Tour 58: 14 Day Zimbabwe & Botswana Wildlife & Wild Camping 4×4 Tour

DAY 01 Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)
Time of departure will depend on clients’ travel schedule to Vic Falls. Flight schedule to be finalised. (Flight not included)
Meet at Vic Falls Airport.

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

Visit 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.

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.
Overnight Camping at Vic Falls Rest Camp (good ablution facilities)
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 02 Victoria Falls – Hwange National Park
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 03 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 04 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 05 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 (Good facilities)
Meals: B, L & D
Chalets available at additional cost

DAY 06 Elephant Sands – Maun
Depart to Maun. Replenish supplies. Afternoon at leisure.
Overnight: Camping at Sedia Hotel (Good facilities)
Meals: B, L & D
Chalets available at additional cost

DAY 07 Maun – Khwai Community Trust & Wildlife Management Area
Depart via Mababe to the Khwai Community Trust & Wildlife Management Area 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 drives in Khwai area
Overnight: Camping at Magotho Community Campsite (No facilities, crew pitch toilet & shower)
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 08 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 09 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 10 Khwai – Chobe National Park
Depart to Savuti in Chobe National Park. The Savuti Channel has started flowing again a few years after being dry for about 30 years. This has changed the Savuti eco-system totally. Wildlife is spread out all along the river and the Savuti Marsh is a wildlife and birding paradise. Lately it flows sporadically, depending on summer rains in the catchment area.

Elephant, buffalo, wildebeest, zebra, kudu, giraffe & impala roam the area and lion, spotted hyena and leopard are seen often. Cheetah and wild dog are sporadic sightings. Elephants are regular visitors to the campsite.

Afternoon game drive
Overnight: Camping at Savuti
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 11 Chobe National Park
Depart to the Chobe River Front via the Chobe Forest Reserve.

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

DAY 13 Chobe National Park
Morning and afternoon game drives. Relax
Overnight: Camping at Ihaha
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 14 Chobe National Park – Kasane
Game drive to Sidudu Gate. Exit the park and continue to Kasane to be in time for departing flight to OR Tambo International, Johannesburg or drop-off at accommodation in Kasane. (Alternative option is a shuttle to Vic Falls in Zimbabwe at own cost for departure flight from Vic Falls Airport.) 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.