Zimbabwe’s popularity as a travel destination has bounced back in the last few years and the country offers, in combination with Kruger and Botswana, a fantastic two weeks of camping travel in Southern Africa.

Day 1 - 2 KRUGER NATIONAL PARK [camping Bx1 Lx2 Dx2]
[B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner]
Departing Johannesburg at 06:30am we head north-east into the world famous Kruger National Park. We visit the remote and seldom visited northern part of the park from Letaba to Pafuri. We enjoy morning and afternoon game drives in our safari vehicle and hope to spot lion, elephant, rhino and other animals in this icon of wildlife conservation.

Day 3 GREAT ZIMBABWE [camping BLD]
Entering Zimbabwe at the Beit Bridge border post, we travel to the town of Masvingo and the Great Zimbabwe Monuments. The well preserved ruins are some of the oldest and largest stone structures in Southern Africa and were built during the 11th to 14th Centuries. We explore on foot and wonder at the mysteries of these ancient stone structures and the civilization that built them.

Day 4 - 5 MATOBOS NATIONAL PARK [camping BLD]
Moving on to Bulawayo, we arrive in the late afternoon and set up our camp on the outskirts of the park, before enjoying a sundowner and an evening around the campfire.
The following morning we head into the Matobo National Park with a local guide to visit the core of the Matopos Hills, an area of granite koppies and wooded valleys. On our open vehicle game drive we visit World's View and the historical site of Cecil John Rhodes' grave and discover the unusual rock formations characteristic of this area. As part of our visit we take a guided walk to track and hopefully find endangered white rhino, as well as other wildlife, and view bushman rock paintings.

Day 6 - 7 HWANGE NATIONAL PARK [camping BLD]
Named after a local Nhanzwa chief, Hwange National Park is the largest Park in Zimbabwe occupying roughly 14 650 square kilometers and is located in the north-west corner of the country. It is famed for its large elephant population. Our camp is in the game management area that borders the park, and we explore the park with our local guide, on a full day game drive in an open 4WD game viewing vehicle.

Day 8 - 9 VICTORIA FALLS [camping B--]
We camp for 2 nights in the town of Victoria Falls. We enjoy a spectacular walk through tropical vegetation to the very edge of the “Mosi oa Tunya” or “the smoke that thunders” - Victoria Falls. There are opportunities to white water raft on the mighty Zambezi River, bungi jump or take a “flight of angels” (own expense).

Day 10 CHOBE NATIONAL PARK [camping BLD]

Entering Botswana, our camp is situated in the town of Kasane on the banks of the Chobe River. The river flows lazily along the northern boundary of the Chobe National Park attracting some of the largest herds of elephant in Africa. A highlight of any trip to the Chobe is the afternoon game viewing “sundowner” cruise where we hope to see a large number of elephants and other wildlife as they quench their thirst at the end of the day.

Day 11 GWETA [camping BL-]
This morning there is time for an optional (own expense) game drive in the Chobe National Park. Heading south through the Kasane Forest Reserve we make our way to Gweta for our overnight stop. Here we sleep with our tents nestled at the base of ancient baobab trees.

Day 12 – 14 OKAVANGO DELTA [camping Bx3 Lx3 Dx2]
After an early start we depart for Maun where we will then transfer into the delta by open 4WD game viewing vehicle. Our local guides will take us deep into the heart of the Okavango Delta on mekoro (dugout canoes). Being gently poled through the network of channels is an experience not to be missed. The delta forms as rainwater from the Angolan highlands flows out over the flat Kalahari Desert sands, forming a delicate, green oasis for birds and wildlife. We will camp wild on remote islands in this amazingly dynamic environment and enjoy bush walks, bird watching & swimming in the clear waters. Camping with our local guides we learn more about their lifestyle and culture. We return to Maun in the late afternoon of day 14 and have time for an optional (own expense) game flight over the Okavango, which will reveal a different aspect of the delta.

It is possible to end this tour on the morning of day 15 in Maun at 08:00 after breakfast to catch flights from Maun to Johannesburg (ZB15). Please contact us for more information.

Day 15 KHAMA RHINO SANCTUARY [camping BLD]
Heading south from Maun, we drive through the wide open spaces of the Kalahari Desert on our way to the Khama Rhino Sanctuary. This is a community based wildlife project established in 1992 to assist in saving the vanishing rhino, restore an area formerly teeming with wildlife to its previous natural state and to provide economic benefits to the local Batswana community through tourism and the sustainable use of natural resources. We hope to spot some of the elusive rhino on a game drive.

Day 16 JOHANNESBURG TOUR ENDS [- B- -]
Crossing back into South Africa, we make our way to Johannesburg where the tour ends in the late afternoon.

Please note: we do a free drop off at Johannesburg Airport on day 16 at +/- 17:00 so you can book your flight out for the last day of tour after 19:00.

