Experience the best of Botswana on this budget-friendly Overland Lodge Safari, starting at the legendary Victoria Falls.
From mighty Vic Falls, cross into Botswana at Kasane and take a game-viewing boat cruise on the Chobe River in the heart of Chobe National Park. Then head into the Kalahari Desert to see the vast Makgadigadi Pans before making your way to Maun and heading into the the Okavango Delta. Take a traditional mokoro trip through the delta waterways and search for wildlife in the beautiful Moremi Game Reserve in the heart of the Okavango Delta. On returning to Maun, take an optional scenic flight over the Okavango Delta to witness this natural marvel from the sky.
See the abundant natural beauty and thriving life of captivating Botswana while staying in excellent lodges along the way.
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 travellers in close contact with animals that would normally live wild and separate from human contact.
We absolutely do not encourage or endorse this type of wildlife interaction operation. For more information on why this is not good for Africa's wild animals, please see our safari blog post about things to avoid when in Africa.
Our Botswana Explorer tour begins today in the bustling town of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, home to the majestic Victoria Falls. This spectacular natural wonder lies on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe and is just a 74-kilometer (46 mile) drive to the Botswana border.
Referred to as "Mosi-oa-Tunya" (the Smoke That Thunders) in the local Lozi language, Victoria Falls is the largest waterfall in the world by volume, with a width of 1,708 meters (5,604 feet) and a height of 108 meters (355 feet). The sheer power and grandeur of this waterfall leaves a lasting impression.
Tonight, we stay in a Safari Lodge located close to the falls. Today is free for you to explore this fascinating place as you wish. Beyond the natural wonders, Victoria Falls also serves as a hub for thrilling adventure activities, with everything from White-Water Rafting to bungee jumping and scenic helicopter or microlight flights on offer. You can view game in nearby reserves, go cruising on the Zambezi River above the falls, or simply stroll around the village. There are craft markets to explore, and a delicious high tea is on offer at the Victoria Falls Hotel.
We have a leisurely start this morning, so you have a last opportunity to participate in the many optional activities on offer in Victoria Falls. After lunch, we board our overland safari vehicle and travel the short distance to the border and cross into Botswana. We arrive at our lovely riverfront lodge by late afternoon.
After settling in, we set off on a game viewing boat cruise on the Chobe River in the Chobe National Park. We weave through pods of wallowing hippos, and our silent approach allows for close-up encounters with the diverse wildlife that inhabit the riverbanks of the Chobe National Park. Notably, the park is home to one of the largest elephant populations in Africa, that roam the park’s diverse landscapes, from lush grasslands to savanna woodlands, in close-knit family groups led by experienced matriarchs. They are often spotted along the riverbanks.
As our Botswana Overland Tour bids farewell to the meandering Chobe River and ventures southward into the heart of the Kalahari Desert, the lush greenery of the riverbanks gradually gives way to the Kalahari's signature landscape, a tapestry of arid plains and acacia woodlands.
Our destination is the vast Makgadikgadi Pans, a mesmerizing expanse of salt flats that stretch as far as the eye can see. These ancient pans, once a vast inland sea, now lie dormant. During the rainy season, dry riverbeds fill with water providing a habitat for a variety of birds, including flamingos.
We stay at a desert lodge nearby that boasts a waterhole alongside, often visited by the free roaming desert elephants. Relax on the deck and enjoy a serene sunset as you watch animals seek out the refreshment of the waterhole.
Day 4 sees us leaving the dust of the Kalahari Desert behind us and heading for the water wonderland of the magnificent Okavango Delta. As our journey skirts around the Makgadigadi Pans, we stop at a viewpoint to appreciate the surreal landscape. The shimmering surface of the pans reflect the ever-changing hues of the sky. There are a number of waterholes dotted around Makgadigadi and you may pass animals roaming the flats in search of water.
Our journey takes us to the vibrant town of Maun, gateway for trips into the Okavango Delta. If time permits, you have the opportunity to take an optional scenic flight from Maun. Soar over the delta for an excellent perspective of this great natural wonder – a mighty river with no way out to the sea, emptying onto a vast desert. The plentiful supply of water provides a lifeblood for an incredible diversity of plants and animals.
Later we are collected by smaller 4x4 safari vehicles for a two-day excursion into the heart of the Okavango Delta. You will need to pack a smaller overnight bag to take on this trip due to space constraints. The rest of your luggage can be safely stored on the overland truck which waits for us in Maun. We drive through delta backroads to the Khwai River floodplain in the north-eastern part of Okavango Delta. Here we will spend two nights at a luxury tented safari camp.
After settling into camp, we head out to rendezvous with our local guides who will take us on a trip of the Okavango Delta waterways in traditional mokoro boats. You guide will pole the boat through narrow reed-lined channels opening into lagoons dotted with water lilies. Sit back and watch this serene scene unfold. You will stop on one of the delta islands where your guide will lead you on a walk to look for tracks and learn more about life in this fascinating ecosystem. As the boat glides back to the mokoro station, enjoy the spectacle of a sunset reflecting in the calm delta waters.
Day 5 of our epic Botswana Explorer Safari is spent in Moremi Game Reserve, an area of approximately 5,000 square kilometers (1,900 square miles) in the heart of the Okavango Delta. Experience the raw beauty and diverse wildlife of the Delta as we explore the park's diverse landscapes, ranging from lush grasslands to dense woodlands to waterways, in search of the diverse wildlife, from majestic elephants, lions and cheetahs to elusive leopards perched high in the trees, or a herd of zebras or giraffe grazing peacefully on the plains.
Moremi is home to the Africa Big 5 (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhinoceros), and some of most endangered of the large mammals like cheetah, white rhinoceros, black rhinoceros, and African Wild Dog. Also keep a lookout for hyena, warthog, Chacma baboon, vervet monkeys, and various antelope like impala, kudu, sable, tsessebe, and red lechwe, while hippos and crocodiles wallow in the waterways. Moremi is also home to nearly 500 species of bird, from water birds to migratory birds and forest dwellers.
We return to our comfortable tented camp on the Khwai River floodplains with plenty of tales to tell.
We make an early start this morning as we take a final drive through the Okavango Delta in our 4×4 safari vehicles, back to Maun where we will overnight at a lovely riverside hotel.
On arrival in Maun, you have another opportunity to take an optional scenic flight over the Okavango Delta (time and weather permitting). The rest of the day is yours to relax at the lodge pool, go on an optional cultural tour or optional guided river cruise.
After a hearty breakfast this morning, our Botswana Explorer Overland Tour comes to an end. You may wish to take an optional scenic flight over the Delta or continue your journey home.
We recommend booking your incoming and onward flights at least one day before and after this Botswana Explorer is scheduled. It is advisable to arrive the day before departure from Victoria Falls and fly out the day after the overland tour ends in Maun to allow for delays and changes, and to take advantage of the many activities on offer.
Simply ask your friendly travel advisor to add pre-tour and post-tour accommodation to your safari booking.
You can do this fun-packed Africa Lodge Overland Tour in the reverse order as the Botswana Explorer Maun to Vic Falls (Overland Lodge Safari) if you prefer to start in Maun and end in Victoria Falls.
This Lodge Overland Tour is also available as a budget friendly Camping Overland Tour – Botswana Explorer: Vic Falls to Maun (Camping Overland Tour) which follows the same itinerary and accommodation is camping at campsites rather than staying in lodges.
For more details contact African Budget Safaris
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