Tour 55: 21 Day Botswana, Namibia & Zimbabwe National Parks Wildlife 4×4 Tour

DAY 01 Maun – Shakawe (Botswana)
Depart from Maun to Shakawe. Check in at campsite on the bank of the Okavango River.

Do a 03-hr afternoon boat trip on the Okavango River. Great bird watching opportunities. (If arrival is too late the boat trip will be postponed to the morning of Day 02.)
Overnight: Camping at Drotskys (Good facilities)
Meals: B, L & D (Full board on all days)
Chalets available at additional cost

DAY 02 Shakawe – Bwabwata National Park (Buffalo Core Area) (Namibia)
Enter Namibia at Mohembo Border Post.

Continue to Bwabwata National Park (Mahango Core Area). The small but picturesque Mahango Game Park is situated in the north-east of Namibia on the Botswana border. Mahango covers an area of about 30,000 hectares and is bordering on the Okavango River Floodplain.

Wildlife includes elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog, hippo, red lechwe, sitatunga, buffalo, sable, and roan and other antelopes. Mahango is known for its rich bird life and it is one of the best places to see the endangered wattled crane. Huge baobab trees are to be seen in the park.

Do a circular game drive. Depart to Divundu village near Popa Falls. Visit the falls, which is not much more than a big rapid.

Check in at community campsite on the bank of the Okavango River

Afternoon visit to Bwabwata National Park (Buffalo Core Area). The Buffalo Core Area is not the most popular park in Namibia, but have absolutely amazing game viewing possibilities. The park is home to numerous game. Visitors will find large concentrations of elephants, buffalos but also – and this is special for the Buffalo Park – big herds of roan and sable antelope. Warthog, kudu, impala, reedbuck, red lechwe and of course hippos and crocodiles are also seen quite often. Predators which visit the park are lion and leopard.

A part of the Buffalo Core is situated in the ruins of an old South African Army Base of 32 Battalion. These ruins are often visited by impalas and kudus. It is not forbidden to leave the car and climb on some of the large termite hills along the river side. The views and photographic opportunities from the ant hills are extraordinary.
Overnight: Camping at N//goabacha Community Campsite (Basic facilities)
Meals: B, L & D
Chalets available in Divundu at additional cost

DAY 03 Bwabwata National Park (Kwando Core Area)
Travel through Bwabwata National Park, previously known as Caprivi Game Park to Kongola. The 32km-wide Bwabwata National Park of 5 715km² extends for about 180 km from the Okavango River to the Kwando River. Bwabwata forms a crucial trans-boundary link for wildlife migration between Angola, Botswana, Namibia and Zambia and for seasonal dispersal to and from rivers. The riverine forests along these rivers attract large numbers of mammals and numerous species of aquatic birds. Bwabwata National Park is home to buffalo, elephant, lion, leopard, hippo and roan antelope as well as various other antelope species.

Proceed on sandy 4×4 trail to Nambwa Community Campsite on the bank of the Kwando River in the Bwabwata National Park (Kwando Core Area). The trail runs on the western side of the Kwando River, with its floodplains, associated grasslands and riparian forests. The park is home to large concentrations of elephant and buffalo, also sable and roan antelope, tsessebe, waterbuck, impala, kudu, giraffe and wildebeest. Common reedbuck, red lechwe, the rarely seen sitatunga and hippo are seen along the river. Main predators are lion, leopard, cheetah and hyena. This area is one of the last refugees for wild dog in Namibia. The area is rich in bird life, nearly 600 species, due to a variety of vegetation types.

This area was previously used as base camp and training ground for the South African elite core, the Reconnaissance Commando

The location of Nambwa Community Campsite within the pristine and untouched Kwando Core area, has the local and migrant animal species wandering through the campsites. Elephants, Hippos, Hyena, and a resident Leopard are common visitors to this idyllic woodland island. The spacious campsites right on the river banks and shaded by age old trees.

Pitch Camp. Afternoon game drive to Horseshoe Oxbow Lake and other lagoons on the Kwando River and wait for the elephants to come and drink.
Overnight: Camping at Nambwa Community Campsite (Good facilities)
Meals: B, L & D
Luxury accommodation at Nambwa Tented Lodge available at additional cost

DAY 04 Bwabwata National Park (Kwando Core Area)
Morning and afternoon game drives. Relax
Overnight: Camping at Nambwa Community Campsite
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 05 Bwabwata National Park – Mudumu National Park
Pack-up camp. 4×4 Game Drive Trail to Exit Gate. Depart to Kongola. Stop at the Community Hand Craft Shop. Guest can view and purchase a wide a variety of quality African craft.

Continue to the nearby Mudumu National Park. The Kwando River is the western boundary of Mudumu National Park, which offers a true African wilderness experience. The area is lush with riverine forest, marches, dense savannah and mopane woodland. An astonishing 430 species of birds have been recorded (nearly 70% of Namibia’s total) and much game including the rare sitatunga and red lechwe as well as buffalo, elephant, zebra, antelopes, hippo and crocodiles.

Pitch camp on the banks of the Kwando River. Time at leisure

Afternoon game drive.
Overnight: Wilderness Campsite in Mudumu (No facilities. Guide pitch toilet and shower)
Meals: B, L & D
Chalets available at nearby lodges at additional cost

DAY 06 Mudumu National Park – Nkasa Rupara National Park
Early morning game drive in Mudumu National Park

Pack-up camp. Continue to nearby Nkasa Rupara National Park (formerly known as Mamili National Park). Nkasa Rupara covers 320km² and holds the distinction of being the largest wetland area with conservation status in Namibia. This protects flora and fauna living within it’s complex channel of reed beds, lakes and islands, that form the Linyanti swamps.

During the dry season the islands can be reached by road but after the rains 80% of the area becomes flooded, cutting them off from the mainland.

There are about 1 000 buffaloes in Nkasa Rupara, the largest concentration in the country. It is an important corridor for elephants moving from Botswana to Angola and Zambia and is also considered as a core breeding area for wildlife that can disperse into neighbouring conservancies. It is a sanctuary for birds, with more species of birds recorded here than anywhere else in Namibia.

Enter the park and continue to community campsite. The campsites are is located on the banks of one of the many channels of the Kwando-Linyanti river system. Time at leisure

Afternoon game drive.
Overnight: Rupara Community Campsite (good facilities)
Meals: B, L & D
Chalets available at nearby lodge at additional cost

DAY 07 Nkasa Rupara – Chobe National Park (Botswana)
Backtrack on 4×4 trail to main road. Depart to Katima Mulilo. Replenish supplies. Continue to Ngoma Bridge Border Post. Enter Botswana.

Proceed to in Chobe National Park. Enter the park at Ngoma Gate. Game drive to Ihaha Campsite. This is elephant country. Chobe National Park is very famous for its abundance of elephant. This Park has the highest concentration of elephant anywhere in Africa, an estimated 70 000!! Chobe is also famous for its huge herds of buffalo and predators including lion, leopard and spotted hyena. Sable – and roan antelope, giraffe, kudu, waterbuck, tsessebe, impala, red lechwe, the endemic puku, Chobe bushbuck, herds of zebra, warthogs, pods of hippo and crocodiles are some of the species to be seen

The Chobe Riverfront is one of the best birding areas in Southern Africa and various species of raptors, including great sightings of fish-eagles, flocks of vultures, various aquatic species, colorful bee-eaters and rollers can be encountered on a game drive.

The campsite overlooks the Chobe River
Overnight: Camping at Ihaha (Good facilities)
Meals: B, L & D
Chalets available at Senyati Safari Camp outside the park at additional cost

DAY 08 Chobe National Park
Morning and afternoon game drives. Relax
Overnight: Camping at Ihaha
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 09 Chobe National Park – Senyati Safari Camp
Game drive to Sidudu Gate. Exit the park and continue to Kasane. Replenish supplies

Optional 03-hour afternoon boat trip on the Chobe River, departing from Kasane, at own cost. Good wildlife sightings are common on the boat trips.

Continue to Senyati Safari Camp 10 km south of Kazangula. Senyati is situated on the border of the Kasane Forest Reserve. The chalets and bar-deck overlook a flood-lit waterhole where herds of elephant, numbering in total up to hundreds a day, come to drink from mid-afternoon until late at night. Spotted hyena, sable antelope, buffalo, kudu, giraffe and impala are regular visitors too. Leopard, lion and wild dog are sporadic visitors.

