Steep yourself in wilderness gems in this route exploring Botswana, Zimbabwe and the famous Kruger National Park. Enjoy the eclectic mix of the reeded banks of the Okavango Delta, Victoria Falls’ uproar, the endangered animal haven of Hwange and a fare of indigenous, ancient history at the Great Zimbabwe Ruins & Kaoxa Rock Art Shelter.

Highlights

On our classic tours, clients can choose between two accommodation options. The explorer (camping) option includes a dome tent (2.4×2.4m) and a 5cm-thick mattress. You’ll need to bring your own sleeping bag. Alternatively, the classic option offers more comfort with a variety of permanent tents, guesthouses, lodges, and hotels available.

Classic Tents

 

Permanent Tents

 

Hotels & Resorts

 

Lodges & Guesthouses

 

This unforgettable journey begins in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, where we descend from Maun into a living mosaic of water and reeds. In the Khwai region, a mokoro safari transports you through lily-covered channels, revealing the untouched beauty of the Delta. Full-day game drives in Moremi Game Reserve follow, weaving through wetlands and savannas alive with elephant herds, elusive cats, and hidden forest dwellers.

From the Delta’s stillness, we shift to the Chobe River for a boat cruise where elephants and hippos gather along the banks in a stirring display of life on water’s edge. Crossing into Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls greets us with roaring grandeur. Known as “The Smoke That Thunders,” it offers both awe and adrenaline-packed activities before we venture into the vast wilderness of Hwange National Park.

In Hwange, sunrise safaris awaken the senses to rustling brush and birdsong, with sightings of giraffe, sable antelope, and, with luck, lion or wild dog. A visit to the Painted Dog Conservation Centre highlights the critical efforts to protect these endangered predators and their ecological role.

The landscape then shifts to the surreal granite formations of Matopos National Park. Here, massive boulders perch like ancient sculptures above valleys rich in wildlife and San rock art. If conditions allow, we track rhino on foot, a rare and exciting experience.

Next, we travel east to the Great Zimbabwe Ruins, where stone towers and walls recall an empire once central to trade across Africa and beyond. Southward, the Mapesu Private Game Reserve reveals a remote, untamed terrain of baobab-dotted hills. At Kaoxa Rock Shelter, ancient San paintings speak across time, and guests set out on guided walks to track endangered species like cheetah, rhino, or wild dogs.

Crossing into South Africa, golden-hour safaris in Phalaborwa lead to a morning bush walk in Timbavati, where the Big Five move through the dense thickets. We then follow the spectacular Panorama Route, pausing at God’s Window, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, and the Blyde River Canyon.

A final full-day open-vehicle safari in Kruger National Park offers one last communion with the wild before we return to Johannesburg, carrying home memories carved by nature, culture, and the timeless splendor of Africa.