Intimate Botswana & Zimbabwe Encounter - 15 days

Full itinerary

There are so many benefits for travellers going on a Guided Group Tour because they get to see Africa with a knowledgeable guide who will show them the very best there is to see at every destination.  Generally, travellers also get to see more wildlife with the guidance of experienced trackers who know how to find the best spots!

View the full itinerary here.

INTIMATE BOTSWANA AND ZIMBABWE ENCOUNTER – 15 DAYS
SMALL GROUP LODGE SAFARIS
JENMAN

With some of the world’s greatest wildlife, Botswana and Zimbabwe are perfect partners for a safari. Enjoy our guides’ expertise and knowledge of both countries and get to explore two of Southern Africa’s most enigmatic countries with its endangered wild dogs, rhino tracking, iconic Victoria Falls and among others, a traditional canoe trip.

A small guided group safari (4 – 12 travellers), from Victoria Falls through Botswana and Zimbabwe ending in Maun. 15 Days taking in the spectacular falls, Chobe, Matobo and Hwange National Parks, a Lake Kariba houseboat safari, Moremi and the Okavango Delta safaris and much more.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
 

VICTORIA FALLS
Victoria Falls has been called “the greatest known curtain of falling water on earth” and it is a truly spectacular site to see. Vic Falls borders on Zambia and Zimbabwe on either sides of the Zambezi River. It offers superb viewing from both sides of the river as the almost two kilometers of falls cascade into the gorge below.  Columns of spray can be seen from miles. Its a must-see destination on this leg of your Zimbabwe safari.

CHOBE NATIONAL PARK
Four countries Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, and Namibia meet in the region of Chobe. A safari to any of these countries should include this exciting wildlife destination . It is best known for its massive elephant herds – indeed some of the biggest in Africa. There’s also an abundance of other wildlife for you to see in large numbers. Chobe National Park boasts some world class safari lodges that are the perfect places from which to explore and discover Chobe with game drives or boat safaris.

HWANGE NATIONAL PARK
From your bush lodge at Sable Sands you will venture into Zimbabwe’s  premier wildlife area, Hwange National Park for some up and close encounters with big and small game. Famous for its elephants, Hwange’s over 30 ooo animals come second only to Chobe which has Africa’s biggest elephant herds. The reserve also has a great reputation for frequent sightings of the critically endangered African wild dog and other large predators like lion and leopard.

LAKE KARIBA
Lake Kariba was completed in 1958 and a major engineering achievement at the time. Especially so, as it damned and tamed the mighty Zambezi River. Enjoy spectacular sunsets and lake-based game viewing  from the comfort of your Kariba houseboat, on this leg of your Zimbabwe safari.

MATOBO NATIONAL PARK
There’s over four hundred square kilometers of unspoilt natural beauty to discover in the Matobo National Park. This aside the park’s main attraction is its population of both Black and White Rhino. In a protected area next to the park is a sanctuary that holds the highest concentration and populations of rhinos in Zimbabwe.  One of the highlights on this leg of your Zimbabwe holiday is that they can be reliably tracked on foot whilst on safari. Matobo also boasts a high concentration of leopard.

NATA BIRD SANCTUARY
The Nata Bird Sanctuary is home to many species of African mammal wildlife and birdlife. In fact, most of the animals in this protected area are African birds. Coming to the Nata Bird Sanctuary on your Botswana Safari will bring you to the homing grounds for so many birds, including Flamingos, Pelicans, Ducks, Geese, Ostriches, Kingfisher Eagles, Spoon Bills and more.

THE MAKGADIKGADI PANS
The Makgadikgadi Pans make for a hauntingly beautiful Botswana vacation, particularly during the rainy season (January – April).  As the rain arrives, herds of zebra, wildebeest and other antelope make their way northwards to the Nxai Pan and are followed closely by the migration of predators, such as lion, cheetah and hyena.

THE MOREMI RESERVE
The Moremi Reserve has been described as one of the most beautiful safari areas in Africa and protects over 3000 square kilometers of Botswana wilderness in the central and eastern Okavango Delta. Expect excellent game viewing year-round in Moremi and the area’s wide range of different habitats supports an incredible array of game and birds. The best time to visit is June through to September when the swelling waterways become a magnet for thousands of animals.

OKAVANGO DELTA
The world’s largest inland delta, the Okavango Delta is a network of channels and rivers with thousands of islands lined with massive beds of papyrus. The floodplains stretch for miles and are the perfect environment to support abundant African game and hundreds of bird species. The delta’s lodges and safari camps offer mokoro safaris, motorized boat trips, walking safaris and in some cases and seasons vehicle based game viewing.

ITINERARY

On arrival into Victoria Falls Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the afternoon may be spent at leisure enjoying one of the many activities available in Victoria Falls. This evening you will meet your guide and the rest of your group at the lodge at 18h00 for your pre-departure meeting.

ITINERARY

After breakfast your guide will take you on a tour of the mighty Victoria Falls, known by the local Kololo tribe as Mosi oa Tunya – “the smoke that thunders”. We then travel to Kasane in Botswana, the gateway to the Chobe National Park. Chobe, which is the second largest national park in Botswana and covers 10,566 square km, has one of the greatest concentrations of elephant found on the African continent. The afternoon is at leisure to partake in optional activities or to relax by the pool.

ITINERARY

Start your morning with a hopefully spectacular game drive in Chobe National Park. You will return to the lodge for a late breakfast and relaxation until our boat cruise on the Chobe River starts around 3pm. Here we can watch elephants, hippos, crocodiles and a variety of birds, making for excellent up-close photo opportunities.

ITINERARY

This morning we make our way across the border into Zimbabwe and to our lodge situated in a private concession near Hwange National Park. Over the following two days, we will have plenty of time to explore this vast wilderness on game drives. Hwange National Park is one of Africa’s finest havens for wildlife and is home to great 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. On arrival, we will visit the Painted Dog Conservation Centre to witness the work that is done to protect this endangered species. If time allows, you can partake in an optional game drive on the concession in the afternoon. The whole of the next day is spent exploring this magnificent area on a full day game drive in Hwange National Park.

ITINERARY

Today we head off to Binga located on the south eastern shore of Lake Kariba, where we will board a luxury houseboat for a relaxing two-night trip. Nested in mountains, Lake Kariba is a man-made inland sea guarded by enormous reserves of game and made beautiful and savage by sun and storm, earth and water. Our voyage takes us to the Sengwe River for afternoon wildlife activities and sunset, followed by drinks and dinner on board.  In the morning we set out early for some leisurely fishing, guided walks or game viewing depending on your preference. When we return, brunch will be served whilst cruising to Elephant Bay where we will moor at one of the islands with a sandy beach. Watch the sunset over lake, relaxing around a camp fire and enjoying a beach barbecue under the starry sky.

ITINERARY

We end our houseboat experience with some morning game viewing activities on Lake Kariba and cruise back to Binga where our voyage started. After disembarking we travel southwards to the majestic Matobo Hills, an area of exquisite beauty, steeped in tribal history, ancient mystery and dramatic rock landscapes. The national park has been given UNESCO World Heritage status and is home to both white and black rhinoceros and sable antelope. Birdlife is prolific and includes the highest concentration of black eagles in the world. Once the home of the San (Bushman), this area contains the richest source of the rock art found anywhere. Not only is it here that the Ndebele people buried their great king, Mzilikazi, but Cecil John Rhodes was also laid to rest on the “Hill of the Benevolent Spirit” or “World’s View” as named by him. We spend the next day in the national park, starting our morning with tracking rhino spoor by vehicle and foot. In the afternoon we further explore the scenery and wildlife of the park on game drives, ending with a visit to Rhodes’ grave.

