BOTSWANA
The central black stripe and its white bordering stripes proclaim a belief in racial cooperation and equality. The light blue background is associated with the sky and with water, a scarce and precious commodity in the vast Kalahari desert
TOUR VIA MAKGADIKGADI PANS
1. Arrive in Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.
2. Victoria Falls, one of the 7 the natural wonders of the world
This day explore the mighty
Natural spectacle of the Victoria Falls which stretches over a length of 1.7 km plunges more than 100 m deep. A nice footpath leads to several lookout points on the different sections: Devils Cataract, Main Falls, Horseshoe Falls, Rainbow falls, Danger Point. Through the beautiful Rainforest.
There is a spray of water next to the footpath one can get soaking wet depending on the amount of water in the falls.
A Helicopter flight over the falls is fantastic to understand the true dimensions of the gigantic waterfalls from a bird's eye view.
3. Through Caprivi Strip Namibia
Depart Zimbabwe and travel over the border to Botswana and at the Ngoma Bridge into the Namibian Caprivi strip. The narrow pieces of Namibia, that runs between Botswana and Zambia almost to the Victoria Falls was named after the former Chancellor Leo Graf von Caprivi. It's a legacy of German colonial policy - Caprivi's goal was to establish a connection to today's Tanzania, at the time to connect German West and East Africa, which he did not succeed in doing. Today the Caprivi is famous for excellent safari opportunities and officially operates under the name Zambezi Region.
It is well worth it to stay on the riverside and go on a sunset boat safari, enjoy the wonderful birds and animal life. Almost guaranteed to come across hippos, crocodiles and elephants . In the day one can usually only see the hippos eyes, ears and nostrils from the Water protrude. A complete hippo with his bulky body are more likely to be seen early in the morning or late in the evening on the way to or from the river. At night hippos stay ashore to graze!
In the evening sit around the campfire and enjoy the sounds of nature. Listen to the snort of the hippopotamus and other night life.
4. Drive west to the beginning of the Caprivi in Divundu, turn south, cross the small Mahangu National Park and pass the border into Botswana at Shakawe.
This is where the unique natural paradise, the Okavango Delta UNESCO World Heritage Site, begins. First you are in the Okavango Panhandle area. The Okavango River (also called Cubango or Kavango) flows from Angola over 1,600 km into Botswana forming the panhandle before it then spreads out in a fan-shaped manner and thousands of canals and islets. A miracle place!
Cross the Okavango River by motorboat in Sepupa to Seronga to go on board a houseboat for the night! Look out for crocodiles, hippos, sitatungas and many birds who like the swampy terrain. Also elephants sometimes show up. Watch out and listen to the cry Fish Eagle we call the sound of Africa. Enjoy an amazing sunset.
5. To Khwai by land or air
Enjoy the early morning on board your houseboat. Then you have a choice:
Either take the motorboat back to Sepupa and then by car around the Delta via Maun to the Khwai River, opposite the famous Moremi game reserve.
Or
If you want to grasp natural phenomena in its full dimension, take a panoramic flight over the delta to the Kwai. From the houseboat go with a motorboat to the village of Seronga. From here it is a short distance to the airstrip. From Seronga fly in a small plane over the Delta to the Khwai area. A unique perspective of the island world (flight altitude between 200 and 500 meters) with a good chance to see several animals, i.e elephants from the air!
A great activity before departure to the Kwai, is to go on a mokoro trip. In the past, these dugout canoes were the only means of transport. Today it is the most classic way to enjoy the peace and quiet of the Okavango Delta. Under the the expert guidance of the Polers (boat driver) you glide silently with the Mokoro over the crystal clear water between the reeds. An extraordinary experience. I find the Mokoro trips here better than in the Kwai but it is also to do it in Kwai.
6,7. Moremi and Kwai safari paradise
Spend two full days on game drives, depending on where there are more animals, visit the the Moremi and/or Khwai area. It is the eastern foothills of the Okavango Delta. Moremi
translated means: Where delta and land meet! This area of tree savannah, Mopanewoods, wide grassy plains, permanent lagoons and seasonal flood marshes is a paradise for wildlife. Lechwe antelopes, reed and waterbuck, zebras, wildebeest, warthog, baboons ... you have chances of getting the most beautiful wildlife viewing that Africa has to offer.
Moremi and Khwai are famous for pride of lions, also leopards, wild dogs, genets and jackals.
8. Depart from the bush paradise and drive east to Khumaga via Maun to the Boteti river where the Makgadikgadi Pans National park begins. An excursion in an off-road vehicle in the late afternoon is highly recommended. The contrast to the blue-green Okavango Delta could hardly be greater! The low vegetation of the Makgadikgadi landscape, an inheritance of a prehistoric huge lake, seems hostile. In reality, it is home to a diverse range of wildlife from ostriches to oryxes, springbok, zebra, bluewildebeest and more. The wildlife migration cycle within
the Makgadikgadi region is spectacular. Between April and July at Boteti there is a high likelihood of a wildlife migration of zebra and many other species of large African game. I have never seen so many zebras at blue wildebeest at once. Really amazing.
9. Continue to Nata via Gweta on the way one pass some of this regions typical baobab trees.
Now explore the northeastern foothills of the Makgadikgadi salt pans. The pan here is virtually devoid of vegetation. Large areas of flat grasslands. Depending on the season, the most diverse animal species such as impala, springbok and plains zebra can be seen. Areas of it sometimes transforms into a lake. Depending on the water level, the salt desert is an oasis for water birds such as the Great White Pelicans and flamingos.
Overnight in Makgadikgadi salt pans! Watch the sun go down and the moon and stars rise. A magical night you will never forget ..
10. Continue to Kasane where 4 countries border. Botswana-Namibia-Zambia Zimbabwe. The Chobe River, flows a few kilometers further in the Zambezi River.
It is good to stay on the riverside. Make sure to find a good spot to view the spectacular sunset and experience the wonderful atmosphere on the riverside
In the afternoon take a romantic sunset cruise on the wide Chobe River and enjoy viewing of the animals that come to drink on the river bank and spectacular bird life or even elephants crossing the river.
12. In the morning take about an hours drive to Victoria Falls Airport in Zimbabwe but make sure to allow ample extra time for the border crossings.
Return flight
TOUR VIA SAVUTI
2. Victoria Falls, one of the 7 the natural wonders of the world
This day explore the mighty spectacle of the Victoria Falls which stretches over a length of 1.7 km plunges more than 100 m deep. A nice footpath leads to several lookout points on the different sections: Devils Cataract, Main Falls, Horseshoe Falls, Rainbow
Falls, Danger Point. Through the beautiful Rainforest.
There is a spray of water next to the footpath one can get soaking wet depending on the amount of water in the falls.
A Helicopter flight over the falls is fantastic to understand the true dimensions of the gigantic waterfalls from a bird's eye view.
3. Through Caprivi Strip Namibia
Depart Zimbabwe and travel over the border to Botswana and at the Ngoma Bridge cross the border into the Namibian Caprivi strip.
The narrow pieces of Namibia, that runs between Botswana and Zambia almost to the Victoria Falls was named after the former Chancellor Leo Graf von Caprivi. It's a legacy of German colonial policy - Caprivi's goal was to establish a connection to today's Tanzania, at the time to connect German West and East Africa, which he did not succeed in doing. Today the Caprivi is famous for excellent safari opportunities and officially operates under the name Zambezi Region.
It is well worth it to stay on the riverside and go on a sunset boat safari, enjoy the wonderful birds and animal life. Almost guaranteed to come across hippos, crocodiles and elephants. In the day one can usually only see the hippos eyes, ears and nostrils from the Water protrude. A complete hippo with his bulky body are more likely to be seen early in the morning or late in the evening on the way to or from the river. At night hippos stay ashore to graze.
In the evening sit around the campfire and enjoy the sounds of nature. Listen to the snort of the hippopotamus and other night life.
4. Drive west to the beginning of the Caprivi in Divundu, turn south, cross the small Mahangu National Park and pass the border to Botswana at Shakawe.
This is where the unique natural paradise, the Okavango Delta UNESCO World Heritage Site, begins. First you are in the Okavango Panhandle area. The Okavango River (also called Cubango or Kavango) flows from Angola over 1,600 km into Botswana forming the panhandle before it then spreads out in a fan-shaped manner and thousands of canals and islets.
Cross the Okavango River by motorboat in Sepupa to Seronga to go on board a houseboat for the night! Look out for crocodiles, hippos, and sitatungas and many birds who like the swampy terrain. Also elephants sometimes show up. Enjoy an amazing sunset.
Or drive further and stay at one of the loges or campsites close to Etsha 13 - 16
5. To Khwai by land or air
Enjoy the early morning on board your houseboat. Then you have a choice:
Either take the motorboat back to Sepupa and then by car around the Delta via Maun to the Khwai River, opposite the famous Moremi game reserve.
Or
If you want to grasp natural phenomena in its full dimension, take a panoramic flight. From the houseboat with motorboat to the village of Seronga. From here it is a short distance to the airstrip. From Seronga fly in a small plane over the Delta to the Khwai area. A unique perspective of the island world (flight altitude between 200 and 500 meters) with a good chance to see several animals, i.e elephants from the air!
A great activity is to go on a mokoro trip before the drive or flight from Seronga or Sepupa or Etsha! In the past, these dugout canoes were the only means of transport. Today it is the most classic way to enjoy the peace and quiet of the Okavango Delta. Under the the expert guidance of the Polers (boat driver) you glide silently with the Mokoro over the crystal clear water between the reeds. An extraordinary experience.
6, 7. Moremi & Khwai safari paradise
Spend two full days on game drives, depending on where there are more animals, visit the the Moremi and/or Khwai area. It is the eastern foothills of the Okavango Delta. Moremi
translated means: Where delta and land meet! This area of tree savannah, Mopanewoods, wide grassy plains, permanent lagoons and seasonal flood marshes is a paradise for wildlife. Lechwe antelopes, reed and waterbuck, zebras, wildebeest, warthog, baboons ... you have chances of getting the most beautiful wildlife viewing that Africa has to offer.
Moremi and Khwai are famous for pride of lions, also leopards, wild dogs, genets and jackals.
8. Depart this lovely area to Savuti.
Shortly after sunrise drive on a sandy track via Mababe in the southwestern part of Chobe Park into the Savuti marshland. The vast savannah area is surrounded by a huge dry depression shaped with ancient dead trees. Pitch your campsite, settle in. Take another game drive in the afternoon. In the evening enjoy sitting around a campfire under the Southern Cross with a free concert of animal sounds from near and far.
9. On safari in the Savuti marshland
A safari day par excellence: morning and afternoon extensive game drives in your off-road vehicle with the opportunity to see herds of elephants, giraffes, and buffalo, tsetsebe antelopes, lions, leopards and hyenas.
10. Pack up in the morning and continue on a game drive through the very animal-rich northern Chobe Park, always parallel to the river leaving Chobe Park to cross the border at Ngoma to enter Botswana and drive to Kasane. Kasane is a town where 4 countries border. Botswana-Namibia-Zambia-Zimbabwe. The Chobe River, flows a few kilometers further in the Zambezi River.
Stay in a waterfront location on the Chobe River side.
11. Full day boat safari in Chobe. One last brilliant highlight. Explore the Chobe National Park on a full day safari on the river in a comfortable river cruiser!
12. In the morning take about an hours drive to Victoria Falls Airport in Zimbabwe but make sure to allow enough extra time for the border crossings.
Return flight.
OVERVIEW 'N MAP
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