Itinerary

Day 1: Nata (Botswana)
The tour departs early morning from Johannesburg and Pretoria. Your guide will stop en-route for breakfast (own cost), banks and last minute shopping while still on the South African side of the border. Your guide will assist you with changing money after you have crossed the border into Botswana. We head further north to Elephant Sands which is a lovely lodge close to Nata, where we stay the night. Here you can relax at the swimming pool or at the waterhole while watching animals such as large herds of elephants and other animals including lion coming to drink water.
Accommodation: Camping with option to upgrade to bedded accommodation.
Included meals: Dinner

Day 2: Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)
After an early morning light breakfast we drive further north to the Zimbabwe border post. This drive takes us through the Kasane forest where we always see herds of elephants and often see a variety of antelopes and sometimes lion, hyena and wild dog. From here we drive another hour to the vibrant town of Victoria Falls where we will be staying the next three nights. The campsite is situated in the middle of town, within 10 minutes walking distance of just about everything. Your guide will assist you with the bookings of optional activities that you would like to do and changing of money. This afternoon we visit the magnificent Victoria Falls waterfall (optional), which is one of the seven natural wonders of the world and 1700 meters (1,1 mile) wide, making it the largest sheet of falling water in the world. The Zimbabwean side is the best side to view the waterfall from, as 1400 meters of the waterfall is on the Zimbabwean side, as well as the main falls. Therefore there is water throughout the year, where the Zambian side is only 300 meters of the 1700 meters, and has no water during the winter months. This afternoon is ideal to book an optional sunset cruise on the beautiful Zambezi river which is the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, with national parks on either side of the river. You have a great opportunity to see animals coming down to the river for a drink, as well as a reasonable variety of bird life. We often see elephants, zebra, blue wildebeest, rhino, buffalo and a variety of antelope species. Obviously hippo and crocodile are plenty-full in this region. All soft drinks, wine and beer is included while on the sunset cruise. Most days you will have fantastic photo opportunities of the sunset, depending on the weather. The Zambezi river is the forth largest river in Africa.
Accommodation: Camping with option to upgrade to bedded accommodation.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Days 3 & 4: Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)
Victoria Falls and the surrounding areas offer a great variety of things to see and do. You will have plenty of free time to explore the town, meet the locals, visit the African markets with its wide variety of very affordable arts and crafts made from wood, stone and beads, or to relax by the pool at the campsite in the heat of the day. The Victoria Falls region is nicknamed the adventure capital of Africa for a reason. It is well known for the large variety of fantastic activities (optional excursions) such as the best one day white water rafting in the world, the 111 meters bungi jump off the bridge between Zimbabwe and Zambia which is the second highest bridge bungi jump in the world, elephant back and horse safaris, flights over the waterfall, canoe safaris, day trips to Hwange national park, fishing safaris, game walks, super fast jet boat trips, abseiling, gorge swings and much more. On day 4 dinner is out at one of the local restaurants (own cost), which is normally a festive outing.
Accommodation: Camping with option to upgrade to bedded accommodation.
Included meals - Day 3: Breakfast, Dinner
Included meals - Day 4: Breakfast

Day 5: Chobe National Park (Botswana)
After a light breakfast we drive back to the Botswana border post through the Matetsi game reserve where we often see herds of elephants, sable antelope, buffalo and many more animal species. We arrive late morning in Kasane where we will be staying at a campsite on the shores of the Chobe River that is close to the gate of Chobe National Park. Here we often see hippo and large herds of animals. You will have the opportunity to change money and / or relax at the swimming pool and at the river shores. This afternoon we do a game drive in an open 4x4 vehicle inside Chobe national park, which is well known for its large variety and numbers of wildlife. These game drives are always very successful with spotting large numbers of wildlife. Dinner will be served on return to camp.
Accommodation: Camping with option to upgrade to bedded accommodation.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Khama Rhino Sanctuary (Botswana)
We leave Kasane after a light breakfast, driving south to Palapye where we enjoy lunch (own cost). A short drive takes us to Khama Rhino Sanctuary where we stay the night. Here you can relax in the bird hide from where you will see many of the local birds at a watering hole, or you can take part in one of the many optional game viewing activities, such as a game drive, night drive, nature walk, rhino tracking or giraffe tracking.
Accommodation: Camping with option to upgrade to bedded accommodation.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 7: Hartbeespoort (South Africa)
We depart early morning driving further south crossing the border into South Africa. You will stop en-route for breakfast & lunch, at own cost. This night we stay at Moonlight backpackers lodge game farm, that is situated in the valley below the Magaliesberg mountains close to Hartbeespoort and Brits. Here you will see rare and exotic wildlife, such as golden wildebeest, black impala, sable antelopes, nyala and much more. Dinner is at own cost. Your guide will stop at a mall in Hartbeespoort where you can buy dinner. There is a full kitchen where you can cook your own food, if you do not feel like take aways.
Accommodation: Bedded accommodation with en-suite bathrooms
Included meals: No meals included

