Dear Nxai Traveller
Vic Falls-Chobe-Okavango Circuit
"Ultimate southern Africa safari story”
Camps: 2 Nights Shongwe Lookout + 2 Nights Chobe Bakwena + 3 Nights Bushman Plains + 3 Nights Chacha Metsi
Overview
This 10-night flagship circuit combines Victoria Falls with three of Botswana’s most compelling safari regions, offering a well-paced and commercially attractive Southern Africa journey. It begins with the iconic Victoria Falls experience at Shongwe Lookout, continues to the Chobe Riverfront, then moves into the exclusive NG12 concession at Bushman Plains, and concludes in the Okavango Delta at Chacha Metsi. The result is a seamless progression from landmark destination to increasingly immersive wilderness, ending in a tranquil water-based safari setting.
Summary
Duration: 10 nights. Route: 2 nights Shongwe Lookout, Victoria Falls, 2 nights Chobe Bakwena, 3 nights Bushman Plains on the NG12 concession of the Okavango Delta, and 3 nights Chacha Metsi.
Best suited to: Premium long-stay clients, honeymooners, families, first-time Southern Africa travellers, and agents seeking a complete Botswana and Victoria Falls itinerary with a strong experiential build-up.
Highlights
- Complete 10-night circuit linking Victoria Falls, Chobe Riverfront, NG12 concession, and the Okavango Delta.
- Strong progression from iconic sightseeing to riverfront safari, exclusive land-based wildlife viewing, and a tranquil water-based Delta finale.
- Excellent premium proposal for honeymoon, family, and first-time Southern Africa enquiries.
- High upsell potential through guided tours, scenic flights, private activities, and special-occasion experiences.
Detailed Itinerary
Days 1 to 3: Shongwe Lookout, Victoria Falls
Begin with two nights at Shongwe Lookout in Victoria Falls. Guests can explore the falls, enjoy guided tours, river activities, local dining, and optional soft-adventure experiences. This opening stage provides a strong, recognisable introduction to the region.
Shongwe Lookout: An Elevated Escape in Victoria Falls
Located just 1 kilometer from the town center and 2 kilometers from the majestic Victoria Falls, Shongwe Lookout offers a refined, tranquil retreat within the vibrant heart of the suburbs. Set among lush, teak-filled gardens that hum with the calls of local birdlife, this 23-room lodge is the perfect blend of modern style and natural serenity.
The Iconic Lookout Experience
The lodge's standout feature is its recently refurbished, two-level Lookout Tower. These elevated platforms offer sweeping, panoramic vistas of the Zambezi River and the iconic mist of the "Smoke That Thunders."
Elevated Leisure: Enjoy a drink or snack delivered directly to the tower via a clever pulley system, ensuring you never have to leave your view.
Signature Comfort: Relax on the tower’s plush couches with a cup of Shongwe’s signature house-blend coffee.
Amenities & Atmosphere
Shongwe Lookout is designed for the discerning traveler, emphasizing both relaxation and social connection:
The Khlangana: This open-air "place of gathering" serves as the lodge's social hub, featuring a distinctive hexagonal bar, ambient lighting, and canvas shading.
The Oasis: A curved infinity pool at the front of the property provides the perfect escape from the afternoon heat.
The Boma: A traditional, welcoming space designed for evenings of shared stories, fine food, and the warmth of a crackling fire.
Your Gateway to Adventure
Whether you are looking to cruise the Zambezi at the base of the Falls or soar above them on a helicopter tour, Shongwe Lookout serves as your peaceful sanctuary between adventures. Start your mornings to the melody of birdsong and spend your evenings under the African sky, surrounded by the quiet elegance of one of Victoria Falls’ premier retreats.
Days 3 to 5: Chobe Bakwena
Experience the Heart of Chobe: The Ultimate Eco-Safari Package at Chobe Bakwena Lodge
Travel onward to Chobe Bakwena for two nights along the Chobe Riverfront. This stage highlights classic Chobe experiences, including river cruises, large elephant herds, and excellent birdlife, offering accessible and rewarding wildlife viewing.
Immerse yourself in a luxury safari experience where sustainability meets genuine African hospitality. Nestled on the banks of the iconic Chobe River in Botswana, Chobe Bakwena Lodge offers an eco-friendly escape designed to connect you deeply with both the local culture and world-class wildlife.
