinner x2
Includes: Entrance to Kruger National Park and morning & afternoon game drives
Distance/time: Day 1: 550km, ± 8 hours, excluding stops for sightseeing & lunch, Day 2: 305km, ± 8 hours, game viewing drive, excluding stop for lunch

Day 3: Great Zimbabwe

As we make our way into Zimbabwe via the border post at Beit Bridge, we journey to the town of Masvingo and the Great Zimbabwe Monuments. The unspoilt ruins are some of the most ancient and biggest stone structures in Southern Africa and were constructed during the time between the 11th and 14th centuries. We wander about on foot and ponder the mysteries of the civilization that created these incredible ruins.

Accommodation: Great Zimbabwe Hotel – twin rooms with en-suite facilities, restaurant & bar or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Includes: Entrance and guided tour of the Zimbabwe Ruins
Distance/time: 480 km, ± 6½ hours, excluding stops for border crossing (which can take 2 to 4+ hours) sightseeing & lunch

Day 4 – 5: Matobo National Park, Zimbabwe

Making our way to Bulawayo and the Matobo National Park, ee set up camp on the outskirts of the Park. Overlooking the park, we enjoy sundowners from the granite ridge. The next morning we pay a visit to World’s View and the historical area of Cecil John Rhodes’ gravesite. Strange granite formations in this place are home to bushman paintings, we explore these on our game drive and walk. This area is also home to the rhino of Zimbabwe, which we hope to spot on our guided stroll through the National Park.

Accommodation: Hermits Peak – chalets – twin rooms with en-suite facilities (hot showers), swimming pool
Meals: Breakfast x2, Lunch x2, Dinner x2
Includes: Entrance to Matobo National Park and game walk
Distance/time: 340kms, ± 5 hours, excluding stops for sightseeing, shopping & lunch

Day 6 – 7: Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe

Getting its name from a local Nhanzwa chief, Hwange National Park is Zimbabwe’s biggest Park, spreading over 14,650 square kilometres and is situated in the northwest corner of the country. It is famous for its massive concentrations of elephant. Our accommodation is located in the game management area that surrounds the park, and we spend time exploring the Park with our local guide on a full day game drive in our open 4X4.

Accommodation: Miombo Safari Lodge – twin chalets with en-suite facilities, swimming pool and central boma area. (Subject to availability, we may stay in twin en-suite tree houses)
Meals: Breakfast x2, Lunch x2, Dinner x2
Includes: Entrance fees, full day game drive in open 4WD game viewing vehicle
Distance/time: 335 kms ± 5 hours, excluding stops for sightseeing, game viewing & lunch

Day 8 – 9: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

We spend two evenings camping in the town of Victoria Falls. We embark on an incredible trek through tropical plant life to the far edge of the Mosi-oa-Tunya (as it is known locally) meaning ‘the smoke that thunders’ – Victoria Falls. There are chances here for you to partake in thrilling activities such as rafting on the powerful Zambezi River, bungee jumping from a spectacular height of 111 metres from the top of the Falls, or a ‘flight of angels’ at your own expense.

Accommodation: Rainbow Hotel, twin rooms with en-suite facilities. Swimming pool, restaurant, bar and telephone. WiFi available
Meals: Breakfast. Lunch and Dinner at own expense
Includes: Entrance Fees to see the Victoria Falls
Distance/time: 200kms ± 3 hours excluding stops for sightseeing & curio shopping
Optional Activities: White water rafting, sunset cruises, scenic flights & many more

Day 10: Chobe National Park, Botswana

Making our way into Botswana, our camp is located in Kasane on the Chobe Riverbanks. The river flows slowly along the northern border of the Chobe National Park, drawing in some of the biggest elephant herds in all of Africa. A ‘wow factor’ of any outing to the Chobe is the midday game viewing sundowner cruise where we seek out elephant and other game as they wander along the riverbanks in search of water.

Accommodation: Thebe River Safaris – twin chalets with en suite facilities. Swimming pool, bar, restaurant, telephone. WiFi available
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Includes: Chobe National Park entrance fees & sunset cruise on Chobe River
Distance/time: 85 kms ± 1 hour, excluding border formalities

Day 11: Nata, Botswana

Today we embark on a  game drive through the Chobe National Park in the morning. We then make our way south through the Kasane Forest Reserve and head to Nata, where we will spend the night.

Accommodation: Nata Lodge – twin share luxury tents with en suite facilities. Swimming pool, bar, restaurant, telephone.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch. Dinner at own expense
Includes: Chobe National Park Entrance and Morning Game Drive
Distance/time: 300kms ± 4½ hours, excluding stops for sightseeing & lunch

Day 12 – 14: Okavango Delta, Botswana

We journey into the Delta by means of an open 4X4 game viewing truck. Our local guides will lead us deep into the core of the Okavango Delta on mokoro (traditional dug-out canoes). Being softly ‘poled’ through the labyrinth of water channel is an unforgettable experience. The Delta is formed as rainfall from the highlands of Angola flow out over the flat Kalahari Desert sands, creating a delicate lush paradise for bird and wildlife.

We camp on isolated islands in this incredibly dynamic region and partake in bush walks, bird watching and swimming in the surprisingly crystal clear water. We camp with our guides who teach us all about their traditional lifestyles and culture. We make our way back to Maun the afternoon of Day 14 and are granted time to an optional game flight over the Okavango which provides you with an entirely new perspective of the area (own expense).

Accommodation: Okavango Delta: Wilderness tented camping – Each tent has twin camp beds 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. The wilderness tented camp supplies all linen blankets and pillows. The camp chairs have a backrest. You will need to bring your own towel.  Maun: Island Safari Lodge, chalet – twin share bedrooms with en suite facilities. Swimming pool, bar, restaurant, telephone.
Meals: Breakfast x3, Lunch x3, Dinner x2
Included: Entrance to Okavango Delta, Mokoro Excursion, Morning and Afternoon game walks with local guides
Distance/time: 300km, ± 4 hours + 2 hour 4WD transfer into the Delta, each way
Optional Activities: Scenic flight over the Okavango Delta (+/-USD95-120) pp depending on number of people in each aircraft)

Day 15: Khama Rhino Sanctuary, Botswana

Making our way south from Maun, we travel through the vast, open spaces of the Kalahari Desert en route to the Khama Rhino Sanctuary. This is a community-based wildlife project formed in 1992 to aid in conserving the endangered rhino and to restore a region that was previously filled to the brim with wildlife to its former glory. It also serves to give economic benefits to the local Botswana community through tourism profits and the sustainable use of natural resources. We hope to see some of the magnificent rhino during a midday game drive.

Accommodation: Khama Rhino Sanctuary, 2 twin share bedrooms in each chalet with 1 bathroom shared between 2 rooms.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Includes: Entrance fees and Afternoon game drive.
Distance/time: 450km, ± 6½ hours, excluding stops for sightseeing
Optional Activities: Night game drive in open game viewing vehicle

Day 16: Johannesburg, South Africa

Heading back to South Africa, we journey to Johannesburg where our tour winds to an end in the early evening. The tour end at 17h00 at OR Tambo International Airport or at Rivonia Road Lodge at 18h00.

Meals: Breakfast
Distance/time: +/- 630 kms  ± 7½ hours, excluding border formalities & stops for sightseeing & lunch

Please Note:
The accommodation specified in the above itinerary is subject to change based on availability throughout the year and can change without any notice. However the alternative properties will be of a similar standard/ style and experience.

Onward Travel Plans

Due to circumstances beyond our control while on tour (such as border crossings, traffic, breakdowns and delays, etc), the end time on the last day cannot be guaranteed. Therefore we strongly recommend you stay the night and fly out the next day. Please consult with your booking consultant.