18 Day Southern Africa’s Wildlife Wonders: Okavango Delta, Namib & Victoria Falls (Accommodated)

Day 1: Johannesburg, South Africa

At any time, arrive, and make your way to your hotel. Tonight for dinner, savor a classic South African braai (barbecue).

We are staying in a family-run lodge or guesthouse near Kempton Park. The airport is easily accessible from the location, and if you have more time, taxis may be hired to transport you around.

Accommodation Southern Sun Rosebank (or similar)
Meals: Dinner
Included Highlight: Arrival Transfer, Traditional South Africa Braai (Barbecue), Arrival Day and Welcome Meeting,

Day 2: Johannesburg – Greater Kruger Area, South Africa

Drive the breathtaking Panorama Route, regarded as one of the most scenic routes in the world, as you head towards Kruger National Park. Visit the striking Bourke’s Luck Potholes and the Blyde River Canyon. From God’s Window viewpoint, enjoy expansive views of the valley covered in forest. Proceed to our lodge in the vicinity of Kruger National Park and have a delectable South African dinner in this scenic setting.

Accommodation Umbhaba Eco Lodge (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Included Highlight: Panorama Route Scenic Drive
Route: Johannesburg – Nelspruit
Distance: 500 km

Day  3: Kruger National Park, South Africa

Get up early and head to Kruger National Park, home to an amazing variety of huge mammals, for a full-day safari in an open jeep. See giraffes, lions, elephants, and maybe even the elusive leopard as we explore this magnificent savanna and scrubland habitat. In the evening, return to our lodge so you may unwind and soak in the sounds of the nighttime jungle.

The Kruger National Park in South Africa is one of the biggest and most remarkable animal reserves in the world, spanning approximately 19,000 sq km (7,500 sq mi). Large mammal species are more abundant in Kruger than in any other park on the continent, numbering 147.

Accommodation: Umbhaba Eco Lodge (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Included Highlights: Kruger National Park Open Vehicle Wildlife Safari Drive

Day 4: Greater Kruger Area – Karongwe Private Game Reserve, South Africa

Visit the gorgeous wildlife sanctuary of Karongwe Private Game Reserve, which is situated in the Greater Kruger region. Talk about attempts to safeguard the area’s cheetahs and other predators with a researcher from the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Cheetah Metapopulation Project, which is partially funded by National Geographic’s Big Cats Initiative. After that, the researcher goes on a wildlife viewing trip with us through the reserve.

Experience ranger-led morning and evening wildlife safari drives in an open safari vehicle within Karongwe Nature Reserve over the following two days, with the goal of spotting Africa’s renowned Big Five. Karongwe Private Game Reserve is home to a wide variety of animals and has over 9,000 hectares (22,240 acres) of the best African bushveld. There are several possibilities to watch wildlife throughout our safari drives.

Accommodations are located throughout the reserve (based on availability). Depending on your preference, you will stay either in lodge rooms or in comfortable permanent tents (both of similar quality).

Accommodation: Karongwe Private Game Reserve – Lodges (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities: Carnivore Conservation Experience
Route: Nelspruit – Karangwe Private Game Reserve
Distance: 150 km

Day 5: Karongwe Private Game Reserve, South Africa

Visit the Private Game in Karongwe Reserve. Take our local guides on morning and afternoon safaris to spend the day discovering Karongwe. Look for Africa’s renowned “big five” as we go across the bushveld’s shrublands. After you get back to camp, stroll around the property or unwind on the balcony.

Get up early (around 5 a.m.) and have your morning coffee before going on a wildlife safari drive in the morning. After brunch and some downtime, head back to the cabin. Talk on the deck, stroll through the gardens and grounds, then have high tea. It’s time for a late afternoon safari drive after tea. Once you’ve seen a ton of animals, it’s time to get back to camp and change before supper.

Indulge in a feast for the senses at Karongwe’s unforgettable Boma Braai. Discover South Africa’s rich heritage as you embark on a culinary journey. Prepared with fresh, local ingredients, our traditional dishes include braai-kissed meats, potjiekos stews, and malva pudding. A crackling fire and lanterns create a magical atmosphere under the starlit sky. A true foodie moment you won’t forget is this immersive experience, which blends cultural connection, social interaction, and incredible feast!

Accommodation: Karongwe Private Game Reserve – Lodges (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Highlights: Karongwe Private Reserve Open Vehicle Wildlife Safari Drive, Boma Braai

Day 6: Karongwe Private Game Reserve – Johannesburg, South Africa

Set out on a final safari this morning, watching for the recognizable residents of Karongwe. After that, return to the city and have dinner in our family-owned lodge.

