18 Days | Cruise waterways and cross savannahs on a wild camping adventure
Discover Southern Africa's waterways, national parks and the wildlife that calls them home on this 18-day adventure. Canoe down the lush waterways of the Okavango Delta, watch hippos wallowing along the shores of the Chobe River, safari in the vast parks of Hwange, Kruger and Matobo and sleep under the stars in campsites, a bush camp on the Delta, and a village homestay. Join an adventure through southern Africa’s most beautiful landscapes in search of elephants, lions, rhinos, warthogs and leopards.
Trip overview
- Start
- Johannesburg, South Africa
- Finish
- Johannesburg, South Africa
- Theme
- Overland, Wildlife
- Destinations
- Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe
- 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 15
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 22
- Trip code
- UBOQC
- Track rhinos on foot with an expert local guide in Matobo National Park and support local conservation efforts with a visit to Khama Rhino Sanctuary.
- Immerse yourself in the ancient culture of the Venda people during a village homestay in South Africa's Limpopo province.
- Camping on a remote island in the heart of the Okavango wilderness is an experience you’ll never forget. As the sun sets and night falls, the sounds of Africa come alive.
- Explore the magnificent Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, some of the largest salt flats in the world. These mind-bending plains make for some magical photography.
- Marvel at the unforgettable views of Blyde River Canyon. This spectacular gorge is up there with the world's largest and probably the greenest.
- 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 Africa's iconic wildlife. 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/africa/overland
- There will be many early starts either to make use of the better safari time or to beat the morning traffic on long travel days.
- Camping out in the amazing Okavango wilderness means digging a bush toilet and going without a shower. It's all part of the delta experience.
Itinerary
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2025 - 31 December 2025
Inclusions
16 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 14 dinners
Overland vehicle, Open safari vehicle, Mokoro
Camping (with facilities) (13 nights), Bush camp (no facilities) (2 nights), Hotel (1 night), Homestay (1 night)
- Khama Rhino Sanctuary - Sunset Game Drive Open Vehicle
- Okavango Delta - Mokoro safari
- Okavango Delta - Sunrise Walk
- Okavango Delta - Brewery Tour
- Nata - Makgadikgadi Salt Pans 4x4 Excursion
- Chobe National Park - River Cruise
- Victoria Falls - Visit to Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust
- Hwange National Park - Guided 4x4 Game Drive
- Hwange - Painted Dog Conservation visit
- Matobo National Park - Rhino Tracking
- Matobo National Park - San Rock Paintings
- Makushu Homestay - Beading, Cooking or Dancing
- Black Mambas HQ - Dinner by Lantern Light
- Black Mambas HQ - Campfire Story Time
- Black Mambas HQ - Snare Walk
- Kruger National Park - Night Game Drive
- Kruger National Park - Full Day 4x4 Game Drive
- Panorama Route - Bourke's Luck Potholes
- Okavango Delta - Helicopter Scenic Flight - USD280
- Victoria Falls - Victoria Falls Entrance Fee - USD50
- Chobe National Park - Open Safari Vehicle Morning Game Drive - BWP580
- Victoria Falls - Sunset Cruise - USD50
- Victoria Falls - Standard Sunset Cruise (excludes USD10 NP Fee) - USD45
- Victoria Falls - Bridge Tour - USD68
- Victoria Falls - Bridge Swing - USD168
- Victoria Falls - Traditional Village Tour - USD55
- Victoria Falls - Whitewater rafting (Seasonal - excludes USD10 NP Fee) - USD126
- Victoria Falls - River Song Sunset Cruise (excludes USD10 NP Fee) - USD75
- Victoria Falls - Jet Boat (Seasonal - excludes USD10 NP Fee) - USD110
- Victoria Falls - Helicopter flight (12 mins - excludes USD25 Fuel & NP Fee) - USD150
- Victoria Falls - Helicopter flight (25 mins - excludes USD30 Fuel & NP Fee) - USD284
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. If you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip, you may purchase a single supplement, subject to availability. The single supplement excludes Day 15 (Homestay), where you will be in shared accommodation. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. This is a combination trip made up of two shorter trips. This means the composition of your group may change in Victoria Falls as some group members leave and new ones join you.
3. This trip finishes upon arrival in Johannesburg on Day 18. Please do not book any flights until after 10 pm this evening.
4. On occasion, especially during the peak months of May to September and December we are not able to secure campsites within the Kruger National Park. In this instance we will camp at a backpackers outside the park.
5.The minimum age for this trip is 15 at the time of travel. Any travellers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian, or in lieu of a legal guardian, by an escort over the age of 18, appointed by their legal guardian. The legal guardian or their designee will be responsible for the traveller under the age of 18 day to day’s care. If a legal guardian elects to designate an escort in their lieu, they will be required to complete and sign a relevant document, to delegate their authority.
6. Border crossing delays in the region have been 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.
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