Compare Botswana Family Safari with Teenagers by Intrepid Travel vs Botswana Wildlife Breakaway Safari by Bestway Tours & Safaris

Day 1 Victoria Falls

Welcome to Africa! Once you arrive at the joining point accommodation, reception will advise you where our campsite is located. Make your way to the site, meet your leader and get settled in. Your adventure begins at 2pm with a group meeting at our campsite. After which we will visit Victoria Falls This thundering curtain of water is about a mile wide, falling 108 metres into a narrow gorge below. In the wet season, the spray created can rise up an incredible 400 metres and the falls become an impressive raging torrent. In the dry season, the view of the falls is unobstructed by spray and you can see little islets in the river below. If you arrive early, get out and explore Victoria Falls. You can choose from various activities and excursions, including white water rafting and canoeing. For an incredible scenic helicopter flight, choose Zambezi Helicopter Company (CAA Zimbabwe), the only Intrepid-endorsed operator.

Day 2 Chobe National Park

After some breakfast and packing up camp we travel to Chobe National Park. Botswana's first national park is perhaps best known for its high concentration of elephants, which can often be seen swimming in the Chobe River. The river also attracts wallowing hippos, a variety of birdlife, crocodiles sunning themselves by the water's edge, and cheetahs and lions which come down to drink. Enjoy a sunset cruise on the Chobe River, a relaxing way to spend the afternoon with the family.

Day 3 Nata

Hit the road early and head to Elephant Sands for the night. Elephant Sands has a natural waterhole right in front of the lodge where the local elephants come to drink. Watch these awesome creatures whilst they drink at only a couple of meters away from you. There is plenty of other wildlife around as well on this unfenced 16000 ha private conservancy. The lack of fences allows all animals to roam freely. After setting up camp, head off on a bush walk activity which is a wonderful chance to learn about the smaller things in the bush which are often not noticed on game drives.

Day 4 Maun

After packing up camp it's another long travelling day to Maun. Maun is the gateway to one of the world's most renowned and complex ecosystems, the Okavango Delta. This place is unlike anything in the world – a 16,000 square kilometre maze of wetlands made up of meandering waterways, green islands, lush plains and prolific wildlife. You might see hippos, crocodiles, elephants and big cats. But it's not the animals that are the main attraction – it's the extremely diverse ecosystem and atmospheric waterscapes. Tonight you'll stay on the outskirts of Maun at a simple campsite with shared facilities and WiFi before heading into the Delta in the morning.

Day 5 Okavango Delta

Cruise around the waterways by mokoro, a traditional dugout canoe navigated by friendly local 'polers'. With some luck, you might spot some of the delta's unusual wildlife and exotic birdlife. Spend time exploring the maze of lagoons, lakes and streams on foot, led by experienced and knowledgeable guides. Tonight you will camp on a remote island in the heart of the wilderness. In this far-out spot, facilities are non-existent, so you will dig a bush toilet and go without a shower. It's all part of the Okavango experience. At night, fall asleep to the humming and buzzing of the African wilderness.

Day 6 Okavango Delta

Wake up early and head out for a sunrise walk. Along the way, keep watch for some elephants. You might also come across some Cape buffalo, if the timing is right. These rather noble-looking creatures are more dangerous than they look, and their horns make for a kind of bone shield that's fittingly known as a 'boss'. Returning to camp for breakfast, take the rest of the day to relax. A refreshing swim, or perhaps a nap, is a good idea in the warmer part of the day. Alternatively, take another mokoro trip to soak up more of that delightful river atmosphere.

Day 7 Maun

After breakfast take the mokoro back to the poling station and then travel once again to Maun, where you will have the rest of the day free back at the campsite.

Day 8 Khama Rhino Sanctuary

It's an early morning start as we hit the road to the Khama Rhino Sanctuary. Situated on the edge of the Kalahari Desert, the Khama Rhino Sanctuary is a conversion of a former hunting area into a conservation project. Built to protect Botswana's only remaining populations of both black and white rhinos, the sanctuary is also home to other wildlife including zebras, giraffes, leopards, ostriches and wildebeest, all of which can be seen around the many natural waterholes. Visiting this project benefits local communities and contributes to the protection of the highly endangered white rhinoceros. Later, head out on a dusk game drive to see the rhinos when they are at their most active.

Day 9 Marakele National Park

Leaving Botswana behind, cross the border into South Africa and arrive at your overnight stop of Marakele National Park this afternoon. The national park has diverse terrain making it easy to spot wildlife. In the park you can spot gemsbok, mongoose, wild cat, warthog, all kinds of birds and may even be lucky to spot black mane lions, If time allows we will do an afternoon game drive in the park before settling into camp for your final night in the wilderness.

Day 10 Johannesburg

After breakfast we start the drive to Johannesburg. The group arrive late afternoon where the trip will end. if you have additional time why not get out and explore Johannesburg, a city of remarkable contrasts. Perhaps visit the culturally rich areas of Newtown, Braamfontein or Maboneng. The eye-opening Apartheid Museum is well worth your time. We recommend you don't book your departure flight until after 8pm.. 

Day 01: Arrive Victoria Falls (ZIMBABWE)

Upon arrival at Victoria Falls Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The balance of the day is free till 6PM when we have a meeting with our safari guide and other participants and get a briefing of the exciting safari ahead of us.
Overnight: A’Zambezi River Lodge (1 night)
(rooms with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, bar & restaurant)

Day 02: Victoria Falls/Hwange National Park

Take off from Victoria Falls town and drive towards Hwange National Park where we spend the next three nights. Time permitting, you can partake in an optional game drive.
Overnight: Sable Sands (3 nights) (B, L, D)
(chalets with en-suite bathroom, swimming pool & bar area)

Day 03 & 04: Hwange National Park

We explore this vast wilderness on game drives. Hwange National Park is one of Africa's finest havens for wildlife and is home to vast herds of elephant, buffalo, and zebra and has a very large concentration of giraffe. It is also home to many predators and endangered species plus varied birdlife. We will also visit the Painted Dog Conservation Centre to witness the work that is done to protect these endangered species. (B, L, D) (B, L, D)

Day 05: Hwange National Park/Nata Lodge (BOTSWANA)

An early morning departure. This is a long day’s drive. We leave Hwange National Park and drive through the Matetsi safari area en-route to Botswana. Cross the border to Botswana. The drive is very scenic, with the chance of spotting game along the way. We arrive Nata Lodge in the late afternoon.
Overnight: Nata Lodge (1 night) (B, L, D)
(permanent safari tents with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool & bar)

Day 06: Nata Bird Sanctuary/Khwai

After breakfast, we head off to the Nata Bird Sanctuary and get the opportunity to enjoy the magnificent views over the Sowa pan, which is part of the Greater Magkadigkadi Pans. (Please note a visit to the pans is subject to the road conditions and water levels as well as may also be time constrained.) We make our way to our camp which is situated in a private concession in the Khwai area. Khwai is renowned for its large concentration of mammals and it is not unusual to see many different types of wildlife during just one game drive. As a year-round destination for wildlife, predators can regularly be seen in the area, rated as one of the most prolific in Botswana for viewing wildlife. The exceptional location of Khwai makes it a regular host to elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, cheetah and wild dogs. Birdlife can also be viewed in abundance with exceptional sightings of wildfowl and raptors.
Overnight: Khwai Bedouin Bush Camp (3 nights) (B, L, D)
(semi-permanent tented camp with en-suite bathrooms)

Day 07: Greater Khwai River

An ideal opportunity to spend the day on game drives in the Khwai area. In our open 4x4 vehicle, we explore the Khwai River region on a full-day game drives hopefully spotting a variety of game that frequents this region. After dinner, your guide will take you on a night drive in search of spotting some rare nocturnal animals. (B, L, D)

Day 08: Moremi Game Reserve

Today we head to the famous Moremi Game Reserve is known as one of the most beautiful and varied reserves in Africa with an unprecedented concentration of wildlife. The full day is spent in the unspoiled nature of the Moremi Game Reserve. (B, L, D)

Day 09: Khwai River/Maun

This morning we travel to Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta. The afternoon is yours to spend at leisure, either relaxing next to the pool at the lodge or if you are keen for some excitement, why not book an optional scenic flight over the Okavango Delta.
Overnight:Guma Lagoon River Lodge (2 nights) (B, L , D)
(permanent tents with en-suite bathrooms, bar area)

Day 10: Khwai/Okavango Delta

Early in the morning, we leave Maun and drive to the Western Delta and onto Etosha. From here we head into the largest inland delta in the world, another highlight of Botswana, the Okavango Delta. Unlike other deltas, it flows into the Kalahari Desert without reaching the coast, which makes it unique. A unique experience on the Mokoros through the thick vegetation of the Delta discovering a variety of birds and wildlife and will stop at a secluded island to take a 1½ hour guided walk hoping to spot elephants, waterbuck or other animals living in this water filled paradise. (B, L, D)

Day 11: Okavango/Mahangu (NAMIBIA)

Today we leave the lush verdant wetlands of Botswana and enter Namibia. Enjoy an afternoon game drive in the Greater Bwabwata National Park, which extends from the Kavango River in the west to the Kwando River in the east and incorporates the Mahangu Game Reserve. Elephant, roan, kudu, and buffalo are amongst the animals likely to be seen as well as prolific birdlife.
Overnight: Mahangu Lodge (1 night) (B, L, D)
(chalets with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool & bar)

Day 12: Mahangu National Park/Chobe National Park

After a night spent at the Mahangu Lodge, we continue our journey through the Caprivi Strip, crossing the border back into Botswana until we reach our destination, Kasane, the gateway to the incredible Chobe National Park.
Overnight: Chobe Safari Lodge (2 nights) (B, L, D)
(rooms with en-suite bathroom, swimming pool & bar)

Day 13: Chobe

Start the morning with a spectacular game drive in Chobe National Park. After lunch at the lodge, there is time to relax before the boat cruise on the Chobe River which starts around 3pm. An interesting cruise as we watch elephants, hippos, crocodiles and a variety of birds making for excellent up close photo opportunities. (B, D)

Day 14: Chobe/Victoria Falls (ZIMBABWE)

Today we leave Botswana behind us and re-enter Zimbabwe and head for the majestic Victoria Falls for a guided tour of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. The balance of the day is free. VFA offers many activities and is worth staying an extra 2 days.
Overnight: A’Zambezi River Lodge (1 night) (B)
(rooms with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, bar & restaurant)

Day 15: Vitoria Falls/departure

Our safari ends as we are transferred to Victoria Falls Airport for our departure flight. (B)