Lion cubs walking away from the water's edge.

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Botswana – 15-day Simba Safari – Group Camping

15 days / 14 nights
Kasane • Nxai Pan National Park • Maun • Moremi Game Reserve • Khwai Community Area • Savuti - Chobe National Park • Chobe River Front • Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)

Country

Botswana, Zimbabwe

Duration

15 days

Group Size

Max 12

Style

Group Camping

Type

Budget Wildlife Safaris, Family-Friendly Safaris, Overland Tours, Scenic Tours

Highlights

Kasane

Nxai Pan National Park

Maun

+5 destinations

Rated 4.9/5

See reviews

Botswana – 15-day Simba Safari – Group Camping

From $3,120

Includes

All transfers and activities as per the itinerary

Rooms at a comfortable lodge in Victoria Falls

Camping equipment and accommodation (spacious bow tents with mattresses)

All meals that are indicated, water and tea/coffees

Services of a Professional Guide and Camp Assistant

Transport in specialised safari vehicles

All Botswana park fees for activities included in the itinerary

Excludes

Airport transfers

Restaurant meals in Victoria Falls

Beverages - you can buy additional drinks before the safari and bring them with you

Optional excursions like a scenic flight over the Delta and activities in Livingstone/Victoria Falls)

Entrance to the Falls of US$ 58 per person

Sleeping bag and small pillow - can be hired for EUR 20

Gratuities - we recommend US$ 10 per person/day per guide and for lodge staff

Entry visa

Travel insurance

Increase in government tax, park fees and forced fuel supplements

Itinerary

Kasane, Botswana

Situated in northeastern Botswana on the banks of the Chobe River, the town of Kasane is the main gateway to Chobe National Park and one of southern Africa's premier safari destinations. Renowned for its exceptional wildlife viewing, Kasane offers game drives and river cruises where visitors can encounter large herds of elephants, buffalo, hippos, and crocodiles, as well as abundant birdlife. Its location near the borders of Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe also makes it a convenient base for exploring the wider region. Golden sunsets reflected on the river, the sounds of wildlife and a relaxed safari atmosphere combine to make Kasane an unforgettable destination for nature lovers.

Thebe River Lodge and Campsite

Day 1 - 2

Thebe River Safaris is ideally situated for visitors to Chobe National Park and Chobe River region in Northern Botswana. The lodge and camp overlooks the placid Chobe River and echo's the surrounding bush with a rustic design. Thebe River Safaris is 12 km from the Kazungula border and 5 km from the Chobe Park entrance. There is a restaurant and bar providing welcome food and drinks and visitors can enjoy the sparkling swimming pool and free Wi-Fi. Available activities include game drives, boat cruises, overnight safari excursions and Victoria Falls day trips.

+5

Day 1

Day Notes:

The safari officially begins in Kasane, Botswana, at 13.00. On arrival in Kasane your guide will give you a full safari briefing and take you shopping for your safari drinks. The first highlight of your safari will be a boat cruise on the Chobe River. Camping will be in Kasane at a public campsite with permanent ablutions.

We are happy to assist with pre-tour arrangements such as accommodation and transfers from Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe or Kasane, Botswana, if required.

Safari briefing
Check-in to Thebe River Lodge and Campsite
Boat cruise

Nxai Pan National Park, Botswana

Adjoining the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park on its northern border, the Nxai Pans were once salt lakes. Today, the Nxai Pan National Park preserves this precious area, which is rich in biodiversity and is now characterised by grasslands dotted with trees and small pans that fill in the rainy season. The striking, famous Baines Baobabs, first drawn by the renowned explorer in the 1860s are a must-see, and there are several activities to look forward to. Take a 4WD sunset or sunrise game drive, or a birdwatching tour. The Nxai Pan is a breeding ground for wildebeest, gemsbok, zebra, and eland, and an impressive list of other animals can be seen quite easily too including lions, ostriches, giraffes, cheetahs, jackals, bat-eared fox, and even the elusive nocturnal porcupine.

CNR3 Campsite (HATAB)

Day 2 - 4

Day 2 - 3

Day Notes:

Rising with the sun, your route takes you 500 kilometers south to Nxai Pan National Park where sweet grasses host a variety of wildlife. You will stop en route for a picnic lunch and enjoy an afternoon game drive in the park before getting to your campsite. The next day, you will explore Nxai Pan and enjoy the plains which are often dotted with grazing herds of impala and springbok. In the afternoon, you will visit the magnificent Baines Baobabs. Camping will be at a private designated campsite with bush ablutions.

