9 Day Elephant Paths Safari - Botswana/Zimbabwe

Detailed Itineraries

Day 1,2 & 3 Chobe Safari Lodge, Chobe national Park

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

CHOBE SAFARI LODGE, Kasane, Chobe River

Chobe Safari Lodge is situated on the border of Chobe National Park close to the small town of Kasane, which lies at the northern apex of Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Caprivi. Due to the lodge’s proximity to Chobe National Park, you can have a game viewing experience from your balcony.

Chobe Safari Lodge offers accommodation to suit all requirements with eighty rooms including luxury safari and river rooms, simple chalets as well as a fully serviced campsite - all with access to the main lodge area. The luxury rooms have views across the Chobe River and are spacious and stylishly decorated with air-conditioning, en-suite bath and shower facilities, as well as satellite TV and phone. The chalets offer a more affordable and simple style of accommodation and the campsite is well shaded and situated at the far end of the lodge. The newly renovated central area overlooks the river and features a large family friendly swimming pool, buffet restaurant, bar, curio shop, conference room, internet café, squash, and beauty spa.

The inclusions at the lodge vary and will be indicated on individual itineraries. During their stay guests liaise with the booking office to co-ordinate activities which may include game drives in the Chobe National Park and boat cruises on the Chobe River. In addition, Chobe Safari Lodge offers optional fishing trips and day trips to Victoria Falls or Livingstone which is 80 km away. The lodge is only 3 km from the airport.

Please Note: All activities are subject to seasonal availability and weather conditions during the month of travel.
Some activities will need to be pre-booked before travel.

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 neighbouring 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: Miombo Lodge, Hwange

This morning after breakfast, you will be transferred by safari vehicle to Kasane Airport, where you meet your transfer vehicle for your Hwange transfer. Botswana and Zimbabwe border formalities will need to be completed before proceeding to Miombo Safari Camp, a two and a half hour drive, where you will spend the next 3 nights.

MIOMBO SAFARI CAMP, Hwange
Miombo is a quirky and intimate place which remains a popular destination for those travellers wishing to combine a safari in Hwange with a visit to the mighty Victoria Falls or Mosi-oa-Tunya (the smoke that thunders). You will be hosted at Miombo by Simon & his team, a warm and caring people who love what they do and are committed to making your stay with them a memorable one.

Miombo offers two types of accommodation; there are five wooden platform luxury tree houses, one family, one honeymoon and three standard tree houses - all en-suite with either double or twin beds and each with raised decks overlooking the main waterhole and views into the Miombo woodland. Relax on the deck, your own personal game viewing platform, and enjoy Africa on your doorstep. The standard rooms are under thatch and offer simple accommodation which is tastefully decorated and great value for money. There are four standard rooms, one double and three twin rooms, each with stargazer outside showers, semi-en-suite basin and flush toilet. Tea and coffee facilities, mosquito nets and fans are in each room to make your stay more comfortable.
Guests have the option of driving into the Park in their own vehicle or can join one of the game drives offered by Miombo Lodge in comfortable open sided, 4x4 vehicles, equipped with radio and accompanied by an experienced and knowledgeable local guide. The early morning game drive and afternoon drives take you into famous Hwange National Park. The late afternoons especially are prime time to sit around the main waterholes in the Park and enjoy seeing many herds of elephant as they come to drink. The Ingonyama Dance Troupe provides scintillating evening entertainment on request and we can arrange tours of the Painted Dog Conservation project and Dete Village.

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: Ilala Lodge, Victoria Falls

Following an early morning breakfast, you will be transferred by transfer vehicle from Miombo Safari Camp to Ilala Lodge in Victoria Falls where you will spend your final 2 nights.

ILALA LODGE, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Ilala Lodge is situated close to the Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe as well as to the town centre. Wild animals are often seen grazing the hotel lawns as the National Park borders the front of the property.

The Lodge offers 32 rooms: 24 twins, 8 doubles and 2 suites. All rooms have an en-suite bathroom with a separate shower, air-conditioning, overhead fan and satellite TV. Guests are served early morning tea/coffee and fruit. The rooms are spacious with railway sleeper teak furnishings and patio doors leading onto either an open lawn or a balcony where you are afforded a view of the Victoria Falls. There is an à la carte restaurant which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and offers a comprehensive wine list and cocktails. Dining outside under the African night sky amidst the sound of the mighty waterfall makes for a very romantic evening.
Victoria Falls has become the premier adventure resort of Africa with a multitude of activities to suit every traveller. Some of the most popular are elephant back safaris, exploring the local craft market for African treasures and taking a helicopter flight over the mile-wide Victoria Falls, guided walking safaris and game drives are activities not to be missed and are arranged at the lodge. Game drives take place in 4x4 safari vehicles providing guests with the chance to see big game and enjoy a buffet meal on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River. Other activities are white water rafting in the river, walking with lions and horseback riding through areas with a high concentration of game and beautiful scenery. Day and overnight trips to Chobe (Botswana) and Hwange National Park are also possible.

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.