Botswana Highlights and Western Zimbabwe

Enchanting Travels-Botswana Tours-Okavango Delta-Vumbura Plains-Boat ride

Aerial view of antelopes running across flooded grasslands, Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana

Botswana Highlights and Western Zimbabwe

11 Days from $16,290 USD / person

Traverse sprawling deserts, the world’s largest inland river delta and thundering waterfalls as you explore some of Southern Africa’s finest wildlife destinations.

Savor the assorted urban charms of Johannesburg before heading to the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Enjoy enthralling game drives and walking safaris with expert Bushmen guides to spot lions, leopards, elands and more. At the Okavango Delta, go on night drives and spot massive herds of elephants as you glide along the delta in a mokoro (canoe).

One of the highlights of your vacation is visiting the Smoke that Thunders – the magnificent Victoria Falls. More amazing wildlife sightings await you at Zambezi National Park. Keep an eye out for impala, elephants, buffalo and lions. If you are lucky, you might even spot the elusive leopard and wild dogs.

Your Vacation. Your Way.

This itinerary can be customized for you. Get in touch with our experts for your personalized vacation plan.

Ideal For

Adventure & Outdoors

Luxury

Nature & Landscapes

Wildlife & Safaris

Sample Itinerary

Day

Place

Hotel Opts

1 – 2

Johannesburg
Highlights: Urban Bistros, Historical Sites, Beautiful Architecture, Musical Rhythms

City Lodge OR Tambo International Airport
InterContinental Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport

2 – 4

Central Kalahari
Highlights: Immense Sand Basin, Desertscape, Meerkats, 4WD Safaris, Experienced Bushmen Guides

Deception Valley Lodge
Dinaka Safari Lodge

4 – 7

Okavango Delta
Highlights: Natural Beauty, Amazing Wildlife, Diverse Safari Activities

Little Sable
Sable Alley Camp

7 – 8

Victoria Falls
Highlights: Helicopter Rides over the Waterfalls, Canoeing

The Palm River Hotel
The Palm River Hotel

8 – 11

Zambezi National Park
Highlights: Victoria Falls, Safaris, Zambezi River Drive

Mpala Jena
Mpala Jena

11 – 11

Johannesburg
Highlights: Urban Bistros, Historical Sites, Beautiful Architecture, Musical Rhythms

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Sample Itinerary

Day 1 – 2

1 Night

Johannesburg

Discover South Africa’s beating heart! Johannesburg, or Jo’burg’ is a dynamic, cosmopolitan city with great places to eat and interesting sites to visit. The city has played a Jekyll and Hyde role in global consciousness, highlighting both ups and downs of 21st century South Africa. A guided tour of Soweto (the Southwest Townships) offers a glimpse of history and daily life, whilst the Apartheid Museum pays tribute to South Africa’s recent poignant past. Powerful monuments, a musical variety from sophisticated jazz to urban kwaito, and a fusion of flavors in the shebeens of Soweto to the upmarket bistros of Rosebank and Sandton all await you.

Hotel options

City Lodge OR Tambo International Airport – Opt 1

Room Standard Room

Meals Breakfast

Style International

InterContinental Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport – Opt 2

Room Classic Room

Meals Breakfast

Style International

Day 2 – 4

2 Nights

Central Kalahari

Discover the desert! The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is both the largest game reserve and the largest sand basin in the world. Situated in the center of Botswana, this reserve has no permanent surface water, but unlike most deserts, the Kalahari is well vegetated with a wide variety of habitats including areas of flat grasslands that seem to stretch forever.

Included activities

Deception Valley: Day and Night Game Drives, Bushman Walk

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)

Dinaka Safari Lodge: Day and Night Game drives, Bush Walks, Birding, Photographic Hide

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.

Hotel options

Deception Valley Lodge – Opt 1

Room Standard Room

Meals Full Board, Activities and Selected Drinks

Style Lodge

Dinaka Safari Lodge – Opt 2

Room Standard Tent

Meals Full Board, Activities and Selected Drinks

Style Lodge

Day 4 – 7

3 Nights

Okavango Delta

Witness a world of glittering water! The Okavango Delta is one of the largest inland deltas on earth. Each summer, floods pour through a vast network of narrow waterways, lagoons until they are soaked up by the sands. Expect diverse wildlife and birdlife – impala, tsessebe, sable and the elegant kudu, or thirsty buffalo, wildebeest and zebra in the dry season. Lions, cheetahs and wild dogs hunt in the open grassland! Experience game drives and safari walks on land, while boat or mokoru (a dugout canoe) rides allow you to silently glide pass crocodiles! {Please note that due to fluctuating weather conditions and decreased rainfall, water levels at the Okavango Delta may be lower than usual at the time of your visit. Our team will be happy to provide further updates closer to your travel dates and plan alternate activities if required}

Included activities

Little Sable: Game Drives, Boat Cruises and Mokoro Excursions (seasonal), Wildlife Encounter at the Hide

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)

Sable Alley Camp: Game Drives, Bush Walks, Boat Safaris and Mokoro Excursions (seasonal)

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)

Hotel options

Little Sable – Opt 1

Room Standard Room

Meals Full Board, Activities and Selected Drinks

Style Lodge

Sable Alley Camp – Opt 2

Room Standard Room

Meals Full Board, Activities and Selected Drinks

Style Lodge

Day 7 – 8

1 Night

Victoria Falls

Angels in their flight! This is how David Livingstone described the breathtaking Victoria Falls, where five million cubic meters of water cascade over every minute during wet season. Hear the roar and see the spray upon approach. Experience the falls by helicopter or canoe amongst hippos and crocodiles. Located on the river’s banks, explore Zambezi National Park; Matetsi, home to elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, giraffe and zebra, hippo, crocodile and iridescent birds such as bee-eaters, storks, herons, kingfisher and, fish eagles.

Included activities

Guided Tour of Victoria Falls

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)

Lunch at Lookout Cafe

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).

Elephant Encounter in the Wild Horizons Elephant Sanctuary

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).

Hotel options

The Palm River Hotel – Opt 1

Room Deluxe Room

Meals Breakfast

Style International

The Palm River Hotel – Opt 2

Room Executive Suite

Meals Breakfast

Style International

Day 8 – 11

3 Nights

Zambezi National Park

Zambezi National Park adjoins the town of Victoria Falls. The park is spread over about 54,000 hectares and is one of the smallest national parks in Zimbabwe. Visitors can experience Victoria Falls and go on game drives and guided walking tours, as well as canoeing trips on the mighty Zambezi River. The park has an amazing array of wildlife like lions, elephants, leopards, buffalos, impalas, and zebras that stay close to the river during the dry season. In addition, herds of sable antelope, giraffe, eland, kudu, and smaller species of game can also be seen. The river is home to hippos, waterbuck, crocodiles and over 75 species of fish like fighting tiger fish and bream.

The park also has a wide variety of birdlife throughout the year, and numbers increase when migratory birds come to breed in the green season. Upstream along the Zambezi River Drive are numbered sites, where you can set up a picnic under shady trees.

Included activities

Mpala Jena: Game Drives, Bush Walks, Boat Cruises, Canoeing, Unguided Trip to Victoria Falls

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)

Hotel options

Mpala Jena – Opt 1

Room Standard Tent

Meals Full Board, Activities and Selected Drinks

Style Lodge

Mpala Jena – Opt 2

Room Standard Tent

Meals Full Board, Activities and Selected Drinks

Style Lodge

Day 11 – 11

Johannesburg

Price & Inclusions

Option 1

From $16,290 USD / person

Option 2

From $19,990 USD / person

Prices are in USD and exclude international flights. This trip price is based on low season rates for accommodation and other applicable services, and may change depending on availability, currency fluctuations and number of people traveling together. For high season prices, please contact us with your exact travel dates and preferences.

Price Includes

Accommodation and meals, as specified in the itinerary
Activities and excursions, as specified in the itinerary
Transportation services, as specified in the itinerary
Your Trip Coordination Team: Dedicated support throughout your journey, with a primary, personal point of contact. Plus, in case of emergencies while you’re traveling, our trip coordination team are available 24/7 by phone

Not Included

Entrance fees and meals, unless mentioned in the itinerary description
Tips and personal expenses
Visa and tourism fees
Travel, health, and cancellation insurance
International airfare

What Our Guests Say

A memorable trip to South Africa and Zimbabwe. A lot to see and a lot of history, a very memorable vacation. The safari drives are amazing and the food in all locations were delicious, you got to be open to trying different cuisine. Overall trip was the best I#ve experienced.

Rosemarie Wright

USA

The trip was planned perfectly from beginning to the end. We were notified of any changes to the schedule based on delayed flights etc. It is a real advantage to have Enchanting Travels make the arrangements that allowed us to speed through customs and visa checks. Our drivers were always there waiting for our arrival so no time wasted waiting. Just the ease of the logistics that comes with traveling with Enchanting Travels keeps up going back to them when we are planning a trip. The experiences were beyond words. Our game drive guides were exceptional in getting us to where the animals were so we could enjoy seeing cheetah cubs at play while mom watched, lion cubs playing while a group of lioness’s napped in the sun and two male lions did the same. The most incredible sight was watching a group of 6 lioness’s separate a female buffalo and her calf and going on to taking them both down. It was like watching a Nat Geo film but we were there within 30 yards to watch. Our accommodations were top notch, staff everywhere we were were exceptional, and the settings were all different but wonderful. Our trip coordinator was in constant contact just to check in and see if there was anything we needed her to do. The Trip Agent App, our first time using it, was a very nice feature and was so much easier to use rather than pulling out a hard copy of the trip to find the answer to our questions. I wasn’t sure if I would use it or not but became dependent on it. Traveling doesn’t get any better if you travel with Enchanting Travels. We will be back!

Carol Brzeczek

USA

Enchanting exceeded our expectations by a wide margin. They built the itinerary that was perfect for us and were with us throughout the entire trip checking in on us and handling any issues that could possibly arise (like a delayed flight that had a trickle effect). The staff were all over and above attentive and caring. The app they have you use is surprisingly excellent and helpful. Can’t say enough about this travel company. It’s the way to go.

George Kyriakis

Canada

This was our first trip with Enchanting Travels and I could not make a higher recommendation. From the time of planning to execution of our trip to Southern Africa, the service was excellent. The attention to detail of every aspect of our trip was outstanding. The trip was seamless, from transportation to accommodations. It was comforting to have a connection in Africa who met with us online prior to the trip and was available throughout our journey. The app with all of our travel plans and documents made the trip stress free. We plan to use Enchanting Travels again in the future.

Tamela Gough

USA

This trip to South Africa has been on our bucket list for a long time. Our only regret is that we didn’t do it sooner. It exceeded all expectations, particularly because of Enchanting Travels and our travel coordinator /consultants Akshay, and Cyprian. Their expertise, and professionalism allayed any concerns we had. Also, the timeframe and specific tours on our itinerary were perfect – four days in Cape Town, two days at the Krueger Safari Park, two days in Zimbabwe/Victoria Falls, and two days in Johannesburg. We were glad Enchanting Travels was recommended by a relative who relied on them for a trip to South Africa. Everything was perfectly customized to meet our needs and we thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of this trip.

Gail Lofton

USA

We went to Africa because it was on our bucket list. We thought it would turn out to be a nice trip but words cannot express how wonderful it was. We felt like we were living in a fantasy. Every single person that we met in Africa was amazingly friendly and happy. Everything else we saw there was so much more amazing that it being on television. We are really considering going back in the future since it was absolutely the best trip we have ever been on!!! I am suggesting Africa to everyone.

Leanne Hoffman

USA

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