Delta & Victoria

Pretoria/Johannesburg

Head out to the Burma flea market for any last minute safari must-haves (t-shirts, hats, books) and grab a bite to eat while you're there. You'll find everything from Indian and Chinese to Turkish and South African food.If you would like to exchange any South African rand, it is advisable to do this today as there will be no time to visit banks tomorrow. The airport is an ideal place to do this with its abundance of ATMs and forex bureaus in the arrival hall.Arrive at any time you like and enjoy a day at your leisureA transfer from Johannesburg's O.R Tambo International Airport needs to be pre-booked and is strongly recommendedThere is a pre-departure meeting tonight at 6pm (D)

Khama Rhino Sanctuary

About 30 rhinos roam around this 400ha community-based reserve. Don't forget your binoculars, or you'll be getting them confused with big rocks. (Approximate driving time: 7 hours excluding time spent at border; game drive times variable)In 1989 a group of Serowe residents conceived the idea of establishing a wildlife reserve near Serowe.  One year later the Ngwato Land Board allocated the land around Serwe Pan to the Khama Rhino Sanctuary Trust. Covering approximately 4300 hectares of Kalahari sandveld, the sanctuary is centred around Serowe Pan - a large grass-covered depression with several natural water holes. Serowe Pan provides prime habitat for white rhinoceros and other grazing animals, whilst the dense vegetation in the southern area of the sanctuary is favoured by browsing animals such as giraffe. This sanctuary is home to other wildlife that have either settled here naturally or were relocated. This includes a wide range of plains game, leopard, several varieties of smaller cats and a host of bird species. Best of all the sanctuary is a community trust governed by a board of trustees, who are elected from the local communities of Serowe, Paje and Mabeleapodi. Our visit here helps the local community to maintain this worthwhile project.Leaving Pretoria early we travel north to Potgietersrus and then continue northwest to the Martins Drift border postAfter exiting South Africa we cross the Limpopo River to enter Botswana before continuing on to the Khama Rhino Sanctuary at Serowe Camp inside the sanctuary at Mokongwo Camp, where each site is set out in the atmospheric shade of large mokongwa treesTake an afternoon game drive through Khama Rhino Sanctuary, guided by well trained and knowledgeable rangers who are based at the sanctuary (B, L, D)

Khama Rhino Sanctuary - Maun

Up early for our really long drive to Maun (pronounced ma-ooon) so pee before you get in the truck. We also offer a free massage service (it's really bumpy). (Approximate driving time: 7 hours) Perhaps enjoy time this afternoon to explore Maun, as well as stock up on supplies Tonight we camp just outside Maun, which is our base to prepare for our upcoming Okavango Delta adventure (B, L, D)

Okavango Delta Excursion - Maun

There's nothing more relaxing than feeling the African sun on your face as you lie back in a mokoro, eyes closed while your expert poler propels you through the calm waters...until a hippo grunts. No visit to this corner of Africa is complete without exploring the irresistible wilderness around the Okavango River. The third largest river in Africa snakes its way from the Angolan Highlands through Namibia and into Botswana, before spilling out and emptying into the vast sands of the Kalahari Desert. Often described as the river that never finds the sea, the Okvango loses 97% of its water to the great sands before joining the Thamalakane River in the south, near Maun.This excursion is operated through the Okavango Polers Trust, whose aim is to preserve and maintain the traditional lifestyle of the Batswana people who inhabit the delta region. This trust ensures that all members of the community are given the opportunity to become polers, which allows them to earn money through tourism. Poler and guide fees are set by the trust and additional income earned by the trust is used to assist various community projects in the area.Please Note: For the two nights in the Okavango Delta you will need to pack clothing and other personal items into a smaller overnight bag, as space is limited. There will be no access to showers and you will be away from the safari vehicle. Enjoy a three-day/two-night excursion to the Okavango DeltaExplore the area by mokoro (dugout canoe) and on foot Camping in the wild under the stars of the southern skiesTake an optional sunset flight over the Okavango Delta in a five-seater plane - one of the best flights in Africa (3B, 3L, 3D)

Chobe National Park

(Approximate driving time: 2 hours)Traffic on the road to Kasane can be pretty intense. Giraffe, ostrich, zebra, and elephant, however, are all pretty courteous road users. Zip around Chobe in 4WDs, spotting heaps of wildlife and brushing up on your photography skills. Today's drive takes us between two large salt pans - the Nxai Pan to our left and the Makgadikgadi Pan to our right. Chobe National Park is known throughout the world as Africa's greatest elephant sanctuary, and is also home to a wide variety of other animals including Cape buffalo, hippopotamus, giraffe, zebra and many species of antelopes.Travel to the campsite on the banks of the Chobe RiverPerhaps enjoy an optional sunset boat cruise Two days in the region allows ample opportunity to search for much of the wildlife in the Chobe National Park Explore the park and experience its inhabitants in open 4WD vehicles on game drives, with the help of local site guides (2B, L, 2D)

Victoria Falls

(Approximate driving time: 2 hours excluding time spent at border)Make the most of white-water rafting, bungee jumping, elephant safaris and some more game drives. They'll try and make you wear a yellow poncho at Vic Falls. Don't. This place is far too pretty to have you looking like an idiot in all your photographs. Day 9Leave Botswana and cross the border into ZimbabweSet up camp for two nights in the Victoria Falls township Optional activities here include whitewater rafting, bungee jumping, river boarding and game drives View the falls themselves and to explore the nearby craft markets and the town Enjoy the many restaurants and bars of Victoria Falls townshipDay 10The trip ends today after breakfast (2B)