15 Days Ultimate Botswana and Zimbabwe from US$5,290.-pp

This classic journey covers Botswana, Namibia & Zimbabwe & the core of the international Kavango Zambezi (KAZA) Transfrontier Conservation Area. This initiative is a multi country effort to create a vast network of interlinking reserves and provide corridors for wildlife movement along natural migration routes, particularly for elephants. The lodges are beautiful, comfortable & make for a great adventure safari.

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***CLASSIC JOURNEYS: 3-4 Star accommodation, No-participation with helping out with chores, meals in lodges/restaurants with some picnics provided by guides.

Price:

2023: US$5,290.-pp sharing, Single Supplement US$1,282.-

Guaranteed departures

Tour Style Classic Journey : 3-4 Star accommodation, No-participation with helping out with chores, meals in lodges/restaurants with some picnics provided by guides

Small group safari maximum:    12 travellers

Travel through:                       Botswana, Namibia & Zimbabwe

Safari length:                           15 days                                           

DEPARTS: VICTORIA FALLS on Sunday at 14:00pm

ENDS: VICTORIA FALLS on Sunday at +/-08:00am

 Highlights

* Victoria Falls – adventure activities

* Hwange – game drives in open vehicle

* Matobos – game drive

* Okavango Delta – mokoro excursion

* Moremi game reserve – game drives

* House Boat in the Okavango Delta

* Chobe National Park – sunset river cruise

Overnight
The accommodation throughout this classic journey is of 3 to 4 star style and are chosen not only for

their service and comfort level but also for their wonderful locations and local wildlife viewing opportunities. All rooms have private en suite facilities.

The Moremi lodge on a private concession between Chobe NP and Moremi GR is a particular highlight.

Meals 14 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 9 dinners are included. All of which are provided by the lodges at which we are staying. Due to travel arrangements or game viewing activities, 2 of the lunches will be packed picnic lunches. Where meals are not included there will be an opportunity to buy a meal en route, but these are mostly travel days so a quick stop is required.

Transport for the majority of this safari you travel in airconditioned minibus with 12 forward facing seats.For the game drives in Hwange, Matobos, Moremi and Chobe we use open sided 4WD vehicles with local guides.

Non participation This is an adventure tour, and as such please expect to get involved. Where there are porters, they’ll help you, otherwise you’ll need to carry your own bag. Included meals are all lodge provided. If you have a particular interest, please let your safari leader know, and he/she will endeavour to make your journey more rewarding.

Day 1                           VICTORIA FALLS [Bayete Guest Lodge]

The majestic sight of the mighty Zambezi River plunging over the Victoria Falls, welcomes you to your Zimbabwe and Botswana adventure. We check into our lodge before we explore the falls and tropical rain forest surrounds on foot in the afternoon before heading out to a local restaurant for dinner (own expense).

Day 1: Breakfast not included

Day 1: Lunch will be an own expense meal

Day 1: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant

Includes:                     Entrance Fees to see the Victoria Falls

Overnight:                  A’Zambezi Lodge, twin rooms with en-suite facilities. Swimming pool, restaurant, bar and telephone.

                                    Free WiFi available

Distance/time:   N/A

Optional Activities:      Scenic flights & many more

Day 2 – 3             HWANGE NATIONAL PARK [chalet B – D]

Hwange National Park is a wildlife jewel, famous for its big game and large herds of elephant. Hwange is home to a wide variety of habitats, from it’s western regions on the edge of the Kalahari through large grass plains to the forested woodland in east Hwange. Our comfortable lodge for two nights is situated on the private concession on the eastern boundary of the park, our time is spent on a full day game drive, in open 4WD vehicles, in the park in search of big game.

 Day 2: Breakfast provide by the hotel

Day 2: Lunch will be an own expense meal

Day 2: Dinner will be a set menu provided by the lodge

Day 3: Breakfast provide by the lodge

Day 3: Lunch will be an own expense meal

Day 3: Dinner will be a set menu provided by the lodge

Includes:             Entrance fees, full board with 2 activities per day

Overnight:                  Miombo Lodge – for 2 nights at Hwange National Park, we stay in deluxe tented chalets with en-suite facilities, swimming pool and central boma area.

                                    WiFi not available

Distance/time:   200kms ± 3 hours, excluding stops for sightseeing.

Day 4 -5              MATOBOS NATIONAL PARK [chalet Bx2, Lx1, Dx2]

The rounded granite boulders and undulating valleys of the Matobos National Park are home to some of the last of the rhino in Zimbabwe. We spend our day on an excursion into the park that includes a game walk to see the rhino,

discovering the ancient Bushmen paintings that adorn the rocks, and admiring the landscapes from Worlds View, the site of Cecil John Rhodes’ grave.

 Day 4: Breakfast provide by the lodge

Day 4: Lunch will be an own expense meal

Day 4: Dinner will be a set menu provided by the lodge

 Day 5: Breakfast provide by the lodge

Day 5: Lunch provided by the lodge

Day 5: Dinner will be a set menu provided by the lodge

Includes:                    Entrance fees, full board with 2 activities per day

Overnight:                  Hermits Peak – chalets – twin rooms with en-suite facilities (hot showers), swimming pool, restaurant, bar & telephone.

WiFi not available

Distance/time:          360kms, ± 6 hours, excluding stops for sightseeing, shopping & lunch

Day 6                           NATA [chalet B – D]

This morning we leave Matobos and head west towards the Botswana border, we cross at Plumtree and we make our way to the Nata area for our overnight stop. In the late afternoon we will head out onto the Makgadikgadi Pans, vast

saltpans that seem to stretch on to infinity. We will explore the area and have some fun taking photographs before the sunsets golden over the horizon.

Day 6: Breakfast provide by the lodge

Day 6: Lunch will be an own expense meal

Day 6: Dinner at your own expense

Includes:             Entrance fees to Nata Sanctuary

Overnight:                  Nata Lodge – twin share chalet with en suite facilities. Swimming pool, bar, restaurant, telephone.

WiFi not available

Distance/time:   325 kms ± 4½ hours, excluding stops for border, sightseeing & lunch

Day 7                           MAUN [lodge B – -]

Maun’s name is derived from a San word meaning “place of the short reeds” is nestled at the southern end of the Okavango Delta where our lodge overlooks the beautiful Thamalakane River. Here we prepare for our trip into Moremi Game Reserve and our afternoon is free to bird watch along the river, relax around the pool or take a optional scenic flight over the Okavango Delta (own expense).

Day 7: Breakfast provided the lodge

Day 7: Lunch will be an own expense meal

Day 7: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant

 

Includes:                     –

Overnight:                  Thamalakane River Lodge, twin share bedrooms with en suite facilities. Swimming pool, bar, restaurant, telephone.

                                    WiFi not available

Distance/time:           310kms. ± 4½ hours, excluding stops for sightseeing

Optional Activities     Scenic flight over the Okavango Delta (+/-USD95-120) pp depending on number of people in each aircraft)

 

Day 8 – 10                   MOREMI GAME RESERVE [2x tented bushlodge, 1x lodge Bx3, Lx3, Dx2]

Startling and unexpected contrasts are created as the waters of the Okavango flood into the drier Kalahari creating the magnificently rich wilderness area with amazing wildlife of the Moremi Game Reserve. Rivers, lagoons, savannah, woodland, Moremi offers some excellent game viewing. With over 400 species of birds, Moremi is also a great place to sight leopard, lion, wild dog, elephant, giraffe and a variety of antelope. We spend our time on game drives in Moremi GR and the surrounding concession along the Khwai River where the lagoons attract the thirsty animals to drink in late afternoon. Our lodge is on a private concession north of Moremi, where our boma overlooks a large pan. We enjoy our meals while watching the animals drinking and enjoy the wilderness far from civilization. On the morning of day 10 we have a game drive on the concession before heading back to our lodge in Maun.

Day 8, 9: Breakfast provided the lodge

Day 8, 9: Lunch provided by the lodge

Day 8, 9: Dinner will be a set menu provided by the lodge

Day 10: Breakfast will be provided by the lodge

Day 10: Picnic lunch provided by the lodge

Day 10: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant

 

Includes:                     Entrance fees to Moremi Game Reserve, morning & afternoon game drives in open 4WD vehicle

Overnight:                  2 nights Hyena Pan Bushlodge – exclusive private tented bush lodge, bordering Moremi Game Reserve. Twin share permanent tented lodge with en suite facilities.

1 night Thamalakane River Lodge, twin share bedrooms with en suite facilities. Swimming pool, bar, restaurant, telephone.

                                    WiFi not available

Distance/time:           225kms ± 4 hours, excludes game drives & stops for wildlife viewing (Maun – Lodge)

Day 11 – 12                 OKAVANGO DELTA – SHAKAWE [lodge BLD]

We drive around the Okavango Delta, and north to our lodge on the banks of the Okavango Pan handle. From the lodge we’ll explore the Okavango by mokoro and motor boat. Tranquil reed lined rivers, crystal clear water and abundant bird life. Time to rest, relax and enjoy the views of the Okavango Delta.

