The Best of Botswana, Victoria Falls & Zimbabwe Safari
The Best of Botswana, Victoria Falls & Zimbabwe Safari
The Best of Botswana, Victoria Falls & Zimbabwe Safari
The Best of Botswana, Victoria Falls & Zimbabwe Safari
From the renowned Okavango Delta to extraordinary Hwange National Park via Victoria Falls
Days: 11 | From: $12,950/per person
- Includes accommodation at best in class safari lodges
- A range of unique, optional safari activities included at each lodge
- Two world class safari destinations for ultimate game viewing
Discover the unique natural phenomenon of Botswana's Okavango Delta, and experience exceptional game viewing on both land and water. Cruise the Zambezi River at sunset and feel the force of Victoria Falls, then finish your safari with some time in spectacular Hwange National Park, known for its large resident herds of elephant and other majestic wildlife.
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We tailor itineraries to your dates and interests, adjusting hotels, excursions and length as desired.
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At a glance
- Johannesburg
1 night: Discover South Africa's largest city, brimming with art and culture - Okavango Delta
3 nights: Glide through the reeds in a traditional Mokoro canoe, and reconnect with nature as you spot wildlife with your expert guide - Victoria Falls
3 nights: Experience the world's largest curtain of water at the mighty Victoria Falls, explore the Zambezi by boat, and take in an awe inspiring sunset from your lodge on the river - Hwange National Park
3 nights: Come face to face with the elephant herds of Hwange as you drive this unique national park, or dine by the waterhole
All itineraries are fully customizable. We will send you a personalized variation that reflects your interests and travel dates at no extra cost. Call to discuss your travel plans with one of our Specialists who know this region firsthand.
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Sample itinerary
Welcome to Africa!
Arrive to Johannesburg, South Africa’s economic hub. This city bursts with art, history, and culture and is a great place to add some extra time to explore. Joburg combines a modern, metropolitan sophistication with historic townships, creating an ambience that has given life to some of South Africa’s greatest icons and creative minds. Your private guide will be waiting to transfer you to your boutique hotel set in the lush, upmarket suburbs of town.
Accommodations: The Peech Hotel
Set within two acres in Johannesburg’s residential suburb of Melrose, The Peech is a boutique hotel with 32 well-appointed guest rooms spread around the property’s verdant gardens. The location feels both private and central, located near the city's main shopping hubs and adjacent to the boutiques, cafés and parks of Melrose. The hotel offers two swimming pools, comfortable outdoor seating areas, and a bistro featuring locally sourced, sustainable and organic ingredients.
*Includes: BreakfastThe Safari Begins: Journey to Botswana
Fly north to the gateway city of Maun, where you catch the safari bush flight that will deliver you right to your lodge’s airstrip in the private Khwai Concession. Your expert safari guide will meet you and escort you to your remote, luxury lodge. After you’ve settled in, head out into the wilds of the Okavango Delta on your first game excursion, where you may cruise the vast network of waterways or hop in a custom safari vehicle for a game drive. Your expert guide will lead you to the wildlife and natural wonders of this region.
Accommodations: Khwai Leadwood, 3 nights
Set within the Okavango Delta’s community-run Khwai Concession, this beautiful camp is tucked under the trees on the edge of the Khwai River. This river is all that separates the concession from the iconic Moremi Game Reserve, with hippos, elephants and even lions crossing over from time to time. The elegantly designed camp hosts six standard tents and one family unit, blending luxury accommodation with the feeling of being in the great African outdoors.
*Includes: All InclusiveExplore the Okavango
Explore the Okavango Delta, a unique natural phenomenon. The Khwai Concession is a pristine private reserve, nestled in the heart of the Okavango and bordering the famous Moremi Game Reserve. It is a paradise of grasslands, floodplains, lagoons and forests, and a focal point of the area is the Khwai River, which attracts an unparalleled amount of wildlife.
This community-run reserve focuses on conservation, eco-tourism and sustainability, and tourism here supports the Babukakhwae people, or San, who have lived here for thousands of years. This careful stewardship means there are just a few exclusive lodges in the region, and a huge area of protected habitat offering superb game viewing. Large elephant herds roam the reserve, along with sable and roan antelope, kudu, wildebeest, and zebra, as well as those that prey on them: lions, hyenas and wild dogs. Hundreds of bird species also make their home here. As this is an private reserve, you will have the option to do a night drive, offering you the added benefit of seeing the nocturnal animals which keep a low profile during the daylight hours.
The Safari Continues
Enjoy another day in the wild, participating in an exciting game drive or in some of the water activities for which this region is famous. Explore the crystal-clear waterways of the Okavango Delta while silently gliding in a traditional Mokoro Canoe, or get a little further afield aboard a small flat-bottomed motorboat. Spotting smaller creatures in the reeds, enjoying the peaceful tranquility of this unique landscape, and cruising through the endless network of channels to spot larger game is one of the joys of a safari in Botswana.
In the heat of the day, indulge in some relaxation in camp with a dip in the pool, or an armchair safari from your private deck.
From the Okavango to Victoria Falls
After another spectacular sunrise in the bush, take one last morning safari before heading back to the airstrip for your scenic journey out of the Okavango. Marvel at the immense network of waterways and lagoons from above as you transition from one dramatic landscape to the next.
