Luxury Botswana &amp; Victoria Falls

In the eastern sector of the Mosi Oa Tunya National Park and about 12 kilometres from Victoria Falls, Wilderness Toka Leya gets immediate and fantastic views over the Zambezi River, and taking advantage of these are its twelve tented rooms. Each comes with a large decking area at the front leading out from large glass sliding doors, behind which is your large stylish open plan lounge area and bedroom. The camp’s main area is situated on a large decking area, and underneath a canopy of trees right beside the main channel of the Zambezi River. Perfect for atmospheric campfires on the bank and spotting the resident wildlife. Here there is also a very spacious open-plan lounge and dining room, set beneath an enormous canvas roof and with open sides to maximise the views. The wall at the back of the living area is a really great feature; it’s made of “log tiles”, which gives the room a very natural feel. Each tent has its very own solar panel, water geyser and batteries in keeping with the camp’s aim to lessen its environmental footprint.

Zambia

Wilderness Toka Leya Camp

Zambia

Royal Chundu Island Lodge

You’ll find the Island Lodge in prime position on the exclusive Katombora Island, protected by the Katombora rapids. A Relais & Châteaux property, and sister to the River Lodge, the Island Lodge offers guests a tranquil, luxurious, and exclusive getaway. Royal Chundu properties support a selection of positive impact initiatives including Pack for a Purpose, a foundation school and a seed project. The lodge divides itself between four, spacious and magnificent villas, providing guests with the utmost privacy during their stay. Each villa sleeps between four to six people and features private decks and spacious rooms, surrounded by the island’s unique baobabs and two thousand year old Jackalberry trees. Visit the intimate boma area for outdoor evening meals or the dining room for indoor occasions. There’s also an infinity pool, spa facilities, and two lounges for you to enjoy during your stay.

Zambia

Royal Chundu River Lodge

Set on a quiet, secluded spot some distance up the Zambezi river, the Royal Chundu River Lodge oozes sophistication and grace. Overlooking the unspoiled expanse of the Zambezi River and the Zimbabwean savanna of the Matetsi Private Game Reserve, it’s a place to come and relax by the river, watching for the wildlife that pass by. The lodge is a Relais & Châteaux property, only one of two in Zambia. The other is The River Lodge’s sister property, The Island Lodge. Royal Chundu properties support a selection of positive impact initiatives including Pack for a Purpose, a foundation school and a seed project. Composed of 10 luxurious suites sleeping 20 people in total, River Lodge is the main hub at Royal Chundu and the larger of the two lodges. Each magnificent and spacious river-front suite features thatched roofs and opens on to a private deck for uninterrupted river views. Suites come with double showers and king-size beds. For evening meals, enjoy the unique African experience of the dining outside at the beautiful boma. There’s also a dining room for intimate indoor occasions. Excellent spa facilities will help you unwind while activities are a mix of river-based relaxation and Falls-based adventure.

Make it mine

Falls tour

Sunset cruise

A viewing point at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Private half day tour of Victoria Falls

No visit to Victoria Falls would be complete without a tour of the falls themselves, otherwise known as Mosi-oa-Tunya, meaning the smoke that thunders. A knowledgeable guide will take you on an unforgettable experience through the Victoria Falls rainforest, as you discover more about the geology, wildlife and history of Africa’s most famous landmark.

Sunset cruise up the Zambezi River

This evening, climb aboard your spacious cruiser for a sunset sail up the Zambezi River. You’ll be served canapés and refreshments as you take in the golden glow of the river and the wildlife who come down to drink at its banks.

Days 3–5

Exclusive Linyanti

You’ll take a light aircraft flight from Livingstone to Linyanti. Sitting north of the Okavango, the Linyanti is home to some of Botswana’s most exclusive lodges and camp. Due to the fact that the reserve is private, there are no limitations to the activities on offer as in the National Park, so it is possible to do game drives at day and at night, as well as walking safaris, boating, fishing and sleepouts in the reserve’s various hides. Allow your experienced guides to introduce you to the magic of Botswana’s wildlife as you head out on drives in the early morning and later in the afternoon. The wildlife here is plentiful almost from the moment you arrive at the airstrip, even the drive to camp can feel like a game drive, so keep your eyes peeled. Look out for big cat predators, game, giraffes and elephants. Keen birders will also be delighted with the diversity they’ll be able to add to their list over the next week.