Chobe Enclave Highlights
Boutique Eco-Luxury Accommodation: Stay in one of 15 handcrafted, eco-conscious chalets. Choose between the elevated Treetop Chalets set 3 meters high within the leafy canopy, or the serene Riverine Chalets tucked into the indigenous riverfront forest.
Proximity to Wildlife: Wake up to the call of African fish eagles and sleep to the gentle calls of hippos along the Chobe River.
Chlorine-Free Natural Eco-Pool: Unwind in a plant-filtered, gravel-bed pool overlooking the riverway to Victoria Falls.
Warm Cultural Connection: Enjoy a warm, "we-based community" experience outside the park gates, complete with local village encounters.
Included Safari Experiences & Activities
Custom-Guided Game Drives: Set out in specialized 4x4 game viewers led by expert local guides into Chobe National Park for tracking elephant herds, lions, and diverse bird species.
Chobe River Boat Cruises: Experience close-up game viewing on river cruises—glide past bathing elephants, buffalos, and waterbirds along the shore.
Village Walkabouts & Cycle Tours: Hop on one of 20 cruiser bikes or join a guided walk to tour the neighboring local village, experiencing true community integration and culture.
Accommodations at a Glance
Riverine Chalets: Forest views, indoor/outdoor showers, private shaded verandas.
Treetop Chalets: Built 3 meters on stilts wrapped in tree canopy, luminous light
Family Chalet: King bed + twin room, expansive deck with river views : ideal for Families (8+ yrs)
Honeymoon Chalet: Private lounge, standalone bath, day bed deck
Days 5 to 8: Bushman Plains
Continue to Bushman Plains, located on the NG12 concession of the Okavango Delta, for three nights of immersive safari. This low-density concession offers excellent predator sightings, diverse habitats, and a more exclusive wilderness experience. Activities focus on game drives and guided nature experiences, deepening the safari component of the journey.
Bushman Plains Camp is Botswana's first majority Bushman-owned safari camp. Located in a private 370,000-acre wilderness concession in the northern Okavango Delta, it provides an authentic, low-impact safari centered around ancestral tracking skills, rich wildlife, and cultural heritage.
Accommodation & Camp Set up
Intimate Capacity: Only 4 classic Meru-style canvas tents (maximum of 8 guests), set on raised wooden decks beneath island forest canopies.
Tent Features: En-suite bathrooms with flush toilets, running-water basins, classic hot bucket showers, comfortable twin or king-sized beds, and private verandas overlooking floodplains.
Ecological Footprint: 24-hour solar power system for ambient lighting and device charging.
Camp Setup: A canvas mess tent serves as the central lounge/dining area, accompanied by a traditional campfire gathering area for evening stories and music under the stars.
Activities & Experiences
Because the camp is situated in a private concession with permanent water access, packages offer a versatile blend of land, water, and cultural activities:
Game Drives (Day & Night): Open 4x4 vehicles with off-road access for tracking lions, wild dogs, leopards, elephants, and other big game. Red-filtered spotlights are used for nocturnal wildlife viewing.
Bush Walking Safaris: Guided tracking on foot where local Bushman guides share spoor tracking, plant-based medicinal uses, and ancient survival skills.
Mokoro Excursions: Traditional dugout canoe trips through permanent water channels to observe birdlife (e.g., Pel's fishing owl, wattled crane) and aquatic species.
Cultural Immersion: Storytelling, traditional dancing, music, and interactive engagement with members of the local Bukakwe Bushmen clan.
Special Add-ons (Optional / Seasonal):
Tsodilo Hills Helicopter Trip: A scenic fly-in excursion to view thousands of ancient rock art paintings with a San guide.
Experience scheduled for early morning lift from camp, exact times will be liaised with camp directly the day before.
Total duration including flights is approximately 4 hour experience depending on departure lodge.
2.5 hours of which will be a guided walking experience by a local Rock Art Expert.
Includes entry fees, return helicopter transfers, guided walk and refreshments and snacks.
