Essential Botswana

9 Days | An awe-inspiring adventure packed with wildlife, waterfalls, and wilderness!

4.8 out of 5 based on 15 reviews submitted.
18 to 35s
Overland
From
USD $1,195
View dates and book
This trip is for the 18 to 35 year olds

Time to break out your best Attenborough impression – you’re going on a safari. This trip doesn’t skimp on the savannah, but it mainly follows the rivers and watering holes that sustain life (human and wild) throughout Africa. Drive across the sands of the Kalahari Desert in search of rhinos, then spot elephants and warthogs while you cruise down the Okavango Delta in a dugout mokoro canoe. Camp on the floodplains of the Kwando River, and search for wildlife in Chobe National Park.

Trip overview

Map of Essential Botswana including Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe
Start
Johannesburg, South Africa
Finish
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Theme
18 to 35s, Overland
Destinations
Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Basix
Ages
Min 18 - Max 35
Group size
Min 1 - Max 22
Trip code
UBYB
This trip generates 29 kg of CO2-e per person per day.
We offset these emissions on your behalf. But we know that is not enough, so we also have a carbon reduction target.

Why you'll love this trip
  • Safari through Chobe National Park for a chance to see lions, elephants, zebras, impalas, wildebeest, giraffes, leopards, hyenas, jackals, warthogs, baboons, monkeys and much more
  • Did you know that rhinos come out to play when the sun goes down? Let us prove it to you during a sunset 4WD through the Khama Rhino Sanctuary.
  • Try and tell the difference between your buddy’s snores and the sound of wild hippos while camping in the heart of the Okavango wilderness.
  • There's nothing more relaxing than feeling the African sun on your face as you lie back in a mokoro, eyes closed while your expert poler propels you through the Okavango Delta.
  • Elephants never forget, and you won’t forget them either. Cruise down the river in Chobe National Park, home of the world's highest concentration of African elephants.
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust. Donations help employ a team of Community Guardians who collaborate with locals to find sustainable solutions to human-wildlife conflict and conservation in Southern Africa.

Is this trip right for you?
  • This is an overland trip. That means you’ll be travelling with a group in a purpose-built vehicle, visiting remote communities, setting up your own tent, occasionally roughing it in the bush with no facilities, and getting the best possible views of the ‘Big Five’. While the trucks don’t have air conditioning, they do have sliding windows which let in the breeze and make it even easier to take spectacular snaps of the local wildlife. The drive days can be long, but it’s as much about the journey as the destination, and half the fun is the camaraderie. For more info on this style of travel, see our Africa overland page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/au/africa/overland

Itinerary

Map of Essential Botswana including Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe

Inclusions

Meals

8 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 7 dinners

Transport

Overland vehicle, Open safari vehicle, Mokoro

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (6 nights), Camping (with basic facilities) (2 nights), Hotel (1 night)

Activities
  • Khama Rhino Sanctuary - Entrance
  • Khama Rhino Sanctuary - Sunset Game Drive Open Vehicle
  • Okavango Delta - Mokoro Safari
  • Mukolo Camp - Mokoro Safari
  • Chobe National Park - Open Safari Vehicle Morning Game Drive
  • Victoria Falls - Leader-led orientation walk
Add on activities
  • Okavango Delta - Helicopter Scenic Flight - From USD250 - USD280
  • Okavango Delta - Cook-led Cooking Class - Free
  • Mukolo Camp - Sunset Cruise (excluding park fees) - NAD700
  • Chobe National Park - River Cruise - BWP580
  • Victoria Falls - Whitewater rafting (Seasonal - excludes USD10 NP Fee) - USD126
  • Victoria Falls - Jet Boat (Seasonal - excludes USD10 NP Fee) - USD110
  • Victoria Falls - Traditional Village Tour - USD55
  • Victoria Falls - Bridge Tour - USD68
  • Victoria Falls - Bridge Swing - USD168
  • Victoria Falls - Helicopter flight (12 mins - excludes USD25 Fuel & NP Fee) - USD150
  • Victoria Falls - Helicopter flight (25 mins - excludes USD30 Fuel & NP Fee) - USD284
  • Victoria Falls - Standard Sunset Cruise (excludes USD10 NP Fee) - USD45
  • Victoria Falls - River Song Sunset Cruise (excludes USD10 NP Fee) - USD75

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

2. This trip finishes upon arrival in Victoria Falls on Day 9. Please do not book any flights until after 9pm this evening.

3. Border crossing delays in the region can be sporadic and difficult to predict. What takes an hour one day may take four hours the next. This may affect the order of activities in the itinerary. We understand this uncertainty can be frustrating, and we strongly recommend packing a bit of patience and flexibility.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Read Essential Trip Information

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 based on 15 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

Filter by rating

Marion · Traveled September 2023
This was an incredible trip with memories to last a lifetime. Everything was very well organised with a great guide, exactly like on the itinerary, with a great choice of optional activities, and I was pleasantly surprised by the food that was healthy, delicious and with great vegetarian options.
Review submitted 16 Oct 2023

Ben · Traveled September 2023
For anyone considering this trip please don’t hesitate to book. The value for money is incredible and it really will be a trip of a lifetime. Couldn’t recommend higher
Review submitted 16 Oct 2023

Daniel · Traveled August 2023
Review submitted 23 Aug 2023

Aaron · Traveled July 2023
What a great trip! The drive lengths are well balanced, selected destinations are so beautiful, and the people were awesome. I was the only one on my trip that wasn’t doing the second half of the journey, finishing in Joberg and I definitely missed my friends when I left. A trip I’ll remember forever.
Review submitted 15 Jul 2023

Ryan · Traveled June 2023
The 3 guides Bonnie, Siya and Freddy made the whole experience extremely enjoyable and created some hilarious moments. The itinerary had a good mix of Wildlife and fun activities. 11/10 rating for this tour!
Review submitted 20 Jun 2023
Essential Botswana
From
USD $1,195