Wildlife, Beaches and Delta - Victoria Falls to Cape Town
An action packed itinerary with much more than just the highlights. Off the beaten track areas of Zimbabwe and Botswana. Easy lifestyle with good facilities. Plenty of adventure activities along the way. Stunning beaches and authentic optional boat trips. A perfect in-depth look at the region. Ideal for those who want more than just ticking off highlights.
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Details |
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Price Includes |
(OE-6479-P) |
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Wildlife boat safari through Chobe NP, home to thousands of elephant |
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Jeep safari in the game rich Hwange NP |
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2 night makoro dugout safari in Okavango Delta |
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Guided walking safari in Matobo NP near Bulawayo, home to the white rhino |
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Explore the remarkable Great Zimbabwe Ruins |
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Overnight stay near Dundee in Zululand to explore the battlefields |
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Price Excludes |
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Local Kitty payment $675
Based on the range that previous travellers have spent on this trip, we recommend you allow between a minimum of US$10 and a maximum of US$15 per day. The minimum is the basic amount a budget traveller would spend on limited drinks and meals when not camping, postcards, laundry, site and museum entrances, etc. The maximum would allow a much more “comfortable†lifestyle as well as covering the cost of optional extras up to US$50.
The following optional extras are usually available and which cost US$20 or more:
$70 Vic Falls - Canoeing, Upper Zambezi (Half Day)
$90 Vic Falls - Bungee Jumping
$90 Vic Falls - Elephant Game Ride
$50 Vic Falls - Horse Riding (2 Hours)
$55 Vic Falls - Scenic Flight (25 Mins)
$100 Vic Falls - Walking with Lions
$85 Vic Falls - White Water Rafting (Full
Day)
$20 Vic Falls - Upper Zambezi Sunset Boat Trip & BBQ (3 Hours/Incl.Drinks)
$50 Bagani - A variety of canoeing and community based activities at Ngepi
$120 Makgadikgadi Pans - Overnight quad bike expedition onto the Kalahari Makgadikgadi Pans
$20 Makgadikgadi Pans - Kalahari walking trip with Bushman
$80 Makgadikgadi Pans - Day trip buy Quad Bikes onto kalahari's Makgadikgadi Pans
$20 Gweru - 2 Hours Polocrosse
$20 Gweru - Horseback game safari
$45 Gweru - 2 hours walking with Lions
$110 Vilankulo - 2 day Dhow trip out to the a variety of islands
$45 Vilankulo - Day Dhow trip to coastal island
$210 Vilankulo - 3 day Dhow trip out to the Bazaruto Archipelago
$45 Morrungulo - Scuba dive (per dive /incl equip)
$65 Mlilwane Nat. Park - White Water Rafting (Full Day)
$20 Malealea - Pony trek ( 5 hrs / incl guide) |
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Countries / Places Visited |
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Zimbabwe - Botswana - Nambia - Mozambique - Swaziland - Zululand - Lesotho - Cape Province |
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Suitability / Level |
Moderate |
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Theme |
Small Group Travel
(Click to Search All) |
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Itinerary
& Highlights |
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Week 1: Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls
The first white man to see Victoria Falls was Doctor Livingstone. He had been told about the “smoke that thunders†by local tribesmen, but even he was overcome by the majesty of this place. His famous words on first seeing the falls were “on sights as beautiful as this angels in their flight must have gazedâ€. Even these words can only begin to describe the beauty of these waterfalls. We have time to explore the Zambezi River, the falls and the gorges that make up this fascinating area. You can go canoeing on the Upper Zambezi, and if the season permits (February to June may have too much rainfall) it is possible to go whitewater rafting below the falls. Many people also enjoy seeing the falls by aeroplane on the “Flight of the Angelsâ€. Other optional activities include horse riding, elephant back safaris, bungee jumping and scenic cruises.