Day 11-12: Breakfast will be provided by the lodge

Day 11-12: Lunch will be provided by the lodge

Day 11-12: Dinner will be a set menu provided by the lodge

Includes:                     Okavango mokoro and motorboat excursions

Overnight:                  Nxamseri Island Lodge – twin share bedrooms with en suite facilities. Bar, restaurant, telephone.

                                    WiFi not available

Distance/time:           350km ± 6 hours, excluding stops for sightseeing and lunch

 

Day 13                        CAPRIVI [chalet B-D]

Crossing out of Botswana into Namibia and the Mahango Game Reserve. We game drive through the reserve to our lodge on the Kavango River. We spend our afternoon exploring on a river cruise.

Day 13: Breakfast provided by the lodge

Day 13: Lunch will be an own expense meal

Day 13: Dinner will be a set menu provided by the lodge

 

Includes:                     Mahangu NP entrance fee & game drive in tour vehicle

Overnight:                  Camp Kwando – twin share permanent tents with en-suite facilities. Swimming pool, bar, restaurant, telephone.

WiFi not available

Distance/time:           320km ± 5 hours, excluding border formalities

 

Day 14                        CHOBE NATIONAL PARK [chalet B – -]

The Caprivi Strip, Zambezi Region, is a thin wedge of Namibia, which separates Botswana in the south and Angola in the north. We cross the Caprivi, back into Botswana at Ngoma and head to our lodge in the town of Kasane. The Chobe river attracts large herds of elephant as it flows lazily along the northern boundary of the Chobe National Park. Our final afternoon is spent on arguably the best wildlife activity in Southern Africa, the game-viewing cruise. See herds of elephants, large crocodiles, pods of hippo and other wildlife as they quench their thirst at the end of the day. The magnificent river sunset is a photographer’s dream.

Day 14: Breakfast will be provided by the lodge

Day 14: Lunch will be an own expense meal

Day 14: Dinner will be an own expense meal

Includes:                     Chobe N.P entrance fees & sunset cruise on Chobe River

Overnight:                  Chobe Safari Lodge – twin chalets with en suite facilities. Swimming pool, bar, restaurant, telephone. Alternative Chobe Bush Lodge.

                                    WiFi available

Distance/time:           85kms ± 1 hour, excluding border formalities

 

Day 15                        VICTORIA FALLS ZIMBABWE – TOUR ENDS [- B – -]

Enjoy an optional early morning game drive (own expense) before our last breakfast together. We bid a sad farewell before we embark on a road shuttle transfer to either Kasane airport in Botswana, or Victoria Falls airport in Zimbabwe, in time for midday flight departures. Our tour ends 11:00am.

 

Day 15: Breakfast will be provided by the lodge

Day 15: Lunch own expense

Day 15: Dinner not included

 

Includes:                     Transfer to either Kasane airport BBK (Botswana), or Victoria Falls airport VFA (Zimbabwe) or the town of Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)

Overnight:                  N/A

Distance/time:           85kms ± 1.5 hours to Victoria Falls, excluding border formalities (or 10 minutes to Kasane airport)

Optional Activities:    Chobe National Park morning game drive

   

 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.

Sustainable Tourism:

Botswanan conservation lands surrounding the national parks are leased by the government to tourism businesses for the benefit of the local communities. The lodge we use outside Moremi not only employs staff from the local village but also contributes financially towards the community trust. The village board use that income for the betterment of the local people. The lease environmental management plan is for the benefit of conservation of the region.

DEPARTS              ENDS

VICTORIA FALLS   VICTORIA FALLS or Kasane

Sunday at             Sunday at

14:00pm                11:00am

* Bold dates are guaranteed departures; all other dates are guaranteed from 4 clients.

In a nutshell

  • A true African experience – wild and free!
  • All inclusive trip with cultural experience, adventure and wildlife.
  • Matopos National Park, Hwange National Park, Victoria Falls, Moremi Game Reserve, Mahangu Game Reserve, Chobe National Park & the Okavango Delta.

 Local Payment

A local payment is not required on this safari.

Recommended reading

Before you travel you might want to read any of the following books. While not specific to the tour you will join, they do provide some background understanding of the countries you will be visiting.

