Vic Falls, Chobe, Delta & Nxai Pan

Just around midday, as the sun reaches its highest point of orbit, your plane will touch down on the gently steaming airport tarmac. A Flame of Africa representative will be on hand to usher you into the magical world of Victoria Falls, an intoxicating mix of fiery falls and wildlife, fine dining and dusty roads begging to be explored.

We will then escort you to your destination, The A’Zambezi River Lodge. The A’Zambezi is the only hotel situated on the banks of the infallible Zambezi River, and as such offers a truly unique accommodation experience. Its serene and tranquil setting provides the ideal escape from everyday stresses and strains as guests are soon enthralled by the surrounding African bush life and winding sensuality of the infallible Zambezi.

At 15h30, you will be conveyed to the mighty Zambezi, where you will board the pontoon to enjoy a two-hour sunset cruise. There is no river that entices and mesmerises quite like this one, and its charm soon draws all who sail on her into an ethereal nether world of fiery sunset colours, African greens revealing the incredible river wildlife, and grey-blue streams of river water. All senses are heightened and delighted, especially when the boat draws close to the legendary spray of the Falls. Please bring a light jersey as well as your camera for the many photographic opportunities aboard. This cruise does include finger snacks, beer, wine, local spirits, and soft drinks for added enjoyment.

Dinner will be served at 19h30, you will enjoy a unique dining experience on the wrap around deck at the Amulonga, an award winning, open air restaurant which overlooks the intoxicating waters of the Zambezi. The cuisine on offer is a tasteful mix of modern and African cuisines, offset to the beat of traditional entertainment and performance that enhance the incredible dinner experience.

Breakfast will be served early, to accommodate an 08h00 collection for a two-hour guided tour of the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls. No photograph or video clip can adequately reveal the reality of these Falls – which reach their zenith toward May every year. Prepare to overwhelm all five senses as you walk along the wet and paved paths, smell the sounds of the cascading water, hear the intermittent calls of the exotic birds as they dart in and out of the vibrant vegetation, tantalising you with flashes of colour. This is truly Nature’s supreme masterpiece and the sheer power of the Falls will inspire and humble every visitor. Look out for the Big Tree, and various points of historic interest pointed out by your Guides, who will also provide fascinating detail of the flora, fauna, bird and wildlife that surround your Vic Falls experience. Raincoats will be provided where needed, and Guides are equipped to assist clients with photographic opportunities along the tour.

From this multi-sensory experience, guests will then be provided with an afternoon of leisure to either relax and enjoy the comforts of their hotel facilities; or engage in the many optional Victoria Falls activities available for tourists.

At 19h00, you will be escorted to the famous, traditional Boma Dinner, a three-hour long experience that will leave you replete and engorged with exotic flavours! Be prepared for far more than an ethnic culinary experience, as the dinner provides guests with a truly cultural experience, beginning with a Shona and Ndebele greeting which invites you to engage in the hand washing ceremony. The meal is preceded by a sampling of potent tribal beer and snacks.

The excellent cuisine includes a variety of game dishes as well as traditional dishes peculiar to the Zimbabwean culture. Each course enjoyed under the spectacular African night sky is enhanced by a feast of unending entertainment which ranges from traditional dancers, to a Sangoma, or storyteller, an expert in local folklore and heritage. You may also opt to have your fortune told by the all-knowing local fortune teller.

Linger in this magical African world awhile before departure and enjoy a leisurely breakfast before preparing for your onward journey. A Flame of Africa representative will be on hand to facilitate the transfer across the border into Botswana and on to Mowana Safari Lodge and Spa. Nestled on the banks of the vast Chobe River, the Lodge effortlessly blends luxury and nature into a sensory delight, offering African comfort at its best with superb hospitality, excellent cuisine, and luxurious accommodation.

At 15h00, you will be collected to embark on the Chobe Sunset Cruise which takes three hours, with completion at 18h00. This cruise is known to be the highlight of the Chobe experience, offering an emotive and visual experience like no other.

The boats are fully equipped to facilitate game viewing into areas that the larger boats are unable to enter. Guests are invited into the wonder of all things great and small resident to the Chobe and enjoy an intimate and personal experience of all that comprises the River’s fascinating habitat. Please be sure to bring your cameras, binoculars, sunscreen and, in the winter season, something warm to cover up. If you have a favourite, please do pre order your drinks requests with the boat guide prior to departure.