Travel Time: ~8 hours.

Transfer from Thebe River Lodge and Campsite to CNR3 Campsite (HATAB)
Stay at CNR3 Campsite (HATAB)

Maun, Botswana

Maun is the starting point for most expeditions into the Okavango Delta and as a result, has developed into a bustling metropolis that is considered Botswana’s tourism capital. Area attractions include a river boat cruise up and down the Thamalakane River, and the forest groves of the Maun Game Reserve.

Mochaba Crossing

Day 4 - 5

Mochaba Crossing is ideally situated approximately 30 kilometres outside of Maun, Botswana, en-route to Moremi Game Reserve, Savuti, and the Chobe National Park. The property features seven en-suite guestrooms with air conditioning, refrigerators, tea/coffee-making facilities, and workspaces. The four en-suite tents have fans and fireplaces. Additional accommodation includes six campsites with shared bathrooms. General facilities include a dining area, a swimming pool, and a bar.

Day 4

Day Notes:

After enjoying breakfast, you will leave Nxai Pan and continue to the outskirts of Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta. Passing through Maun for drinks shopping, you will camp on the outskirts with permanent ablution facilities.

Transfer time: ~4 - 5 hours

Check-out from CNR3 Campsite (HATAB)
Transfer from CNR3 Campsite (HATAB) to Mochaba Crossing
Check-in to Mochaba Crossing

Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana

Situated on the eastern side of the Okavango Delta in north-western Botswana, Moremi Game Reserve is one of Africa's most celebrated wildlife reserves, protecting an extraordinary mosaic of floodplains, lagoons, forests and open grasslands. As the first reserve in Africa established by a local community, it is recognised for both its conservation significance and its exceptional biodiversity. Visitors can enjoy game drives and seasonal mokoro or motorboat excursions, with opportunities to spot elephants, lions, leopards, African wild dogs and abundant birdlife in remarkably varied habitats. The ever-changing landscapes, where winding waterways meet acacia woodlands and sweeping plains, create a memorable safari experience that combines outstanding wildlife viewing with the untamed beauty of the Okavango Delta.

+28

Xini Lagoon Campsite

Day 5 - 8

The HATAB campsites are reserved for tour operators and cannot be booked by self-drivers. They are in prime locations, and provide an excellent wilderness experience with no permanent facilities. Ablutions are bucket showers with hot water and long-drop toilets set up by your guiding team.
Xakanaxa Mobile Site (HATAB)

Day 8 - 10

The HATAB campsites are reserved for tour operators and cannot be booked by self-drivers. They are in prime locations, and provide an excellent wilderness experience with no permanent facilities. Ablutions are bucket showers with hot water and long-drop toilets set up by your guiding team.

Day 5

Day Notes:

Your adventure will then take you to the southern tip of the Okavango Delta, a special corner of paradise. Once you have reached the edge of the Okavango Delta by the Gomoti River, you will meet your polers from the local community with their mekoro (dugout canoes). Quietly cruising along river channels and floodplains, you will enjoy the spectacular landscape of this unique region during the tranquil transfer taking you deeper inside the Delta.

Transfer time: ~3 hours

NOTE: You will leave your main luggage in the trailer and will need to pack a smaller bag (small backpack, hand luggage) with what you need for the 2 nights on the island. Transfers from the mainland to the island where you will stay are done on dugout canoes (mekoro) which cannot accommodate large bags. Your main luggage will safely remain in the vehicle that will be parked in a secured area while you are on the island.

Check-out from Mochaba Crossing
Transfer from Mochaba Crossing to Gomoti Campsite
Cruise from Gomoti Campsite to Xini Lagoon Campsite
Check-in to Xini Lagoon Campsite

Day 6 - 7

Day Notes:

You will spend two days exploring this beautiful area with mokoro excursions and guided nature walks on the islands and floodplains of the Okavango, camping wild with bush ablutions on a small island for two nights and one night lagoon side.

On the afternoon of the third day, you will have the option of taking a 30min flight in a helicopter with doors removed, allowing magnificent views from above. Rate TBA by your guide/agent. This experience must be booked during the safari, and payment made in USD cash only. The flight over the Okavango gives you an eagle’s eye perspective of the area and it is even possible to spot large game animals such as elephants, giraffes and hippopotami.

