Essential Botswana

Day 1  Johannesburg      
Sawubona! Welcome to South Africa. Touch down in Jo’burg. You’ve got the whole day free to explore the capital city (depending on when you get here of course) before you join up with your crew at a 6pm welcome meeting tonight.      

Day 2  Johannesburg to Khama Rhino Sanctuary      
See ya South Africa – cross the border into Botswana and travel toward the Khama Rhino Sanctuary (approximately 8–10 hours). It now protects what’s left of Botswana's black and white rhino populations, but there are plenty of other beasties hanging around too – zebras, giraffes, leopards, ostriches and wildebeest, all of which chill out around many natural waterholes. When the sun begins to set, hop in a jeep to see the rhinos at their most active.      

Day 3  Khama Rhino Sanctuary to Maun      
Get up real early, jump aboard the truck and head to Maun (approximately 7-8 hours). Maun’s the gateway to one of the world's most renowned and complex ecosystems, the Okavango Delta. This is a one-of-a-kind kinda place – a 16,000 square kilometre maze of wetlands made up of meandering waterways, green islands, lush plains and loads of wildlife. You might see hippos, crocodiles, elephants and big cats. But honestly it's not really the animals that are the main attraction – it's the incredibly diverse ecosystem and atmospheric waterscapes.      

Day 4  Maun to Okavango Delta      
Make your way to the north-western part of the Okavango Delta, close to the Pan Handle. The drive is a not so whopping 300 kilometres and will take you about 6 hours. Your final destination for the next two nights sits on the edge of the Guma Lagoon area. Set up camp and relax on the edge of the lagoon for the rest of the afternoon, then fall asleep to the sounds of the African bush at night – is that noise a hippo or your mate snoring?      

Day 5  Okavango Delta    
Today you get to paddle the mighty Okavango Delta. There's nothing more relaxing than feeling the African sun on your face as you lie back in a mokoro (traditional dugout canoe), while your expert poler propels you down calm waters through papyrus and reed beds to lily covered lagoons and islands. Stop at one of the islands for a picnic lunch before returning to camp in the late afternoon.

Day 6  Okavango Delta to Caprivi Strip    
This morning it’s back in the 4x4s and a drive back to the truck. Then you’ll make your way to the border to cross into Namibia. The camp is on the banks of the Kwando River, in the Caprivi Strip. Take the opportunity to discover your new surroundings on our favourite mode of transportation - a mokoro. On your return, maybe relax at your camp or jump on one of the optional activities, like the late afternoon boat trip, or a game drive in Mudumu Game Park (look out for buffalo, elephants, antelope and zebras).

Day 7  Caprivi Strip to Chobe NP
This morning, zip over to the edge of Chobe National Park, further through the Caprivi Strip and back into Botswana. Botswana's first national park is perhaps best known for its high concentration of elephants, which can often be seen swimming in the Chobe River. When you arrive, you can head out on an optional late afternoon boat cruise on the river. A sunset cruise is an ideal way to spend the afternoon and toast to another day in Africa.

Day 8  Chobe NP
Today, you'll head out on a 4WD game drive in Chobe National Park. There's a huge range of wildlife here, all packed into one tiny area, making it unlike anywhere else in the world! Huge herds of buffalo and elephants are often seen roaming around the savannah, matched by the size of the local lion prides. An estimated 70,000 Kalahari elephants roam the park, too – these majestic beasts are the largest known subspecies of elephant in the world.        

Day 9  Chobe National Park to Victoria Falls      
This morning there'll be time to join an optional game drive in the Chobe National Park. Then it’s onto Victoria Falls this afternoon (approximately 2–3 hours). You will cross the border into Zimbabwe and arrive in the early afternoon. Even though the tour ends today, Vic Falls looms large. The entrance fee is a bit steep, but for the Beyonce of waterfalls it’s well worth it. The sound of 19 million cubic feet of water throwing itself over a mile-long edge every minute will be music to your ears. It looks pretty sweet too.