Relax in the afternoon at accommodation or on the bar deck overlooking the floodlit waterhole.
Overnight: Camping at Senyati Safari Camp
Meals: B, L & D
Chalets available at additional cost

DAY 10 Senyati Safari Camp – Victoria Falls – Hwange National Park (Zimbabwe)
Depart early morning to Kazungula Road Border Post. Enter Zimbabwe and continue to Vic Falls.

Visas if, applicable, to be obtained in country of residence or at border post at own cost. Google Zimbabwe Visa Requirements.

The route goes through the Zambezi National Park to Vic Falls. The Victoria Falls & Zambezi National Parks is a world Heritage Site and the falls is one of the ‘Seven wonders of the world’ and one of the largest and most spectacular water falls on earth. The falls are 1,7 km wide and nearly 550 million litres of water cascade 70 to 108 meters into the chasm below – every minute – during the Zambezi River’s peak flow. Victoria Falls is made of five different “falls”. Four of these are in Zimbabwe: The Devil’s Cataract, Main Falls, Rainbow Falls and Horseshoe Falls – and one, The Eastern Cataract, is in the bordering country of Zambia.

Zambezi National Park together with Victoria Falls National Park covers an area of 56,000 hectares. The northern border of the Park is formed by the great Zambezi River which also forms the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia for much of its length. A wide variety of larger mammals may be found within the Zambezi National Park including The Big Five: elephant, lion, buffalo, leopard and white rhinoceros. In addition, sable antelope, eland, zebra, giraffe, kudu, waterbuck and impala as well as many of the smaller species of game are in the park too.

Visit Vic Falls. Entrance Fees at own cost @ USD30 pp (USD25 pp for SADEC Citizens)

Optional activities at Vic Falls at own cost include bungee jumping and a helicopter flight over the falls. The helicopter flight is highly recommended.

Depart to Hwange National Park. Hwange National Park is the largest park in Zimbabwe and covers 14 650 square km. It is located in the northwest corner of Zimbabwe and an hour’s drive from Victoria Falls. It became the royal hunting grounds to the Ndebele warrior-king Mzilikazi in the early 19th Century and was set aside as a National Park in 1929

Hwange was proclaimed a National Park in 1929. Hwange boasts a tremendous selection of wildlife with over 100 species of mammals and nearly 400 bird species recorded. The elephants of Hwange are world famous and the Park’s elephant population is one of the largest in the world. Various dams, pans and hides provide excellent game and bird viewing.

Enter the park and continue to Sinamatella Camp. Proceed on a game drive to either Shumba, Masuma or Deteema Picnic Site. All picnic sites are situated near a waterhole with a hide in an active wildlife area. During the day visitors to the park may use the facilities, but after gate hours these campsites are totally private. Maximum two groups of maximum 06 persons are allowed to camp at the picnic areas.

Spend time in the evening at the hide at the waterhole.
Overnight Camping at Shumba, Masuma or Deteema Picnic Site (basic/good ablution facilities)
Meals: B, L & D
Chalets available at Sinamatella or Robins Camp at additional cost

DAY 11 Hwange National Park
Morning and afternoon game drives. Spend time at the hide at the waterhole.
Overnight Camping at Shumba, Masuma or Deteema Picnic Site
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 12 Hwange National Park
Morning and afternoon game drives. Spend time at the hide at the waterhole.
Overnight Camping at Shumba, Masuma or Deteema Picnic Site
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 13 Hwange – Elephant Sands (Botswana)
Game drive via Robin’s Camp to Nantwich Gate. Exit the park and continue to Pandamatenga Border Post.

Enter Botswana and proceed south via the Kazuma and Sibuyu Forest Reserves to Elephant Sands, a bush lodge & campsite in the north-eastern part of Botswana. Enjoy viewing the elephants at the natural waterhole right in front of the lodge. Watch these impressive creatures whilst they drink only a couple of meters away from you. There is plenty of other wildlife around as well on the unfenced 16000 ha private conservancy. The lack of fences allows all animals to roam freely.

