Compare Botswana Adventure by Intrepid Travel vs 16 Day Classic South Africa with Victoria Falls & Botswana 2018 Itinerary by Gate 1 Travel
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| Trip |
4.5 | Great
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3.5 | Average
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| Duration | 10 days | 16 days |
| Price From | $ 4,331 | $ 4,799 |
| Price Per Day | $ 433 | $ 300 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Group tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium | Premium |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included | N/A | N/A |
| Description |
Who says overland adventures through Africa can’t be comfortable? On this 10-day African journey, you’ll travel through Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe from Windhoek to Victoria Falls. Discover Botswana’s rich natural beauty, thrilling wildlife and fun locals. Experience exciting game drives through national parks looking out for elephants, impala and thousands of birds. Acclimatise to life aboard a houseboat and soak in the sunset every night from the comfortable deck. See ancient rock art and feel the power of Victoria Falls – one of the world’s natural wonders. Keeping comfort, ease and hospitality in mind along the way, this wildlife-focused adventure is a nature-lover's dream. |
4 Cape Town, 1 Hluhluwe, 1 eSwatini , 2 Hazyview, 2 Johannesburg, 2 Victoria Falls, 2 Botswana |
Day 1 Windhoek
Welkom! Welcome to Namibia. Your adventure begins in Windhoek, where you‘ll be met by an Intrepid representative and transferred to your hotel. If you arrive early, maybe wander the old German architecture in the town, passing the Tintenpalast (Ink Palace) and the Christuskirche (church). Tonight, you’ll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm to get to know your local leader and fellow travellers. After, you might want to join your group for an optional welcome dinner.
Day 2 Ghanzi/Central Kalahari
Today is a bit of a long travel day as you cross the border into Botswana and make your way to Ghanzi – known as the ‘Capital of the Kalahari’. Take the opportunity to grab a window seat and watch the landscape pass you by or get to know your fellow travellers a little better with some road trip games. When you arrive, settle into your lodge accommodation and soak up some Botswana sunshine or cool off in the pool.
Day 3 Okavango Delta Panhandle
This morning, you’ll head to the Okavango Delta – known for its sprawling grassy plains that flood seasonally, making the delta a lush animal habitat. When you arrive, board speedboats and make your way to your home for the next two nights – a houseboat in the Okavango Delta Panhandle. You can chill out on the deck or grab a few friends and attempt one of the onsite board games. For dinner, your captain will serve dinner on the deck, and you can watch the sunset while you eat and listen to the sounds of the nearby hippos on the water's edge.
Day 4 Okavango Delta Panhandle
After breakfast, take a speedboat and a 4WD to a nearby polling station. From here, you can explore the waterways in mokoros (traditional dugout canoes) with a local guide. Your guide will take you on a short nature walk around one of the many islands in the Delta Panhandle, followed by a picnic lunch. Then, return to the houseboat where you can relax, read a book or do some fishing. This evening, grab a sundowner, pull up a chair and watch the often striking sunset.
Day 5 Maun
Leave your houseboat behind and again board the speedboats that take you back to dry land. Drive on to Maun – the gateway of the Okavango Delta. For those seeking an extra adventure, there's an opportunity to fly over the delta in a helicopter for a bird's-eye view! Your leader can give you more information on this activity and how to book, so just ask them if you’re interested. Alternatively, the afternoon is free for you to sit by the pool and take a breather when you arrive in Maun.
Day 6 Makgadikgadi Pans
Leave your lodge after breakfast and head towards north-east Botswana. The next stop is the Makgadikgadi Pans – a large salt pan in the middle of the dry savanna. This pan is now all that remains of the former Lake Makgadikgadi. Head out to the Makgadikgadi Pans for an afternoon excursion in open 4WDs to one of the largest salt flats in the world, spending some time with a local meerkat community along the way. Tonight, sip on a couple of sundowners and enjoy some snacks as you watch the sun fall behind the old baobab trees. Our accommodation tonight is located on the edge of the pans. You can choose to relax beside the pool or lounge area while admiring the beautiful surroundings after a busy day.
Day 7 Chobe National Park
This morning, make tracks towards Kasane, which sits on the edge of Chobe National Park. The stretch of road between Nata and Kasane is known as the 'Elephant Highway'. With no fences, elephants are free to move between Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe and Botswana. So, this is the perfect time keep your eyes peeled for roadside elephants during your drive! When you arrive in Chobe National Park – Botswana's first national park, known for its high concentration of elephants – settle into your lodge on the banks of the Chobe River and soak in the sounds of the wildlife.
Day 8 Chobe National Park
Wake up nice and early this morning to take a dawn game drive in Chobe National Park. In the park, you might see the resident elephants drinking at the waters' edge, large herds of cape buffalo or one of the many impalas that call this place home. In the afternoon, you’ll take a scenic cruise on the Chobe River – ideal for spotting local bird life such as saddle-billed storks, malachite kingfishers, fish eagles and beautiful bee-eaters. As well as birds, look out for hippos, crocodiles and large families of elephants. There will also be an opportunity to enjoy a drink and watch the sunset over the river after the boat cruise.
Day 9 Victoria Falls
Travel on to Victoria Falls, crossing the border into Zimbabwe. Arrive in time to have lunch on the banks of the Zambezi River. Victoria Falls is one of the world's natural wonders, and when in full flow, it forms the largest sheet of falling water on Earth. Your leader will take you to a local activity centre where various activities will be on offer to fill up your afternoon here. This evening, take a local brewery tour with your group and enjoy a tasting paddle to sample the brewery’s finest. After, maybe keep the night going and celebrate a trip well-travelled with your group.
Day 10 Victoria Falls
With no further activities planned, your adventure comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you’d like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.
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DAY 1, Wednesday - Depart for South Africa
DAY 2, Thursday - Arrive in Cape Town
DAY 3, Friday - Cape Peninsula Tour
DAY 4, Saturday - Cape Town City Tour
DAY 5, Sunday - Full Day in Cape Town
DAY 6, Monday - Flight to Durban, Game Viewing Cruise on the St. Lucia Estuary
DAY 7, Tuesday - Game Drive in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve, Travel to eSwatini
DAY 8, Wednesday - eSwatini Sightseeing and Matsamo Village Visit
DAY 9, Thursday - Kruger National Park Game Drive
DAY 10, Friday - Panorama Route to Johannesburg
DAY 11, Saturday - Soweto Tour
DAY 12, Sunday - Fly to Victoria Falls* & Sundowner Cruise
DAY 13, Monday - Guided Tour of Victoria Falls
DAY 14, Tuesday - Sunset Game Viewing Cruise in Chobe, Botswana
DAY 15, Wednesday - Morning Game Drive in Chobe National Park
DAY 16, Thursday - Depart South Africa *Flights to Victoria Falls will arrive and depart into Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe or Livingstone, Zambia. The Livingstone airport is a 30-minute drive to the hotel in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe |
