Real Southern Africa

Reiseverlauf 2026

1. Tag 1

   Johannesburg

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   Sawubona! Welcome to South Africa. Touch down in Jo’burg (as the locals like to call it) where your adventure begins, ready for your welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, maybe visit the Apartheid Museum to start your journey with some local history, crucial in understanding this region. After your meeting, why not head out for a group dinner and get to know your fellow travellers. Your leader can point you in the right direction if you’re looking for local bars and restaurant recommendations.
   It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place. Please make sure that if you explore Johannesburg on your own that you get local advice on where it is safe to walk, especially in the evening. We recommend your wear a money belt, walk with purpose and avoid ostentatious displays of wealth.
2. Tag 2

   Khama Rhino Sanctuary

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   See ya South Africa – this morning, you’ll cross the border into Botswana and travel to the Khama Rhino Sanctuary. It sits on the Kalahari Desert and is an old hunting area transformed into a conservation project. It now protects what’s left of Botswana's black and white rhino populations, but you can also see zebras, giraffes, leopards, ostriches and wildebeest, all of which chill out around the natural waterholes. Not only do you get to check out the animals here, but you’ll also be benefitting local communities and helping protect the white rhino. When the sun begins to set, hop in a jeep to see the rhinos at their most active. About 35 rhinos roam around this 400-hectare community-based reserve, so don’t forget your binoculars!
   Your travel time today will be approximately 10 hours.
3. Tag 3

   Maun

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   Get up nice and early and drive to Maun. When you arrive, you’ll have the chance to stock up on any supplies you might need for the journey ahead. This town is the gateway to one of the world's most renowned and complex ecosystems – the Okavango Delta, a 16,000 square km maze of wetlands made up of waterways, green islands, lush plains and loads of wildlife. You might see hippos, crocodiles, elephants and big cats within the diverse ecosystem here. Tonight, you'll stay on the outskirts of Maun at a simple campsite with shared facilities, wi-fi and optional upgrades.
   Your travel time today will be approximately 9 hours. Due to the popularity of today’s optional activity, please advise your leader on Day 1 of the tour if you would like to take a scenic flight of the Okavango Delta as this needs to be booked in advance.
4. Tag 4

   Okavango Delta

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   Make your way to the north-western part of the Okavango Delta, close to the Pan Handle. Leave the truck and take a 4WD for the last 12 km to your campsite in the bush. Your accommodation for the next two nights sits on the edge of the Guma Lagoon area and might just be one of the trip’s highlights! When you arrive, set up camp, take in the incredible views of the Delta and relax on the edge of the water for the rest of the afternoon. Tonight, watch as the sunset turns into a brilliant sky full of stars, far away from any light pollution. Then, fall asleep to the sounds of the hippos in the distance.
   Your travel time today will be approximately 6 hours.
5. Tag 5

   Okavango Delta

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   Today, you get to paddle the mighty Delta. There's nothing more relaxing than feeling the African sun on your face as you lie back in a mokoro (traditional dugout canoe), while your expert poler propels you down calm waters through papyrus and reed beds to lily-covered lagoons. Watch out for elephants, lechwe, warthogs and sitatunga on a quick bush walk, then stop at one of the islands for a swim before returning to camp. If you are interested in the culinary side of Southern Africa, feel free to join your cook for a cooking class while they prepare tonight's meal.
6. Tag 6

   Maun

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   Wake up to the sounds of the Delta this morning then travel back to Maun to relax. If you didn’t get the chance to take a helicopter flight on day three, you will have the opportunity to do so today. Otherwise, sit back, relax and get ready for the rest of your adventure.
   Your travel time today will be approximately 6 hours.
7. Tag 7

