Explore Southern Africa

Intrepid Travel · 18 days

4.8

10 Reviews

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Duration

18 days

Tour Type

Small Group

Accommodations

Basic

Physical Rating

Average

Guide Language

English

Experience Overview

Discover Southern Africa's waterways, national parks and the wildlife that calls them home on this 18-day adventure.

Highlights

Track rhinos on foot with an expert local guide in Matobo National Park and support local conservation efforts with a visit to Khama Rhino Sanctuary.
Immerse yourself in the ancient culture of the Venda people during a village homestay in South Africa's Limpopo province.
Camping on a remote island in the heart of the Okavango wilderness is an experience you’ll never forget. As the sun sets and night falls, the sounds of Africa come alive.
Explore the magnificent Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, some of the largest salt flats in the world. These mind-bending plains make for some magical photography.
Marvel at the unforgettable views of Blyde River Canyon. This spectacular gorge is up there with the world's largest and probably the greenest.

Trip Details

Duration

18 days

Transportation

Overland vehicle,Open safari vehicle,Mokoro

Tour Type

Small Group

Guide Language

English

Starts

Johannesburg, Botswana

Finishes

Johannesburg, Botswana

Accommodations

Basic

Travel Style

Overland Expedition

Physical Rating

Average

Itinerary

Day 1: Johannesburg

Sawubona! Welcome to South Africa. Your adventure begins in Johannesburg with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, maybe visit the eye-opening Apartheid Museum to start your journey with some crucial history before meeting up with your group. After the meeting, why not head out for an optional group dinner and get to know your newfound travel companions. Your leader can point you in the right direction with the best bar and restaurant recommendations.

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 2: Khama Rhino Sanctuary

Leaving South Africa behind, cross the border into Botswana this morning and travel towards the Khama Rhino Sanctuary. Situated on the edge of the Kalahari Desert, the Khama Rhino Sanctuary has drastically changed from a former hunting area to a conservation project. Built to protect Botswana's only remaining populations of both black and white rhinos, the sanctuary is also home to other wildlife including zebras, giraffes, leopards, ostriches and wildebeest, all of which can be seen grazing the many waterholes. Visiting this project benefits local communities and directly contributes to protecting the endangered white rhino. Later, you’ll head out on a dusk game drive to hopefully spot the rhinos when they’re most active.

Included Activities:

Khama Rhino Sanctuary - Sunset Game Drive Open Vehicle

Accommodation:

Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 3: Maun

This morning you’ll drive to Maun – the gateway to one of the world's most complex ecosystems, the Okavango Delta. A 16,000 square km maze of lush wetlands and waterways teeming with wildlife, this place is unlike anywhere else in the world. When you arrive, there will be an opportunity to stock up on any supplies you might need for your adventure ahead. Look out for the resident hippos, crocodiles, elephants and big cats in the delta. The animals aren’t the only drawcard, though! The waterscapes and shimmering horizon are enough to write home about.

Accommodation:

Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 4: Okavango Delta

Today you’ll get right in the action and jump aboard a traditional mokoro – a dugout canoe steered by friendly local 'polers'. Cruise the Okavango waterways and look out for the delta's unusual wildlife and exotic birds. Spend some time today exploring the maze of lagoons, lakes and streams on foot too, with your experienced local guides. Tonight, you’ll camp on a remote island right in the heart of the wilderness! Fall asleep to the humming and buzzing of the African heartlands and soak up one of those ‘I’m so far from home’ moments.

Accommodation:

Bush camp (no facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 5: Okavango Delta

Wake up nice and early this morning and head out on a sunrise walk. Along the way, keep watch for elephants and if the timing is right, you might also come across some Cape buffalo! These noble-looking beasts are more dangerous than they look and their horns double as bone shield that's fittingly known as a 'boss'. Return to camp for breakfast, where you’ll have the rest of the day to relax. A refreshing swim, or maybe a nap could be on the cards – both good ideas in the warmer part of the day. Alternatively, take another optional mokoro trip to soak up that serene river atmosphere.

Included Activities:

Okavango Delta - Sunrise Walk

Accommodation:

Bush camp (no facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 6: Maun

After taking down your camp, return to the ‘poler’ station by mokoro, before continuing to Maun by vehicle. When you arrive, you’ll have the option to embark on a scenic helicopter flight over the Okavango Delta, where you'll be treated to a breathtaking bird's eye view of the shimmering waterways and lush landscapes, a truly magical perspective of one of the world's most unique ecosystems.

Optional Activities:

Okavango Delta - Helicopter Scenic Flight (280 USD)

Accommodation:

Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 7: Nata

Get up early and hit the road for Nata. This small town sits near the stunning Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, which are some of the largest on Earth covering around 12,000 square km. This afternoon, you’ll take an excursion in an open-air vehicle to explore these seemingly endless plains in the Nata Bird Sanctuary. Surrounded by the Kalahari Desert, the pans are naturally dry and salty for a large part of the year. During this time, the arid landscape has an eerie feel and the heat mirages can make you feel disoriented. After the rains hit, the pans become a grassy refuge for migratory birds and animals – a perfect setting for wildlife lovers!

Included Activities:

Nata - Makgadikgadi Salt Pans 4WD Excursion

Accommodation:

Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 8: Chobe National Park

Hit the road this morning and make tracks for Chobe National Park – Botswana's first ever national park. This area is perhaps best known for its high concentration of elephants, which can often be seen swimming in the Chobe River. The river also attracts wallowing hippos, crocodiles by the water's edge, cheetahs, lions and a huge variety of birdlife. When you arrive, you’ll be treated to a sunset cruise on the Chobe River – an ideal way to spend the afternoon, watch the sun descend and toast to another day in Africa.

Included Activities:

Chobe National Park - River Cruise

Accommodation:

Camping (with shared facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 9: Victoria Falls

Why not wake up early and see Chobe National Park from a different perspective with an optional morning game drive. After, the group will travel to Victoria Falls, crossing the border into Zimbabwe just in time to have lunch on the banks of the Zambezi River. Enjoy some free time to experience the sights and sounds of the mighty falls at your own pace. This thundering curtain of water is about 1.7 km wide, falling 108 m into a narrow gorge below. In the wet season, the spray can rise an incredible 400 m as the falls become a raging torrent. In the dry season, the view of the falls is unobstructed by spray, and you can see the little islets in the river below. This evening, dine on a traditional a traditional Zimbabwe dinner hosted by a women's cooperative within the community. Learn how this initiative not only provides employment opportunities but also benefits the Victoria Falls community as a whole.

Included Activities:

Victoria Falls – Traditional Zimbabwe Dinner

Optional Activities:

Victoria Falls - Victoria Falls Entrance Fee (50 USD)
Chobe National Park - Open Safari Vehicle Morning Game Drive (580 BWP)
Victoria Falls - Sunset Cruise (50 USD)

Accommodation:

Camping (with shared facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 10: Victoria Falls

Today, why not check out the Zimbabwe side of the falls, which offers the broadest view of this colossal natural wonder. Alternatively, the scenic helicopter flights are incredible – if you opt for one, the Zambezi Helicopter Company (CAA Zimbabwe) is the only operator Intrepid endorses. Explore as you wish, but please be sure to return to camp by 6 pm for a meeting with your new group. After, you could get your new group together and get acquainted over a pint at one of the local breweries or watch as the sun goes down on an optional river cruise.

Optional Activities:

Victoria Falls - Standard Sunset Cruise (excludes USD10 NP Fee) (45 USD)
Victoria Falls - Bridge Tour (68 USD)
Victoria Falls - Bridge Swing (168 USD)
Victoria Falls - Traditional Village Tour (55 USD)
Victoria Falls - Whitewater rafting (Seasonal - excludes USD10 NP Fee) (126 USD)
Victoria Falls - River Song Sunset Cruise (excludes USD10 NP Fee) (75 USD)
Victoria Falls - Jet Boat (Seasonal - excludes USD10 NP Fee) (110 USD)
Victoria Falls - Helicopter flight (12 mins - excludes USD25 Fuel & NP Fee) (150 USD)
Victoria Falls - Helicopter flight (25 mins - excludes USD30 Fuel & NP Fee) (284 USD)

Accommodation:

Camping (with shared facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 11: Hwange National Park

