Botswana Highlights and Western Zimbabwe

Enjoy the many wildlife safaris and outdoor activities arranged by Deception Valley Lodge at its private game conservancy, bordering the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. The lodge offers its guests the unique opportunity to get to know about the daily life, culture and traditions of the local Naru-speaking, San community via local village visits and more. Explore the surrounding bushveld on nature walks and birding trips with your Bushmen guides. Learn about their ancient tracking and hunting skills, and they’ll share their knowledge on the local flora and fauna, including medicinal plants and herbs. The lodge also arranges daily morning and afternoon safari trips in 4X4 drive vehicles into its private game conservancy with local guides and trackers. Spot the black-maned Kalahari lion, giraffe, ostrich, the blue wildebeest, as well as big cats and antelopes. Enjoy refreshing drinks after an afternoon game drive, while watching the sun set over the Kalahari. (Group activity & transfers; All meals included; Fitness level: easy; Please wear comfortable hiking boots, bring sunglasses & sunhat)

Make the most of an out-in-the-wild experience with a range of outdoor activities. Spend hours reveling in a delightful plethora of colors and sounds wherever you fix your eye. Enjoy game drives that are conducted by professional and expert guides and explore the wildlife-rich game reserve known for its sightings of lions, leopards, bat-eared fox, eland, kudu, and porcupines, to name a few. You can opt to remain grounded and explore your surroundings on foot. This will give you a chance to enjoy spotting smaller animals and birds, as well-informed Bushmen lead you in a thrilling walk through the bush. Indulge in bird watching and feel relaxed with the diverse winged beauties painting the sky in different hues.

Enjoy an incredibly diverse safari experience! Explore the Okavango Delta on exciting game drives in the early morning when the animals are particularly active and in the late afternoon when the sun paints incredible colors on the horizon. You can also enjoy exciting night drives and A mokoro excursion will take you along the channels and lagoons of the Delta to view game from another perspective and to experience this tranquil mode of transport. As another highlight, enjoy beautiful boat safaris which allow you to get a closer look at the aquatic animals and birds not easily approached on safari. (Mokoro and Boat Safaris only between July and September)

Enjoy an incredibly diverse safari experience! Explore the Okavango Delta on exciting game drives in the early morning when the animals are particularly active and in the late afternoon when the sun paints incredible colors on the horizon. You can also enjoy exciting night drives and wonderful bush walks with an experienced guide to stretch your legs and discover the small wonders of nature. A mokoro excursion will take you along the channels and lagoons of the Delta to view game from another perspective and to experience this tranquil mode of transport. As another highlight, enjoy beautiful boat safaris which allow you to get a closer look at the aquatic animals and birds not easily approached on safari. (Boat Safaris and Mokoro only between July and September)

Head out and discover the Smoke that Thunders! This tour will take you to all the highlights surrounding Victoria Falls. Stand at the ideal vantage point overlooking the heart of the mighty waters as they gush and roar. Pack your waterproofs because the closer you get, the more likely you are to experience the spray! (Time: Early morning or late afternoon; Duration: 2-3 hrs; Private Activity with private transfers ; Fitness level: Easy)

Savor a delicious lunch at the The Lookout Café, while enjoying a spectacular, panoramic view of the thundering Victoria Falls. Meet your local guide at your hotel before driving down to the town’s iconic eatery. The restaurant and bar is also accessible to differently abled guests. Settle down in the alfresco dining area at the outdoor terrace facing the mighty waterfall and relish the local African and global cuisines served here. Try a freshly grilled Zambezi bream in white wine sauce, served with salad and French fries, or a duet of roast zucchini and mushrooms with halloumi in a puff pastry shell. Finish off with a delectable fresh fruit kebab, drizzled with cinnamon and honey. (Duration: 2-3 hrs, anytime between 1000-1600 hrs; Private Activity & Transfers; Meals included: Lunch; For special dietary needs, please inform us ahead of tour; Fitness level: Easy; Please dress comfortably).

Get to know Africa’s gentle giants at the Wild Horizons Elephant Sanctuary, nestled by the Masuwe River near Victoria Falls. Meet your local guide at your Victoria Falls hotel before driving down to the elephant sanctuary. Settle down in a thatched boma, and learn all about the sanctuary and its various activities, including the conservation efforts. Walk out into the bush with elephant guides, picking up insightful information about these majestic creatures. Experience the magic of encountering elephants in their natural habitat. Later, enjoy the refreshments back at the boma, before the drive back to your hotel. (Duration: 2-3 hrs; Shared Activity & Private Transfers; Meals included: Beverages and snacks; Fitness level: Easy; Please wear sunblock, sunhat, sunglasses and comfortable walking shoes).

Enjoy early morning and late afternoon game drives at Mpala Jena, located in a private concession within Zambezi National Park, upstream from Victoria Falls. Head out in a private open 4×4 vehicle on the lookout for impala, buffalo, elephants and lions. Lucky guests might also see leopards and wild dogs, two of the more elusive carnivores that stalk the African bush. The area is also ideal for birdwatching, with over 400 hundred resident and migrant bird species vying for your attention. For a closer appreciation of the environment, go on a bush walk to learn about local wildlife beyond the Big Five. Take a relaxing cruise down the Zambezi, making sure to watch out for hippos and crocodiles in the water, and elephants on the banks. For a more adventurous option, go canoeing in the river, paying special attention to the myriad birds that frequent the water. Mpala Jena also provides one return road transfer to Victoria Falls town and an entrance ticket to view the majestic Victoria Falls, or Mosi-oa-Tunya (the Smoke that Thunders), on your own. (Shared Activities; Fitness Level: Easy)