   Gweta

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   Drive to Gweta this morning – a small town sitting near the stunning Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, which are some of the largest on Earth and covering around 12,000 square kilometres (4640 square miles). Drive through the national park before you arrive in Gweta. Tonight, you’ll head out on a Sundowner Bush Walk to explore the surrounding baobab forest with a local guide. Take in the unique scenery while your guide explains the local ecology, geology and biology of the largest succulent in the world. Watch the Botswana sunset with a drink by the campfire as you learn more about this vast saltpan desert that was once the largest expanse of fresh water on the planet.
   Your travel time today will be approximately 3.5 hours.
8. Tag 8

   Chobe National Park

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   Wake up early to drive to Chobe National Park today. You’ll have free time tonight to either rest or jump into some optional activities, like a sunset game drive or river cruise. There's a huge range of wildlife here, all packed into one tiny area, making it unlike anywhere else in the world! Huge herds of buffalo and elephants are often seen roaming around the savannah, matched by the size of the local lion prides. An estimated 70,000 Kalahari elephants roam the park, too – these amazing beasts are the largest known subspecies of elephant in the world. You might also see zebras, impalas, wildebeest, giraffes, lions, leopards, hyenas, jackals, warthogs, baboons, monkeys and heaps of birds.
   Your travel time today will be approximately 7 hours.
9. Tag 9

   Victoria Falls

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   Head out on a game drive in Chobe National Park this morning for a last chance to spot Botswana’s legendary animals. Then, it’s on to the town of Victoria Falls this afternoon. Cross the border into Zimbabwe and arrive in the early afternoon. Enjoy some free time in Victoria Falls to experience the sights and sounds of the mighty falls. You'll have another meeting at 6 pm tonight to meet the new group members who will joining you on the second half of your adventure.
   Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours. As this trip is a combination of shorter itineraries, the travellers in your group and your group leader are likely to change today. Victoria Falls entrance fee is not included in the price of the trip as it is mandatory for tour groups with pre-purchased tickets to have a local guide escort. We feel that seeing these waterfalls for the first time should be an uninterrupted sensory experience. While at Victoria Falls, you may hear about Devil's Pool. Intrepid does not recommend the activity due to the high risk involved. Our leaders cannot assist in organising this activity. You may also notice businesses offering an optional 'Walk with the Lions' experience. We ask all Intrepid travellers to avoid this activity as it is contrary to our Responsible Travel policy. While wildlife viewing is a big part of many of our itineraries, we strive only to view animals in their natural habitats and to do so with the greatest level of respect. The lion walking industry directly contributes to the captive breeding and canned hunting of lions. Read more about animal welfare and our ‘Born to Live Wild’ pledge here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/purpose/animal-welfare
10. Tag 10

    Victoria Falls

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    Guess what? You’re at the edge of the greatest curtain of falling water in the world. After a leader-led orientation walk of the town, enjoy a day of free time to take up one of many activities on offer in the area, including a gorge swing or whitewater rafting! There are many ways to take in the thundering sight and sound of the falls. These staggering cascades are about a mile wide, falling 108 m into a narrow gorge below. In the wet season, the spray rises high and the falls become a torrent; in the dry season, the lack of spray gives way to a nice view of the islets in the river below. Tonight, sit down to a traditional Zimbabwean dinner and cultural performance by White Star, who celebrate and preserve African stories and values through movement, while their profits go to supporting vulnerable groups and providing free dance lessons to local youth. Dinner will feature local Zimbabwean dishes, including village-style goat stew and peanut butter rice.
    Some optional activities require the National Park and fuel surcharges to be paid for in cash. Please refer to the above list for further information. Your leader will take you to a local activity centre where a range of activities will be on offer. We have not completed a risk assessment on all activities and only those listed in the above trip notes are recommended. If you are unsure about a certain activity, please discuss it with your leader. It is against company policy for leaders to facilitate the booking of any activities that have not do not adhere to our company’s Responsible Travel policy and ethos. This includes organising transport to and from these activities in our vehicles. If you decide to go on a scenic helicopter flight, choose Zambezi Helicopter Company (CAA Zimbabwe), which is the only operator Intrepid endorses.
11. Tag 11

