12 Day Classic Botswana and Zimbabwe

12 days

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12 Day Classic Botswana and Zimbabwe
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  • Itinerary
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This spectacular safari takes you to the glittering waters of the Okavango Delta and the predator capital of the world at Moremi, to the banks of the Zambezi River (close to Victoria Falls) and on to the grand Hwange National Park.

Curated experiences - Discover what makes each camp so interesting and what you can do while there. Each camp and lodge have something different to share. Drawing on our extensive local knowledge, we make sure you get to experience the best that each site has to offer.

Explore the Okavango Delta - This is your chance to explore Botswana’s prized jewel, the Okavango Delta. Over 11 000 km3 of seasonal floodwater travels from the neighbouring Angola Highlands to fill this inland river basin to create a home to more than 2 000 plants, 450 birds, 65 fish and over 200 000 large mammal species.

See the mighty Victoria Falls - One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the locals call Victoria Falls “Mosi-oa-Tunya”, which means "smoke that thunders" in honour of the roar of the water plunging into the Zambezi River below. You will now be able to tick Victoria Falls off your life’s bucket list.

Explore a variety of biomes - A biome is a community of animals and plants that share common characteristics for the environment in which they live. Biomes can include a variety of habitats and as such, support different animal and life forms. This package covers several biomes enabling you to enjoy a wide diversity of wildlife in a single trip.

Visit Hwange National Park - An hour’s drive from Victoria Falls, this package takes in the largest park in Zimbabwe. At 14,600km2 in size, Hwange National Park is home to the “Presidential Herd” of elephants and is the only place in the country to see a giraffe. The vast space is the ideal way in which to immerse yourself in the authentic spirit of a safari.

Highlights

  • Explore the Okavango Delta
  • The predator capital of the world at Moremi
  • See the Zambezi River & Explore Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
  • Explore Hwange National Park Game Drives & Walking Safari
About
  • Flight from Maun to Machaba Camp, then onto Gomoti Plains Camp
  • Flight from Gomoti Plains to Kasane Airport
  • Road transfer from Kasane to Old Drift Lodge (Approx. 45 minutes)
  • Transfer back to Vic Falls Airport
  • Return flights from Vic Falls Airport to Manga – Manga to Vic Falls Airport (Approx. 45-minute flight)
  • Fully inclusive of accommodation, all meals, laundry, lodge activities, return vehicle airstrip transfers, alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages (excluding imported and premium drinks) & taxes
  • Machaba Safaris Conservation and Community Levy (CCL) of USD 15 per person per night at all camps.

At Old Drift Lodge inclusive

  • Accommodation, all meals and drinks; Complimentary mini bars in the rooms
  • Return Victoria Falls Airport / Livingstone Airport transfers; Shuttle to Victoria Falls town; Gym in a bag; Laundry
  • Emergency Medical Evacuation cover; 2% Tourism levy; VAT on accommodation, meals and drinks Activities available at Old Drift Lodge at no extra charge to guests: Morning and Afternoon Game drives in the Zambezi National Park & Morning and Afternoon River Safaris

  • Visas fees
  • Rates exclude premium imported drinks
  • International flights
  • Travel & Medical Insurance
  • Discretionary tips
  • Visas fees
  • Rates exclude premium imported drinks
  • International flights
  • Travel & Medical Insurance
  • Discretionary tips.

Day 1 – 4: Machaba Camp – Okavango Delta

The name Machaba is the local Setswana name for the Sycamore Fig Tree, the tree of life. Machaba Camp is independently owned and run and is aimed at the affordable luxury travel markets across the world, offering great value for money and a unique classical safari experience. Machaba Camp will appeal to novice safari guests as well as to seasoned safari travellers.

Machaba Camp Style: The camp is built in the classic 1950’s style, with luxury safari tents, en-suite bathrooms and living areas, not forgetting the romantic outdoor showers. All the tents are situated on the ground level and the pathways to the tents meander between the large riverine trees.

Where Is Machaba Camp Located? Machaba Camp is situated in the game-rich Khwai area. The Khwai Concession is a 35 000-hectare reserve situated in the north eastern Okavango adjacent to the Moremi Game Reserve.

Day 4 – 7: Gomoti Plains - Okavango Delta

About Gomoti Plains Camp - Gomoti Plains Camp is named after the Gomoti River situated nearby with roaming flood plains based on either side of the camp strewn with towering palm trees, built with our iconic signature Machaba style tents, and decorations taking in the local theme of water and land, both essential to life in the Okavango Delta, offering our guests a unique safari experience incorporating the natural surrounding habitat.

Gomoti Plains Camp offers the perfect pairing with both Machaba Camps in affordability, luxury and diverse offering. Gomoti Plains Camp offers extensive water activities with incredible wildlife diversity. The wildlife viewing in the area, both from vehicles or water is superb. Guests can look forward to Mokoro trips, motorboats (water dependant) and game viewing by vehicle and on foot. Being in a private concession, guests can also look forward to night drives and off-road viewing.

Some of the more interesting finds in this new unique area include wild dog dens, a large pride of lions, big herds of buffalo, recent sightings of leopard and cheetah and plentiful other wildlife throughout the area.

Where Is Gomoti Plains Camp Located? Gomoti Plains Camp is located just 18 km south-east of Chitabe Camp in the exclusive community area of NG32 which is a large community-run concession, in the Okavango Delta. The Camp is situated on one of the smaller flood plains along with the Gomoti River system.

Day 7 – 9: Old Drift Lodge – Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Upstream of the iconic Victoria Falls, on the banks of the Zambezi River, lies Old Drift Lodge. The lodge boasts luxury accommodation overlooking the pristine Zambezi National Park, a mere 7 kilometres from the mighty Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Old Drift Lodge is nestled within a wild paradise frequented by elephants, buffalo, herds of sable, eland, zebra, giraffe, kudu, waterbuck and impala.

AMBIENCE - The symphony of birdsong and calls of wildlife create a choir that enraptures all listeners and accompanies guests on this idyllic African experience.

The spacious canvas en-suite rooms exhibit an air of elegance that blends in seamlessly with the natural environment. The suites are resplendent with stylish furnishings and fittings, accentuated by an indoor and outdoor shower, private plunge pool and bath with a view.

Old Drift Lodge offers family friendly accommodation with an air of opulence and grace, in a wild and exuberant Zambezi National Park, Victoria Falls.

Day 9 – 12: Verney’s Camp - Hwange National Park

About Verney’s Camp - Verney’s Camp is based in a private concession in the heart of Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe. The Camp is located at Verney’s Pan, which is situated on a large open floodplain surrounded by teak forest typical of Hwange National Park. The waterhole at Verney’s plays host to numerous animals and is a playground for the famous elephant herds of Hwange. Verney’s Camp is part of the Machaba Safaris group and is built in keeping with Machaba Safaris’ winning recipe that matches the timeless wonder of a classic safari to Africa. It is aimed at the affordable luxury travel market worldwide for both the novice and the well-seasoned safari traveller.

Verney’s Camp Style - Ten tents are tucked away perfectly under the shady arms of the teak trees bordering the open waterhole in front of the camp. Each tent has been carefully positioned to ensure the best serenity and privacy so that guests can enjoy the natural beauty of the area. Each room is comfortably appointed and has an en suite shower, flush toilet, and double vanity which are all beautifully designed to retain the authenticity and magical feeling of being on safari. Verney’s Camp has eight double/twin rooms and two-family rooms, all of which are on wooden decks, and are connected by natural pathways on the ground.

Where Is Verney’s Camp Located? Situated on the central site of the southeastern part of Hwange National Park, Verney’s Camp is a private concession of 10 000 hectares (24,7 acres). It is in a remote part of the National Park that is not accessed by regular Park visitors; however, the camp does have access to the public parts of the National Park.

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Itinerary
  • Day 1:Arrival /Flight to Okavango Delta

    You will book an international flight to Maun in Botswana, when you arrive you will be assisted onto a light flight to Khwai airstrip then road transfer to Machaba Camp in Okavango details where you start your first three nights of your safari.

    Check-in and depending on your arrival time you will relax or do the afternoon activity then dinner and bedtime.

  • Day 2 & 3: Explore The Okavango delta

    During these days you will have two game viewing activities per day, you have breakfast then a morning activity and then a break for lunch and free time to relax. 

    Later in the afternoon, you have afternoon tea /coffee followed by game viewing activities back to the camp relax then dinner and bedtime at your convenient time.

  • Day 4: Transfer to Gomoti Plains ,Okavango Delta

    Perched on the edge of the Okavango Delta, Machaba Camp offers the dual advantage of viewing large wildlife populations and exploring the tributaries of the Delta’s outer reaches in a mokoro canoe.

    On day 4, you will have breakfast and then check out of Machaba Camp and then you will be transferred to Khwai airstrip and flight to Gomoti Plains airstrip where you will meet the guide from Gomoti Plains Camp and transfer the camp check-in and then lunch. 

    After lunch, you will have free time to relax then afternoon tea/coffee followed by the afternoon game viewing activity then return to the camp, relax and dinner then bedtime.

  • Days 5 & 6: Explore Gomoti Plains , Okavango Delta

    Based in a private concession on the edge of the Gomoti flood plain system, this camp has access to incredible wildlife and scenery. Depending on the time of year, the floodplains can be explored by vehicle or canoe.

    On days 5 and 6 you will have breakfast followed by morning activity then return to the camp for lunch and free time to relax. Later afternoon tea/coffee then you will go out for the afternoon activity then return to camp relax and dinner then bedtime.

  • Days 7: Transfer to Victoria Falls,Zim Via Kasane

    Breakfast in the morning and then you will check out, depending on your flight time you will be transferred to Gomoti Plains airstrip for your charter flight to Kasane airport and then you will be transferred to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Check-in and then depending on your arrival time you will be served with lunch and free time to relax.

    Later in the afternoon tea/coffee followed the afternoon game drive or River Safari return to the Lodge then dinner and bedtime.

  • Day 8: Old Drift Lodge – Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

    You will have free activities available at Old Drift Lodge at no extra charge to guests: Morning and Afternoon Game drive in the Zambezi National Park & Morning and Afternoon River Safaris.

  • Day 9: Flight from VFA to Manga Airstrip Hwange NP

    Breakfast and then check out of the lodge our driver will transfer you to Victoria Falls Intl airport in time for your 45 minutes flight to Manga airstrip and then transfer to Verney’s Camp - Hwange National Park.

    Check-in and lunch will be served then free time to relax followed by afternoon activity then return to the camp dinner and then bedtime.

  • Day 10 -11: Safari Activities in Hwange NP

    Inspired by safaris of the past, Verney’s Camp is situated in a teak forest that is synonymous with Hwange. With views over a waterhole, the animals put on a daily parade as they come down for their evening drink.

    On days 10 and 11 you have breakfast then a morning game viewing activity you will return to the camp in time for lunch and free time to relax and then afternoon tea/coffee followed by afternoon activity then return to the camp in time for dinner and then bedtime at your free time.

  • Day 12: Transfer to Victoria Falls Intl Airport

    On this day you will have breakfast in the morning and you will check out of the camp, then you will be transferred to Manga Airstrip for your 45 minutes flights back to Victoria Falls Intl airport in time for your international flight back home.

Location