Okavango Delta Safari

  • 11 Days
  • 12 People Max

    6 - 12 guests

  • Activity Level 3
    • Activity Level 3

      Earn Your Lunch

      I stay active on vacation and love the feeling of relaxing after a busy day on the go. I season my trips with a little fresh exercise.

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  • Trip Start: Maun
  • Trip End: Victoria Falls
Okavango Delta Safari Mokoro

Journey by mokoro through the Okavango Delta channels

The Okavango is one of Africa’s largest rivers and it never meets the sea. The resulting inland delta, known as the “Jewel of the Kalahari,” is comprised of 15,000 square kilometers of water channels, lagoons and islands, and boasts one of the most concentrated areas of wildlife on earth. As if that wasn’t enough, this adventure also takes you to see the famous Chobe National Park and breathtaking Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The Victoria Falls region is rich in adventure activities for adrenaline junkies!

   This trip is operated by Active Adventures.

Okavango Delta Safari ~ Itinerary

Trip Start: Maun Trip End: Victoria Falls
  • Day 1Arrive, Mokoro the Delta

  • Day 2Learn to track game on walking safari in Kopano Conservation Area

  • Day 3Walk or mokoro out of camp, Game drives in Khwai Community Concession

  • Day 4Game drives in Khwai Community Concession

  • Day 5Transfer to Moremi Game Reserve, boat cruise on the Delta

  • Day 6Game drives in the Moremi Game Reserve

  • Day 7Fly to Kasane, afternoon to relax

  • Day 8Boat Safari on Chobe River, Game drives in Chobe National Park

  • Day 9Transfer to Victoria Falls, guided walking tour of Victoria Falls

  • Day 10Bike ride around Victoria Falls, sunset cruise on Zambezi River

  • Day 11Depart

  • Day 1

    Arrive, Mokoro the Delta

    When you arrive at Maun, you’ll meet your trip leader and guide, and head straight out into the wilderness. Our transport of choice is an open game-viewing vehicle, so keep your eyes peeled for your first glimpse of Botswana’s abundant wildlife. The drive takes you to the Okavango Delta where you’ll hop into mokoros and head upstream towards your accommodation for the next two nights, a beautifully comfortable fly-camping experience in the Kopano Conservation Area, hosted by legendary local walking safari guides. Once you arrive at camp, you’ll enjoy dinner with your travel companions and relax in comfortable tents for the evening!

    Fly Camping in Kopano Conservation Area (Dinner)

  • Day 2

    Learn to track game on walking safari in Kopano Conservation Area

    Today you’ll learn how to read animal tracks and follow them through the scrub. Our armed expert local guides will show you how to decipher animal tracks, and how to determine when a particular animal passed by, how old it is, whether it was dragging a kill, or if it was injured. It’s a fascinating lesson in age-old methods, and an amazing insight into the skills of the endlessly humble guides. Your day will be filled with several walking safaris, returning to camp to fuel up on delicious food at regular intervals! Today is sure to be a highlight for you, particularly since close (and safe!) encounters with the Big 5 are likely!

    Fly Camping in Kopano Conservation Area (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

    Hiking: Up to 15 kilometers (9 miles), 5-8 hours

  • Day 3

    Walk or mokoro out of camp, Game drives in Khwai Community Concession

    This morning after breakfast at camp, you can choose whether to take the 3-hour journey back to the mokoro station on foot or by mokoro. Both options are another great opportunity to view wildlife along the way. When you reach the mokoro station, it’ll be time for a hearty lunch and a relaxing transfer towards the Khwai River. An important water source for a variety of animals in the Moremi Game Reserve, the Khwai River is a hotbed for wildlife activity and prime for bird watching as well. After a short drive to the Khwai Concession Area, you’ll arrive at your camp for the next two nights and settle into en-suite deluxe safari tents. Each tent is kitted out with a hot bush shower, bush toilet, plush beds, linens, towels, and a bedside table. You’ll enjoy delicious food cooked over an open fire by the crew and served in a mess tent. This is a "mobile safari," so the crew brings everything we’ll need, and leaves nothing behind. They use a truck to transport the whole camp, so they’ll set us up in the best spot for wildlife encounters Our expert local guides are the best at deciding which areas of the wilderness to focus our attention on and at which times of the day – all with the utmost safety in mind.

