14 Day Southern Africa Magic Safari - Small Group Safari
An exciting 14-day camping safari, encompassing Kruger National Park, Victoria Falls, Okavango Delta & the Kalahari Desert. Enjoy the wilderness of northern Botswana and the adrenaline activities at Victoria Falls, while discovering Africa's beautiful landscape and people.
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Blyde River Canyon, Cheetah Project, Greater Kruger Days 2 & 3: Oliphant's River Cruise, Kruger National Park Days 4 & 5: Polokwane Game Reserve, Nata (Botswana) Days 6 & 7: Livingstone, Zambia Day 8: Livingstone, Chobe National Park, Kasane Days 9 to; 12: Maun, Okavango Delta Day 13: Maun, Khama Rhino Sanctuary Day 14: JohannesburgTour Highlights
- Blyde River Canyon
- Three Rondavels
- Oliphant's River Cruise
- Kruger National Park
- Polokwane Reserve
- Victoria Falls - Livingstone, Zambia
- Chobe National Park
- Okavango Delta
- Khama Rhino Sanctuary
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Blyde River Canyon, Cheetah Project, Greater Kruger (Dx1)
Departing from South Africa's largest city, Johannesburg, we drive through scenic Mpumalanga to the Great Kruger area. En route we enjoy the spectacular scenery of the Blyde River Canyon and the Three Rondavels rock formations. After lunch we visit a cheetah project to see the remarkable work done by volunteers rehabilitating these gentle predators, and other endangered mammals of the area. We complete our first day on arrival at camp on the banks of the Oliphant's River. This is a relaxing and enjoyable place for our first night in the African wild - where it is not uncommon to see wildlife come to the river to drink in the evening.
Days 2 & 3: Oliphant's River Cruise - Kruger National Park (Bx2 / Lx2 / Dx2)
We rise early for a river cruise on the Oliphants River, and follow that with a visit to South Africa's premier game reserve, the Kruger national Park. With over 2 million hectares of fertile land the Kruger contains an unrivalled diversity of wildlife, as well as some important historical and archaeological sights. We explore the wilderness and hope to see some of Africa's 'Big 5' (elephant, rhino, leopard, lion and buffalo) as well as some of the smaller and more rarely seen animals.
We also visit an old colonial town for a glimpse of what life was like for South Africa's pioneering folk. Our route through the park is dependent on recent sightings and seasonal conditions but we concentrate on the areas near the Transfrontier National Park. This remote area is away from the larger numbers of visitors who enter the park in the south. Recently established, when fences between countries were removed, this special area provides natural migration routes for wildlife between South Africa and its neighbours, and promises some rewarding game drives. A typical day generally involves an early morning game drive and a return to our camp for lunch to rest during the heat of the day before going out again later in the late afternoon when predators come out to hunt.
Days 4 & 5: Polokwane Game Reserve, Nata (Botswana) (Bx2 / Dx2)
This morning we make our way out of the Kruger area, heading towards Botswana. We stop just short of the border in the town of Polokwane, where there is time to enjoy a walk in the local game reserve, which contains over 21 species of mammal including the white rhino and 200 species of birds. The following morning we cross into Botswana, continuing north. We spend the day driving around the Kalahari, a massively arid area extending through southern and central Botswana. We overnight a lodge near Nata, a small town near the Magkadigkadi Pans. This region was once a vast super-lake - today it is a shimmering expanse of white dry saltpans. Occasionally it fills with seasonal rains and then is transformed into a large flat lake, attracting birds and animals which enjoy the brief harvest of algae and plant life. It is not uncommon to see elephant wandering through camp at night.
Days 6 & 7: Livingstone (Bx2 / Dx1)
We leave Nata early and continue to Kasane and the ferry crossing into Zambia. After a short drive further we arrive in the town of Livingstone a few kilometres from Victoria Falls (local name: 'Mosi oa Tunya' - 'the smoke that thunders') referring to the spray that rises from the falling water when the river is in full flood. We have two days at our campsite on the banks of the Zambezi river. There are many activities here - eg scenic flights, whitewater rafting, canoeing, bungy, gorge swinging, jet boating, game drives, elephant back safaris and river cruises - but spare some time to visit the 'Falls' themselves to see the spectacle and the cavernous Batoka Gorge. Our accommodation also has small pool, bar, restaurant and riverside deck allowing ample opportunity to relax and enjoy the tranquil surrounds.
Day 8: Livingstone, Chobe National Park (Bx1 / Dx1)
We leave Livingstone and take the short drive back into Botswana. We now visit Chobe National Park with optional river cruise or gamedrive (either at own expense) . Chobe is particularly known for its elephant population - an estimated 40000 animals roam within the park boundaries. Tonight we camp near in Kasane close to the Chobe River.
Days 9 to 12: Okavango Delta (Bx4 / Lx3 / Dx4)
There may be a final opportunity to take the optional game drive in Chobe before we leave for Maun in central Botswana. Maun is the gateway to one of the world's most unique and beautiful ecosystems - The Okavango Delta. This beautiful region is a natural wetland system spreading over some 1.6 million hectares of northern Botswana resulting from rivers that flow south from Angola, and dividing repeatedly on the flat Botswana plains to form an intricate floodplain of channels and an inland 'delta', the only one of its kind in the world. We spend two nights camping in the wilderness with experienced and knowledgeable 'polers' who guide you through the labyrinthine channels in dug-out canoe (mokoro), and on foot.
We camp on one of the islands in the middle of the Okavango, a true wilderness experience, especially so at night when you sleep to the sounds of the African bush which stretches for miles all around.
Day 13: Khama Rhino Sanctuary (Bx1 / Dx1)
For those wanting more adventure there is an opportunity for scenic flights over the Okavango area (time permitting and at own expense), which is a superb way to appreciate the immensity of this 'water world'.
Eventually we leave Maun for the Khama Rhino Sanctuary situated not far from the South African border. In 1989 a group of locals wished to convert the Serwe Pan, previously a hunting area, into a conservation region for the rhino that inhabit the area. The Pan was chosen because of its 'rhino-friendly' habitat and its proximity to a Botswana Defence Force base which could provide 24 hour protection. Located on the edge of the vast Kalahari, which is a prime habitat for white rhino, zebra, wildebeest and giraffe we can see game at several of the reserve's natural waterholes. Khama is a community based wildlife project which benefits the local community and protects a great many endangered rhino.
Day 14: Johannesburg (Bx1)
On our last day we travel into South Africa to Johannesburg ending our tour in the late afternoon/early evening.
