Tour overview

This 10-day small-group safari crosses Botswana from Namibia's capital to Victoria Falls, taking in the Kalahari, the Okavango Delta, the salt pans and Chobe. Groups have up to 13 travellers aged 15 and over, with a leader throughout. You travel in a purpose-built safari vehicle, which is not air-conditioned, and stay in hotels and lodges, with two nights on a houseboat in the Okavango Panhandle with shared facilities. Most meals are included, with an arrival transfer in Windhoek. The leader handles all three border crossings.

From Windhoek you cross into Botswana to Ghanzi, known as the capital of the Kalahari, where the San people have lived for thousands of years, staying in a simple lodge. Next you reach the Okavango Panhandle, where the Okavango River flows in from Namibia, and board a houseboat for two nights on the water. Ghanzi is also a centre of cattle ranching on the edge of the vast Central Kalahari Game Reserve.

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From the houseboat, speedboats take you through papyrus channels to a poling station, where you glide through the waterways in mokoros, traditional dugout canoes, and walk on islands with a local guide, watching for hippos, crocodiles, elephants and a wealth of birds. The houseboat itself is a peaceful base for sunset drinks and fishing. Nights on the river are peaceful.

You continue to Maun, the gateway to the delta, with the option of a scenic flight, then head to the Makgadikgadi Pans, the remains of a vast prehistoric lake, for a night at a lodge and a three-course dinner under ancient baobab trees. On the road to Kasane, known for wandering elephants, you reach Chobe National Park for a dawn game drive among huge elephant herds and predators. The trip ends at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, one of the great natural wonders of the world. The pans are home to meerkats and, in the wet season, huge flocks of flamingos.

The physical rating is medium, with long travel days on rough roads. This trip suits adventurous travellers who want to see Botswana's varied wilderness on a mid-range budget. Single rooms are available for a supplement on some nights.

Trip highlights

  • The Kalahari at Ghanzi (Day 2)
  • Two nights on a houseboat in the Okavango Panhandle (Days 3–4)
  • A mokoro trip through the delta's channels (Day 4)
  • A baobab dinner by the Makgadikgadi Pans (Day 6)
  • A dawn game drive in Chobe (Day 8)
  • Victoria Falls (Day 9)

Your route

8 stops from Windhoek to Victoria Falls

10-day route: Windhoek – Ghanzi – Okavango Panhandle – Maun – Makgadikgadi – Chobe – Victoria Falls
  1. Windhoek Day 1
  2. Ghanzi Day 2
  3. Okavango Panhandle Days 3–4
  4. Maun Day 5
  5. Makgadikgadi Pans Day 6
  6. Nata Day 7
  7. Chobe National Park Days 7–8
  8. Victoria Falls Days 9–10

Why choose this tour

Botswana's major landscapes in ten days, from the Kalahari to Chobe. A houseboat and mokoro trips for an unusual view of the Okavango.

Best suited to

  • Adventurous wildlife lovers
  • Travellers who want variety on safari
  • Solo travellers looking for a group
  • Anyone heading on to Victoria Falls
A hippo yawning in the water at sunset, Botswana

Day-by-day itinerary

10 days from Windhoek, Namibia to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

  1. Day 1 · Windhoek Arrive in Windhoek

    Transfer to your hotel and meet your group in Namibia's capital.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  2. Day 2 · Ghanzi To Ghanzi

    Cross into Botswana to Ghanzi, the capital of the Kalahari.

    Hotel
    Basic lodge
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  3. Day 3 · Okavango Panhandle Okavango houseboat

    Travel to the Okavango Panhandle and board your houseboat.

    Hotel
    Houseboat with shared facilities
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  4. Day 4 · Okavango Delta Mokoro safari

    Explore the waterways by mokoro and walk on an island with a local guide.

    Hotel
    Houseboat with shared facilities
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  5. Day 5 · Maun Maun

    Return to land and drive to Maun, with an optional scenic flight.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  6. Day 6 · Makgadikgadi Pans Makgadikgadi Pans

    Head to the salt pans for a three-course dinner beneath the baobabs.

    Hotel
    Lodge
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  7. Day 7 · Nata, Kasane To Chobe

    Drive the elephant highway to Kasane on the edge of Chobe.

    Hotel
    Lodge
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  8. Day 8 · Chobe National Park Chobe game drive

    A dawn game drive among Chobe's elephant herds.

    Hotel
    Lodge
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  9. Day 9 · Victoria Falls Victoria Falls

    Cross into Zimbabwe and see Victoria Falls.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  10. Day 10 · Victoria Falls Trip ends

    The trip ends after breakfast.

    Meals
    Breakfast
Zebras grazing by the water on an African floodplain

Where you stay

  • Windhoek (1 night) Hotel
  • Ghanzi (1 night) Basic lodge
  • Okavango Panhandle (2 nights) Houseboat with shared facilities
  • Maun (1 night) Hotel
  • Makgadikgadi Pans (1 night) Lodge
  • Chobe (2 nights) Lodge
  • Victoria Falls (1 night) Hotel

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 9 nights in hotels, lodges and a houseboat
  • Meals 9 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 7 dinners
  • Transport in a purpose-built safari vehicle
  • Okavango speedboat trips, mokoro safari and guided walks
  • Dawn game drive in Chobe National Park
  • Arrival transfer in Windhoek
  • Leader throughout

Not included

  • Flights to Windhoek and from Victoria Falls
  • Zimbabwe visa
  • Optional scenic flight over the delta
  • Tips, travel insurance and personal spending
A lone tree at sunset on the salt pans

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want air-conditioned vehicles — the safari truck has opening windows
  • You want private bathrooms every night — the houseboat has shared facilities
  • You dislike long drives — some days are long
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Botswana · UK FCDO travel advice for Namibia · UK FCDO travel advice for Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls in full flow

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £3,540 per person, twin share, tour only. 34 upcoming departures.

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.

What is the houseboat like?

A comfortable houseboat on the Okavango River with shared bathroom facilities, for two nights.

Is there any camping?

No. You stay in hotels, lodges and the houseboat.

Is the safari vehicle air-conditioned?

No. It has opening windows for game viewing and photography.

Which countries do we visit?

Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. Check visa rules for Zimbabwe.

Is malaria a risk?

Northern Botswana and Victoria Falls are malaria areas. Seek medical advice.

How many people travel together?

Up to 13 travellers aged 15 and over, with a leader.

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

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