    Wilderness Mobile Safari (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

  • Day 4

    Game drives in Khwai Community Concession

    Safaris in the wilderness of Botswana are very different from one day to the next, but the following outlines a typical day on safari in the Khwai Community Area. Begin your day with an early morning wake up call, a steaming hot cup of delicious coffee, and a hearty breakfast cooked over the fire. Head out in open 4x4 vehicles as the sun rises in search for wildlife either along the Khwai River, across the open plains, or off road amongst the dense bush. Off-road driving is strictly prohibited within the national park of the Okavango, but because we’re spending this time in a private concession, we’re permitted to head off road in pursuit of following sounds and signals of wildlife for incredible viewing opportunities. We’ll find somewhere scenic for a coffee stop mid-morning and make our way back to camp for a hearty lunch and some relaxation until the afternoon game drive. We’ll head out again as the light changes and becomes perfect for photography. The animals are more active at this time of day, so don’t forget your camera! We’ll have a stop for sundowners and some snacks before heading back to camp for a hot shower, drinks around the fire, and a delicious dinner together. Your day ends with a good night’s sleep in anticipation of more safari fun tomorrow.

    Wilderness Mobile Safari (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

    Cruise: 2-3 Hours

  • Day 5

    Transfer to Moremi Game Reserve, boat cruise on the Delta

    After breakfast, our crew will pack up and move our Mobile Safari into the Moremi Game Reserve while you set off on a game drive into the Reserve, followed by a two-hour boat cruise on the channels of the Delta. Our expert guides will help locate the best points for spotting wildlife drinking at the water’s edge. After exploring the Delta by boat, you’ll arrive back at camp in the afternoon in its new location. The famous Moremi Game Reserve is a protected area in the eastern side of the Okavango Delta and is essentially the heart of the Delta. A community owned, but government managed reserve, Moremi Game Reserve covers 40% of the Okavango Delta region and protects a wide range of habitats. We’ll spend more time exploring this incredibly diverse area tomorrow!

    Wilderness Mobile Safari (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

    Kayaking: 3-4 hours

  • Day 6

    Game drives in the Moremi Game Reserve

    After a quick breakfast, we’ll set off on an early morning game drive exploring the diverse habitats of Xini/Xakanaxa areas of the Moremi Game Reserve. You’ll explore rich wildlife areas like Bodumatau, 2nd Bridge areas, Mboma Loop, Dead Tree Island, and Paradise Pools. Buffalo, elephants, zebra, and red lechwe are very commonly seen in these areas, with predators often seen in pursuit of antelope coming out of the forest for a drink. We’ll take a break in the middle of the game drive for a hot cup of coffee before continuing, returning to camp in the late morning for a hearty brunch. You’ll return to the camp in the late morning for brunch and a few hours of leisure time in camp. Catch up on some much-needed sleep, read a book, or take a hot shower! Afternoon tea will be served around 3pm, followed by an afternoon game drive. D You’ll return to camp just after sunset for a hot shower and a three-course dinner.

    Wilderness Mobile Safari (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

    Kayaking: 3 hours
    Kayaking: 1-2 hours (walk or Mokoro)

  • Day 7

    Fly to Kasane, afternoon to relax

    This morning we’ll transfer to the closest airstrip for a flight bound for Kasane in the far north of Botswana, game driving along the way. The flight to Kasane offers scenic views of the Delta, where you can see the vastness of the area you explored by only days prior. After arriving in Kasane, we’ll make our way to our accommodation for the next two nights. Depending on your departure date, you may stay at either the Chobe Bush Lodge or Chobe Safari Lodge. Both lodges are perched on the banks of the Chobe River beside the world-famous Chobe National Park, making them ideal expedition bases for game viewing. You’ll have the afternoon to relax and wind down. Enjoy a luxurious bubble bath or sit on the deck and watch roaming impala, rare Chobe bushbuck, sounders of warthog, and dung beetles too.

    Chobe Bush Lodge or Chobe Safari Lodge (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

    Hiking: Up to 15 kilometers (9 miles), 5-8 hours

  • Day 8

    Boat Safari on Chobe River, Game drives in Chobe National Park

    After breakfast, you’ll board a boat for a cruise on the Chobe River. Northern Botswana has the world’s largest concentration of elephants, and boat cruises provide a great vantage point to view this proliferation of pachyderms. We’ll return to the lodge for lunch and head back out in the afternoon to explore Chobe National Park via game driving. Chobe is teeming with wildlife. Perhaps you’ll spy Cape buffalo pausing for a drink in the afternoon or a lion stalking prey along the banks. Depending on the time of year, you could see thousands of zebras, buffalo and other wildlife grazing along the floodplains of the Chobe River. Sable antelope, roan antelope and great birdlife spend time along the river in the adjacent teak woodland, and there is a rare antelope only seen in Chobe called puku. This is sure to be an exciting day! Relax this evening and enjoy your last evening in Botswana before we hop across the border to Zimbabwe tomorrow!

    Chobe Bush Lodge or Chobe Safari Lodge (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

    Hiking: 3 hours (walk or Mokoro)

  • Day 9

    Transfer to Victoria Falls, guided walking tour of Victoria Falls

    Today we’re bound for Zimbabwe to behold Victoria Falls – one of the most breathtaking natural wonders on Earth. Although the falls are neither the tallest nor the widest on earth, they’re still classified as the biggest, due to their combination of width and height. Known by locals as ”the smoke that thunders,” Victoria Falls has a flow rate of more than 1,000 cubic meters of water every second! The town of Victoria Falls is often known as the adventure capital of Africa. Once we arrive, you’ll set off on a two-hour guided walking tour of Victoria Falls where you’ll stop at numerous lookouts, including Devil’s Cataract, Boiling Pot, Main Falls, Horseshoe Falls, and finally, Rainbow Falls – the highest point on the cascade. After the walk, settle in and relax at your accommodation for the last two nights of your trip, Ilala Lodge. This hotel is family –run and a short walk (5-10 minutes) from the Falls. The rest of the afternoon is yours to do as you please. Tonight, you’ll gather with your fellow travelers for a delicious 3-course meal at the hotel’s Palm Restaurant.

    Ilala Lodge Hotel (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

    Cruise: 2 hours

  • Day 10

    Bike ride around Victoria Falls, sunset cruise on Zambezi River

    This morning we’ll have a leisurely breakfast at our hotel restaurant, and meet our guide for a two-hour guided tour of Victoria Falls. Over the course of the walking tour, we’ll get to numerous lookouts, including Devil’s Cataract and Dr. David Livingstone’s statue close by reputed to be the first European to see Victoria Falls, as well as to viewpoints of Boiling Pot, Main Falls, Horseshoe Falls, and finally, Rainbow Falls – the highest point on the cascade. After our walk, the next few hours are yours to explore and, if you’re feeling brave, indulge in one of the endless adrenaline-fuelled activities the town is known for! Enjoy a leisurely breakfast this morning at the hotel’s restaurant before heading out for a bike ride to explore the exciting town of Victoria Falls. Cycle along the Zambezi River, visit the famous Big Tree (a baobab tree estimated to 3,500 years old), enjoy spectacular views of the Batoka Gorge and cross the Victoria Falls Bridge. You're on your own for lunch today, so make sure to ask your guides for recommendations! We’ll gather again mid-afternoon for a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River, complete with complementary drinks and snacks – it’s the photographer and explorer’s dream! After the cruise, we’ll transfer to the Boma Restaurant, where you’ll be greeted in the local languages, Shona and Ndebele, and have the opportunity to don traditional ‘chitenges’ (robes). Once you’re dressed for dinner, enjoy drinks and appetizers before taking your seats. The restaurant is partially open to the African skies and offers a vast selection of traditional Zimbabwean dishes (or western cuisine if you’d prefer). An evening of entertainment is served alongside dinner, provided by Amakwezi dancers, singers, a local storyteller, and a local healer. It’s the most perfect end to your Okavango and Victoria Falls adventure.

    Ilala Lodge Hotel (Breakfast, Dinner)

    Biking: 2 hours
    Cruise: 3 hours

  • Day 11

    Depart

    If you’re flying home today, your driver will meet you after breakfast and take you back to Victoria Falls Airport. If you’re staying in the town of Victoria Falls, or plan to continue your adventure elsewhere, you’ll find endless recommendations from your guides and the hotel staff.

