Distance: approx. 10 km; driving time approx. 15 minutes
Dumela (hello) and a warm welcome to Botswana. After landing at Maun Airport, you are greeted and taken to your accommodation.
Settle into your cosy room at Maun Waterfront Guesthouse and unwind from your travels. The deck and swimming pool provide a serene spot to rest and recharge before the adventure ahead. Later, before your dinner (own account), your guide will give you an introduction to the Botswana and Zimbabwe group safari to come.
Distance: approx. 120 km; driving time approx. 3-4 hours
After breakfast, your safari sets off towards the northern entrance of the Moremi Game Reserve and into the Khwai Concession area. Stay alert during the drive – wildlife sightings along the way are quite possible. On arrival at Khwai River View, your camp for the next three nights, you will be served lunch.
In the afternoon, you head out on your first game drive in one of southern Africa’s premier wildlife areas. With no fences separating the reserves, animals move freely across the land. This offers excellent chances to spot elephants, lions, buffalo, a range of antelope species and, with a bit of luck, leopards by the waterways or cheetahs in the open savannah.
Afterwards, you return to camp for dinner and spend the evening around the campfire, listening to the sounds of the bush as night settles in.
Game drive in the Khwai area
Distance: game drives
Game drives take place during the cooler hours of the morning and late afternoon, when wildlife is most active and viewing conditions are ideal. Today, however, you may enjoy a slightly slower start – after all, you are on holiday. Following breakfast, you head to the nearby Poler station, where you leave the vehicle behind and board mokoros, traditional dugout canoes used to explore the Mbudi Channel and its tributaries. Although most mokoros are now made from fibreglass or plastic rather than wood, the way of travelling remains unchanged from centuries past in the Okavango Delta.
Lean back and drift quietly across the water as your poler, a local community member, shares his knowledge of the region’s flora and fauna. After this peaceful and memorable excursion, you return to camp for lunch. A short siesta follows before setting out on another game drive. With your guide’s extensive experience, you’ll gain a deeper insight into the bush and its wildlife.
Back at Khwai River View, another well-prepared dinner and a good night’s rest await you.
Mokoro tour on the Mbudi channel
Game drive in the Khwai area
Distance: game drives
Today, you set off at dawn to make the most of another thrilling day on safari. Your destination is the Moremi Game Reserve. With the roof hatch and windows open, you’ll explore the reserve and, with a bit of luck, encounter elephants, lions, leopards and buffalo along with many other species. Moremi, together with the adjoining private concessions, forms an expansive ecosystem that supports one of Africa’s most skilled predators: the African wild dog. These impressive animals hunt in coordinated packs, adjusting their tactics to suit the prey. As a result, their hunting success rate is significantly higher than that of lions, leopards or cheetahs – even when targeting impala, waterbuck, warthog or fully grown wildebeest.
After a picnic lunch inside the reserve, you continue your game drive through Moremi until late afternoon. You return to Khwai River View in time for sunset and once again enjoy a delicious dinner before drifting off to sleep to the sounds of the African bush.
Game drives in the Moremi Game Reserve
Distance approx. 160 km; driving time approx. 6-7 hours + game drives
Today begins early, before the first light, as a long and exciting day lies ahead. Although the drive will take several hours, there are frequent opportunities for wildlife sightings en route before you reach the Savuti region. This area is renowned for excellent chances to encounter lions or leopards. Savuti gained modern popularity through wildlife documentaries featuring its elephant-hunting lion prides, so with some luck, you may come across one of these iconic groups during today’s game drive.
After a rewarding day with numerous sightings, you continue to Thobolo’s Bush Lodge, located around two hours north of Savuti. Here, you can put your feet up and enjoy a refreshing drink before sitting down to a tasty dinner and a relaxed evening.
Game drive in the Savuti area
Distance approx. 110 km; driving time approx. 2-3 hours
After two early morning departures, you can enjoy a slower start today and begin with a relaxed breakfast. A short drive brings you to Kubu Lodge, set along the banks of the Chobe River near Kasane. After check-in, take some time to unwind by the pool before a hearty lunch is served.
In the afternoon, a memorable experience awaits on the Chobe River. You step aboard a riverboat and cruise along the water into Chobe National Park, where you may encounter herds of elephants, buffalo, and an impressive variety of birdlife. Home to around 450 bird species—including the African skimmer, crested eagle, fork-billed roller, grey kingfisher, and both the cobalt and malachite kingfisher—the park is a true paradise for birdwatchers.
As the sun sets and its light shimmers across the river, you can quietly absorb the natural beauty around you. Later, you return to the lodge with a camera full of remarkable images and end the day with a delicious dinner.
Boat cruise on the Chobe river
Distance approx. 170 km; driving time approx. 3-4 hours
Today, you meet your guide for the Zimbabwean leg of your Botswana and Zimbabwe group safari. After a leisurely breakfast, you cross the border into Zimbabwe and continue towards Hwange National Park. Around midday, you arrive at Robin’s Camp in the park’s northern region. After settling in, enjoy lunch before heading out on an afternoon game drive.
Hwange is Zimbabwe’s largest national park, known for its substantial elephant populations and diversity of predators. This first drive offers a glimpse of its vast plains and waterholes, which are regularly visited by wildlife. Dinner is served back at camp, followed by an evening accompanied by the sounds of the bush.
Afternoon game drive in Hwange National Park
This morning, you head out on an early game drive to observe wildlife at its most active. Hwange is home to more than 100 mammal species, including sable antelope and giraffe, as well as predators such as lion and hyena. With patience and a bit of luck, your efforts may be rewarded with special sightings. You return to camp for a hearty lunch and can spend the midday hours resting or birdwatching from camp.
In the afternoon, another game drive takes you deeper into the park, offering further opportunities to experience its rich diversity before returning to Robin’s Camp for dinner.
Game drives in Hwange National Park
Distance approx. 120 km; driving time approx. 2 hours + game drives
Go on one more morning game drive in Hwange National Park. No day on safari is the same and, with a bit of luck, you may encounter animals you haven’t seen over the past few days.
After a picnic lunch, you leave the park and continue to Victoria Falls, where you will spend the final two nights of your safari at Insika Lodge. Check in, enjoy a leisurely afternoon, and end the day with a delicious dinner at the lodge’s restaurant.
Morning game drive in the Hwange National Park
We begin our visit to Victoria Falls – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – early to enjoy the best morning light and avoid the crowds. With a width of 1.7 km and a height of 108 metres, the falls rank among the largest in the world. After the guided tour, you may take a walk through the town of Victoria Falls or browse the extensive souvenir market. If you are interested in a scenic helicopter or microlight flight over the falls, or even a bungee jump, these can be arranged locally.
In the late afternoon, you rejoin the group for a final boat cruise on the Zambezi River. As the boat glides gently along the water, you can watch the sun set over this exceptional landscape. You return to shore with a smile and spend the final evening of your tour with your guide and fellow travellers at a local restaurant (own account). This will be your second overnight stay at Insika Lodge.
Guided tour of the Victoria Falls
Boat cruise on the Zambezi river
Distance approx. 20 km; driving time approx. 25 min
Today marks the end of your group safari through Botswana and Zimbabwe. After a relaxed breakfast, your transfer driver takes you to the airport, where you will either begin your journey home or continue your adventure.
We hope your safari has created lasting memories and look forward to welcoming you back to Africa one day.
