Day 1: Arrive Johannesburg
Met on arrival at OR Tambo and driven thirty minutes to the Saxon, behind high walls in Sandhurst. Nothing is asked of you today. The point of this night is to land, sleep, and start the safari rested rather than wrecked.
Private Tour 14 days
Southern Africa Grand Safari: Kruger, Victoria Falls & Okavango
Kruger, the Zambezi and the Delta, flown between
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe · 14 days · From $24,700 per person · Booked direct with Josh Elliott, owner-operator
Duration14 Days
RegionVictoria Falls
Activity levelEasy
Priced per personFrom $24,700
Best monthsMay to October
Overview
The circuit the big international operators sell, routed the way it should be: flown between, never driven for the sake of it, and nothing on it that does not earn its place.
It opens in Johannesburg, one night at the Saxon to turn a long-haul arrival into something restful. Then ninety minutes north-east by air into the Kruger National Park, to Singita private concession on the Sweni River. The concession is exclusive-use, which means no other vehicles at a sighting and no queue for a leopard. Three nights, and they go quickly.
Back through Johannesburg and north to Victoria Falls, where you stay on the river at Palm River, in gardens on the bank of the Zambezi, rather than in town. Three nights for the Falls, the gorge and the Zambezi at the end of the day.
Then the Delta: a light aircraft west into Botswana, low enough to read the braided channels, and down onto Chief's Island in the Moremi Game Reserve. Chief's Camp for three nights on the densest predator ground in the Okavango, with game drives twice a day, mokoro through the channels when the flood is in, and both black and white rhino on the island.
The journey finishes back on the Zambezi at Matetsi, fifteen kilometres of private river frontage upstream of the Falls, before you fly home.
Three countries, five lodges, and not one day spent getting somewhere for its own sake. Private throughout, maximum eight guests, and every departure tailor-made: we move the lodges up or down and change the pacing around you.
When to go: best in the dry months, May to October. The Okavango flood peaks between June and August, when the mokoro channels are at their best, and Kruger game viewing is strongest from June to September. Victoria Falls runs highest from February to May.
Why book direct with ZimTravellers?
Owner-plannedYou deal with Josh, directly
Generations deepFive generations in Zimbabwe
Private by defaultYour guide, your vehicle
A direct lineMessages answered by Josh himself
Southern Africa Grand Safari: Kruger, Victoria Falls & OkavangoThe route, day by day
Itinerary
Day by day.
A beautifully paced journey through the highlights of this unique experience.
Day 2: Fly to the Kruger National Park
A ninety-minute flight north-east to Satara airstrip, then forty-five minutes by road onto Singita private concession on the Sweni River. Out on the first drive by late afternoon. The concession is exclusive-use, so what you find, you have to yourself.
Day 3: Kruger National Park
A full day on the concession. Out before light while it is cool, back through the heat of the middle of the day, out again until after dark. This is leopard country as much as lion country, and the eastern Kruger holds both at density.
Day 4: Kruger National Park
A second full day, which is where the difference shows. Guided walking if you want it, a hide, or simply staying with one sighting for an hour instead of moving on. Dinner is usually outside.
Day 5: Return to Johannesburg
Back to Satara and the short hop south to Johannesburg. An easy night at the Saxon between the two halves of the journey, and a chance to repack before crossing into Zimbabwe.
Day 6: Fly to Victoria Falls
North to Victoria Falls and out of town entirely, to Palm River on the bank of the Zambezi upstream of the Falls. Gardens running down to the water, and the river doing the rest. An evening cruise if the light is worth it.
Day 7: Victoria Falls
The Falls themselves, walked along the rim with a guide who can read the geology as well as the spray. The Zimbabwean side holds most of the frontage and rewards a slow morning. Afternoons here belong to the gorge or to the river.
Day 8: Victoria Falls
A second day at the Falls, which is what turns a stop into a stay. Helicopter over the gorge, a walk to the Boiling Pot, tigerfish on the upper river, or a chair facing the water and nothing at all.
Day 9: Fly to the Okavango Delta
West into Botswana by light aircraft, low enough to read the braided channels below you, and down on the airstrip at Chief's Island in the Moremi Game Reserve. Chief's Camp for three nights, and a first drive before dark.
Day 10: Okavango Delta
Chief's Island is the densest predator ground in the Delta. Game drives morning and late afternoon, and both black and white rhino on the island. Between drives the water does the work: elephant crossing the floodplain in front of camp.
Day 11: Okavango Delta
Mokoro through the channels when the flood is in, poled at eye level with the reeds and the frogs, which is a completely different way of being in the Delta from a vehicle. A helicopter flight over the water is worth adding if the budget allows.
Day 12: Return to Victoria Falls
Back across the border and onto the Zambezi at Matetsi, which holds fifteen kilometres of private river frontage upstream of the Falls. A river suite facing the water, and the town nowhere in sight.
Day 13: Matetsi, Victoria Falls
A last full day on the river. Game drives on the reserve, a boat on the upper Zambezi, or a second look at the Falls without the pressure of it being your only chance. Sundowners on the water.
Day 14: Depart Victoria Falls
A slow morning on the river, then the short transfer to Victoria Falls airport for your flight home.
Where you will stay
Hand-picked, night by night.
Johannesburg · South AfricaSaxon HotelDetails in your proposalKruger National Park · South AfricaSingita SweniDetails in your proposal
Victoria Falls · ZimbabwePalm River HotelView the lodge →
Okavango Delta · BotswanaChief's CampDetails in your proposalVictoria Falls · ZimbabweMatetsi Victoria FallsView the lodge →Things to know
Cancellation policy
25% charge (deposit): 90+ days out.
50% charge: 61 to 90 days.
75% charge: 31 to 60 days.
A 25% deposit confirms your itinerary.
Booking basics
Requested and confirmed within one working day.
Per person sharing, excluding international flights.
Operated by ZimTravellers (own itinerary; partner lodges as listed).
Participation & safety
Physical level: Easy.
Private and tailor-made journey cancellation
- A 25% deposit is required to confirm your itinerary and is non-refundable.
- If we receive your written cancellation more than 90 days before departure, the cancellation charge is 25% of the total booking price.
- For cancellations received 61-90 days before departure, the charge is 50%.
- For cancellations received 31-60 days before departure, the charge is 75%.
- For cancellations received 30 days or fewer before departure, or in the event of a no-show, the charge is 100%.
- Certain camps, lodges, private vehicles, permits and special arrangements may impose earlier or higher non-refundable charges. Any such condition will be itemised and disclosed before you pay your deposit and will apply only to the affected component.
- Changes requested after services have been confirmed are subject to availability, supplier charges and repricing. A reduction in the number of travellers may increase the per-person price for those who continue to travel.
How booking works
- Send your dates and party size. We confirm availability within one working day, usually sooner.
- Nothing is charged until your booking is confirmed.
What’s included
Included
- Accommodation as listed or similar
- All meals, house drinks and scheduled activities as per each lodge and camp
- Light-aircraft flights Johannesburg to Kruger and return
- Regional flights Johannesburg to Victoria Falls
- Light-aircraft flights Victoria Falls to the Okavango Delta and return
- Private guiding and all road transfers on the route
- Park, concession and conservation fees
- Direct WhatsApp line to Josh before, during and after the tour
Not included
- International flights to and from Johannesburg
- Visas
- Travel insurance
- Premium wines and champagne
- Spa treatments and helicopter flights unless specified
- Gratuities
- Items of a personal nature
Practical
Best timeMay to October
PaceEasy
StartsJohannesburg
EndsVictoria Falls
