Botswana Okavango Chobe Victoria Falls 2023

Overall comments on the trip

I joined the tour in Windhoek, for a 1-week tour. The group on the tour had already been together for 2 weeks. What a pity they never introduced themselves.

The tour group was young, mainly professionals from Germany. This trip was expensive for me, it cost me 3 months' salary. I think most of them were doing further travels after this. I was poor! In the group were 1 Korean, 1 Spanish, 2 Australians, 1 from the US, and I think 11 Germans. I think 6-8 were vegetarians and 1 vegan - the cook catered for them 95% of the time.

I would not do the trip in May again as the evenings are just too cold for me.

I wish we could have had maps of where we were going. There no brochures to pick up at points or hotels where we stopped. I am used to Spain, Chile, and New Zealand where brochures are everywhere! Most strange.

In future, I recommend that one use the online Victoria Falls Guide for anything to do with the Falls.

I wished that the Heja Game farm in Windhoek actually aligned their services on the land with their online marketing. I wanted to go on a game drive, so did others but the desk staff did not even take the names of prospective clients. No list of names of game on the farm. No map of walks on the farm. Desk staff did not seem interested.

The time glamping in the Khwai was a credit to the organisers! Good leadership and clarity in everything done.

I would have liked more tea and coffee available. Just one cup a day at breakfast was not enough for my coffee/tea addiction. And decaf coffee is just not for me!

I wanted to buy a T-shirt or some memorabilia from the area with the words Victoria Falls, Botswana, Chobi or something similar but could only get the tour T-shirt. There were none available.

We saw

Baboon
Crocodile
Elephant
Giraffe
Hippopotamus
Hyena
Impala
Kudu
Leopard
Lion
Meerkat
Mongoose
Monkey
Warthog
Water buffalo
Wild dog

Many different kinds of birds

Day 6 – Zimbabwe - Victoria Falls - 24 May

With the memories of our wildlife encounters firmly etched in our minds, we cross the border into Zimbabwe this morning and travel the short distance to Victoria Falls. Today you will have the opportunity to visit the spectacular Victoria Falls at your leisure, also known by the local name of “Mosi-oa Tunya” (the smoke
that thunders). While much of today is dedicated to viewing the mighty Zambezi River as it drops into the Batoka Gorge below, the bustling adventure town of Victoria Falls also offers a range of optional activities for those wanting a dose of adrenaline in the afternoon. For the more relaxed traveller there are craft markets and coffee shops on offer as well.

Detailed itinerary

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What a day! Travelled from Kusane to the border with Zimbabwe where there was the normal slow documentation found at most border posts. The international persons had to pay about $50 each to enter the country. Zimbabwe has open hands.

We travelled to the Shearwater Activity Centre where we were shown a video of all the activities they had on offer. Unbeknown to us many other centres also book the same activities. The group found another provider which had helicopter flights at a better rate, which we accepted. We went to the hotel to drop off those not doing the trip and were picked up by the flight people. We drove to the helicopter pad. Such service, such a trip. Wonderful!

I went for a walk in town past the places where they chop their sculptures. It was not a pleasant experience, with too many people trying to get me to buy their wares, worse than anything experienced in Cairo or Lourdes. However I managed to get some nice curios. Poverty!

Packing up at Kasane

Crossing the border into Zimbabwe, border

The highlight of the morning was arriving in Victoria Falls and going on a helicopter trip. So much water!

This picture by Joacim

The route over the falls with Bonisair Flights - at USD 110 - their offices are just down the road from the Shearwater big booking offices. A bargain and I felt so safe.

At dinner last night we had many local delicacies. I found the mopane worms gritty and coarse

Look at my bed at the Shearwater Explorers Village, a lovely hotel.

Day 5 – Chobe National Park - 23 May

For those that opt to participate in the optional game drive in Chobe National Park, you will be collected early from camp and will venture out in open 4×4 safari-type vehicles. You will return to camp in time for lunch and a quick siesta before we head out in the afternoon to explore the Chobe National Park from the river, enjoying a leisurely boat cruise that allows us an up close and personal experience with the many elephants that frequent the river in the afternoons.

Detailed itinerary

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At Thebe River Safari we were separated from the river by a fence, thank goodness as crocs climb the banks

I swam safely in the swimming pool next to the bench.

This morning I attended a Teams meeting at work and missed a wonderful game drive.

We went on a wonderful river cruise on the Chobe River in the afternoon.

Note the crocodile

Elephant in the bushes

Elephant going across the river to the island

There are water buffalo here who have never been to the mainland.

Wonderful sunset

Day 4 – Khwai – Savuti – Chobe – Kasane - 22 May

The Savuti Game Reserve is a unique area bordered by the Okavango Delta to west and Chobe National Park to the east. Today is a long day as we spend most of our day travelling via the various sectors including the Savuti Game Reserve in search of the species that roam the plains. Expect some bumpy roads as we traverse this wilderness area in our 4×4 vehicles. Offering habitats from wetland, open water to the grasslands and savannah woodland, we hope to see as many species of fauna and flora possible. This afternoon we arrive on the banks of the Chobe River and will be reunited with our Nomad truck in the town of Kasane.

Detailed itinerary

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We left the lovely campsite early, wrapped up in complementary blankets in the game-viewing trucks.

See the warthogs

More giraffes

In the ant heaps meerkats seem to make their homes

The savannah goes for miles

More giraffes

We had a packed lunch at the Savuti reserve entrance.

When we entered Savuti we had some gear trouble, not only with our truck but also met others struggling on the loose sand. We reached this store, where some of our party were dropped and our game-viewing truck went back to help others. The lady from the store drove us 80km to Thebe River Safaris at Kasane.

Playing at the store while waiting for the trucks

Image from Ronald

Day 3 – Khwai Conservation Area - 21 May

Heading out early, we transfer by safari vehicle, to the poling station, where we will meet the polers who will be escorting us into the Delta. The polers will steer us through the serene area of narrow, reed-lined channels which open out onto beautiful lagoons. Reaching one of the many islands, a nature walk may be taken with your pole and after the walk, we return by mokoro through the channels back to the poling station. While the mokoro trail is not primarily a game-viewing activity, a variety of game may be spotted in this pristine wilderness area, including elephant, giraffe, kudu, impala, and zebra. After lunch, we will return to the Khwai Conservation area for our afternoon game drive which will be conducted in open 4×4 safari vehicles. The game viewing routes chosen during the afternoon by the professional guide may vary especially when high floods are experienced as certain roads may be closed or impassable.

Detailed itinerary
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Our trip in the mokoro was cut short because we reached the hippo pool. We got out of the boats and were given a talk by the lead paddler while watching the hippos.