Day 8: Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre (South Africa)
We depart early morning after coffee and tea. We will stop en-route for breakfast (own cost), after which we continue to Nelspruit (only if we have pickups there) and then to the Kapama Cheetah Centre (Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre). This afternoon we do a guided tour of the Centre with one of their guides. The centre is home to many endangered species, such as wild dog, cheetah, ground hornbill, vultures, king cheetah and many more.
A short drive takes us to a 3 star safari lodge close to Kruger national park where we will be staying. The lodge has a variety of wildlife including blue wildebeest, impala, nyala, giraffe and much more. Clients can cool off in the large swimming pool, or relax by the vibrant pool bar. A three course dinner will be prepared by the lodge chef and served in the restaurant next to the pool. This is truly one of the most beautiful safari lodges in the area.
Camping accommodation: Permanent erected canvas tents
Bedded accommodation: Chalets with en-suite bathrooms
Included meals: Dinner

Day 9: Kruger National Park (South Africa)
A short drive takes us to Orpen gate which is the most central gate to Kruger national park, where we arrive as the gates open. Kruger is home to 147 mammal (including the Big 5), 114 reptile & 502 bird species. All game drives will be done in open sided 4x4 game viewing vehicles, for ultimate game viewing and photos. Kruger national park is the same size as Israel, Wales or Netherlands and contains different vegetation types that attract different animals to different areas of the park. Therefore we spend as much time on game drives as possible, so that we give ourselves a better chance of seeing different animal and bird species. We concentrate the game drives around the central region of the park, where we have a better chance of seeing the big cats and a large variety of animals. All our guides are very knowledgeable and will give you plenty of information on each animal seen, birds and the vegetation. Breakfast and lunch will be prepared by your guide and enjoyed at one of the many picnic sites inside Kruger national park. The guides will also stop at various view points and hides inside the park, where you can stretch your legs while looking for wildlife. You will also stop at shops during the day, where you can buy snacks, drinks etc. You guide will also stop at a shop before leaving the park, so that you can buy drinks for the evening.
Camping accommodation: Permanent erected canvas tents
Bedded accommodation: Chalets with en-suite bathrooms
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Kruger National Park (South Africa)
We start the day with a cup of coffee or tea, before heading out on a game drive in an open game viewing vehicle shortly after the gates open. You will be on a game drive for the majority of the day, searching for as many animal species as possible. Breakfast and lunch will be enjoyed at picnic sites inside Kruger national park. You will stop at shops during the day, as well as before leaving the park to buy drinks.
Camping accommodation: Permanent erected canvas tents
Bedded accommodation: Chalets with en-suite bathrooms
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11: Blyde River Canyon to Johannesburg & Pretoria (South Africa)
We depart early morning, heading towards the Blyde River Canyon, where we stop at the magnificent Three Rondawels view point. The Blyde River Canyon is the third largest canyon in the world. We drive back to Nelspruit, Johannesburg and Pretoria, where your guide will drop you off at the airport or backpacker hostels and hotels. You will stop en-route for lunch, at own cost.
Included meals: Light breakfast

Night drive:
We operate our night drives in Thorny Bush big 5 game reserve, which is well known for fantastic game and night drives, with excellent game viewing. The night drives are done in 4x4 open game viewing vehicles. We depart on the night rive after dinner, when game viewing is at its best. This is an optional activity which cost R200 to R250 per person, payable to the night drive guide in cash.

Included

Accommodation:

Camping accommodation in Kruger National Park
Both the camping and bedded accommodation tours stay at one of the most beautiful safari lodges in the area, which is only 10 minutes from Kruger National Park. This beautiful 3 star safari lodge has a large variety of wildlife including nyala, zebra, giraffe, blue wildebeest, impala, warthog and much more, which are often seen around the camp and chalets. There is a large swimming pool where clients can cool off at the end of the day after game drives, as well as a lovely bar by the pool where you can relax. Three course dinners will be prepared by the lodge's chef, and enjoyed in the restaurant by the pool.

The tents that we use, are 3 x 3 meters canvas dome tents, with built in floor and mosquito nets over the doors and windows. All doors, windows and mosquito nets close with zips to keep all insects out. Each tent has two proper single bed mattresses, and each client will have a fitted sheet to cover the mattress.