Hwange national park
We will stay for a couple of nights near Hwange National Park. We will be staying in the campsite of a small rustic lodge in a private game reserve on the edge of the national park. Here you can have the option of doing evening night safaris and if available walking safaris out into to bush to get up close and personal with some of Africa’s big game. We will also take a more traditional jeep safari into the national park. Hwange National Park is the largest of Zimbabwe’s parks and has a very spectacular range of wildlife. It is famed for its vast herds of elephant that can be found throughout the park, but especially at the waterholes. It also has the beautiful Oryx and sable antelopes, as well as the usual zebras, giraffe and of course the beautifulkudu. Big cats are common throughout the park including lion, leopard and cheetah. It’s a beautiful park, which because of the recent political turmoil, is very underutilised by tourist. This is a great bonus for us as we have the park virtually to ourselves.
Botswana
Botswana’s neighbours are South Africa to the south, Zimbabwe to the East, Zambia to the North and Namibia to the West. The sand of the Kalahari Desert covers most of the country. National parks take up over 17% of the country and 38% of the country is dedicated to wildlife areas. In the northwest is the Okavango Delta, the largest inland delta in the world which incorporates the The Moremi Game Reserve. In the far north near Victoria Falls is Chobe National Park. The country is sparsely populated with the majority of the people living in the southeast around Gaborone, Serowe and Kanye. The seasonal rains bring life to the numerous Pans, such as Nata or Makgadikgadi Pans and to the Okavango Delta in the north. This provides a perfect habitat for large numbers of wildlife. Botswana is one of Africa’s finest safari destinations.
Chobe National Park.
Chobe National Park is the second largest national park in Botswana and covers 10,566 square kilometres. It has an abundance of big game, which occurs in some of the greatest concentration in Africa. The park, created in 1967, was actually the first national park in Botswana. Chobe National Park is famed for its huge elephant population. For our visit to the park, we remain in the north in the River Front region of the Chobe River. Here we take a boat trip along the river, which allows us safely to get close to the animals on shore without disturbing them. The river is like a magnet to the wildlife, and this is a great way to do a safari. If you wish to see more animals then it is possible to organise a jeep safari in open backed vehicles further into the park.
Week 2: Namibia
Namibia is in southwest Africa. It is a mainly arid country. It shares borders with South Africa to the south, Botswana to the east, Angola to the north, and in the Caprivi Strip on the far north east, with Zambia and Zimbabwe. In the west is 1300 km of some of the most remote and harsh coastline in the world. Along the entire length of the coast, the vast dunes of the Namib Desert spread inland for about 100km. In the interior, the land rises up an escarpment onto a high plateau which stretches’ slope away to the east into the vast sand basin of the Kalahari.
Caprivi strip
The Caprivi region of Nambia is a land of fertile floodplains surrounded by perennial rivers, this makes for some beautiful scenery. The narrowest part of the Caprivi strip is also a game reserve, with the main road we travel on, running through the middle of the reserve. The Caprivi strip is a classic example of how the former colonial powers shaped the boundaries of modern Africa. In the wet season, waters from the Zambezi and Kavango Rivers flood much of the area. During these months, the local people travel through the region using the mokoro canoes that you will use when you visit the Okavango Delta.
Ngepi campsite
The Ngepi Camp is situated in the unspoiled upper reaches of the Okavango Delta panhandle in the western Caprivi strip, Navango region, Namibia. With clean Kalahari desert air, the camp is set on an island under amazing trees with permanent river frontage and surrounded by seasonally flooded swamps. The area is a paradise of flooded plains and swamps, teaming with wildlife, and nestled between Mahango National park, a few km’s to the south, and Bwabwata National Park directly opposite across the river. Ngepi is an absolutely stunning and quirky campsite, worth visiting just to use the ablusions. With ‘thrones’ open to the river, tin baths under the African skies, en suite tree-houses on the river, a great bar and bags of atmosphere, this is a place to spend some time chilling at. Most operators drive through this region in a hurry, Dragoman Overland prefer to use the place to base ourselves for a couple of days. There is tons to see and do , such as swimming in the unique ‘floating swimming’ pool in the river, Mokoro safaris, boat cruises, fishing, bird/village walks, game drives, bushman art trip, or visits to Popa falls. One thing we highly recommend and will try to encourage is to get a soccer match going with the local Ngepi All Stars. There is a small payment for this direct to the football team. The camp was started 18 years ago to entice the guests for nature and wilderness lover. If you want to upgrade from a Dragoman tent, try out a tree house or a bush hut.