Accommodation: Southern Sun Rosebank (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Included Highlights: Karongwe Private Reserve Open Vehicle Wildlife Safari Drive
Route: Karongwe Private Game Reserve – Johannesburg
Distance: 500 km

Day 7: Johannesburg – Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Take a plane to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, which is named after one of the world’s most potent waterfalls. Go grocery shopping in the busy market in a nearby village. After that, have supper with a local family, assist your hosts in preparing a traditional Zimbabwean dish using the items you selected, and enjoy stories about the way of life and culture in the area.

More than 400 meters (1312 feet) can be reached by the mist at Victoria Falls. The falls were formerly known by the local tribes as Mosi-o-Tunya, or “the smoke that thunders.” When explorer and missionary David Livingstone first saw the falls in 1855, he christened them after Queen Victoria.

Accommodation: Explorers Village Lodge – Deluxe (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Included Highlights: Plane from Oliver Reginald Tambo International – Victoria Falls, Zimbabwean Family Dinner

Day 8: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Go on a tour of the breathtaking Victoria Falls. They were given the name Victoria by Scottish adventurer David Livingstone, but their original name is Mosi-oa-Tunya, which means “the smoke that thunders.” Choose between a breathtaking Zambezi River sunset cruise and much more.

Accommodation: Explorers Village Lodge – Deluxe (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Included Activities: Victoria Falls Guided Tour
Optional Activities: Full Day Excursion to Chobe National Park 189 USD, Canoeing the Zambezi 160 USD

Day 9: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Proceed with your investigation of the magnificent Victoria Falls by choosing from a range of optional trips. Take a sunset ride down the Zambezi River, zip line over it, or just stroll around the surrounding walkways and feel the spray of the falls on your face.

The town of Victoria Falls is an excellent starting point for exploring the area’s natural beauties and engaging in some fun activities. Get up close to the enormous Victoria Falls and get wet from the spray while doing so.

You might have new travelers join you for the remainder of your journey today. This evening, there will be a group meeting that you are welcome to attend. After that, dinner is optional.

Accommodation: Explorers Village Lodge – Deluxe (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Included Activities: Optional Welcome Meeting for Travellers on Combos
Optional Activities: Zipline over the Zambezi 50 USD, Victoria Falls Visit 50 USD, Full Day Excursion to Chobe National Park 189 USD

Day 10: Victoria Falls – Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe

This morning, enjoy a leisurely stroll around Victoria Falls or choose to join a guided tour of this magnificent natural wonder and UNESCO World Heritage site. Afterwards, proceed to Painted Dog Conservation’s headquarters. Discover the efforts of this nonprofit organization to rescue and heal wounded African wild canines, also called painted dogs, and hear from a conservationist about the dangers facing these threatened species. After that, have a safari in Zimbabwe’s largest wildlife reserve, Hwange National Park, which is also a significant elephant sanctuary.

Examine the hardships and way of life experienced by the Painted Dog (wild dog) population in and around Hwange National Park, as well as the conservancy’s attempts to stop poaching and the harm caused by snare traps that have put the Painted Dog population in jeopardy.

Accommodation: Iganyana Tented Camp (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities: Painted Dog Conservation, Afternoon Wildlife Safari in Hwange National Park
Optional Activities: Victoria Falls Guided Tour 26 USD per person
Route: Victoria Falls – Hwange National Park
Distance: 104 km

Day 11: Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe

Take safaris in the early morning and late afternoon through the expansive grasslands of Dete Vlei and Hwange National Park. Follow the resident herds of buffalo and elephants, giraffes, lions, zebras, and the endangered African wild dog. This evening, unwind on your lodge’s veranda or explore the subterranean hiding place, which is ideal for photographers, while keeping a watch out for the wildlife that frequents the lodge’s watering hole.

Accommodation: Iganyana Tented Camp (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities: Afternoon Wildlife Safari in Hwange National Park

Day 12: Hwange – Chobe National Park, Botswana

Leave Hwange and travel north, entering Botswana at the border and landing in Kasane, the entry point to the breathtaking Chobe National Park. After checking into your accommodation, go on a boat safari on the park’s lifeline, the Chobe River. From the boat’s deck, keep an eye out for swimming hippos, sunbathing crocodiles, elephants, and a variety of birds. Take in the breathtaking red sunset over the river.