Highlights

	Kruger NP – game drives
	Zimbabwe Monuments – guided tour
	Matobos NP – game drive
	Hwange NP – game drive in open vehicle
	Victoria Falls– a natural wonder & adventure activities
	Chobe NP – sunset river cruise
	Okavango Delta – Mokoro excursion & bush walks

This tour departs at 06:30 from Johannesburg, South Africa. You will need to fly into OR Tambo International airport (JNB) in Johannesburg the day before the tour starts, as there is an early start on Day 1.

The tour ends at approximately 18:00 in Johannesburg, at the hotel. We do a free of charge drop off at Johannesburg airport on the last day of the tour, Day 16, at approximately 17:00. You can therefore book an outward flight departing after 19:00 on the last day of the tour from Johannesburg.

If you would like to book any pre-tour or post-tour accommodation, please indicate your required airport transfers and the number of nights required when you submit your enquiry below.

Please note that you can also end this tour on day 15 at 08:00 in Maun, Botswana = ZB15. You could then book a flight from Maun (MUB) to Johannesburg (JNB) instead of driving back to Johannesburg, South Africa on the last day of the tour.

Johannesburg hotel:

Rivonia Road Lodge
Cnr Rivonia Rd & 10th Ave, Rivonia, Sandton
Double room (B&B)  € 38 per person sharing 
Single room (B&B)  € 67

Please slide side-to-side to see more info

REPEAT TRAVELERS SPECIAL DISCOUNT:

If you have travelled with Sunway before and would like to return to Africa and do another safari with us, we can offer you a repeat Sunway travellers discount of 5% on any scheduled tour booked.

This discount is also available if you book through your original travel agent again. When you make your booking please make sure you tell your agent the date of your previous tour.

Safari Grade: Camping

Overnight: 13 nights on safari we stay at designated campsites, in or bordering national parks and towns. Formal campsites have hot and cold showers, laundry facilities & telephones. 2 nights “camping wild” without fences in the Okavango. On these nights the crew will erect a bucket shower (with hot water off the fire) and a pit latrine (with seat!).

	Meals: 15 breakfasts, 13 lunches and 11 dinners will be provided by the Sunway crew, prepared at the vehicle and eaten around the camp fire or in the boma.
	Transport:  we use custom-built Sunway Safari trucks with 12 forward facing seats; or (on 10% of tours) Mercedes Sprinter minibuses with 12 forward facing seats and air conditioning. For the game drives in Matobos, Hwange, Chobe and the transfer into the Okavango we use open 4WD vehicles with local guides.

Limited Participation: An essential part of your safari is participation. From putting up your tent to packing the truck in the morning – it’s all part of your adventure. Your tour leaders will do all the meal preparation but we do ask the clients to help (on rotation) with the washing up. Please note that although Sunway has all the correct paperwork the Beitbridge border crossing into Zimbabwe can take a long time, which can make for a particularly long day.

Responsible Tourism

Zimbabwe has for many years been off the tourist chart. Conservation has been a challenge for many Zimbabweans working in the national parks and on private land. In Matopos and Hwange national parks we use locally owned camps, operators and guides. Bringing tourist revenue back to the people on the ground will help support the protection of these beautiful wildlife regions.

Matopos National Park includes an Intensive Protection Zone where a large population of Black and White Rhinoceros are successfully breeding. Hwange National Park is the largest Park in Zimbabwe.

Hwange boasts a tremendous selection of wildlife with over 100 species of mammals and nearly 400 bird species recorded. The elephants of Hwange are world famous and the Park's elephant population is one of the largest in the world.

 

AGE POLICY

We accept children 12-18 with accompanying adults on scheduled tours (for private groups we can accept younger children). If the clients are older than 65 years, then we require a medical certificate too (stating client is fit and healthy to embark on a multi-day tour covering long distances etc)

 

THE BEST TIME TO VISIT BOTSWANA

Botswana is centrally located in Southern Africa and has a sub-tropical climate. Largely Kalahari Desert, there are sizeable differences between the day and night temperatures and being a semi-desert environment, very limited rainfall. In the Delta temperatures are more moderate due to the abundance of water.
The Okavango Delta provides a lifeline of water in the desert as the summer rains fall in Angola and take 6 months to arrive in the Okavango. Thus the Okavango Delta is actually expanding as the surrounding desert dries out through winter. This phenomenon creates an incredible wildlife spectacle all year round.

Dry season is from May to October: The game viewing is superb and wildlife is very easy to spot.

May:- Autumn temperatures are typically 10°C/50°F to 28°C/80°F.

June, July & August:- Winter morning game drives can be cold at around 6°C/42°F, but it warms to +-25°C/78°F, so dress in layers with a windproof jacket and beanie.

September & October:- Spring begins and temperatures warm up to +- 34°C/100°F. October is the hottest month in Botswana and the migration of the Southern Carmine Bee-eaters is a sight to behold and a must-see for this time of year.

Green season is from November to April: The intermittent rains bring much needed relief to the bushveld, many antelope have their young, and the world around you is brimming with new life. The rains also settle the dust, and the sunlight provides gorgeous photographic opportunities.

November & December:- As the clouds build up this time is typically cooler than October at between 20°C/69°F and 33°C/91°F but there can still be some very hot days. After the first rains the roads can become muddy in places!

January & February:- The Summer or "Green" months, have occasional spectacular thunderstorms in the afternoons. Temperatures are around 32°C/90°F at midday.

March and April:- The waters of the Okavango Delta start to rise and large herds of elephant and buffalo begin to make their way back to the Okavango as winter approaches. Lovely, clear weather and few clouds prevail, but the nights are cooler and the days very comfortable at around 30°C/87°F.

 

Caron - Jun24

“What an awesome 16 day adventure I had with Marcus as our guide and Succeed as our driver. There were only 6 tourists and we all got on so well. The food was outstanding, the wild life mind blowing and the locations exceptional. There were highlights in each destination but the Sunset cruise on the Chobe river was my personal favourite. Well done Sunways on making my dream come true.”

Sinead - Oct23

“The trip was amazing, very unique experience. Lots of variety, I loved the camping and the tents were comfortable. We saw a lot of wildlife and beautiful places. Highlights for me were Victoria Falls, Chobe, and the Okavango Delta (one of the most peaceful places I've ever been). Our guides were brilliant and definitely added positively to the tour. I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to do something like this and I was sad when it ended!”

General comments - May19

“Good organisation, nice route, professional guides”
“Thank you for this amazing experience/trip”

Claus - Nov15

From 8 safari tours in Africa that was the best on. Well done.

Lindsay - Nov15

Tour itinerary is excellent. Game drives were brilliant as were all our guides.

Michael - Oct15

Perfect organisation, friendly guides and great camp sites.

Maria - Jul15

I'm satisfied with the tour and I think that for 16 days I saw many different place, animals and cities and knew a lot of the things about this beautiful continent.

Nicole - Jul15

Shadreck did a great job. He is a really professional and great guide

Nicole - Jun15

Amazing, we did so much for such a reasonable price. A great bucket list trip. Thanks! We would recommend this trip to previous. Previous to the trip friends didn't believe we could do all the items for the price, the trip was much more than expected. Thanks to Wayne Grace and Stephan, I was most impressed with their knowledge of Africa, the bush and animals, plants and history. I learned much more than I thought I would.

Verena Ann - Jun15

Excellent organisation, guides and great travellers in the group. Amazing experiences, thanks so much!

Shannen - Jan15

The tour was amazing and very informative. So much fun!

Lee - Jan15

Sunway guides showed us more than we bargained for. They were attentive to our every need. Farai and Shandle are a credit to Sunway. I would travel with them anytime. I can't rate them highly enough!

Yvonee - Nov14

The whole trip was a pleasure! Excellent organisation, interesting itinerary, great guides, delicious meals. Couldn't have been better, thanks a lot!!!

Claire (agent) - Nov2011

"Hello Richard,
Thank you very much for your follow-up email. I spoke with the Maier's after their return, and they had a wonderful trip!

They said their guide was excellent, and shared his knowledge and passion daily, and ensured safe travel as they made their way through Kruger NP and into Zimbabwe.

They truly enjoyed Victoria Falls from the Zimbabwe side, and can highly recommend spending time here vs the Falls from the Zambia side, which they experienced last year.

All the game drives were rewarding, and they saw many animals. They mentioned the parks were quite empty of people, which they found interesting. The loved the boat cruise in Chobe NP, said it was incredible.

Also they enjoyed the Khama Rhino Sanctuary at the end of their tour. They enjoyed the camping aspect, but said that some spots were very sparce.

Food provided on the trip was very good. They said the trip was a complete success and they will be planning a return visit.

Thank you again for the excellent service your company provided as well Thanks to their excellent guide."

Claire Chilton, USA

Henriksen - Jul11

Dear Richard, Tamlyn and Bruce

We had an amazing trip with Sunway Safaris and will be happy to go home and sell your products. Chris and Phumizile were really great.

Chris has an amazing knowledge and positivity - always smiling and helpful. But Phumi was still my favourite with his calm and kind appearence. Always ready to help and assist.

Thanks again for this oportunity to travel with you and say hi to our two guides from me and my daughter Karoline. We will really miss them and hope to see you all again later. Look forward to continue the cooperation with you.

Lara - May11

To whom it may concern,

I have recently done the trip through Zimbabwe and Botswana and just wanted to give a huge thanks to you for offering this amazing trip.

We had a wonderful time and our guides, Lissom and Chris, were superb. Lissom enchanted us with a delicious dinner every day (he is a phenomenal cook!) and both of them were always good-humored and extremely well informed about nature, culture and everything else. Both were born in Zimbabwe and I could feel the enthusiasm about having the opportunity to show us their mother country. They have done a great job.

Lara Freitag, Germany

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