Botswana Family Explorer: Okavango Delta, the Makgadikgadi Pans & Victoria Falls

11 days from £6900 per person including international flights

Tour Highlights

Game drives in the Okavango Delta in search of highlights such as lion, elephant, buffalo, and wild dog. Depending on your lodge, mokoro trips, night drives and boat cruises may also be available.
Explore the other-worldly Makgadikgadi Pans, visit the habituated meerkat colony, and visit the local community. During the dry season head out on game drives on the Pans, quad bike to remote picnic spots and even sleep out under the stars in this arid desert area.
Lodge dependent, enjoy guided walking safaris to learn about some of the flora and smaller wildlife and find, identify, and follow animal tracks.
Explore the many activities that Victoria Falls has to offer with plenty of time to explore the Falls and their surrounding area.

Price Includes

International flights
Light aircraft flights
All transfers
Private road transfers
Accommodation
All safari activities on a shared basis and all meals while on safari
Breakfast in Victoria Falls
In country and 24-hour UK support

For those travellers looking for ways to combine superb safari sightings with a very active itinerary, this itinerary will provide three varied environments and a mixture of adrenaline together with once in a lifetime experiences for everyone travelling. Start on safari in the famous Okavango Delta, where you can enjoy wildlife experiences from a variety of experiences. Cruise by motorised boat past elephants feeding on the river edge, wonder at nocturnal behaviours of wildlife on a night drive, glide through the rushes of the lagoons on a mokoro trip and experience the thrill of a walking safari – the choice is yours. Fly on to the vast Makgadikgadi Pans, and explore by quad bike or sleep out under the stars – not forgetting a visit to nearby meerkat colonies to marvel at their scouting behaviour. Finishing your trip in Victoria Falls you can enjoy many of the adrenaline activities on offer – or perhaps a more sedate sunset cruise or guided tour of the Falls.

All of the itineraries that you see on our website are samples of what is possible, every holiday that we operate is completely tailor-made to your requirements, likes, and dislikes. Just let us know your ideas when getting in touch and we will craft your plans around these, get your feedback, and keep working on it until everything is perfect.

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Day 1 - Overnight flight from the UK

Depart from the UK for your flight to Victoria Falls (indirect). There is a huge range of airlines and routes available, please let us know your preferences when getting in touch.

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Day 2 - Connecting flight to Victoria Falls, transfer to your hotel. Overnight Victoria Falls.

You will be meet by your driver once you have come through immigration and bagge claim, and transferred to your hotel a short 20 minute drive away.

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...Settle in and relax after your international flights, and then perhaps head out to explore the town and your surroundings. We can assist with dinner reservations tonight - and recommendations for great places to eat.

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Day 3 - Day at leisure in Victoria Falls.

Free day today to explore the area. There is so much to do for families in Victoria Falls. For the adventurous, ziplining and white-water rafting are on offer, together with scenic helicopter or microlight flights.

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...Other possibilities include visits to the local community, horse riding, visiting the Falls themselves or indulging in high tea, you won't be short of ideas or suggestions.

Some activities are in high demand, so we suggest organising any 'must dos' as part of your itinerary so you have them ready to look forward to!

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Day 4 - Road transfer from Victoria Falls to Kasane airport. Light aircraft to the Okavango Delta. Afternoon safari activities. Overnight Okavango Delta

You will be meet by your driver and transferred across to neighbouring Botswana. The town of Kasane is the northern gateway to Chobe National Park as well as to the Okavango Delta. Let us know if you'd like to include time exploring Chobe (home to incredible elephant populations and where afternoon boat cruises are a huge highlight). Fly onwards...

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... to your lodge in the heart of the Okavango Delta, where you will spend the next three nights. Safari here is either in the Moremi Wildlife Reserve or privately run areas surrounding it, and as visitor numbers are tightly controlled, sightings feel extra special. Your guide will meet you as your light aircraft lands at the airstrip and transfer you to your lodge in time to freshen up and head out on afternoon safari activities.

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Day 5 - Morning and afternoon safari activities. Overnight Okavango Delta.

Many lodges have family rooms (often two-bedroom) so that you are all under one rood. Your early morning wake up call is followed by a hot drink to start the day and then you will...

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...head out in search of wildlife in the area. Guides in Botswana are particularly good at catering for safari-goers of all ages, and in addition to providing information on all animals you come across, will also keep everyone fascinated with their knowledge and enthusiasm for the local area, tracks, plants and smaller wildlife that reside here. Following your morning safari you will head back to the lodge for lunch and some downtime (often with a pool available) before heading out again for an afternoon drive, boast cruise or even walking safari.

You will return to your lodge as the sun sets, and on clear nights star gazing provides an incredible end to the safari day before you head for a hearty dinner.

