Royal Sable Safari (Small Group)

Phezulu Lodge
Opened in Aug 2018, Phezulu Lodge is located in a quiet residential area of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. The lodge has 21 air-conditioned and en suite guest rooms, a comfortable lounge area in which to relax, and an enclosed garden with refreshing swimming pool.

Dinner this evening is to your own account.

Your first stop, before continuing to Botswana, will be at Victoria Falls, where you’ll have time to take in the views and photograph one of Africa’s most impressive natural wonders. Afterwards, stop for lunch in town. (Please note that the park fee for Victoria Falls and your lunch today are both to be paid locally).

Your itinerary then takes you west from Victoria Falls and into Botswana via the Kazungula border. After clearing the border, continue west to Chobe Elephant Camp in Chobe National Park, your home for the evening.

Chobe Elephant Camp
Chobe Elephant Camp is remotely situated in the Chobe Forest Reserve on the less-frequented western perimeter of Chobe National Park, perched on a high rocky ridge overlooking the Chobe River. From this isolated position, Chobe Elephant Camp offers guided game drives and river boat safaris in the National Park (access is via the western Ngoma Gate, approx. 10 minutes’ drive from the camp).

Chobe Elephant Camp offers twelve individual chalets, scattered along the edge of the escarpment with a view to the river below. Each has a private verandah with canvas chairs, from where you can sit and watch the game crossing the floodplains below.

Today and tomorrow will be spent in this superb game-viewing region of the eastern Okavango, enjoying morning and afternoon game drives.

Overnight at Khwai Guesthouse.

Khwai Guesthouse
Khwai Guesthouse is a simple property situated on the edge of Khwai Village. The design is a blend of African and modern. Furniture is locally-crafted and the décor makes the most of vibrant fabrics and colours. All rooms have en suite bathrooms with open-air showers.

After lunch, check-in at Maun Lodge, a comfortable retreat situated between Maun Airport and the city centre, for one night.

The rest of the afternoon is free. Maun is a good place to shop for unusual gifts. Alternatively, you have the option of taking a scenic 45-minute flight over the delta (to be booked locally). This magical experience provides another perspective on the Okavango Delta’s distinctive waterways. During the flight it is possible to spot large animals such as elephant, giraffe and hippopotamus, but most impressive are the landscapes, with the Delta displayed in all its vastness from the sky.

The landscape changes dramatically as you pass from the lush greenery of the Khwai River region to the immense saltpans of Makgadikgadi. After a stop for lunch en route, you will arrive at the pans late in the afternoon. Overnight at Nata Lodge.

Nata Lodge
Nata is a small lodge set on the edge of Makgadikgadi Pans. It offers ten custom-made Meru-style safari tents, all with en suite bathrooms. The tents are shaded by huge marula trees and are slightly raised on wooden platforms so as to make the most of the views of the salt pans.

Boteti River Camp
Opened in late 2018, Boteti River Camp is a new addition to the region that serves as a convenient gateway to Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pans. It is a small and cosy lodge with seven guest chalets centered on a central hub area including bar, restaurant and small pool. Painted in light pastel hues, Boteti’s pretty chalets and dining terrace are almost Mediterranean in style, while the lounge viewing deck is a lovely place in which to relax, furnished with comfy sofas and with views onto the Boteti River.

In the afternoon there will be a guided tour of Khumaga village, before you return to camp for dinner and overnight.

Though an arid region, Nxai’s short grasses attract a variety of game after the rains, including large herds of impala, zebra and springbok, while the sparsity of the vegetation ensures good game-viewing! During the day, you’ll also have the chance to visit the famous Baines’ Baobabs, positioned on the edge of the salt pan, and named after the explorer and painter Thomas Baines who depicted this region in the late 19th century.

Your safari ends at Maun Airport. We can help with your onward transfer arrangements or post-tour accommodation if required.