Current as of: July 28, 2026 - 10:50
Discover Botswana & Victoria Falls Trip Notes
- Ways to Travel: Guided Group
- Destination: Botswana, Zimbabwe
- Programmes: Wildlife
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Activity Level:
2 out of 7 - Easy & Moderate
- 10 Days: Land Only
- Ages: 16+
- Trip Code: WSB
Trip Overview
Combine Botswana’s big safari moments, wild camps, and a thundering finale at Victoria Falls
Explore Botswana on a thrilling safari adventure led by guides who know all the animals’ favourite hiding spots. Starting in Maun, you’ll glide along the Okavango Delta by mokoro, track wildlife in Moremi, and see the elephants of Chobe by 4×4 and boat. It finishes in Zimbabwe, marvelling at the thundering cascades of Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Staying in safari camps and lodges puts you right in the action, while trained guides ensure you squeeze every drop of animal-watching magic from this much-loved safari destination.
Is This Trip for You?
This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate) with a Wildlife Rating of Four. For more information on our trip gradings, visit the Activity Level Guidelines page or our Wildlife Holidays page for more on our Wildlife Ratings. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.
Transport: Expect some long and hot drives as we travel between game parks. On some days, we travel on paved roads, but a lot of distance is covered on dirt and sand roads. Vehicles can be difficult to get in and out for persons of reduced mobility.
Weather: October and November are the hottest months but are also good for game viewing. Please see the Weather & Seasonality section of the Trip Notes for more information.
Water safety: This trip includes time by a lake, river or sea, where there may be opportunities to swim. You should always seek local advice before deciding whether to swim. Open-water or wild swim spots should be treated with extreme caution. Information on how to keep yourself safe while swimming is shown here.
Group
There will be one tour leader who is assisted by a driver/guide, and for larger groups there will be a support vehicle with two staff.
Adult min age: 16
Min group size: 4
Max group size: 12
Itinerary
Land Only
- Start City: Maun
- End City: Victoria Falls
Land Only Itinerary
Adventure starts in Maun
Begin your adventure in Maun, a safari town on the Thamalakane River at the southern end of the Okavango Delta. Our base is Maun Waterfront, a boutique guesthouse around 10 minutes’ drive from Maun village, with views across the river, where you may spot a hippo or crocodile, and regular birdlife around the grounds.
Around 6pm, say dumela – hello in the Setswana (Tswana) language – to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead.
Your tour leader then ensures a big Botswanan welcome by arranging an al fresco group dinner at a culinary hotspot in Maun, Marc’s Eatery, which has a delightful garden setting for our first meal together.
Want more time in Maun? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.
Accommodation: Maun Waterfront (or similar)
To Mababe Private Reserve • Afternoon game drive
Leave Maun by 4×4 after breakfast and drive (approximately three hours) to Mababe Private Reserve. The final hour becomes part of the safari as we enter the reserve and game drive towards our exclusive camp, with our guide beginning to read the tracks left by the resident wildlife.
After a lunch cooked by our private chef, we head out on an afternoon game drive with our dedicated vehicle and guide. Mababe sits on the eastern side of the Okavango Delta, where the Khwai River and seasonal Mababe marsh draw large mammals and rich birdlife into the area. We return just after sunset for dinner under the stars.
Accommodation: Mababe Private Camp (or similar)
Follow the Khwai River on safari
We spend the day on safari in Mababe Private Reserve, using a network of tracks that lead us towards the Khwai River, a ‘finger’ of the Okavango Delta. With our guide, we look for signs of hippos in the water, elephants moving between feeding grounds, giraffes browsing and plains game keeping a careful watch for predators.
The area is known for elephants, lion prides and wild dogs, while the mix of river, woodland and open ground makes it rewarding for birdlife too.
Return to camp for lunch and time to refresh, then head out again for an afternoon game drive, staying out until after sunset.
