This Botswana & Zimbabwe Safari takes you on an affordable safari lodge tour to top African wildlife parks over 15 adventure-filled days.
Start by exploring the wild Okavango Delta of Botswana by mokoro and on foot. Then enjoy superb game viewing in the world-renowned Moremi Game Reserve and Greater Moremi region. Next, go to Botswana's Magkadikgadi Pans, before watching wildlife in Chobe National Park on a game drive and sunset boat cruise. Cross into Zimbabwe and visit the wildlife-rich Hwange National Park, before travelling to the natural wonder of Victoria Falls where thrilling activities await.
Experience unforgettable wildlife safari adventures on this small group safari in Botswana and Zimbabwe.
During this trip, you are likely to come across activities that encourage tourists to participate in lion, elephant, or other wildlife interaction. This includes walking with lions, riding elephants, and any other tourist operation putting travelers in close contact with animals that would normally live wild and free of human contact.
We absolutely do not encourage or endorse this type of wildlife interaction. For more information on why this is not good for Africa's wild animals, please see our detailed blog post on the subject.
This affordable Botswana & Zimbabwe Safari kicks off in Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta. Your safari guide collects you from the international airport in Maun upon your arrival and transfers you to your first safari lodge in Botswana.
Spend the remainder of the day relaxing at the safari lodge on the banks of the Thamalakane River, just outside of Maun. For those who are more active, you can join one of the many optional activities available at the lodge (at extra cost).
Tonight you meet up with your safari guide and the rest of your small tour group at the lodge. Your guide will tell you more about what to expect on your wildlife safari in Botswana and Zimbabwe at this meeting.
Day two of our Botswana & Zimbabwe Safari starts with breakfast before we hit the road for the Okavango Delta. We head to Etsha 13, on the western edge of the Okavango Delta. Botswana's crowning wilderness treasure, the Okavango Delta is the largest inland delta in the world.
Day three of our wildlife safari is spent exploring the magical Okavango Delta. This pristine wetland area is fed by the Okavango River which flows from the Angolan highlands into the otherwise arid Kalahari Desert, here in Botswana. This is one of the wildest places in Africa!
We venture out into the wild delta in traditional dug-out style canoes called mekoro (or mokoros). Your mokoro is poled through the water by a local guide who stands in the back of the canoe, much like a gondolier. You get to sit back and soak up the wilderness around you, watching for wild animals and birds. Glide along the reed-lined waterways and across clear lagoons to a secluded delta island where we embark on a guided bush walk for about one and a half hours. As you walk your guide tells you all about this unique ecosystem and its fascinating creatures. With luck, you may see some large mammals on your guided walk, including elephants and waterbuck, along with a variety of birds.
The next two nights are spent at a safari lodge on the edge of the Okavango Delta surrounded by untamed wilderness and the sounds of nature.
Our Okavango Delta lodge offers optional helicopter flights (at extra cost) for those who would like to experience this wilderness area from above. These exciting scenic flights over the delta offer a whole new perspective of this natural wonder and a chance to spot wildlife from above.
On day four of our Botswana & Zimbabwe Safari, we get up early for breakfast at our safari lodge before travelling south. Our drive takes us via Maun to a private wildlife area (concession) in the Greater Moremi area.
We spend the next two nights at an unfenced tented safari camp, where we enjoy an authentic African bush experience. The tented camp is set inside a large wildlife concession area close to Moremi Game Reserve. The concession area is renowned for its high concentration of Botswana wildlife so keep your eyes open for exciting sightings at the safari camp.
The whole of day five on our Botswana Safari Lodge Tour is dedicated to game viewing in the Greater Moremi area. Your safari guide takes you on open 4x4 game drives in the morning and afternoon, as well as a night game drive. This action-packed day of game viewing, promises sightings of a variety of wildlife species, including some of Africa’s Big Five. The thrilling night drive after dinner offers excellent chances of sighting unusual and elusive nocturnal animals.
Greater Moremi offers rewarding game viewing throughout the year with a wide array of animals often being spotted on a single game viewing drive. Wildlife includes elephants, leopards, lions, and buffalos, as well as endangered wild dogs and cheetahs. Birdlife is also prolific offering outstanding sightings of raptors and wildfowl species in summer. The kinds of animals you see will depend on the time of the year you visit Botswana. The end of the dry season (August to November) is the peak game-viewing season with animals migrating to the river.
At the end of our days in Greater Moremi, we return to our Bedouin-style tented camp to unwind around the campfire. This solar-powered mobile camp is lit by lanterns at night and features a bar and dining area. Your comfortable walk-in tents are furnished with beds (linen and pillows included) and have en-suite bathrooms with flush toilets and hot bucket showers.
Today, we set out for a full-day safari in Khwai, located on the borders of the Moremi Game Reserve. Khwai's landscape includes lagoons, plains, and forests, forming a rich and varied ecosystem. With a small human population coexisting with wildlife, Khwai becomes a magnet for large herds of elephants and buffaloes during the dry season. This habitat also provides excellent chances to spot lions and leopards, along with a wealth of bird species and diverse flora.
After our thrilling day on safari in Khwai, we return to our tented safari camp in the Greater Moremi nearby.
This morning we leave the wild Okavango Delta and Moremi region behind, after an early breakfast at our bush camp.
Next, our Botswana Safari travels east to the arid Makgadikgadi Pans. This drive takes us from the lush oasis of the delta wetland area with its dense vegetation to the flat, dry salt pans of northern Botswana. Along the way, we pass towering old baobab trees and rural landscapes.
