Best of Southern Africa Camping Safari

A two-week camping safari adventure exploring the Best of Southern Africa, visiting top travel highlights in South Africa, Zambia and Botswana.

Encounter Africa’s diverse wildlife on game drives in the famous Kruger National Park of South Africa. Witness the mighty Victoria Falls and enjoy a wide array of optional adventure activities, from white water rafting and scenic flights to elephant back safaris from the Zambian side of Vic Falls.

See large herds of elephants and numerous other wildlife species, in Botswana’s Chobe National Park. Venture into the heart of the unique Okavango Delta, by dugout canoe and on foot, camping in this pristine wilderness area. Stare out over the white saltpans of the Kalahari Desert, a vast expanse of dramatic contrasts and open skies.

An exciting camping safari through Southern Africa's wild landscapes, seeing an abundance of wildlife and encountering the diverse cultures of its people!

Tour Highlights:

• Panorama Route - Blyde River Canyon & Three Rondavels
• Oliphant’s River Cruise in South Africa
• Game viewing in South Africa's premier Kruger National Park
• Polokwane Reserve game viewing bush walk
• Victoria Falls & optional adventure activities, Zambia
• Chobe National Park elephants and wildlife
• Camping and canoeing in Botswana's Okavango Delta 
• Visiting Khama Rhino Sanctuary, community project

Day 1: Johannesburg to Oliphant’s River (Dinner)

Departing from Johannesburg, the economic powerhouse of Southern Africa, we travel through one of the most scenic parts of South Africa, the Panorama Route in the Mpumalanga Province. Highlights along the scenic route include the impressive Blyde River Canyon and the rock formations of the Three Rondavels.

We have lunch and make our way to our first stop where we get to see Africa’s elusive cheetah, a threatened species. At the cheetah rehabilitation centre, a non-profit organization, we see the remarkable work done by volunteers helping to rehabilitate the gentle cheetah and other endangered wildlife. After visiting the Cheetah Rehabilitation Centre we head to our first overnight camp, set on the banks of the Oliphant’s River. We relax at this pleasant camp, enjoying the African wilderness and even sighting wildlife at the river’s edge in the evening, as they come to quench their thirst.

Day 2 & 3: Oliphant’s River Cruise to Kruger National Park (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner – both days)

On day two we get up early in the morning and head off on a river cruise along the Oliphants River. After our river cruise we continue our journey west, making our way to over 2 million-hectare Kruger National Park, South Africa’s premier game reserve.

Kruger is South Africa’s flagship game park and top travel destination, boasting an unrivalled diversity of plants and animals, including Africa’s Big Five - elephant, rhino, leopard, lion and buffalo. Our game drives in Kruger take us in search of the Big Five and a variety of other wildlife, such as giraffe, zebra, cheetah, hyena and various antelope species. With around 507 bird species, 147 mammal species and 114 reptiles game drives in Kruger Park offer excellent photographic opportunities. In addition to its abundance of wildlife, the untamed Kruger Park is also rich in archaeological and historical sights.

On our Kruger Park safari we also visit a colonial era town to get an idea of what life was like for the pioneers of old South Africa. The route that we take through the park depends on where wildlife has recently been sighted as well as on seasonal conditions. We focus on the more remote parts of Kruger, near the Transfrontier National Park, escaping the crowds who visit the southern section of this popular game park.

The process of creating the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park involves linking the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique, Kruger National Park in South Africa, Gonarezhou National Park, Manjinji Pan Sanctuary and Malipati Safari Area in Zimbabwe, as well as two areas between Kruger and Gonarezhou, one in Zimbabwe and the other in South Africa. This vast Peace Park wilderness area is being established as fences between the countries are being dropped, allowing animals to roam freely between the national parks. Removing the fences allows for the wild animals to follow their natural migration routes between South Africa and neighbouring countries, making for some excellent game viewing in this area.

Our days in Kruger start early; with morning game drives into the untamed bush, as many wild animals are at their most active early in the day. We return to our camp for lunch and a rest during the hottest part of the day, before venturing back out into the wilderness on late afternoon game drives, when the predators become more active.

Day 4 & 5: Polokwane Game Reserve to Nata, Botswana (Breakfast & Dinner – Both days)

We depart from Kruger Park on day four, making our way up towards Botswana. Before reaching the Botswana-South Africa border we stop at the town of Polokwane where we will stay overnight. We take a bush walk in a local game reserve that is home to over 21 mammal species, including white rhino and about 200 species of birds.

The next morning we continue our journey north, crossing over into Botswana.

Today we explore the vast Kalahari Desert region of southern and central Botswana. Our overnight stay is in a lodge located close to the small town of Nata. At night elephant can often be seen wandering through our overnight camp, situated near the expansive Magkadigkadi Pans.

As we drive around this shimmering white landscape it is difficult to imagine that an immense super-lake once covered the now dry plains of the flat saltpans. When on occasion seasonal rains do form large shallow lakes on the saltpans, a multitude of bird and animal life can be seen congregating at the waters. 

Day 6 & 7: Livingstone, Zambia (Breakfast – on both days & Dinner – on one day)

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 mighty Zambezi River, features a restaurant, bar and small 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 8: 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 river cruise or game drive (at extra expense). In the evening we camp near Kasane not far from the Chobe River.

Day 9 to 12: 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. We will spend the next two nights camping in the Okavango Delta, experiencing this pristine 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 get to listen to the sounds of the African bush surrounding you for miles as you sleep under starry skies in this remote wilderness.

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.

Day 13: Maun to Khama Rhino Sanctuary (Breakfast & Dinner)

On day 13 you have a chance to take an optional scenic flight over the lush delta to see the pristine area that you camped in over the last two days, from a bird’s eye view. Delta flights can only be taken if time allows and 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, looking out for wildlife, including the many rhino’s that inhabit the sanctuary.

Day 14: Johannesburg (Breakfast)

On the final day of the Best of Southern Africa 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 or early evening when we arrive at our final stop, Johannesburg. 

Tour Accommodation:

On this tour accommodation is in dome tents on a twin share basis. The tents are fitted with ground sheets and mosquito nets. Our overnight stays are in selected campsites in picturesque locations with toilet and shower facilities and sometimes a swimming pool, restaurant and bar.  Although we are camping the accommodation is comfortable and designed for  relaxation after a day of safari adventure. The two nights spent bush camping on an island in the Okavango Delta make for a wildlife experience of a lifetime. The camp has very basic facilities but the sounds of Africa's wildlife and the starry skies make it worth roughing it!

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 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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