If you haven’t seen Victoria Falls yet, this morning is your last opportunity. You’ll have to arrive at opening time (6 am from September to April and 6.30 am from May to August). This is a great time to see the falls, as sunrise casts a unique light on the cascades and there are little tourists to interrupt the view. Then, you’ll leave Victoria Falls behind and head to Hwange National Park via the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust – one of the projects The Intrepid Foundation supports. Here, you can learn about the rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife, human-wildlife conflict and the Trust’s role in anti-poaching. There may also be a chance to meet any rescued or orphaned wildlife currently in their care. Hwange National Park became the royal hunting grounds of the Ndebele warrior-king Mzilikazi in the early 19th century and was set aside as a national park in 1929. Today, Hwange boasts a tremendous selection of wildlife, with over 100 species of mammals and nearly 400 bird species. The elephants of Hwange are world famous – you'll find one of the largest elephant populations in Africa here! Spend this afternoon exploring and discover the arena in an open 4WD vehicle with expert local guides.

Included Activities:

Victoria Falls - Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust (The Intrepid Foundation partner) visit
Hwange National Park - Guided 4x4 Game Drive

Accommodation:

Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 12: Matobo National Park

Make tracks for Matobo National Park this morning. Shortly after leaving Hwange, stop at the Painted Dog Conservation Centre. The loss of quality habitat and poaching are driving the painted dog (also known as African wild dog) towards extinction. Learn about how they protect and increase the range and numbers of painted dogs in Zimbabwe and the Hwange ecosystem as a whole. Then it's on to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second-largest city. Take a stroll through the streets lined with old buildings and stop in at a local cafe or restaurant for lunch before heading to your camp for the next two nights. Home to a large population of black and white rhinoceroses that can be tracked on foot, Matobo National Park is also the site of the grave of Cecil John Rhodes – the founder of Rhodesia and the De Beers diamond company. The Matobo area has great spiritual and cultural significance to the local people and there are many sites within the park where important ceremonies still take place.

Included Activities:

Hwange - Painted Dog Conservation visit

Accommodation:

Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 13: Matobo National Park

Matobo National Park has an incredibly diverse range of birdlife and wildlife and is home to both Black and White rhino. This morning, you have a unique opportunity to track white rhinos on foot with the help of an expert local guide. There will also be the chance to spot other game – the park is home to klipspringers, leopards, warthogs and springhares. You can also learn about the various local plants and trees, including wild pear and paperbark, while discovering San paintings and the rock formations of the park. After lunch, venture to a nearby village and meet some of the local people. Learn about how it was when they were living in the hills and meet with some of the local personalities – including elderly chief Pondo.

Included Activities:

Matobo National Park - Rhino Tracking
Matobo National Park - San Rock Paintings

Accommodation:

Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 14: Tshipise

This morning, leave Zimbabwe behind and cross a very busy border post – the only direct border crossing between Zimbabwe and South Africa. You should arrive at your camping site on the edge of Honnet Nature Reserve in the late afternoon. Relax and enjoy the extensive facilities available including an indoor and outdoor pool, putt putt, a nature trail.

Accommodation:

Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 15: Makushu Village

Make your way to Makushu – a small village in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. When you arrive, you’ll be met by a local village guide. You’ll be staying with homestay host mothers in their family homes. With no two days the same for local villagers, you might be taking part in activities like beading, dancing, beer tasting and cooking. Tonight, you can interact with the local villagers and learn the traditional Venda ways.

Included Activities:

Makushu Homestay - Beading, Cooking or Dancing

Accommodation:

Homestay (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 16: Kruger National Park

After breakfast today, you’ll make the epic journey towards Kruger National Park. Along the way, you'll get the extraordinary opportunity to visit the Black Mambas headquarters, the world's first all-female anti-poaching unit made up of 36 young African women. Supported by the Intrepid Foundation, the Black Mambas are turning a traditionally male-dominated industry on its head, they’re putting their female prowess to work protecting the wildlife of Kruger National Park in an unconventional way. Discover how they find and destroy snares left by poachers, set up roadblocks, patrol park perimeters, and then get an exclusive inside look into their ops room. Afterwards, head to your campsite inside Kruger National Park and fall asleep to the sounds of the wild.

Included Activities:

Kruger - Visit to Black Mambas HQ

Accommodation:

Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 17: Kruger National Park

Today, you'll embark on a full-day 4WD safari in the vast Kruger National Park, a wildlife sanctuary comparable in size to countries like Belgium and Wales. Home to the iconic "Big Five"—lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and rhinos—Kruger offers an outstanding wildlife experience in one of the world’s premier conservation areas. In addition to spotting these majestic animals, keep an eye out for giraffes, zebras, hippos, and the elusive, endangered African wild dog. As you venture deep into prime wildlife viewing zones, you'll likely encounter a diverse array of species, from graceful antelopes and elands to fast-moving cheetahs and powerful rhinos, all within the park’s breathtaking savannas and forests.