Nature walks and mokoro rides

Day 8

Day Notes:

On day 8, after an early morning breakfast, as the sun rises you will make your way to Moremi Game Reserve, one of the best wilderness areas of Botswana which covers swamp and dry areas. Camping will be at private designated sites with bush ablutions.

Transfer time: ~5 hours

Check-out from Xini Lagoon Campsite
Cruise from Xini Lagoon Campsite to Gomoti Campsite
Game drive en-route to Xakanaxa
Transfer from Gomoti Campsite to Xakanaxa Mobile Site (HATAB)
Check-in to Xakanaxa Mobile Site (HATAB)

Day 9

Day Notes:

The day will be spent searching for the wide variety of wildlife and birds that this area is renowned for while absorbing the sounds and beauty of this region. You will go out on a game drive in the early morning as the sun rises and in the late afternoon as the sun sets. Camping will be in private designated campsites with bush ablutions.

Shared morning and afternoon game drives

Khwai Community Area, Botswana

The Khwai area of the Okavango lies along the northern boundary of the Moremi Game Reserve. Khwai Community Area has unfenced boundaries allowing wildlife to move freely between the woodlands in the wet season when water is plentiful and back to permanent rivers and lagoons in the dry season. The Khwai area offers the same wildlife experience as the Moremi Game Reserve with the added advantage of being a private concession, which means the ability to do walking safaris and night drives. Don't miss the opportunity to soak up beautiful views of the scenic landscape and spot an array of wildlife.

Khwai Mobile Site (HATAB)

Day 10 - 11

The HATAB campsites are reserved for tour operators and cannot be booked by self-drivers. They are in prime locations, and provide an excellent wilderness experience with no permanent facilities. Ablutions are bucket showers with hot water and long-drop toilets set up by your guiding team.

Day 10

Day Notes:

Today, you will leave Xakanaxa and experience a game drive en-route to Khwai Community Area, where you will camp overnight. Search for the diverse wildlife and birds this area is famous for, while enjoying the natural beauty. There will be a game drive scheduled for the afternoon. Camping will be at private designated sites with bush ablutions.

Transfer Time: 5 hours

Check-out from Xakanaxa Mobile Site (HATAB)
Game drive en-route to Khwai
Transfer from Xakanaxa Mobile Site (HATAB) to Khwai Mobile Site (HATAB)
Check-in to Khwai Mobile Site (HATAB)
Shared afternoon game drive

Savuti - Chobe National Park, Botswana

Savuti, also known as Savute, lies in the heart of Botswana’s renowned Chobe National Park and is one of the country’s most fascinating wildlife destinations. This dynamic wilderness features vast open savannahs, ancient rocky outcrops, and the remnants of a historic marsh fed by the enigmatic Savuti Channel. Famous for its unpredictable wet and dry cycles, the landscape is constantly changing, creating unique habitats for a remarkable variety of wildlife. Wild dogs hunt along the dry riverbed where crocodiles once swam, highlighting the area’s ever-shifting nature. Visitors can encounter large herds of elephants, Cape buffalo, zebra, and wildebeest, as well as predators such as lions, cheetahs, hyenas, black-backed jackals, and bat-eared foxes. Savuti is also home to abundant birdlife, antelope species, tsessebe, kudu, and many other iconic African animals.

Savuti Mobile Site (HATAB)

Day 11 - 12

The HATAB campsites are reserved for tour operators and cannot be booked by self-drivers. They are in prime locations, and provide an excellent wilderness experience with no permanent facilities. Ablutions are bucket showers with hot water and long-drop toilets set up by your guiding team.

Day 11

Day Notes:

Chobe National Park, with its varied landscapes, will be your next stop. In the Savute region, you'll encounter bull elephants on the plains. The dynamic ecosystems here, featuring waterholes and river channels, attract a wide range of animals, making each game drive exciting and unpredictable. Camping will be at private sites with bush ablutions.

Transfer time: ~7 - 8 hours

Check-out from Khwai Mobile Site (HATAB)
Game drive en-route to Savuti
Transfer from Khwai Mobile Site (HATAB) to Savuti Mobile Site (HATAB)
Check-in to Savuti Mobile Site (HATAB)

Chobe River Front, Botswana

The Chobe River forms the northern boundary of the Chobe National Park, renowned for its diverse and abundant game viewing opportunities. This section of the park is best known for its dense concentration of wildlife including elephant and hippo populations, but the waters attract all manner of game including large herds of buffalo and the lions that prey on them. A visit to this area guarantees close encounters with an array of African wildlife. Visitors can look forward to some exciting activities such as: being driven along the game-dotted river banks in a 4WD; cruising along the river in a motorboat, spotting rare birdlife for a unique safari experience.

