Intrepid Okavango Experience

• 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.
• Camp on a remote island in the heart of the Okavango wilderness for an experience you’ll never forget. As the sun sets and night falls, the sounds of Africa come alive!
• Get your first glimpse of the thundering Victoria Falls and enjoy a full free day for optional adventures, so you can see the falls at your own pace and view the waterfalls from all angles.
• Go wildlife-spotting with your small group and expert guides along the river on a sunset cruise at Chobe National Park, home to the world's highest concentration of African elephants.
• Support local conservation efforts with a visit to the Khama Rhino Sanctuary – the only place left in Botswana where both black and white rhinos reside.
• Walk the Okavango Delta at sunrise, looking out for the resident hippos, crocodiles, elephants and big cats.

Meals

9 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 6 Dinners

Transport

Overland vehicle , Open safari vehicle

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (6 nights), Bush camp (no facilities) (2 nights), Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities

• Chobe National Park - River Cruise
• Khama Rhino Sanctuary - Sunset Game Drive Open Vehicle
• Nata - Makgadikgadi Salt Pans 4x4 Excursion
• Okavango Delta - Brewery Tour
• Okavango Delta - Mokoro safari
• Okavango Delta - Mokoro safari
• Okavango Delta - Sunrise Walk

Day - 1

Location: Johannesburg - Sawubona! Welcome to South Africa. Your adventure begins in Johannesburg with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, maybe visit the eye-opening Apartheid Museum to start your journey with some crucial history before meeting up with your group. After the meeting, why not head out for an optional group dinner and get to know your newfound travel companions. Your leader can point you in the right direction with the best bar and restaurant recommendations.

Day - 2

Location: Khama Rhino Sanctuary - Leaving South Africa behind, cross the border into Botswana this morning and travel towards the Khama Rhino Sanctuary. Situated on the edge of the Kalahari Desert, the Khama Rhino Sanctuary has drastically changed from a former hunting area to 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 grazing the many waterholes. Visiting this project benefits local communities and directly contributes to protecting the endangered white rhino. Later, you’ll head out on a dusk game drive to hopefully spot the rhinos when they’re most active.

Day - 3

Location: Maun - This morning you’ll drive to Maun – the gateway to one of the world's most complex ecosystems, the Okavango Delta. A 16,000 square km maze of lush wetlands and waterways teeming with wildlife, this place is unlike anywhere else in the world. When you arrive, there will be an opportunity to stock up on any supplies you might need for your adventure ahead. Look out for the resident hippos, crocodiles, elephants and big cats in the delta. The animals aren’t the only drawcard, though! The waterscapes and shimmering horizon are enough to write home about.

Day - 4

Location: Okavango Delta - Today you’ll get right in the action and jump aboard a traditional mokoro – a dugout canoe steered by friendly local 'polers'. Cruise the Okavango waterways and look out for the delta's unusual wildlife and exotic birds. Spend some time today exploring the maze of lagoons, lakes and streams on foot too, with your experienced local guides. Tonight, you’ll camp on a remote island right in the heart of the wilderness! Fall asleep to the humming and buzzing of the African heartlands and soak up one of those ‘I’m so far from home’ moments.

Day - 5

Location: Okavango Delta - Wake up nice and early this morning and head out on a sunrise walk. Along the way, keep watch for elephants and if the timing is right, you might also come across some Cape buffalo! These noble-looking beasts are more dangerous than they look and their horns double as bone shield that's fittingly known as a 'boss'. Return to camp for breakfast, where you’ll have the rest of the day to relax. A refreshing swim, or maybe a nap could be on the cards – both good ideas in the warmer part of the day. Alternatively, take another optional mokoro trip to soak up that serene river atmosphere.

Day - 6

Location: Maun - After taking down your camp, return to the ‘poler’ station by mokoro, before continuing to Maun by vehicle. When you arrive, you’ll visit a local brewery that produces beer with millet grown by small-scale farmers. The brewery is supported by the travellers, and they in turn support the farmers. This initiative enhances the benefits of sustainable farming and ties them to the region’s wildlife economy. After touring the brewery, you’ll sit down for an included dinner and a beer tasting. Around midday, you might also have the opportunity to take a scenic flight (depending on the flood water levels). Tonight, settle in at a camp on the outskirts of town.

Day - 7

Location: Nata - Get up early and hit the road for Nata. This small town sits near the stunning Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, which are some of the largest on Earth covering around 12,000 square km. This afternoon, you’ll take an excursion in an open-air vehicle to explore these seemingly endless plains in the Nata Bird Sanctuary. Surrounded by the Kalahari Desert, the pans are naturally dry and salty for a large part of the year. During this time, the arid landscape has an eerie feel and the heat mirages can make you feel disoriented. After the rains hit, the pans become a grassy refuge for migratory birds and animals – a perfect setting for wildlife lovers!

Day - 8

Location: Chobe National Park - Hit the road this morning and make tracks for Chobe National Park – Botswana's first ever national park. This area 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, crocodiles by the water's edge, cheetahs, lions and a huge variety of birdlife. When you arrive, you’ll be treated to a sunset cruise on the Chobe River – an ideal way to spend the afternoon, watch the sun descend and toast to another day in Africa.

Day - 9

Location: Victoria Falls - Why not wake up early and see Chobe National Park from a different perspective with an optional morning game drive. After, the group will travel to Victoria Falls, crossing the border into Zimbabwe just in time to have lunch on the banks of the Zambezi River. Then, you’ll have free time to experience the sights and sounds of the mighty falls at your own pace. This thundering curtain of water is about 1.7 km wide, falling 108 m into a narrow gorge below. In the wet season, the spray can rise an incredible 400 m as the falls become a raging torrent. In the dry season, the view of the falls is unobstructed by spray, and you can see the little islets in the river below.

Day - 10

Location: Victoria Falls - There are no activities planned after breakfast today and your adventure comes to an end. You're free to leave at any time after check out. If you'd like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation. If you’re staying longer in Victoria Falls and are feeling adventurous, you might like to try whitewater rafting and canoeing. For an incredible scenic helicopter flight, choose Zambezi Helicopter Company (CAA Zimbabwe), the only Intrepid-endorsed operator. Your leader can help you arrange this.