    Hwange National Park

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    Leave Victoria Falls behind and head to Hwange National Park. En route, stop via the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust – one of the Intrepid Foundation’s projects - where you can learn about the rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife, human-wildlife conflict and their role in anti-poaching. There may also be a chance to meet any rescued or orphaned wildlife currently in their care. After, explore the stunning arena of Hwange in an open 4x4 vehicle. This national park became the royal hunting grounds of the Ndebele warrior-king Mzilikazi in the early 19th century and was set aside as a national park in 1929. Today, Hwange boasts a massive selection of wildlife, with over 100 species of mammals and nearly 400 bird species. But it's the elephants this place is famous for – here you'll find one of the largest elephant populations in Africa.
    Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.
12. Tag 12

    Bulawayo

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    Make tracks for Matobos with a short detour through Bulawayo, checking out its Victorian-style buildings, before heading to your camp for the next two nights. Home to a large population of black and white rhinoceros that can be tracked on foot. Matobo National Park is also the site of the grave of Cecil John Rhodes, the founder of Rhodesia and the De Beers diamond company. The Matobos area has great spiritual and cultural significance to the local people and there are many sites within the park where important ceremonies still take place. For those interested in the culinary side of southern African food, tonight your cook can provide a cooking class while you help prepare this evening’s delicious meal.
    Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours. Your campground has shared facilities, wi-fi access and some optional upgrades.
13. Tag 13

    Bulawayo

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    Good morning from mighty Matobos. You’re free to do as you please, but what is highly recommended is heading to Matobo Hills and spending the day tracking rhinos and other game animals with the help of your guide on an optional tour. The park is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including klipspringers, leopards, warthogs and springhares. Along the way, learn about the flora in the area and find old bushman paintings, see rock formations and learn the history of the area. It’s definitely a day you won’t want to miss.
14. Tag 14

    Tshipise

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    This morning, you will depart Zimbabwe and cross the bustling border post, the only direct crossing between Zimbabwe and South Africa. You’re expected to arrive at your campsite on the edge of Honnet Nature Reserve by late afternoon. Once there, unwind and take advantage of the extensive facilities, including both indoor and outdoor pools, a putt-putt course and a nature trail.
    Your travel time today will be approximately 8 hours (subject to border formalities).
15. Tag 15

    Kruger National Park

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    After breakfast, set off for renowned Kruger National Park. This world-famous park is known for Africa's iconic wildlife – lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino. On top of that, it's home to some 336 kinds of trees, 49 fish species and over 500 species of bird. See how many of these you can spot on your way to your campsite for the night.
    Your travel time today will be approximately 9 to 10 hours. On occasion, especially during the peak periods during May - September & December, we are unable to secure campsites within Kruger National Park. In this instance we will camp outside the park.
16. Tag 16

    Kruger National Park

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    Today, you will set off on an exhilarating full-day 4WD safari through Kruger National Park. This remarkable reserve, comparable in size to Belgium or Wales, offers an incredible opportunity to see Africa's iconic animals in their natural habitat, surrounded by savannas, forests, and expansive landscapes. Kruger is home to a diverse array of wildlife, including elephants, lions, leopards and buffalo, along with the endangered African wild dog. You’ll venture into prime areas for wildlife observation, keeping an eye out for various species ranging from antelopes and springbok to cheetahs and rhinos.
17. Tag 17

    Johannesburg

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    Venture out this morning for one last safari in your overland truck and soak up all Kruger has to offer. Keep your eyes peeled, ‘cause you never know what will pop out from behind the shrubs! Continue back to Johannesburg, where your trip finishes on arrival at a designated hotel drop-off point.
    Your travel time today will be approximately 10 hours. No accommodation is provided for tonight; however, if you’d like to spend more time in Johannesburg, we’ll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). If you're planning on catching an outgoing international flight today, it's important to book it for 10 pm or later, to allow for delays and transfers to the airport.