  • A Falcon Flies by Wilbur Smith (Fictional story of life in pre-colonial Rhodesia / Zimbabwe)
  • Wankie by Davidson Ted (a story about Hwange National Park)
  • Selous Scouts Top Secret War by Ron Reid-Daly (an account of the Zimbabwe War of Independence)
  • How I found Livingstone by Henry M. Stanley (a factual account of Stanley’s travels in Africa)
  • #1 ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith (Fictional story of life in Botswana)
  • Trees of the Okavango by Veronica Roodt (A reference book with traditional uses and myths)
  • Okavango: Jewel of the Kalahari by Karen Ross (A comprehensive description of the Delta ecology)
  • Don’t run whatever You Do by Peter Allison (A guide’s perspective of Botswana lodge life)
  • Okavango: Africa’s Last Eden by Frans Lanting (A coffee table book of photography)
  • Newman’s Birds of Southern Africa by Kenneth Newman
  • Sasol Birds of Southern Africa by Ian Sinclair, Phil Hockey, and W.R. Tarboton
  • The Safari Companion: A Guide to Watching African Mammals Including Hoofed Mammals, Carnivores, and Primates by Richard D. Estes and Daniel Otte
  • Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa (Field Guides) by Braam Van Wyk, Keith Coates Palgrav, and Piet Van Wyk

Shopping

  • Craft shopping for carvings, batiks, paintings and clothing is best in Victoria Falls which has a wide variety of curios. Botswana has beautiful grass weavings but these are available mostly at curio shops as there are hardly any craft markets in Botswana.

Food

  • The majority of meals on this safari are provided by the lodges.

Difficulty

  • Anyone who is generally active and in good health should enjoy this trip.
  • Full itinerary with a couple of long driving days. The road conditions through the wilderness areas a very poor and our progress can at times be slow and dusty. Remember to hold on at all times and enjoy the ride!

Things you should know

  • Includes park entrances, game drives and the Okavango Delta excursion.
  • As this tour spends a large amount of time in wildlife areas it is essential that clients adhere to the tour leaders (and local guides) instructions regarding interaction with wildlife, camp safety and game walk/drive rules.
  • Your client will need a valid passport and visas for entry into Zimbabwe, and Botswana and re-entering South Africa.
  • Luggage, please pack to a limit of 12kgs in a soft sports tog bag. Also bring daypack for walks and keeping in the vehicle. You do not need to bring a towel as the accommodation establishments will provide towels.
  • We recommend that you bring Euro or US$ for personal expenses on this trip but please note that foreign currency will need to changed into Botswana Pula as shops, restaurants and market vendors only accept BWP. Expenses in Victoria Falls can be paid in US$ and major credit cards can also be used for optional activities. Traveler’s cheques can be changed in Victoria Falls, Kasane and Maun (although in Zimbabwe travellers cheques attract a very high commission).

Common questions about this trip

  1. Can I buy camera memory cards? Memory cards and other photographic accessories will be available several times on tour. A camera with a zoom lens from wide angle to telephoto, 35-300mm, is advisable to capture both scenic and wildlife shots. Each vehicle is fitted with a 12/220V inverter  – this can be used while the vehicle is running (but will drain the vehicle battery if left plugged in), so this should only be relied on for limited charging of camera batteries and we recommend you bring a 2nd Remember you can also charge your camera at all the accommodation.  In Moremi at Hyena Pan, there is a communal charger in the main lounge area that can be used when the generator is running.  The camp otherwise is solar powered.
  2. Is it safe? Zimbabwe has been involved in a political power struggle over the past few years, and this has deterred tourists from travelling to the country. Having said this, the Zimbabwe people are always friendly and helpful to visitors to their country and tourists are welcome with open arms. Botswana is safe and your guide knows both countries intimately and will endeavor to show you the best parts while looking after you. In the wild areas your guide will brief you on the necessary precautions, follow this advice and you will be fine. Be aware of your personal belongings and you will have a great trip!
  3. Do I need malaria tablets? Yes, the trip passes through malaria areas and prophylactics are recommended.
  4. What do I need to bring? All details are covered in our general tour briefing but the basics are: – comfortable clothes for warm days and cool evenings, walking shoes, flash light, a raincoat, hat and sunglasses, swimsuit, a small pair of binoculars also comes in very handy and most importantly – a sense of adventure!Why travel with us on Value Tours:We understand that there are several options available to you when choosing your African safari. We also know that you want to make the most informed decision about your safari, what you get, what’s included and what you see and experience. So these are just a few of the qualities and facts:
    • Small groups – by travelling with a maximum of 8 or 12 people (depending tour), you are able to witness Africa and have first-hand contact with this amazing continent and its people without being a negative influence. This has been a key factor in our continued success. Our trips appeal to a wide demographic of traveller. Our clients range in age from 25 to 65+ with the average being 45. The range of travellers gives a variety of perspectives which adds to the experience of each safari.
    • 2 tour guides – group leaders are the key to any safari. On our safari you will travel with 2 qualified and registered field guides (Field Guides Association of SA). Two guides as crew, not a guide and a driver, means interesting trips with maximum knowledge and information. Our guides have a passion for Africa, her people and her wildlife, and they love nothing more than sharing their knowledge with you.
    • Guaranteed departures – departure dates on each itinerary shown as bold are guaranteed departure dates. All other departures operate with a minimum of 4 clients.
    • All inclusive price – when we travel ourselves, we always feel that if we’re in a country we should find and see the best it has to offer. So when planning the routes we ensure that each trip provides the best inclusions and experiences. For example, if you go to Botswana – you have to visit the national parks in an open 4WD – it is the essence of the Botswana wilderness. If you tour Zambia, then you must visit South Luangwa NP and do a game walk with a local scout. When booking our Safari there are no hidden costs. All of the entrance fees are included, and a wide range of activities, and most meals. We have included many highlights in our tours, so that you will see and experience the highlights without having to pay extra when you get there. So when you decide on which safari company to book with, look carefully at what you’re actually getting. You may only visit a place once, make sure you get the most out of it.
    • Safety – our fleet of vehicles are custom built to ensure comfortable and safe touring. Each is constructed, by an authorized passenger vehicle builder, to the latest safety requirements, with a safety shell, and every seat has a lap belt. This gives you peace of mind when travelling with our Safaris on the often demanding African roads.
    • Responsible travel – Our commitment to sustainable & responsible tourism is reflected in our low impact travel style where all we take is photographs and all we leave is our footprints. Being an African company we have the grassroots contacts to make a real difference in the lives of the people whose lands we visit.

