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$ 50 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 and park fees

Itinerary

Kasane, Botswana

Tucked away in the northeastern corner of Botswana, on the banks of the famous Chobe River, the scenic little town of Kasane rests on the doorstep of the spectacular Chobe National Park. There are no boundary fences separating the village from the park and game such as elephant and hippo are often spotted roaming around the town. If on the lookout for elusive game, pay a visit to the Sedudu Valley Road, where large dead trees provide temporary homes for leopards. Within Kasane, an ancient baobab tree stands on display, once serving as a local prison. Visitors can look forward to a multitude of activities including: enjoying a game drive through the park, taking a sunset cruise down the Chobe River, visiting a local village or jumping on a day trip to the breathtaking Victoria Falls.

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. We are happy to assist with pre-tour arrangements such as accommodation and transfers from Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe or Kasane, Botswana, if required. 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 sunset boat cruise on the Chobe River. Camping will be in Kasane at a public campsite with permanent ablutions.

Safari briefing
Check-in to Thebe River Lodge and Campsite
Sunset 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

Day Notes:

Rising with the sun, your route takes you 500 kilometres south to Nxai Pan National Park where sweet grasses host a variety of wildlife. You will stop en route for a picnic lunch before reaching your campsite.

Transfer time: ~8 hours

Check-out from Thebe River Lodge and Campsite
Transfer from Thebe River Lodge and Campsite to CNR3 Campsite (HATAB)
Check-in to CNR3 Campsite (HATAB)

Day 3

Day Notes:

You will explore Nxai Pan and enjoy the plains which are often dotted with grazing herds of impala and springbok. You will also visit the magnificent Baines Baobabs. These regal trees, immortalised by the explorer Baines’ painting, are situated on the edge of an expansive saltpan. Camping will be at private designated campsite with bush ablutions.

Nxai Pan exploration and visit to the Baines Baobabs

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

Ideally situated only 30km outside of Maun en route to Moremi Game Reserve, Savuti and the Chobe National Park, Mochaba Crossing is the ideal location to stop over for the real Delta feeling. The idyllic, tranquil surrounding will ensure the perfect start or finish to your safari.

Day 4

Day Notes:

After enjoying an early morning breakfast, you will leave Nxai Pan and continue your safari to the outskirts of Maun – the gateway to the Okavango Delta. You will pass by Maun for drinks shopping, essential for the remainder of your safari. You will spend the night at a campsite just on the outskirts of Maun with permanent ablution facilities.

Transfer time: ~4 - 5 hours

Check-out from CNR3 Campsite (HATAB)
Transfer from CNR3 Campsite (HATAB) to Mochaba Crossing
Drive to Maun and optional scenic flight (additional cost).
Check-in to Mochaba Crossing

Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana

Situated in the east of the Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve ranks as one of the most beautiful reserves in Africa. It covers more than 4871 square kilometres of pristine wilderness, and this varied terrain includes savannah, winding waterways, and dense forest. The diverse ecosystem supports an incredibly wide spectrum of wildlife, ranging from large herds of buffalo, wildebeest and zebra, to the rare sitatunga and lechwe antelope, lion, cheetah and packs of wild dog in the open grasslands. The birdlife is prolific and includes most of the 550 bird species recorded on Botswana’s national bird list. A range of luxury lodges in the reserve offers visitors the perfect base to experience this corner of paradise.

+23

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
Road and mokoro transfer into the Okavango Delta
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:

After an early 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.

Transfer time: ~5 hours

Check-out from Xini Lagoon Campsite
Cruise from Xini Lagoon Campsite to Gomoti Campsite
Transfer from Gomoti Campsite to Xakanaxa Mobile Site (HATAB)
Mokoro and game drive transfer towards Moremi Game Reserve
Check-in to Xakanaxa Mobile Site (HATAB)

Day 9

Day Notes:

The next two days 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 spend 3 nights exploring this wonderful Game Reserve, at two different campsites. Game drives in the early morning as the sun rises and in the late afternoon as the sun sets will be the norm. 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

Check-out from Xakanaxa Mobile Site (HATAB)
Transfer from Xakanaxa Mobile Site (HATAB) to Khwai Mobile Site (HATAB)
Game drive transfer to Khwai
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 beautiful Chobe National Park. This dynamic wilderness is a sweeping expanse of savannah brooded over by several rocky outcrops which guard a relic marsh and the dry channel that was once its lifeline. The Savute goes through wet and dry cycles, where wild dogs hunt in the dry river channel where crocodiles swam only twenty years ago. Visitors to this spectacular area can spot abundant wildlife including: a variety of birds, elephants, antelope, lion prides, black-backed jackal, bat-eared foxes, tsessebe, kudu, hyena, cheetah Cape buffalo herds, and thousands of migrating zebra and wildebeest.

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 diverse and striking landscapes, will be your next destination. As you continue your search for wildlife, you will traverse the drier region of Savuti where bull elephants dot the plains. The Savuti region is known for its dynamic ecosystems, which can undergo significant changes over time. The presence of waterholes, river channels, and marshes can attract a diverse range of animals, making each game drive a thrilling and unpredictable adventure. Camping will be in private designated areas with bush ablutions.

Transfer time: ~7 - 8 hours

Check-out from Khwai Mobile Site (HATAB)
Transfer from Khwai Mobile Site (HATAB) to Savuti Mobile Site (HATAB)
Game drive transfer to Savuti
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

Day Notes:

You will then head northwards to the Chobe River where your game drives will meander along the banks of the river, following the call of the majestic African Fish Eagle. Enjoy a wide variety of animals including puku and Chobe bushbuck, as well as stunning birdlife in this unique river environment. Transfer / game drive from Southern Chobe National Park to the Chobe River floodplain. Game drives to explore Northern Chobe National Park.

Transfer time: ~5 - 6 hours

Check-out from Savuti Mobile Site (HATAB)
Transfer from Savuti Mobile Site (HATAB) to Chobe Mobile Site (HATAB)
Game drive transfer to Northern Chobe
Check-in to Chobe Mobile Site (HATAB)

Day 13

Shared morning and afternoon Game drives in Chobe

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

Tucked away in the northeastern corner of Botswana, on the banks of the famous Chobe River, the scenic little town of Kasane rests on the doorstep of the spectacular Chobe National Park.

Botswana

Day 2-3

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

Situated in the east of the Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve ranks as one of the most beautiful reserves in Africa.

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 beautiful Chobe National Park.

Botswana

Day 12-13

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

Ideally situated only 30km outside of Maun en route to Moremi Game Reserve, Savuti and the Chobe National Park, Mochaba Crossing is the ideal location to stop over for the real Delta feeling.