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 itinerary initially takes you west from Victoria Falls, briefly into Zambia, before finally crossing the border into Namibia at Katima Mulilo around lunch time.

After clearing the border and stopping for lunch, continue approx. 140km into the Caprivi Strip of Namibia to reach Camp Kwando, your home for the evening.

Camp Kwando
Camp Kwando has a lovely vista over the Kwando River, a tributary of the Chobe River, which forms the border between Botswana and Namibia. There are 14 standard tented rooms, all set on raised wooden platforms with thatched roofs. Each room has a verandah with deck chairs. The rooms are simply furnished with wooden beds, open sided wardrobes and tables and chairs. There is an en suite bathroom with flushing toilet, wash basin and shower – all open air. Facilities include a small swimming pool set in pretty gardens and a shaded sitting area, which serves as a lovely spot in which to relax and enjoy the sounds of the river and bush.

One of Namibia’s most remote national parks, Mudumu encompasses a varied landscape of wetlands, forest and savannah plains, where elephant, buffalo and sitatunga roam in plentiful numbers. Lion, leopard and wild dog are also found in Mudumu, though sightings of the latter are rare.

Return to the lodge late morning for lunch and a short siesta. In the afternoon, enjoy a leisurely boat cruise on the Kwando River.

The day ends with a hearty dinner, before you retreat to bed to sleep to the sounds of the African bush.

From Poppa Falls continue to Botswana, entering Mahango Game Reserve just before the border. Situated on the floodplains of the Okavango River, Mahango Game Reserve forms part of the greater Bwabwata National Park and offers reliable year-round game viewing owing to its permanent waters. Lion, leopard, cheetah and wild dog are all present in the region, though sightings are not guaranteed.

Leaving Mahango Game Reserve late afternoon, continue to the border crossing with Botswana, and then south to the Okavango Delta. Check-in at Nxamaseri Lodge for two nights. In the evening, enjoy a sundowner around the fire followed by a delicious dinner.

Nxamaseri Lodge
Nxamaseri is a small lodge comprising 9 stone-and-thatch rooms, built amidst the riverine vegetation and overlooking the Okavango floodplains. Each room has an en suite open-plan bathroom with shower and toilet, and a wooden verandah overlooking the lagoons and waterways of the Delta. All of the rooms are linked by raised wooden platforms. The lounge and dining areas are surrounded by tall jackalberry trees and decorated with hand-carved furnishings made by local craftsmen.

The morning’s motorboat safari is just the start of your day of exploration in the heart of the Okavango Delta. After the boat cruise, you’ll swap the motorboats for an altogether more traditional mode of transport, the mokoro (a form of dugout canoe), and enjoy a river safari at a more relaxed pace – perfect for appreciating the birdlife and more skittish wildlife that is less easily spotted on a motorboat safari.

Return to Nxamaseri Lodge around sunset for dinner and overnight.

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 next two days 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 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.

Late morning, continue to Kasane, your base for the next two days as you explore northern Chobe National Park on a mix of guided game drives and boat safaris.

The most famous of Botswana’s big game safari parks, Chobe is sustained by the Chobe River, which provides a constant water source attracting plentiful wildlife throughout the year. Herds of elephant and buffalo are a common sight, as are families of giraffe, prides of lion and plentiful antelope, including zebra, kudu and wildebeest. Less commonly sighted species include cheetah and wild dog.

Overnight at the Old House.

The Old House
The Old House is a pleasant family-run lodge, situated in Kasane overlooking the Chobe River. There are 10 comfortable rooms, each with hand-painted headboards adding a touch of colour. The rooms are all air-conditioned and have en suite facilities, while outdoors there is a small pool. The guesthouse has a relaxed restaurant serving homecooked meals.

The rest of your stay in Victoria Falls is at your leisure. You’ll likely want to visit the spectacular Falls. There are also other activities available locally, which your guide will help you organise if you wish. These include white water rafting, canoeing and helicopter flights over the falls.

Overnight at Phezulu Lodge.

Please note that check-out is at 10am, though you are free to continue to use the lodge facilities if you have a transfer scheduled for later in the day.