Okavango delta & Makoros
The Delta is formed by the Okavango River, which flows into a basin on the edge of the Kalahari Desert. The river has no outlet from the desert and spreads out into thousands of small streams to form a wilderness thatis totally unspoilt. It is a wonderland of meandering clear waterways, green islands, lush plains and prolific wildlife. This ecosystem is filled with a diversity of flora and fauna that includes hippo, crocodile, elephant, and the big cats. However, it is not for the game that we come, as this cannot always be found. The Delta is about exploring one of the world’s most fascinating ecosystems. Our visit to the Okavango Delta starts with our stay at Ngepi Campsite in Namibia. From here we head south along the ‘Pan Handle’ (the narrowest part of the Delta that starts at Ngepi and stretches south until the Delta fans out into the vast swamps of the south. From Ngepi, we drive south into Botswana to Seronga, where we leave our vehicle and board boats out into the swamps. We will transfer by boat to Gao Island where we will meet our makoro team. We will board these small dugout styled canoes and will be poled out into the reed beds of the Delta. Each canoe takes two people and is poled along by a local tribesman through the meandering waterways. Reeds and lily pads line the streams, and birds, startled by the makoros, rise out of the long grasses. Punting along, the peace may be shattered by the deep grunting of hippos and the worried expression on the polers’ faces as they inch past the hippo pools - hippos are best not approached by people in dugouts! You will be in the middle of a wilderness area and on the first night out you will camp out on an island away from civilisation. The next day we continue out trip around the Delta and then return to Gao Island to the relative civilisation of Umvuvu Camp with its hot showers (usually) and small bar. We overnight on the Island and then the next day, head back up the Pan Handle of the Delta back to Ngepi.
The Kalahari & Makgadikgadi Pans
The Kalahari Desert is part of a vast sand basin that stretches from the Angola in the north down to the Orange River in South Africa. In the west it slopes away from the Namibia Escarpment into a basin and on the east is bordered by the bushlands of Zimbabwe. The desert really should be classified as semi desert and the landscape varies from tall savannah woodlands to sand plains and saltpans. Unlike most deserts, the Kalahari does have a wet period in the summer, which sustains vegetation. The main vegetation comprises of grasses and thorny acacia trees that can survive long drought periods of more than ten months every year. The beautiful Baobab trees are common in the north of the desert. For most of the year, this vegetation is sun bleached but it recovers amazingly quickly in the rainy season and hence the desert is home to a surprising amount of wildlife. We head through the northern edges of the Kalahari through the salt pan region. We will stop for a couple of nights near the Makgadikgadi Pans, at the quirky campsite of Planet Baobab. Here we can organise some unique desert activities. For those interested in the indigenous people, you can head out on an optional walking trip with local Bushmen tribesmen Alternatively you might prefer the exhilaration of heading out by quad bikes into the remote wilderness of the salt pans. This can either be taken as a day trip or as an day trip staying overnight under the phenomenal Makgadikgadi night sky.
Matobo National Park
Matobo National Park is one of Zimbabwe's most fascinating safari destinations. The park is a haven for African wildlife and excellent for game viewing. It is chiefly famous for its rhino populations and is one of the few places where you can almost guarantee seeing both black and white rhino. We usually stay close to the park at a remote camp in the grounds of a private game reserve. This beautiful spot, set among the vast granite blocks and home to the black eagles is our base to head into the park. We work with a local White Zimbabwean guide whose knowledge and connections with the of the local Ndebele is remarkable. He is a great bush guide and can explain herbs and plants, ancient bushman art and is licensed to take us into the park on fascinating walking safaris. These are walking safaris with adifference, the difference being that you will be walking with white rhinos.
Week 3:
Antelope park
Antelope Park is a small private game ranch near Gweru. Here a rustic lodge and camping area is set on the banks of a lagoon. The ranch has been developed to allow visitors to have very close encounters with some of Africa’s most spectacular game, namely lions and elephant. For those with enough nerve, you can have the excitement of walking with lions. The lions in question are habituated cubs, who lean to walk with humans through the game reserve. Once they are old enough that are then taken to large reserves in Zambia and used as breeding stock for the next generation of lions, who will be released into the wild in areas of Africa where lions no longer exist. You can also ride elephants or horses out into the reserve to watch the zebra and the antelope roaming the grasslands. For those who are good riders, you can also take part in a game of polocrosse. The lodge has a lovely swimming pool, and you can fish or take canoes off onto the
lagoon. Our stay is a well earned break in the middle of the trip.
