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Backroads of Botswana

Trip Length

Trip Code
10 days GABB

Activities
Wildlife (Moderate)

Maximum Passengers
24 people

Countries Visited
Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe

Start City

End City
Johannesburg Victoria Falls
Backroads of Botswana

Combine the fantastic wildlife of Chobe National Park with the stunning scenery of Okavango Delta and Victoria Falls to make this one of the best trips on offer. We travel from Pretoria to Khama Rhino Sanctuary, where we experience our first taste of the African wildlife. There is a chance to learn more about this community based conservation effort through local site guides, as well as enjoy an optional night drive which may well be the highlight of your visit. Travelling along the back roads of Botswana we arrive at Okavango Delta, where we explore the most spectacular floodplain in the world using traditional mokoros (dug-out canoes) and on foot. The birdlife is prolific and the sunsets are simply spectacular. Travelling past Makgadikgadi Pan we continue to Chobe National Park and spending a day game viewing in open four-wheel drive vehicles and on boats. We watch large herds of elephant play in the river, hippo relaxing at the water's edge, antelope frolicking through the grasslands and, with a bit of luck, lions keeping watch over their territory. To top it all off we finish in Victoria Falls, the adrenalin-filled centre of Africa, where there are a myriad of optional activities available for everyone.
Backroads of Botswana

Day to Day Itinerary

Day 1: Pretoria/Johannesburg (South Africa)

Meals included: 1 dinner

Today is an arrival day, so you may arrive at any time. The remainder of your day is free to enjoy at leisure before dinner, which is served at our lodge. This spacious lodge is located in a quiet rural area between Pretoria and Johannesburg. We recommend that you exchange some money into South African rand on arrival in Johannesburg as there is no time to visit banks tomorrow. The airport is an ideal place to do this with its abundance of ATMs and money exchange bureaus in the arrivals hall. A transfer from Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo International Airport needs to be pre-booked (at additional cost) and is strongly recommended. There is a pre-departure meeting tonight at 6pm.

Day 2: Khama Rhino Sanctuary (Botswana)

Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

(Driving time: approx 7 hours not including time at border) Leaving Pretoria early we travel north to Potgietersrus and then continue northwest to the Martins Drift border post. After exiting South Africa we cross the Limpopo River to enter Botswana before continuing on to Khama Rhino Sanctuary at Serowe. Tonight we camp inside the sanctuary at Mokongwo Camp, where each site is set out in the atmospheric shade of large Mokongwa trees. In 1989 a group of Serowe residents conceived the idea of establishing a wildlife reserve near Serowe. One year later the Ngwato Land Board allocated the land around Serwe Pan to the Khama Rhino Sanctuary Trust. Covering approximately 4300 hectares of Kalahari sandveld, the sanctuary is centred around Serowe Pan - a large grass-covered depression with several natural water holes. Serowe Pan provides prime habitat for white rhinoceros and other grazing animals, whilst the dense vegetation in the southern area of the sanctuary is favoured by browsing animals such as giraffe. The sanctuary is home to other wildlife that have either settled here naturally or were relocated. This includes a wide range of plains game, leopard, several varieties of smaller cats and a host of bird species. Best of all the sanctuary is a community trust governed by a board of trustees, who are elected from the local communities of Serowe, Paje and Mabeleapodi. Our visit here helps the local community to maintain this worthwhile project.

Day 3: Khama Rhino Sanctuary - Maun (Botswana)

Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

(Driving time: approx 7 hours) This morning we take an early morning game drive through Khama Rhino Sanctuary, which is guided by well trained and knowledgeable rangers who are based at the sanctuary. Following breakfast there may be time to further explore the sanctuary. The tour then continues to Maun, the safari capital of northern Botswana. We have time to explore the town in the afternoon, as well as stock up on supplies. Tonight we camp just outside Maun, which is our base to prepare for our upcoming Okavango Delta adventure.

