Highlights
- Follow elephants in Chobe National Park
- Experience the Okavango Delta
- Lounge on the shores of Pom Pom Lagoon
- Search for animals by foot, jeep, and boat
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Botswana, Travel to Chobe National Park | Chobe National Park |
| Days 2-3 | On Safari in Chobe National Park | Chobe National Park |
| Day 4 | Fly to Okavango Delta & Moremi Game Reserve | Okavango Delta |
| Days 5-6 | On Safari at Moremi in the Okavango Delta | Okavango Delta |
| Day 7 | Travel to Pom Pom Camp | Okavango Delta |
| Days 8-9 | On Safari at Pom Pom in the Okavango Delta | Okavango Delta |
| Day 10 | Depart Botswana |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Botswana, Travel to Chobe National Park
Welcome to Botswana! You can fly into Kasane airport or travel by road across the border from neighboring Victoria Falls.
You'll continue traveling to Chobe National Park, where you'll spend the night amidst the many species of wildlife. As you drive, the sub-tropical woodlands give way to lush, riverine floodplains where vast herds of grazing animals gather to drink.
Days 2-3: On Safari in Chobe National Park
When it comes to game viewing, Chobe does not disappoint: it's home to the world's largest concentration of African elephants and many other animals. Within the park, the wildlife you see depends on the ecosystem you visit—the Chobe Riverfront in the northeast, the Savute Marsh in the west, Linyanti Swamps in the northwest, and the dry hinterland in between.
The Chobe Riverfront is a popular destination. Safari boats travel along the river, giving guests unparalleled looks at the vast herds of elephants on the banks. By mid-morning, zebra and a variety of antelope replace the elephants. In the afternoons, massive herds of several thousand cape buffalo congregate on the riverfront. Where there are buffalo, there are predators, so look out for lions, leopards, and hyenas in action. In the water, large pods of hippos gather along the shore while African fish eagles fly over the river, hunting for their next meal.
Nearby, the town of Victoria Falls in western Zimbabwe is a gateway to the incredible nearby waterfall of the same name. The native Lozi name for the falls, Mosi-oa-Tunya, means "The Smoke that Thunders." Here, the Zambezi River plunges over a cliff before rushing through a series of steep gorges. It's worth taking a full day to see the falls and explore the town.
Day 4: Fly to Okavango Delta & Moremi Game Reserve
Return to Kasane airport to fly to the Okavango Delta and Moremi Game Reserve. Sitting on the edge of the Okavango, Moremi looks out over the floodplains with accommodations that include spacious tents on raised decks for peak game viewing.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Days 5-6: On Safari at Moremi in the Okavango Delta
Spend the day on safari at the Moremi Game Reserve, which sits on the eastern side of the Okavango Delta. The combination of year-round swamps and seasonal floodplains leads to unexpected wildlife and geographic features. Mopane woodlands and acacia forests give way to floodplains and lagoons. Most prominent in the area, Chiefs Island and Moremi Tongue lie in the middle of the delta. The bulk of the reserve—roughly 70%—is situated in the Okavango Delta, with only 30% located on the mainland.
The Okavango Delta sits at the terminal point of the Okavango River, where the water flows into a tectonic trough in the central part of the Kalahari Basin. The water in the delta does not connect to any sea or ocean and ultimately evaporates into the atmosphere. It's the world's largest inland delta and exists as a result of seasonal flooding.
From January to February, the water drains and evaporates. From March until June, a surge of water from the Angola highlands spreads slowly over the delta. The flood peaks between June and August, during Botswana's bone-dry winters. During this time, the delta swells to three times its usual size, attracting animals from all over and creating one of Africa's highest concentrations of wildlife.
Visitors to the area can expect to see animals year-round. Explore the waterways by motorboat to see thousands of breeding herons and storks. Head to the thickly forested upland savannahs to see rare African wild dogs and leopards, cheetah, jackal, impala, red lechwe, and other animals.
African elephants, giraffes, hippos, tsessebe, sitatunga, blue wildebeest, black and white rhinos, warthogs, and chacma baboons all call the area home. Several hundred species of birds also live here, including Pel's fishing owl, crested cranes, the lilac-breasted roller, hammerkop, and sacred ibis.
Spend your days exploring the area on game walks and relaxing in the peaceful countryside. See wildlife on game drives and motorboat trips or relax by the swimming pool.
Day 7: Travel to Pom Pom Camp
Travel to Pom Pom island on the western side of the Okavango today. The Pom Pom Camp sits on its namesake island overlooking the—you guessed it—Pom Pom Lagoon.
Days 8-9: On Safari at Pom Pom in the Okavango Delta
Like its eastern neighbor Moremi, the Pom Pom reserve is home to a broad spectrum of wildlife just waiting to be spotted. The Pom Pom Lodge sits on an island in the middle of the Pom Pom Lagoon, with luxury tents overlooking the lagoon and its animal residents. Go for game drives and walks on land or canoe and motorboat safaris over the water. Hippos are known to be especially fond of the water-lily-covered lagoon.
Day 10: Depart Botswana
Enjoy one more breakfast before your transfer to the airport to head home or onward to your next adventure. You can connect through Maun or Kasane airport, depending on your itinerary.
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