Journey to the Okavango via the iconic Victoria Falls and Chobe National Park. Start by enjoying a couple of days exploring the falls environs, allowing time to discover the lush river environment of the upper Zambezi, which is rewarding. Chobe is renowned for its elephant populations, which flock to the river during the dry season, and Muchenje Lodge, which is perched on the river escarpment in the Chobe Forest Reserve, is a great base to explore the less busy, western side of the park. Once in the Okavango, enjoy a mix of traditional land-based game-viewing and outings on the water from a comfortable lodge in the delta’s northern reaches. Before you get too cosy, transfer by air to Maun to join a fully-supported, small group walking safari, which has an expeditionary feel – you’ll venture into the southern part of the delta to explore the matrix of wild islands and plains on foot and by mokoro, enjoying comfy, fully-serviced mobile camping in a wild setting.
SEQUENCE: Victoria Falls ♦ Muchenje Lodge, Chobe ♦ Mapula Lodge, northern Okavango ♦ David Foot Walking Safari, southern Okavango
What's Included
- Accommodation and all meals and drinks at Victoria Falls
- Sundowner Cruise on the Zambezi when at Victoria Falls
- Accommodation, meals and drinks, and all safari activities at Muchenje
- All accommodation, meals and drinks, and all safari activities in the Okavango
- Air transfers into and out of the Okavango
- All road transfers where required throughout the itinerary
- Laundry services throughout
Detailed Itinerary
Arrive in Livingstone by air in the early afternoon (usually from Johannesburg). You’ll be met on arrival and transferred to your lodge in the Victoria Falls environs for lunch. A nice way to start your stay here is to enjoy a sundowner cruise on the upper Zambezi – all the lodges we recommend have their own boats for this purpose.
There is a wide choice of accommodation in the vicinity of Victoria Falls and we will help you choose from a selection we recommend. If you wish to stay on the Zambian side, we recommend lodges that are located a little way upriver from the falls. The river environment is quieter and you’ll escape the clatter of helicopters buzzing over the falls. Coincidently, the nicest lodges are all positioned well-upstream of the falls.
Walks in Africa’s preferred lodges, which span a range of budgets, are: Chundukwa River Lodge, Sindabezi Island Camp (and its sister lodge, Tongabezi), Waterberry Lodge and Thorntree River Lodge. Good choices also exist on the Zimbabwean side if you wish to cross the border – the Victoria Falls Hotel is a colonial gem and an institution; Ilala lodge, also located in close proximity to the falls, is a reliable second choice. Both are situated within a short walk of the falls, on the edge of Victoria Falls Town, which has quite a lot going for it.
Overnight at one of our recommended lodges near Livingstone-Victoria Falls on a full board basis
We recommend you aim to spend no less than 3 nights in the Victoria Falls environs if you can. This allows for a day to explore the falls area, as well as a day to focus on the environs of your lodge and the Zambezi River. All the Zambian lodges we like have wonderful locations on the river, which can be explored by boat. A range of gentle activities close to the lodge door are well-worth doing, eg. village visits, horse-riding, walking, boating and birding. It’s all too easy to come to Victoria Falls and end up spending too much time dashing from one activity to the next – time to relax in-lodge is important, especially in such idyllic natural locations as Sindabezi Island.
Overnight at one of our recommended lodges near Livingstone-Victoria Falls on a full board basis
A driver will collect you from your lodge after breakfast and drive you to Kasane, across the border in Botswana. In Kasane, you’ll rendezvous with a driver from Muchenje who will drive you on to the lodge. You should expect to reach Muchenje around lunchtime, so you’ll have plenty of time to settle in before your first safari activity in Chobe.
Overnight at Muchenje Safari Lodge on a fully inclusive basis
Muchenje Safari Lodge is one of Chobe’s oldest and most established independently-owned and run luxury safari lodges and has a lovely, elevated position on the escarpment of the Chobe River which affords far-reaching views from all rooms. It’s set within the Chobe Forest Reserve, just 3km from Chobe’s Ngoma gate in the Western Chobe region, well away from the busier section of the park around Kasane in the east. 3 nights is ideal here, so that you can enjoy a full day in the park and do a river trip. Community visits are also possible, as is walking.
Mirroring the Okavango Delta, the Chobe River typically experiences flood conditions from around April onwards, with water pushing downstream as well as up from the Zambezi confluence in the east. Wildlife is prolific around the river during the dry season, but the green season should not be ignored as a time to visit.
Overnight at Muchenje Safari Lodge on a fully inclusive basis
Travel to the northern part of the Okavango in two stages; first a road transfer through Chobe National Park to Kasane, then a seat-rate air transfer to Mapula Camp’s airstrip. Settle into camp then head out on your first safari activity after tea.
Overnight at Mapula Lodge, or an alternative that we recommend according to budget and preference (eg. Khwai Leadwood, Gomoti Plains, Gunn’s Camp)
Enjoy 3 full days exploring the wonderful natural environment around Mapula Lodge. Mapula is located in a beautiful position on a large private concession in the northern reaches of the Okavango, built on a large tree island surrounded by a matrix of seasonal floodplains, permanent water channels, grassland and woodlands – a classic delta landscape that’s also rich in wildlife. It lies just to the north of the Vumbura and Duba Plains concessions, which are highly renowned and carry a significantly higher price tag.
In 2018, the camp was taken over by the owners of Jack’s Camp (which is located in the Kalahari and has a good reputation and following) and given a stylish makeover and reboot. Day and night game drives are offered here, along with excursions by motorboat or mekoro during the main season, as water levels permit. There’s something for everyone here, including birders, and Mapula is an excellent choice for those seeking a good quality delta experience without a luxury price tag.
Overnight at Mapula Lodge, or an alternative that we recommend according to budget and preference (eg. Khwai Leadwood, Gomoti Plains, Gunn’s Camp)
Enjoy a final early morning safari activity and brunch at Mapula before heading to the camp airstrip. Fly on a seat-rate air transfer over the heart of the delta to Maun, where you’ll join a David Foot Walking Safari. You’ll be transferred by road to the Buffalo Fence on the edge of the concession and make your way to camp from there in a mokoro, following the elephant and hippo channels. If water levels are low then guests can walk into camp, which usually takes around 1.5 hours. Settle into camp and enjoy a leisurely stroll to familiarise yourself with the beautiful environs and enjoy a sundowner.
Overnight in tents on a fully inclusive and supported basis
Enjoy 2 full days exploring the southern Okavango on the David Foot Walking Safari; this is a high quality 3-night experience that enables walkers to get a special perspective on the delta and is ideal for those seeking a soft-adventure wilderness experience with full back-up and an experienced guide at the helm. Essentially, it’s an expeditionary safari that’s fully supported by a mekoro flotilla, enabling you to explore the idyllic and unspoiled tree-lined islands of the delta on foot and enjoy gentle poling across the channels and floodplains which link these. There’s no set itinerary and camp locations are chosen in relation to water levels and wildlife movements. The fully serviced mobile camp set-up is firmly at the comfy end of the spectrum, complemented by a dedicated chef who turns out a high standard of freshly cooked food.
Overnight in tents on a fully inclusive and supported basis
Having enjoyed a last sunrise breakfast and bid your farewells, your luggage will then be loaded back in the mekoro and taken back to the buffalo fence where it all began. Once again, you’ll have the choice of walking or hopping onto a mokoro and joining the flotilla carrying the luggage. Once back at the fence line you’ll be transferred back to Maun Airport in a safari vehicle, in time for your international departure. Flights to Johannesburg typically depart Maun in the early afternoon and connect with evening departures to the UK and Europe.
END OF ITINERARY
Walks in Africa organised a fantastic holiday of a lifetime for us, which exceeded all our expectations. Angus took care to spend time talking to us to understand what we like doing and what kind of places we like to stay in, and we quickly learned to trust his judgement - he got it exactly right with all his recommendations! He thought of every detail, even dealing efficiently and without fuss with an 11th hour change in flight made by the airline - all in all, a very professional service, and yet so personal at the same time. We can't recommend Walks in Africa highly enough!