Intimate Botswana & Zimbabwe
15 day Safari – from £4935
With flights from £6045
Explore two of Southern Africa’s most enigmatic countries with rhino tracking, iconic Victoria Falls and a traditional canoe trip.
Highlights:
- Enjoy a guided tour of Victoria Falls
- Spot elephants, hippos and crocodiles on Chobe River cruise
- Search for the ‘Big Five’ in Hwange National Park
- Stay on a luxury houseboat on Lake Kariba
- Take a game drive in the wildlife rich Moremi Game Reserve
Your Itinerary
Expand AllYou can customise your holiday by adding extra nights or destinations before or after your Botswana and Zimbabwe safari. Just let us know what you would like to do.
On arrival into Victoria Falls Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the afternoon may be spent at leisure enjoying one of the many activities available in Victoria Falls.
Shearwater Explorers Village or similar
Day 2 to 3 – Lake Kariba
After breakfast your guide will take you on a tour of the mighty Victoria Falls, known by the local Kololo tribe as Mosi oa Tunya – “the smoke that thunders”. You will then be transferred to the airport for your flight to Kariba town. A short transfer will take you to Lake Kariba shore, where you will board a luxury houseboat for a relaxing two-night trip. A variety of activities are available including game viewing, guided walks and fishing. Nestled in the mountains, Lake Kariba is a man-made inland sea guarded by enormous reserves of game and made beautiful and savage by sun and storm, earth and water.
Sovereign Houseboat or similar
Day 4 – Chobe
Flight from Kariba Airport to Kasane, the gateway to the Chobe National Park. Chobe is the second largest national park in Botswana, covering 10,566 square km and has one of the greatest concentrations of elephant found on the African continent. The afternoon is at leisure to partake in optional activities or to relax by the pool.
Chobe Safari Lodge or similar
Day 5 – Chobe
Start your morning with a spectacular game drive in Chobe National Park. You will return to the lodge for a late breakfast and relaxation until your afternoon boat cruise on the Chobe River. Here you can watch elephants, hippos, crocodiles and a variety of birds, making for excellent up-close photo opportunities.
Chobe Safari Lodge or similar
Day 6 to 7 – Hwange
This morning cross the border into Zimbabwe. Over the following two days, there will be plenty of time to explore this vast wilderness on game drives. Hwange National Park is one of Africa’s finest havens for wildlife and is home to great herds of elephant, buffalo, and zebra and has a very large concentration of giraffe. It is also home to many predators and endangered species plus varied birdlife.
Elephants Eye or similar
Day 8 to 9 – Matobo Hills
Disembark your houseboat and travel southwards to the majestic Matobo Hills, an area of exquisite beauty, steeped in tribal history, ancient mystery and dramatic rock landscapes. The national park has been given UNESCO World Heritage status and is home to both white and black rhinoceros, sable antelope and the world’s densest population of leopard. Birdlife is prolific and includes the highest concentration of black eagles in the world. Once the home of the San (Bushman), this area contains the richest source of the rock art found anywhere.
Spend the following day in the national park, including an opportunity to track rhino spoor by vehicle and foot. In the afternoon we further explore the scenery and wildlife of the park on game drives, ending with a visit to Rhodes’ grave.
Shashani Lodge or similar
Day 10 – Nata
Leaving Matobo Hills and drive through the savannas of southern Matebeleland en-route to Botswana. Visit the Nata Bird Sanctuary, where you will have the opportunity to enjoy the magnificent view over the Sowa pan which is part of the Greater Makgadikgadi Pans.
Nata Lodge or similar
Day 11 – Makgadikgadi Pans
A very early morning departure to embark on an expedition to Ntwetwe Pan, famous for its extraordinary lunar landscape and rocky outcrops. We explore the area, in search of uniquely adapted desert species such as bat eared foxes, springbuck, kori bustards, and some of the Kalahari’s most fascinating inhabitants, the meerkats.
After lunch explore a nearby village and learn about the history and traditions of the Batswana people from a local guide. Then take a stroll through an impressive baobab grove, learning about the local ecology, geology and the unique biology of the baobabs.
Planet Baobab or similar
Day 12 – Maun
Today travel to Maun, a bustling safari town which serves as the gateway to the Okavango Delta. The afternoon is yours to spend at leisure, either relaxing next to the pool at the lodge or if you are keen for some excitement, why not book an optional scenic flight over the delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and truly glorious oasis.
Thamalakane River Lodge or similar
Day 13 – Khwai River
This morning float in dug-out canoes through the thick vegetation of the Okavango Delta discovering a variety of birds and wildlife. Unlike other deltas, it flows into the Kalahari Desert without ever reaching the coast.
After lunch, we make our way to our camp which is situated in a private concession in the Greater Moremi area. Enjoy dinner and then embark on a night game drive in the concession – a fantastic opportunity to spot some nocturnal animals that are more difficult to encounter during the day.
Mankwe Tented Retreat or similar
Day 14 – Moremi Game Reserve
Today head into the famous Moremi Game Reserve is known as one of the most beautiful and varied reserves in Africa with an unprecedented concentration of wildlife. The full day is spent in the unspoiled nature of the Moremi Game Reserve.
Mankwe Tented Retreat or similar
Day 15 – Maun
Your safari ends after breakfast. You will be transferred to Maun Airport in time for your onward travels.
Your Itinerary
You can customise your holiday by adding extra nights or destinations before or after your Botswana and Zimbabwe safari. Just let us know what you would like to do.
Day 1
| Victoria Falls
On arrival into Victoria Falls Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the afternoon may be spent at leisure enjoying one of the many activities available in Victoria Falls.