    No Accommodation (Breakfast)

Trip Dates

Okavango Delta Safari Departure Dates

  • Upcoming
  • 3 months
  • 6 months
  • 1 year
USD $9999/per adult
12 Jun 2023
2023
12 Jun22 Jun
Departure Almost Full Almost Full
3 Jul 2023
2023
3 Jul13 Jul
Departure Filling Up Filling Up
24 Jul 2023
2023
24 Jul3 Aug
Departure Open Open
7 Aug 2023
2023
7 Aug17 Aug
Departure Open Open
21 Aug 2023
2023
21 Aug31 Aug
Departure Open Open
11 Sep 2023
2023
11 Sep21 Sep
Departure Open Open

Interactive Trip Map: Click on the map icons to read details for each day

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Useful info

Where does the trip start?

On the first day of the trip your guides will meet you at Maun Airport (MUB), outside the terminal doors after you’ve collected your luggage and cleared customs, around 2pm.

Where does the trip end?

Your trip ends with a drop-off at the Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) in time for flights below or we can leave you to stay longer Victoria Falls too.

What flights would you recommend?

Arrival: We recommend booking your flight to Maun with South African Airways (SAA). They have one flight per day departing Johannesburg at 11.45am.

Departure: If you’re flying back to Johannesburg today there are two flights per day, most days - departing at 12.30pm and 2pm. We’d recommend flying with South African Airways (SAA).

How fit do I need to be for this safari?

As an Activity Level 2-3 trip, you’ll need a good level of fitness for this safari. While you don’t have to be extremely fit, you should be in the habit of doing medium to long walks. Each walking activity will comprise of two walks per day; a 3-4 hour walk in the morning and a 2-3 hour walk in the afternoon and up to 15 kilometres a day (9 miles). Most of the walks on this trip are from 2 to 3 hours at a relaxed pace. The terrain surrounding the the Okavango Delta is mainly open, sandy and flat with some thicker bush patches, pans and lagoons. With a little preparation before your trip begins, you’ll enjoy the active and outdoor nature of your trip all the more. 

Please head to our Fitness Guide for great tips on how to prepare along with a workout plan!

What accommodations do we stay at on this safari?

Some nights you’ll be in deluxe tents furnished with metal cots and a bed-roll with linen provided. An en-suite is attached with either an open top shower and toilet area or a bush bathroom area which consists of a pitfall toilet and a bucket shower or standalone private baths and showers. Other nights the tents will be more basic though each location is immersed in the desert bush with great areas to spot nearby wildlife. The last 3 nights you will be staying in comfortable lodges or chalets with full ensuites.

We recommend bringing enough clothing to only have to do laundry once during your safari and while there are laundry facilities at some locations - the Lodge’s in Maun and Victoria Falls - there may only be one machine to service your entire group. You will also need to purchase laundry detergent from the reception areas.

How much luggage can I bring on this safari?

You’ll need one piece of luggage on your safari, plus a daypack. Your main piece of luggage needs to be soft-sided, preferably a small duffel bag about 50 litres in size, and a good quality daypack 25-30 litres (2000 cubic inches) to use throughout the days. 

Included in your safari itinerary is four chartered flight’s, one from Khwai Airstrip to Moremi Crossing, another from Moremi Crossing to Cement Airstrip, one from Cement Airstrip to Maun as well as your flight from Maun to Kasane. The weight requirements on these flights are maximum 15 kilograms (33 pounds) for your duffel/check in bag, and maximum 5 kilograms (11 pounds) for your daypack/ carry on. Therefore this does limit your luggage for the entire trip to 20 kilograms (not including photographic equipment) in total as your trip does not start and finish in the same place.

Tell me more about the Overnight Kayaking & Fly Camping

On the overnight kayaking segment, you’ll be out in the Kopano Conversation Area on the south east side of the
Okavango Delta for two days and one night, from where you’ll continue onto the Walking Fly Camp for two more nights. You’ll be kayaking along the lagoons and channels of the Okavango delta with your gear in one of the Mokoro’s that’ll be joining you.

The area is home to large animals and we’re likely to encounter hippos and elephants along the way while kayaking. A Mokoro with a spotter will lead the kayak excursion, scouting for any movement ahead, followed by your specialised kayak guide, all guests and a mokoro following behind.

