Luxury Victoria Falls & Botswana Safari

Join your Guide and head out in a game-viewer to explore the 150,000 acres that make up the Zambezi National Park.

Whether the opting to be the first to catch the ‘bush telegraphs’ early broadcast of the previous night’s events - or preferring to take a leisurely break, from an afternoon of game spotting, to enjoy the phenomenal sunset with sun-downers – a Victoria Falls River Lodge's safari experience promises to be memorable.

(Included in accommodation rate)

Kindly refer to the "Little Livingstone's Children's Activities" (Appendix C) for more information on activities specially developed for younger guests

A relaxing voyage on one of the Victoria Falls River Lodge luxury river cruisers is arguably one of the best ways on earth to soak in the magnificence of the iconic Zambezi River and its surrounds.

Watch as the world awakes and the sun’s first rays skip and dance across the shimmering surface of the mighty Zambezi - a truly revitalising way to start any day!

Or, for the not-so-early-birds, sit back and let the gentle ebb and flow of the Zambezi lull and relax you.
Join in on Mother Nature’s Happiest Hour and sip on a sun-downer whilst viewing her creatures, big and small, coming to the water’s edge to lap at its liquid life.

(Included in accommodation rate)

Kindly refer to the "Little Livingstone's Children's Activities" (Appendix C) for more information on activities specially developed for younger guests

There is not much that can compare to the heady fragrance of drenched earth and sun-kissed Rainforest foliage, the intense power of the wall of water – its deafening rumble coursing through your veins – or letting the cooling and constant spray of “the Smoke that Thunders” saturate the senses…

Join your passionate and knowledgeable Victoria Falls River Lodge Guide on a truly unforgettable tour of Victoria Falls and experience this Natural Wonder of the Word first hand.

With intimate knowledge of the local fauna and flora and other points of historical interest, coupled with advice on the best viewing spots (and an extra pair of hands to help get that ‘full’ family photo!), our Guides will happily assist wherever possible to help ensure that the memories created at this World Heritage Site will last a lifetime.

(Included in accommodation rate)

Kindly refer to the "Little Livingstone's Children's Activities" (Appendix C) for more information on activities specially developed for younger guests

Victoria Falls River Lodge and the Zambezi National Park are a bird watcher’s paradise.

In a comparatively small area around Victoria Falls, birding enthusiasts will be able to view a great diversity of birds within rain forest, riverine, gorge and savannah habitats.

Local species include Rock Pratincole, Schalow’s Turaco, African Finfoot, Half Collared Kingfisher, Thick Billed Weaver, African Skimmer, Pels Fishing Owl, Collared Palm Thrush and Western Banded Snake Eagle (to name but a few).

Guests at Victoria Falls River Lodge seldom have to travel too far from their private decks however as the lush foliage around the lodge offers ample opportunity to enjoy many of the spectacular array of bird life that Zimbabwe has to offer.

(Included in accommodation rate)

Kindly refer to the "Little Livingstone's Children's Activities" (Appendix C) for more information on activities specially developed for younger guests

Adventure options - for the younger generation

Sharing children’s rate is inclusive of:

oTransfers (shared) to and from the Victoria Falls Airport / Livingstone International Airport
oAll meals
oLocal beverages (soft drinks)
oOptional daily transfers from camp (typically departing at 10h00 and returning at 15h00) to Victoria Falls town
oTour of the Falls (part of the daily transfer to town) – entry fee to Rainforest for guest’s own account
oTransfers to/from National Park Gate / Jetty for 3rd party activities
oAfternoon Tea
oBird watching
oA choice of 2 x Game Activities (i.e. morning/afternoon game drive and sunrise/sunset river cruise) per person per day – subject to availability and the below conditions:

Game Drive (incl. snacks and soft beverages)
?Children aged 0-3 years are not permitted on game drives

•Junior Discoverers Drive (incl. snacks and soft beverages)
oAimed at children aged 4-7 years accompanied by at least 1 parent - subject to vehicle capacity
oOutside of standard Game Drive times – timing is seasonal and in consultation with Management
oFamilies wishing to take children aged 4 - 7 years on game drive during standard early morning / late afternoon game drive times (i.e. not Junior Discoverers Drive) will require a sole use game viewer – per details above.

?‘Standard’ game drives for children aged 8 years and older are included in the rate
?Management reserves the right to remove any unruly/disruptive children from the vehicle and return them to Camp before resuming the game drive.

Boat Cruise (incl. snacks and soft beverages)
?Children aged 0-3 years are not permitted on river cruises
?Children aged 4 years and older are permitted on the river cruises
?Management reserves the right to remove any unruly/disruptive children from the vessel and return them to Camp before resuming the cruise.

"LITTLE LIVINGSTONE'S CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES"

•Junior Discoverer’s Drive (mentioned above)

oEmbrace the outdoors like a true African Explorer
oJoin your Guide in his trusty 4x4 and bravely head into the ‘great unknown’ - learning all about the fascinating fauna and flora of its wild surrounds
oAimed at children aged 4-7 years accompanied by at least 1 parent - subject to vehicle capacity
oOutside of standard Game Drive times – timing is seasonal and in consultation with Management

•Young Bush Wackers

oTake a walk on the “wild side” and discover innumerable natural wonders right at your doorstep!
oConducted by qualified Guide within camp surrounds and river banks immediately in front of the Lodge.
oGeared for children ages 4-11 years (although older siblings and parents are welcome too!)
oTiming is seasonal and in consultation with Management

•Various books & games - for indoor entertainment

NOTE: All activities/excursions are subject to the aforementioned conditions (and those below) and with parental supervision only.

(The above Children’s Activities are included in the accommodation rate but are available at the Victoria Falls River Lodge - Luxury Tented Suites only)

Experience the wonder of the African bush on foot and, when accompanied by an expert Guide, enjoy the thrilling opportunity to an up close and personal introduction to some of the Zambezi National Park's resident wildlife.

(Optional activity - available at an additional charge. Kindly refer to Appendix A for further details)

The Upper Zambezi is home to a wide variety of fish species and Victoria Falls River Lodge offers half-day guided fishing trips leaving directly from the Lodge. Tiger fishing is a highlight and a unique experience on this iconic river.

Fishing from the jetty is also an option.

(Optional activity - available at an additional charge. Kindly refer to Appendix A for further details)

Safari drives (day & night) take place in some of Botswana’s best adapted vehicles. Duba Plain’s Toyota Land Cruisers are uniquely designed to traverse the floodplains. These are, of course, open-sided, canopied and customised for photographers (raised roofs, photographic bars, multi-plug inverters). Seating only four to six guests on each vehicle, the Cruisers are fully stocked with drinks and snacks. Each suite has a professional camera and lenses as a package for guests to use or try out. Images are downloaded and presented for them to take away at no additional charge.

While the focus remains on the most comfortable times of day (early to mid-morning and late afternoon to evening) for drives, it is very common in Duba Plains to spend full days out in the field, having brunch delivered to the vehicles because the wildlife is so good and our focus is on finding and spending time with these extraordinary experiences.

Our schedule is flexible and guests are encouraged to create their own itinerary according to their interests. Very often, our safaris will continue into the night in search of nocturnal species. Great Plains guides are also keen trackers and birders and guests are encouraged to experience everything the camp has to offer.

Another huge benefit of staying within the conservancies is the ability to appreciate the stunning landscape on foot, peacefully, without the noise of engines. Usually early morning or evening is the best time, as the middle of the day is too hot to venture out of the shade. Wear good walking shoes, a hat, and neutral coloured clothing so as not to alarm the wildlife, and take binoculars. Your guide will have water for you. Walks are led by licensed guides with firearm training.

Zipping through the Okavango Delta's network of waterways is an invigorating way to get a sense of the scope of this huge wetland. You’ll undoubtedly have wonderful birding and maybe even some hippo, buffalo and elephant sightings. (Boating is a seasonal activity, typically between May and October but varies seasonally).

This is a great activity during mid-day siesta. Make sure you’re with a guide. During January and February there is a moratorium on fishing. Catch-and-release fishing only.

Duba Plains Camp offers a full syllabus of bush craft skills for our young explorers. This is a complimentary program that follows in the footsteps of National Geographic Explorers-in-Residence Dereck and Beverly Joubert. An extensive pack will be provided to eager children on arrival, so they can learn about animal calls, how to track wildlife, and other facts and figures about the wild. At the end of a child’s stay, he/she will become a Young Explorer and Conservation Ambassador - ready to go out and tell the world about what they have learned and what they too can do to help protect this beautiful environment.

Each Duba Plains guest suite comes with a pair of high-quality binoculars for guest use as well as a professional camera set, including a camera body and lenses. Photos will be downloaded to a memory stick on guest’s departure. Photographic tuition through the Great Plains Wild Studio can be arranged for guests (at an additional cost and booked in advance). Tuition can be either on company cameras or own guest’s personal cameras.

Enjoy an aerial viewing experience with great scenery across the northern part of the Okavango Delta. Add a 15-minute champagne stop on palm island en route. Must be booked in advance and is subject to extra cost and availability.

Explore the Okavango Delta's permanent water channels by mokoro (when water levels allow). This is truly a refreshing yet peaceful experience allowing for wildlife and bird viewing from a unique perspective.

Our expert guides are always on hand to share their wealth of wildlife knowledge as you explore the Delta in modified open 4 x 4 vehicles on morning and afternoon game drives. The game viewing opportunities at Sanctuary Chief's Camp are awe-inspiring. On the plains one may find the roaming lions that prey on the thousands of antelope, zebra and buffalo who live here all year round. There are also healthy populations of wild dog. These extremely rare predators have been hunted to the point of extinction in most areas of Africa and this is one of their last strongholds. There are several local lion prides and leopards, genet cats and hyena are in abundance.

Mokoros, local dugout canoes, offer a different perspective of the bush in the company of a highly trained local guide. Between June - August depending on the amount of rainfall in Angola the area around the camp can flood and turn the Okavango Delta into a labyrinth of lily-filled lagoons and streams where hippos fight for bathing rights and crocodiles wait for unwary antelope to linger too long over a drink. Poling through the byways created by the floodwaters is a magical experience that allows guests to get very close to game and to see the world from a totally different angle. As a change from a game drive, the quiet, gentle pace of a mokoro is a real introduction to a way of transport still used in the Delta by the 'river bushmen' or BaYei people. Please note that this activity is seasonal and water-level dependent.

Mokoro excursion Credit: Mokoro excursion

These scenic flights involve flying west towards the permanent delta, exposing areas which are unreachable by vehicle or boat and showcasing the sheer enormity of the Okavango Delta. There is the option of the doors being removed for unrestricted photographic opportunities. Choose between 30, 45 or 60 minute tour in a single piston engine Robinson r44 helicopter with 3 seats. This activity is offered on a year round basis at an extra cost. Being a personalised activity, it's up to you what time of day you would like to do the activity, however we would recommend early morning and late afternoon as these times usually provide the best light for photography. Preferred flight times can be requested on booking.

Take game drives and night drives in custom built 4x4s to spot the unique desert wildlife that inhabit the pans, like the elusive brown hyena or Kalahari lion. Your experienced safari guide will help you discover a desert landscape, pulsating with life. Complete with bush picnics, morning coffees and chilled drinks.

Get up close and personal with our families of meerkats. Leaving camp as the sun begins to rise you will accompany these inquisitive members of the mongoose family as they set off in search of their breakfast. Walk amongst them (you're not allowed to touch or feed them) and if you take a seat you might be lucky enough to be mistaken for a termite mound, where you'll be used as a look out point for predators.

Discover the secrets of the pans with the Zu/’hoasi Bushmen on a fascinating bush walk. See this ancient desert landscape through their eyes. These skilled hunter gatherers will show you how to survive, using their extraordinary tracking skills to uncover a smorgasbord of culinary delights... from bulbs, to scorpions, to berries. Spending time with them is a very rare privilege.

Saddle up to explore this wild, unspoilt area in the same way many of the earliest explorers, hunters

and missionaries did – on horseback! You’ll embark on an adventurous outride (for all level riders). This is an exhilarating way to spot wildlife, cantering along the crusty salt flats and following the animal

highways that bring life to the Makgadikgadi Pans.

Credit: Natural Selection

Credit: Natural Selection

Credit: Natural Selection

Credit: Natural Selection

Credit: Natural Selection

Credit: Natural Selection

This is pure desert adventure! Take an exhilarating quad bike across the salt-crusted pans (all pan activity is weather permitting and dependent on the dryness of the pans). You’ll feel total freedom as you trek across this vast and ancient landscape, discovering so much about the remnants of this once super lake.

Seasonal: April - October

A visit to the Fallen Baobab - one of the three largest and oldest trees in Africa and reputedly the campsite of Livingstone and Selous.

Witness the second largest migration in Africa. A stonking spectacle of black and white stripes

as approximately 30,000 zebra and wildebeest migrate across the Makgadikgadi Pans, followed closely by stalking predators, waiting for the rich pickings of tired hooves. This is a wildlife explosion and an experience not to be missed!

This really is an unforgettable experience. Enjoy a helicopter flight over the Makgadikgadi Pans, doors off (or on), to take in the vastness of this desert landscape. You’ll go in search of the zebra and flamingo migrations (if timed correctly), get dropped on an island of baobabs for lunch, do a bit of sunset sky surfing as you follow the palm tree linings and tell all your friends about it all when you get home.

Grab a fat bike and peddle around the Makgadikgadi Pans. This is a really fun activity for the whole family, and an ideal way to get some exercise. These bikes can easily cruise over the desert terrain, taking you along 4x4 tracks and around the crusty salt flats. Keep a look out for sightings of wildlife, while breathing in the beautiful scenery, alongside the desert silence.

If you are in need of some serious time out, then one of our spa treatments is your perfect escape. Our professional therapist will put you in seventh heaven. Book a back massage overlooking the Makgadikgadi Pans or enjoy a relaxing spa treatment from the privacy of your tent. Whichever you decide, you’ll walk away feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

The Makgadikgadi Salt Pans are one of the most important breeding sites in southern Africa for

the lesser and greater flamingos. These flying flame birds, arrive in their millions during seasons of good rain, when millions of small shrimp and other crustaceans crack through the salty pan crust to spawn. The result, a pink extravaganza in the heat of the desert. You can also heli to Sua Pan to view the flamingos in Mar - Apr (scenic helicopter flight must be booked at an additional cost).

Credit: Natural Selection

Credit: Natural Selection

Credit: Natural Selection

Credit: Natural Selection