Essential Botswana

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

4.8 out of 5 based on 35 reviews submitted.
18 to 35s
Overland
From
ZAR  20,925
View dates and book
This trip is for 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
Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, 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 18 - Max 35
Group size
Min 1 - Max 22
Trip code
UBYB
This trip generates 26 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.
Bucket list destinations

Tick off all the popular spots and enjoy unique local experiences

Great value

Affordable trips with the freedom to choose how you spend your time

Meaningful experiences

Connect to the places you go and the communities at the heart of every Intrepid experience


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 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
  • The African wild comes alive at sunrise, so there will be some early starts for game drives. The thrill of spotting your first lion or rhino is well worth the early start!
  • This trip can be partnered with other adventures into a ‘combo’, which means that some of your fellow travellers may carry on to further destinations at the end of this tour. If you’d like to spend more time in Africa, have a look at the combo itinerary: Real Southern Africa (UBYSC).

Itinerary

This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 January 2025 to 31 December 2025.

View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2024 - 31 December 2024

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

Inclusions

Meals

8 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 7 dinners

Transport

Overland vehicle, 4WD 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 - 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 35 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.

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Elizabeth · Traveled August 2024
What a trip! If you are unsure whether to go: JUST BOOK IT! Fantastic trip with Dumi, Irvin and Fitts-you will have a blast if you go with them! I recommend bringing a long charging cable for the bus, a neck pillow and a speaker. Enjoy the trip of a lifetime with incredible memories of friends, wildlife and beautiful African sunsets. BOOK BOOK BOOK!!
Review submitted 29 Aug 2024

Jessica · Traveled August 2024
This trip was well thought out, the group was the perfect size, the guides were amazing, the food was great. It was a very well rounded trip with lots of game drive, sunset cruises, great talks around the fire, fun games, nature walks, and so many cool animals! Dumi, our tour guide, was incredible- funny and a group and nature loving man. This trip was the trip of a lifetime and the crew definitely made it that way! So grateful for intrepid and the friends I made on this journey!
Review submitted 05 Sep 2024

Rachel · Traveled August 2024
An incredible trip! Highlights were definitely the amazing group of people and the game drives. The trip does involve A LOT of driving, but having a good bunch of people to chat too/play games with helped a lot! The tents were easy to set up and the food was incredible for camping food! If I had more time I would have loved to stay for the second half of the trip from Vic Falls to Jo'burg, but I still saw/did everything I wanted to on this half.
Review submitted 20 Aug 2024

Savannah · Traveled August 2024
This trip exceeded my expectations. The leaders constantly went above and beyond making sure we were safe & having the best time. 10/10 recommend
Review submitted 26 Aug 2024

Emily · Traveled August 2024
Unbelievable trip full of full and adventure. Unreal team with Dumi, Fitz and Irwin, absolutely loved them.
Review submitted 05 Sep 2024
Essential Botswana
From
ZAR  20,925