Vic Falls, Okavango Delta & Chobe Camping Safari

Experience the wild beauty and untamed wildlife of Southern Africa on this budget camping safari to top wilderness destinations in Botswana and Zambia.

This African adventure starts in Johannesburg, crossing into Botswana and heading to Zambia's Victoria Falls. Then its back into Botswana to explore the game-rich Chobe game park and the unique Okavango Delta. Lastly, visit Khama Rhino Sanctuary, a community based project, before returning to Johannesburg in South Africa.

Accommodation on this affordable safari is in twin-shared dome tents at selected camps, the best way to truly experience the African bush. Camping under the stars on a remote island in the heart of the Okavango Delta is one of the tour highlights, where you get to hear the delta wildlife around you at night. We explore the winding waterways of the pristine Okavango Delta by dugout canoe and on foot. Take an optional Chobe River Cruise or game drive in this beautiful park, famous for its abundance of elephants, and watch the sun set over the serene Chobe River. 

Witness the Victoria Falls to see why it is called the 'Smoke that Thunders' and choose from the wide array of optional adventure activities available at Africa's adventure capital. 

This budget Okavango Delta & Chobe Camping Safari offers the African wilderness and wildlife experiences of a lifetime!

Tour Highlights:

• Victoria Falls & optional adventure activities, Zambia
• Chobe National Park elephants and wildlife viewing
• Bush camping & canoeing in Botswana's Okavango Delta 
• Visiting Khama Rhino Sanctuary community project

Day 1: Johannesburg to Nata, Botswana (Dinner x 1)

Starting with an early morning departure from Johannesburg, the economic powerhouse of Southern Africa, we head north toward Botswana travelling through the Northern Province of South Africa.

We cross into Botswana at the remote Martins Drift border crossing and make our way to Nata, where our first overnight camp is located. Nata is situated near the expansive Magkadigkadi Pans, a shimmering white landscape of flat saltpans, once covered by an immense super-lake. Although the pans are mostly dry, the occasional rains and precious waterholes in this striking area attract a multitude of wildlife and birds.

Day 2 - 3: Victoria Falls & Livingstone, Zambia (Breakfast x 2 & Dinner x 1)

With an early morning departure from Nata, we drive on to Kasane from where we take a ferry across into Zambia. We drive a little further, arriving at our next destination, Livingstone town. Victoria Falls lies a few kilometres from Livingstone, which serves as our base for the next two days. Our campsite, set on the banks of the Upper Zambezi River, features a restaurant, bar and swimming pool, as well as a viewing deck overlooking the river and surrounding bush.

During our time at Victoria Falls there are plenty of exciting activities to choose from, including white water rafting, scenic flights, bungee jumping, canoeing, game viewing, elephant back safaris, river cruises and more. When you witness the impressive spray rising from the plummeting waters of Vic Falls, you will understand why it is called the “Smoke that Thunders” or “Mosi oa Tunya”, as Vic Falls is called locally.

Day 4: Livingstone to Chobe National Park, Kasane (Breakfast & Dinner)

Leaving the adventure capital of Vic Falls & Livingstone behind we cross back into Botswana, making our way to the game-rich Chobe National Park. The game park boasts one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Africa, covering 10566 sq km’s of unspoiled wilderness in northwest Botswana. Chobe is an excellent place for sighting elephants, as the park is famous for its large elephant population, estimated at around 40000 strong. In Chobe National Park we have the option of taking a Chobe River cruise or an afternoon game drive (at extra expense). A highlight of any African safari, we get to watch the sun set over the trees as elephants move slowly through the untamed bush. Tonight we camp in Kasane near the scenic Chobe River.

Day 5 - 8: Maun to Okavango Delta (4 x Breakfast, 3 x Lunch, 4 x Dinner)

In the morning there will possibly be time for an optional game drive in Chobe before heading into central Botswana to Maun. Maun serves as the gateway to the Okavango Delta, the jewel in Botswana’s crown. In the morning we head into the pristine delta and spend the next two nights camping in the Okavango Delta, experiencing this unique wilderness area up close. Experienced and knowledgeable ‘polers’ will accompany you in this extensive wetland system guiding you through the labyrinth of winding channels and lagoons in traditional dugout canoes, called mokoros, as well as on thrilling bush walks.

Our camp is set on one of the secluded islands in the middle of the watery Okavango Delta. At night you can hear the sounds of the African bush surrounding you for miles as you sleep under starry skies in this remote wilderness - an experience of a lifetime!

The Okavango is the world’s largest inland delta, a truly unique and beautiful ecosystem covering 1.6 million hectares of northern Botswana. The delta, with its source in Angola, spreads out in an intricate web of channels on the flat plains of Botswana emptying into the desert. After exploring the delta we return to Maun and our camp near the town.

2 nights camping near Maun & 2 nights of Island Bush Camping in the Okavango Delta

Day 9: Maun to Khama Rhino Sanctuary (Breakfast & Dinner)

On day nine you have a chance to take an optional scenic flight over the lush delta to appreciate the size and complexity of the pristine area that you camped in over the last two days, from a bird’s eye view. Delta flights are at your own expense, but this memorable experience is definitely well worth the cost. 

From Maun we travel to the Khama Rhino Sanctuary, a community based wildlife project located close to the South African border. The Khama Rhino Sanctuary was formed by a group of local people in 1989 when the former hunting area of Serwe Pan was converted into a rhino sanctuary. The money generated by the Khama Rhino Sanctuary benefits the local community as well as helping to protect the rhinos. The Pan area was selected because the habitat is suitable for rhinos and is close to a Botswana Defence Force base ensuring 24-hour protection for the endangered rhinos.

The Pan is on the edge of the expansive Kalahari, a prime habitat for white rhino, zebra, giraffe and wildebeest. We visit the reserve’s natural waterholes on an evening game drive, looking out for wildlife, including the many rhino’s that inhabit the sanctuary. Tonight we camp in the heart of the rhino sanctuary enjoying our final night underneath starry African skies.

Day 10: Johannesburg (Breakfast)

On the final day of this Budget Camping Safari we cross back into South Africa travelling to Johannesburg, the City of Gold. Our adventure through Southern Africa comes to an end in the late afternoon when we arrive at our final stop, Johannesburg. 

Tour Accommodation:

Tour Transport:

Transport on this tour will be in a comfortable mini-bus or microbus. Except in Chobe Park when we embark on game drives in open 4x4 safari vehicles and in the Okavango Delta where dugout canoes (mokoros) are used. 

Participation on this Tour:

On this budget camping safari meals are mostly prepared by the tour leader in camp; therefore help with meal preparation is welcomed on the tour. 

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