This 10 Days Best Zimbabwe Zambia Botswana Tour takes you from the thundering Victoria Falls through pristine wilderness areas of Mana Pools to the wildlife-rich Luangwa Valley and concludes in Botswana's magnificent Okavango Delta. Your journey spans approximately 2,500 kilometers through diverse ecosystems, from riverine forests to seasonal floodplains, offering unparalleled opportunities to witness Africa's incredible biodiversity.
During this meticulously planned Zimbabwe Zambia Botswana Tour, you'll experience the best of each country's natural treasures and cultural heritage. The adventure begins at "Mosi-oa-Tunya" (The Smoke That Thunders) in Zimbabwe, continues through the UNESCO World Heritage wilderness of Mana Pools, ventures into Zambia's legendary South Luangwa National Park, and culminates in the pristine waterways of Botswana's Okavango Delta. Each destination offers unique wildlife viewing opportunities, from walking safaris with elephants to mokoro excursions through papyrus-lined channels.
Your Zimbabwe Zambia Botswana Tour combines luxury accommodations with authentic bush experiences, guided by expert naturalists who share their intimate knowledge of these remarkable ecosystems. From adrenaline-pumping activities like white-water rafting on the Zambezi to serene sunset cruises through the Delta's maze of channels, this tour showcases the incredible diversity of southern African landscapes. The carefully curated itinerary ensures seamless transitions between countries while maximizing your wildlife viewing and cultural immersion opportunities throughout this unforgettable Zimbabwe Zambia Botswana Tour adventure.
Day 1: Pick Up from Victoria Falls Airport and Victoria Falls Tour
Day 2: Transfer to Mana Pools National Park via Scenic Route
Day 3: Continue Bush Walking Safari in Mana Pools Wilderness
Day 4: Proceed to the Zambia Border and Transfer to South Luangwa
Day 5: Continue Game Drives in South Luangwa National Park
Day 6: Transfer to Local Airstrip for Flight to Botswana
Day 7: Pick Up from Accommodation and Transfer to Okavango Delta
Day 8: Continue Mokoro Excursions in Delta Waterways
Day 9: Proceed with Final Game Drive and Cultural Activities
Day 10: Transfer to Maun Airport for Departure
Your Zimbabwe Zambia Botswana Tour begins with arrival at Victoria Falls International Airport, where you'll be met by your professional guide for a 25-minute transfer to your accommodation overlooking the mighty Zambezi River. This exciting Zimbabwe Zambia Botswana Tour experience starts with a guided tour of Victoria Falls, known locally as "Mosi-oa-Tunya," where the 108-meter cascade spans 1.7 kilometers across the Zambezi gorge. Your first day of the Zimbabwe Zambia Botswana Tour concludes with a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River, offering spectacular views of the falls from the water while enjoying traditional African refreshments and watching wildlife come to drink along the riverbanks.
Continue your Zimbabwe Zambia Botswana Tour with an early morning departure for the 280-kilometer journey to Mana Pools National Park, traveling approximately 4-5 hours through Zimbabwe's diverse landscapes. This leg of your Zimbabwe Zambia Botswana Tour takes you through the scenic Zambezi Valley, passing through local villages and stopping at the famous Kariba Dam wall viewpoint for photographs and refreshments. Upon arrival at Mana Pools, known locally as "Mana Hupenyu" (Four Pools of Life), your Zimbabwe Zambia Botswana Tour continues with an afternoon game drive along the Zambezi riverfront, where you'll witness the park's famous elephant populations and diverse birdlife in this UNESCO World Heritage wilderness area.
Proceed with your Zimbabwe Zambia Botswana Tour by experiencing one of Africa's premier walking safari destinations in the pristine wilderness of Mana Pools National Park. This adventurous day of your Zimbabwe Zambia Botswana Tour features a guided 4-hour bush walk with armed rangers through the Ana tree forests, where you'll track wildlife on foot and learn about the intricate ecosystems of this 2,196-square-kilometer park. Your Zimbabwe Zambia Botswana Tour afternoon includes a game drive to the famous Nyamepi area, located 15 kilometers from camp, where the legendary "standing" elephants demonstrate their remarkable feeding behavior while reaching for seed pods high in the Albida trees.
Your Zimbabwe Zambia Botswana Tour continues with an early morning departure from Mana Pools for the 320-kilometer journey to Zambia's South Luangwa National Park, including border formalities at Chirundu Bridge. This cross-border segment of your Zimbabwe Zambia Botswana Tour involves approximately 6-7 hours of travel through changing landscapes, from Zimbabwe's Zambezi Valley into Zambia's Eastern Province via the Great East Road. Upon arrival at your lodge near South Luangwa, known locally as "Nsefu" (Place of Abundance), your Zimbabwe Zambia Botswana Tour resumes with an evening game drive in this 9,050-square-kilometer park, famous for its high concentration of leopards and endemic Thornicroft's giraffe.
Proceed with your Zimbabwe Zambia Botswana Tour through comprehensive exploration of South Luangwa's diverse ecosystems, starting with a dawn game drive targeting the park's abundant predator populations. This full day of your Zimbabwe Zambia Botswana Tour includes both morning and afternoon game drives in custom 4x4 vehicles, covering the oxbow lagoons and mopane woodlands where over 60 mammal species and 400 bird species thrive. Your Zimbabwe Zambia Botswana Tour experience is enhanced by optional night drives (additional cost), offering opportunities to spot nocturnal species like civets, genets, and the elusive leopards that make the Luangwa Valley famous throughout the safari world.
Continue your Zimbabwe Zambia Botswana Tour with a morning transfer to Mfuwe Airport, located 45 minutes from your lodge, for the connecting flight to Maun, Botswana's safari capital. This aerial segment of your Zimbabwe Zambia Botswana Tour covers approximately 700 kilometers in 2 hours, offering spectacular bird's-eye views of the Zambezi River system and approaching Kalahari landscapes. Upon arrival in Maun, your Zimbabwe Zambia Botswana Tour guide will meet you for the short transfer to your accommodation, where you'll prepare for tomorrow's adventure into the pristine Okavango Delta, known locally as "Okavango Panhandle" - one of the world's largest inland deltas.
Proceed with your Zimbabwe Zambia Botswana Tour early morning transfer to the Delta launch station, approximately 45 minutes from Maun, where you'll board traditional mokoro (dugout canoes) for the journey into the heart of the wetlands. This unique phase of your Zimbabwe Zambia Botswana Tour involves a 2-3 hour mokoro excursion through papyrus-lined channels and lily-covered lagoons, guided by expert local polers known as "Bayei" who navigate these pristine waterways. Your Zimbabwe Zambia Botswana Tour day concludes with arrival at your exclusive tented camp on a remote island in the Delta, where you'll enjoy sundowners overlooking the vast floodplains that support over 150,000 mammals and 500 bird species.
Your Zimbabwe Zambia Botswana Tour continues with a full day exploring the intricate channel systems of the Okavango Delta, starting with an early morning mokoro excursion to Chief's Island, the largest landmass in the Delta. This serene day of your Zimbabwe Zambia Botswana Tour includes guided walks on palm-dotted islands where you'll encounter red lechwe, sitatunga, and numerous water birds in their natural habitat. The afternoon Zimbabwe Zambia Botswana Tour activity features another mokoro journey through different channels, allowing opportunities for fishing (catch and release) and photography of the Delta's stunning landscapes and wildlife interactions in this 15,000-square-kilometer oasis.
Continue your Zimbabwe Zambia Botswana Tour with a morning game drive on the Delta's seasonal floodplains, searching for the Big Five and rare species like African wild dogs and cheetahs that frequent these productive grasslands. This penultimate day of your Zimbabwe Zambia Botswana Tour includes a cultural visit to a local Bayei village, where you'll learn about traditional fishing methods, basket weaving, and the community's intimate relationship with the Delta ecosystem. Your Zimbabwe Zambia Botswana Tour afternoon concludes with a farewell mokoro excursion at sunset, offering final photographic opportunities of this UNESCO World Heritage Site while enjoying traditional refreshments and reflecting on your incredible multi-country adventure.
Your memorable Zimbabwe Zambia Botswana Tour concludes with a morning mokoro journey back to the launch station, followed by the 45-minute road transfer to Maun International Airport for onward connections. This final day of your Zimbabwe Zambia Botswana Tour allows time for last-minute souvenir shopping at Maun's craft markets, where you can purchase authentic Botswana baskets and local artwork. As your Zimbabwe Zambia Botswana Tour adventure ends, you'll depart with extraordinary memories of three countries' diverse landscapes, from thundering waterfalls to pristine wilderness areas and tranquil waterways, having traveled over 2,500 kilometers through some of southern Africa's most spectacular destinations.