After breakfast at the hotel, return to Johannesburg O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) for your internal flight to Hoedspruit (‘Hat Creek’ in Afrikaans). Upon touchdown, you’ll be met by a tour representative and transferred to your first safari lodge stay.
At your lodge, you’ll find an opportunity to slow down and connect with Africa’s wilds. Large, open windows and glass-encased spaces frame the jungle as you take in the surrounding nature.
This afternoon, head out on your first safari game drive, followed by dinner and drinks.
Travel time: Flight – approx. one hour / Driving – approx. three hours
Kruger game drive
Roam wild and free as you explore the Mpumalanga region. Admire Kruger National Park’s granite kopjes (hills), the Lebombo Mountains and tropical forests that cover this huge park.
Spend your days engaging with the lodge’s safari program. Kruger offers some of the best wildlife-viewing in the world, including Africa’s most coveted safari animals such as the ‘Big Five’ – elephants, lions, leopards, rhinoceros and African buffalo.
Enjoy evenings with good company, great food and hours spent beneath the stars.
Kruger game drive
Today brings another opportunity to explore the vast landscapes of Kruger National Park on both morning and afternoon game drives. With a second full day in the reserve, you’ll deepen your experience of the bush, tracking wildlife across different habitats and observing behaviours that shift with the changing light.
Set out early once again in search of the park’s apex predators, then return in the afternoon to encounter herds of grazing animals and perhaps catch a glimpse of big cats emerging as the day slowly draws to a close.
Kruger game drive
After breakfast, depart for Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) and your international flight to Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) – the gateway to one of the world’s most dramatic natural cascades. After touching down, you’ll be met and transferred to your Zimbabwe accommodation.
This afternoon, watch the sun set over the falls as you cruise along the Zambezi River high above them. Your cruise includes complimentary snacks, beer, wine and local spirits.
Travel time: Flight – approx. two hours
Victoria Falls sunset river cruise
Today, learn about Victoria Falls on a guided tour from the Zimbabwean side. Hear about the geological formation of Victoria Falls, their ‘discovery’ by David Livingstone and the abundance of birdlife that call the region home.
Victoria Falls guided tour
After a hearty breakfast, you’ll be driven to your next accommodation – Cresta Mowana Safari Resort & Spa, a riverside retreat in the heart of Botswana’s bush, on the edge of Chobe National Park. Enjoy views across the floodplains and a unique lodge atmosphere – the entirety of the hotel is under thatched roofing.
The park is home to Africa’s largest elephant population, buffalo herds, lions, leopards, hippos, crocodiles and a vast number of beautiful birds. During your first safari drive this afternoon, learn of the rich ecosystems of the park, which lend themselves to a diversity of flora and fauna.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 75 minutes
With countless riverbank pathways and a wealth of amenities – including a bar, resident lounge, dining patio, golf course and safari boutique – Cresta Mowana Safari Resort & Spa is your launching pad to safari splendour. Enjoy a wide range of included activities at leisure.
During your included drives, watch for elephants feeding and washing, spot stampeding herds of buffalo and keep an eye out for hyenas hiding from prowling lions.
After a delicious breakfast, wave goodbye to Chobe National Park as you make your way to the Okavango Delta – an inland river delta in northern Botswana. You’ll take a shared transfer to Kasane International Airport (BBK) and then a light aircraft flight to Khwai River Airport (KHW). Once touched down, transfer to Hideaways Mankwe Tented Retreat in an open game viewing vehicle, with wildlife spotting along the way.
Situated on a private concession east of the Moremi Game Reserve in the Okavango Delta, Hideaways Mankwe Tented Retreat is your home for the next three nights, featuring all-inclusive dining and drinks, plus exclusive safari activities. The retreat offers 10 eco-friendly Meru-style tents, each with a private balcony, ensuite bathrooms with twin basins and showers overlooking the scenic surrounds.
Included in your Hideaways Mankwe Tented Retreat stay:
- Daily breakfast
- Daily lunch
- Nightly dinner
- Unlimited free-flow house beer and wine
- Daily morning and afternoon game drives OR a full-day game drive
- Nightly game drives (on request)
- One mokoro excursion
Game Drives
Hideaways Mankwe Tented Retreat provides game drives across Moremi Game Reserve, the Chobe Corridor, Khwai Concession and its own private concession. Set in the heart of Botswana’s wilderness, the lodge is regularly visited by elephants, buffalo, lions, leopards and wild dogs, offering guests front-row views of the African Bushveld and superb birdwatching.
Night Game Drives
These two-hour drives offer a rare opportunity to see nocturnal wildlife, from owls to elusive predators, revealing a different side of the wilderness after dark.
Please note nightly game drives are on request and must be organised immediately on arrival.
Mokoro Excursion
The Khwai River – a vital water source along a seasonal migration route – makes the area a wildlife haven. A mokoro ride – floating in a traditional dugout canoe – offers a unique perspective on Botswana’s wildlife. Once essential for transportation across the Okavango Delta, mokoros now play a key role in sustainable tourism.
Awake early and sip coffee on your private deck, ready for a day chasing the Big Five.
Included in your Hideaways Mankwe Tented Retreat stay:
- Daily breakfast
- Daily lunch
- Nightly dinner
- Unlimited free-flow house beer and wine
- Daily morning and afternoon game drives OR a full-day game drive
- Nightly game drives (on request)
- One mokoro excursion
Game Drives
Hideaways Mankwe Tented Retreat provides game drives across Moremi Game Reserve, the Chobe Corridor, Khwai Concession and its own private concession. Set in the heart of Botswana’s wilderness, the lodge is regularly visited by elephants, buffalo, lions, leopards and wild dogs, offering guests front-row views of the African Bushveld and superb birdwatching.
Night Game Drives
These two-hour drives offer a rare opportunity to see nocturnal wildlife, from owls to elusive predators, revealing a different side of the wilderness after dark.
Please note nightly game drives are on request and must be organised immediately on arrival.
Mokoro Excursions
The Khwai River – a vital water source along a seasonal migration route – makes the area a wildlife haven. A mokoro ride – floating in a traditional dugout canoe – offers a unique perspective on Botswana’s wildlife. Once essential for transportation across the Okavango Delta, mokoros now play a key role in sustainable tourism.
Awake early and sip coffee on your private deck, ready for a day chasing the Big Five.
Included in your Hideaways Mankwe Tented Retreat stay:
- Daily breakfast
- Daily lunch
- Nightly dinner
- Unlimited free-flow house beer and wine
- Daily morning and afternoon game drives OR a full-day game drive
- Nightly game drives (on request)
- One mokoro excursion
Game Drives
Hideaways Mankwe Tented Retreat provides game drives across Moremi Game Reserve, the Chobe Corridor, Khwai Concession and its own private concession. Set in the heart of Botswana’s wilderness, the lodge is regularly visited by elephants, buffalo, lions, leopards and wild dogs, offering guests front-row views of the African Bushveld and superb birdwatching.
Night Game Drives
These two-hour drives offer a rare opportunity to see nocturnal wildlife, from owls to elusive predators, revealing a different side of the wilderness after dark.
Please note nightly game drives are on request and must be organised immediately on arrival.
Mokoro Excursion
The Khwai River – a vital water source along a seasonal migration route – makes the area a wildlife haven. A mokoro ride – floating in a traditional dugout canoe – offers a unique perspective on Botswana’s wildlife. Once essential for transportation across the Okavango Delta, mokoros now play a key role in sustainable tourism.
After breakfast, wave goodbye to the wild heart of Botswana as you take a shared transfer to Maun International Airport (MUB) for your onward journey.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 2 hours