Classic Safaris
Botswana Safari-adventure
Self-drive itinerary June 2020
Arrival OR Tambo International Airport Johannesburg
19 June 2020, depart from Johannesburg 4 July 2020
All-inclusive Safari-adventure. Self-drive in one of our beloved Defenders, fully catered
excluding personal drinks and alcoholic beverages and optional excursions where indicated.
All you need will be your passport to fly to
Johannesburg, and once here, the rest is taken care of by the LR Classic crew.
We provide you with a fully kitted Land Rover Defender equipped for overlanding adventures. Camping sites varies from basic to wild camping. We provide three scrumptious meals per day. The all-inclusive professionally guided self-drive 16-day package deal of GBP10,000 for two people covers you from arrival at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, self-driving this epic overlanding Safari-adventure into Botswana, Okavango Delta flights, transfer to Vic Falls, and back to OR Tambo.
Day 1: Friday 19 June 2020
Arrive at Johannesburg International Airport by own arrangement where you will be met by the LR Classic crew. You are now in the hands of our professional guides and will be transferred to receive your classic Land Rover Defender. A short shopping spree for personal beverages and drive off in convoy to Marakele National Park where we will camp for our first evening under the bright African stars!
Distance: 270 km – mostly tarred roads
Accommodation: Camping at Bontle camp site
Day 2: Saturday 20 June
Cross the Limpopo river which forms the boundary between South Africa and Botswana via Maartinsdrift border post, and now in Botswana drive via the town of Palapye to Goo Moremi Gorge. We will take an interesting route from Palapye to Goo Moremi via old ruins, Motetane Gorge and holy waterfalls.
Distance: 430 km – mostly tarred roads (last 50km = dirt tracks)
Accommodation: Camping at Goo Moremi with basic ablutions
Ruins of the London Missionary Society (LMS) church. This church was built about 1892 when Old Palapye was the capital of the Bangwato of Khama III
Day 3: Sunday 21 June
Depart Goo Moremi and drive towards the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans via Francistown. We turn off to Kukonje Island where we will wild camp on the island under huge Baobab trees. It is a magnificent citing water levels permitting. – no ablutions. If we are advised it being dangerous to cross the salt pans due to high water levels, we will overnight at Nata lodge camp site – full ablutions.
Distance: 380 km bad tar road
Day 4: Monday 22 June
A short drive on a bad tar road, thick sand, fine dust, rough tracks and spectacular African views as we make our way to Planet Baobab Rest Camp and campsite which is situated on the edge of the Makgadikgadi Wilderness. If we missed Kukonje baobab site due to high water table, we will visit Bains Baobabs on the adjacent Nxai Pans as a drive-out of around 80km round trip.
Distance: 220 km bad tar road
Accommodation: Camping at Planet Baobab camp site with ablutions
Day 5: Tuesday 23 June
We use the main road to the town of Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta. We need to stock up and can spend the morning shopping and relaxing in Maun. Late afternoon we take a 45 min scenic flight over the spectacular Okavango Delta – a spectacular inland delta which supports a wealth of wildlife and spectacular birdlife!! The waters from the Okavango river flows into the 18 000 km2 Okavango Delta, before eventually disappearing into the red Kalahari sands.
Distance: 230 km bad tar road
Accommodation: Audi camp with full ablutions and facilities for washing clothes
Day 7: Thursday 25 June
Game drives in Moremi! Khawi camp
Day 8: Friday 26 June
Depart from the Okavango Delta and follow the sand tracks further into the wilderness of the dry Chobe National Park – this is Elephant and Lion paradise! We will camp here for two nights
Distance: 150 km (Sand tracks all the way – heavy soft sand)
Accommodation: Wilderness camping at Savute campsite – no ablutions
Day 9: Saturday27 June
Still in the Chobe National Park, we finally reach the waters of the Chobe river where animals come in their thousands to drink water. We travel to the town of Kasane, and book into Senyati Camp just outside Kasane. Senyati is literally 100m from the border with Zimbabwe – no fence. We will stay at Senyati for the next three nights, traversing the area, Chobe river cruise and Vic Falls.
