7 Day Okavango with Chobe and Vic Falls

Once you’ve arrived in Johannesburg and cleared customs and immigration, you’ll be met by a representative from African Sky and assisted to the appropriate departure terminal for your onward flight to Maun in Botswana. On arrival, a light aircraft transfer takes you into the heart of the Okavango Delta, one of Africa’s most remote and pristine wilderness areas. The Okavango River, rising in the highlands of Angola, never reaches the sea but instead disperses into the sands of the Kalahari, creating a remarkable inland delta of permanent water channels, lagoons, and islands.

Two nights are spent at Xugana Island Lodge on a full board basis. Twice-daily activities led by experienced rangers focus on exploring this unique water-based ecosystem. Depending on water levels, guests enjoy mokoro excursions and motorboat safaris through papyrus-lined channels, as well as guided walks on nearby islands. Wildlife sightings may include elephant, antelope, and a rich diversity of birdlife, all experienced within the tranquil setting of the Delta.

A last morning safari in the Okavango Delta is followed by a charter flight to Kasane, where guests are met and transferred to Chobe Game Lodge. The lodge sits on a hill overlooking the Chobe River. The Chobe National Park is particularly famous for its elephant population, which is among the largest concentrations in Africa. The Chobe Riverfront is an “ecosystem within an ecosystem”, with large daily back-and-forth migrations as animals move into the surrounding woodland during the day to feed, only to return in the late afternoon again to the river to quench their thirst. This area, with the Chobe River marking its northern boundary, offers some of the best game viewing on the African continent. Large herds of plains game and elephant may be viewed in settings that can only be described as breathtaking.

Guests spend two nights at Chobe Game Lodge on a full board basis. Two game activities are conducted daily by experienced rangers and trackers. The game activities consist of either open 4x4 game drives in the national park or enjoying water-based game viewing from a boat on the Chobe River. The sounds of the wild and the cry of the African fish eagle are sure to provide the perfect backdrop to these safaris, while evenings back at the lodge combine river views with the comfort of a classic safari lodge experience.

After a final activity and breakfast in the Chobe wilderness, guests are transferred by road to the Kazungula Bridge border post. Following immigration formalities, you cross the Zambezi River into Zambia and continue to Livingstone, gateway to the mighty Victoria Falls.

On arrival, check in at the elegant Royal Livingstone Hotel, set on the banks of the Zambezi River within easy access of the Falls. The afternoon is at leisure to relax and enjoy the tranquil surroundings, with the distant sound of cascading water hinting at the spectacle to come. Optional visits to Livingstone town or the Livingstone Museum can be arranged.

The morning is devoted to visiting the falls section of the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. The name translates to “the smoke that thunders”, which is the name the locals have bestowed upon the Victoria Falls. The national park offers perfectly placed observation points from which to enjoy the falls. A visit during the dry season may include the added appeal of strolling over to Livingstone Island for a unique (and adrenalin-inducing) perspective of the falls. If time allows, have a look around the local curio market before returning to your overnight accommodation.

In the late afternoon, a sunset cruise is enjoyed on the mighty Zambezi River. Traditional cocktails and snacks are served aboard the riverboat. The sight of the sun setting over one of Africa's most impressive natural arenas will surely be remembered for a lifetime, with hippo, crocodile and birdlife often providing a fitting wild soundtrack.

After breakfast at the Royal Livingstone, there is usually time for a final stroll through the riverfront gardens or a last walk to one of the nearby viewpoints of the Victoria Falls, listening to the distant thunder of the water. Depending on your flight schedule, you may be able to browse the local craft stalls or simply relax on the terrace and watch the Zambezi flow past.

You are then transferred to Livingstone Airport to board your flight to Johannesburg, where on arrival an African Sky representative will be waiting to assist with your private transfer to your hotel or preferred address in Johannesburg or Pretoria. It is a fitting conclusion to a journey filled with water, wilderness and unforgettable safari moments.