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Map of Botswana Family Safari with Teenagers including Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe

Travel to South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe and see some of the world’s greatest waterfalls and wildlife

Embark on an action-packed, teen-friendly adventure in south-east Africa. See the thundering spectacle of Victoria Falls, say hello to some new friends at the Khama Rhino Sanctuary, explore the far-out Okavango Delta by traditional canoe and watch elephants drink from the Chobe River. Pack plenty of spare camera batteries, because this snap-happy trip, brimming with exciting animal encounters and landscapes like you’ve never seen, is one for the photo album.

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Terms & Conditions
Start
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Finish
Johannesburg, South Africa
Destinations
Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe
Style
Basix
Theme
Family, Wildlife
Code
UWFB
Physical rating
Ages
Min 10
Group size
Min 2, Max 16

Why you'll love this trip

  • Get a load of Victoria Falls, an amazing thundering spectacle. Optional activities for those arriving early include white water rafting, canoeing and flying fox rides

  • Go wildlife-spotting along the river at Chobe National Park, home of the world's highest concentration of African elephants

  • Enjoy some truly unique accommodation in Elephant Sands. Greet elephants as they come to drink from the pool!

  • Get familiar with the fine art of 'poling' as you and your family ride a traditional dugout canoe through the waterways of the Okavango Delta

  • Camping on a remote island in the heart of the Okavango wilderness is an experience you and your family will never forget. As night falls, the sounds of the African bush are like nothing else

  • Support local conservation by visiting the Khama Rhino Sanctuary, the only place left in Botswana where both black and white rhinos reside

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, setting up your own tent with some long travelling days. 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. There will be some early starts and long travelling days.  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

  • Camping out in the Okavango wilderness means digging a bush toilet and going without a shower. For most travellers this is a small price to pay for such a gorgeous remote island location. It’s all part of the adventure.

  • The going can be slow over the long distances and often bumpy roads. A little bit of patience will go a long way towards your enjoyment of this beautiful land. There are some long travelling days.

  • This is a participatory camping trip, so team spirit is key. You and your family will be helping out with camp setup, food preparation and cleaning.

Teenager on safari, Botswana
Elephant spotting while on Chobe National Park cruise, Botswana
Cruising down the Okavango Delta at dusk, South Africa
Rhinos in the Khama rhino sanctuary, Botswana

Itinerary
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Welcome to Africa! Once you arrive at the Shearwater Explorers Village, reception will advise you where our campsite is located. Make your way to the site, meet your leader and get settled in. Your adventure begins at 2pm with a group meeting at our campsite. After which we will visit Victoria Falls

This thundering curtain of water is about a mile wide, falling 108 metres into a narrow gorge below. In the wet season, the spray created can rise up an incredible 400 metres and the falls become an impressive raging torrent. In the dry season, the view of the falls is unobstructed by spray and you can see little islets in the river below.

If you arrive early, get out and explore Victoria Falls. You can choose from various activities and excursions, including white water rafting, canoeing and flying fox rides. For an incredible scenic helicopter flight, choose Zambezi Helicopter Company (CAA Zimbabwe), the only Intrepid-endorsed operator.
Accommodation
  • Shearwater Explorers Village or similar (camping with facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Victoria Falls - Victoria Falls entrance
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

After some breakfast and packing up camp we travel to Chobe National Park. Botswana's first national park is perhaps best known for its high concentration of elephants, which can often be seen swimming in the Chobe River. The river also attracts wallowing hippos, a variety of birdlife, crocodiles sunning themselves by the water's edge, and cheetahs and lions which come down to drink. Enjoy a sunset cruise on the Chobe River, a relaxing way to spend the afternoon with the family.

Accommodation
  • Thebe River Safaris or similar (camping with facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Chobe National Park - River cruise
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Driving time: 2-3 hours

Hit the road early and head to Elephant Sands for the night. Elephant Sands has a natural waterhole right in front of the lodge where the local elephants come to drink. Watch these awesome creatures whilst they drink at only a couple of meters away from you. There is plenty of other wildlife around as well on this unfenced 16000 ha private conservancy. The lack of fences allows all animals to roam freely. After setting up camp, head off on a bush walk activity which is a wonderful chance to learn about the smaller things in the bush which are often not noticed on game drives.

Accommodation
  • Elephant Sands or similar (camping with facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Nata - Elephant Sands Bush Walk
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Driving time: 6-7 hoursvvv

After packing up camp it's another long travelling day to Maun. Maun is the gateway to one of the world's most renowned and complex ecosystems, the Okavango Delta. This place is unlike anything in the world – a 16,000 square kilometre maze of wetlands made up of meandering waterways, green islands, lush plains and prolific wildlife. You might see hippos, crocodiles, elephants and big cats. But it's not the animals that are the main attraction – it's the extremely diverse ecosystem and atmospheric waterscapes. Tonight you'll stay on the outskirts of Maun at a simple campsite with shared facilities and WiFi before heading into the Delta in the morning.