Distance: 195 km (Sand tracks most of the way, then major gravel roads and eventually tarred road)
Accommodation: Senyati Lodge camping. Nice ablutions, bar / restaurant at a water hole.
Day 10: Sunday 28 June
Morning at leisure. Late morning visit to Gazungula ferry (border with Zambia) and lunch in Kasane where elephants and other animals have a permanent corridor to the Chobe river through the middle of town! The afternoon boat cruise on the Chobe river will ensure that you never forget your Botswana safari!
Accommodation: Senyati Lodge
Relaxing boat cruise on the Chobe river. Stunning African sunset!
Day 11: Monday 29 June
We leave our vehicles behind in Kasane and take a transfer across the border into Zimbabwe to Victoria Falls. The Smoke That Thunder – the Victoria Falls! Adventure activities in Victoria Falls!
Open day – various activities to choose from! Lunch at the colonial Vic Falls Hotel (for your own account).
Magnificent setting on the verandah with the mist of the Vic Falls in view
Transfer back to Senyati Lodge
Day 12: Tuesday 30 June
Depart for Elephant Sands halfway to Nata. It is a short distance, but we will attempt to drive the scenic route via the renown Hunters Road if it is open to the public. The road is often closed due to prolific poaching in the area. When in draught, Elephant Sand is visited 24/7 by herds of elephant. The elephants walk through the camp site to the waterhole.
Accommodation: Elephant Sands camp. Basic ablutions
Distance: 220 km tarred road (or dirt road via Hunters Road)
Day 13: Wednesday 1 July
Depart for the Tuli Block bordering South Africa and Zimbabwe. Today is a long day in the saddle mostly tarred road and then dirt road for the last 80km in the Tuli Wilderness area. We will travel through Nata and Francistown, Selebi Phikwe and then into the Tuli Wilderness area.
Accommodation: Limpopo River Lodge bush camp. Full ablutions
Distance: 650 km tarred and road
Day 14: Thursday 2 July
Game viewing and sightseeing today. We will have lunch at the famous Solomon’s Wall – this site has to be one of Botswana’s more remarkable geological features. It’s the remnants of 30m high and 10m wide basalt layer which once formed a natural dam wall across the Motloutse River, holding back a great lake. The two ends of this breached barrier still guard each side of the river valley.
Day 15: Friday 3 July
Depart via Pontdrif border post back into South Africa. Our last night on the epic safari-adventure will be at Mapungubwe National Park camp site. We will drive around in the park and visit the interesting
golden rhino interpretation center and take a guided hike up the Mapungubwe hill. This was a trading post in the 1200’s with lots of ancient history.
Distance: 130 km mostly dirt roads
Accommodation: Camping with ablutions
Day 16: Saturday 4 July
Drive to O R Tambo International Airport and say our good-byes.
Distance: 530 km tarred road
Pricing for self-drive guided catered safari-adventure Botswana July 2020 Package at GBP10,000 for 2 people. Non-returnable deposit of 50% upon booking. Included for 2 people:
- Land Rover Defender fully equipped for overlanding
o Large dome tent with stretchers, mattresses, linen, sleeping bag, flees blanket, cushion,
ground sheet;
o Hot water system: Gas / 220 gas geyser with privacy shower, 120l water
o 60l fridge to keep your beers cold, small freezer for ice;
o Chairs, table etc. - All fuel and toll fees
- 45min flight over the delta
- Transfer to Vic Falls, Chobe river cruise
- Camping fees, park entry fees
- Excluded:
- Return air tickets to SA OR Tambo International Airport
- Travel insurance, medical treatment, evacuation, etc.
- All items of personal nature
- All border costs, road tax, visa costs, etc.
- Personal drinks, alcoholic refreshments, lunch at Vic Falls
- Accommodation upgrades
- All activities and extras not mentioned above
- Tips, fines etc.
* Please note: itinerary could change due to water levels, road conditions and accommodation availability.
Booking Area
