tuuur.com - Worldwide Trips

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Overland

Wildlife

Okavango Experience

10 Days | Discover Africa’s National Parks, vast wetlands and iconic wildlife on an overland adventure

4.9

Excellent

271 reviews

10 days

Start

Johannesburg, South Africa

Finish

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Trip Code

UBOO

Min Age

Trip Size

1 - null

Physical Rating

Meals

9 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners

Transport

Overland vehicle, Open safari vehicle

Accommodation

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

From £1,272(10 days)

Trip Informations

See southern Africa's incredible waterfalls, rivers and inland canals on this ten-day overland adventure. Canoe down the lush waterways of the Okavango Delta, watch hippos wallowing along the shores of the Chobe River, take a sunset cruise to spot exotic birdlife, witness the mirage of Makgadikgadi Salt Pans and stand in awe at the crashing white water of Victoria Falls with a full free day to customise your experience. After cruising in a mokoro, you’ll spend a night at camp in the remote Okavango wilderness and fall asleep to the uninterrupted sounds of the wild. With early morning game drives to spot Africa’s iconic wildlife and expert guides with all the knowledge – this is set to be an experience of a lifetime.

Why you’ll love this trip

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.

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.

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.

Walk the Okavango Delta at sunrise, looking out for the resident hippos, crocodiles, elephants and big cats.

By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Tuuur 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.

Is this trip right for you?

This is an overland trip. That means you’ll be travelling with a group in a purpose-built vehicle, visiting remote communities, setting up your own tent, occasionally roughing it in the bush with no facilities, and getting the best possible views of Africa's iconic wildlife. While the trucks don’t have air conditioning, they do have sliding windows, which let in the breeze and make it even easier to take spectacular snaps of the local wildlife. The drive days can be long, but it’s as much about the journey as the destination, and half the fun is the camaraderie. For more info on this style of travel, see our Africa overland page:

There will be many early starts either to make use of the better safari time or to beat the morning traffic on long travel days.

Camping out in the amazing Okavango wilderness means digging a bush toilet and going without a shower. It's all part of the delta experience.

This trip can be partnered with other adventures into a ‘combo’, which means that some of your fellow travellers may carry on to further destinations at the end of this tour. If you’d like to spend more time in Africa, have a look at some other itineraries this trip combines with: Explore Southern Africa (UBOQC), Johannesburg to Gorillas (UBODC), Johannesburg to Zanzibar (UBOBC), Johannesburg to Kenya (UBOAC)

