African Grandeur: Botswana and Zimbabwe

Tucked away in the arid savannas of northeastern Botswana lies the Makgadikgadi Pans, an oasis covering an enormous piece of land that was once home to Lake Makgadikgadi, an ancient body of water that was larger than Switzerland. Today, a spectacular camp sits under acacias peppering the Kalahari Desert, and you will embrace the stunning view from the moment you arrive after your transfer to Botswana. You may spend your afternoon and evening enjoying the quietude of your home away from home for the following few nights.

If you travel to Makgadikgadi at the right time of year, you will be fortunate enough to witness an impressive zebra and wildebeest migration, during which herds that reach the thousands race across the parched land to greener pastures. If not, then you will admire the many more fabulous wildlife encounters that await you on guided safaris. You may spot elephants plodding across the dry pastures, ostriches hurtling through the desert, and meerkats peeking their heads above the shrubs during your explorations across the salt pans.

On your final day in Botswana’s breathtaking desert region, you will join an armed ranger for a guided bush walk that is bound to reveal every little detail of the salt pans. From gazing at elephants a few meters away to peeking behind leaves to see what tiny creatures crawl amongst the sand, you will experience the finest finds in northeastern Botswana during your up-close encounters. In the afternoon, you may speed across the desert on quad bikes to viewpoints sharing magnificent vistas of Makgadikgadi.

The Okavango Delta is a phenomenal wildlife sanctuary comprising a garden of islands peppering an immense river network that you will come to explore during the following few nights you spend at a gorgeous camp overlooking the sage-colored floodplains. Your first safari across the delta will begin the moment you enter the region and cross sparkling waterways to lofty viewpoints and down valleys to where the animals roam freely. From elephants slowly navigating the river to wild cats circling the shady trees, you may spot many significant sightings on your first day.

There’s no better way to explore the Okavango Delta than in a 4x4 vehicle with access to the region’s most remote and untouched parts. Joined by a knowledgeable ranger and tracker, you will set off in the mornings and afternoons with the intent of spotting iconic African game. Cheetah, wild dogs, lions, and leopards dominate the delta’s predatorial chain, while elephants, giraffes, and hippos are a few of the region’s mammoth mammals. These are but a few of the sightings you may stumble upon as you safari in Okavango, with colorful birdlife circling the skies during your adventures.

There is much to love across the Okavango’s landscapes. However, the delta also boasts impeccable safari excursions along the glistening waterways that compose its compelling charm. Today, you will discover the delta from a new perspective as you glide across its channels in a traditional dugout canoe known as a mokoro. This unique safari experience will give you an opportunity to absorb the riverside scenes and capture images of various wildlife inhabiting these rich, marshy ecosystems. You will return to camp in the evening for an exquisite meal prepared on the campfire.

Home to the massive falls of the same name, Victoria Falls is a sought-after safari stop for those visiting Zimbabwe, and you will be ecstatic to arrive this afternoon at your delightful accommodation stationed in Victoria Falls National Park. After you check in and drop off your things, you may join your transfer and head for the Zambezi River banks, where you will board a decked-out boat. For the next few hours, you will slowly cruise across the shimmering river and take in the spellbinding scenery while you sip on cocktails and tuck into canapés.

The highlight of Victoria Falls is a tour of the massive sheet of falling water itself. Today, you will transfer to the enormous chasm and watch its mesmerizing spectacle from observation points providing unparalleled views. Victoria Falls will live up to its title as ‘The Smoke that Thunders’ as its plummeting stream loudly crashes into the Zambezi Gorge and releases a thick mist of spray in which rainbows form across the gorge. After your tour of this Natural World Wonder, you will return to your resort for sundowners and a scrumptious dinner spread.

You will wake up in your suite positioned in a private concession in Victoria Falls National Park to panoramas of its rolling bushveld. From your balcony, you will watch animals wandering to the nearby waterhole and hear the symphonic sounds of the wilderness permeating from your surrounding greenery. You may enjoy these sensational scenes as you savor a sumptuous breakfast spread at your accommodation before you partake in a morning game drive on your way out of the park. These will be your last moments within Zimbabwe’s wilderness before you make your way home.