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This no-frills budget safari follows a circular route from South Africa into Zimbabwe and Botswana, and then back to South Africa, staying at basic lodges along the way.
Highlights on the Southern Africa Lodge Safari include:
An affordable Vic Falls, Okavango Delta & Chobe Lodge Safari combining top natural and wildlife highlights on a memorable African journey.
Our 12-Day Victoria Falls, Okavango Delta & Chobe Safari begins in Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa. Situated just a short distance from Johannesburg, Pretoria is often called the "Jacaranda City," named for the stunning purple jacaranda trees that blanket the streets every October. The city offers a wealth of attractions, including the towering 10-meter bronze statue of Nelson Mandela, proudly standing beside the historic Union Buildings. You'll find a variety of cultural landmarks, shopping venues, lively bars, and fantastic restaurants within walking distance of your hotel.
Leaving Pretoria, a shuttle transfer takes us up north through scenic landscapes to Polokwane, the capital of the Limpopo Province. This region is recognised as a leading eco-tourism destination, boasting a rich cultural heritage.
Reaching our lodge in Polokwane, we meet up with our guide and the rest of the group members travelling from Kruger Park, as part of a longer safari. Then we head to a cultural village in the area. Here we find out more about the Bakone people, a subgroup of the northern Sotho ethnic group. The open-air museum is a reconstruction of a traditional northern Sotho village as it would have been some 250 years ago. See how the Bakone tribesmen used to make fire, brew beer, and prepare maize meal, getting a glimpse into old African traditions.
After our cultural experience at the living museum, we head to our lodge nearby for a relaxing evening around the fire in the outdoor boma area.
Continuing north this morning, we cross into Zimbabwe at the busiest land border in South Africa, the Beitbridge post. Once in Zimbabwe, we continue our long drive up to Bulawayo, second in size to the capital, Harare. Bulawayo is a pleasant and interesting destination featuring colonial British architecture, museums and art galleries.
The surrounding area hosts various historical and natural attractions, including Matobo National Park and other protected areas. Tonight we stay at a guest house with a peaceful garden, located on the fringes of Bulawayo.
Today we enjoy a half-day tour of Matobo National Park, exploring with local guides in an open safari vehicle and on foot. This intriguing place has plenty to offer visitors with highlights including rich wildlife, ancient San (Bushmen) paintings, the grave of Cecil John Rhodes and sacred Ndebele sites.
Matobo is an important sanctuary for black and white rhinos, and if conditions are right, the guide takes us in search of these endangered creatures on foot. Sighting the elusive leopard and the remarkable concentration of black eagles here are among the wildlife highlights. We also experience the unusual scenery of Matobo Park on our game drive, witnessing the granite boulders scattered across the hills in this dramatic landscape.
On day three, you have the option of upgrading to a full-day tour of Matobo Park, which includes a visit to the burial site of British imperialist Cecil John Rhodes at World’s View.
Today, we leave the lively streets of Bulawayo and spend the morning driving north to Victoria Falls.
Set along the southern banks of the Zambezi River, Victoria Falls is a small and welcoming town that serves as Zimbabwe’s main tourism hub. The iconic Falls are just a short stroll away, and a selection of markets, boutiques and cafés are all conveniently within walking distance.
Your tour leader will host a briefing session to outline the wide range of optional activities and experiences available during your stay, helping you make the most of your time here.
Once you’ve had time to settle into your accommodation, we make our way to dinner at Dusty Road, a well-loved Zimbabwean restaurant in Chinotimba, the oldest and largest township in Victoria Falls. Traditional dishes are prepared over open flames, creating rich, authentic flavours and a truly local dining experience. More than just a restaurant, Dusty Road plays an important role in the community, championing women’s empowerment and supporting social upliftment initiatives that generate meaningful, sustainable livelihoods through tourism.
Following dinner, we head to the theatre for Simunye – The Spirit of Africa. This is not simply a performance, but a heartfelt tribute to the region. Created, written and brought to life by local artists, the show celebrates the landscapes, traditions and resilience of the people of Victoria Falls. With stirring original music, vibrant costumes and a moving narrative, it draws the audience into a story that is both powerful and deeply rooted in place. By attending, we proudly contribute to a cultural initiative that nurtures local talent and strengthens the creative community.
We rise early this morning to visit Victoria Falls National Park and experience one of Africa’s most iconic natural wonders. As you explore the network of viewpoints and pathways, please take care — the gorge below plunges nearly 100 metres, with steep and unprotected edges in places.
The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure. For the adventurous, the Zambezi River is renowned for some of the world’s most exhilarating white-water rafting, with a series of powerful and technical rapids. Other active options include canoeing, scenic helicopter or microlight flights, and even bungee jumping. If you prefer a slower pace, consider afternoon tea at the elegant, colonial-style Victoria Falls Hotel — a timeless experience overlooking the spray of the Falls.
This evening, we gather for a relaxed sunset dinner cruise along the Zambezi River. With a refreshing drink in hand, drift gently upstream as the sky turns gold and the riverbanks come alive. Keep watch for elephant, buffalo, antelope, hippos and abundant birdlife along the shallow, reed-lined shores of this mighty waterway. Afterwards, return to your accommodation for the night — or, if you wish, head out to sample Victoria Falls’ vibrant evening scene.
Moving on from Victoria Falls, we cross into north-western Botswana and travel to our riverside accommodation in Kasane, near Chobe National Park. On arrival at the lodge, we have lunch and take it easy by the pool, before setting off on an afternoon sunset boat cruise on the Chobe River, offering superb water-based bird watching and game viewing. Watch a beautiful African sunset over the scenic wilderness and look out for elephants, hippos, reptiles, baboons, buck and more. The river draws an abundance of birds and wild animals, so keep an eye out for creatures big and small, from hippos and elephants to plovers and fish eagles.
Return to the lodge for dinner and a restful night beside the river.
We are up early for breakfast, then we embark on an open vehicle game drive in the 10566 km² Chobe National Park. The 4x4 game drive takes you into Botswana's top national park in search of the plethora of wildlife and birds inhabiting the scenic grasslands and riverine bush. Chobe is famous for its large elephant herds, which are frequently sighted, along with giraffes, lions, leopards, hippos, buffalo and antelope species.
Following our exciting game drive, our safari takes us to the small settlement of Nata, where we'll spend the night. If we're lucky, we may be treated to a diverse array of bird species, such as Southern Yellow-billed hornbills, pied and arrow-marked babblers, glossy starlings, and paradise whydahs, all visible from the comfort of the pool deck, bar, or breakfast table.
Up early, as usual, we have breakfast and go on a guided tour through a local village. Glimpse the modern and more traditional ways of life in rural Botswana, visiting various places of interest in the village. Next up: Maun, the closest town to the wild Okavango Delta. Stop to top up on supplies, personal items and snacks - in readiness for our journey into the remote wilderness.
Our safari camp is located outside of town on spacious grounds with shady trees and a pool, so relax and enjoy. Tonight it's time to pack and prepare for our wild adventure into the Okavango Delta.
Following rough dirt roads, we drive to the Okavango Delta in 4x4 vehicles, crossing the Buffalo Fence built to keep cattle out of the delta. Reaching the watery channels of the delta, we meet up with local guides, climb into mekoros (dugout canoes) and continue our journey on water. The locals pole us through the water in the traditional style mokoros, standing in the back like gondoliers. Sit back and take in the scenery as we move slowly into the peaceful delta habitat - seeing the birds, insects and other creatures in the unspoilt bush around us.
The Okavango Delta is the largest inland delta in the world - a truly wild and unique ecosystem that is about 1.6 million hectares in size. At camp, we have lunch and settle in before exploring the wetland area on foot. We take a walk on one of the secluded islands of the delta, moving from the reed-lined banks into the bush to discover the small miracles of nature and possibly encounter large mammals too.
This evening we have dinner and sit around the campfire, chatting and listening to traditional Tswana songs performed by our guides. Fall asleep to the sounds of animals calling in the night, after an unforgettable day in the magical delta.
