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

Day 1. Pretoria to Hazyview Highlights. Blyde River Canyon, South Africa. Bourke's Luck Pot Holes, South Africa. Three Rondavels, South Africa.

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, just minutes from Kruger National Park.

3 images Blyde River Canyon, South Africa

3 images Bourke's Luck Pot Holes, South Africa

2 images Three Rondavels, South Africa

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 in Hazyview and overnight.

3 images Kruger National Park, South Africa

Day 3. Hazyview to Polokwane Highlights. Bakone Malapa Open Air Cultural 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 Malapa Open Air Cultural Museum

Day 4. Polokwane to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Highlights. Bulawayo.

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.

Today we will transfer to more suitable open 4x4 game drive vehicles and be accompanied by a local guide to visit Matobo National Park. This park is easily recognisable by its wind-sculpted hills. Provided the conditions are favourable, we will also explore the area on foot and track some of the wildlife.

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. Simunye - The Spirit of Africa Theatre Show.

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 head out for dinner at Dusty Road, a traditional Zimbabwean restaurant in Chinotimba township, featuring open-fire cooking and strong community support.

Afterwards, we enjoy Simunye – The Spirit of Africa, a locally written and performed theatre show celebrating regional culture through music, story and costume, while supporting local talent and livelihoods.

7 images Simunye - The Spirit of Africa Theatre Show

Day 7. Victoria Falls Highlights. Victoria Falls National Park. Victoria Falls Town - Activities. Zambezi River Cruise, Zambia.

After rising early, we visit the falls and explore the rainforest that has developed from the spray.

Following our morning visit, we can join various optional activities in the area or visit the local markets for souvenirs.

Finally, we conclude the day with a relaxing sunset cruise on the upper stretches of the Zambezi River, where we may observe wildlife.

3 images Victoria Falls National Park

3 images Victoria Falls Town - Activities

3 images Zambezi River Cruise, Zambia

Day 8. Victoria Falls to Kasane, Botswana - Chobe National Park Highlights. Chobe Fish Eagle Cruise, 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 on a 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, Botswana

Day 9. Chobe National Park - Kasane to Nata Highlights. Chobe National Park Game Drive, Botswana. Chobe National Park, Botswana.

We head out to explore the Chobe National Park in an open vehicle game drive where we may have the opportunity to spot not only elephant that are so prolific in the park, but also lion and different antelope species.

We stop in the small settlement of Nata for the night. If we are lucky, we will see plenty of bird species including Southern yellow-billed hornbills, pied and arrow-marked babblers, glossy starlings and paradise whydah from the comfort of the pool deck, bar or breakfast table.

3 images Chobe National Park Game Drive, Botswana

3 images Chobe National Park, Botswana

Day 10. Nata to Maun Highlights. Maun, Botswana. Nata Village, Botswana.

After a morning tour to a local 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

3 images Nata Village, 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 Highlights. Maun, Botswana.

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 an optional flight over the delta where we have just spent the night.

3 images Maun, Botswana

Day 13. Maun to Khama Rhino Sanctuary - Stevensford Game Reserve 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 before travelling to Stevensford Game Reserve for our final night on tour.

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.