Botswana is among countries that start with B listed on Countryaah.com. More than three quarters of the Botswana’s surface consists of the savannas of the Kalahari, only the Okovango Delta and the areas along the Chobe River in the north of the country are fertile. One looks in vain for high mountains: only a few hills rise above the flat plateau, which is over 1,000 m above sea level.
- Day 1: arrival
- Day 2: Arrival in Johannesburg
- Day 3: Kruger National Park
- Day 4: Day 2 in the Kruger National Park
- Day 5: To the Great Zimbabwe ruins
- Day 6: Zimbabwe ruins
- Day 7: The Matobo National Park
- Day 8-9: Hwange National Park
- Day 10-11: UNESCO natural heritage Victoria Falls
- Day 12: Chobe National Park
- Day 13: Nata
- Day 14-16: The Okovango Delta
- Day 17: Khama Rhino Sanctuary
- Day 18: Drive to Johannesburg
- Day 19 Goodbye, Africa!
- Day 20: Hello Europe!
The well-preserved ruined city of Great Zimbabwe lies high on a plateau. The settlement is one of the oldest stone structures in southern Africa and was once the center of the Munhumutapa Empire. A local guide explains the importance of the country to us. The stone Zimbabwe birds found here can be found in the coat of arms and in the flag.
One of the many guides on this round trip from Johannesburg to Botswana and Zimbabwe is Pumi. Born in Zimbabwe, he spent a lot of time in the African steppe as a child. His heart has always been attached to the Kruger National Park; there he leads us to the seldom visited northern part. We enjoy the game drives in the safari truck and hope to see lions, rhinos and wild dogs. On a hike through the tropical vegetation at the Victoria Falls, we will be impressed by the thundering “largest curtain of water on earth”.
On Mokoros, dugout canoes, our Botswana guides take us deeper into the Okavango Delta to our campsite. We set up our camp on an island surrounded by trees. In the mornings and afternoons we go wild hiking. The swamps and bodies of water form a delicate, green oasis for hundreds of species of birds, for hippos, Nile crocodiles and waterbucks. The abundance of animals also results in large populations of African wild dogs, hyenas and big cats. In the heat of the day we relax in the camp or go swimming in the clear water of the delta.
It is a walking tour that rather aims to point out the beauty of Africa and its wildlife. The walking times are short, not very extensive.
Meals: B = breakfast / L = lunch / packed lunch / D = dinner
1st day:
Getting there
We get on the plane to Johannesburg.
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2nd day:
Arrival in Johannesburg
Descent to Johannesburg – let our adventure begin! We will be picked up at the airport and taken to our accommodation.
Overnight in a hotel in Johannesburg
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3rd day:
Kruger National Park
After departure from Johannesburg at 06: 30 we drive to the world-famous Kruger National Park. We visit the remote and rarely visited northern part of the park and spend the night in Letaba. We enjoy morning and afternoon game drives in our safari vehicle and hope to see lions, elephants, rhinos and other animals.
Travel time: approx. 8 hours (550 km) without
stopping for sights and lunch. Overnight in tent lodge
(- / L / D) Lunch, dinner will be prepared by the tour guide with the help of the group
4th day:
Day 2 in Kruger National Park
Today we start early, we drive north to the Pafuri region. The northern part of the Kruger is dominated by the Mopane field, a playground for large bull elephants, wild dogs and lions. In the Limpopo valley the vegetation changes, this forest area is known for its bird diversity. This afternoon we leave the park and spend the night in a lodge outside the park. The Awelani Lodge is located in a nature reserve. It is run by the Mutele community, which attaches great importance to sustainable tourism.
Driving time: approx. 8 hours (305 km) Overnight in tent lodge
(B / L / D) Breakfast is prepared by the tour guide with the help of the group, lunch is prepared by the tour guide with the help of the group, dinner is provided by the lodge
5th day:
To the Great Zimbabwe ruins
After entering Zimbabwe via the Beit Bridge border post, we drive north to our accommodation. The next morning we visit the Zimbabwe monument “Great Zimbabwe”.
Driving time: approx. 6.5 hours (480 km)
Overnight in the hotel
(B / L / D) Breakfast is provided by the lodge, lunch is prepared by the tour guide with the help of the group, dinner is provided by the lodge as a set menu
6th day:
Zimbabwe ruins
The well-preserved ruins are one of the largest and oldest stone structures in southern Africa, built between the 11th and 14th centuries. On an informative walking tour with a local guide, we look at the historic stone buildings.
We continue to the Matobo National Park. On our way we pass Bulawayo and reach our chalets on the edge of the Matobo National Park. We watch the sunset on the granite ridge overlooking the park.
Driving time: approx. 5 hours (340 km)
Hike: approx. 4 hours.
Overnight stay in lodge
(B / L / D) Breakfast, lunch is prepared by the tour guide with the help of the group, dinner is provided by the lodge as a set menu
7th day:
The Matobo National Park
In the morning we visit World’s View and the historic site of Cecil John Rhodes Tomb. Unusual rock formations in this area are also home to antique bus paintings that we will visit during our game drive and hike. This is also the home of the Zimbabwean rhinos, which we will hopefully see on our excursion in the national park.
Hike: approx. 2 hours
overnight in lodge
(B / L / D) Breakfast, dinner is provided by the lodge, lunch is prepared by the tour guide with the help of the group
8th-9th Day:
Hwange National Park
On the 8th day we leave the Matobo National Park and set off towards Hwange. Today is going to be a driving day.
