Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Victoria Falls, Makgadikgadi and Okavango Secret Corners of Botswana
Zimbabwe - Victoria Falls - Botswana - Okavango Delta - Makgadikgadi Pans
Your trip begins on the banks of the Zambezi, where you’ll wake up to birdsong and drift past hippos at sunrise before walking beside one of the world’s most spectacular waterfalls. Next, it’s onto a private reserve in the Okavango Delta, where lions wander past your camp and safaris take place daily by 4x4, on foot or on the water.
Finally, make your way to Botswana’s vast Makgadikgadi salt pans, a white desert where elephants bathe below your camp and horizons stretch forever. Hidden gems, wonderful scenery and unforgettable wildlife encounters make this an adventure that feels both epic and deeply personal.
Itinerary
100% customisable for you
Your African adventure begins today with an 11-hour overnight flight to Johannesburg. Settle into your seat, enjoy dinner onboard and watch the lights fade as you head south across continents – you’ll arrive the following morning, rested and ready to begin.
After landing in Johannesburg, you’ll be met and assisted through formalities before boarding your onward flight to Victoria Falls, which will take just under two hours. A private transfer will then bring you to your hotel, where you’ll be staying for the next two nights.
Spend the afternoon unwinding after your journey, listening to birdsong and relaxing in the sun. Come evening, enjoy a delicious dinner al fresco, with your first African sunset setting the tone for the days ahead.
An early start pays off this morning with a sunrise cruise on the Zambezi River. Step aboard a beautifully restored wooden boat and drift quietly along the river, coffee and croissant in hand, as hippos surface nearby and crocodiles warm themselves on the banks. It’s a wonderfully gentle way to start the day – and a fine upgrade on the usual hotel breakfast.
Later, explore Victoria Falls at your own pace. This legendary natural site sees the mighty Zambezi plunge over 300ft into the gorge below, sending up clouds of spray that can be seen for miles. Fancy seeing the falls up close? Wander rainforest paths, cross suspension bridges and take in viewpoints overlooking the thundering cascade.
The afternoon is free for further exploring, whether you’d prefer to go rafting in the Batoka Gorge, cycle through nearby villages or simply relax by the hotel pool. This evening, head to a panoramic terrace for a sunset aperitif overlooking the falls – what better way to end your first full day?
Today, it’s time to leave Zimbabwe behind and head for Botswana’s great wild spaces. A private driver will take you to the Kasane border, assisting with formalities before you board a small plane-taxi bound for Khwai, on the edge of the Okavango Delta. The flight will take around 30 minutes, giving you ample time to marvel at the delta’s winding waterways, palm-dotted islands and remarkable patchwork of floodplains and lagoons.
On arrival, settle into your intimate safari camp for two nights in the heart of the private Khwai Reserve. Each tent boasts a terrace overlooking open grasslands, so spend the rest of the day relaxing and watching zebras, antelope and even lions pass through. As dusk falls, enjoy a tasty dinner under the stars.
Wake to birdsong and the soft rustle of leaves as the delta comes to life. After an early breakfast, head out with your guide for a morning safari. Depending on the season and water levels, you’ll explore the reserve by 4x4, on foot or in a mokoro, a traditional wooden canoe. Each offers a completely different perspective, from tracking elephants across open plains to spotting reed frogs and colourful birdlife at water level.
Once you’ve worked up an appetite, return to camp for a tasty lunch and a few slow hours by the pool. Later, set off again as temperatures cool and animals become more active. Travelling with an aspiring photographer? Grab a camera from the reserve and head out alongside an expert guide, who’ll offer tips and tricks to score the perfect wildlife shot.
This morning you’ll take to the skies once more, flying via Maun to the vast Makgadikgadi Pans. Watch as watery greens give way to pale salt flats – a striking change of scenery. On arrival, check in to your camp for two nights, which sits high on a rocky ridge overlooking the Boteti River and Makgadikgadi Pans National Park.
Elephants frequently gather here to drink, swim and play in the water, often just a few feet away. Settle in, enjoy lunch and spend the afternoon watching a parade of wildlife from your camp, before heading out on an evening game drive or gentle walk.
Today is dedicated to exploring one of Africa’s most surreal landscapes. Once a vast ancient lake, the Makgadikgadi Pans are now among the world’s largest salt flats, and the white desert landscape stretches as far as the eye can see.
Head out with experienced guides by 4x4 or on foot, learning how wildlife survives in this seemingly empty place. During the rainy season, the salt crust gives way to a vast expanse of grass, attracting migrating wildlife and birds.
Back at camp, cool off in the pool or indulge in a little more elephant watching. As the sun sinks behind the horizon, enjoy a tasty sundowner overlooking the plains.
After breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to the Makgadikgadi. Pack your bags and board a light aircraft for your final 30-minute bush flight, soaring above the salt flats and tracing the Boteti River towards Maun.
On arrival in Maun, you’ll connect with your international return flight, which includes a quick stopover. You’ll arrive back in the UK the following day, still replaying the highlights of your African adventure.
Suggestions
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
With a few more days… Discover Hwange National Park
If you have time to spare, why not add a stop in Hwange National Park before heading into Botswana? Covering an impressive 5656 square miles, this is Zimbabwe’s largest national park and one of Africa’s great wilderness areas. Hwange is fiercely protected, and it’s no surprise why: the park is home to more than 100 mammal species and around 400 varieties of birds. What really steals the show, though, is the elephant population, one of the largest on the continent.Lower Zambezi National Park
Just across Victoria Falls lies another world entirely. Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park offers a quieter, wilder take on safari, set along one of Africa’s most beautiful rivers. Days here include game drives, boat safaris and guided walks revealing hippos wallowing in the shallows, crocodiles basking on the banks and herds of elephants wandering down to drink. The surrounding woodlands are rich with buffalo, zebra and giraffe, while birdlife thrives along the river’s edge. Best of all, travelling from Victoria Falls means no additional visa is required – making this the perfect extension for those craving even more time in the wild.
Why visit Botswana with Original Travel ?
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
Enquire nowA few of the benefits of travelling with us to Botswana
- Our local Concierges
- The Original Travel app
- Destination Dossier
- 24-hour helpline
- Expert guides
- 100% carbon absorption
Why visit Zimbabwe with Original Travel ?
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
Enquire nowA few of the benefits of travelling with us to Zimbabwe
- Our local Concierges
- The Original Travel app
- Destination Dossier
- 24-hour helpline
- Expert guides
- 100% carbon absorption