Great Zimbabwe
Next stop is one of the most spectacular archaeological sites in Africa south of the Sahara. The vast ruins of Great Zimbabwe are a reminder of the civilisations that once ruled this area. The city’s exact history is unknown but recent research suggests a gold-rich civilisation flourishing between 1200 and 1450 AD. The site consists of three main groups of stone structures: the Hill Complex, once thought to be the home of the witch doctor but now believed to be the King’s residence; the Great Enclosure; and the Valley Complex. Its splendour is best appreciated at sunrise or sunset. Archaeologists have found fragments of Chinese pottery at the site suggesting that Great Zimbabwe is the end of the Silk Trading Route from the east. #
Eastern highlands.
The border town that we pass through on the Mozambique/Zimbabwe frontier is the small town of Mutare, up in the majestic mountains of the Eastern Highlands. This is the highest mountain range in Zimbabwe with Mount Inyangani being the highest peak. The scenery is breathtaking and the temperate climate makes life very relaxing.
Mozambique
Mozambique has 2500 kms of coast on the Indian Ocean – mostly empty, palm-fringed white beaches unspoilt by the long civil war that ended in 1992. Few travellers visit this beautiful and very friendly country. It is still tainted from its tragic years of continuous warfare. Certainly much of the country is still off-limits and you have to be very vigilant because of the land mine legacy, but with due care, you can spend a wonderful few weeks exploring this little known country. It has so much to offer from Africa's most spectacular and unspoilt beaches to some of the continents most historic sites. Indeed the country boasts a number of world heritage sites and the roads and hotel infrastructure is now rapidly changing. This is a destination to visit before the masses, but do not wait too long, this country is gaining international reputation as a unique destination. Although we have not operated in Mozambique for the couple of years, we have had plenty of experience in the country and were the first overland company to run a trip across Mozambique from South Africa to Tanzania.
The Beira Corridor
Our route between Zimbabwe and the Mozambique coast takes us down one of the main trading routes in the country, the Beira Corridor. This important route, links the African interior with the east coast port of Beira. We pass through small towns such as Manica and Bandala and get some excellent views of the Vumba Mountains. The roads throughout this section of the journey are good tarmac and we should be able to make quick progress.
Vilankulo &The Bazaruto Archipelago
We rest for 4 nights on the stunning palmfringed beaches, of onto Vilankulo. Here we have time for some real chilling, but if azure blue ocean and sandy beaches leave you twiddling your thumbs, then head off by local arab dhow to some of the beautiful islands and archipelagos in the area. There is enough time for a few choices of things to do; either day trips out to local islands or a full three day dhow journey to explore the Bazaruto Archipelago and to snorkel or dive amongst the spectacular tropical fish and untouched coral. The archipelago is a national park, which consists of five tropical islands. Sailing by traditional Arab dhow is probably the most romantic way to explore this area.
Week 4:
Morrungulo
We travel between Vilankulo and Maputo along the beautiful Indian Ocean coast and stop for a couple of days at the idyllic beaches of Morrungulo. We camp on these perfect beaches and they really are absolutely stunning. This is time for pure beach life before we head back onto the road. There are plenty of activities and fishing, scuba diving and snorkelling are all available.
Maputo
Maputo is a city undergoing rapid change. Its past history of Portuguese colonialism has left the inevitable colonial architecture and prejudices, which mingle with thirty years of Stalineque poverty, war and corruption. This left a legacy of terrible poverty that is now being eroded by increased confidence and trade. The city now has an up-beat feel, with vibrant nightlife and new modern building going up in the middle of the city. We spend a night in the town to soak up the atmosphere and to enjoy the great local food.