Where you could stay

Wilderness King’s Pool Camp

This is one of the most luxurious camps in Botswana, with nine huge canvas ‘tents’ with thatched roofs set on raised wooden platforms. Each comes equipped with a private plunge pool, four poster bed, indoor and outdoor showers. The camp sits overlooking the Linyanti River and the oxbow lake of Wilderness King’s Pool from which it derives its name. Communal areas include a lounge dining area, bar and a shared pool. These all sit on raised decking allowing for excellent armchair game viewing of the river and lake. This part of the Linyanti borders the Chobe National Park, meaning that great numbers of elephant frequent the area during the dry months as they visit the lagoon and river. Other game is abundant too during these months including giraffe, lechwe, zebra and impala, all helping to draw the large predators; lion, leopard, cheetah and wild-dog. As well as game drives the camp offers seasonal barge cruises along the river (dependent on the river level) , basic fishing and walking safaris (on request in advance). The camp also has two wildlife hides, excellent for close up observation of game.

Open, relaxed and resting on the banks of the eastern Selinda Spillway in the heart of the 320 000 acre Selinda Reserve, this safari camp has a prime location within a territory rich with wildlife. Having been recently rebuilt, the camp provides a blend of old colonial elegance, updated with contemporary amenities. This is an old-world luxury experience for the modern-day traveler. Tucked away under its sweeping thatched roof, the camp remains cool in the midday heat, and commands excellent views out over the floodplains and savanna of the Selinda Reserve. The extensive raised decks surrounding both the main lodge and guest tents facilitate wildlife viewing directly from the camp, meaning you can sit back and enjoy a delicious meal and never keep your eye off the local animals. When you want to get more up close and personal, the camp offers both day and night game drives, on which you will be highly likely to see antelope, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, elephant and buffalo. Whether you choose to travel by foot, boat or 4×4, you’ll have a unique experience of the African wilderness.

Selinda Camp

Savuti Camp is situated in the private Linyanti Concession along the Savute Channel. This famous watercourse stopped flowing between 1980 and 2008, when a shift in the land once more brought deep, clear waters to this parched patch of the Botswanan bush. There are just seven large tents at this intimate camp, including a family unit that is raised off the ground. Outside the thatched dining area, a small pool and large viewing area with fire pit extend outwards on raised wooden decks, providing a wonderful view over the channel and its prolific wildlife. The area is renowned for its very large elephant population which can reach especially high densities during the dry winter months. Alongside abundant plains game, species such as roan and sable antelope, giraffe, lion, leopard, cheetah, spotted hyaena, black-backed jackal and wild dog may also be encountered. This area can also be excellent for the rarely-seen aardvark and aardwolf, and birding is spectacular. Guests can explore the area on morning and afternoon game drives in open Land Rovers, as well as on night drives to spot rare nocturnal. Nature walks accompanied by a qualified guide can be arranged, as can night out on the elevated hide with a star bed – a truly unforgettable experience. Depending on water levels, boat trips and catch and release fishing are also available.

Wilderness Savuti Camp

Zarafa

Zarafa Camp is set inside the 320,000 acre Selinda Reserve, created to conserve and protect the wildlife of the area alongside connecting Botswana’s Okavango Delta to the Linyanti waterways. This reserve is home to a diverse and rich abundance of species similar to those found in the Savuti and Chobe National Parks, but with the exclusivity of a private reserve. Simply one of the most beautiful tented camps in Africa, Zarafa is a triumph of conservation and attention to detail. There are just 4 immense tented suites set on raised wooden platforms overlooking the floodplain of the Zibadianja Lagoon. The tents are decorated in a style befitting of the explorations of the early 20th Century, matched with modern comforts and technological surprises. Outdoor decking wraps around each guest suite and offers guests a private plunge pool, private outdoor shower, and outdoor seating. Within the suite your lounge flows into a well-decorated bedroom and an open layout indoor bathroom that is adorned with a polished copper bath tub and fireplace. The main camp, made up of a generously-sized main lounge, library, dining area and bush boutique, is nestled under a canopy of trees a slight distance from the suites. An outdoor gym and in-room massages are also available. Environmentally, Zarafa has a number of initiatives in place to ensure they have as light an impact on their surrounding as possible, from solar power and water filtration systems, to vehicles that run mostly on vegetable oil. The camp also supports the notion that conservation can only be successful if communities living alongside wildlife and protected areas are given opportunities to learn, interact, and benefit from these conserved areas. As part of Great Plains Conservation, Zarafa is involved with the Great Plains Foundation’s launch of the Great Plains Academy, which provides enrichment opportunities for a community in the upper reaches of Botswana’s Okavango Delta. The academy will supply vocational training, supplemental education, and scholarships with a conservation and tourism focus. All programmes seek to invest in the skill and capacity of the individual whilst displaying respect for natural heritage and a solid conservation ethic.

Mombo Concession - Okavango

Wilderness DumaTau

With uninterrupted views over Osprey Lagoon, and a fantastic vantage point from which to watch the areas mega-herds of elephants, Wilderness DumaTau and nearby Wilderness Little DumaTau are perfectly located for making the most of your stay in the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve. Each spacious tented guest suite has been positioned to offer great views whether you’re relaxing on your deck, or cooling off in your plunge pool. You’ll also find the tents include spot-cooling, meaning you can find respite from the hot afternoons indoors. Spend time investigating the ‘curiosity boxes’ you’ll find mounted on the walls in your room and the drawers filled with fascinating artefacts and information. They’re a great way to learn more about the area’s wildlife and rich history. Look out for unique elephant and wild dog art in the rooms and library made from reclaimed snare wire. Wilderness Safaris have constructed both camps to give maximum comfort and offer guests a large array of facilities. In addition to the in-tent cooling systems, you’ll discover that the central Osprey Retreat which sits between the two camps boasts a pool, drink and snack counter and a Safari Boutique area, offering you more space to mingle with your fellow guests if you choose to do so. Large decks, plunge pools and awnings are attached to each of Wilderness Duma Tau’s eight tented suites as well as at the four at Wilderness Little DumaTau. The Wilderness DumaTau team continues to focus on the sustainability of wildlife corridors, as they have done since 1997. They believe that it is more vital than ever to protect large wildlife corridors of wilderness, like those within the vast Linyanti Wildlife Reserve – especially for the African elephant and wild dog that cover extensive ground. Staying at Wilderness DumaTau offers you easy access to the Linyanti floodplain as well as the Savuti Channel, in fact, it’s the only concession from which you can access both. The region has all the habitat diversity to make it a haven for wildlife, and is well-known for its elephant concentrations as they congregate along the waterways and lagoons during the dry winter months. General wildlife viewing is excellent year round including impala, wildebeest, red lechwe, Burchell’s zebra, giraffe, Cape buffalo, chacma baboon, vervet monkey, and warthog. Predator sightings of lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog and spotted hyena are good. As well as day and night game drives, you can explore on nature walks or take to the water on motorboats or the river barge (depending on water levels).

Days 5–7

Magnificent Mombo

A light aircraft flight will take you from Linyanti to the the Mombo Concession in the Okavango. Keep an eye out the window for a preview of the beautiful terrain and wildlife that await your landing. This concession has been dubbed the ‘predator capital’ of Africa, so you’re bound to encounter lions and leopards while out on your game drives. You may even spot cheetahs. Early morning coffee at the Wilderness Mombo fire pit, with its views over the grasslands are the perfect way to begin your day before heading out to see if you can find the results of any overnight predator action. Boma night is a wonderfully immersive experience that welcomes you into the family at Mombo and invites you to join in the singing and dancing, before indulging in a feast of delicious local dishes.

Where you could stay

Wilderness Mombo Camp

One of the most famous camps in all of Africa, Wilderness Mombo rightly deserves its reputation due to its remarkable game viewing experiences coupled with the service and luxury of the camp.

Mombo Concession - Okavango

Wilderness Little Mombo

Wilderness Little Mombo is the smaller more intimate sister to Wilderness Mombo Camp, with just three elegant safari suites. Each are nestled under a shady canopy, each with their own en-suite bathrooms, outdoor shower and large deck to enjoy the views over floodplains that host some of the best big game viewing in Africa. The suites are linked together on the raised platform which allows wildlife to pass by underneath. Wilderness Little Mombo has its own dining room, boma, kitchen, lounge and pool, making it an ideal base for a family or group of friends seeking extra exclusivity. A raised walkway leads back to the main camp’s communal lounge, gym and thatched decking area. Dedicated to conservation, a solar farm powers much of the camp and wastewater is treated above ground. Your rate also contributes to various conservation projects including lion research and elephant monitoring. While you are offered daily morning and afternoon game drives, many choose to stay behind and take in the prolific wildlife surrounding camp. Herbivore densities – especially of red lechwe, plains zebra, giraffe and impala – are extremely high and this supports one of Africa’s highest density lion populations. Spotted hyena and leopard are other frequently seen carnivores, the latter often in camp. Birding is excellent with a great mix of water birds (wattled crane, long-toed plover) and also those species associated with Kalahari thornveld (crimson-breasted shrike, pied babbler).

Make it mine

On foot

Song and dance

Evening walking safari

Head out on foot on a walking safari with your experienced wildlife guide. It’s the perfect opportunity to look closer at your surroundings and discover creatures you might otherwise miss. As the sun sets, you’ll also have the chance to spot some of the more timid residents of this part of the Okavango.

Boma night experience

After a day out exploring the concession, join your fellow guests in the boma for an exhilarating evening of song, dance and delicious food. The team at Mombo set aside their duties for a while to invite you to experience a taste of their culture with some of the songs they grew up singing. Join in with the dancing if you’re comfortable and enjoy a refreshing drink before settling down at a long table to enjoy a family-style meal of local dishes.

Days 7–10

Into the Okavango

Another light aircraft flight will take you from Mombo to your next camp in the Okavango Delta. Experience the beauty of the Okavango Delta and the magnificent wildlife that lives here. This is a unique opportunity for both water-based safaris by mokoro and boat and land-based big game drives taking place in the mornings and evenings. Your expert guide will be able to answer any questions you may have regarding the environment and wildlife as you are privately driven across the Delta. Depending on which lodge you choose to stay at there will be a number of different activities that you can choose from to immerse yourself in this incredibly diverse, natural environment.

Where you could stay

A Vumburu Plains safari camp bedroom with a view of the plains and natural surroundings

Botswana’s mesmerizing Okavango Delta is now brighter than ever with the newly transformed (as of 2022) Vumbura Plains. Nestled in a large private concession of 60,000 hectares in the far north of the Delta, the camp is enveloped in some of the most incredible landscapes, home to some of the best wildlife encounters in the area. Inside, the camp celebrates its sense of place and culture, with design elements that pay homage to its wonderful setting with patterns, textures and colours bringing nature inside. Rooms at the lodge are amongst the biggest in the delta, all open plan, with a sunken seating area, private shaded deck and swimming pool outside as well as indoor and outdoor showers. There is an amazing sense of space here, in keeping with the wide-open plains that the rooms face onto. The rooms are open on three sides (with netting) giving a feeling of being closer to the nature and wildlife whilst still remaining is absolute comfort. The local connections continue throughout the camp experience.The menu celebrates seasonal produce sourced directly from local farmers, suppliers and artisans. Activities here are a mixture of game drives and water activities which will vary according to the level of the water and the time of the year. You will find day and night drives, walks and mekoro (dugout canoes) activities, with hot-air ballooning – from April to September each year – as well as scenic helicopter flights, making Vumbura an exclusive destination for the discerning adventure-seeker.

Wilderness Vumbura Plains

Caught on a riverine island in the Delta’s Moremi Game Reserve, Xigera is a truly excellent camp amidst the wetlands for its dynamic and varied activities, altered slightly according to the season so guests get the most out of the wildlife and terrain. It’s also the only camp in the area, giving you total privacy and where it doesn’t get much wilder. Ten simple, standalone, and sublimely comfortable stilted tent rooms are shrouded in the riverine forest, and its main areas are typically and tastefully African: thatch roofs, wooden floors and furniture, warm lantern light, bonfire, a traditional boma and a plunge pool to cool off in. Xigera’s (pronounced Keejera) position amidst permanent water all year round means you can embark on the area’s signature mokoro (canoe) safari, game drives and motorboat outings. The camp is also a good choice for keen birdwatchers, with Pel’s Fishing-Owl, African Skimmer, Slaty Egret, Wattled Crane and a host of raptors, other waterbirds and colourful kingfishers to be seen.

