28 Oct 2026
Twin share
£1,995pp
Single from £2,645
Escorted tour
Botswana Highlights: Okavango Delta & Chobe Safari – 9 Days
A mokoro trip in the Okavango Delta, a sunset cruise in the Caprivi Strip and a game drive in Chobe, in a group of up to 16.
9 days
From £1,980
Tour overview
This 9-day small-group safari is a short, affordable loop through northern Botswana's best wildlife areas, starting and ending at Victoria Falls. Groups have up to 16 travellers aged 15 and over, with a leader throughout. You travel in a 16-seater van, with a 4WD transfer for the last stretch into the Okavango Delta, and stay in a mix of hotels, lodges and basic lodges. Some lodges run on generators that are switched off at night. Breakfast is included daily, with two lunches and four dinners. Most journeys are on good tar roads, with sandy tracks near the delta.
From Victoria Falls you head south via the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, which rescues and rehabilitates injured animals, to Elephant Sands, a private conservancy where elephants come to drink at a waterhole in front of the lodge, and you take a guided bush walk. Next comes Maun, the busy gateway to the Okavango Delta, where you can take an optional scenic flight over the delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Two nights at a lodge on the edge of Guma Lagoon in the north-western delta are the heart of the trip. You glide through papyrus channels and lily-covered lagoons in a mokoro, a traditional dugout canoe, watching for elephants, antelope and birds, and explore an island on foot with a local guide. Crossing into Namibia, you pass through the Mahango Game Reserve to a lodge on the banks of the Okavango River in the Caprivi Strip, with a sunset cruise on the river.
Back in Botswana, two nights at Kasane give you a dawn game drive in an open vehicle in Chobe National Park, famous for its huge elephant herds drinking at the river, as well as buffalo, impala and predators. The trip ends with a drive back across the border to Victoria Falls.
The physical rating is low, though there are some long drives. This trip suits travellers who want a first taste of Botswana's wildlife on a budget, with a mix of water and land safaris, and can be combined with time at Victoria Falls before or after. Your leader handles all border crossings along the way.
Trip highlights
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The Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust (Day 2)
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Elephants at the waterhole at Elephant Sands (Day 2)
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A mokoro trip and bush walk in the Okavango Delta (Day 5)
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A sunset cruise on the Okavango River (Day 6)
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A dawn game drive in Chobe National Park (Day 8)
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Lodges throughout, with no camping
Your route
7 stops from Victoria Falls to Chobe National Park
- Victoria Falls Days 1 & 9
- Kazungula Day 2
- Elephant Sands Day 2
- Maun Day 3
- Guma Lagoon (Okavango) Days 4–5
- Caprivi Strip (Mahango) Day 6
- Chobe National Park Days 7–8
Why choose this tour
Botswana's Okavango Delta and Chobe in nine days, at a budget-friendly price. A mix of game drives, water safaris and guided walks.
Best suited to
- First-time safari travellers
- Budget-conscious wildlife lovers
- Solo travellers looking for a small group
- Anyone combining Botswana with Victoria Falls
Day-by-day itinerary
9 days from Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
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Day 1 · Victoria Falls Arrive in Victoria Falls
Meet your leader and group at 6pm. Arrive early to see the falls.
- Hotel
- Hotel
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Day 2 · Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, Elephant Sands To Elephant Sands
Visit the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, then cross into Botswana to Elephant Sands for a guided bush walk.
- Hotel
- Basic lodge
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 3 · Maun Maun
Drive to Maun, gateway to the Okavango Delta, with the option of a scenic flight.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 4 · Okavango Delta, Guma Lagoon Into the Okavango Delta
Drive to the north-western delta, with a 4WD transfer for the last stretch to your lagoon-side lodge.
- Hotel
- Lodge
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 5 · Okavango Delta Mokoro safari
Explore the delta's channels and lagoons by mokoro, followed by a guided walk on an island.
- Hotel
- Lodge
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 6 · Mahango Game Reserve, Caprivi Strip Caprivi Strip
Cross into Namibia through the Mahango Game Reserve to a lodge on the Okavango River, with a sunset cruise.
- Hotel
- Basic lodge
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 7 · Kasane, Chobe National Park To Chobe
Follow the Caprivi Strip back into Botswana to Kasane, on the edge of Chobe National Park.
- Hotel
- Lodge
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 8 · Chobe National Park Chobe game drive
A dawn game drive in Chobe, known for its elephant herds, then the rest of the day at leisure.
