South Africa, Zimbabwe & Botswana: 14 Day Small Group Safari

Day 1. Pretoria to Hoedspruit

Departing from South Africa’s administrative city, Pretoria, we drive across the scenic mountainous Mpumalanga province and enjoy the spectacular Blyde River Canyon and the Three Rondavels rock formation. The Blyde River, the third largest canyon in the world and a ‘wet’ canyon, making it different from the wind-carved dry canyons of the Grand Canyon and the Fish River Canyon.

After lunch, we continue our journey to our accommodation for 2 nights, set in attractive gardens situated an hour or so drive from Kruger National Park.

Day 2. Kruger National Park Highlights. Kruger National Park, South Africa.

We are off on our first Game Drive today. Waking before dawn, we aim to enter the park as the gates open at sunrise and spend the whole day game driving in this world famous national park.

Established in 1898 the park is home to a wide variety of species including 336 trees, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals.

We have the whole day in specialised open 4x4 game drive vehicles enjoying the sights and sounds of the park with our local professional guide. We return to our accommodation near Hoedspruit and overnight.

3 images Kruger National Park, South Africa

Day 3. Hoedspruit to Polokwane Highlights. Bakone Open Air Museum .

Our journey today takes us northwards to the undulating hills of South Africa's Limpopo province.

This afternoon we head off to learn more about the local Bakone culture at an interesting open-air museum. It's here we learn about traditional methods of the Bakone tribe who were settled in this area from historic times to the present day.

1 images Bakone Open Air Museum

Day 4. Polokwane to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

Leaving South Africa and entering Zimbabwe at the busy Beitbridge border crossing we wait patiently as the border formalities are completed before continuing our journey onto Bulawayo.

We have a lot of ground to cover today and eventually arrive at the second largest city in Zimbabwe, easily recognisable by its wide tree lined avenues.

To allow for the number of highlights & experiences included in this tour, some long distances need to be travelled. In order for this to not affect every day on tour, we have allocated this as a driving day in which we cover quite a lot of ground and have minimal stops.

Day 5. Matobo National Park Highlights. Matobo National Park, Zimbabwe.

Again, we are swapping into more suitable open 4x4 game drive vehicles today with a local guide to visit the nearby Matobo National Park, easily recognisable by it's wind sculpted hills. Provided the conditions are right we will also explore the area on foot and track some of the wild animals in the park, a truly exhilarating experience.

We have the option of extending our excursion to a full day including historical tour.

3 images Matobo National Park, Zimbabwe

Day 6. Bulawayo to Victoria Falls Highlights. Zambezi Sunset Cruise - Zimbabwe.

Onwards after breakfast this morning to Victoria Falls, the adventure and activity capital of Southern Africa.

Settling into our accommodation over lunch we are met by our local team who will run through with us what amazing activities are on offer in the area to ensure that all our bucket list items are ticked off.

We finally round off our day with a peaceful sunset cruise on the upper stretches of the Zambezi.

3 images Zambezi Sunset Cruise - Zimbabwe

Day 7. Victoria Falls Highlights. Victoria Falls National Park.

Rising early, we visit the falls themselves and wander around the rainforest that has grown up from the spray from the falls. After our morning adventure, the rest of the day is free to partake in some of the many activities that are on offer or simply relax at the hotel and explore the small town and markets.

3 images Victoria Falls National Park

Day 8. Victoria Falls to Chobe National Park, Botswana Highlights. Chobe Fish Eagle Cruise, Botswana. Chobe National Park Game Drive, Botswana. Chobe National Park, Botswana.

We travel the short distance this morning from Victoria Falls across into neighbouring Botswana and the small town of Kasane.

Our lodge, on the banks of the Chobe River where we head out onto a game drive and boat cruise in the Chobe National Park. Chobe is widely known for its populations of elephant, but the park also contains lion, leopard, hyena, giraffe and a host of antelope and birdlife.

3 images Chobe Fish Eagle Cruise, Botswana

3 images Chobe National Park Game Drive, Botswana

3 images Chobe National Park, Botswana

Day 9. Chobe National Park to Gweta Highlights. Gweta Village Walk, Botswana.

Turning southbound today, our journey takes us down to Gweta, the gateway to the vast Makgadikgadi and Nxai salt pans. There are no game fences in this area so we may be lucky enough to encounter big game en route including elephant and buffalo.

On arrival in Gweta, we have the option of joining a 4x4 excursion out to the pans or a baobab forest tour.

3 images Gweta Village Walk, Botswana

Day 10. Gweta to Maun Highlights. Maun, Botswana.

After a morning tour to a local Tswana village to learn more about their every day life we are back in the vehicle and on further west to Maun, the gateway to the famed Okavango Delta.

In preparation for our excursion into the delta we stock up on some provisions and have the afternoon relaxing under the trees in the grounds of our comfortable lodge.

3 images Maun, Botswana

Day 11. Maun to Okavango Delta Highlights. Okavango Delta, Botswana.

Transferring out to the mokoro station this morning in the 4x4 safari vehicle we meet the local Tswana guides who are going to accompany us through the labyrinth of islands and channels to our tented camp which is home for the night.

The delta is a natural wetland where the Okavango River spills out into the sands of the Kalahari Desert and never actually reaches the sea. This wetland is a haven for birds and other animals, an amazing wilderness experience.

5 images Okavango Delta, Botswana

Day 12. Okavango Delta to Maun

After an exhilarating nature walk this morning, we pack up and return via mokoro and 4x4 transfer to our comfortable lodge outside Maun.

This afternoon, we have the opportunity to explore the small town or possibly take a flight over the delta where we have just spent the night.

Day 13. Maun to Khama Rhino Sanctuary to Martin's Drift Highlights. Khama Rhino Sanctuary, Botswana.

We're up early this morning to hit the road. Travelling through the Greater Kalahari Region via Mopipi and we eventually arrive at the Khama Rhino Sanctuary.

The sanctuary was set up in 1989 by a group of locals wanting to convert a hunting area to a conservation area. It has subsequently been very successful and now plays an important part in educating the local population on the benefits of conservation.

We enjoy an afternoon game drive with the local rangers.

3 images Khama Rhino Sanctuary, Botswana

Day 14. Stevensford Game Reserve to Pretoria, South Africa

Crossing the border one final time on the tour and back into South Africa at the Martins Drift border post over the Limpopo River.

The gradually increasing population indicates our arrival into the city of Pretoria, where, late this afternoon the tour ends.