Family Botswana and Zimbabwe Safari Adventure

Our tour starts today in Victoria Falls, often referred to as the adventure capital of Zimbabwe. There’s plenty to keep adrenaline seekers occupied in the local area, from land to air to water-based activities. For those arriving on time our tour leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 6pm for a welcome meeting, followed by dinner for those that wish to join. There are no other activities planned today, so you're free to arrive in Victoria Falls at any time. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Victoria Falls Airport (VFA), which is around 25-minutes' drive from the hotel. If you miss the welcome meeting, your tour leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up. Tonight, we’ll stay at one of two sister properties in Victoria Falls – Batonka Guest Lodge or Pioneer Lodge, see your final documents for the confirmed accommodation for you departure dates. Located just 1 kilometre/0.6 miles from each other, both properties are situated in private, landscaped gardens. Facilities include a swimming pool, expansive terrace, lounge and dining room, as well as an expansive terrace where breakfast is served each morning. If your flight arrives earlier in the day, there are plenty of adventurous activities in the local area that you can get stuck into, including white-water rafting, canoeing and cruises on the Zambezi River. Full details are listed in the 'budgeting and packing' section.

Today, we'll visit one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, Victoria Falls. Located on the Zambezi River, the falls plunge over a sheer cliff wall spanning more than 1,676 metres (5,498 feet) and drops approximately 100 metres (328 feet) into the abyss below. It's known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya, which translates as 'The Smoke that Thunders', thanks to the deafening roar and the mist that the water spray creates. Just like David Livingstone, the first European to witness Victoria Falls in 1855, we’ll hear the falls before we see it. Heading to the Zimbabwean side of the river, which gives us the best vantage point, we’ll watch the plumes of water vapour rising like smoke into the sky, accompanied by the roar of the rushing water. We’ll be accompanied by our tour leader and have plenty of time to explore the network of paths and enclaves around the falls. This afternoon is free for you to take advantage of the activities Victoria Falls has to offer. Options include a half-day game drive in Zambezi National Park, white-water rafting on the Zambezi, a scenic helicopter flight over the falls, or a visit to a local cultural village. All activities can be booked directly at your lodge, and prices and further details are listed in the 'Budgeting and packing' section of the trip notes.

Leaving our lodge this morning, we have a short one-hour drive to the Kazungula land border, where we cross from Zimbabwe into Botswana. Once we've completed border formalities we'll continue to our lodge located near the Chobe RIver. border formalities are completed, we'll continue to our lodge located near the Chobe River. This afternoon, we'll head out on an afternoon game drive. The Chobe region is the heart of elephant country and is home to approximately 70,000 of the giant creatures. During our safaris, we'll travel in customised, open-sided land cruisers. The land cruisers are ideal for game viewing but can be a bit brisk and windy at times - it's a good idea to bring some layers for longer travel days. The roads through Botswana also vary in quality, so travel days can be slow and bumpy, but the scenery and wildlife more than make up for this. Our accommodation for the next two nights is a typical safari lodge, located just a few kilometres from the confluence of the Chobe and Zambezi Rivers, the unique point where Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe meet. The lodge features a spacious covered bar and restaurant with wonderful views of the African evening sky, as well as a swimming pool and a large campfire area. It's the perfect place to gather after dinner, relax under the stars and share stories from the day’s adventures.

The Serondela area of northern Chobe National Park is renowned for its large elephant population, and we’ll have the chance to see these majestic animals in their natural habitat. On this morning’s game drive, we’ll take a slow route along the southern bank of the Chobe River, keeping an eye out for Chobe bushbuck and puku antelope along the way. With such a variety and abundance of wildlife, this is a must-visit region for any wildlife enthusiast. We’ll hope to see huge herds gathering along the Chobe River, which is also home to hippos and crocodiles. This afternoon, we’ll swap our safari vehicle for a boat and take to the water, giving us a different perspective on the wildlife and landscape. The Chobe River, one of the Zambezi’s main tributaries, supports an abundance of wildlife and fish, including tigerfish (freshwater barracuda). As the day draws to a close, we’ll enjoy the area’s spectacular scenery and look out for the river’s magnificent red and gold sunsets. While wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed, our tour leader knows the parks well and brings years of experience and knowledge of African wildlife and animal behaviour. Their expertise gives us the best possible chance of memorable sightings. After our cruise, we’ll return to the lodge in time for dinner.