ITINERARY

We leave Matobo Hills and drive through the savannas of southern Matebeleland en-route to Botswana. In the afternoon we visit the Nata Bird Sanctuary, where we will have the opportunity to enjoy the magnificent view over the Sowa pan which is part of the Greater Makgadikgadi Pans. (Please note a visit to the pans is subject to the road conditions and water levels as well as time constraints.) We arrive at our lodge in the late afternoon.

ITINERARY

A very early morning departure leads us to Planet Baobab near Gweta, from where we embark on an expedition to Ntwetwe Pan to encounter some of Botswana’s distinctive landscapes and extraordinary creatures.

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Today we travel to Maun, a bustling safari town which serves as the gateway to the Okavango Delta. The name Maun is derived from the San word “maung”, which means “the place of short reeds”. 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 delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and truly glorious oasis.

ITINERARY

After breakfast we take a drive to the mokoro station. From here, we will float in dug-out canoes through the thick vegetation of the Okavango Delta discovering a variety of birds and wildlife. Unlike other deltas, it flows into the Kalahari Desert without ever reaching the coast. After this spectacular excursion and lunch, we make our way to our camp, which is situated in a private concession in the Greater Moremi area. After settling into our camp, we will enjoy dinner and embark on a night game drive in the concession – a fantastic opportunity to spot some nocturnal animals that are more difficult to encounter during the day.

ITINERARY

Today we head into the famous Moremi Game Reserve 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.

ITINERARY

Our safari ends after breakfast. You will be transferred to Maun Airport in time for your departure flight. We hope to welcome you again one day on another of our African adventures!

ACCOMMODATION

We make use of mid-range typical African standard lodge accommodation. Accommodation is situated either in national parks, on the banks of a river, or in other places of interest. The accommodation will be a mix of lodges, chalets and tented camps with en-suite bathrooms. All of them have a private bathroom with a shower or bath and a toilet. Some properties are equipped with swimming pools and/or bar areas.

Day 1 – Shearwater Explorer’s Village, Victoria Falls or similar. (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, bar & restaurant)
Day 2 & 3 – Chobe Safari Lodge, or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, bar & restaurant)
Day 4 & 5 – Chobe Safari Lodge, or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, bar & restaurant)
Day 6 & 7 – Sovereign Houseboat, Lake Kariba or similar. (cabins with en-suite bathrooms, plunge pool & dining room area)
Day 8 & 9 – Shashani Matobo Hills Lodge, Matobo Hills or similar. (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, bar, & swimming pool)
Day 10 – Nata Lodge, Nata or similar. (permanent safari tents with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool & bar)
Day 11 – Planet Baobab, Gweta or similar. (Bakalanga huts with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool & bar)
Day 12 – Thamalakane River Lodge, Maun or similar. (chalets with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, bar & restaurant)
Day 13 & 14 – Bedouin Bush Camp, Moremi Game Reserve or similar. (semi-permanent tented camp with en-suite bathrooms). Please note that there is no electricity at the camp.

You can also enjoy this guided tour on a private basis with a guide.

INCLUDED

• Accommodation and meals as per full itinerary
• All transport in a JENMAN safari vehicle
• Game drives and activities
• Park entrance fees
• Experienced local guide

EXCLUDED

• Flights
• Pre and post tour accommodation
• Optional activities
• All drinks
• Personal expenses such as telephone calls, curios and tips
• Travel insurance and visas

PARK FEES & ACTIVITIES

This fee will be payable prior to travel together with the main tour fee. The fee is used to pay for some of the day-to-day operational costs that are incurred while groups are on the road. Examples include fees at most of the national parks, entrance fees to some attractions, local guides and any food markets we visit to stock up on fresh produce during the tour.

Park Fees & Activities: US$ 250 / € 240 Per person

2023 DEPARTURE DATES

Will advise including availability

Safari Map

Full itinerary below

View the full itinerary here.

Rates 2023

From:  US$ 5,170.00 Per Person