The BEST of SOUTHERN AFRICA: Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia - Fly-in/out, Women Only, Wildlife-Photo Safari - 13 days/12 nights

Download and Print Our Women Only Best of Southern Africa Safari Itinerary (Adobe pdf)

---

---

Our first experience during this "Best of southern Africa" adventure includes discovering Victoria Falls, both the town and the falls from the Zimbabwe side, plus a rare opportunity to visit an elephant orphanage and participate in an elephant back safari excursion. After three days in Victoria Falls, our adventure continues as we head to Hwange National Park. Situated on the eastern edge of the Kalahari Desert, Hwange National Park is Zimbabwe's premier wildlife area and the dry home to one of the densest concentrations of game in Africa. Its ecological diversity guarantees large numbers of game year-round along with excellent birding. We'll see Massive herds of elephant, buffalo and sable antelope, white and black rhino, high concentrations of predator species including lion, leopard, cheetah and hyena, a large population of African wild dog and over 400 bird species.

Next stop during this luxury, fly-in/fly-out safari, we head to Namibia's Caprivi Strip, the country's wettest region which is a thin, lush, subtropical sliver of Kalahari sand with tropical waterways and rivers that are rich with wildlife. The Caprivi Strip is surrounded by 4 perennial rivers – Chobe, Kwando, Linyanti and the mighty Zambezi! It's a complete contrast with the rest of the country's climate and geography. These waterfront areas combine riverine forests with vast wetlands, attracting over 600 species of bird and 4 of the "BIG 5" (less rhino).

Our third destination during our "Best of southern Africa" safari takes us to Botswana, a land of diverse beauties. Botswana is ideally located in the heart of southern Africa, and has enjoyed remarkable economic growth since independence. From being one of the poorest countries, Botswana has emerged as one the fastest growing economies in the world. Its natural beauty lies in its wilderness, wildlife and cultural diversity. Hunting and gathering is practiced by all tribesmen but is guided by very strict traditional conservation strategies. This cultural heritage has enabled Botswana to preserve vast and diverse species of wildlife and natural resources. At least 17% of Botswana is reserved as parks, which facilitates the protection of the fragile natural environment. Tourism accounts for about 40% of the employment opportunities in Botswana. Among the major attractions is the Okavango Delta, said to be the largest inland delta in the world.

Throughout this exclusive, luxury, fly-in/fly-out photo safari, we'll enjoy daily game (wildlife) drives in open top 4x4 jeeps, walking and water safari excursions and cultural village visits. Start planning today ! Join this Roam Adventure to discover the BEST of southern Africa: Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana in one majestic trip of a lifetime!

Scroll to bottom of page for 2013 trip date and price.

ITINERARY

Travelers take an overnight flight from their home to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. For USA and Canadian travelers, there are daily flights from New York's JFK airport on South African Airways.

Overnight International Flight - D

On arrival into Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, after clearing customs and collecting your bag, we meet as a group to transfer to our hotel. A ROAM associate meets travelers at the airport as they arrive, and to get the group organized for transfer with our destination specialist representative to the Victoria Falls Hotel where we will spend two nights. Game (wildlife) viewing activity after arrival.

Overnight Victoria Falls Hotel - D

About The Victoria Falls Hotel - popularly known as "the grand old lady of the Falls", is situated in the Victoria Falls National Park, a world heritage site, and is a member of the exclusive Leading Hotels of the World group. The Edwardian-style five-star hotel, built in 1904, combines the charm of the old with the convenience of the new. Set in lush tropical gardens with lily ponds, palm trees and semi-tropical shrubs, it provides the tranquility and seclusion that many guests seek. The famous Victoria Falls are just a ten-minute walk away using the hotel's private pathway, and "the smoke that thunders" or "Mosi-O-Tunya" in the local dialect, is clearly audible and visible from this luxurious landmark. If you wish to take in some game viewing, a 3 mile drive (or walk) will bring you to the national park and, guided by professional rangers, you will have the opportunity to seek out Zimbabwe's "big five" - elephant, rhino, leopard, lion, and buffalo.

Enjoy the morning at leisure in Victoria Falls. The falls are just a 10 minute walk away for us to enjoy their beauty. We also have Victoria Falls town at our disposal. In the afternoon, we head to the elephant orphanage to care for the elephants followed by an elephant back safari.

Overnight Victoria Falls Hotel - B/L/D

This morning, after breakfast and check-out from the hotel, we transfer to Davison's Camp where we will spend three nights. Morning and evening game (wildlife) viewing drives.

Overnight Little Makololo Camp - B/L/D

Little Makololo Camp Little Makalolo Camp Little Makalolo Camp lies in the heart of Hwange National Park, in one of its best game viewing areas, overlooking a vibrant waterhole. The camp's six rooms have en-suite facilities, with both indoor and outdoor showers. Solar power is used for electricity ensuring a lighter environmental footprint. The living areas include a dining room, lounge, plunge pool and an open fire area for those convivial evening fireside tales. There is a log pile hide overlooking the waterhole in front of camp where guests can enjoy wildlife viewing during the siesta hours. Activities at Little Makalolo Camp centre on open 4x4 Land Rover game drives and guided nature walks throughout the Makalolo concession. The area's large number of waterholes attracts game in both quantity and variety, especially in the winter months when Hwange is literally home to a Noah's Ark parade of animals as they come down to quench their thirst. Makalolo is one of the best areas for seeing impressive herds of buffalo and elephant as well as apex predators such as lion, leopard, wild dog and cheetah. Other general game is very abundant in the Park. Bird life in the area is prolific (400+) and varied, with species frequenting teak woodlands as well as those more typical of the drier Kalahari being present.

On safari (game viewing drives) 2 days in the Linkwasha Concession!   Morning and evening game (wildlife) drives.

About Hawange National Park - The park covers over 14,600 square kilometres. The park is close to the edge of the Kalahari desert, a region with little water and very sparse, xerophile vegetation. The Park hosts 105 mammal species, including 19 large herbivores and eight large carnivores. All Zimbabwe's specially protected animals are to be found in Hwange and it is the only protected area where gemsbok and brown hyena occur in reasonable numbers. The population of African wild dogs to be found in Hwange is thought to be of one of the largest surviving groups in Africa today. Elephants have been enormously successful in Hwange and the population has increased to far above that naturally supported by such an area.

Overnight Little Makololo Camp - B/L/D

Today, after our morning game viewing activity and brunch, we transfer via private light aircraft to Kasane Airport (approximate flight time: 1hr). Game viewing en-route via our aircraft. On arrival, we transfer by road to Kasane Immigration where we will complete customs and immigration and then transfer via boat (approximate transfer time: 25min) to Impalila Island Lodge where we will spend three nights. Game (wildlife) viewing activities this afternoon.

Overnight Muchenje Safari Lodge - B/L/D

About Muchenje Safari Lodge - the lodge is on the border of the renowned Chobe National Park, is set on an escarpment edge with breath-taking views over the Caprivi Strip. Muchenje is the ONLY lodge to be found in this area, offering a unique wilderness experience and uninhibited game (wildlife) viewing. Twin-bedded, thatched, en suite chalets are sited on the escarpment edge, each with its own balcony and unique view. The chalets are exquisitely furnished and great care has been taken to create the unique African "ambience". The thatched main lodge includes a dining area, lounge, bar, reception and game viewing platform overlooking the waterhole. The swimming pool, built amongst natural rock formations, takes full advantage of the African vista and provides a tranquil setting for guests to relax during the heat of the day. Activities include game drives, night drives, bush walks, motorboat excursions, Cultural visit to Muchenje village and school. Encounter Africa's big game and birdlife by boat.

On safari both days in the Caprivi Strip! Morning and evening game (wildlife) drives and water game viewing activities also.

About the Caprivi Strip - There are 13 regions in Namibia, but of these only the Caprivi boasts 6 ethnic tribes – Subia, Yeyi, Mafwe, San, Tortela and Mbukushu. Amazingly, they have adapted a Zambian language – Lozi – as a common medium of communication. The Caprivi is also the only region that shares its borders with 4 other countries – Angola, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe, all members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Another huge drawcard is that the Caprivi is surrounded by 4 perennial rivers – Chobe, Kwando, Linyanti and the mighty Zambezi, all areas of wildlife concentration!

Overnight Muchenje Safari Lodge - B/L/D

Today, after our morning game activity and brunch, we transfer to the Kasane Airport arriving in time for our light aircraft transfer to Banoka Bush Camp (approximate flight time: 1hr 5min) where we will spend three nights in a luxury tented camp. Game (wildlife) viewing activities in the Okavango Delta.