Once an ancient lake system, the Great Makgadikgadi Pans complex is now a vast area of open saltpans and plains. After sporadic seasonal rains, grasses and low bushes flourish on the flat pans, attracting a variety of grazers to these expansive grasslands. It is the largest area of salt pans in the world, covering some 37,000 km² of undeveloped land in total.
Late this afternoon our journey brings us to our tented safari lodge in Nata, on the fringes of the striking Makgadikgadi Pans.
On day eight of our Botswana & Zimbabwe Safari, we visit the Nata Bird Sanctuary first thing in the morning. The bird sanctuary forms part of Greater Makgadikgadi Pans and offers sweeping views of the Sowa Pan. After the rains when the pan boasts vegetation and shallow pools of water, we may see a few zebras, antelopes, and flamingoes amongst others. (The visit to the pans is subject to road conditions and water levels as well as time constraints).
After a picnic breakfast, we travel north from Nata Bird Sanctuary to the town of Kasane, near Chobe National Park. Arriving at our next safari lodge near Chobe the remainder of the afternoon is free for lounging at the pool or doing optional activities.
Day nine starts with a rewarding game drive in Chobe National Park, home to one of the highest concentrations of elephants in Africa. Botswana's top national park, Chobe is a world-famous safari destination. It covers about 10,566km² of grassy plains and typical bushveld vegetation, inhabited by healthy numbers of the most sought-after plains game and large mammal species.
Animals commonly sighted on our game drives include lions, giraffes, hippos, buffalos, zebras, hyenas, various antelope species, and, of course, elephants. After our exciting game drive in one of Africa's leading game parks, we return to the safari lodge for brunch and free time to rest and unwind.
This afternoon our Zimbabwe & Botswana Safari takes you on a sunset boat cruise along the Chobe River. Chobe is one of the best places for boat-based game viewing in Africa. Our Chobe boat cruise departs at about 15h00 and takes us along the river to see an abundance of birds, as well as reptiles and mammals. The boat cruise enables us to get up close to various creatures, especially wallowing hippos, lurking crocodiles, and thirsty elephants - fantastic encounters for close-up wildlife photos.
On day 10 we cross into neighbouring Zimbabwe, bringing the Botswana Safari leg of our adventure to a close. In Zimbabwe, we drive to our next safari lodge located in the northwest corner of Hwange National Park,
This afternoon you can join an optional game drive in Hwange Park (time allowing). Zimbabwe's top wildlife safari destination, Hwange Park is rated as one of Africa's best game parks.
The next two days allow ample time to explore Hwange on full-day game drives, with an opportunity to end the day with a sunset game drive. Hwange National Park is home to vast herds of elephants, buffalos, zebras, and a high concentration of giraffes. Additionally, it is home to many predators and endangered species as well as abundant and varied birdlife.
For the next three nights, we stay in chalets at a safari lodge near Hwange Park.
After breakfast this morning we travel to the final destination on our Botswana & Zimbabwe Safari, Victoria Falls. Zimbabwe's top travel destination, Victoria Falls is dubbed the Adventure Capital of Africa.
This afternoon you are free to relax at our safari lodge on the banks of the Zambezi River, close to the Victoria Falls waterfall. Alternatively, you can dive into one of the many adventure activities on offer at Vic Falls. One of the natural wonders of the world, Victoria Falls is arguably the largest waterfall in the world.
Your guide can help you choose and book optional activities (at extra cost) of your choice at Victoria Falls. Popular adventure activities at Victoria Falls include scenic flights (helicopter or small plane), white water rafting, zip-lining, canopy tours, and bungee jumping.
The last two nights of our budget lodge safari are spent at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe which gives you time to enjoy some of the thrilling optional activities here. Our final stay is at a comfortable safari lodge on the fringes of the Zambezi National Park.
Day 14 is all about making the most of the cultural and adventure activities at Victoria Falls. This morning your safari guide takes you to see the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls waterfall! As you stand before Vic Falls you will understand why the local Kololo people call it “Mosi-oa-Tunya”, which means the Smoke that Thunders.
Spend the rest of your last day on safari enjoying the magnificent Victoria Falls and surrounds as you choose. Brave the Flying Fox cable slides or go gorge swinging in Batoka Gorge. Take a horseback safari in the game-rich bush, do a bicycle tour of Victoria Falls or go bridge sliding. Book a traditional African dining experience, visit Livingstone Island, or take a tram ride to Victoria Falls Bridge.
We top off day 14 with a leisurely boat cruise along the Zambezi River. Enjoy sundowners as you watch for wildlife and birds on this scenic Zambezi sunset cruise.
After breakfast on day 15, our Botswana & Zimbabwe Safari comes to a close. A transfer to the Victoria Falls Airport is included today and will depart in time to catch your onward flight. Alternatively, you can add an extra night or two at the safari lodge in Victoria Falls to your safari booking (at extra cost) to extend your stay and do more optional activities after your wildlife safari.
Please note: guests are advised not to book international flights departing earlier than 13h00 on the final day.
On this budget lodge safari, we stay in mid-range African safari lodges and tented camps in Botswana and Zimbabwe. The safari lodge accommodation is either in national parks, on riverbanks or in other scenic and unique locations.
Accommodation on this Botswana & Zimbabwe Safari is in en-suite rooms, chalets, or permanent tents at comfortable safari lodges and tented camps. The accommodation establishments all feature en-suite bathrooms. Most of the safari lodges and camps have a swimming pool and/or bar area and some have restaurants.
For up-to-date and confirmed pricing info for optional items, please drop us an enquiry.
This tour does take children.
Minimum Age limit 12 years. Please contact African Budget Safaris for further information, should you be travelling with children.
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