Afternoon at leisure.
Overnight: Camping at Elephant Sands
Meals: B, L & D
Chalets available at additional cost

DAY 14 Elephant Sands – Makgadigadi Pans National Park
Depart to Nata. Replenish supplies.

Visit Nata Sanctuary. The Nata Sanctuary at Sowa Pan, which is part of the Makgadikgadi Pans, is a community project and one of Botswana’s premier birding destinations. Nata Sanctuary is home to 165 bird species including flamingos and pelicans. After good rains, hundreds of thousands of globally threatened Lesser Flamingos, along with Greater Flamingos, Chestnut-banded Plovers, Great White and Pink-backed Pelicans, and a host of other water birds converge on the nutrient-rich waters of the pans. After good summer rains with the right level of water on the pan, the Sanctuary hosts the largest congregation of Lesser Flamingos in Southern Africa.

Continue to Nxai Pan National Park. Nxai Pan consists of a combination of dry pans, grassland, thick bush and clumps of mopane, acacia and baobab trees. Elephant, giraffe, kudu, wildebeest, hartebeest, springbok, impala, gemsbok and zebra are common to see. Spotting lions is general and cheetahs are seen very often too.

Enter at Nxai Pan Gate and continue north on a very sandy road. Make a detour to Kudiakam Pan, home to an isolated group of Baobabs known as Baine’s Baobabs, named after the famous painter and explorer Thomas Baines, who painted these baobabs in 1862.

Continue to Nxai Pan Campground. Afternoon game drive. Visit the waterhole, which is the only waterhole in the dry season, in a huge area. The waterhole is known for spectacular sunset photography with elephant and other species silhouetted against the setting sun.
Overnight: Camping at Nxai Pan Campground (Good facilities)
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 15 Nxai Pan National Park
Morning and afternoon game drives
Overnight: Camping at Nxai Pan Campground (Good facilities)
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 16 Nxai Pan National Park
Morning game drive. Backtrack on the sandy 4×4 road to the main road.

Continue on the Maun road to Phuduhudu. Enter the Makgadigadi Pans National Park. 4×4 Trail to Khumaga Campground. The Boteti River Valley, which forms the western boundary of the park, is rich in wildlife and birdlife. Species include elephant, hippo, white rhino, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, kudu and impala. Lion and hyena roam the river valley and leopard is seen quite often. Huge numbers of zebra migrate from the Makgadigadi Pans to the Boteti River during the dry season.

Pitch camp. Afternoon game drive
Overnight: Camping at Khumaga (Good facilities)
Meals: B, L & D
Chalets available at nearby Tiaan’s Camp at additional cost

DAY 17 Makgadigadi Pans National Park
Morning and afternoon game drives along the banks of the Boteti River and adjacent areas
Overnight: Camping at Khumaga
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 18 Makgadigadi – Maun – Khwai Community Trust & Wildlife Management Area
Early departure to Maun. Replenish supplies. Depart via Shorobe, Sankuyo and Mababe to the Khwai Community Trust & Wildlife Management Area in the Okavango Delta, on the northern side of the Khwai River, which is the border of Moremi Game Reserve. This pristine area is rich in wildlife and teems with bird life and is one of the best areas in Southern Africa to see wild dogs. This is one of the last real wilderness areas in Southern Africa. The campsites are near the Khwai River.

Afternoon game drive in Khwai area if time allows
Overnight: Camping at Magotho Community Campsite (No facilities, crew pitch toilet & shower)
Meals: B, L & D
Luxury Tents available at Mankwe Safari Lodge at additional cost

DAY 19 Khwai Community Trust & Wildlife Management Area
Morning and afternoon game drives in Khwai Area
Overnight: Camping at Magotho Community Campsite
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 20 Khwai Community Trust & Wildlife Management Area
Morning and afternoon game drives in Khwai Area
Overnight: Camping at Magotho Community Campsite
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 21 Khwai Community Trust – Maun
Depart to Maun to be in time for departing flight to OR Tambo International, Johannesburg or drop-off at accommodation in Maun. Flight schedule to be finalised. (Flight/ accommodation not included)

It is expected from clients on camping tours to assist with pitching and packing up camp and with general camping duties on request

Accommodation can vary from the itinerary depending on availability.

Rates on request:
E-mail: dantes@kalahari-tours.co.za or click on CONTACT US.