12 Day Botswana Overland Tour (Camping)

Day 1: Maun, Botswana

As soon as you arrive in Maun, you will meet up with the rest of the group at the Maun Lodge. Keep an eye out you might experience wonderful bird watching from the Lodge – the wide Boteti River offers wonderful views. Hippo grunts will lull you to sleep tonight.

Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Camping – Two man dome tent
Distance: 30 km

Day 2 – 3: Okavango Delta, Botswana

Leaving the lodge early in the morning, we return to Maun before turning left and heading to the famous Okavango Delta.

As it flows south- and eastward from central Angola, the Okavango River creates an ecosystem that supports a large variety of animals and plants, creating one of the world’s only true inland deltas.One of nature’s unique masterpieces can be seen when a Jacana strides delicately among flowering lilies, the Bee Eater dives to prey on an unsuspecting insect, and, of course, the African Fish Eagle calls his familiar cry.Eventually, the Makgadikgadi sands spilled the contents of the river into their vast plains.

At the edge of one of the largest lagoons, we have a comfortable, well-appointed camp that serves as a base for exploring the area. Our guides, who have grown up in the Delta, will accompany us on a mokoro ride along narrow, reed-lined channels, give us a guided tour on uninhabited islands and lead a picnic in the wilderness.

Additionally, we will have the opportunity to relax and enjoy the views over a glistening lagoon while sipping on cold drinks from a beautiful wooden deck, or savor a refreshing dip in the pool. An afternoon cruise on a boat at sunset is a relaxing way to end the day

Meals: Breakfast x2, Lunch x2, Dinner x2
Accommodation: Twin bedded tented units (No linen – sleeping bag required)
Included Highlights: Okavango Delta, Motswana Guided Game walks in the Delta, Mokoro Excursion in the Delta, Sunset Boat Trip
Distance: 390 km on Day 3

Day 4: Maun, Botswana

An early start sees us heading back to civilisation. We arrive in Maun in the afternoon where we will get some fresh supplies. There is an optional activity available for those wanting to enjoy a scenic flight over the delta. Our accommodation this evening is at the Maun Lodge which is located on the Boteti River and has a swimming pool, bar and restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Maun Lodge – Twin-bedded tented units
Included Highlights: Boteti River Sunset
Optional Activities: Scenic Flight over the Delta
Distance: 480 km

Days 5 – 8: Flexible Game Reserve Schedule (Moremi/ Savuti/Khwai), Botswana

Before departing on the game viewing portion of the tour, we enjoy a scrumptious breakfast at the lodge. Our local Motswana guides accompany us in well-equipped, open 4×4 Land Cruisers. In the national parks, which are truly wild, 4x4s aren’t just for show, as the roads are nothing more than sand tracks. During the day, we game drive extensively, stopping at hides and water holes at leisure and making the most of the time we have. We only carry cameras, day packs, a picnic lunch, and water for the road. When we arrive at our bush camp at sunset, we pitch the tent, set up bush showers and toilets, and start the fire. Four nights are spent camping in a totally secluded, undeveloped campsite by the Khwai river – as if we are the only people here, and we are the only people in the world. In order to have a comfortable wilderness experience, we bring everything we need, and we leave nothing behind.

The route we follow depends on the time of year and the availability of migrating animals. Our afternoon and morning drives will be conducted along the wetlands, with the option of following game migration into Moremi or Savuti. This area offers many game drive options and has a lot of animals (keep your fruit out of the reach of elephants, your meat out of the reach of hyenas, and everything out of monkeys) and it is a very active game area. Palm trees line the open plains, and marshland, or dense Mopane woodlands, or Acacia scrub abounds. Game viewing is excellent in these diverse habitats. The vast Central Kalahari Game Reserve or Makgadikgadi Pans National Park might also be explored, depending on the ever-changing conditions in the national parks.

Meals: Breakfast x4, Lunch x4, Dinner x4
Accommodation: Wild Camping – Two man dome tent
Included Highlights: 4×4 open vehicle game drives on all days, Private non-fenced campsites, Extensive first hand game viewing experience, Explore the heart of National Geographic’s photography region
Distance: ± 125 km (Day 7)

Day 9: Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana

We leave the National Parks and make our way back to Maun on a leisurely game drive. In Maun we can take a walk around town and before enjoying lunch at the lodge.  The lodge is located on the Boteti River’s banks. Depending upon the season and rainfall patterns, this river’s flow direction may change. The Makgadikgadi Salt Pans  has spectacular dry scenery, famous for its abundant birdlife and other desert-adapted animals it attracts. Today we will be aware of our untouched environment and enjoy the serenity of the area. Tonight we set up tents and enjoy a night under a canopy of glittering stars. Our guides will explain the constellations to you as this is the perfect spot for star-gazing. The pans may be inaccessible at the time of our arrival in which case we will make use of alternative accommodation.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Wild Camping – Two man dome tents
Included Highlights: Game Drive on the way out of the park, Village walk, Visit to Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, Remote Campsite on the edge of the pans, Night under the stars, Star gazing
Distance: ± 200 km – 300 km

Day 10: Chobe River – Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Travelling North to Chobe, known for its large population of elephant which gather on the floodplains. This afternoon we will enjoy an extensive boat cruise which enables us to get up close and personal with the hippos and elephants on the waters edge. We then cross the border to spend the night in our accommodation, which is within walking distance of the falls.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Lodge
Included Highlights: Chobe National Park, Extensive Boat Cruise on the Chobe River
Distance: 320 – 400 km

Day 11: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

As we emerge from the sleep of the adventure capital of Africa into the world of Victoria Falls, we are filled with new awe and excitement. There is a term that means “The smoke that thunders”: Mosi-oa-Tunya. There is a legend that the “Big Snake” or “Nyami Nyami” hides in this area. There is no additional fee for entering the Falls, and you are free to explore the surrounding rainforest and view the Falls as long as you wish. There are a number of other attractions and activities available, including a tribal village and a curio market. There are also numerous adventure activities available at Victoria Falls, including plane flips over the falls, boat trips on the Zambezi River, white water rafting, and bungee jumping, but these optional activities are not without cost.

Two nights are spent in this town, which allows you to explore the area at your leisure and choose the sights and activities that interest you. We will be eating out tonight (at our own expense) at a local restaurant. Drink a farewell toast to your adventure as the African night and distant roar of the Falls lull you to sleep.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Accommodation – Lodge
Highlights: Victoria Falls National Park, Entry Fee for viewing the Falls
Optional Activities: Scenic helicopter flight, White water rafting, Bungee jump, Gorge swing, Many more available

Day 12: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Today’s tour officially ends after breakfast

Meals: Breakfast

Onward Travel Plans

Due to circumstances beyond our control while on tour (such as border crossings, traffic, breakdowns and delays, etc), the end time on the last day cannot be guaranteed. Therefore we strongly recommend you stay the night and fly out the next day. Please consult with your booking consultant.