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Day 6 - Morning and afternoon safari activities. Overnight Okavango Delta.

Second full day on safari in the Okavango Delta. Depending on where you are staying...

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...You might enjoy an early morning boat cruise to see the birds fishing for their breakfast, or a game drive this morning. Typically morning excursions last around 3 hours - this does vary on what you see, and it is is common for morning drives to head back later abuzz with chatter of the incredible wildlife you have seen.

You'll have some time to relax and enjoy the lodge facilities after lunch, before heading on on another afternoon activity. From some lodges, you could also visit the local communities with whom they have a relationship, and gain insight into the local way of life.

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Day 7 - Morning safari activity followed by transfer to airstrip. Light aircraft flight to Makgadikgadi Pans. Afternoon safari activity. Overnight Makgadikgadi Pans.

Time for a final safari this morning before you have breakfast and wave goodbye to your lodge. Your guide will take you to the airstrip where you will

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... fly onwards to the vast Makgadikgadi Pans. Keep a camera handy as the light aircraft fly low so it is possible to spot larger animals like elephant and hippo from the air!

You will land in the heart of the Pans, and be met by your guide who will transfer you the short distance to the lodge. Activities here are very different to your previous safari in the Okavango Delta and centre around game drives in search of desert adapted wildlife, walks with the local Bushman population, visits to the nearby meerkat colony and even sleepouts under the stars. Depending on the season, quad-biking and horse riding may also be available.

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Day 8 - Morning and afternoon safari activities. Overnight Makgadikgadi Pans

First full day in the Makgadikgadi Pans and for many, an unforgettable moment is watching the meerkats go about...

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... their daily lives. The colony is very much wild, though used to human spectators who they largely ignore, or occasionally make use of as a scouting post. The varied activities on offer are a highlight, and provide more insight into the unique eco-systems within Botswana. This evening, head out with your guides to set up camp until the clear desert sky (available in the dry season).

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Day 9 - Morning and afternoon safari activities. Overnight Makgadikgadi Pans

Final day on safari and the chance to explore further afield within the Pans. Home to desert-adapted species such as brown hyena throughout the year...

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... in the green season, the zebra migration passes through, bringing vast numbers of zebra, oryx, wildebeest and other antelope to the region. Exploring the dry pans, stone-age artifacts can also be found, a throw back to earlier civilisations resident in the area. Be sure to tell your guide if there is anything you are particularly keen to see or learn more about!

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Day 10 - Morning game drive then drive to the airstrip. Light aircraft flight to Maun airport to connect with your flights back to the UK.

There will be time for one last game drive before it is time to wave goodbye and fly via light aircraft to Maun airport. For those that are not keen on light aircraft transfers this itinerary is also possible avoiding these...

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... All we would need to do is suggest the best lodges for this so do let us know if you would like to explore this option.

Instead of a game drive this morning, you may choose to relax around the lodge - the choice is yours. Your light aircraft will depart the Makgadikgadi Pans and you will be able to get final views over the ancient landscape as you fly. On arrival into Maun airport, you will connect on to your international flights back to the UK. There is a huge range of airlines and routes available, please let us know your preferences when getting in touch

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Day 11 - Arrive back into the UK.

Arrive back into the UK and start planning your next adventure! Get in touch now

Example accommodation options for this itinerary

Browse All Accommodation In Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)

Pioneers Victoria Falls

4*. Great value lodge which will appeal to those looking to be in a well placed location to explore the area

Ilala Lodge

4*. Fantastic boutique option located within easy walking distance to the Falls

Old Drift Lodge

5*. Luxurious rooms within the Zambezi National Park combining Victoria Falls with low key safari

Browse All Accommodation In Okavango Delta

Xakanaxa

4* Consistently excellent feedback for food and serivce as well as safari sightings

Okuti

4* Beautifully designed lodge in a wildlife rich area

Splash Camp

4.5* Large rooms and a wide range of safari activities in a very comfortable lodge

Browse All Accommodation In The Salt Pans - Makadikgadi & Nxai

Camp Kalahari

3.5* Designed with families in mind, this is the most affordable option within the heart of the Pans

Leroo La Tau

4* Authentic safari lodge on the edge of the Pans, with day trips further afield possible

Jack's Camp

5* Intimate lodge delivering grand style and comfort to discerning travellers

Why Book With Us?

Fully independent, we suggest an itinerary with accommodation and arrangements to match your requirements.

Financial security and protection, We hold a full UK ATOL license and provide 100% financial protection through the Travel Trust Association.

24-Hour UK and in country support, a member of our team in the UK is always ready to assist should you need us and we also have 24-hour support in country.

Expert knowledge, we have travelled extensively in the destinations that we offer, exploring experiences and accommodation so that we can design the perfect itinerary just for you.