Affordable Botswana & Victoria Falls
Tour Introduction
We have put together this itinerary to showcase some of the best highlights of Botswana and Victoria Falls whilst using fairly simple guesthouses and community-owned projects to keep the cost down. Starting with the natural wonder that is Victoria Falls, you will travel overland into Botswana’s Chobe National Park, home to huge numbers of elephants and other animals. Heading deep into the Okavango Delta, you would visit two excellent locations, each offering slightly different Delta experiences. The first focusses more on game drives, while the second very much concentrates on intimate walking safaris and mokoro safaris with private guide. As well as providing great wildlife experiences, both lodges work directly with local communities to both conserve wildlife and provide sustainable incomes from the Delta and its wildlife. Visits can be easily arranged to experience village life and to see conservation in action.
This well-rounded itinerary provides experiences and encounters (such as off-road diving and night drives) normally reserved for the pricier private concessions, so it is perfect to wildlife lovers on more modest budgets.
Full Itinerary
Arrive in Victoria Falls. Met and transfer (20 mins) to the lodge. Free afternoon to explore Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Staying at Bayete Guest Lodge. Includes Breakfast.
Day at leisure to explore the Victoria Falls area above the falls on the upper Zambezi, and perhaps take a boat cruise on the tranquil water at sunset while the distant spray catches the fading light downstream. Below the falls, the Batoka Gorge’s rocky walls funnel the lower Zambezi into a chain of world-class rapids. Helicopter flights reveal the falls from the air, and there is white water rafting and bungee jumping for adrenalin junkies or for those looking for something a little more sedate, simply take high tea in an old colonial hotel.
Staying at Bayete Guest Lodge. Includes Breakfast.
Road transfer (approx. two hours including border crossing) to the town of Kasane close to Chobe National Park in Botswana. Check into hotel and enjoy a game drive in the afternoon.
Staying at The Old House. Includes Breakfast and Dinner.
Morning game drive in Chobe National Park. Afternoon boat cruise. This is one of Africa’s richest areas for elephants and you should see huge herds crossing the park and coming to the river to drink and bathe.
Staying at The Old House. Includes Breakfast and Dinner.
Morning game drive in the Chobe National Park. Afternoon boat cruise.
Staying at The Old House. Includes Breakfast and Dinner.
Transfer to Kasane Airstrip and board flight to the Khwai Community Area. Met and transfer to lodge.
Staying at Khwai Guest House. Includes All Meals.
Day of inclusive activities. During your time here, you’ll spend most days exploring the narrow Khwai River, which forms the natural boundary to the Moremi Game Reserve on the south. The Khwai River is a beacon for wildlife and plays host to leopards stalking lechwe in the long grass, lions swimming from the banks to save their cubs’ during territorial disputes and crocodiles competing with wild dogs for a midday meal of impala. As Khwai lies outside the parks, it offers the freedom and flexibility normally only possible with the heavier price tag of a private concession. Go off-road for a closer look at sightings, take a night drive in search of nocturnal species, and, with a little advance planning, head out on game walks to track wildlife on foot.
Staying at Khwai Guest House. Includes All Meals.
Choice of game drives in Moremi Game Reserve or the Khwai concession, traditional dugout canoe (mokoro) excursions, night drives and cultural tours of the Khwai community. You have the choice of two of these activities each day.
Staying at Khwai Guest House. Includes All Meals.
Board flight to Delta Airstrip. Met and transfer to your camp in the heart of the Okavango Delta.
Staying at Oddballs Camp. Includes All Meals.
Full day of inclusive activities. You will be assigned your own private guide (max two people per guide) from the local community who will escort you on a series of excursions on foot and by mokoro (water level dependent). An exciting option is to camp ’wild’ out in the delta on a mokoro trail accompanied by your poler/guide (to be booked in advance).
Staying at Oddballs Camp. Includes All Meals.
Local flight to Maun. Board international flight home.
Includes In-flight Meals.
Tour Accommodation
Bayete Guest Lodge
Overview
This family-run lodge abounds in warmth and friendliness and is situated in the suburbs of Victoria Falls residential area. It offers 25 en-suite rooms nestled within a beautiful garden, all decorated in a rustic-chic style and fitted with air conditioning. The lodge can accommodate up to 55 guests at a time.
The Caldecott Boma houses the dining room which offers breakfast (included in the rate) as well as lunch and dinner on request. The Ngwezi Bridge Pub, which has a swimming pool, provides guests with the perfect place to relax. Bayete also has a small outdoor gym area.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Air conditioning, dining room, bar, gym and swimming pool.
Optional Activities
Guided tours of the falls, sunset cruises, helicopter overflight, bungee jumping, white water rafting, high tea.
The Old House
Overview
The Old House is situated in Kasane, adjacent to the Chobe River. The guesthouse is conveniently located within walking distance of all shops and a 10-minute boat ride to the entrance of the Chobe National Park.
The Old house offers a range of activities; Victoria Falls Day Trip, sunset cruises, boat cruises, game drives, fishing and canoe trips.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
A total of 9 rooms with 3 twin rooms, 3 double rooms, 2 family rooms and a loft room, all of which are en suite. Guests can enjoy the lodges’ swimming pool and gift shop.
Local Wildlife
Chobe National Park is home to huge herds of elephant, buffalo and Burchell's zebra and high densities of predators such as lion, leopard, spotted hyena and cheetah. The park is also notable for the presence of more unusual antelope species like roan and sable, puku, tsessebe, eland, red lechwe, waterbuck, and the rare Chobe bushbuck. Other more popular species such as giraffe, kudu, warthog, wildebeest and impala also abound.
Optional Activities
Vic Falls Day Trip, sunset cruises, boat cruises, game drives, fishing and canoe trips.
Khwai Guest House
Overview
Khwai Guest House welcomes guests in five en-suite bungalows situated in the friendly rural village of Khwai, situated right by the Moremi Game Reserve. The guest house provides a cosy base from which to experience this small community, set amongst one of the most spectacular wilderness locations in Botswana. The rooms provide comfy beds, rustic wooden features and charming original decor. They all feature attached bathrooms with open-air showers.
The lodge is located within the Khwai Community Concession which is owned and managed by the local Khwai village. Not only does this provide employment at the lodge but the community also directly benefits from the concession fees paid by each visitor. Their love for the area and its wildlife is infectious and the wildlife viewing here is some of the best in the Delta. Activities include game drives in Moremi Game Reserve or the Khwai Concession, traditional dugout canoe (mokoro) excursions, night drives and cultural tours of the Khwai community.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
En-suite bathrooms, open-air showers, lounge, dining room, bar.
Local Wildlife
The lodge boarders the Moremi Game Reserve which holds an incredibly diverse range of plains animals and over 400 species of birds.
Optional Activities
Game drives in the Khwai Concession, game drives in the Moremi Game Reserve, mokoro excursions, night drives and cultural experiences.
Oddball’s Camp
Overview
Situated in the south-western Okavango Delta, Oddballs’ Camp is accessible via a 25-minute light aircraft flight from Maun. One of the original camping sites in the Okavango, Oddballs’ Camp is an affordable delta experience that suits the adventurous traveller or those just wishing to get away from it all at reasonable cost.
The accommodation at Oddballs’ Camp consists of simple domed tents erected on raised wooden platforms overlooking the floodplains and bush. All tents have a rustic en-suite bathroom. The central dining area directly overlooks the Boro River, providing excellent game viewing for guests. There is also a comfortable lounging area and a raised viewing platform on the banks of the river. The setting is informal and located above the legendary “Skull Bar” where you might be regaled with adventure stories.
The camp is run in close partnership with the local Sedibana village community who provide most of the guides and other staff for the lodge, as well as receiving medical and veterinary assistance. The guides have all grown up in the Delta and have an incredible connection with the Delta wildlife and its landscape. You will be assigned your own private guide (maximum two people per guide) who will escort you on a series of excursions on foot and mokoro (dependent on water level). An exciting option is to camp ’wild’ out in the delta on a mokoro trail accompanied by your poler/guide (to be booked in advance).
Your stay includes all meals, activities, laundry and park fees. Drinks are not included and need to be paid for in cash as there are no credit card facilities.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Simple domed tents erected on raised wooden platforms, overlooking the floodplains and bush. All tents have a rustic en-suite bathroom. The central dining area directly overlooks the Boro River, providing excellent game viewing for guests. There is also a comfortable lounge area and raised viewing platform on the banks of the river.
Local Wildlife
The lodge is located on the edge of the famous Chief’s Island which is home to a wide range of the Delta’s wildlife. Possible sightings could include lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, hippopotamus, crocodile, giraffe, antelopes including the rare lechwe, tsessebe and sitatunga, otter, honey-badger, pangolin, smaller wild cats such as serval, and viverids such as civet and genet.
Optional Activities
Walking and mokoro excursions are included in the company of a private guide.
Route Map
Departure Dates
Travel Information
Are International Flights Included?
No. Please contact us for a quote if required.
Flight Info:
Domestic flights within Botswana are included.
Best Visited:
May to November
Are you ATOL Registered?
Yes. This means we are legally able to book your international flights in conjunction with your ground arrangements so you can book with us with complete confidence. Read more about our ATOL license here.
Jonathan Morris
Area Specialist
Consider travelling during the rainy season months of November to May. The prices drop a lot during this period and the rain is normally confined to heavy shower bursts with plenty of sunshine in between. Sightings of large mammals are fewer, but the birdwatching is at its best during these months.
If you have any questions regarding this Tour, please feel free to contact me on +44 (0)1803 866965
On behalf of my wife and myself, I would like to thank all at Reef and Rainforest for arranging so superbly yet another exceptional wildlife experience. As you are aware our ‘expeditions’ tend to be species led and this year’s brief was to observe and photograph the ‘Three Big Cats of Africa’ in a truly wild setting (i.e. no fences). Your recommended destination, Botswana, did not let us down, in fact the whole trip proved an outstanding success in all aspects.
We stayed in three camps (three nights in each) across the Okavango Delta and surrounding area, each provided a different environment which ensured our aims were met. Each camp was run to a very high standard, was extremely comfortable and provided excellent meals. The quality of guiding and tracking in all our camps was of the highest standard. As Botswana manages its natural resources so well all the camps were small (no more than 18 guests) ensuring a very intimate safari experience in pristine wild African habitat.
I am delighted to report our big cat objectives were realised. All observations were lengthy and offered excellent photographic opportunities. However, unexpectedly, the highlight of our spectacular trip turned out to be sightings of two separate packs of African Painted Dogs. We visited two dens, the first had a very healthy number of adult dogs, approximately fifteen and eighteen pups. The second had seven adult dogs and sixteen pups. At Lebala we had the privilege of spending a prolonged period of time following the pack of dogs as they hunted, an experience we will never forget.
When one also considers the significant mammal and bird species we observed, Botswana is truly a must visit destination for the wildlife enthusiast. Incidentally we also observed three serval and two African wild cats. We also thoroughly enjoyed our few days at Victoria Falls, possibly the most spectacular waterfall in the world, the hotel in Zimbabwe was excellent. Viewing the falls from the Zambian side and also the helicopter flight are both well worth doing.
This was our third consecutive trip with Reef and Rainforest, and I would be very surprised if there is not a fourth being planned very soon. Thank you all once again.