+15

Chobe Mobile Site (HATAB)

Day 12 - 14

The HATAB campsites are reserved for tour operators and cannot be booked by self-drivers. They are in prime locations, and provide an excellent wilderness experience with no permanent facilities. Ablutions are bucket showers with hot water and long-drop toilets set up by your guiding team.

Day 12 - 13

Day Notes:

You'll proceed north to the Chobe River, where game drives will follow the riverbanks, guided by the call of the African Fish Eagle. You'll see a variety of animals, including red lechwe and hippopotami, along with rich birdlife in this unique river environment.

Transfer time: ~5-6 hours

Transfer from Savuti Mobile Site (HATAB) to Chobe Mobile Site (HATAB)
Stay at Chobe Mobile Site (HATAB)

Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe), Zimbabwe

Known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya—“The Smoke That Thunders”—Victoria Falls is one of the world’s great natural landmarks. Straddling the Zambezi River between Zambia and Zimbabwe, it forms a vast curtain of water that fills the air with mist and sound. The Zimbabwean side grants the most dramatic views, where mist rises like ghostly curtains and rainbows arc through the spray. Measuring about 1,708 metres across, it is regarded as the largest single continuous sheet of falling water on Earth. The adjacent town of Victoria Falls provides a convenient base for exploring the region, with a wide range of activities from scenic flights and microlight trips to white-water rafting, bungee jumping, kayaking, and safaris into Chobe National Park.

Pioneers Victoria Falls

Day 14 - 15

Surrounded by lush gardens and manicured lawns, this 50-room lodge offers plenty of space, comfort, and charm. Each room is tastefully decorated in a classic style and overlooks the gardens, creating a calm and relaxing atmosphere.

+20

Day 14

Day Notes:

After a short morning game drive your guide will take you to the Kazungula border where you will meet the transfer vehicle for your lodge in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (Visa required). You will spend the night at a comfortable lodge. In the afternoon there will be time to visit the thunderous Victoria Falls and shop for curios. Lunch and dinner will be at your own expense.

Transfer time: ~3 hours (excluding border-crossing).

Shared morning game drive
Check-out from Chobe Mobile Site (HATAB)
Transfer from Chobe Mobile Site (HATAB) to Pioneers Victoria Falls
Check-in to Pioneers Victoria Falls
Visit the Victoria Falls

Day 15

Check-out from Pioneers Victoria Falls

End of Itinerary

Destinations

Botswana

Day 1

Kasane

Situated in northeastern Botswana on the banks of the Chobe River, the town of Kasane is the main gateway to Chobe National Park and one of southern Africa's premier safari destinations.

Botswana

Day 2

Nxai Pan National Park

Adjoining the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park on its northern border, the Nxai Pans were once salt lakes.

Botswana

Day 4

Maun

Maun is the starting point for most expeditions into the Okavango Delta and as a result, has developed into a bustling metropolis that is considered Botswana’s tourism capital.

Botswana

Day 5-9

Moremi Game Reserve

Botswana

Day 10

Khwai Community Area

The Khwai area of the Okavango lies along the northern boundary of the Moremi Game Reserve.

Botswana

Day 11

Savuti - Chobe National Park

Savuti, also known as Savute, lies in the heart of Botswana’s renowned Chobe National Park and is one of the country’s most fascinating wildlife destinations.

Botswana

Day 12

Chobe River Front

The Chobe River forms the northern boundary of the Chobe National Park, renowned for its diverse and abundant game viewing opportunities.

Zimbabwe

Day 14

Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)

Known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya—“The Smoke That Thunders”—Victoria Falls is one of the world’s great natural landmarks.

Accommodations

Kasane

Day 1-2

Thebe River Lodge and Campsite

Thebe River Safaris is ideally situated for visitors to Chobe National Park and Chobe River region in Northern Botswana.

Nxai Pan National Park

Day 2-4

CNR3 Campsite (HATAB)

Maun

Day 4-5

Mochaba Crossing

Mochaba Crossing is ideally situated approximately 30 kilometres outside of Maun, Botswana, en-route to Moremi Game Reserve, Savuti, and the Chobe National Park.