Day 4-6: Okavango Delta Excursion - Maun (Botswana)

Meals included: 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners

No visit to this corner of Africa is complete without exploring the irresistible wilderness around the Okavango River. The third largest river in Africa snakes its way from the Angolan Highlands through Namibia and into Botswana, before spilling out and emptying into the vast sands of the Kalahari Desert. Often described as the river that never finds the sea, the Okavango loses 97% of its water to the great sands before joining the Thamalakane River in the south, near Maun. Arguably the best way to explore the delta is on a mokoro (dug-out canoe) excursion. During our three-day/two-night excursion we explore the area by mokoro and on foot. Laying back in a mokoro and being gently propelled through the tranquil waterways of the Okavango Delta is a magical experience. We spend the nights camping in the wild under the stars of the southern skies, enabling us to experience the full majesty of the area. This excursion is operated through the Okavango Polers Trust, whose aim is to preserve and maintain the traditional lifestyle of the Batswana people who inhabit the delta region. This trust ensures that all members of the community are given the opportunity to become polers, which allows them to earn money through tourism. Poler and guides fees are set by the trust and additional income earned by the trust is used to assist various community projects in the area. On our final morning in the delta we enjoy a last mokoro trip before returning to the polers' station and our vehicle. Leaving the delta we head back to Maun, where we are welcomed by hot showers and cold beers. This afternoon you have the chance to take an optional sunset flight over the Okavango Delta in five-seater planes. This flight is one of the best in Africa and affords stunning views over the delta system and flying at low altitudes allow plenty of opportunities to spot wildlife. For the two nights in the Okavango Delta you need to pack clothing and other personal items into a smaller overnight bag, as space is limited. There will be no access to showers and you will be away from the safari vehicle.

Day 7-8: Chobe National Park (Botswana)

Meals included: 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners

(Driving time: approx 8 hours on Day 7; game drive times variable) This morning we drive for six to eight hours, travelling from Maun to Kasane and our campsite on the banks of the Chobe River, where we spend our first night in this area, with an option to do a sunset boat cruise. This drive takes us between two large salt pans - the Nxai Pan to our left and the Makgadikgadi Pan to our right. Keep an eye out for wildlife along this road – giraffe, ostrich, zebra and elephant are often sighted roaming freely! Two days in this region gives us ample opportunity to search for many of the fantastic wildlife in the Chobe National Park. Known throughout the world as Africa’s greatest elephant sanctuary, Chobe is also home to a wide variety of other animals including Cape buffalo, hippopotamus, giraffe, zebra and many species of antelopes. With the help of a local site guide we explore the park in open 4WD vehicles on game drives, watching elephant and other animals coming down to drink.

Day 9: Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)

Meals included: 1 breakfast

(Driving time: approx 2 hours not including time at border) Today we exit Botswana and cross the border into Zimbabwe. Upon arrival in Victoria Falls, we set up camp for one night at our campsite located in town. From here your tour guide can assist you in arranging some of the optional activities that are available in the area. There are many to choose from including whitewater rafting, bungy jumping, elephant riding safaris and game drives. In addition there is also time to view the falls themselves and to explore the nearby craft markets, as well as the town. Victoria Falls town is well set-up with many restaurants and bars. No trip to southern Africa is complete without a visit to Victoria Falls and nothing will quite prepare you for this awesome sight. At its peak, it is estimated that five million cubic metres of water passes over the cataracts every minute!

Day 10: Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)

Meals included: 1 breakfast

Your trip ends today, after breakfast. You can book additional post-tour accommodation with us to experience more time in this adrenalin-filled town.

Your Trip

About Gecko's

Sharing the adventure is all part of the fun. Our groups are large enough to remove the hassles of go-it-alone travel, yet small enough for you to enjoy the benefits and freedom of independent travel. The average tour has nine people, with a maximum of sixteen. The exception is Africa which has a maximum of 24 and an average of 17. On group trips you travel with a highly-trained local tour leader, who was raised in the region and can show you a side of their homeland that other travellers miss out on. We include the 'must see' sights, and on many trips we venture off the beaten track for some unforgettably unique and unusual experiences.

Nuts and Bolts

• Gecko’s experienced English-speaking local safari leader, professional driver, and camp cook who will prepare all included meals.

• Gecko’s specialist English-speaking guide in Chobe National Park.

• Transport in a custom-built safari vehicle with large opening windows for unrestricted game viewing (maximum of just 24 clients).

• 7 nights camping in large dome tents, with mosquito netting and a foam mattress provided. Camp sites include: inside Khama Rhino Sanctuary; on the banks of the Chobe River; and in Victoria Falls Township.

• 1 night in a tented bush camp in Chobe National Park.

• 1 day in Chobe National Park, 3 days in the Okavango Delta and half a day at Khama Rhino Sanctuary (including all park entrance fees, where applicable).

• Open 4WD vehicle game drives in Chobe National Park.

• 3 day excursion on the Okavango Delta by mokoro (dugout canoe) and on foot, guided by an expert poler from the Okavango Polers Trust.

• Rhino Trail lead by rangers based at the sanctuary.

Summary of accommodation, transport & meals

Transport

Accommodation

Meals

Equipment Included

Pick of the bunch

Okavango Delta

Explore the irresistible wilderness of the Okavango Delta by a mokoro (dug-out canoe). Lay back while being gently propelled through the tranquil waterways by a member of the Okavango Polers Trust - whose aim is to preserve and maintain the traditional lifestyle of the Batswana people who inhabit the delta region. Spend the nights camping in the wild under the stars of the southern skies.

International flights, local payment, arrival and departure transfers, airport/departure taxes, visas, pre-tour or post-tour accommodation, all other meals, drinks, sleeping bag, pillow, all optional additional tours or activities during free time, transfers outside of the tour program, travel insurance, tips and items of a personal nature, laundry and flights (unless specified).

Optional Extras

Local Payment

Entrance

Park entrance fees are included as part of your overall tour cost.

Visas and Permits

Botswana

Australians, Americans, Canadians, British and New Zealanders do not currently require a visa for Botswana. For other nationalities that do require a visa to enter into Botswana, this is no longer able to be purchased upon arrival. Visa will need to be pre-arranged - please contact your travel agent for assistance.

South Africa

Australians, Americans, Canadians, British and New Zealanders do not currently require a visa for South Africa. Upon arrival you will be given a free three-month multi-entry visa stamp. For all other nationalities please reconfirm your visa requirements with your travel agent. Please note that you require six blank pages and your passport needs to have a minimum of six months validity to enter South Africa. Also note that to enter South Africa you may be required to show proof of onward travel plans and a valid yellow fever certificate (especially if entering or re-entering from East African countries).

Zimbabwe

Australians, Americans, Canadians, British and New Zealanders currently require a visa for Zimbabwe. For all other nationalities please reconfirm your visa requirements with your travel agent. For trips to Zimbabwe you may require either a single or double entry visa. Both single and double entry visas are obtainable on arrival currently costing between US$30 and US$60 (depending on nationality). If you choose to travel to the Zambian side of Victoria Falls your Zimbabwe visa will not expire as long as you do not spend the night out of Zimbabwe.

Important Information

An experienced driver, guide and camp cook accompany us on this safari. Local site guides join us in the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park. It is recommended that you pre-book an arrival transfer, as our lodge is in a remote area between Johannesburg and Pretoria.

We travel in a custom-built safari vehicle that can take a maximum of 24 clients. There are large opening windows, providing unrestricted game viewing and photographic opportunities, and on-board we have useful reference books about the flora and fauna that you may encounter during your safari.

The large dome tents are spacious and quick to erect with the sides covered in mosquito netting and foam mattresses provided to enable you to sleep in comfort. A comfortable folding chair is also supplied for each passenger. In addition, all communal camping equipment is carried on board together with on-board cool boxes. You need to bring your own sleeping bag and it is also recommended that you bring a pillow or purchase one locally for added comfort.

Please note there are no laundry services available whilst camping, but sometimes when we stay at a campsite for at least two consecutive nights, there may be the opportunity to do some hand-washing.

A special feature of the safari is that in addition to our safari guide and professional driver we have a camp cook who plans, budgets and prepares all included meals.

Gecko’s strongly advises you to carry sufficient USD cash with you to cover your time in Zimbabwe. You will not be able to withdraw USD cash in any form once you have entered Zimbabwe (including use of ATMs, credit cards and travellers cheques) so please ensure you have sufficient money prior to your arrival for all your expenses including tourist visa, spending money and any optional activities you may choose to do in Victoria Falls.

Road Conditions and Infrastructure in Africa
Roads in Africa are often in very poor condition, which makes it hard on vehicles. Our vehicles are serviced regularly and are generally in good condition, but breakdowns can and do happen. The infrastructure in Africa is not always what we are used to and travelling on their roads can sometimes be very bumpy experiences. The travelling times indicated in our Trip Notes is just a rough guide and is dependent on various factors that may be outside our control, such as road conditions, weather and time spent at borders.

About this Information

The information provided here is given in good faith and has been compiled with all reasonable care. However, things change and some of the information may become out of date. Please ensure that you have the most up-to-date information for your trip. We recommend that you check the trip notes for your tour around one month before departure. If you have any queries, please contact your travel agent or our staff in Australia. We are here to help you!

Last Updated

3 November 2011