Wake up bright and early in the heart of the wild Okavango Delta. We walk into the bush with our guide to see the flora and fauna in detail, learning more about this unique environment. The bush walk is a thrilling way to experience the delta, as large mammals may be encountered along the way. Back at camp, we tuck into breakfast and pack up for our journey back to Maun. Back in the mokoros, the local guides slowly pole us through the tranquil channels to the meeting point where the vehicles await. The 4x4 vehicles take us the rest of the way via rough bush roads, back to Maun.
Arrive at the camp outside of Maun, have lunch and a hot shower, take a nap or cool off in the pool. Alternatively, you can take the opportunity to fly over the Okavango Delta in a small, fixed-wing plane. The scenic delta flight is a spectacular way to view the delta in all its glory - looking out over the fertile plains and winding waterways from above, spotting elephants, giraffes and other animals below. You also have the option of going to Maun with your guide this afternoon to visit the shops and markets.
Start the day with an early breakfast, then we are off to our final game-viewing destination - Khama Rhino Sanctuary. A full day on the road - we skirt the edges of the massive Kalahari Desert, passing Mopipi village on the remote fringes of the Makgadikgadi Pans.
This afternoon, we arrive at Khama, near the border with South Africa, and embark on our last game drive. The Khama Rhino Sanctuary is a protected area run by the local community, which benefits from tourism activities. The sanctuary was established to restore the Serowe Pan to its natural state and re-establish wildlife populations in the area, especially rhinos. The nearby Defence Force base offers protection for the endangered rhinos in Khama Rhino Sanctuary, ensuring that the population remains stable.
The local rangers conduct the late afternoon game drive, offering insight into the flora, fauna and history of the sanctuary. The reserve is home to an abundance of birds and animals, including eland, Burchell's zebra, giraffe, kudu, springbok and other antelopes, as well as predators such as leopard, hyena and caracal.
After our dusk game drive in Khama, we head to our final safari lodge located inside a private nature reserve along the Limpopo River. The private game reserve covers 3500 hectares of wilderness in the Tuli Block region of southern Botswana. Here we may see giraffes, various antelopes, crocodiles, hippos, zebras and an abundance of bird species, so keep your eyes open. Tonight we share a final dinner together at the safari lodge, celebrating our adventure through Southern Africa.
The last full day on the road of this Southern Africa adventure takes on the long drive south to our last stop, Pretoria. From the Tuli Block, we travel down to the Martin's Drift border post, where we cross the Limpopo River into South Africa.
Covering a great distance today, we pass through captivating, changing landscapes as we make our way to our safari endpoint in Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa.
Arriving back in Pretoria in the mid-to-late afternoon, our Vic Falls, Okavango Delta & Chobe Lodge Safari comes to a close.
Please note that this safari requires a mandatory Safari Pass (Local Payment) at an additional cost. The Safari Pass includes most of the tour highlights and activities, as well as some accommodation en route. This compulsory payment can be made when booking your tour, or at the start of your trip, payable directly to your tour guide. Contact African Budget Safaris for the detailed itinerary listing what is included in the Safari Pass, and see the Full Pricing above for rates.
Tour Accommodation:
On this budget tour, accommodation is mostly in twin shared rooms with twin beds in basic chalets, cabins or bungalows with en-suite bathrooms. Most of the places that we stay at have a pool, restaurant and bar. Some of the accommodation is a little more basic but still comfortable, clean and safe.
We spend one night bush camping under the stars in dome tents in the Okavango Delta – an unforgettable wildlife experience!
Tour Transport:
Transport on this tour will be in a comfortable 12-seater, self-contained, custom-built vehicle or minibus, 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.
For up-to-date and confirmed pricing info for optional items, please drop us an enquiry.
This tour does take children.
All Pretoria Departures |
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Explore Kruger National Park, Matobo National Park and Victoria Falls on this 7-day South Africa and Zimbabwe lodge safari. Enjoy Big Five game viewing, cultural experiences and comfortable lodge accommodation.
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Explore Kruger National Park, Victoria Falls, Chobe and the Okavango Delta on this 14-day Southern Africa lodge safari through South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana.
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