Entering Zambia, you will make your way to the mighty Victoria Falls. Known in a local language as Mosi-oa-Tunya, or “The Smoke That Thunders,” Victoria Falls straddles the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe and plummets some 354 feet into the gorge below. At over five thousand feet wide, it is the world’s largest falling sheet of water. Your secluded lodge is located in Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park, just a short distance from the falls themselves. Over the next three nights you can enjoy a range of activities, including a tour of the falls, sunset river cruises, canoeing, birding, and gourmet dining experiences.
Accommodations: Thorntree River Lodge, 3 nights
Thorntree River Lodge is set in Zambia’s Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park, just a short distance from Victoria Falls. Drawing inspiration from local customs and culture, the lodge combines contemporary design with tented roof structures to maintain the feel of authentic Africa.
*Includes: All InclusiveThe Smoke That Thunders: Victoria Falls
Experience one of nature’s supreme masterpieces. No photograph can truly prepare you for the immensity of Victoria Falls. Walk through the rainforest with your private guide, who will tell you about the history of Victoria Falls and introduce you to the surrounding flora and fauna.
In the afternoon, enjoy some leisure time at your hotel; indulge in a spa treatment or gaze out at the river from the edge of the infinity pool.
Explore Victoria Falls and Cruise the Zambezi River
Get to know this remarkable area with an activity on offer at your lodge, or let us arrange something a little more adventurous, such as rafting, a helicopter ride, or a microlight flight. You may also choose to spend time visiting a local community project, canoeing with a private guide, trying your hand at some catch-and-release tiger fishing, or visiting a local rhino sanctuary.
In the evening, set out for a sunset cruise along the mighty Zambezi River, one of Africa’s largest river systems. Watch the sun sink behind the trees as you keep an eye out for the abundant birdlife along the shore and wildlife coming down for a drink. Enjoy canapes and drinks as you celebrate your time in Africa.
Head for Hwange National Park
Take a short flight from Victoria Falls to Hwange National Park. Declared a national park in 1929, Hwange today is Zimbabwe’s largest game reserve. Vast stretches of wilderness extend from horizon to horizon and form part of the ancient migration route towards Northern Botswana for many animals.
This diverse landscape of mopane and teak forests, semi-desert scrubland, and granite hills is inhabited by a wide variety of mammals and birds. A year-round destination, Hwange is particularly appealing during the winter months (April to October), when large concentrations of animals flock to pumped waterholes as the seasonal pans dry out. The park’s network of waterholes sustains life when natural resources are unavailable and is a remarkable story of conservation. Massive herds of elephants make their presence felt during the dry period. Buffalo, zebra, sable and roan antelope, as well as lions, leopards, cheetahs and wild dogs are also widely seen.
Accommodations: Somalisa Camp, 3 nights
Located in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park, Somalisa is an intimate bush camp perfect for a relaxing Hwange safari. The camp houses 7 tented suites tucked into the shade of an Acacia grove, along the edge of an ancient seasonal floodplain. Each tent offers a fireplace, spacious copper bathtub, and private viewing deck, and the camp’s main deck and pool area overlooks a waterhole frequented by the local elephant families. Game drives, night drives, and walking safaris are guided by passionate local guides.
*Includes: All InclusiveSafari in Hwange
Set out from your luxurious tented camp, located on a private concession within the national park, to begin your first full day on safari in Hwange. This landscape is very different from the Okavango, and you will witness a whole new diversity of wildlife here.
During the heat of the afternoon, enjoy the amenities of your luxury camp. Spend some time in the pool overlooking the waterhole, a favorite destination for elephants, or relax in your copper bathtub with a sweeping view of the wilderness around you.
Another day of wildlife in Hwange
Join your expert ranger guide for morning and afternoon game drives on your final day in the bush. You also have the option to explore on foot with an armed ranger, learning about some of the more overlooked elements of wildlife in the park.
You may also choose to visit a local village with your guide. This is a wonderful way to see the traditional way of life in this area, and learn how local initiatives to empower the community have decreased conflict between humans and wildlife.
Farewell Africa
Enjoy a final morning at your lodge before saying goodbye to the bush. Transfer to the airstrip and fly back to Victoria Falls and then to Johannesburg, where you can connect with your international flight home or continue your onward journey. If you have a long layover, we are happy to arrange a tour in the city, or a day room to relax before your flight.
Popular Ways to Customize This Itinerary
Choose from a selection of carefully curated lodges and hotels to ensure this trip fits your exact travel style.
Add a night or two in Johannesburg at the start or end of your trip, and dive into this vibrant city with a private Vaya guide.
Select a second safari location in Botswana for a more in-depth look at this remarkable country.
Get an unforgettable birds-eye view of Victoria Falls on the “Flight of the Angels” helicopter overflight.
Add a beach extension and spend some relaxing downtime on the pristine white sand of the Indian Ocean. Mauritius, Seychelles and neighboring Mozambique are just a short flight away.
Contact us to learn about more options for designing and customizing your trip.
Why Travel with Vaya?
We're TRUE specialists
We’ve not only traveled there, we’ve lived there. Our smart and engaging specialists are all current or former expatriates with years of experience in the region.
Uplifting service
From the first phone call to after you get back, we're here for you every step of the way. We listen, create, customize and advocate for you, and design experiences that go beyond the expected.
Thoughtful travel
Our discerning sensibility and good taste go beyond just choices in hotels and top guides; we have a walk the walk commitment to the environment and are genuine leaders in conservation efforts.