12 Day Botswana's Finest Areas & Vic Falls Safari

Guests are met and welcomed at a location of their choice in Johannesburg or Pretoria and transferred to O.R. Tambo International Airport for the scheduled flight to Maun in northern Botswana. On arrival you connect with a light aircraft flight to Leroo La Tau, set high on the western bank of the Boteti River on the fringe of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. From the decks of the lodge you look out over the dry riverbed or flowing channel, depending on the season, with sweeping views across the vast fossil lakebed that once formed one of Africa’s largest inland seas.

During your three nights at Leroo La Tau you enjoy twice-daily activities that reveal the drama of this desert-edge ecosystem. In the dry months the Boteti becomes a vital source of water, drawing one of Africa’s largest zebra and wildebeest migrations, closely followed by lion and other predators, while the green season brings newborn antelope and prolific birdlife. Between game drives you can relax at the pool or on the viewing deck, listening to jackals calling at dusk and savoring star-studded night skies that are almost completely free of light pollution.

After a final morning activity and breakfast at Leroo La Tau, you board a light aircraft for a scenic flight into the Okavango Delta, descending over a mosaic of channels, palm islands and floodplains. You land in the Khwai area and transfer to Khwai Leadwood Lodge, tucked beneath leadwood and jackalberry trees along the Khwai River. This community-run concession borders Moremi and the greater Okavango system, offering classic delta scenery where seasonally flooded plains meet broad swathes of woodland alive with elephant and other big game.

Over the next three nights your days follow the unhurried rhythm of the bush, with early-morning and late-afternoon activities led by experienced guides. Game drives in open 4x4 vehicles deliver regular sightings of lion, leopard and African wild dog, while night drives reveal smaller nocturnal creatures. When water levels permit you can glide along the channels by mokoro or motorboat, drifting past reed beds busy with herons, kingfishers and African fish eagles, and return each evening to fireside drinks and a gourmet dinner under the stars.

A last game drive in the Khwai area is followed by breakfast, after which a charter flight carries you north-east to the remote Linyanti region. Here you are met and transferred to Linyanti Ebony Camp, an intimate tented camp overlooking the Linyanti marshes in a private concession bordering Chobe National Park and Namibia’s Zambezi Region. The landscape is a beautiful mix of riverine forest, open floodplain and dry woodland, providing habitat for an impressive variety of species, including large predators and specialty antelope.

Your three nights at Linyanti Ebony focus on unhurried exploration of this quiet corner of northern Botswana. In the dry season, immense herds of elephant and buffalo concentrate along the permanent water, followed by lion, leopard and hyena, while the wetlands harbor rare antelope and outstanding birdlife. Activities typically include guided game drives, boat outings when water levels allow, and relaxed time in camp watching animals drift in to drink. Evenings end with stories around the campfire and the distant sound of hippos and owls carrying through the darkness.

After a final morning activity and breakfast at Linyanti Ebony, you fly by light aircraft to Kasane, where the Chobe River forms the natural border between Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe. From Kasane you clear immigration and continue by road across the border to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Your destination is Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, set on a plateau just outside town with wide views over a busy waterhole and the fringes of Zambezi National Park.

The remainder of the day is at leisure to relax after your days on safari. You might choose to sit on the lodge’s expansive deck watching elephant, kudu and warthog visit the waterhole below, or cool off in the swimming pool with a drink in hand. For guests with extra energy there is time to stroll to the on-site restaurants or arrange an optional activity, before falling asleep to the distant roar of the Falls and the night sounds of the surrounding bush.

This morning is devoted to exploring the mighty Victoria Falls, one of the world’s great natural spectacles as the Zambezi River plunges into a narrow basalt gorge on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. With a local guide you follow rainforest paths to a series of viewpoints, learning about the area’s history and geology while taking in different angles on the Main Falls, Horseshoe Falls and the constantly shifting rainbow mist.

After your guided tour there is time to browse the craft markets or join one of the many optional activities on offer, from a helicopter flight over the Falls to more adventurous white-water rafting in season. In the late afternoon you board a boat for a leisurely sunset cruise on the upper Zambezi, watching hippos, crocodiles and sometimes elephants along the banks. Sundowners and snacks are served on board as the sky turns orange and crimson, rounding off your stay at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge in memorable style.

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, with a final chance to watch wildlife at the waterhole or simply soak up the views over the surrounding bush. Depending on your flight schedule, there may be time for a last short walk into town for souvenirs or an optional visit to one of the local art galleries or cafés.

You are then transferred to Victoria Falls Airport for your flight to Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport. On arrival in South Africa you are met by an African Sky representative for a private road transfer to a hotel or address of your choice in Johannesburg or Pretoria. As the journey ends you can reflect on twelve days spent exploring Botswana’s finest wilderness areas and the unforgettable drama of Victoria Falls.