11 Day Botswana and Victoria Falls Safari

Days 1 to 3

Makgadikgadi Pans National Park

Arrive in Maun and transfer by air charter to Leroo La Tau game lodge, overlooking the Boteti River in the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park.

During the dry season from May to October, the Boteti River attracts thousands of animals to the remaining waterholes here. You can expect large herds of zebra, wildebeest and other animals coming to the watering hole in front of the camp to drink.

When the zebras are around, lions are abundant, so the chances of seeing them, perhaps even on a kill, are good.

Leroo La Tau has access to a private concession area where night drives and off-road driving are permitted. Most game drives, however, happen in the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. Spend two nights at Leroo La Tau in a luxury chalet overlooking the Boteti riverbed.

Days 3 to 5

Okavango Delta

Transfer by road and then by air to Camp Moremi, in the heart of the Moremi Game Reserve, on the edge of the Okavango Delta.

From Camp Moremi, you can do morning game drives in the Moremi Game Reserve in an open 4x4 safari vehicle. In the afternoon, you can choose between an afternoon game drive or a boat trip into the beautiful Okavango Delta.

An alternative option is to stay at a camp even deeper in the Okavango Delta, where only water-based activities are offered, such as Camp Okavango. Spend two nights here and explore the wonders of the Okavango Delta and Moremi Game Reserve.

Days 5 to 7

Savute Channel

A short flight brings you to Savute Safari Lodge, overlooking a waterhole in the Savute Channel.

Here the scenery is different, and you can expect abundant wildlife, including elephants, buffalo, giraffes, zebra, various antelope species and lions.

Other predators that can be seen here include African wild dogs, hyenas, leopards and sometimes cheetahs.

During the dry season at Savute, you can sit on the deck and watch the animals come down to the waterhole in front of the camp. Game drives in the Savute area are usually excellent and focus on the wildlife-rich areas around the Savute Marsh and Savute Channel.

Days 7 to 9

Chobe River

Another short flight and transfer bring you to Chobe Game Lodge, on the banks of the Chobe River in the far north of Botswana.

This is the best game viewing area in the Chobe National Park, and the activities include open-vehicle game drives and game viewing by boat.

During the dry season, the Chobe River offers the best boat-based game viewing in the world, and you can expect close-up, unobstructed views of hippo, crocodile, elephant herds, buffalo, sable antelope, lechwe, giraffe, zebra and various other animals. Lions, leopards and African wild dogs are often seen in this area.

Chobe Game Lodge is a luxury lodge with a spotting scope on the game-viewing deck, a swimming pool, two bars, a full-size snooker table, stargazing by telescope from the astronomy deck, a gym and a spa.

This is a great destination to end the Botswana leg of your trip.

Days 9 to 11

Victoria Falls

The mighty Victoria Falls are less than two hours by road from Chobe Game Lodge.

You can visit them from the Zambian or Zimbabwean side, and we can safely recommend both. From August to December, the views from the Zimbabwe side are much better as the Zambian side is mostly dry during this time.

If you opt for the Zambian side, you will cross the Zambezi River and stay at one of the hotels in Livingstone.

For the Zimbabwe side, it is a 90-minute road transfer to the town of Victoria Falls. For this trip idea, we recommend the David Livingstone Hotel on the Zambian side or the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge on the Zimbabwean side.