Botswana on a Budget
This Journey takes you through some of Botswana’s and Zimbabwe’s magnificent game reserves. Starting and ending at the spectacular Victoria Falls. Just some of the highlights of this trip include a game drive in Hwange National Park, the Moremi Game Reserve, Greater Khwai, a two day Okavango Delta excursion and the Chobe National Park.
Inclusions:
Game Lodges / Tented Camps
14 Breakfasts, 11 Lunches & 11 Dinners
4X4 Vehicle Air Conditioned
English Speaking Guide
Game Drives
Game Walks
Nature Walks
River Cruise
Mokoro ride
Guided Falls Tour
FULL ITINERARY
Day1 - Victoria Falls
On arrival into Victoria Falls Airport, you will be met and transferred to A’Zambezi River Lodge. The rest of the afternoon may be spent at leisure enjoying one of the many activities available in Victoria Falls. This evening you will meet your guide and the rest of your group at the lodge at 18h00 for your pre-departure meeting.
Accommodation: 1 night A'Zambezi River Lodge.Day 2 to Day 4 - Hwange National Park
This morning depart Victoria Falls and make your way to Sable Sands in a private concession near to Hwange National Park. The next days are spent exploring this wildlife rich area. This afternoon you can partake in an optional game drive if time allows (at own expense). Over the following two days, you will have plenty of time to explore this vast wilderness on game drives. Hwange National Park is one of Africa’s finest havens for wildlife and is home to vast herds of elephant, buffalo, and zebra and has a very large concentration of giraffe. It is also home to many predators and endangered species plus varied birdlife. You will also visit the Painted Dog Conservation Centre to witness the work that is done to protect these endangered species. Distance travelled on Day 2 is approx. 190km. (BLD)
Accommodation: 3 nights Sable Sands.Day 5 - Nata
An early start is required today as this is the longest drive of the safari. Leave Hwange National Park and drive through the Matetsi safari area enroute to Botswana. The drive is beautifully scenic, with the chance of spotting game along the way. Arrive at your Lodge in the late afternoon just in time to settle down and watch the elephants venturing down to the waterhole to drink. Distance travelled today is approx. 420km. (BLD)
Accommodation: 1 night Nata Lodge.Day 6 - Khwai River
After breakfast head off to the Nata Bird Sanctuary, where you have the opportunity to enjoy the magnificent view over the Sowa pan, which is part of the Greater Makgadikgadi Pans. Please note, a visit to the pans is subject to the road conditions and water levels as well as time constraints. Make your way to Khwai Bedouin Camp, which is situated in a private concession in the Khwai River area. This large area is renowned for its concentration of mammals and it is not unusual to see many different types of wildlife during just one game drive. Game viewing is seasonal; depending on the time of the year you may see different species in different areas. The best time for game viewing is the end of the dry season or spring from August to November. During this season, in order for us to offer the best game viewing possible, extra driving may be required due to the animals migrating closer to the river. In the summer, birdlife can also be viewed in abundance with exceptional sightings of wildfowl and raptors. Distance travelled today is approx. 450km. (BLD)
Accommodation: 3 nights Khwai Bedouin Camp.Day 7 - Khwai River
You have the opportunity to spend the day on game drives. In an open 4X4 vehicle you will explore the Khwai River region on morning and afternoon game drives hopefully spotting a variety of game that frequent this region. After dinner your guide will take you on a night drive, and you will hopefully be able to spot some rare nocturnal animals. Distance travelled today is approximately 150km. (BLD)
Day 8 - Khwai River
Today continue into the famous Moremi Game Reserve for game viewing, known as one of the most beautiful and varied reserves in Africa with an unprecedented concentration of wildlife. The full day is spent in the unspoiled nature of the Moremi Game Reserve. Distance travelled today is approx. 150km. (BLD)
Day 9 to Day 10 - Okavango Delta
This morning after an early breakfast depart for Etsha 13, on the western border of the Okavango Delta in Botswana. Unlike other deltas, it flows into the Kalahari Desert without reaching the coast, which makes it unique. The next day is spent exploring the network of water pathways through thick vegetation in mokoros (traditional dugout canoes), discovering a variety of birds and wildlife. You have the opportunity to stop at a secluded island to take a 1½ hour guided walk hoping to spot elephants, waterbuck or other animals living in this water filled paradise. Distance travelled on Day 9 is approx. 395km. (BLD)
Accommodation: 2 nights Guma Lagoon Camp.Day 11 - Mahangu National Park
Today after your Delta experience you leave the lush verdant wetlands of Botswana and enter Namibia. Enjoy an afternoon game drive in the Greater Bwabwata National Park, which extends from the Kavango River in the west to the Kwando River in the east and incorporates the Mahangu Game Reserve. Elephant, roan, kudu and buffalo are amongst the animals likely to be seen as well as prolific birdlife. Distance travelled today is approx. 180km. (BLD)
Accommodation: 1 night Mahangu Lodge.Day 12 to Day 13 - Chobe National Park
This morning continue your journey through the Caprivi Strip, crossing the border back into Botswana to, Kasane, the gateway to the Chobe National Park. Start your morning of Day 13 with a hopefully spectacular game drive in Chobe National Park. You will return to the lodge for a late breakfast and relaxation until our boat cruise on the Chobe River starts around 15h00. Here we can watch elephants, hippos, crocodiles and a variety of birds, making for excellent up close photo opportunities. Distance travelled on Day 12 is approx. 452km. (BLD)
Accommodation: 2 nights Chobe Safari Lodge.Day 14 - Victoria Falls
Today leave Botswana and come to the place where we started this trip full of real African experiences – Victoria Falls. Visit the Victoria Falls on a guided tour and then have the rest of the day at leisure or to partake in one of the many optional activities (at own expense). Distance travelled today is approx. 110km. (BL)
Accommodation: 1 night A'Zambezi River Lodge.Day 15 - End of Botswana Wildlife Tour
Your safari ends after breakfast. You will be transferred to Victoria Falls Airport in time for your departure flight. (B)