- Hotel
- Lodge
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 9 · Victoria Falls Return to Victoria Falls
Cross back into Zimbabwe to Victoria Falls, where the trip ends.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Victoria Falls (1 night) Hotel
- Elephant Sands (1 night) Basic lodge
- Maun (1 night) Hotel
- Okavango Delta (2 nights) Lodge
- Caprivi Strip, Namibia (1 night) Basic lodge
- Chobe (2 nights) Lodge
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 8 nights in hotels, lodges and basic lodges
- Meals 8 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 4 dinners
- Transport 16-seater van, with a 4WD transfer into the Okavango Delta
- Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust visit and a guided bush walk at Elephant Sands
- Okavango Delta mokoro trip and guided nature walk
- Sunset cruise on the Okavango River
- Morning game drive in Chobe National Park
- Leader throughout
Not included
- Flights to and from Victoria Falls
- Zimbabwe visa
- Optional scenic flight over the Okavango Delta
- Meals not listed
- Tips, travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want luxury lodges — some nights are in basic lodges
- You want many game drives — there is one main drive in Chobe
- You prefer short travel days — some drives are long
- You want flights included — they are not
Good to know
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £1,980 per person, twin share, tour only. 39 upcoming departures.
11 Nov 2026
Twin share
£1,980pp
Single from £2,630
02 Dec 2026
Twin share
£2,040pp
Single from £2,690
16 Dec 2026
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£2,040pp
Single from £2,690
20 Jan 2027
Twin share
£2,110pp
Single from £2,760
10 Feb 2027
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£2,110pp
Single from £2,760
24 Mar 2027
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£2,110pp
Single from £2,760
07 Apr 2027
Twin share
£2,110pp
Single from £2,760
21 Apr 2027
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£2,110pp
Single from £2,760
05 May 2027
Twin share
£2,175pp
Single from £2,825
19 May 2027
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£2,175pp
Single from £2,825
26 May 2027
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£2,175pp
Single from £2,825
02 Jun 2027
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£2,175pp
Single from £2,825
09 Jun 2027
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£2,175pp
Single from £2,825
16 Jun 2027
Twin share
£2,175pp
Single from £2,825
23 Jun 2027
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£2,175pp
Single from £2,825
30 Jun 2027
Twin share
£2,235pp
Single from £2,885
07 Jul 2027
Twin share
£2,235pp
Single from £2,885
10 Jul 2027
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£2,235pp
Single from £2,885
14 Jul 2027
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£2,235pp
Single from £2,885
21 Jul 2027
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£2,235pp
Single from £2,885
28 Jul 2027
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£2,235pp
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04 Aug 2027
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£2,235pp
Single from £2,885
11 Aug 2027
Twin share
£2,235pp
Single from £2,885
18 Aug 2027
Twin share
£2,280pp
Single from £2,930
21 Aug 2027
Twin share
£2,280pp
Single from £2,930
25 Aug 2027
Twin share
£2,280pp
Single from £2,930
01 Sep 2027
Twin share
£2,280pp
Single from £2,930
08 Sep 2027
Twin share
£2,280pp
Single from £2,930
15 Sep 2027
Twin share
£2,280pp
Single from £2,930
22 Sep 2027
Twin share
£2,280pp
Single from £2,930
29 Sep 2027
Twin share
£2,280pp
Single from £2,930
06 Oct 2027
Twin share
£2,280pp
Single from £2,930
13 Oct 2027
Twin share
£2,235pp
Single from £2,885
27 Oct 2027
Twin share
£2,175pp
Single from £2,825
10 Nov 2027
Twin share
£2,110pp
Single from £2,760
24 Nov 2027
Twin share
£2,110pp
Single from £2,760
08 Dec 2027
Twin share
£2,110pp
Single from £2,760
29 Dec 2027
Twin share
£2,110pp
Single from £2,760
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
Is there any camping?
No. You stay in hotels, lodges and basic lodges throughout, some of them generator-powered.
What is a mokoro?
A traditional dugout canoe, poled through the shallow channels of the Okavango Delta by a local guide.
Which countries do we visit?
Zimbabwe at the start and end, Botswana, and one night in Namibia's Caprivi Strip. Check visa rules for all three.
When is the best time to go?
The dry season, from about June to October, is best for wildlife. The delta floods are highest from June to August.
Is malaria a risk?
Northern Botswana is a malaria area. Seek medical advice before travel.
How many people travel together?
Up to 16 travellers aged 15 and over, with a leader throughout.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
ATOL protected
100% financially protected in a Trust bank account
PTS 6035
4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary