Johannesburg - Johannesburg Expedition
Itinerary and Costing
| Date | Travel | Accommodation | Style | Meals inc. | Comments |
| Day 1 | Arrive JNB - PAL | Ithumela | Camping | Y (L, D) | Thorough Welcome and Briefing |
| Day 2 | PAL - NAT | Nata Lodge | Camping | Y (B, L, D) | Optional Activities |
| Day 3 | NAT - MAU | Sitatunga | Camping | Y (B, L, D) | |
| Day 4 | | Okavango Delta | Camping | Y (B, L, D) | Two night Mokoro Safari in the Delta |
| Day 5 | | Okavango Delta | Camping | Y (B, L, D) | |
| Day 6 | | Sitatunga | Camping | Y (B, L, D) | |
| Day 7 | MAU - GWE | Planet Baobab | Camping | Y (B, L, D) | Optional Activities |
| Day 8 | GWE - KAS | Chobe Safari Lodge | Camping | Y (B, L, D) | |
| Day 9 | | Chobe Safari Lodge | Camping | Y (B, L, D) | Game Drive and River Cruise Included |
| Day 10 | KAS - VFA | Guest House | Camping | Y (B, L, D) | Victoria Falls Viewing |
| Day 11 | | Guest House | Camping | Y (B, L, D) | Boma Dinner |
| Day 12 | VFA - HWN | Miombo | Camping | Y (B, L, D) | Game Drive and Park Fees Included |
| Day 13 | HWN - GWR | Antelope Park | Camping | Y (B, L, D) | Lion Walk plus One Other Activity |
| Day 14 | | Antelope Park | Camping | Y (B, L, D) | |
| Day 15 | GWR - TSH | Tshipise | Rondavel | Y (B, L, D) | Hot springs |
| Day 16 | Depart JNB | | | Y (B, L) | |
Some help with the abbreviations: JNB: Johannesburg; PAL: Palapye; NAT: Nata; MAU: Maun; GWE: Gweta; KAS: Kasane; VFA: Victoria Falls; HWN: Hwange; GWR: Gweru; TSH: Tshipise.
Cost: For 15, or more students: GBP 1,410 per person, sharing
What this includes:
All transport, road taxes and cross border fees
Fully equipped safari vehicle (tents, cooking utensils, etc.)
Services of our driver, guide and cook
All food and drinks (cordials, tea and coffee)
All camping / accommodation fees as per the itinerary
Victoria Falls Viewing and Boma Dinner Included
2 Night Mokoro Safari Included
Game Drive, River Cruise and Park Fees Included at Chobe National Park
Game Drive and Park Fees at Hwange National Park
Lion Walk plus One Activity of your choice at Antelope Park
What this excludes:
Items of a personal nature, personal insurances, visas, sodas, meals taken in restaurants
Optional activities.
Itinerary in full
Day 1: Palapye
Arriving in Johannesburg, the team will be met at the airport by our guides. We will immediately board the overland truck and drive to Palapye. Our destination will be Ithumela Camp in Botswana, where our accommodation will be camping. A long travel day awaits us today with plenty of opportunity to sleep, play games, etc in your overland truck. Tonight we will have a thorough welcome and briefing.
Day 2: Nata
Today our make our way to Nata lodge, where we will overnight on our way to the Okavango Delta. Our accommodation will be camping.
Day 3: Sitatunga, Okavango Delta.
Our destination today is Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta. Once we arrive we will set up camp at Sitatunga campsite.
The following morning we make our way into the fertile plains of the Okavango Delta. The impressive Okavango River spills its contents into the Kalahari Desert to create one of the world's only true inland deltas. We set up camp on islands in the Delta and spend the next two days exploring its waterways by foot and dugout canoes (mokoros). The Okavango supports a unique ecosystem that boasts an abundance of animal and plant life. Our days will be full as we track the many different species that rely on the Okavango for their survival as well as simply enjoy the remoteness and tranquillity of the area.
On day 6 we return from the Delta in the morning to Maun where we will enjoy the swimming pool at Sitatunga Campsite. We will have the day to enjoy the optional activities on offer, such as a scenic flight over the Delta.
Day 7: Gweta
In the morning we head East to the small town of Gweta. Gweta is not the attraction but rather the Ntwetwe and Nxai Xini Pans. The pans are a vast, unspoilt moonscape expanse of the largest area of nothing on earth. The pans are an area the size of Switzerland, with not a single human inhabitant. The 360 degree view of flat, white horizon is really quite breathtaking! Upon arrival you may be briefed on the optional activities on offer for you to have a chance to explore the Ntwetwe and Nxai Xini pans. Our accommodation will be camping at Planet Baobab.
Day 8 & 9: Kasane
Midway through the morning we will leave for Kasane, the entrance point into Chobe National Park, renowned as Africa's greatest Elephant sanctuary. Our accommodation will be camping at Chobe Safari Lodge.
On our second day at Chobe, we'll have an early rise as we reach the national park gates in time for a morning game drive. The afternoon holds a spectacular sunset cruise on the Chobe River. Whether you are on the morning game drive or the sunset cruise expect to encounter a large variety of wildlife at this magnificent reserve.
Day 10 - 11: Victoria Falls
Today we travel the adventure capital of southern Africa - the Victoria Falls - one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Known as "Mosi-oa-Tunya" or "The smoke that thunders", by the local Batonga people, the falls are both thrilling and captivating. Victoria Falls town itself offers a wide range of adventure activities including white water rafting and bungee jumping. Included in our itinerary is Victoria Falls viewing and a Boma dinner. Our accommodation will be in rooms at a guest house.
If you opt for the Zambian side of Victoria Falls, Livingstone, our accommodation will be in Lux Tents at the Zambezi Waterfront.
Day 12: Hwange
Having enjoyed our time in Victoria Falls, today we head for Hwange, the largest national park in Zimbabwe. This evening we will camp at Miombo lodge which is on the border of Hwange National Park. Hwange is also home to the Big 5 (Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Elephant and Rhino). Be sure to carry a torch at night as large game regularly passes through the camp. Included in our itinerary is a Game Drive in the National Park. Our accommodation will be camping.
Day 13 & 14: Gweru
Our Destination today is Antelope Park, quietly tucked away just 10 km from the city of Gweru, the park has more than 23 species of wildlife and over 150 varieties of birds which can be viewed on the back of an elephant, on horseback or on foot accompanied by lion cubs. Highlights of a visit to the park include walking with lions and 'swimming with elephants'. Your time here is yours, you can choose what optional activities you would like to participate in or you can just sit by the pool and enjoy the African sunshine. Included in our itinerary are a lion walk plus ne other activity of your choice. We will again be camping during our stay here.
Day 15: Tshipise
After breakfast, we begin our journey to back South Africa. Once on the tar road we will travel to Beit Bridge, the border between South Africa and Zimbabwe. Mentally prepare yourself for an hour or two at the border. After crossing the border, a short drive on the South African side will take us to Tshipise were we can relax in the hot springs that are on site - just what we need before the long flight home!
Day 16: Depart Johannesburg
Again, we will make a fairly early start and make our way to Johannesburg. This afternoon we will say our final goodbyes and drop the team off well ahead of their return flight home.