Included Activities:

Kruger National Park - Full Day 4x4 Game Drive

Accommodation:

Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 18: Johannesburg

It's time to head to Johannesburg. Along the way, you’ll take in amazing vistas at the 3 Rondavals viewpoint over Blyde River Canyon and Bourke's Luck Potholes. This is a magnificent lookout where cloud cover is usually at a minimum. Your African safari adventure comes to an end when you arrive in Johannesburg this evening. If you’d like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.

Included Activities:

Panorama Route - Bourke's Luck Potholes

Exclusions

Flights to and from origin and destinations
Airport transfers (arrival and departure)
Anything else not explicitly listed in tour inclusions
Recommended gratuities/tipping
Optional activities/tours
Personal expenses
Travel insurance
Visas, meals and beverages not stated in the list of inclusions.

Important Information

Meals

When meals are not included, your tour leader (where available) will be happy to help with restaurant recommendations, bookings, and directions. Please let us know if you have any dietary needs or preferences. We willdo our best to accommodate these, though we cannot guarantee that every request can be met.

Luggage

You are responsible for your personal belongings throughout the tour. You will need to carry your own bags between the vehicle and your hotel room. Drivers will assist with loading and unloading luggage from the vehicle.

Mobility

Travellers requiring wheelchair access should contact our sales and service team, who can make enquiries on your behalf.

Fitness Level

This tour requires an Average level of fitness. Activities are paced gently and include leisure time. You may be expected to join guided walks of up to one hour, navigate short stairways and mild inclines, and manage your own luggage. You should also be able to board and exit all transport without assistance.

Travellers are expected to be self-sufficient and capable of handling all aspects of their journey. Please discuss your circumstances and support needs with your booking agent to confirm this trip is suitable.

If you are unsure, we recommend consulting your doctor before booking or travelling. (Note: I assume each tour has a different description depending on level of fitness required).

Sightseeing

If a planned site visit is unavailable due to changes in operating hours or holiday closures, the itinerary may be altered, or a comparable activity will be substituted where possible and subject to availability.

Visas

Visa conditions can change. Once you receive your travel documents, check with the relevant embassy, consulate, or immigration office of your destination for the latest information.

It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct and valid travel documents and to comply with all entry requirements.
Non-Australian citizens must also confirm visa and identification requirements with the appropriate consulate or visa agency.
Certain occupations (for example, journalists, government officials, or those working in charities) may face additional restrictions when applying for visas, which could affect the type of application required.

Departure Dates & Surcharges: See checkout for live dates and availability.

AUD $4,995

(Tour only)

Per Person Twin Share

Duration: 18 days

Trip Type: Small Group

Activity Level: Average

Discover Southern Africa's waterways, national parks and the wildlife that calls them home on this 18-day adventure.

Check Availability Brochure

Price based on per person in Double Room for departure 20 Mar 2026

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Customer Reviews

Overall Rating

Excellent

4.5

Guide

Excellent

4.5

Itinerary

Excellent

4.5

Accommodations

Excellent

4.5

Transportation

Excellent

4.5

Tour Operator

Excellent

4.5

Food

Excellent

4.5

5.0

Michael

Traveled, May 2025

05/28/2025

To say it exceeded our expectations would be an understatement. The route itself is well put together, and whilst the long drives are challenging, it's worth it to be able to explore more of the three beautiful countries. We managed to see so much in what felt like such little time. The safari's were extremely well organised and everything went away without a hitch. The local guides were brilliant and welcoming and shared their knowledge. All the stops were worthwhile and justified the journey times! Thank you Leroy, Ricardo & Dumisani!

5.0

Natale

Traveled, May 2025

05/28/2025

The Johannesburg to Johannesburg trip was excellent. Our tour guide Leroy, cook Richardo and driver Dumi, worked together seamlessly with much care and good humour- making our trip truely amazing. The widelife was incredible. We saw everything we hoped to and more - including a leopard and lions! Highly recommended.

Tour Operator

Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.

In Business Since 1989

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