    On each itinerary in the brochure you’ll find a symbol which highlights just one of the sustainable travel initiatives that we support

    • Solo Travellers – going it alone won’t make your holiday more expensive; our reservations staff will match you up with another same-gender traveller to keep your holiday affordable. If however you request a single room or tent these are available, with a price supplement
    • Experience – Local operator has more than 22 years’ experience planning tours throughout Southern Africa. As such, our itineraries and routes have been perfected over many years ensuring that your tour will run smoothly. We visit the highlights of Southern Africa, but ensure that you do not follow the well-trodden tourist track. All of us have extensive travel experience in Africa, and throughout the world. Being adventure travellers ourselves, we know how to plan trips that give you a broad experience of the countries that you will visit.
    • Local Operator in Africa – probably the most important part of our value safaris is that our operator is an African company with offices in South Africa and Botswana. They live in Africa, and travel in Africa and it is their passion for this amazing continent that makes them best travel option.

    SOS trees project – Okavango Botswana

    • For hundreds of years, the local communities in and around Botswana’s Okavango Delta have used the wood of the sausage tree to craft their traditional mokoro (dugout canoes). The knowledge and skill have been passed down from generation to generation and, up until recently, has been a sustainable practice. With increasing numbers of people visiting the Delta each year, more mokoro are needed and as a direct result, more and more sausage trees are being felled and the sausage tree is sadly disappearing from the region. A traditional wooden mokoro will have to be replaced every five years, thereby placing increased pressure on the dwindling sausage tree supply.

    We have established a project to encourage polers in the local communities to buy replica fiberglass mokoro’s, which have a lifespan of approximately ten years, are more stable and are produced without any negative affect to the environment. As such, sponsorship for each fiberglass mokoro is needed, and a portion of the tour cost will be donated to the project, but we also will offer our clients the opportunity to contribute to this worthwhile cause. Please feel free to contact the our office for more information on the SOS trees project or if you would like to make any contributions towards this project. It is something that is close to all of our hearts and we hope that it will be successful.

    Local Payment

    • A local payment is required on some safaris and this will be collected by your tour leader on departure. The local payment forms part of your overall tour cost, and must be taken into consideration when booking your safari. It will be used by your tour leaders to pay for some of the operational costs incurred on safari.

    We prepay by bank transfer, as many of the tour costs as possible. However, in many cases, a cash payment is the only option: certain of the destinations that we visit, only accept cash. For example entry fees to most national parks, some of the campsites and also local food markets (and even some shops) are only payable in cash. In addition, each vehicle has a garage card but these are only accepted in South Africa and parts of Namibia, therefore in all other countries, fuel must be paid for in cash. Due to the remoteness of some departure points, having a local payment system enables us to manage tour funds effectively. The efficiency of this system helps keep the overall tour prices down.

    For these reasons, it is necessary for us to charge a local payment. It also ensures that a portion of the tour costs goes directly into the country you are visiting, thereby benefiting local communities and contributing to the conservation of the areas we visit. This is all part of our ongoing effort to operate sustainable safaris that make a real difference.

E&OE

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