Upon arrival back to Maun on Day 5 you’ll meet your specialised guide who’ll take you to the Kopano Conservation, it will be about one hour’s drive. Once you arrive you’ll go through a briefing before setting off on a 3-4 hour kayak excursion to the fly camp. You’ll be arriving late afternoon at the camp site along the way, the fly camp is a temporary setup for the tour specifically.
The following morning, after an early hearty breakfast and coffee, we’ll all keep heading down the channels for another 3 hours of kayaking. We’ll end the kayaking excursion once we reach an island close by to the location of the Walking Fly Camp where you’ll then have the option to either walk or mokoro to the next camp, where you’ll stay for the next 2 nights.

While on the kayaking excursion your tents will be set up in a campsite which is situated on the banks of the lagoon in an unfenced area. You’ll be sleeping in Campmor Timbavati Tents, (or similar) 2 man tents, 2.1 x 2.1 metres with bedrolls, a mattress, cotton sheets, duvet and pillow provided. There will be shared bathroom facilities and the staff will offer you hot bucket showers in the evening. The camp staff set up camp, cook, wash, set up ablutions, dismantle camp and look after all the guest’s needs and requirements.

For the kayaking segment you’ll be provided with Wilderness Systems 125 single seat kayaks along the a lifejacket, these are highly versatile touring kayaks that offer comfort, manoeuvrability and stability. The channels and lagoons are only around half a metre to a metre (1.6- 3.2 feet) deep so the lifejackets are there if needed.

What safety measures are in place for the camps and walking excursions?

You’ll be accompanied by your experienced Safari trip leader, who’s there to keep you informed about the area you’re in and make sure that everything runs smoothly; a qualified safari guide, who will provide additional local knowledge of the flora and fauna; a driver and also a team of walking guides! 

Your safety is the prime concern and decisions always default on the side of the caution and the safest option. You’ll be staying in Mobile/Fly Camps for many of the nights in this trip. The camps are set up in unfenced areas and close to the Khwai River bordering the Moremi Game Reserve. Animals (including lions and elephants) often frequent the camp and you should be aware and take caution. The local guide and his team will be on hand to assist at all times. Each Camp you stay at will also have a team of people ensuring you are well fed and catered too.

The walks take place with the two guides, both carrying a rifle, and walking in front with all 8 guests in single file behind them. The walks take place mostly in silence and normally at a slow pace, as it is all about experiencing the African bush rather than covering distance. There is no fixed route for the walks and the direction taken could depend on the sounds of the previous night, or tracks seen earlier. Should fresh tracks of the larger iconic animals be found the guide might decide to follow them and locate the animal. When this happens the pace of the walk might be fast.

Is tipping expected in Africa?

Most people do choose to tip their Active Adventures safari guides and we recommend USD$20 per day, per guest, per guide. During your Active Adventures trip, your guides will take care of all included restaurants and service tips for you. For other restaurants or services during your holiday, 5-10% is a typical gratuity amount.

How do rooming arrangements work?

Trip prices are based on shared arrangements (typically two guests per room), unless otherwise stated. For solo travellers, we’ll pair you with another person of the same gender to share rooms and if there’s no one suitable to share with, there’s no forced single supplement. However, if you specifically request your own rooms, you can opt to pay the single supplement. Solo travellers who book within 90 days of departure, where there are no other solo travellers willing to share, will be required to pay the single supplement. 

For Family Vacation bookings, families consisting of four guests traveling with children aged 17 and under will be automatically assigned one shared room. However, the following alternative rooming allocations are available:

  • Families consisting of four guests with all children aged 13 and above are welcome to opt for additional rooms as per advertised double occupancy adult rates.
  • Families consisting of four guests with at least one child aged 12 and under are automatically assigned a shared room. However, families can opt to pay the adult rates for all guests in their family to have an additional room.
  • The same principles apply for families consisting of more than four guests.

Rooming preferences are subject to availability and must be communicated in writing at time of booking. Automatic assignments as per this policy will be applied in the absence of any specification provided by guests. Any request for additional rooms during trips will be at guests’ own expense and subject to rates made available by the accommodation provider at the time. All minors (guests aged 17 and under) must be accompanied by at least one adult.

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Okavango Delta Safari