Swaziland
Entering Swaziland, we have an option of taking a day's white-water rafting on the Great Usutu River. It is a very exciting day's rafting, with lunch included, and beautiful scenery to admire when you're not running the rapids. We also visit Mlilwane National Park, an excellent private reserve offering hiking around nature trails, horse riding, mountain biking and night drives. Apart from there being plenty of wildlife to spot, the park has an attractive setting dominated by 'Little Bird' peak.
Zululand & The Battlefields
Between the two kingdoms of Lesotho and Swaziland we will be travelling though the lands of the Free State and KwaZulu Natal in South Africa. We will stop for the night at the town of Dundee which is the main centre in the historic battlefield area of Zululand. Here, depending on time available, we will organise a visit to one or other of the famous battlefields. The names are familiar to anyone with even a limited knowledge of South Africa, the most famous, Rorke's Drift being immortalised by Michael Cain in Zulu.
Week 5: Lesotho
Our trips through Lesotho allow you to witness an African country that remains natural and largely unaffected by
tourism.
Malealea
Malealea is a beautiful spot south of the capital of Maseru situated in a perfect hiking and pony-trekking region. We stay at a unique hillside lodge called Malealea Lodge. Here you can partake in numerous adventures and other community based activities such as school visits. A reciprocal relationship exists between the lodge and the community. The management of the lodge believe that tourism can play a constructive role in contributing towards the well being of the community who share their lives with tourists visiting the valley. In the afternoon, you may like to go pony trekking through the surrounding dramatic countryside. For those people who think that ponies are nasty, malicious, smelly sorts of creatures, you can always go hiking instead. There are some stunning waterfall and tribal rock painting in the vicinity. It is also possible, for those who want more of a challenge to hire a guide who will assist you to climb to the summit of one of the nearby mountains. It is well worth spending some time visiting one of the local communities, which can be organised by Malealea Lodge. Many of our groups sit in on classes in a local school or perhaps you would prefer a session with a local healer.
Cango
Hidden away in the foothills of the Swartberg Mountains are the Cango Caves. Here rainwater has flowed through fissures and seeped through cracks in the earth's face for millions of years. The soft limestone has been scoured and dissolved, creating the vast halls and tunnels of the Cango Cave system. These caves are over 5 kms long and if you enjoy this sort of hing, we can organise a guided tour of the caves. These spectacular caves can be viewed on one of three tours, the shortest tour just gives you a glimpse whilst the longest tour involves crawling through tight places! Nearby, if time is available we will visit Cango Ostrich Farm and learn about these amazing birds. For those who enjoy riding fast birds, why not try out taking an Ostrich for a test drive.
The Garden Route
The Garden Route is one of South Africa's most popular tourist attractions. It is a 780 kms stretch of the coastal route between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. This area of outstanding nature beauty has numerous places of interest for the visitor, including the stunning coastline. We will travel along the route between Cape Town and the town of George.
Stellenbosch
The Cape is the wine-growing region of South Africa and centres around the town of Stellenbosch. We will certainly take the opportunity to sample the local produce on a vineyard tour.
Cape town
You cannot help but be impressed by the setting of Cape Town. Behind the town, Table Mountain dominates the skyline. You may wish to take a cable car to its summit for views of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Cape Town is built on a bay, which fronts onto the Atlantic Ocean. Dating back some 350 years it has some interesting old buildings, many of which have been preserved in the centre of this thriving city. It is a great place to relax and explore. You should take time to explore as there are some wonderful sights to be seen in the surrounding area including the Cape of Good Hope, and some interesting activities such as wine tasting in Stellenbosch. |
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Accommodation
& Centre Details |
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Mainly campsites, some wildcamps, hostel/hotel. (95% camping, 5% hotels) |
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Holidays
Extras |
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| Trip: |
Wildlife, Beaches and Delta - Victoria Falls to Cape Town |
| Duration: |
5 Weeks |
| Company: |
Dragoman Overland
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| Location: |
Victoria Falls |
| Region: |
Zimbabwe,
Africa |
| Price: |
From
GBP850
p/p |
| Flights: |
Not Included 
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| Availability: |
January, March, April, June, August, September, November, December, |
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| Related Searches |
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in Zimbabwe |
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in Victoria Falls |
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