Accommodation
  • Sitatunga Camp or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Driving time: 6-7 hours

Cruise around the waterways by mokoro, a traditional dugout canoe navigated by friendly local 'polers'. With some luck, you might spot some of the delta's unusual wildlife and exotic birdlife. Spend time exploring the maze of lagoons, lakes and streams on foot, led by experienced and knowledgeable guides. Tonight you will camp on a remote island in the heart of the wilderness. In this far-out spot, facilities are non-existent, so you will dig a bush toilet and go without a shower. It's all part of the Okavango experience. At night, fall asleep to the humming and buzzing of the African wilderness.
Accommodation
  • Okavango Delta Camping (camping with no facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Okavango Delta - Mokoro safari
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Wake up early and head out for a sunrise walk. Along the way, keep watch for some elephants. You might also come across some Cape buffalo, if the timing is right. These rather noble-looking creatures are more dangerous than they look, and their horns make for a kind of bone shield that's fittingly known as a 'boss'. Returning to camp for breakfast, take the rest of the day to relax. A refreshing swim, or perhaps a nap, is a good idea in the warmer part of the day. Alternatively, take another mokoro trip to soak up more of that delightful river atmosphere.
Accommodation
  • Okavango Delta Camping (camping with no facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Okavango Delta - Sunrise Walk
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

After breakfast take the mokoro back to the poling station and then travel once again to Maun, where you will have the rest of the day free back at the campsite.


Accommodation
  • Sitatunga Camp or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Driving time: 2-3 hours

It's an early morning start as we hit the road to the Khama Rhino Sanctuary. Situated on the edge of the Kalahari Desert, the Khama Rhino Sanctuary is a conversion of a former hunting area into a conservation project. Built to protect Botswana's only remaining populations of both black and white rhinos, the sanctuary is also home to other wildlife including zebras, giraffes, leopards, ostriches and wildebeest, all of which can be seen around the many natural waterholes. Visiting this project benefits local communities and contributes to the protection of the highly endangered white rhinoceros. Later, head out on a dusk game drive to see the rhinos when they are at their most active.

Accommodation
  • Khama Rhino Sanctuary (camping with facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Khama Rhino Sanctuary - Sunset Game Drive Open Vehicle
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Driving time: 8-9 hours

Leaving Botswana behind, cross the border into South Africa and arrive at your overnight stop of Marakele National Park this afternoon. The national park has diverse terrain making it easy to spot wildlife. In the park you can spot gemsbok, mongoose, wild cat, warthog, all kinds of birds and may even be lucky to spot black mane lions, If time allows we will do an afternoon game drive in the park before settling into camp for your final night in the wilderness.
Accommodation
  • Bontle Rest Camp or similar (camping with facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Marakele National Park - game drive
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Driving time: 7-8hours

On occasion, especially during the peak months of May, June, July, Aug & Sep and December, if we are unable to secure campsites within the Marakele National Park, we will camp at an alternative camping site outside of the Park.

After breakfast we start the drive to Johannesburg. The group arrive late afternoon where the trip will end. if you have additional time why not get out and explore Johannesburg, a city of remarkable contrasts. Perhaps visit the culturally rich areas of Newtown, Braamfontein or Maboneng. The eye-opening Apartheid Museum is well worth your time.

We recommend you don't book your departure flight until after 8pm.. 
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Driving time: 5-6hours
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

9 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 8 dinners

Transport

Truck

Accommodation

Camping with facilities (7 nights), Camping with no facilities (2 nights)

Included activities

  • Victoria Falls - Victoria Falls entrance
  • Chobe National Park - River cruise
  • Nata - Elephant Sands Bush Walk
  • Okavango Delta - Mokoro safari
  • Okavango Delta - Sunrise Walk
  • Khama Rhino Sanctuary - Sunset Game Drive Open Vehicle
  • Marakele National Park - game drive

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Botswana Family Safari with Teenagers trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

Prices may go up, so secure your trip today!
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Important notes

1. Please note that these trips are for adults and children travelling together and there must be at least one child under 18 with you.

2. Minimum age for children on this trip is strictly 10 years old due to government safety restrictions in the Okavango Delta.

3. A discount of 10% applies on this trip to children under 17 years of age at time of travel.

4. This trip starts at 2PM on Day 1 with a group meeting at the campsite followed by a visit to Victoria Falls. On the last day you will arrive into Johannesburg late in the afternoon on Day 10. We recommend you don't book any departing flights until 8PM onwards

5. Travelling with children: Children travelling on a valid passport with one or both parents are no longer required to present a birth certificate, parental consent letter and other supporting documentation. To check the requirements for other situations, such as legal guardianship or unaccompanied travelling minors, visit the South African Department of Home Affairs.

6. 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.

7. You will need to bring your own sleeping bag, pillow and towel.

8. During this trip you can upgrade to a lodge/hotel at the campgrounds we are staying in along the way with the exception of our time in the Okavango Delta (Days 5 & 6). If you wish to upgrade you can organise this directly during the trip with your leader and pay locally. Prices start at BWP 740 per person. All updates are subject to availability.

9. With effect from 1 October 2014, parents travelling with children into or out of South Africa will be asked to show the child’s full birth certificate, and where only one parent is accompanying, proof of parental or legal authority to travel with the child.

10. Our operator has advised that customers with the J&J vaccine and no booster may have difficulty crossing the border into Botswana (and potentially Zimbabwe) without a negative test result. This information conflicts with various government travel advice websites. We recommend you check with your local consulate before travel to ensure you have the most up to date information.

The new regulation has been put in place to protect children from being abducted, kidnapped and preventing child trafficking. The Department of Home Affairs has urged all parents to apply for unabridged certificates for their children. This is an requirement of the immigration regulation 6 (12)(a) for parents travelling with children. More information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/south-africa
or: www.dha.gov.za

11. Border crossing delays in the region have been sporadic and difficult to predict as travel rebounds. 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.

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