Itinerary

DAY 1
Day 1 • 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.
Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)
Meals
There are no meals included on this day.
Special information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
Please ensure that if you choose to explore Johannesburg on your own that you take local advice and consult your group leader as to where it is safe to walk, especially at night.
DAY 2
Day 2 • 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.
Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Included activities
Khama Rhino Sanctuary - Sunset Game Drive Open Vehicle
Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 10 hours.
At tonight’s camp, there may be the option to upgrade to a room for an additional cost (subject to availability).
DAY 3
Day 3 • 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.
Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 9 hours.
Tonight, you'll stay on the outskirts of Maun at a simple campsite with shared facilities, wi-fi and optional upgrades. .
DAY 4
Day 4 • 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.
Accommodation
Bush camp (no facilities) (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Included activities
Okavango Delta - Mokoro safari
Special information
In this far-out camping location, facilities are almost non-existent, so be ready to dig a bush toilet and go without a shower. This is the African wild in all its glory!
DAY 5
Day 5 • 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.
Accommodation
Bush camp (no facilities) (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Included activities
Okavango Delta - Sunrise Walk
DAY 6
Day 6 • 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.
Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Included activities
Okavango Delta - Mokoro safari
Okavango Delta - Brewery Tour
Optional activities
Okavango Delta - Helicopter Scenic Flight - USD280
Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.
Tonight, you’ll stay in a simple campsite with shared facilities, with w-fi and optional upgrades also available.
The scenic flight prices are dependent on the number of passengers in the plane or helicopter. See your group leader for more details.
DAY 7
Day 7 • 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!
Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Included activities
Nata - Makgadikgadi Salt Pans 4x4 Excursion
Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 7 hours.
Your campsite tonight is situated on the edge of the pans. It has a restaurant, swimming pool, gift shop, ATM and bar/lounge area. Upgrades are also available (subject to availability).
DAY 8
Day 8 • 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.
Accommodation
Camping (with shared facilities) (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Dinner
Included activities
Chobe National Park - River Cruise
Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 7 hours.
Your camp tonight has wi-fi available and optional upgrades (subject to availability). It's also close to a supermarket, so you can stock up on supplies while you're here.
DAY 9
Day 9 • 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.
Accommodation
Camping (with shared facilities) (1 night)
Meals
Breakfast
Optional activities
Victoria Falls - Victoria Falls Entrance Fee - USD50
Chobe National Park - Open Safari Vehicle Morning Game Drive - BWP580
Victoria Falls - Sunset Cruise - USD50
Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.
Your campsite tonight has wi-fi, an ATM and optional upgrades.
The Victoria Falls entrance fee is not included, as it’s mandatory for tour groups with pre-purchased tickets to have a local escort. We feel that seeing these waterfalls for the first time should be an uninterrupted experience.
Your leader may take you to a local activity centre. Tuuur has not risk-assessed all activities and only those listed in Optional Activities are recommended. It is against company policy for leaders to facilitate the booking of anything that has not been risk-assessed or does not adhere to our company’s Responsible Travel policy and ethos. This includes organising transport to and from these activities.
We also ask travellers to avoid the Walk with the Lions experience as it is contrary to our Responsible Travel policy. While wildlife viewing is a big part of many itineraries, we strive to view animals in their natural habitats and with the greatest level of respect.
DAY 10
Day 10 • 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.
Meals
Breakfast
Optional activities
Victoria Falls - Helicopter Flight (25 mins - Excludes US$30 fuel surcharge and NP fees) - USD284
Victoria Falls - Helicopter Flight of the Angels (12 mins - Excludes US$25 fuel surcharge and NP fees) - USD150
Victoria Falls - Whitewater rafting (Seasonal - excludes USD10 NP Fee) - USD126
Victoria Falls - River Song Sunset Cruise (excludes USD10 NP Fee) - USD75
Victoria Falls - Jet Boat (Seasonal - excludes USD10 NP Fee) - USD110
Victoria Falls - Standard Sunset Cruise (excludes USD10 NP Fee) - USD45
Victoria Falls - Bridge Swing - USD168
Victoria Falls - Traditional Village Tour - USD55
Victoria Falls - Bridge Tour - USD68
Special information
While at Victoria Falls you may hear about Devil’s Pool. Tuuur does not recommend the activity here due to the high risk involved. Our leaders cannot assist in organising this activity, as it is against company policy for leaders to facilitate the booking of anything that has not been risk-assessed or does not adhere to our company’s Responsible Travel policy and ethos.

Inclusions

Meals

9 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners

Transport

Overland vehicle, Open safari vehicle

Accommodation

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

Activities

Khama Rhino Sanctuary - Sunset Game Drive Open Vehicle

Okavango Delta - Mokoro safari

Okavango Delta - Sunrise Walk

Okavango Delta - Brewery Tour

Nata - Makgadikgadi Salt Pans 4x4 Excursion

Chobe National Park - River Cruise

Dates and availability

Starting

Ending

Remaining

Prices From

Friday Nov 15, 2024

Sunday Nov 24, 2024

Trip size max: - Sold Out

Friday Nov 22, 2024

Sunday Dec 01, 2024

Trip size max: - 13 spaces left

£1,496£1,272

Friday Nov 29, 2024

Sunday Dec 08, 2024

Trip size max: - 22 spaces left

£1,496

Friday Dec 06, 2024

Sunday Dec 15, 2024

Trip size max: - 17 spaces left

£1,496£1,346

Friday Dec 13, 2024

Sunday Dec 22, 2024

Trip size max: - 14 spaces left

£1,496£1,346

Sunday Dec 15, 2024

Tuesday Dec 24, 2024

Trip size max: - 19 spaces left

£1,496£1,346

Friday Dec 20, 2024

Sunday Dec 29, 2024

Trip size max: - 9 spaces left

£1,513£1,361

Friday Dec 27, 2024

Sunday Jan 05, 2025

Trip size max: - 6 spaces left

£1,513

Friday Jan 03, 2025

Sunday Jan 12, 2025

Trip size max: - 11 spaces left

£1,579£1,342

Friday Jan 17, 2025

Sunday Jan 26, 2025

Trip size max: - 15 spaces left

£1,562£1,406

Friday Jan 31, 2025

Sunday Feb 09, 2025

Trip size max: - 17 spaces left

£1,562£1,406

Friday Feb 07, 2025

Sunday Feb 16, 2025

Trip size max: - 22 spaces left

£1,540

Friday Feb 14, 2025

Sunday Feb 23, 2025

Trip size max: - 22 spaces left

£1,502

Friday Feb 21, 2025

Sunday Mar 02, 2025

Trip size max: - 22 spaces left

£1,540

Friday Feb 28, 2025

Sunday Mar 09, 2025

Trip size max: - 16 spaces left

£1,502£1,351

Important notes

1. If you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip, you may purchase a single supplement, subject to availability. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

2. The minimum age for this trip is 15 at the time of travel. Any travellers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian, or in lieu of a legal guardian, by an escort over the age of 18, appointed by their legal guardian. The legal guardian or their designee will be responsible for the traveller under the age of 18 day to day’s care. If a legal guardian elects to designate an escort in their lieu, they will be required to complete and sign a relevant document, to delegate their authority.

3. Border crossing delays in the region have been sporadic and difficult to predict. What takes an hour one day may take four hours the next. This may affect the order of activities in the itinerary. We understand this uncertainty can be frustrating, and we strongly recommend packing a bit of patience and flexibility.

Reviews (261)

5 stars

239

4 stars

3 stars

Renee

Oct 28, 2024

Amazing itinerary with such diverse landscapes! Loved our time in Africa. Thanks to Njabulo, Lizzy and Gift for a great trip.

Rebecca

Oct 27, 2024

Amazing experience overall. Great itinerary, fantastic staff and experiences along the way have made this an adventure to remember! Highly recommend Intrepid for going places I may not have reached independently & safely.

Ethan

Oct 26, 2024

Absolutely incredible experience from start to finish. As a photographer we saw so much wildlife including the big five the ugly five and about 20 other different animals. Opportunities to talk to the locals are reasons I do these trips and they were nothing short of fascinating, from their ways of life, to experiences and close calls with wildlife was the perfect way to spend nights round the campfire. Brilliant trip, brilliant company, brilliant team leaders, lekau, Thomas and somkhele - you’ll be very lucky if you get them!

Anthony

Oct 20, 2024

Wow, what a trip! Thnx so much Intrepid for a well put-together trip to a bucket-list destination. And kudos to the crew we had - Cardi, Nolo, Shorty - you guyz rock!!!

Chloe

Oct 15, 2024

This trip absolutely blew all our expectations out of the water. If you want to see more wildlife than you ever thought possible super close up while building beautiful friendships, this trip is for you!

Jacqueline

Oct 14, 2024

This trip was an amazing experience! A lot of time off grid and without connection to the outside world allows you to be immersed in the beauty of the Okavango Delta and national parks. Long days of travel but truly worth it for the destinations covered.

Melody

Oct 11, 2024

This was trip of a lifetime! We had an amazing experience and saw the best of Botswana. All crew-- the guide, driver, and chef were fabulous and made our trip so special! I strongly recommend this trip!

Andrea

Oct 11, 2024

It was overall an amazing trip. The local knowledge of the guides was great, food that was cooked was amazing, we ended up seeing the big 5 so that made me happy also victoria falls has much to do although locals will consistently try to sell you things and i know it is like that with many touristy places but they lay it on especially thick there. That,being said it is a beautiful waterfall and as a newyorker who has seen both sides of niagara, it beats the hell out of niagara falls. Also get a multipass for Zimbabwe even if you don't feel you need it. The okavango delta you get awesome chance to ask locals about their life as you camp there for a couple of days with the locals, also they have a shop they set up for souvenirs. The long drives had me antsy and the early wake ups are hard for me because i am not a morning person but that was all expected by the trip notes.

Hannah

Oct 08, 2024

Fantastic trip, could not recommend it more! While there are a couple of long travel days, the sights and experiences make it sooo worth it! Special shout out to Lekau, Thomas and Somkhele who really made this trip special ☺️

Katrin

Oct 06, 2024

What a great trip! It was well-organised and included amazing activities in Botswana's wilderness. Wild camping in the delta was magical. The Intrepid crew was fantastic—knowledgeable, sociable, and fun—and Nolo is an incredible chef! Highly recommend!

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