Zimbabwe & Botswana Game Trail

Itinerary summary

Day 1 - 2 KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
Day 3 GREAT ZIMBABWE
Day 4 MATOBO NATIONAL PARK
Day 5 - 6 HWANGE NATIONAL PARK
Day 7 - 8 VICTORIA FALLS
Day 9 CHOBE NATIONAL PARK
Day 10 NATA
Day 11 MAUN
Day 12 – 14 OKAVANGO DELTA
Day 15 KHAMA RHINO SANCTUARY
Day 16 JOHANNESBURG TOUR ENDS

Detailed itinerary

Day 1 - 2 KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
Departing Johannesburg at 06:30am we head north-east into the world famous Kruger National Park. We visit the remote and seldom visited northern part of the park from Letaba to Pufuri. We enjoy morning and afternoon game drives in our safari vehicle and hope to spot lion, elephant, rhino and other animals in this icon of wildlife conservation. [camping Bx1 Lx2 Dx2]
[B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner]

Day 3 GREAT ZIMBABWE
Entering Zimbabwe at the Beit Bridge border post, we travel to the town of Masvingo and the Great Zimbabwe Monuments. The well preserved ruins are some of the oldest and largest stone structures in Southern Africa and were built during the 11th to 14th Centuries. We explore on foot and wonder at the mysteries of these ancient stone structures and the civilization that built them. [camping BLD]

Day 4 MATOBO NATIONAL PARK
Moving on to Bulawayo and the Matobo National Park, we visit the core of the Matopos Hills, an area of granite koppies and wooded valleys. We set up camp on the outskirts of the park. This afternoon we explore the area on foot to see San Bushman rock paintings. The following morning we visit World's View and the historical site of Cecil John Rhodes' grave. Unusual rock formations in this area are also home to Zimbabwe’s rhino which we hope to see on our guided walk in the national park. [camping BLD]

Day 5 - 6 HWANGE NATIONAL PARK
Named after a local Nhanzwa chief, Hwange National Park is the largest Park in Zimbabwe occupying roughly 14 650 square kilometres. It is located in the north-west corner of the country, and is famed for its large elephant population. Our camp is in the game management area that borders the park, and we explore the park with our local guide, on a full day game drive in an open 4WD game viewing vehicle. [camping BLD]

Day 7 - 8 VICTORIA FALLS
We camp for 2 nights in the town of Victoria Falls. We enjoy a spectacular walk through tropical vegetation to the very edge of the “Mosi oa Tunya” or “the smoke that thunders” - Victoria Falls. There are opportunities to white water raft on the mighty Zambezi River, bungi jump or take a “flight of angels” (own expense). [camping B--]

Day 9 CHOBE NATIONAL PARK
Entering Botswana, our camp is situated in the town of Kasane on the banks of the Chobe River. The river flows lazily along the northern boundary of the Chobe National Park attracting some of the largest herds of elephant in Africa. A highlight of any trip to the Chobe is the afternoon game viewing “sundowner” cruise where we hope to see a large number of elephants and other wildlife as they quench their thirst at the end of the day. [camping BL-]

Day 10 NATA
This morning there is time for an optional (own expense) game drive in the Chobe National Park. Heading south through the Kasane Forest Reserve we make our way to the Nata area for our overnight stop. [camping BLD]

Day 11 MAUN
Our drive takes us past the Makgadikgadi Pans (area) en-route to Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta. Maun, which originated as a cattle outpost, is now the capital of Botswana’s tourist industry, and is our base as we prepare for our excursion into the Okavango Delta. Our camp is situated on the banks of the Thamalakane River and after setting up camp we have a relaxing afternoon at the swimming pool. [camping BL-]

Day 12 – 14 OKAVANGO DELTA
We transfer into the Delta by open 4WD game viewing vehicle where our local guides will take us deep into the heart of the Okavango Delta on Mokoro (dugout canoes). Being gently poled through the network of channels is an experience not to be missed. The Delta forms as rain water from the Angolan highlands flows out over the flat Kalahari Desert sands, forming a delicate, green oasis for birds and wildlife. We will camp wild on remote islands in this amazingly dynamic environment and enjoy bush walks, bird watching & swimming in the clear waters. Camping with our local guides we learn more about their lifestyle & culture. We return to Maun in the late afternoon of day 14 and have time for an optional (own expense) game flight over the Okavango, which will reveal a different aspect of the Delta. [camping Bx3 Lx3 Dx2-]

Day 15 KHAMA RHINO SANCTUARY
Heading south from Maun, we drive through the wide open spaces of the Kalahari Desert on our way to the Khama Rhino Sanctuary. This is a community based wildlife project established in 1992 to assist in saving the vanishing rhino, restore an area formerly teeming with wildlife to its previous natural state and to provide economic benefits to the local Batswana community through tourism and the sustainable use of natural resources. We hope to spot some of the elusive rhino on an afternoon game drive. [camping BLD]

Day 16 JOHANNESBURG TOUR ENDS
Crossing back into South Africa, we make our way to Johannesburg were the tour ends in the late afternoon. [- B- -]