14 Day Botswana in Depth Safari - Botswana Accommodated Safari
An exciting 14-day Botswana safari taking in the waterways of the Okavango, the wildlife of Moremi, river cruises in Chobe National Park and the spectacular Victoria Falls!
Brief Itinerary
Days 1 & 2: Johannesburg, Khama Rhino Sanctuary, Maun Days 3 to 5: Okavango Delta Days 6 to 9: Moremi Game Reserve, Makgadikgadi Pans Days 10 & 11: Chobe National Park Days 12 to 14: Victoria Falls, LivingstoneTour Highlights
- Khama Rhino Sanctuary
- Okavango Delta
- Moremi Game Reserve
- Chobe National Park
- Chobe River Cruise
- Victoria Falls, Livingstone
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Johannesburg to Khama Rhino Sanctuary (L / D)
After departing Johannesburg early in the morning, we travel north and cross the border with Botswana, and our first night is spent at the Khama Rhino Sanctuary. The sanctuary is located on the edge of the vast Kalahari Desert, a prime habitat for white rhino, zebra and wildebeest, and we can observe game at the several natural waterholes. This is a community based wildlife project that benefits local Botswanan communities and protects a great number of endangered black and white rhino.
Day 2: Maun (B / L)
Continuing north through the Kalahari Desert we reach Maun, gateway to the Okavango Delta. The name 'Maun' derives from a local word 'maung' meaning 'the place of short reeds'. There is time in this afternoon to explore the town or relax by the pool before preparing for our two night excursion into the delta.
Days 3 to 5: Okavango Delta (Bx3 / Lx3 / Dx2)
The beautiful Okavango Delta is a natural wetland system spreading over 1,600,00ha of northern Botswana; an intricate floodplain of thousands of channels that spread to form an inland delta and the only one of its kind in the world. The following morning, local guides take us into the pristine wilderness in mokoros (dug out canoes) punting through the reed channels like gondoliers. We lay back and relax as our guides point out all the amazing wildlife to be found in this watery paradise, such as elephant, buffalo, red lechwe to amazing birdlife and amphibians. For one night here, we sleep amidst beautiful surroundings, under the big African sky in our tented camp. We return to Maun on Day 5 where you can enjoy the evening at leisure, maybe dining at our hotel's restaurant.
Days 6 to 8: Moremi Game Reserve (Bx3 / Lx3 / Dx2)
We enter neighbouring Moremi Game Reserve in 4x4s, for 3 days of fantastic game viewing across the park and neighbouring private concession reserves. The Moremi area is one of Botswana's highlights - home to large populations of elephant who migrate here in search of water from the nearby Chobe National Park, as well as abundant hippo, buffalo, baboon, lion, and the rare African wild dog. We return to Maun in the early afternoon of day 8.
Day 9: Makgadikgadi Pans (B / L / D)
Our next stop can be seen in the distance long before we arrive - the shimmering saltpans of Makgadikgadi catch the sunlight and appear as an amazing, white, endless plain. Remarkably, this flat dry land, bordered by ancient towering baobabs, briefly fills with water when the rains fall and transforms into a sweet nutritious grassland and lake, attracting thousands of grazers and flamingos. There is a chance to enjoy an optional flight over the Okavango before we watch the sunset over the pans at the nearby town of Nata.
Days 10 & 11: Chobe National Park (Bx2 / Lx2)
Continuing north, we arrive at the Chobe National Park and the focus of our lodge stay. The Chobe River flows lazily along the northern boundary of the park and attract some of the largest herds of elephant in Africa. We enjoy a morning game drive here in the park and a relaxing afternoon 'sundowner' cruise on the river in the hope of spotting elephant, crocodile and hippo. Watching the sun descend over this tranquil riverside setting of tangled trees and grassy plains is often a highlight of the tour.
Days 12 to 14: Victoria Falls / Livingstone (Bx3)
After a short ferry crossing, we travel north into Zambia and reach our accommodation near Livingstone, just up-stream from 'Mosi oa Tunya' or 'The Smoke that Thunders' - the local name for Victoria Falls. We spend two nights in chalets in this special corner of Africa where idyllic scenery and wildlife is combined with the roar of white water and the possibility to partake in numerous activities.
Time here is at leisure to fill as you like. For adrenaline junkies, why not try bungy jumping, white water rafting or the gorge swing. If you want something more sedate you can take a 'flight of angels' for a bird's eye view of the falls by helicopter or small plane. Alternatively drift lazily on the Upper Zambezi by canoe or on a sunset boat cruise. Whatever you choose, don't forget to see the tremendous power of the Falls themselves. At over a mile wide the Falls make the largest curtain of falling water in the world.
The tour ends in Livingstone after breakfast on Day 14.
