Zimbabwe Botswana Safari IG9B

This perfectly balanced safari combines three awesome locations; Chobe National Park, Victoria Falls and Hwange National Park. Carefully chosen accommodation and time spent at each location ensures an unforgettable Safari experience and although it's not cheap the quality speaks for itself.

3 Nights Chobe, Botswana
2 Nights Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
4 Nights Hwange National Park
10 Days / 9 Nights
Reference: IG-9B
Starts Kasane Airport / Ends Victoria Falls Airport

Total Price 9 Nights (2024): US$ 3831 (low season) | US$ 6996 (high season)
per person sharing

Safari Overview

Beginning with 3 nights at Muchenje Lodge, on the less touristy western side of Chobe, which has incredible views over the Chobe flood plain, littered with thousands of animals at certain times of the year. Both land and water based activities through the park and along the river ensures that you have an incredible safari.

Accommodation in Victoria Falls is at Batonka Guest Lodge, an upmarket, small and personal boutique lodge offering tremendous value, great service and a very comfortable stay. You get to see and experience this magnificent waterfall and all the activities that are available from sunset cruises to bungee jumping and everything in between.

Finally transfer to Hwange National Park, home to a profusion of wildlife, including an estimated 45 000 elephants. Four nights at Camp Hwange gives you the time to really get into this area. This exclusive and premier Safari Camp has outstanding guides and game viewing. Watch game on foot, in a vehicle, at the hide, or from the comfort of the lodge’s main area which faces the nearby waterhole.

Inspired Journey Overview

Notes: Day 1, 2 & 3

DAY 1
Upon arrival in Kasane airport you will be met by a representative from Muchenje Lodge and transferred through Chobe National Park to Muchenje Safari Lodge about an hour away. After settling in, relaxing and enjoying a tasty lunch you can join an afternoon game drive which would depart at about 4pm. Returning to the lodge in the early evening for drinks and dinner. An evening night drive would be available if you were feeling up to it.

DAY 2
After breakfast, head to the boat launch site for a river cruise on the Chobe. Witness the herds of elephants coming for their morning drinks and social interactions. A picnic lunch will be served. After exploring the river, enjoy a leisurely game drive along the river’s edge, back to the lodge. Share your safari stories over evening drinks and a delicious dinner. An evening game drive within the Chobe Forest Reserve is once again available.

DAY 3
After early morning coffee and snacks you can join an early morning game drive or alternatively a guided bush walk, exploring the flood plains and areas close to the lodge. Return to the lodge for a hearty breakfast back. You can then choose to go for a village tour or relax on you own private patio taking in the amazing scenery. After lunch and a siesta, delight in another afternoon game drive into the Chobe National Park.

**Please note that the above activity schedule is a guideline and you can tailor-make your itinerary with the camp managers onsite, to suit your exact needs. Activity details can be seen below.

Chobe National Park

The Chobe River forms the northern boundary of the Chobe National Park, renowned for its reliable and diverse game viewing. Safaris are conducted both by boat and on land. This section of the park is best known for its elephant and hippo populations but the waters attract all manner of game including large herds of buffalo and the lions that prey on them.

Overnight: Muchenje Safari Lodge

Situated on the western edge of Chobe National park, Muchenje Safari Lodge offers unique, prolific game experiences within the less touristy region of the Chobe National Park. Muchenje provides some of Botswana's finest safari accommodation and combined with unparalleled safari experiences it is ideal for both discerning clientele and newcomers alike. Owner run and managed, attention to detail is paramount with nothing being too much trouble at Muchenje Safari Lodge.

Activities at Muchenje

Walking Safaris
Morning walks are offered in front of the lodge in the Chobe Forest Reserve. Our guides will introduce you to the smaller aspects of the African wildlife, broadening your Chobe experience.

Game Drives
Enjoy game drives into the western section of the Chobe National Park, with knowledgeable and friendly professionally qualified guides – either early morning or afternoon. You can also enjoy drives into the forest reserve after dinner to search for the nocturnal animals.

Boat Trips
A wonderful chance to see herds of elephants, as well as many other mammals and birds attracted to the water’s edge. The boat trip is part of a full day excursion with the highlight being a cruise on the Chobe River whilst enjoying a picnic lunch. The game drive back to the lodge meanders along the river road returning to the lodge for dinner.

Community Visits
Visit our local village for a cultural experience and to meet the people that make Botswana the delightful country it is. This includes meeting a local family in their homestead and being shown around their traditional homes. Visiting Mabele Primary School in Muchenje at break time to meet the local school children.

