You can arrive at any time on day 1 as there are no activities planned until the welcome meeting tonight at 6pm. Your leader will leave a note at reception telling you where this important meeting will take place. Your leader will collect your kitty and check your passport and insurance details at this meeting.

After the group meeting there is the option of joining the group for dinner.

Johannesburg is a sprawling city of remarkable contrasts: in the townships, mansions stand alongside tin shacks and there are as many green parks on the outskirts of the city as there are conglomerations of concrete in the city centre. This is a good place to spend a couple of days to get an insight into South Africa's history and it's a great base for exploring the rest of the country.

Day 2 Khama Rhino Sanctuary

Leaving South Africa behind, we cross the border entering Botswana and travel toward the Khama Rhino Sanctuary (600 km, approx 8-10 hours),

Situated on the edge of the vast Kalahari Desert, the sanctuary is a result of locals' efforts to convert 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, which have all moved in and can be seen around the many natural waterholes. Visiting this project benefits local communities as well as contributing to the protection of the highly endangered white rhinoceros.

We will head out on a dusk game drive to see the rhinos when they are at their most active before returning to our campsite for the night.

Day 3 Maun

Our destination today is Maun (520 km, approx. 7-8 hours), the gateway to one of the world's most renowned and complex ecosystems, the Okavango Delta.

The Delta is formed by the Okavango River which fans out into an intricate maze of streams, creating 16,000 sq km of wetlands. A constant water source near the Kalahari Desert, the Okavango Delta attracts a variety of wildlife including hippos, crocodiles, elephants and big cats. The wildlife can be difficult to spot however, and the prime attraction of a visit to the Delta is exploring the meandering clear waterways, green islands and lush plains of one of the world's most fascinating ecosystems.

We camp on the outskirts of town at a simple campsite with shared facilities.

Days 4-5 Okavango Delta

Today we traverse the waterways by mokoro, a traditional dugout canoe navigated by friendly local 'polers'. With luck, you might spot some of the Delta's unusual wildlife and prolific birdlife while on these safaris. We also spend time exploring the maze of lagoons, lakes and streams on foot, led by experienced and knowledgeable guides.

We camp on a remote island in the heart of the wilderness. We dig a bush toilet and go without a shower but it is all part of the Delta experience. At night, the sounds of the African bush are the only things you will hear - a true wilderness experience!

Waking up early in the morning we venture out on a sunrise walk hoping to catch a glimpse of some elephants and cape buffalo.

Returning to camp for breakfast we have the rest of the day to relax, take a swim or test your poling skills before heading out for an afternoon walk or perhaps another mokoro trip - the choice is yours.

Day 6 Maun

After taking down our camp we take the mokoro back to the poling station where we have an opportunity to visit a local rural village for an insight into the life of the people that live in the Okavango Delta before our transfer back to Maun (60 km, approx 2-3 hours).

After lunch we have the opportunity to explore the town of Maun.

For those wanting more adventure there is an opportunity to fly over the Delta in a small plane for a bird's eye view, a great way to appreciate the immensity of this watery world.

Day 7 Elephant Sands

We pack up camp this morning after breakfast and head north. We are aiming for Elephant Sands (390 km, approx. 6-7 hours), a private conservancy in Northern Botswana.

Elephant Sands is home to not only elephants, but also lots of antelope species, lions, giraffe, zebra and hundreds of different bird species. We will arrive in time to do an afternoon game drive hoping to spot some of these amazing animals.

Tonight we camp in the conservancy at a basic camp with shared facilities.

Days 8-9 Victoria Falls

From Elephant Sands we travel to Victoria Falls (330 km, approx. 5-6 hours). Crossing the border we enter Zimbabwe mid morning in time to have lunch on the banks of the Zambezi.

In the afternoon we visit to the magnificent Victoria Falls. The falls are an enormous curtain of water, about a mile wide, falling 108 m into a narrow chasm below. In the wet season, the spray created can rise up an incredible 400 m and the falls are an impressive raging torrent. The spray from the falls can sometimes be seen from kilometres away. It's no wonder the local name Mosi oa Tunya, means the "smoke that thunders". In the dry season, the view of the falls is unobstructed by spray and it's possible to see little islets in the river below.

Tonight we will share a final night dinner together. You are free to depart any time on day 9 as there are no activities planned; check out time is 10am.

For those of you who are planning on spending a few extra days in Vic Falls there are various activities and excursions to choose from both on the water, on land or high above it all. Choose from white water rafting and canoeing, or go horse riding, abseiling or gorge swinging.

Included Activities

Evening game drive - Khama Rhino Sanctuary

Mokoro trips - Okavango Delta

Guided walks - Okavango Delta

Local village visit - Okavango Delta

Afternoon game drive - Elephant Sands

Visit Victoria Falls - Victoria Falls

Meal Inclusions

6 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 6 Dinners

Pricing

Per Person Sharing

$667