Overnight Banoka Bush Camp - B/L/D

About Banoka Bush Camp - the camp is named in honor of the River San, or Banoka, ancestors of the Khoi and the earliest settlers of the Okavango Delta. It is situated in the Khwai Development Trust Community Concession, on the banks of the Khwai River in the northeastern corner of the Okavango Delta adjoining the Moremi Game Reserve. The Khwai River is the northernmost 'finger' of the Delta's alluvial fan. Here you can discover one of the most diverse areas in northern Botswana, with a wealth of wildlife to be seen on drives, walks, and traditional mokoro rides (dug out canoes) (water level dependent). Banoka Bush Camp is built along the tree line overlooking a lagoon; the whole camp is raised off the ground to take in the view. Accommodation is in ten en-suite tented rooms complete with private verandas. The main area consists of a bar, lounge, dining area and plunge pool and deck. There is an open campfire area to relax in and discuss the day's adventures. The camp is 100% solar powered. You can expect to see excellent sightings of predators including lion, wild dog, spotted hyena and African wild cat. Huge herds of buffalo along with elephant, hippo, roan, tsessebe, reedbuck, waterbuck and red lechwe to name a few are abundant in the area.

On safari in the amazing Okavango Delta! We'll enjoy both land and water game (wildlife) viewing activities.

About the Okavango Delta - The Okavango is a labyrinth of lagoons, lakes and hidden channels covering an area of over 17,000 square km and the largest inland delta in the world. Trapped in the parched Kalahari sands it is a magnet for the wildlife who depend on the permanent waters of this unique feature. Sometimes called a "swamp", the Okavango is anything but. Moving, mysterious, placid, gentle and beautiful, from a wide and winding channel it spreads through tiny, almost unnoticeable channels that creep away behind a wall of papyrus reed, into an ever expanding network of increasingly smaller passages.

These link a succession of lagoons, islands and islets of various sizes, open grasslands and flooded plains in a mosaic of land and water. Palms and towering trees abound, throwing their shade over crystal pools, forest glades and grassy knolls. The Okavango's water is remarkably clean and pure and this is almost certainly due to the fact that it passes through very sparsely populated areas on its journey from Angola. Despite this, a staggering 660 000 tons of sediment a year are delivered to its great alluvial fan. The overall length of the Delta from the border to the Thamalakane River is a little under 300kms and so the core of the Delta is approximately 200km from end to end.

Okavango Delta Wildlife - In the lush indigenous forests of the delta and its islands, and along the floodplains spawned by this great marriage of water and sand, more than 400 species of birds flourish. On the mainland and among the islands in the delta, lions, elephants, hyenas, wild dog, buffalo, hippo and crocodiles congregate with a teeming variety of antelope and other smaller animals - warthog, mongoose, spotted genets, monkeys, bush babies and tree squirrels.

Overnight Banoka Bush Camp - B/L/D

After a morning game viewing activity and breakfast, we transfer via light aircraft to Maun, Botswana airport (approximate flight time: 30min). On arrival to the Maun airport, we check-in for return flights home.   B

B = Breakfast Included, L = Lunch Included, D = Dinner Included

ROAM Adventure Paypal Booking Option

To book your ROAM Adventure using PayPal, please select your chosen trip from the deposit option form below, then click the "Buy Now" button, and follow the step by step instructions. Your ROAM deposit payment will be processed by our parent company, Off the Beaten Path, LLC (Paypal account: France Off the Beaten Path). Once we receive your deposit payment, we will contact you to collect the additional information we need to create your guest portfolio.

ROAM Adventures Deposit Options

India - October 20-29, 2012 - $500.00 USD Uganda/Rwanda - January 13-25, 2013 - $2,000.00 USD Africa Top 3-Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana -October 18-30, 2013 - $2,000.00 USD Tanzania - Kilimanjaro - February 14-March 2, 2013 - $2,500.00 USD Botswana - Zambia - April 4-13, 2013 - $2,000.00 USD Vietnam/Cambodia - May 4-17, 2013 - $500.00 USD Zimbabwe - October 8-18, 2013 - $2,000.00 USD Namibia - November 1-12, 2013 - $2,000.00 USD India - April 6-15, 2013 - $500.00 USD

Room-Share or Single Room?

Optional Message

Thanks for Choosing ROAM Adventures for your next Women's Adventure Vacation!!