HELICOPTER HORIZONS SCENIC FLIGHTS : 30-minute Flight /45-minute Flight /60-minute Flight
Days 8 to 11: Chacha Metsi
Conclude with three nights at Chacha Metsi in the Okavango Delta. This final stage shifts to a slower, water-based safari experience, allowing guests to unwind while exploring channels, seasonal floodplains, and rich birdlife in a tranquil setting.
Chacha Metsi is a luxury, eco-conscious safari camp situated on the edge of a permanent lagoon in the game-rich northern Okavango Delta, Botswana. Built with a focus on sustainability, understated luxury, and immersive nature experiences, it serves as a secluded base for exploring both land and water ecosystems.
Accommodation & Camp Setup
Boutique & Exclusive: Features only 5 luxury tented suites (including a family suite), offering an intimate and highly personalized safari atmosphere.
Suite Highlights:
Canvas-and-timber construction built on raised wooden decks overlooking the lagoon.
Private plunge pools and expansive wooden verandas with outdoor daybeds.
Spacious en-suite bathrooms equipped with double vanities, indoor rain showers, and private outdoor showers.
Floor-to-ceiling panoramic views of the water and surrounding wilderness.
Eco-Friendly Design: Powered 100% by a solar farm and micro-hydro systems, with advanced water recycling to ensure a minimal environmental footprint.
Activities & Experiences
Because of its prime location bordering permanent waterways and dry land habitats, packages cover a full spectrum of delta adventures:
Mokoro Excursions: Traditional dugout canoe trips guided through shallow water channels, ideal for viewing water lilies, small frog species, and abundant birdlife.
Motorized Boat Safaris: Deep-water boat trips along main channels for fishing, hippos, crocodile spotting, and golden-hour sunset cruises.
Game Drives (Day & Night): Custom 4x4 open safari vehicles fitted with camera mounts, providing access to dry-land tracks for tracking predators (lions, leopards, wild dogs) and large herbivore herds.
Guided Bush Walks: On-foot tracking accompanied by experienced professional guides, focusing on flora, fauna, tracks, and local ecology.
Catch-and-Release Fishing: Seasonal angling for tigerfish, bream, and pike along the delta waterways.
In-Camp Relaxation: Private plunge pools, a central fire pit for stargazing and evening drinks, and wellness/massage options available upon request.
Horse Back Safari:Uniquely, and in partnership with Ride Botswana, we offer horse back safaris to those who have experienced riding abilities. These form part of the partnership we have with Ride Botswana.
David and Robyn Foot have over 41 horses which are fit and responsive, specifically schooled and adapted to the Delta. A number of these are permanently stabled close to the lodge.Note: This is available to experienced riders only at additional prices.
Day 11: Departure
Enjoy a final morning at leisure before onward transfer arrangements to Maun, Kasane, Johannesburg, Cape Town, or the guest’s next regional connection.
Key USP: A seamless three-destination circuit from Victoria Falls to Chobe to the Okavango
Recommended add-on:
Cape Town or Cape Winelands: Post-safari - 3 nights. The safari already includes the falls, so a South Africa city/wine add-on is a cleaner extension.
|
day 0 |
Shongwe Lookout | Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) |
2 nights |
B&B |
|
day 2 |
Chobe Bakwena Lodge | Chobe River Front |
2 nights |
FI |
|
day 4 |
Bushman Plains Camp | NG12 Concession |
3 nights |
FI |
|
day 7 |
Cha Cha Metsi | Okavango Delta |
3 nights |
FI |
|
B&B: Bed and Breakfast |
FI: Fully Inclusive - Bed, All Meals, Fees and Activities |
11 Days / 10 Nights
Group Size: 2+
Reference Number: NXAI-STAY 001
TRAVEL DATES:
All Year Round
2 Nights Shongwe Lookout + 2 Nights Chobe Bakwena +3 Nights Bushman Plains+ 3 Nights Chacha Metsi
Includes:
- Accommodation
- Transfers (Light Aircraft & Helicopter)
- Accommodation,
- all meals & beverages,
- Wi-Fi,
- guest laundry,
- daily activities,
- guiding, park entry fees and
- VAT.
Excludes:
- premium drinks
- Gratuities
- Fully comprehensive personal travel insurance.
- Items of personal nature
- visa fees
- International flights (From/to home)
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour