Rivers, a desert and a waterfall
Rivers, a desert and a waterfall
15-day/14-night Okavango Delta, Kalahari and Victoria Falls safari
Your big Southern Africa adventure awaits
Imagine combining the most spectacular safaris Southern Africa has to offer in one big adventure, and you’ll probably come close to this journey.
This travel compendium comprises no less than the marshes and forests of the Okavango Delta, the shimmering Makgadikgadi Salt Pans in the arid Kalahari Desert, a luxury riverboat cruise on the Chobe River, more wildlife than you can possibly imagine (including the Big Five), and the cherry on top: the Victoria Falls.
And everywhere you go, your accommodations and amenities are redolent of the classic safaris of yesteryear: luxury tented suites and Edwardian architecture, canvas, rich textiles and old wood, complemented by world-class cuisine and superlative service.
At a Glance
Highlights
Extraordinary game viewing and birdwatching
Breathtaking scenery
Luxury safari experiences
Cultural experiences
Scenic helicopter flights
Water-based game viewing on the Chobe River
Fishing
Location15-day/14-night Okavango Delta, Kalahari and Victoria Falls safari
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Selinda Game Reserve
Selinda Reserve, a vast 130 000ha (321 237 acre) private reserve in northern Botswana, links the Okavango Delta and the Chobe/Savuti corridor. It is one of Botswana’s most prolific, year-round wildlife areas and home to some of the classic species, such as leopard, lion, cheetah, red lechwe, zebra, hippo and giraffe.
It is also a refuge for some of the more uncommon species, such as the African wild dog, cheetah, roan and sable. During the dry season (June to late October/November) Zibadianja Lagoon is a water source for large herds of elephant and buffalo. For birders, a nearby African skimmer colony is a highlight.
Zarafa Camp
Located in the eastern sector of the private Selinda Reserve, Zarafa Camp is a small, intimate 5* lodge. One of only four Relais & Chateaux properties in Botswana, this exquisite camp has a prime position overlooking the crystal-clear waters of Zibadianja Lagoon, the source of the famous Savuti Channel.
Marquee-style tented suites of beige canvas sit on elevated wooden decks of century-old teak railroad ties, each with a private plunge pool. Each of Zarafa Camp’s guest suites has a professional camera set, including a camera body and lenses. The lodge offers a variety of daily activities for an unparalleled wildlife experience. Game drives are conducted in specially modified photographic safari vehicles.
Enjoy guided bush walks and explore the lagoon with power boats, and enjoy a brunch or sundowners on board the pontoon, the HES Zib. You can also try your hand at fishing (excluding January and February). Enjoy a unique aerial perspective of the seasonal floodplains of the Selinda Spillway, continuing over permanent waterways and finally to the meandering Okavango River by helicopter – a two-hour flight including an island picnic.
* Water activities are seasonal
Okavango Delta
The famed Okavango Delta, the world’s largest inland delta, spanning a vast 20 236km2 (7 813sq mi), is the 1 000th UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fourth-largest river in Southern Africa finds its source in the highlands of Angola, flowing for 1 600km (1 000mi) before it disappears into the Kalahari Desert. It is one of the few inland deltas with no outlet to the sea, and is Africa’s largest alluvial fan.
Duba Concession is a private, 33 000ha (81 545 acre) area found in the heart of the Okavango. The reserve is typical of the region’s unique landscape, with a matrix of palm-dotted islands, floodplains and woodlands. The concession, dubbed the Okavango Delta’s Masai Mara because of the sheer volume of wildlife, offers extraordinary wildlife experiences with thousands of animals in an almost endless pattern across the floodplains. It offers intimate, up-close exposure to the best of the best wildlife, from lions and leopards to elephants and buffalo, and everything in between. It is also known for interesting Kalahari species such as the aardwolf and ground pangolin.
Duba Plains Camp
A proud member of Relais & Châteaux, Duba Plains Camp is a 5* luxury camp that evokes the elegance and glamour of the classic African safari style of the 1920s. Canvas suites are raised on recycled railway sleeper decking, offering guests unforgettable views of the surrounding floodplain and wildlife.
Each suite has a professional camera set, including a camera body and lenses, for guests to use during their stay. Private plunge pools add to an exclusive, luxury experience, and an interactive kitchen allows guests to engage with the chefs, creating an immersive dining experience. A variety of daily activities ensures an extraordinary wildlife experience. Game drives are conducted in specially modified photographic safari vehicles.
Enjoy guided bush walks and explore the permanent channels of the river with power boats and the mokoro (a traditional dugout canoe), a peaceful experience allowing for wildlife and bird viewing from a unique perspective. The avid angler has another opportunity to try and land a bream (excluding January and February). Water activities are available year-round.
Makgadikgadi Salt Pans
The Makgadikgadi Salt Pans in the Kalahari Desert, a remnant of an enormous superlake that used to cover most of Southern Africa, are an area of savage beauty. The stark, flat, featureless terrain stretches, it would seem, to eternity. A land of timelessness and complete nothingness, it is hauntingly beautiful. For much of the year, the pans are desolate and waterless.
However, when the rains start to fall in November, the pans are transformed as the salt flats turn into watery grasslands teeming with life. A layer of emerald-green grass stretches in every direction, pink clouds of flamingo and flocks of migratory birds arrive to nest, and herds of migrating zebra and wildebeest arrive from the Makgadikgadi National Park in the west to feed off the sweet summer grass.
Guests enjoy sightings of the elusive brown hyena, bat-eared foxes, honey badgers, aardvark, gemsbok, springbok, black-backed jackals and the famous black-maned Kalahari lion. On occasion, elephants may be spotted, and during the green season, spectacular numbers of zebra and wildebeest. Firm favourites are the enchanting and loveable habituated meerkats.
Jack’s Camp
Jack’s Camp is one of Africa’s most storied and iconic camps. It pays homage to the classic East African safari feel of the 1940s. Large, luxury tented suites are furnished with Persian and North African rugs, brass fittings, and textiles in rich and vibrant colours. The camp has one of the most comprehensive collections of ancient artefacts in Botswana, collected by the Bousfield family over decades.
The large mess tent is resplendent with a stocked drinks chest and an antique pool table. It is the only camp in Africa with an elegant Persian tea tent and swimming pool pavilion. Experiences include quad biking (April to October), horseback riding, walks with the Zu/’hoasi Bushmen, game drives, fat bike safaris, meerkat encounters and a trip to the site of the iconic Chapman’s Baobab, with some of the best and most experienced guides in Botswana.
Chobe National Park
Chobe National Park, a vast area covering 11 700km2 (4 517sq mi) in northern Botswana, is made up of four unique ecosystems: Serondela Riverfront, Savuti Marsh, Linyanti Marsh and Nogatsaa Woodlands. It is the oldest and third-largest national park in Botswana, with a history dating back to 1931.
It is home to the largest elephant population in Africa, estimated at over 50 000 individuals, especially during the dry season. These elephants are migratory, moving across borders into Zimbabwe, Namibia and Zambia. The Serondela Riverfront is where elephants reign supreme. Watch these magnificent animals in awe as herds of up to 300 or more make their way down to the perennial waters of the Chobe River to quench their thirst, bathe and just have fun rolling around in the mud.
During July and August, elephants frequently cross the river to graze on nutritious grasses on the floodplains of Namibia. With bodies submerged and using their trunks as a snorkel, the sight of a matriarch guiding her herd gently across the river to safety is something to behold.
Large herds of buffalo frequent the Chobe floodplain, and there are high densities of predators such as lion, leopard, spotted hyena, cheetah and African wild dog. As the zebra migration moves through the summer, visitors are assured of experiencing the spectacle as massive herds fill the floodplains, followed by predators.
The park also hosts shy antelope species such as the roan, sable, tsessebe, eland, red lechwe, Chobe bushbuck and puku antelope, which are unique to the riverfront. Other popular species are zebra, giraffe, kudu, warthog, waterbuck, wildebeest and impala. Birdlife is prolific, especially in summer, with over 450 recorded species.
Chobe Princess
This morning, you will cross into Namibia and be transferred by tender to the Chobe Princess.
Drifting along the majestic Chobe River is a magical experience, as you witness extraordinary wildlife scenes and immerse yourself in a truly intimate river safari. Traversing up to 50km (31mi) of the Chobe, away from the area where boats crowd the river, offers an expansive and varied exploration of this stunning waterway.
The boat has thoughtfully designed spaces where comfort and contemporary elegance blend seamlessly with nature. The middle deck boasts a dining room, lounge and splash pool with air-conditioned cabins based on the lower deck. Water-based game viewing is an experience like no other. The keen fisherman can enjoy fishing year-round. Enjoy a cultural experience as you travel by tender to a Namibian village on the floodplains of the Zambezi Region (previously Caprivi), where you will meet the elders and locals of the Subiya tribe and gain a deeper understanding of life in this 100-year-old village, including their daily challenges, farming practices and traditions.
*The Chobe Princess sails on Mondays and Wednesdays for two-night stays
Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls, locally referred to as Mosi-oa-Tunya (“The Smoke That Thunders”), is one of the world’s most impressive waterfalls. David Livingstone, the first European to have laid eyes on the falls, is famously credited with stating, “Scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight.”
Fed by the magnificent Zambezi River, which creates the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, the falls are located in the Victoria Falls National Park, which has the notable feature of being a rainforest due to the spray. Considered to be the world’s largest sheet of falling water, Victoria Falls measures an impressive 1 708m (5 604ft) in width and 108m (354ft) in height during the wet season. This spectacle is not only a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but also one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World.
The Zambezi River experiences a rainy season from November to early April, and a dry season for the rest of the year. The river’s flood season is February to May, with a peak in April. The spray from the Falls typically rises to a height of over 400m (1 312ft) and sometimes even twice as high, and is then visible from up to 50km (31mi) away.
Zambezi National Park, comprising 56 000ha (140 000 acres), was split away from the Victoria Falls National Park in 1979. It is located 5km (3.1mi) upstream from Victoria Falls and includes 40km (25mi) of river frontage along the Zambezi River.
A Big Five destination, the park is renowned for its herds of antelope and plains game, including sable (Zimbabwe’s national animal), giraffe, zebra and many smaller wildlife species. The birdlife is prolific, with over 400 identified species, such as Pel’s fishing owl and the African skimmer. Aside from birds and land animals, 75 species of fish can be found within the boundaries of the park, including the famous tiger fish.
The quaint town of Victoria Falls is a crossroads for travellers and acts as a base from which to explore many of the experiential excursions on offer in the region – these include white water rafting, canoeing among hippos on the upper Zambezi, game drives, walking safaris, river cruises, cultural excursions in local communities, art safaris, shopping at the local markets and helicopter flips.
The town is the adrenaline capital, and several activities are available for adventure lovers. You may also wish to cross the border into Zambia to view the falls from another angle or enjoy lunch on Livingstone Island (seasonal) or, if you are brave, swim in Devil’s Pool above the falls. The activity menu is endless, and the visit will inspire your return!
Victoria Falls Hotel
The Victoria Falls Hotel, popularly known as “the Grand Old Lady of the Falls”, is situated adjacent to the Victoria Falls National Park and is a member of the exclusive Leading Hotels of the World. It is also one of only three ISO-accredited hotels in Zimbabwe.
Cecil John Rhodes’ Cape-to-Cairo vision was the inspiration to build the hotel and, for more than 110 years, it has been an African luxury icon. The Edwardian-style 5* hotel combines the charm of the old with the convenience of the new. Set in lush tropical gardens with lily ponds, palm trees and semi-tropical shrubs, you will have unobscured vistas of the famous Victoria Falls Bridge, the dramatic Batoka Gorge, and the spray of the falls when the Zambezi River is at its peak. A private path leads guests from the gardens to the entrance of the Victoria Falls rainforest in an easy 10-minute stroll. High tea on Stanley’s Terrace is an experience not to be missed, and the opulent Livingstone Room consistently sets the benchmark for fine dining in Africa.
Departure
As you pack your bags in anticipation of continuing your journey from Victoria Falls International Airport, you will no doubt reflect on all of the big things that make Africa what it is: the Big Five and other big game, the huge Okavango Delta, the big rivers, grasslands and forests, the big sky in the seemingly endless Kalahari Desert, and of course the biggest waterfall in the world.
You’ve just experienced all of these things, which is no small feat – and you’ll certainly have stories to tell about your big African adventure.
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Tell us the Africa you imagine. We’ll take you there!
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Rivers, a desert and a waterfall gallery
Rivers, a desert and a waterfall FAQs
This itinerary is best experienced during Botswana’s main dry season, from late May to October. During this period, the weather is dry and sunny, and wildlife in the Selinda Game Reserve and Okavango Delta congregate around the permanent water sources, making for spectacular viewing. This also aligns with the best time for activities in the Makgadikgadi, such as quad biking, and comfortable viewing from the Chobe Princess.
This journey is designed to be completely seamless. Your travel between Botswana’s remote camps is via light aircraft, offering stunning aerial views. The border crossings are also expertly handled, and your Travel Architect will ensure beforehand that your travel arrangements are correct.
Packing layers in a soft-sided duffel bag is essential. You’ll need three main types of clothing:
- For the delta and river: lightweight, neutral-coloured safari clothing (khaki, green and beige). A warm fleece and windproof jacket are non-negotiable for cool early-morning game drives
- For Makgadikgadi: the same safari wear, but add an extra warm layer. The desert can get surprisingly cold at night and in the mornings
- For Victoria Falls: smart-casual wear is perfect for the elegant Victoria Falls Hotel. Include comfortable walking shoes for viewing the falls and a slightly more formal outfit for dinner
This is a critical point. All destinations on this itinerary – Selinda, the Okavango Delta, Makgadikgadi, the Chobe River and Victoria Falls – are located in malaria-risk zones. You should consult your doctor or a travel clinic well in advance of your trip to arrange for appropriate anti-malarial medication and any other recommended vaccinations.
This combination provides a deep and comprehensive view of Botswana’s incredible diversity, showcasing three distinct ecosystems:
- Selinda Game Reserve: An exclusive, game-rich private reserve linking two major ecosystems, famous for wild dogs and predators
- Okavango Delta: the world’s largest inland delta, offering iconic water-based activities like mokoro safaris and an immense volume of wildlife
- Makgadikgadi Salt Pans: a complete contrast. A vast, starkly beautiful salt desert offering unique desert-adapted wildlife, meerkat encounters and profound cultural experiences
While Botswana is primarily a “Big Four” itinerary, and you will have exceptional opportunities to see lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo, the sheer density and variety of other wildlife more than compensates for this. However, you will have the opportunity to spot the fifth species, the rhino, in Zimbabwe.
Not at all. The provision of professional-grade Canon cameras and lenses at Zarafa Camp and Duba Plains Camp is a remarkable luxury perk available for all guests to use, regardless of their skill level. Your expert guides are typically well-versed in photography and can provide basic instruction to help you capture stunning images without the need to travel with your own heavy and expensive equipment.
The Chobe Princess offers a completely different and wonderfully intimate safari perspective. Instead of driving out from a lodge, the wildlife viewing happens right from the boat itself. You drift silently along the river, enjoying unparalleled, water-level views of elephants drinking and bathing at the river’s edge. It’s a slower, more tranquil experience, allowing you to immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of the river ecosystem, away from the crowds of day-trip boats.
The cultural experiences on this itinerary are designed to be respectful, authentic and beneficial to the communities. The walk with the Zu/’hoasi Bushmen in the Makgadikgadi is a genuine sharing of their incredible knowledge of the land. Similarly, the visit to the Subiya tribe village from the Chobe Princess is a real encounter with a community that calls the floodplains home, offering insight into their daily lives and traditions, rather than a staged performance.
The US dollar is the preferred currency for tourism across all these destinations. It is highly recommended to bring sufficient cash in clean, newer bills for visas on arrival, tips and local purchases.