Today, we travel south into the remarkable Savuti region, an area known for its vast open plains, rolling grasslands, and marshes shaped by the ever-changing Savuti Channel. The channel was dry for more than 20 years until it began flowing again in 2008 – it’s since returned to a more seasonal pattern. Despite its unpredictability, the region continues to support an abundance of wildlife. We’ll spend time exploring the wildlife-rich landscape, where we’ll hopefully have the chance to see elephants and lions, as well as leopards if we’re very lucky. Bird enthusiasts can also spot a variety of species, including colourful bee-eaters and the kori bustard. To get as close to the wildlife as possible, we’ll spend the next four nights wild camping in both the Savuti and Moremi reserves. We’ll sleep in spacious, dome-style tents which have en-suite open-air facilities. Tents will be set up by our camp crew and feature comfortable camp beds, mattresses, bedding and duvets. Facilities include washstands, camping basins, bucket showers and open-air camping toilets. Our dedicated support team handle all camp duties including setup, cooking, and cleaning, so you're free to unwind and fully enjoy the safari experience.

Today, we have a full day to discover the Savuti region, heading out on game drives in the cooler morning hours and again in the late afternoon when wildlife activity tends to increase. We'll search for the area's famous predators, including lions and, if luck is on our side, cheetah and other big cats. Large herds of zebra and buffalo are also frequently encountered, while a variety of antelope species can often be seen grazing across the landscape. In the early evening, we'll return to camp, where our crew will be waiting with a well-earned dinner, prepared on traditional camping stoves.

This morning, we continue along dirt roads into the Xakanaxa (pronounced ka-ka-na-ka ) area of the Moremi Game Reserve or the Khwai region, an integral part of the eastern Okavango Delta. Surrounded by the Moremi Game Reserve, this remarkable wilderness offers some of the finest wildlife viewing opportunities in Africa. The landscape is a striking mosaic of dry islands rising from vast wetlands, crystal-clear channels winding through mopane and apple-leaf woodlands, and expansive floodplains teeming with life. As we explore, we might encounter giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, and countless other species, along with an extraordinary diversity of birdlife. Tonight, we'll wild camping within the reserve. The great advantage of wild camping is that it gives us the flexibility to follow the movements of Moremi’s wildlife - imagine falling asleep to the sound of nearby hippos and waking up with nature at your feet.

Today, we have two game drives ahead of us as we explore one of Africa’s most extraordinary wilderness areas. We depart at first light for a morning game drive along the banks and floodplains of the north-eastern Okavango Delta. This remarkable ecosystem is home to hippos, crocodiles, and an incredible diversity of birdlife, as well as the elusive and endangered African wild dog. Bird enthusiasts will be rewarded - with regular sightings of African fish eagles, kingfishers, herons, storks, egrets, weavers, and bee-eaters. After returning to camp for brunch, we’ll spend the hottest part of the day relaxing. Unwind with a book, enjoy a siesta, or spend some time birdwatching around the campsite. At approximately 4pm, we'll head out on our second game drive, returning in the early evening. Routes and activities vary according to wildlife sightings and animal behaviour, making every drive a unique experience. To maximise our wildlife-viewing opportunities, we travel at a leisurely pace and often cover considerable distances, all under the expert guidance of our highly experienced tour leader.

This morning, we’ll enjoy a leisurely drive out of Moremi, keeping a lookout for wildlife along the way. Our destination is Island Safari Lodge, situated in the bush just outside Maun. Nestled on the banks of the Thamalakane River, the lodge is a cool and welcoming oasis. Shaded beneath a magnificent canopy of mature trees, it offers beautiful views across the river and the surrounding floodplains. You might like to spend the afternoon unwinding by one of the two swimming pools, or exploring the reserve on foot along its network of scenic nature trails. In the evening, our tour leader will reserve a table for the group so we can come together and celebrate a memorable and successful Botswana family safari adventure.

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Maun. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Maun at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you need to depart from Maun International airport (airport code MUB), which is 10km, 15 minutes from the hotel.