Notes: Day 4 & 5

DAY 4
You may have time for one more game drive or bush walk before checking out of Muchenje Safari Lodge and transferring to Zimbabwe. Be sure to have valid travel documents including a visa if applicable. It is about an hour’s drive to the border, and then another hour from there to Batonka Lodge in Victoria Falls, excluding border formalities. The second stretch is mostly through national park so there’s a good chance of spotting more game along the way. On arrival at Batonka, take some time to settle in and relax. Enjoy lunch at the lodge, or go into town to sample other lunch options. We recommend an afternoon helicopter flight, then an evening cruise with dinner on the Zambezi River. Although activities are not included in the package price, please let us help you to arrange an itinerary of activities suitable for you. Have a look at these Victoria Falls activities to see what is on offer.

DAY 5
You have a full day to soak up the wonderful atmosphere of Victoria Falls - it is the adventure capital of Africa, and there are activities on offer to cater for everyone’s needs. View the mighty Falls, partake in some of the many activities, or wander around the streets to do a bit of curio shopping, then finish off at a café for refreshments and a bite to eat. Please have a look at the available Victoria Falls Activities and contact us to arrange a suitable itinerary just for you.

Victoria Falls

One of the original natural wonders of the world, the Victoria Falls is a World Heritage Site and an extremely popular tourism attraction. Known locally as ‘The Smoke that Thunders’, this spectacle is accessible from both Zambia and Zimbabwe and it is an ideal place to combine a game viewing and water sports. There is excellent fishing, a terrifying bungee jump and arguably the best commercial white water rafting in the world.

Overnight: Batonka Guest Lodge

Batonka Guest Lodge is an upmarket boutique guest lodge and simply put is just beautiful. It really is in a class of its own in this price range and also holds onto a standard of service that is rare to find these days. The Eco Friendly Lodge opened its doors in June of 2016 and is located in the residential suburbs just 2.5 kilometres from the Victoria Falls entrance. Being new it has all the up-to-date mod cons.

The lodge offers 22 tastefully designed and decorated, spacious rooms each with its own small balcony. TV, wifi, air-conditioning, universal chargers and a tea and coffee station are standard in every room. The large modern en-suite bathrooms are really stunning. Inter-leading family rooms are available.

The large central area encompasses the reception, curio shop, lounge and indoor dining room as well as a very large outside terrace which overlooks the gardens and swimming pool. This terrace, with a nice coffee bar is an ideal place to relax and chat with fellow travellers take in a coffee or opt to eat your meals here.

All of the above makes for grand lodge but perhaps Batonka greatest feature yet is its staff; super friendly, accommodating and helpful, most guests just don't want to leave!

Notes: Day 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10

DAY 6
Today your safari into one of the best game parks in Africa begins. After breakfast you will be collected and transferred to Camp Hwange, which takes about 4 hours in total but a large portion of this is through Hwange National Park, which is a safari experience in itself. After lunch relax in your room enjoying the wonderful view of the waterhole. Tea and coffee will be served at around 3.30 pm in the main lounge after which you can join an afternoon game drive and start to enjoy the splendour of this unique area. Sundowners are normally served at another pan or waterhole and then return to camp after dark having enjoyed a short night drive on the way home. The day ends with dinner in the main camp area and a night cap or coffee around the camp fire under the African night sky.

DAY 7
Start the day with an early morning game drive around the camp's private concession or venture into the National Park depending on animal movements at the time. The drive is often combined with some walking where you can track animals with your experienced professional guide. Spend some time at the water points and watch the animals that come to drink and play. Late morning head back to camp for lunch and a siesta. Well rested, meet back late afternoon for another drive or a walk out of camp. In the dryer months walking to the log hide in front of camp is one of the most rewarding activities. In the hide elephants come within meters of you, zebra come to quench their thirst or warthogs trot in for a quick mud bath. The sun sets behind the hide, so the light is usually soft and photography is at its best. A night drive on the way back to camp is a nice way to end off the afternoon in the hope of seeing nocturnal animals, like springhares, serval, honey badgers, bat eared fox and if you are lucky a leopard or an aardwolf.

DAY 8
Another day of game viewing activities at Camp Hwange, tailor-made to suit your needs and influenced by what the wildlife at the time of your visit is doing. Hwange offers some of the best wildlife sightings available in Africa without the congestion of numerous tourists

DAY 9
On your last full day at Camp Hwange, choose from the available activities, such as a game drive in the park, guided walking and/or birding safari, or spend some time behind the log hide, watching the animals that visit the waterhole.

DAY 10
Sadly this is the last day of your safari and after an early breakfast you will be transferred out of Hwange National Park and onto Victoria Falls Airport for your onward flight.

**Please note that the above activity schedule is a guideline and you can tailor-make your itinerary with the camp managers onsite, to suit your exact needs.

Hwange National Park

Hwange National Park is Zimbabwe’s biggest reserve, home to a profusion of wildlife, including giraffe, lion, zebra and approximately 45 000 elephants. It provides sanctuary for all the country’s endangered species, including a population of wild dogs thought to be among the most sizeable surviving groups on the continent. Terrain ranges from desert dunes and savannah lands to rocky outcrops and sparse forests.

Overnight: Camp Hwange

Ideally situated in a superb private concession in the North part of the Hwange National Park, just 4hrs by road from Victoria Falls. Camp Hwange consists of 8 comfortable luxury tents and definitely ranks amongst the absolutely top safari camps in Hwange. This northern section of the park is not frequented by many tourists - this along with Camp Hwange’s own private concession, ensures that you have a personalised, unique and intimate safari experience.

Camp Hwange offers the chance to have an unforgettable experience with excellent safaris both by vehicle and on foot, plus the chance to do night drives. The guides, arguably considered to be amongst the best in Africa, share with you their love of nature and in-depth knowledge. A stay at Camp Hwange is more than a great safari, it is a life experience.

Activities at Camp Hwange

Game Walk
Camp Hwange reverts back to the concept the original safari, where activities centred on being immersed in the wild, walking being the main activity. During walks with well trained and experienced guides you will track and follow some of the most feared animals of Africa, secure in the knowledge that your guides and trackers are competent in all aspects of this exciting adventure. Not only will you get the chance to see the well-known dangerous animals, sightings and the habits of the smaller, lesser known species and aspects of the African bush will be explained you, giving you an insight into the mysteries of how all things depend on each other.

Just before the sun rises your day on safari begins. After a wakeup call everyone gathers at the camp fire to have a light breakfast before setting out on the morning’s activities. We usually leave Camp Hwange by Land Rover for a game drive to a designated area chosen earlier, where you will be briefed by your guide and then all set off on a safari walk.

Hide Sits
Sit and watch the activities at the waterhole. We do have a unique log pile hide in the shade near the waterhole which you guide will be happy to take you - so that you may have a close up view of all the visitors needing to drink and carry out their ablutions.

Game Drives
In the mornings when it is still cool and the light is soft for photography, the air of expectancy is everywhere. It is nice to cruise along in the vehicle getting a few pictures of animals here and there. Your guide will be scowering the road for tracks of some of the animals that rule the night i.e. lion, hyena and leopard to mention a few. Should you not find them in the vehicle, but find their tracks especially the lion then it is time to get out and track them on foot. Whether you see them up close or as a flash running away, time on foot with lion is thrilling way to spend the morning.

Price

Total Price 9 Nights (2024): US$ 3831 (low season) | US$ 6996 (high season)
Per person sharing

Included in this safari

MUCHENJE SAFARI LODGE
• Accommodation in a private safari chalet
• All meals, teas & coffees
• Unlimited game activities (game drives, walking safaris, river cruise, night drives, village trip)
• Soft drinks, alcoholic beverages
• Laundry
• Park fees

BATONKA GUEST LODGE
• Accommodation in an elegant and comfortable room set in a luscious garden
• Daily breakfast

CAMP HWANGE
• Accommodation in a thatched chalet
• All meals and local beverages
• Laundry
• Conservation fees
• Emergency Medical Evacuation
• All Activities: Game drives; Walking safaris; Night game drive; Hide sits

TRANSFERS
• All road transfers between Kasane Airport, Muchenje Lodge, Batonka Lodge, Camp Hwange and Victoria Falls Airport

Excluded

MUCHENJE SAFARI LODGE
• Premium beverages
• Curio Shop purchases
• Gratuities

BATONKA GUEST LODGE
• All other meals and drinks
• Activities in Victoria Falls

CAMP HWANGE
• Premium beverages
• Gratuities

More Travel Information

• Victoria Falls Travel Information
• Victoria Falls Activities
• Hwange National Park Information
• Chobe National Park Information

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