Chobe national park & Victoria Falls
The included accommodation is camping. However, all the camps and lodges where we stay do have a variety of bedded accommodation. You can upgrade to bedded accommodation on arrival at the camps / lodges (not before). The operator will pay the camping rate, and you pay the balance of the bedded accommodation that you would like to upgrade to. We stay at Elephant Sands, Kasane, Victoria Falls and Khama Rhino Santuary.
The tents that we use, are 2.1 x 2.1 meters canvas dome tents, with built in floor and mosquito nets over the doors and windows. All doors, windows and mosquito nets close with zips to keep all insects out. Proper sleeping mattresses are provided.

Max Group Size: no more than 12 passengers

Included
All transport
All accommodation
Qualified and registered guide
All camping and other equipment
Meals as specified in the detailed itinerary
Entrance & conservation fees to Chobe national park
Chobe national park game drive (open vehicles)
Hoedspruit Cheetah Centre
Entrance & conservation fees to Kruger national park
Game drives in Kruger national park (Full day drives)
Blyde River Canyon (Three Rondawels view point)

Excluded

All drinks (except coffee & tea with meals)
Meals not specified in the detailed itinerary
Optional activities
Visas if required

Optional Activities:
Victoria Falls
Full day white water rafting (Low water, August to January) (rapids 1 to 21) US$ 130
Full day white water rafting (High water, February to July) (rapids 11 to 24) US$ 120
Half day white water rafting & river boarding (Low water, August to January) (rapids 1 to 21) US$ 185
Bungee jump from the Victoria Falls bridge US$ 120
Bridge slide US$ 35
Tandem Bridge slide (2 people) US$ 55
Bridge swing US$ 120
Tandem bridge swing (2 people) US$ 190
Historical bridge tour US$ 50
Helicopter flight over the Victoria Falls waterfall (13 minutes) US$ 130
Helicopter flight over the Victoria Falls waterfall (25 minutes) US$ 250
Elephant interactive safari US$ 130
Walk with lions US$ 130
Game drive: Night drive including bush dinner US$ 110
Game drive: Morning or afternoon US$ 90
Game walk: Morning walk US$ 90
Half day upper Zambezi canoeing US$ 110
Full day upper Zambezi canoeing US$ 125
Upper Zambezi canoeing (wine route) (3 hours) US$ 60
Multi day canoe safaris on the Zambezi River On request
Morning elephant interactive safari + Lion walk US$ 200
Morning elephant interactive safari + Lion walk + Rhino tracking & Vulture restaurant US$ 230
Afternoon elephant interactive safari + Rhino tracking + night game drive + bush dinner under stars US$ 260

Khama Rhino sanctuary
Game drive (Minimum fee up to first 4 people) Pula 410
Game drive (per additional person more than 4 people) Pula 110
Night game drive (Minimum fee up to first 4 people) Pula 560
Night game drive (per additional person more than 4 people) Pula 170
Nature walk Pula 170
Rhino tracking Pula 280
Giraffe tracking Pula 280

Kruger national park
Night game drive R 250


Sleeping bag hire: R60 (once off) per person, if you do not have a sleeping bag of your own

Departures

Starts: Johannesburg, Pretoria
Most Backpackers, Guest House, Hotel

Finishes: Johannesburg, Pretoria, Nelspruit
Most Backpackers, Guest House, Hotel

Departs every Monday

Feedback

Pat Knight
U.S.A
26 December 11

Tina-
Hi.  It was spectacular.  David and Lloyd were wonderful.  Both so friendly and knowledgeable.  And both really good cooks.  We met lots of nice folks along the way.  The bedded accomodations and the food was great.  Camping is well camping.  But a fun time.   We saw lots of animals at Chobe but not as many at Kruger but we did see 2 brotherly lions sleeping  at Kruger along with many giraffes and zebra's and gazelle's and some beautiful birds.  We saw elephants on the drive thru Botswana as well as at Chobe and Kruger.  Not alot of luck on the night drive- just a couple of animals there.  There were baboons wondering Vic Falls as well as wart hogs.
 
The white water rafting at Vic Falls was most assuredly a highlight.  We also zip lined over the gorge by the Falls.  That was pretty cool.  We enjoyed African dancers and music and I really enjoyed the river cruise on the Zambezi.
 
Blyde River Canyon is really awesome.  All in all it was a fantastic experience.  Lots of laughs!
 
Thanks for you all your help in settiing this up.
 
Pam Scurlock
U.S.A
26 December 11

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