9 Day Botswana & Zimbabwe in Style

Detailed Itineraries

Day 1,2 & 3 Ngoma Safari Lodge - Chobe

Upon your arrival at Kasane Airport, you will be met and transferred in a safari vehicle to Ngoma Safari Lodge, where you spend your first 3 nights.

NGOMA SAFARI LODGE, Chobe Forest Reserve
Ngoma Safari Lodge is situated in Northern Botswana within the Chobe Forest Reserve bordering the western edge of Chobe National Park and overlooking the Chobe River. Ngoma Safari Lodge is located 55 km from Kasane and 135 km from the mighty Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.

All 8 river facing suites have spacious internal and external living areas, a bath, an inside and outside shower, overhead fans, air conditioning, mini bar, tea/coffee facilities and an open lounge. Each suites has a view of the river offering the opportunity to see the famous Chobe elephants, migrating zebra or buffalo grazing on the floodplain below, depending on the season.

The central guest area is built adjacent to a magnificent Baobab and will overlook the Chobe River incorporating a reception, guest sitting room, dining room and bar area and curio shop. Internet and communication facilities are also available as well as a swimming pool, sundeck and adjacent viewing platform.

Cultural experiences and interaction with the community are paramount at Ngoma Safari Lodge and these include visits to the local school, the clinic and the village. As Ngoma Safari Lodge is situated in a Forest Reserve, both walking and night drives are permitted and activities include: game walks on the concession which are escorted by an armed and professional guide, games drives, birding as well as a full day game activity including cruising on the Chobe River and driving within the Chobe National Park.

AREA DESCRIPTION - Chobe
The Chobe River Front is a remarkable wildlife area due to the permanent water source of the Chobe River. However its accessibility from Kasane and neighboring towns of Victoria Falls and Livingstone has created quite a busy tourist area with larger hotels and lodges than you find in the more remote Okavango Delta. The spectacle of all the animals coming to drink and frolic at the water's edge is one to behold, particularly in the dry season (May - Oct) where water is scarce away from the river. It is an area famous for its abundance of elephants, a variety of predators and, in addition, you are likely to see herds of buffalo and possibly even roan and sable antelope. In the rainy season (Nov - Apr) the game is much less concentrated at the river as the wildlife spread throughout the greater area of Chobe National Park due to availability of surface water from nearby pans. This assists the vegetation on the river banks in recovering from the massive herds that are attracted to the area in the dry months. The summer rains bring beautiful wild flowers, exquisite scenery, impressive bird life and an abundance of young animals usually born around November/December. The spectacular Chobe sunsets alone are worth a visit to the area. Please note that activities are restricted within the national park in accordance with government rules and regulations: these include no driving off-road, no walking and no driving after dark.

Chobe Game Lodge is the only lodge situated within the National Park. The remainder of the lodges, hotels and guesthouses in the Chobe area are located along the river in the town of Kasane, adjacent to the park. In addition there are some lodges situated further out of Kasane and in the Chobe Forestry Reserve, namely Muchenje Safari Lodge and Elephant Valley Lodge for those looking for something in more of a bush setting.

Day 4,5 & 6 Little Makalolo - Hwange National Park

This morning after breakfast, you will be transferred by safari vehicle to Kasane, where you meet your transfer vehicle to Victoria Falls Airport. Botswana and Zimbabwe border formalities will need to be completed before proceeding. On arrival at Victoria Falls Airport (please remember to have your US$10 per person departure tax ready), you will take a seat in plane, light air transfer, approximately 45 minutes, from Victoria Falls to Little Makalolo in Hwange National Park. Here you spend the next 3 nights.

LITTLE MAKALOLO CAMP, Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe

Little Makololo Camp is an intimate bush camp in the heart of Hwange National Park, offering a true bush experience yet with comfort and true Zimbabwean hospitality. Hwange is legendary for its wonderful array of wildlife and massive herds of elephant and Buffalo - especially in the drier winter months.

Accommodation consists of 6 walk-in tents with twin beds, one of which is a family tent with two adjoining sleeping rooms sharing a bathroom. Each room has an en-suite shower, toilet and basin - all with hot and cold running water and is fan cooled (much appreciated in the hot summer months!). There is also an outdoor shower for those who enjoy showering under the stars. The lighting in the rooms is battery powered thus ensuring peace and quiet in camp. Meals are enjoyed in the dining tent and there is also a separate tent housing the lounge and bar area. The camp has a plunge pool and close at hand is a ‘log pile’ hide overlooking the waterhole which allows guests to enjoy close-up game viewing.
There are excellent opportunities to view game: safaris are conducted in open 4x4 vehicles during the early morning and late afternoon when game is most active. Walking safaris are also offered and are accompanied by an armed professional guide. A wide variety of game is present in the area including lion, large herds of elephant, buffalo, leopard, rhino, giraffe, sable, wildebeest, impala and much more. The large open plains allow one to view large herds of animals.

AREA DESCRIPTION – Hwange National Park
Named after a local Nhanzwa chief, Hwange National Park is the largest Park in Zimbabwe occupying roughly 14 650 square kilometres, as big as Northern Ireland. It is located in the northwest corner of the country about one hour south of the Mighty Victoria Falls. It became the royal hunting grounds to the Ndebele warrior-king Mzilikazi in the early 19th Century and was set aside as a National Park in 1929. Hwange boasts a tremendous selection of wildlife with over 100 species of mammals and nearly 400 bird species recorded.

The elephants of Hwange are world famous and the Park's elephant population is one of the largest in the world. The park is home to over 35 000 elephants who in the dry season dominate all the water points in the afternoons.  Other animals that can be seen in the park are lion, leopard, cheetah, rhino, buffalo, impala, kudu, sable, eland, waterbuck, zebra, giraffe, baboon and warthog.

Due to the vast size of the park the landscape varies from deep Kalahari sands in the south to rocky hilly country in the north.  The open savanna woodland in the south east gives way to the thick teak woodland, which in term becomes Mopane woodland. In so many habitats, there is an abundance of animals, birds and general flora. As the park is in a very arid region in terms of water, the water points are pumped from deep wells underground. At some of these water points there are very comfortable hides to sit in and watch the animals and birds. This makes the park a great place to visit at any time of the year depending on your main interests.

This area is also one of the last strong holds for the endangered Black Rhino.  For those of you who are up to it, a morning of tracking the Rhino on foot is a must! Hwange National Park is one of the best parks to see and experience some great adventures.

Day 7 & 8 The Elephant Camp - Victoria Falls

Following an early morning breakfast, you will be transferred the short distance to the airstrip for your seat in plane, light air transfer from Hwange to Victoria Falls Airport. On arrival in Victoria Falls, you will be met by a representative from The Elephant Camp and transferred by road to The Elephant Camp, where you spend your final 2 nights.

THE ELEPHANT CAMP, Victoria Falls

Situated on a private concession within and bounded by the Masuwe River and Zambezi gorges, The Elephant Camp has breathtaking views of the Victoria Falls’ spray, and the spectacular gorges that separate Zimbabwe from Zambia. The Elephant Camp is a luxury and intimate lodge under canvas within easy reach of Victoria Falls and all its attractions ad activities, yet secluded in its own private game reserve so as to allow close-up encounters with wildlife.

The Elephant Camp offers exclusive suite accommodation for only 18 guests in 9 luxury tents. All suites face the gorge and offer a private viewing deck, plunge pool, private lounge area, air-conditioning and fans, mini bar and tea and coffee stations. The en-suite facilities include a bath as well as an inside and outside shower so that you can shower under the starry skies of Zimbabwe.

The Elephant Camp offers close interaction with wildlife – in particular elephant at the Wild Horizons Wildlife Sanctuary. All guests will have the opportunity of meeting the elephants at the Wild Horizons Elephant Sanctuary. All other activities on offer in Victoria Falls as well as Spa treatments are available at an additional cost and can be booked at the lodge.

AREA DESCRIPTION - Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls town lies on the southern bank of the Zambezi River at the eastern end of the Victoria Falls. It is a lovely tourist town which is easy to explore on foot and which offers a wide range of activities from the challenge of white water rafting and Bungi jumping, to the awe-inspiring elephant back safaris and sunset cruises. It has something for everyone

The Victoria Falls are one of the Seven Wonders of the World and is the largest sheet of falling water on earth - a spellbinding and mesmerising spectacle. The sheer mass of water cascading down the 100m drop across nearly 2km makes  a thunderous roar and creates a magnificent spray of water that can be seen for miles - hence the local name 'mosi oa tunya' meaning 'the smoke that thunders'.

Access to Victoria Falls is within easy walking distance from the town centre. Water flow over the Falls varies throughout the year. The river's annual flood season is February to May when the spray can reach a height of over 400m, this is spectacular from above but it makes it very difficult to see the Falls at ground level as it is under a heavy shower/mist. Water levels start dropping in August and are at their lowest October - December when much of the rocky face becomes dry. At times of low water, the falls are best viewed from the Zimbabwe side or from Livingstone Island.

Day 9 Victoria Falls - Depart

Following breakfast, you will be transferred by transfer vehicle to Victoria Falls Airport for your onward travel arrangements.