Wilderness Jao Camp

Very intimately placed in the private Jao Concession area bordering the Moremi Game Reserve in the Okavango Delta, Wilderness Jao Camp offers a luxurious way to experience this beautiful part of the world. You will be well looked after in the nine tented rooms here, with incredible service and excellent guiding. Each of the tented rooms is situated a short distance from the main area and accessed via charming raised walkways. All of the tents have their own deck area with great views over the expanse of floodplains. Inside, you’ll find peace and comfort in the luxurious canvas setting. Wilderness Jao Camp also has a great wine cellar where you can enjoy a private dinner and a great spa where you can enjoy some superb treatments. Within the camp itself, you have access to two plunge pools, ideal in the afternoon heat if you aren’t relaxing inside with a book from the library. Activities here are entirely dependent on the flood levels at the time of year you visit, however as a rule of thumb you can expect a split of about 30% game drives and 70% water activities, which gives you a brilliant perspective of the animals that call this place their home. Mokoro trips are highly recommended. As the camp is within its own concession area, it also can also provide night drives (weather permitting) to spot the elusive nocturnal creatures found here.

Moremi Game Reserve

Xigera Camp

Organic and hand-woven, private and intimate, Sandibe is an architecturally unique hideaway deep in the mighty Delta. Dressed in shades of copper and wood, the lodge’s grand and high interiors open out to even grander views, with spacious decks offering a spectacular spot to drink in the resident wildlife. Emerging among riverside trees in a private concession come the eight elegant suites, each exuding a sense of laid-back luxury. Filled with giant king-sized beds, outdoor showers and sparkling private plunge pools, they provide the perfect comfort after a day of spotting the Big Five on exhilarating game drives. An alfresco banquet of Pan-African cuisine is then cooked up by expert chefs, while the relaxed but attentive butlers ensure you enjoy an entirely seamless stay.

Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge

Xaranna has a uniquely contemporary style, uncommon in the delta with the use of clean whites and colourful textiles and fittings in its decoration. Set on an island in a private concession of 25,000 hectares There are 9 very spacious tents, each with their own private plunge pool. This is a water-based camp but there is a full range of activities on offer, from the traditional Mokoro rides, to boat safaris, game drives and guided bush walks. The standard of service and guiding here is exceptional. Xaranna is very much a place to come and look for the detail, the smaller animals and birds that live in the delta as well as the beauty of the habitat itself. This means it’s best combined with another lodge that has more big game activity to provide a balanced stay whilst in Botswana.

Xaranna Delta Camp

Xudum has just nine newly decorated suites, located close to permanent river channels that flow year round. These means its a reliable place to come for water based activities. The thicker vegetation brought by the abundance of water also helps to draw a lot of bird life to the area. The smaller creatures and the environment itself are the highlight here, so it works best combined with a lodge that has more prolific big game viewing. The lodge and rooms are all built with two levels, this is quite a unique feature and allows beautiful views out across the delta. Guiding is excellent is outstanding and there are a variety of activities here, from game drives to mokoro and boat trips. Guided bush walks are also available as this is a private concession.

Xudum

A charming little camp set up in a concession to the North of the Okavango, cverlooking a secluded lagoon in the northern Okavango Delta, Kwara provides great access to the permanent waterways of the Delta, as well as expansive dry land areas, ideal for spotting wildlife. The lodge is made up of nine canvas-style tents overlooking a lagoon. Each tent comes equipped with a spacious deck for relaxation, an en-suite bathroom with both indoor and outdoor showers and a gorgeous bath, all the while enjoying superb views out to the floodplains. Throughout the rest of the camp, guest will discover a dining area, lounge and curio shop, as well as two small pool areas at each end of the camp, providing guests with more private areas in which to relax. Each pool has a small bar and pool loungers, perfect for guests hoping to enjoy the afternoon siesta period. Guiding here is of a great standard with all game drives accompanied by a guide and tracker. You can take morning, afternoon and evening game drives as well as boat trips (by Mokoro or speedboat). Guided bush walks are also available.

Kwara