Shearwater Explorers Village or similar
Day 2 to 3
| Lake Kariba
After breakfast your guide will take you on a tour of the mighty Victoria Falls, known by the local Kololo tribe as Mosi oa Tunya – “the smoke that thunders”. You will then be transferred to the airport for your flight to Kariba town. A short transfer will take you to Lake Kariba shore, where you will board a luxury houseboat for a relaxing two-night trip. A variety of activities are available including game viewing, guided walks and fishing. Nestled in the mountains, Lake Kariba is a man-made inland sea guarded by enormous reserves of game and made beautiful and savage by sun and storm, earth and water.
Sovereign Houseboat or similar
Day 4
| Chobe
Flight from Kariba Airport to Kasane, the gateway to the Chobe National Park. Chobe is the second largest national park in Botswana, covering 10,566 square km and has one of the greatest concentrations of elephant found on the African continent. The afternoon is at leisure to partake in optional activities or to relax by the pool.
Chobe Safari Lodge or similar
Day 5
| Chobe
Start your morning with a spectacular game drive in Chobe National Park. You will return to the lodge for a late breakfast and relaxation until your afternoon boat cruise on the Chobe River. Here you can watch elephants, hippos, crocodiles and a variety of birds, making for excellent up-close photo opportunities.
Chobe Safari Lodge or similar
Day 6 to 7
| Hwange
This morning cross the border into Zimbabwe. Over the following two days, there will be plenty of time to explore this vast wilderness on game drives. Hwange National Park is one of Africa’s finest havens for wildlife and is home to great herds of elephant, buffalo, and zebra and has a very large concentration of giraffe. It is also home to many predators and endangered species plus varied birdlife.
Elephants Eye or similar
Day 8 to 9
| Matobo Hills
Disembark your houseboat and travel southwards to the majestic Matobo Hills, an area of exquisite beauty, steeped in tribal history, ancient mystery and dramatic rock landscapes. The national park has been given UNESCO World Heritage status and is home to both white and black rhinoceros, sable antelope and the world’s densest population of leopard. Birdlife is prolific and includes the highest concentration of black eagles in the world. Once the home of the San (Bushman), this area contains the richest source of the rock art found anywhere.
Spend the following day in the national park, including an opportunity to track rhino spoor by vehicle and foot. In the afternoon we further explore the scenery and wildlife of the park on game drives, ending with a visit to Rhodes’ grave.
Shashani Lodge or similar
Day 10
| Nata
Leaving Matobo Hills and drive through the savannas of southern Matebeleland en-route to Botswana. Visit the Nata Bird Sanctuary, where you will have the opportunity to enjoy the magnificent view over the Sowa pan which is part of the Greater Makgadikgadi Pans.
Nata Lodge or similar
Day 11
| Makgadikgadi Pans
A very early morning departure to embark on an expedition to Ntwetwe Pan, famous for its extraordinary lunar landscape and rocky outcrops. We explore the area, in search of uniquely adapted desert species such as bat eared foxes, springbuck, kori bustards, and some of the Kalahari’s most fascinating inhabitants, the meerkats.
After lunch explore a nearby village and learn about the history and traditions of the Batswana people from a local guide. Then take a stroll through an impressive baobab grove, learning about the local ecology, geology and the unique biology of the baobabs.
Planet Baobab or similar
Day 12
| Maun
Today travel to Maun, a bustling safari town which serves as the gateway to the Okavango Delta. The afternoon is yours to spend at leisure, either relaxing next to the pool at the lodge or if you are keen for some excitement, why not book an optional scenic flight over the delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and truly glorious oasis.
Thamalakane River Lodge or similar
Day 13
| Khwai River
This morning float in dug-out canoes through the thick vegetation of the Okavango Delta discovering a variety of birds and wildlife. Unlike other deltas, it flows into the Kalahari Desert without ever reaching the coast.
After lunch, we make our way to our camp which is situated in a private concession in the Greater Moremi area. Enjoy dinner and then embark on a night game drive in the concession – a fantastic opportunity to spot some nocturnal animals that are more difficult to encounter during the day.
Mankwe Tented Retreat or similar
Day 14
| Moremi Game Reserve
Today head into the famous Moremi Game Reserve is known as one of the most beautiful and varied reserves in Africa with an unprecedented concentration of wildlife. The full day is spent in the unspoiled nature of the Moremi Game Reserve.
Mankwe Tented Retreat or similar
Day 15
| Maun
Your safari ends after breakfast. You will be transferred to Maun Airport in time for your onward travels.
Meals & Inclusions
Departure Dates
2024-05-17
2024-05-20
2024-06-05
2024-06-17
2024-06-24
2024-07-01
2024-07-16
2024-07-30
2024-08-06
2024-08-12
2024-09-01
2024-09-16
2024-09-26
2024-10-09
2024-10-16
2024-11-04
Flights & More
Ask your FREEDOM Consultant to include Economy, Premium or Business Class flights for a complete ABTA and ATOL protected package.
They can also add extra nights and experiences in places you choose, to create the exact holiday you are looking for. Popular options include:
- Extra nights in Victoria Falls
- An Indian Ocean beach stay after your safari
Next Step
Please get in touch with our Africa Experts to start planning your holiday. You’ll have a single point of contact from your first enquiry through booking.
Intimate Botswana & Zimbabwe
15 day Safari – from £4935
With flights from £6045
All prices are per person, based on two people sharing a twin or double room. Seasonal variations may apply, please call Freedom Destinations for more information. Accommodation specified is subject to availability and may be substituted to a similar or higher standard if necessary. Please note luggage restriction of 15kg.