Waterfalls & Wildlife: Guided Group Tour as Camping or Lodge Safari

Today marks the beginning of an unforgettable holiday in the form of a group tour in Southern Africa. We leave behind the bustling and ambitious metropolis of Johannesburg and the country of South Africa as we drive through the North West Province to the Botswana border. After completing border formalities, we continue along the Trans-Kalahari Highway (an important trade route that runs from Walvis Bay in Namibia to Pretoria in South Africa) to our overnight stop in Palapye. Palapye is an important and steadily growing trading center in Botswana. Meals: Lunch, Dinner

We travel further north through the barren but impressive landscape of the Central Kalahari Desert to the gateway to the Okavango Delta. Along the way, we pass several smaller towns and villages that offer insight into the everyday life and culture of this country. A notable sight along our route is the Orapa Diamond Mine, a striking testament to Botswana's mineral wealth. This mine, a joint venture between De Beers and the Botswana government, is one of the largest diamond mines in the world. It is a significant economic pillar contributing substantially to Botswana's GDP and export revenues. After Orapa, we pass the southern end of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park before reaching our overnight destination of Maun. Here, we collect our first wildlife experiences, so keep your eyes open for a variety of animals moving between the waterholes, although we won’t yet see the Big Five. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We will be separated from our Overland truck for the next two nights, so it is important that you pack/gather your personal items that you may need before we set off for Maun today, as there will be little time to repack and store in Maun. Please pack lightly and only take what you need for the next two nights. Today, we have the first major highlight of this Africa group journey through Southern Africa: we are headed to the Okavango Delta. The Okavango Delta is the largest inland delta in the world and offers not only its unique and fantastic biodiversity but also a fascinating landscape made up of rivers, swamps, sandbanks, grasslands, and forests. Alongside numerous crocodiles and hippopotamuses, the Delta is also home to the Big Five. Early risers have the option to take an optional flight over the Delta (weather and time permitting). Following the optional flight, we will be picked up in Maun and drive in smaller safari vehicles to the Khwai Conservation Area. Our guide will prepare us for what to expect during our Mokoro excursion into the Okavango Delta this afternoon. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner; Included Highlight: Sunset Mokoro Excursion; Optional Activity: Okavango Delta Flight

The Moremi Game Reserve is located in the Okavango Delta and is one of the most well-known protected areas in Botswana, offering a wealth of wildlife. Today we have a full day of game driving planned, as we will spend most of the day in the reserve searching for the animal species that roam the plains, including the Big Five. Prepare for bumpy roads as we traverse this wilderness area in our 4x4 vehicles. We hope to see as many species of animals and plants as possible, as the habitats range from wetlands to open waters to grasslands and savanna woodlands. In the evening, we return to Khwai to compare all the amazing observations we've made during our bush adventure over a cozy dinner and nightcap. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner; Included Highlight: Full day wildlife expedition in Moremi Game Reserve

Today's drive from Khwai to Nata takes us past the Botswana salt pans and promises a breathtaking experience on our unique Africa tour. We set off at dawn in open 4x4 safari vehicles before leaving the Okavango Delta and meeting up again with our Overland truck in Maun. The drive from Maun to Nata showcases some of Botswana's stunning landscapes and rich cultural heritage. The Nata Salt Pans are part of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans complex. The landscape presents a picture of vast flat salt flats that may become temporary lakes during the rainy season. Keep your eyes peeled as there is always a chance to spot one or two wild animals before reaching our overnight stop near Nata. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner; Included Highlight: Views of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans

After breakfast, we are in for another highlight consisting of wildlife and nature on our unforgettable group experience tour through southern Africa. We travel from the Kalahari sands of Nata to Kasane, arriving in time for lunch and a short siesta before setting off in the afternoon to explore Chobe National Park from the river. We enjoy a relaxing boat ride that allows us to get up close to the many elephants that populate the river in the afternoon. The nearly 12,000 km² Chobe National Park is one of Botswana's most famous wilderness areas. The park is known for its huge elephant population, and the Big Five can also be found here. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner; Included Highlight: Boat cruise in Chobe National Park

With countless memories of safari, culture, and nature in our luggage, our Africa journey continues. In the morning, we cross the border into Zimbabwe and take a short drive to the majestic Victoria Falls. These are the largest waterfalls in Africa, discovered in the 19th century by David Livingstone, a Briton and the first European to arrive at this site. He named the falls after Queen Victoria, who was the reigning queen of England at that time. You will have the chance to visit the spectacular Victoria Falls, also known locally as 'Mosi-oa Tunya' (the smoke that thunders), as the roar of the water creates a vapor cloud (similar to a smoke cloud) that can often be seen from afar depending on the weather. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch; Optional Activity: Visit to Victoria Falls, safari in Chobe National Park, ...

While much of today is dedicated to observing the mighty Zambezi River, which plunges 108 meters into the Batoka Gorge below, the bustling adventure town of Victoria Falls, named after the falls, also offers a range of optional activities for those looking for an adrenaline rush in the afternoon. For the more relaxed traveler, there are craft markets and cafes. Meals: Breakfast; Optional Activity: Visit to Victoria Falls, sunset boat ride on the Zambezi, bungee jump, helicopter flight, white-water rafting

After breakfast, we leave behind the hustle and adventure of Victoria Falls and continue our adventurous group tour through southern Africa. We head south towards Hwange National Park. Hwange, at 14,650 km², is the largest of Zimbabwe's national parks and offers us excellent opportunities to observe the diversity of wildlife that calls the park home. In addition to the Big Five, you can also find antelopes, hyenas, hippopotamuses, and numerous bird species. Meals: Lunch, Dinner; Optional Activity: Visit to Victoria Falls

Today we experience a wildlife expedition highlight on our full day game drive in a 4x4 vehicle. In search of countless animals, we also encounter a diverse and breathtaking landscape that includes grasslands, dense teak forests, desert-like regions, and seasonal wetlands, providing a habitat for the Big Five. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner; Included Highlight: Full day safari in Hwange National Park

Today we continue south after breakfast to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second-largest city, which is an important cultural and economic hub. In the afternoon, we explore Matopos National Park with a local guide. The park was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2003 and includes an intensive protection zone where both black and white rhinoceroses live. The park is named after the Ndebele word 'Matobo', which means 'bald heads', referring to the rounded granite hills that surround it. These rock formations are a result of erosion. We return to Bulawayo and to our overnight accommodation for the night. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner; Included Highlight: Afternoon safari in Matopos National Park

Today’s Africa tour leads us to Masvingo and the ruins of Great Zimbabwe, an ancient city. In the afternoon, we take a guided tour of this historic site. This UNESCO World Heritage site from the late Iron Age was once the capital of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe. We take the time to marvel at the unique stonework and experience the legacy of this monument of early Zimbabwean civilization, which now presents itself as an archaeological treasure. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner; Included Highlight: Visit to the Great Zimbabwe Ruins

To conclude our fantastic Africa group tour, we experience another touch of wildlife, as no bush adventure is alike; the bush always offers something new. We leave Zimbabwe with its stunning beauty and wealth of natural and cultural treasures, as well as numerous bush experiences including the Big Five, behind us and cross the Limpopo River to enter South Africa in the afternoon. Our overnight stop provides us the chance to end the day with a soak in the hot springs of Tshipise. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner; Included Highlight: Tshipise Hot Springs

Today marks the end of an unforgettable group tour filled with experiences and adventures in Southern Africa. After breakfast, we take the highway to Johannesburg, where we will arrive in the afternoon. Here, the Africa journey ends and, with countless memories of wildlife, nature parks, the delta, and the Victoria Falls, we head home. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch