15 Days Big 5 and Big Cats of Southern Africa.
Our 15 Days Big 5 and Big Cats of Southern African Safari start in Kasane and ends in Livingstone! You have a 15 days tour package taking you through Kasane in Botswana and other top wildlife destinations in the southern part of Africa. During this 15 days safari, you will explore the elephant trail in Botswana and also get to experience the famous Okavango Delta with all its stunning wildlife filled channels and islands.
Take a boat ride in one of the traditionally dugout canoes called a mokoro, as you float past elephant, zebra, buffalo, wildebeest, hippos and Kudu. You will also get a chance to visit the semi-arid parks of Namibia that provide an alternative habitat for wildlife including elephants, zebras, giraffes, and antelopes among others.
Get to view big game haunts of Moremi Game Reserve and Chobe National Park which are home to lions and cheetahs among others. View large herds of elephants in their natural habitat, as well as World Heritage rock sites that were once occupied by the San bushmen of southern Africa. You will complete your journey at the world famous Victoria Falls.
Highlights for 15 Days Big 5 & Big Cats of Southern Africa.
Day 1: Arrival in Kasane
Day 2: Kasane to Susuwe / West Caprivi National Park
Day 3: Transfer to Popa Falls
Day 4: Visit Mahango Game Reserve and Tsodilo Hills
Day 5-6: Explore Okavango Delta
Day 7: Transfer to Maun
Day 8-10: Transfer to Moremi Game Reserve
Day 11-13: Explore Chobe National Park
Day 14: Chobe to Victoria Falls Zimbabwe
Day 15: Departure.
Detailed Itinerary for 15 Days Big 5 & Big Cats of Southern Africa.
Day 1: Arrival in Kasane
Pickup upon your arrival in Kasane airport or hotel. You will then depart in the afternoon for a boat cruise on the Chobe River, enjoying your first Botswana sunset on the way back. Dinner and overnight in Kasane at Elephant Trail Guesthouse/ Travelodge Kasane/Chobe Elephant Camp.
Day 2: Kasane to Susuwe / West Caprivi National Park
Depart Kasane early to cross the Namibian border and then drive to the Susuwe region in the Caprivi Strip. After setting up camp, you will explore a section of this largely untouched area on an afternoon game drive. With woodlands and sprawling floodplains the region has a rich diversity of wildlife to whet our appetites for game viewing. Dinner and overnight at a designated campsite with permanent facilities.
Day 3: Transfer to Popa Falls
After breakfast in the morning, you will rise with the sun and embark on a 4 hours’ drive west towards the Okavango River where you will set up camp on the banks overlooking Popa Falls. In the afternoon there is opportunity to visit these falls, which are a broad series of rapids (about 1.2km) dropping a short four metres over a fault line. Dinner and overnight at designated campsite with permanent facilities.
Day 4: Visit Mahango Game Reserve and Tsodilo Hills
Today you will head out on a game drive to search for animals in Mahango Game Reserve which is located within Bwabwata National Park. This area is remote with very little development and has a rich abundance of wildlife across landscapes of floodplain, forest and open grassland. The drive through here is fascinating before crossing the border back into Botswana. You will then travel to the World Heritage Site of Tsodilo Hills and set up camp. Later in the afternoon, you will visit the museum and explore the walking trails around the ancient hills, home to thousands of traditional Bushmen paintings dating back to 800 AD. Dinner and overnight at a designated camping site with permanent facilities.
Day 5-6: Explore Okavango Delta
Early this morning you will drive to the edge of the Okavango Delta, the world’s largest inland delta and a very special place. Transfer our equipment to motorboats before puttering along the narrow papyrus-lined channels catching glimpses of brilliant birds as well as admiring the stunning landscape. Deeper in the Delta, you will meet local polers with their traditionally dugout canoes called mokoros and enjoy a leisurely transfer to an island. You will base on the island and spend two days exploring this beautiful area by mokoro excursions and guided walks. The floodplains and islands of this unique natural environment provide a myriad of options for exploring and observing wildlife at ground level. Camping is basic with bush facilities.
NOTE: The vehicle and main trailer are parked in a private area on the shore of the Delta from day 5 until day 7. You will leave your main luggage in the trailer and will need to pack in a smaller luggage (like small backpack, hand luggage) what you need for 2 days as transfers from the mainland to the island where you will stay are done on motorboat and traditional dugout canoes (mokoro).
Day 7: Transfer to Maun
Today you will transfer by road from Okavango Delta to Maun. There is an option to take a 1hour scenic flight over the Delta to Maun at your own expense. This magical experience provides another perspective of the Okavango Delta’s unique waterways. If you choose to take the flight, you will enjoy a leisurely morning in the Delta campsite reading a book or relaxing while you wait for your afternoon flight. If you choose not to take the flight, you will retrace the journey back to the vehicle on the edge of the Delta and travel to Maun with the guide. After collecting those on the flight at the airport, you will spend the night at a campsite/lodge just outside Maun with permanent ablution facilities.
Day 8-10: Transfer to Moremi Game Reserve
From Maun you will drive to Moremi Game Reserve. The next three days will be spent searching for the wide variety of wildlife and birds for which this area is known while absorbing the sounds and beauty of this region. The Reserve was named after a chief from the local Batswana community and includes contrasting habitats ranging from thick mopane woodland, to drier acacia forests, to floodplains and lagoons. The familiar routine of game drives in the early morning as the sun rises and then again in the late afternoon as the sun sets will be the norm. After your morning game drive, you will return to camp for lunch and a siesta. Camping will be in private designated campsites with bush facilities.
Day 11-13: Explore Chobe National Park
This morning you will embark on a 120km drive from Moremi to Savuti, in Chobe National Park. The journey takes 7 – 8 hrs, game driving en route to our first camp. With its diverse and striking landscapes, Chobe National Park is the second largest national park in Botswana and is famous for its huge elephant population. As you search for wildlife in the park, you will cross the drier plains region of Savuti in the south where bull elephants can often be seen. We will head northwards the following day to the Chobe River, game viewing along the way. Explore the banks and wetlands along the river, hoping to glimpse elephants feeding and playing. As well as these giant creatures, birdlife is also prolific. For birding enthusiasts, you will start to recognize the call of the majestic African Fish Eagle and the brilliant colors of the Lilac-breasted Roller. Dinner and overnight at camp or lodge.
Day 14: Chobe to Victoria Falls Zimbabwe
After a morning game drive you will then drive to Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwe side (Visa required), where 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. Dinner will be at your own expense at the lodge.
Day 15: Departure.
Wake up at leisure and have breakfast at your lodge. Have your driver/guide drop you off at Victoria Falls Airport where you will board your flight back home. In case your flight leaves late in the evening, you can take part in other activities at the falls at your own expense. End of Tour.