This Kruger, Zimbabwe & Botswana Budget Safari combines the unique natural wonders with the top wildlife and cultural highlights of Southern Africa!
A well-rounded and affordable African safari that combines wildlife and wilderness, with historic and cultural treasures!
During this African safari, you will likely encounter activities encouraging 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 detailed anti-safari bucket list.
The vibrant city of Johannesburg is the starting point of this Kruger, Zimbabwe & Botswana Budget Safari. We set off from Johannesburg early in the morning, travelling northeast into the scenic Mpumalanga Province of South Africa.
Our first destination is the world-renowned Kruger National Park, South Africa's flagship national park. Arriving at the massive Kruger Park, we make our way to the less-visited northern section of the game reserve. In the remote north of Kruger, we encounter fewer other game vehicles, exploring the untamed wilderness in the Letaba area, where we overnight.
During our time in Kruger, we embark on exhilarating morning and afternoon game-viewing drives in our 4x4 safari vehicle. One of Africa's top game parks, Kruger Park is home to the Big Five of Africa (lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant), along with an abundance of other animals and birds.
On day two we take an early morning game drive, heading north to the Pafuri area of Kruger National Park. Here lions, big elephant bulls and endangered African wild dogs are commonly sighted roaming in the mopane-studded bush.
Then our affordable African safari continues into the Limpopo Valley region with its forest vegetation, hosting rich birdlife. Later in the afternoon, we leave Kruger, spending our second night at a tented lodge just outside of the national park.
Leaving the game-rich area of Kruger National Park, we drive north to the Beit Bridge border crossing and continue to our overnight stop.
The next morning we visit the Great Zimbabwe Ruins, one of Africa's greatest archaeological treasures and a World Heritage Site. We take a walk around the legendary ruins marvelling at the towering walls standing over five metres thick in places.
This historical highlight of Zimbabwe was once an important centre of trade in Southern Africa and the capital of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe. The Shona people started construction in the 11th century and continued building the elaborate royal palace until the 14th century.
This extensive system of ruins is an awe-inspiring sight, consisting of stone walls and structures that have stood the test of time.
Today we head to Bulawayo, the second-largest city in Zimbabwe. Here our journey takes us to the Matobo National Park, a World Heritage Site about 35 km south of Bulawayo.
In the afternoon we visit a rocky ridge that looks out over the scenic Matobo Park, sipping on sundowners as we admire the views.
The beautiful Matobo Hills are of great cultural significance to the local people. Many Zimbabweans see the Matobo Hills as a sacred place, with the Venda traditionally considering it as one of the most sacred sites. Indigenous communities, particularly the Shona and Ndebele tribes, use sacred shrines scattered in the granite hills to commune with their ancestors and perform rituals.
We walk up to the historic World's View site, where the colonial settler Cecil John Rhodes is buried. Walking through the unique landscape we look out for wild animals, including rhinos and antelopes, as well as admiring the impressive boulders and rocky outcrops. We also explore Matobo Park on a game drive and take a walk to view ancient rock art by the semi-nomadic San Bushmen.
For the next two nights, we stay in chalets just outside of the park with its quiet granite hills.
We proceed north to Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe's leading game park. Hwange Park is best known for its huge elephant population, one of the largest in Africa. The largest game reserve in Zimbabwe, this 14 650 km² national park is home to healthy populations of Africa's Big Five. Hwange also hosts numerous giraffes and antelope species, as well as large herds of buffalo and zebra.
On day seven we take a game drive in Hwange, going in search of the plentiful wild animals found here. The game drive is conducted by a local guide in an open 4x4 safari vehicle.
For the next two nights, we stay in chalets set inside a game management area bordering Hwange Park.
Next stop on our Kruger, Zimbabwe & Botswana Budget Safari; the world-famous Victoria Falls. We stay in the bustling town of Victoria Falls, located on the Zimbabwean side of the Victoria Falls waterfall.
Here we take a memorable guided walk to the largest sheet of falling water in the world. Walking through the lush forests we stand at Victoria Falls witnessing its full might from up close. Feel the spray of the Zambezi as it crashes into the gorge below. The locals aptly call it Mosi-oa-Tunya which means “the smoke that thunders”.
While in Victoria Falls town, you can participate in a wide variety of thrilling and unforgettable optional activities (own account). Whitewater rafting is a favourite here, as is bungee jumping. Victoria Falls is called the Adventure Capital of Africa, and for good reason.
Departing from the historic town of Victoria Falls we drive west into neighbouring Botswana. Entering Botswana we travel to the acclaimed Chobe region of Botswana, home to one of the largest continuous elephant populations in Africa.
In the late afternoon, we embark on a lazy sunset cruise along the Chobe River. Chobe Park is renowned for its superb sundowner boat cruises, offering excellent close encounters with the profusion of wild animals and birds drawn to the water.
Tonight's accommodation is located on the banks of the meandering Chobe River, in Kasane town of northern Botswana.
Please Note: The 10-day Johannesburg to Victoria Falls Safari option ends in Victoria Falls at 08:00 am today.
On the morning of day 11, we take a game-viewing drive in Chobe National Park. The game drive explores Chobe in search of predators (lion, leopard, wild dog), antelopes (wildebeest, kudu, impala), zebra, giraffe and many more.
We then drive south to Nata, passing through the Kasane Forest Reserve in Lesoma Valley. The village of Nata is located near the vast salt pans and open plains of Botswana.
Today our budget African safari heads into the Okavango Delta of Botswana. This is the largest inland delta in the world, with the Okavango River flowing from the highlands of Angola into the arid Kalahari of Botswana.
An open 4x4 safari vehicle is used to drive us to the fringes of the delta. Once in the watery Okavango Delta, we meet up with local guides who carry us further into this stunning wilderness area by mokoro (dugout canoes) to our tented camp. The delta is an intricate network of interconnected rivulets flowing into still lagoons interspersed with secluded islands and reed-lined floodplains.
Sit back and soak up the untamed flora and fauna of Botswana's natural gem, as your guide poles you along through the maze of waterways. The guides stand like gondoliers in these traditional dugout canoes, guiding you through the reed lines channels and peaceful lagoons.
We stay in large tents with twin camping beds and mattresses (linen, blankets and pillows included). Each tent is fitted with insect nets, a bedside table and light. The tents have en-suite toilets and the camp features a shared tent with a bucket shower (using hot water from the fire). When camping in the bush we ensure that all rubbish is removed with us, minimizing the impact of our stay. There is no WiFi at the camp and we take our own water and equipment supplies with us into the bush.
Our local guides camp with us, giving you the chance to gain insight into their culture and way of life. We make the most of our special time in the delta by camping under the stars, exploring on foot and taking refreshing dips in the clean estuaries. The Okavango Delta is home to a diversity of plants, animals and birds, some of which we get up close to during our adventure.
We head back to Maun on the afternoon of day 14, leaving time for a scenic flight over the Delta (own expense).
Say farewell to northern Botswana today, as we drive south to Khama Rhino Sanctuary. We travel through the vast and silent Kalahari Desert looking out for the unusual animals inhabiting this desolate land along the way.
The last game-viewing destination on our Kruger, Zimbabwe & Botswana Budget Safari is the compact Khama Rhino Sanctuary. We set off on an afternoon game drive to sight some of the resident wildlife, hopefully including rhinos.
The sanctuary was created in 1992, to help reestablish rhino populations in the area, which is the ideal habitat for these large endangered mammals. This wildlife reserve is a haven for over 230 bird species and some 30 animal species, many of which have been reintroduced here. The wildlife sanctuary employs local people, ensuring that nearby communities benefit from tourism revenue and the sustainable use of resources found in nature.
Our journey comes full circle today, as we return to the dynamic city of Johannesburg in South Africa.
This memorable Kruger, Zimbabwe & Botswana Budget Safari ends at about 18:00 in Johannesburg, home to the largest man-made forest in the world. There is an option to be dropped off at Johannesburg International Airport.
This 16-day African safari is available as a shorter 10-day Kruger & Zimbabwe Lodge Safari from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls. Contact African Budget Safaris for rates and more information.
This 16-day lodge safari is also available as a small group camping safari - Kruger, Zimbabwe & Botswana Camping Safari.
For up-to-date and confirmed pricing info for optional items, please drop us an enquiry.
This tour does take children.
Children between the ages of 12 and 17 years of age are accepted on group scheduled departures, travelling with an accompanying adult.
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