![Cape to Delta Safari](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.micato.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/cape-delta-safari-1-1440x550.jpg)
Passage Through Botswana and Zimbabwe
Destination
South Africa: JohannesburgBotswana: Okavango Delta, Khwai Private Reserve
Zambia: Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe: Hwange National Park
Duration
14 DaysDoor-to-door
Price
Starting from$26,800
Natural Marvels, Soothing Luxury
Botswana’s Okavango Delta, a world-unique oasis of smoothly meandering waterways, lagoons bubbling with hippos, idyllic minisavannah islands, the “most unexpected of wonders,” as Frans Lanting wrote, “water in the desert,” gently pulsing water that brings life to a dazzling population of wildlife. Victoria Falls, Mosi-oa-Tunya, “The Smoke That Thunders,” far and away the planet’s grandest waterfall—as we like to say, one of the planet’s grandest anythings— brimming with “scenes so lovely [they] must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight,” rhapsodized David Livingstone, the first outsider to succumb to the Falls’ immense charisma. And not far from the colossal cascade, Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park’s archetypal African landscapes, roamed in natural freedom by the fabled Big Five and five score other mammals and 20 score colourful avians, making Hwange one of the continent’s finest game-viewing, traveller-enchanting destinations.
![Passage Through Botswana and Zimbabwe map](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.micato.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/passage-map.png)
I think I could turn and live with animals. . . . I stand and look at them long and long. . . . Not one is respectable or unhappy over the whole earth.Leaves of Grass
Highlights
- Two invariably amazing nights in the miraculous Okavango Delta, exploring its waterways and nearby plains, marveling at its bountiful, varietal wildlife.
- The set-piece, animal-attracting, bubbling-with-hippos lagoon at Khwai Private Reserve’s Sable Alley camp.
- Exploring the Delta’s varied landscapes on foot and in 4wheel drive vehicles, and gliding in profound peace through its intricately lovely waterways.
- Eventful visits to animal-thronged waterholes in Zimbabwe’s classically African Hwange National Park.
- Based from the lovely Thorntree River Lodge, a fully engaged encounter with the world-marvelous Victoria Falls, on guided walks to its many viewpoints, on a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River as it prepares for its plunge, on a thrilling helicopter flight, and at high tea on the verandah of the colonial era Victoria Falls Hotel.
Itinerary
Download ItineraryAfter arrival, we’ll be met and whisked out to the halcyon Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa in Johannesburg’s verdant suburb of Sandhurst.
It’s hard to be more enthusiastic about the “vast, mesmerizing oasis” of the Okavango Delta than we are. Suffice to say—until you experience it—that the Delta is in the topmost rank of world wonders (and more sweetly accommodating than most).
We fly north from Johannesburg to Maun and on to the Kadizora airstrip, where we’ll hop on a helicopter for a quick but scenically superb flight to Duke’s Camp, set in solitude deep in the beautiful braided waterways of the Northern Okavango. Our camp for two nights is named after Sarefo “Duke” Sarefo, custodian of this lush parcel of African wilderness, who was born on the very island that the camp now occupies. Duke’s embodies all that a smartly designed, tradition-honouring, nature-graced African luxury safari camp should be.
A short morning flight takes us to what we think is one of Botswana’s best kept secrets: the Khwai Private Reserve, another Okavangan marvel. Our lodging here is Sable Alley, an inspirationally stylish camp set on its own quiet lagoon. We step out onto the veranda of Sable’s enormous (almost 600-square foot) tents to a close view of the lagoon and its medley of animal visitors.
Khwai’s water- and landscapes vary dramatically: riverine forests, acacia woodlands, and the Delta’s gliding watercourses. We’ll explore them all, in small watercraft, safari vehicles, and on foot, delighting in the reserve’s full African cast of nowhere-else-on- earth creatures—lions, skyscrapey giraffes, bouldery Cape buffalo and peppy, fascinating African wild dogs. “They live the life domestic dogs wish they could live,” as biologist Rosie Woodroffe says.
We fly into Zambia, and along the way we may see a dramatic sight from many miles away: silvery, towering clouds rising up from the flat brown earth. The plume of the world’s most colossal cascade, Victoria Falls.
Our small, astutely designed Thorntree River Lodge is set in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, beside the Zambezi River, upstream from the Falls. We’ll make an arrival-afternoon game drive in the park (lovingly protected rhinos are headliners), or take a sunset cruise on the Zambezi. But Victoria Falls beckons, and we’ll spend Day 9 wandering its many vantage points, strolling through mist in our Micato-supplied rain gear, swooping over the Falls in a helicopter (the famous, pulse-quickening Flight of Angels), continually astonished by one of the greatest wonders in a world full of them.
Somalisa Camp is located in the middle of Hwange, in a vlei, or marshy, animal-attracting area. We arrive in the intimate camp (only seven fully modern, elegantly decorated tents) after a short flight from Victoria Falls and make the first of our eventful game drives in the cooling afternoon, perhaps after a revivifying dip in Somalisa’s aquamarine pool, often with elephants frolicking in a waterhole only yards away.
Hwange is classic African bush country, and our game drives in the park are exceptionally rich; the Big Five are in residence, along with white rhino, zebras by the hundreds, and more than a hundred other mammals, including another large contingent of wild dogs, stately gemsbok, and brown hyenas, crafty and oddly compelling creatures who endear themselves to many veteran safariers. And after game drives we relax on Somalisa’s tree-shaded veranda, enjoy the camp’s top-notch cuisine, and savour safari’s freedom from care.
After a short flight to Victoria Falls—one more chance to see the rising clouds of The Smoke That Thunders—we continue by air to Johannesburg, with meals-included day rooms in the InterContinental before our evening flights home.
Arrive home on Day 14, already longing to return.
What's Included
Ask a Question- Luxury accommodations and all meals.
- Touchdown to takeoff services of your Micato Safari Director, and 24-hour access to our one-of-a-kind Concierge Service.
- Game Drives and Bush Walks with highly credentialed Game Rangers and Trackers during your journey.
- A variety of activities, individualized for you at every safari location.
- Every last gratuity, even substantial ones to Safari Directors, Game Rangers, Trackers, waiters, drivers, porters… and everyone else, from beginning to end of your safari.
- Regional wine and beer at mealtimes, vehicles stocked with soft drinks and bottled water.
- All airport transfers, game park, national park, and conservancy fees.
- Sublime safari swag! Bush hats, specially designed Micato Safaris duffels, luggage tags, document wallets, flashlights, and more…
- For every guest on safari, Micato sends an African child to school.
- Daily valet laundry service. You can pack less and even return home with a bag of clean clothes… now that’s luxury!
- Free Wi-Fi wherever it exists on safari including camps and lodges.
Dates & Rates
Request a Booking2024 Dates
Jan. 07 – Jan. 20 | May 05 – May 18 | July 21 – Aug. 03 | Sept. 29 – Oct. 12 |
Jan. 28 – Feb. 10 | May 12 – May 25 | July 28 – Aug. 10 | Oct. 06 – Oct. 19 |
Feb. 11 – Feb. 24 | May 26 – June 08 | Aug. 04 – Aug 17 | Oct. 27 – Nov. 09 |
Feb. 25 – Mar. 09 | June 09 – June 22 | Aug. 11 – Aug. 24 | Nov. 10 – Nov. 23 |
Mar. 10 – Mar. 23 | June 16 – June 29 | Aug. 18 – Aug. 31 | Dec. 08 – Dec. 21 |
Mar. 24 – Apr. 06 | June 23 – July 06 | Sept. 01 – Sept. 14 | Dec. 15 – Dec. 28 |
Apr. 07 – Apr. 20 | July 07 – July 20 | Sept. 08 – Sept. 21 | Dec. 22 – Jan. 04 |
Apr. 28 – May 11 | July 14 – July 27 | Sept. 22 – Oct. 05 | Dec. 29 – Jan. 11 |
2025 Dates
Jan. 05 – Jan. 18 | May 04 – May 17 | July 20 – Aug. 02 | Sept. 28 – Oct. 11 |
Jan. 26 – Feb. 08 | May 11 – May 24 | July 27 – Aug. 09 | Oct. 05 – Oct. 18 |
Feb. 09 – Feb. 22 | May 25 – June 07 | Aug. 03 – Aug 16 | Oct. 26 – Nov. 08 |
Feb. 23 – Mar. 08 | June 08 – June 21 | Aug. 10 – Aug. 23 | Nov. 09 – Nov. 22 |
Mar. 09 – Mar. 22 | June 15 – June 28 | Aug. 17 – Aug. 30 | Dec. 07 – Dec. 20 |
Mar. 23 – Apr. 05 | June 22 – Jul. 05 | Aug. 31 – Sept. 13 | Dec. 14 – Dec. 27 |
Apr. 06 – Apr. 19 | July 06 – July 19 | Sept. 07 – Sept. 20 | Dec. 21 – Jan. 03 |
Apr. 27 – May 10 | July 13 – July 26 | Sept. 21 – Oct. 04 | Dec. 28 – Jan. 10 |
Price Per Person
Land arrangements, per person (2024)
Jan-Mar | June – Oct | Apr-May,Nov-Dec | |
---|---|---|---|
Double Occupancy | $23,950 | $26,550 | $23,550 |
Single Supplement | $850 | $5,650 | $4,250 |
Internal Flights on Safari | $3,250 | $3,250 | $3,250 |
(Johannesburg / Maun / Camp to Camp / Kasane / Livingstone, Victoria Falls / Hwange National Park / Johannesburg) Connections may apply.
Please contact us for 2025 rates.
Ask us about a private vehicle for your Classic Safari.
Video Inspiration
Enjoy this taste of a Micato Safari. While this video doesn’t literally represent this safari, it absolutely captures the spirit.
Options & Extensions
Ask a QuestionCape Town Sojourn
Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda
Namibia
More Safari Inspiration
Botswana’s Timeless Wilderness
![Elephants](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.micato.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/botswana-timeless-wilderness-1338x640.jpg)
Destination
South Africa: JohannesburgBotswana: Okavango Delta, Gomoti Plains, Moremi
Zambia: Victoria Falls
Duration
12 DaysDoor-to-door
Price
Starting from$22,800