The Hwange National Park was named after a local Nhanzwa chief, covers around 14,650 square kilometers, making it the largest park in Zimbabwe. Hwange is known for its large elephant population. Our chalets are in the game management area that borders the park and we explore the park on a full day game drive with our local guide in an open four-wheel drive vehicle. In the evening we make ourselves comfortable around the campfire and cook “Chomolia” (green vegetables with cheese or stew with kudu meat. Let’s be surprised).
Driving time: approx. 5 hours (335 km) + game drive all day
Overnight in lodge
(B / L / D) Breakfast is provided by the lodge, lunch, dinner is provided by the tour guide with the help of the group, breakfast, lunch, dinner is prepared by the tour guide with the help of the group
10-11st day:
UNESCO natural heritage Victoria Falls
Gigantic waterfalls await us today. Depending on the season, the water rushes down the rift valley. We enjoy a spectacular hike through tropical vegetation along “Mosi oa Tunya” or “the smoke that thunders”.
There are opportunities for white water rafting on the mighty Zambezi, bungee jumping or the “flight of angels” (own expense).
The 11th day is free. We have the option to visit the souvenirs market or we can walk on the bridge towards the Zambian border, where we watch the brave jump on a bungee towards the Zambezi. Looking to the other side we see the raging water of the falls.
Optional activities: white water rafting, sunset cruises, scenic flights and much more…
Travel time: approx. 3 hours (200 km)
Hike: approx. 1 hour.
Overnight at the hotel in Victoria Falls
(B / – / -) Day 10: Breakfast is prepared by the tour guide with the help of the group, lunch at your own expense; Day 11: Breakfast is provided by the hotel
12th day
Chobe National Park
After entering Botswana, we make our way to our accommodations on the banks of the Chobe River in Kasane. The river flows leisurely along the northern border of Chobe National Park and attracts some of the largest herds of elephants in Africa. A highlight of every trip to the Chobe is the afternoon boat trip “Sundowner”, where we will hopefully encounter large numbers of elephants and other wild animals and watch them quench their thirst at the end of the day.
Travel time: approx. 1 hour (85 km) without border formalities.
Overnight in lodge
(B / L / D) Breakfast is provided by the hotel, lunch and dinner is prepared by the tour guide with the help of the group
13th day:
Nata
This morning there is time for an optional game drive into Chobe National Park (own expense). On our way south through the Kasane Forest Reserve, we make our way to Nata, where we will spend the night.
Optional Activities: Game drive in Chobe National Park
Driving time: approx. 4.5 hours (30 km) Overnight in tent lodge or double permanent tents
(B / L / -) Breakfast is provided by the lodge, lunch is prepared by the tour guide with the help of the group
14.-16. Day:
The Okovango Delta
We will be driven into the delta with the open four-wheel drive vehicle. Our local guides take us on Mokoros (dugout canoes) deeper into the Okavango Delta to our campsite. The delta was formed from rainwater from the Angola highlands that flows over the flat Kalahari desert. It forms a tender, green oasis for birds and wildlife. We set up our camp on an island surrounded by trees. In the morning and in the afternoon we go on foot with the local guides on game hikes. During the heat of the day we relax in camp or swim in the clear waters of the delta. We learn more about their way of life and culture through our local guides. We return to Maun in the late afternoon of day 14 and have time for an optional scenic flight over the delta (own expense),
Optional activities: Sightseeing flight over the Okavango Delta (+ / -USD95-120) pp depending on the number of people in each aircraft)
Driving time: approx. 4 hours + 2 hours all-wheel drive transfer to the delta each way (300 km)
Hike: Hikes in the morning and evening approx.
1-2 hours. Overnight stay: 2 nights Okavango Delta – pre-set up tents in the wilderness, 1 night Chalet – two-bed room
(B / L / D)
Day 14: Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be prepared by the tour guide with the help of the group
Day 15: Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be prepared by the tour guide with the help of the group
Day 16: Breakfast Lunch is prepared by the tour guide with the help of the group, dinner at your own expense in the restaurant
17th day:
Khama Rhino Sanctuary
From Maun we drive south through the vastness of the Kalahari desert to the Khama Rhino Sanctuary. This is a community-based wildlife project founded in 1992 to help save the endangered rhinos. And also to bring this area back to its previous natural state and to support the economic benefits for the local community through tourism and the sustainable use of natural resources. We hope to spot some of the hard-to-find rhinos on an afternoon game drive.
Optional Activities: Night game drive in an open vehicle
Driving time: approx. 6.5 hours (450 km) without stops for sightseeing
Overnight stay in a chalet with two twin rooms
(B / L / D) Breakfast is provided by the lodge, lunch and dinner are prepared by the tour guide with the help of the group
18th day:
Drive to Johannesburg
Back in South Africa, we go back to Johannesburg where the tour ends at around 6: 00 p.m. Departure from 2021 on today – arrival at home the next day!
Driving time: approx. 7.5 hours (630 km)
Overnight in lodge in Johannesburg (B
/ – / -) Breakfast is prepared by the tour guide with the help of the group
19th day
Goodbye, Africa!
It is time to say goodbye. Today we go home again!
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20th day:
Hello Europe!
The pictures of our tour will be with us for a long time!