Look out for the puku antelope and Chobe bushbuck, which are unique to this region of Botswana. The greatest elephant herds in the world may be found in the Chobe River, which is also home to lions, buffalo, and hippos.

Accommodation: Chobe Safari Lodge (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Included Highlights: Border Crossing (Zimbabwe – Botswana), Chobe River Sunset Cruise
Route: Hwange National Park – Kasane
Distance: 255 km

Day 13: Chobe National Park, Botswana

Proceed with your exploration of Chobe National Park this morning, which is home to one of the greatest elephant populations in Africa. A safari along the banks of the Chobe River offers amazing birdwatching opportunities in addition to seeing elephants, buffalo, lions, zebras, and the uncommon semi-aquatic antelope. Choose to go on a specialized photographic boat river safari in the afternoon.

Choose to go on a photo safari of the wildlife on the Chobe River at dusk. A professional wildlife photographer and guide will accompany you and assist you capture the ideal snap.

Accommodation: Chobe Safari Lodge (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Included Highlights: Chobe National Park Safari Drive
Optional Activities: Evening Photo Safari on Chobe River

Day 14: Kasane – Okavango Delta, Botswana

Enjoy the scenery while taking a picturesque flight in the Okavango Delta. Take a ride in a mokoro, a dugout canoe, and cruise the waterways surrounding our secluded camp to get a first look at the plenty of wildlife in the area. Go for a swim, explore the camp, or settle into cozy tents. Take a wildlife cruise after lunch and look for aquatic birds attracted to the region’s distinctive fish and insects, as well as hippos and elephants. Before supper, take in a sundowner deck among the stars at the camp.

Please be advised that due to the lack of lecturers in the area, the Okavango Wilderness Project presentation may be rescheduled for the day the group arrives in Maun.

Accommodation: Moremi Crossing Safari Lodge (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Highlights: Plane from Kasane – Okavango Delta

Day 15: Okavango Delta, Botswana

Today, get a head start by jumping into mokoros and navigating the delta’s tight passageways. After reaching Chief’s Island, which is a part of the Moremi Game Reserve, embark on an exciting jungle walk. Go into the wilderness with a guide to look for lions, kudus, elephants, hippopotamuses, giraffes, and zebras, among other wildlife. Recognize animal tracks and other indicators, and discover the therapeutic applications of local flora and trees. After lunch, head back to the camp to unwind or watch wildlife from the deck. Proceed for a wildlife drive or another boating activity after high tea. Spend some time this evening stargazing and taking in the mesmerizing sounds of the delta around dusk. The group will spend the night in en suite Meru tents with running hot and cold water, complete beds, bedding, and towels at Moremi Crossing accommodations. Every tent is situated on its own deck, scattered along the island’s edge and hidden into the beautiful riverine ecology that is teeming with wildlife. Regular animal sightings are reported from the sundeck area.

Accommodation: Moremi Crossing Safari Lodge (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities: Okavango Delta Excursion

Day 16: Okavango Delta, Botswana

Depending on the weather and water levels, set out on boat, foot, or jeep wildlife excursions in the morning and late afternoon. In between, take advantage of the camp’s amenities, go swimming, or unwind on the deck with a book. To watch passing wildlife, keep your binoculars near by and your eyes open.

The animals on Chief’s Island are free to roam around as they choose, and they do! You may encounter lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, impalas, kudus, and hippos during your guided walk. There’s also a good chance of seeing a wide variety of birds, especially from October to March when the migratory species return to the area. Being on foot as opposed to being in a car makes a big difference.

Accommodation: Moremi Crossing Safari Lodge (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities: Okavango Excursion

Day 17: Okavango Delta – Maun, Botswana

After visiting some animals early in the morning, take a flight to Maun, a frontier town. Meet a member of the National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project expedition. This multi-year project involves local and international experts working together to survey the Okavango watershed’s biodiversity and guarantee its protection in the future. See the National Geographic film “Into the Okavango” to discover more about the region’s delta conservation initiatives. Celebrated local novelist Bonty Botumile will host a storytelling and traditional cuisine event in the evening. Bonty, who was born in Maun, is committed to protecting Botswana’s literary legacy and giving young people job possibilities in the arts. Enjoy a great lunch and lively storytelling around a cozy fire as you listen to her extensive knowledge of the cultural history of the area.

Accommodation: Cresta Maun (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities: Plane from Okavango Delta – Maun, Okavango Wilderness Project Experience, Botswana Storytelling and Traditional Dinner

Day 18: Maun, Botswana

End your memorable journey on this day. Depart at any time that best suits you.

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.