Accommodation: Mababe Private Camp (or similar)
Explore the Okavango on a mokoro safari • Watch elephants at a dedicated hide
Take to the Okavango Delta this morning for a two-hour mokoro excursion on the Mbudi River, a tributary of the Khwai River. Local polers from Khwai village guide the canoes, giving us a slower, lower view of the waterways and supporting employment within the community.
We have a packed picnic lunch, then transfer to our next accommodation. In the afternoon, we visit a sunken elephant hide, providing a perspective that’s both great for photography and for seeing the animals at a different angle.
The rest of the day is at leisure, a good chance to relax by the pool, lounge, bar and dining area – all with spectacular views of the watering hole.
Accommodation: Elephant Pools Camp (or similar)
Safari through Moremi with a picnic lunch • To Maun
Start early, with breakfast around 6.30am, then leave Elephant Pools at approximately 7.30am. Rather than treating the journey as a simple transfer, we game drive towards Moremi Game Reserve and spend much of the day inside the reserve.
With a very high wildlife density, Moremi is known for having some of the best wildlife viewing in Africa and our knowledgeable guide shapes the route around conditions on the day, making the most of fresh tracks, water levels and recent sightings.
We have a picnic lunch inside the reserve, giving us more time in the field, then drive back to Maun in the afternoon (approximately two hours from the reserve). Arriving around 4pm, there is time to freshen up before dinner.
Accommodation: Maun Waterfront (or similar)
Fly to Kasane • Game drive in Chobe
Transfer to Maun airport for our flight (one hour) to Kasane. On arrival, we transfer to our boutique tented lodge on the banks of the Chobe River.
After lunch, we head into Chobe National Park for a three-hour afternoon game drive. Chobe is closely associated with elephants, with large numbers seen from both land and river, but the park also supports giraffes, buffalo, hippos, antelope, predators and prolific birdlife.
We return to the lodge after sunset, with dinner at the lodge and the Chobe River close enough to remind us that the safari day does not end when we step out of the vehicle.
Accommodation: Jackalberry Lodge (or similar)
Search Chobe by land and river • Enjoy a sundowner on deck
Head back into Chobe National Park for a three-hour morning game drive, when cooler temperatures can mean active wildlife and good tracking conditions. We return to the lodge for breakfast, then have time to relax. The infinity pool is a good place to enjoy the river setting before a late lunch.
In the afternoon, we switch perspectives with a three-hour boat trip on the Chobe River. Elephants may come to drink, hippos patrol the shallows, crocodiles hold the banks, and birds work the river margins. We enjoy a sundowner on board before returning after sunset for dinner.
Later, there is the option of a nightcap at the boma, listening for the less visible side of Chobe: frogs, insects, night birds and whatever else is moving in the dark.
Accommodation: Jackalberry Lodge (or similar)
Cross into Zimbabwe and visit Victoria Falls
We leave Botswana and cross the border into Zimbabwe, travelling to Victoria Falls.
After arrival, we can have lunch at one of the area’s iconic dining spots: The Lookout Café, which sits on the edge of Batoka Gorge, looking towards the Zambezi River and Victoria Falls Bridge!
In the afternoon, we take a guided tour of Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Our guide leads us between viewpoints, helping explain the geology, river system and seasonal differences in flow — useful context when the spray makes its own contribution.
Accommodation: Bayete Guest Lodge or PheZulu (or similar)
Choose your Victoria Falls adventure
Today is free for optional activities in and around Victoria Falls. You might return to the falls for another look in a different light, take to the Zambezi by boat, visit local markets, or choose one of the adventure activities for which the area is well known.
Your tour leader can help explain the options, timings and practicalities, so you can choose a day that suits your pace − whether that means adrenaline, wildlife, culture or a slower final day before the journey home.
Accommodation: Bayete Guest Lodge or PheZulu (or similar)
Adventure ends in Victoria Falls
You’ve glided through the Khwai waterways by mokoro, watched wildlife across Mababe, Moremi and Chobe, and stood beside the spray of Victoria Falls, but now it’s time to begin your return journey home.
Alternatively, if you’d like to extend your adventure, speak to your sales representative to discuss our large range of extension options.
Accommodation
Hotels, lodges, & private camps
We aim to secure locally owned accommodation that is well located, offers good value for money, and plenty of comfort. To help you find your ideal adventure, each trip is given a Comfort Level rating, which indicates the overall standard of accommodation. For more on our ratings, see our Comfort Level guidelines.
Maun: Maun Waterfront (nights 1 & 5)
Settle into a boutique guesthouse on the banks of the Thamalakane River. In the waterway you may see hippos and crocodiles, while the serene property is also a hotspot for birdlife. The rooms are spacious and comfortable with a contemporary-casual style, plus there’s a communal firepit to gather around at night and a dipping pool in the garden.
Mababe Private Reserve: Mababe Private Camp (nights 2-3)
Enjoy a privileged spot in the wildlife-rich Mababe Private Reserve: a private camp on the banks of the Khwai River, with exclusive use for our group. Each tent has a private bathroom, while meals are served in the river-view mess tent. This immersive experience brings us deep into the wilderness, while comforts such as hot-water showers (filled by the camp staff) and toilets help you feel fresh for your explorations.
Khwai Private Reserve: Elephant Pools Camp (night 4)
Exclusively available to groups (you really can’t organise a stay here by yourself!), Elephant Pools provides comfort and unforgettable wildlife watching deep in Khwai Private Reserve. The main attraction has to be the watering hole, which you can view from the sunken hide, providing a unique, photo-friendly perspective on the wildlife. Elsewhere, there’s a swimming pool, bar and lounge, all with prime watering hole views.
Chobe: Jackalberry Lodge (nights 6-7)
Just a short drive from the Sedudu Gate of Chobe National Park, Jackalberry is ideally placed for our safari adventure. The all-inclusive property sits right by the Chobe River, with 16 comfortable safari tents (all with private bathrooms) offering views of the waterway or the bushveld. Other facilities include an infinity dipping pool and bar, both with river views.
Victoria Falls: Bayete Guest Lodge or PheZulu (nights 8-9)
We end the adventure at either Bayete Guest Lodge or PheZulu, both part of the respected Bayete Collection. Whichever property features on your departure, you can expect comfortable rooms, a swimming pool, and a good location for exploring the magnificent Victoria Falls on your free day.
Worth knowing
- Tailor your trip: Extend your adventure by securing extra hotel nights before or after the main itinerary. Speak to your sales representative to book.
- Private rooms: Like most tour operators, we room solo passengers together. If you’d prefer to have a private room, it’s normally possible to do this for a supplement. Speak to your sales representative to book.
- Drinks: There’s nowhere to buy drinks in the private camps, so the guide will purchase drinks in Maun and take these with us. You can request your favourites and then purchase these from the guide during your stay.
Single supplement from CAD 2061
Food & Drink
- Breakfast: Cereals, coffee and toast and the occasional fried breakfast/brunch.
- Lunch: Cheese, cold meats, salads, bread or rolls.
- Dinner: Potjies (stew), braais (barbecue), stir-fries, etc.
Vegetarians and vegans can be well catered for. Please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests so our local team can be well prepared.
The tour leader does all the shopping and meal planning for the camps. They always try to obtain fresh produce wherever possible. Each tour has one cool box for meat and fresh produce only and one cool box for cold drinks. We supply squash, tea or coffee with meals. If you’d like specific beverages, you can request them through your tour leader; they will purchase them for you, and you can buy them from your tour leader.
On some days where early morning game drives are included, lunch may be substituted for a large brunch on return from the game drive – this is customary. We always ensure the number of meals detailed in the trip notes are provided.
The water provided on this trip is safe, clean drinking water, normally from boreholes. You can buy bottled water if you prefer, but we encourage you to make use of the safe drinking water provided as this helps diminish plastic consumption.
Transport
We use a 4×4 vehicle, seating 12 in four rows of three. It has a solid roof to protect the group from the sun and canvas sides that are mostly kept up for great game viewing. We use this vehicle as it is perfect for wildlife watching, which is the focus of our trip. It does mean, however, that it can get windy on transfers between safari parks. When we have small group sizes, we use a trailer for our equipment. For larger groups, there will be a support vehicle. The vehicle has evenly spaced foot holes for access to the back (rather than doors) and is manageable for any reasonably fit person.
Weather & Seasonality
Botswana and Victoria Falls have distinct wet and dry seasons. The dry season generally runs from April to October, with May to August bringing cooler conditions and little rain, particularly around Maun, Moremi and Chobe. Early morning game drives and boat trips can feel chilly, so warm layers are useful. From September, temperatures rise quickly, with October often very hot. The wet season, from November to March, brings afternoon showers, greener landscapes and excellent birdlife. Victoria Falls follows a similar pattern, though spray levels vary with the Zambezi’s flow.
Joining Instructions
Joining Instructions
Start hotel: Maun Waterfront, River Side, between exits 7 and 8, Disaneng, Maun
Phone: +267 680 0584
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There is a welcome briefing around 6pm
Airport: Maun Airport (MUB)
Getting to the start hotel
The start hotel is approximately a 15-minute drive from the airport. We provide free arrival transfers to the start hotel from the airport for everyone. If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.
Catching your return flight
We provide free departure transfers for everyone to Victoria Falls International Airport (VFA) from the end hotel.
Please note, unless specified otherwise, the transfers will be to the start (or pre-tour) hotel and from the end (or post-tour) hotel and will be on the date on which the tour starts/ends; transfers to other hotels in the same city and/or on different dates may attract an extra charge. Transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts.
Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.
Location start: Maun
Location end: Victoria Falls
What To Take
Essential Equipment
In addition to your ‘normal’ daily clothes:
- Neutral-coloured clothes (for the game drives)
- Long-sleeve clothing and long trousers (pants) to protect from mosquito bites after sundown
- Some warmer clothes, windproof jacket and warm fleece for the cooler months (June to August temperatures can drop to freezing at night)
- Lightweight walking boots or trainers
- Buff or scarf for dusty drives
- Sunhat
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Insect repellent
- Two/three-season sleeping bag (lighter sleeping bag for October/November)
- Camping pillow or similar
- Backpack for the day
- Wet wipes or hand sanitiser gel
- Towel
- Head torch/flashlight (with spare batteries)
- Portable charger/battery pack for your camera
- Water bottle
Plastic bottles are a big issue in many countries where recycling isn’t yet widely available; they often end up in landfill sites or get burnt, both processes are harmful to the environment and we would like to reduce our impact here. For your trip, we have decided to include drinking water in order to reduce the amount of plastic used. This means that safe filtered drinking water will be available throughout which means all you need to do is bring a bottle to re‐fill along the way. Please add this to your packing list.
Please note, it is possible to get laundry done in Maun and Victoria Falls.
Optional Equipment
- Binoculars and a camera with a zoom lens (at least 300mm) if you want good animal shots
- Waterproof bags (to protect valuables on the mokoro)
Spare space? If you have room in your luggage, consider bringing items to donate to schools and villages − your tour leader can assist in delivering them once you’ve arrived.
Much-needed items included:
- School stationery, including pens, pencils, crayons, erasers, rulers and notebooks
- Card games
- Balls, including (deflated!) footballs and tennis balls
- Toiletries, including toothpaste, toothbrushes and soap
Practical Info & Visa
Visa
Botswana
Currently British and Commonwealth and European passport holders do not require visas for Botswana.
If you are transiting through South Africa and are a non-UK passport holder, you may require a transit visa. Please check before travelling.
Please be aware that children under the age of 18 must provide a full birth certificate (a short one won’t be accepted) as well as a valid passport. If the child is travelling with only one parent or with another adult, the missing parent (or parents) will have to provide an affidavit giving their consent for the child to travel. If flying via South Africa, you may have to pass immigration between flights and the same regulation is needed for entry into South Africa.
Zimbabwe
Most nationalities, including British require a visa to visit Zimbabwe. This can be obtained on arrival in Zimbabwe. The current charge for a single entry visit visa issued on arrival in Zimbabwe is US$55, although this could change. If you have not obtained a visa before travelling, you should bring enough cash with you to pay for your visa on arrival. You should ensure you have small notes as immigration officers may not be able to provide change.
Please note that if flying via South Africa you will probably have to pass immigration there. Children under 18 will have to have an unabridged birth certificate showing the names of both parents. If the child is travelling with only one parent, they will need to have an affidavit from the other parent, of no more than three months, confirming the child can travel with the other parent; a court order granting full legal guardianship of the child; or a death certificate of the deceased parent.
Vaccinations and Health
Botswana
There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for hepatitis A, polio, tetanus, typhoid, cholera, hepatitis B, rabies and tuberculosis. You will also need a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you have travelled from (or transited through) a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic. We also suggest you seek advice from your doctor or travel clinic about which malaria tablets to take.
Zimbabwe
There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for hepatitis A, tetanus, typhoid, cholera, hepatitis B, rabies and tuberculosis. You will also need a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you’re arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission or transiting for more than 12 hours through a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Malaria is also a known risk. Please seek advice from your doctor or travel clinic on the best course of action for all the above.
Malaria prophylaxis is essential on this trip, and we suggest that you seek advice from your GP or travel health clinic about which malaria tablets to take.
Local Time
Botswana's time zone: Africa/Gaborone (UTC +02:00)
Zimbabwe's time zone: Africa/Harare (UTC +02:00)
Electricity
Botswana’s electricity: Plug types M (three round pins) and G (three rectangular pins) – 230V, 50HzBots
Zimbabwe’s electricity: Plug types D (three round pins) and G (three rectangular pins) – 240V, 50Hz
Money
Botswana's currency: Botswana pula (BWP)
Zimbabwe's currency: Zimbabwe gold (ZiG), though US dollars are primarily what is needed in Victoria Falls. South African rand is also accepted to a lesser extent.
ATM Availability
There are ATMs in Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Maun in Botswana – these are the only places with ATMs, but you should not rely on these for all your money. It is advisable to have some Botswanan pula, obtainable locally, and to bring some US dollars (after 2017) in smaller denominations for payments at more informal establishments in Zimbabwe.
Credit cards are widely accepted, including for all optional activities in Victoria Falls and Maun; however, some operators may add a five-percent surcharge.
Extra Expenses & Spending Money
- Meals not included: Approximately 260 Botswanan pula (US$25) per person for an evening meal
- Incidentals: Allow about 120-180 pula (US$9‐US$14) per day
Optional excursions (approximate costs, depending on group sizes)
All prices listed are subject to change:
Victoria Falls:
- Entrance fee to Victoria Falls: US$58
- Helicopter flight over falls:
- 12-13 minutes: US$173 plus park fees of US$29
- 25-minute game/scenic flight: US$328 plus park fees of US$35
- White-water rafting:
- Full day: US$161 (high water) or US$173 (low water) plus park fees of US$12
- Zambezi sunset cruise: US$59 plus park fees of US$12
- Zambezi sunset cruise and dinner: US$110 plus park fees of US$12
- Night game drive in Hwange (two hours in an open-air vehicle): US$65 including park fees of US$20
Further activities are available in Victoria Falls but have not been risk assessed by Exodus.
Tipping
Our local staff are paid fairly for their work; however, tipping is part of the culture in Africa. For suggestions on how much to tip, we recommend:
- Tour leader: US$5 per person per day
- Drivers: US$3 per person per day
- Safari/boat guides: US$3 per person per day
- National park guides: US$5 per person per day
- Polers in the Okavango Delta: 200 pula (US$15) per person
- Restaurants: 10% of the bill
Tipping is voluntary and can be declined if service was unsatisfactory.
Sustainability and Impact
As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.
We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.
This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.
You’ll also find Thriving Nature, Thriving People moments across our trips. These experiences are often a highlight of your adventure, while also benefiting the natural world or local communities.
On this trip, we:
- Travel by mokoro with polers from the Polers’ Trust, supporting community-run tourism that provides local employment and protects the Okavango Delta ecosystem.
- Take part in BaYei and Hambukushu music, food preparation, and craft activities, supporting cultural traditions and local livelihoods.
In addition, we support African elephant conservation through our Foundation’s Free to Roam Project.
iNaturalist: We’ve partnered with iNaturalist, a leading citizen science platform, to connect travellers with nature while contributing to global biodiversity research. On this tour, customers are invited to photograph and identify species using the iNaturalist app, helping to fill critical data gaps in under-recorded destinations and support real-world conservation efforts. Learn more about our partnership with iNaturalist.
Spare Space: The Spare Space initiative encourages travellers to use extra luggage space to donate practical items to local communities – see the ‘What to Take’ section of your trip notes for more information.
Important Information
Your Safe Participation
When booking this trip, you should be confident in your ability to participate in all activities described in these Trip Notes. If you have any doubt about your suitability, please call us and ask to speak to one of the experts on this itinerary.
Although our leaders are well trained to deal with different capabilities, if they have any concerns about someone’s ability to safely take part in an activity, or their impact on other people’s enjoyment, we authorise them to take necessary action which, in some circumstances, may involve asking someone to miss that activity.
By booking this trip you agree to our Booking Conditions which clearly state that our leaders have the authority to do this. In these rare instances we will ensure anyone sitting out is safely provided for and offered alternative options where possible. Refunds will not be provided for activities missed and customers may be liable for additional costs incurred.
Seatbelts
All vehicles used by us should be equipped with working seatbelts, except where approved by us based on the vehicle type or journey. Wherever seatbelts are available, we require our customers to use them for their own safety, even where it may not be a legal requirement.
Travel Safety
For additional information please have a look at the travel safety advice page on our website.
Optional activities and excursions
If you would like to join an optional activity or excursion outside those listed in the itinerary, your leader may be able to assist with selecting a provider. However, Exodus has not assessed the safety standards of activities or excursions that are not listed in the Trip Notes. All optional activities or excursions are undertaken at your own risk.
How To Book
Speak to our friendly team of experts to plan your adventure:
- Check availability: our website shows real-time availability of our guided group tours, or contact our team by phone, email or live chat.
- Hold a space: You can provisionally hold a space on any guided group tour to give you time to finalise your travel plans.
- Confirm your booking: Payment of a deposit will complete your booking and secure your place on the trip.
After booking
You will receive a confirmation document and invoice, which includes extra information and guidance about your travel arrangements. Our dedicated Customer Operations team will help you with any pre-travel questions or arrangements and can easily add extensions or extra accommodation to your booking. Final Joining Instructions will usually be sent out two to three weeks prior to departure.
Adding transfers to your booking
If you have arranged your own flights and would like to add transfers to your booking, please provide your arrival and departure details to our Customer Operations team around four to six weeks before departure.
- Where complimentary transfers are included, they are available for any flight but can only be added to your booking once we have received your flight schedule.
- Where group arrival and departure transfers are available, these operate at fixed times. You will need to arrive in time to meet the scheduled transfer. If the timings don’t align with your travel plans, our team can arrange private transfers once they receive your flight schedule.
Trip Note validity
Trip notes may be updated after booking; if any updates significantly impact the inclusions or itinerary you will be advised in writing. A link to the most up-to-date Trip Notes will be sent out with your Final Joining Instructions before departure.
The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes, and occasionally it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. In these circumstances we will make the best-possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.