Dinner will be served at your leisure between 19h00- 22h00 at the Serondela Restaurant. Both local and international cuisine are catered for at the restaurant, buffet style. For those wanting the adventure to extend to their dinner plate, try the African flavours of game dishes, or even the notorious delicacy of Mopane worms.

The more traditional palate has the option of comfort food such as roasts and oxtail stews for order.

It’s an early start at 06h00 for the awesome three hour experience of the Chobe Game Drive, which runs through The Chobe Game Reserve, an 11 700 km2 wildlife reserve, truly one of Africa’s wildlife gems and one of the greatest game reserves in southern Africa, famous for the number of elephant that reside there. Estimates vary on the elephant population, but what is guaranteed is that you will witness the unforgettable and humbling sight of these vast and majestic herds, sometimes as large as a few hundred, ranging through the reserve. Sightings of predators such as lion, leopard and wild dog are common, so prolific are they, that the area has been called the Galapagos of Africa. In order to ensure your experience is as wonderful as it should be, please pack binoculars, cameras and a windbreaker.

Appetites can be appeased at the Serondela Restaurant with a buffet breakfast served until 10h00. This includes both American and English style dishes as well as fresh fruit and juice.

Prepare for a 11h00 collection to depart on The Chobe Explorer. This full day excursion departs from the Flame of Africa Jetty. The satisfying aroma of freshly brewed coffee and muffins welcome you aboard the triple decker vessel.

The spacious Chobe Explorer offers a restaurant on the ground floor, a lounge with comfortable couches and occasional chairs on the middle floor with an observation deck situated on the top floor. Please note there are full toilet facilities aboard.  Lunch is served aboard at midday and is a traditional braai (barbeque) which includes three meat choices, a variety of salads, traditional stews and side dishes of rice or pap (traditional porridge) as well as dessert. All drinks, except for spirits are available for guests.

Enjoy a once in a lifetime experience of a cruise around the Sedudu Island, rich in game, and steam up the river all the way to Sirendela, without the hassle of any immigration formalities.

The return voyage is a pleasant ending to the journey, with light savoury snacks on offer. Expect to disembark around 18h00

Dinner will be served between 19h00-22h00.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast as the finishing touch on your stay with Mowana Safari Lodge. You will be then be transferred to Kasane airport for your onward scenic charter flight into the heart of The Okavango Delta to Kadizora Camp.

Kadizora Camp is situated between the Vumbura River and Selinda Spillway. It lies in the remote northern part of the Okavango Delta over-looking a panoramic seasonal floodplain. Giant Marulas, Sycamore figs, Jackalberries and Rain trees provide a canopy of shade throughout the camp. The bar, lounge, reception and dining area form a horse-shoe shape around the sandy fire pit. From there, a decked walkway leads you to an inviting swimming pool with a view over the floodplain.

The tents are spacious and furnished in a classic style ensuring that time between activities is spent relaxing comfortably. Each spacious tent is well positioned for guest privacy, with outdoor decking and secluded views. The tents have an en-suite bathroom with a feature bath and his / her vanities.

You will find the freshly prepared food a treat at Kadizora Camp, with pre-dinner drinks under the stars. This camp truly represents the magic of a wild and remote Delta experience.

Kadizora is the only camp in the Okavango Delta to offer hot air ballooning. You have the option, of booking an early morning hot air balloon flight to soar over the Delta at sunrise and view game from above. Optional activity not included in the nightly rate.

Kadizora Camp also facilitates open vehicle safaris, walking safaris and boating. Mokoro excursions provide a fabulous and traditional way to explore the meandering water channels. Float quietly amongst the waterlilies and experience a spectacular bird lovers’ paradise.

There is the option to arrange a day trip to a traditional village. Visit the church, the clinic, local Primary school and meet family members of the camp staff. Fishing is available in season.

Kadizora Camp truly offers the ultimate Okavango Delta experience, with a wide range of activities, a beautiful location, diverse wildlife and warm, local hospitality.

You’ll awake to enjoy a final, delicious breakfast at Kadizora Camp, where after you will depart by scenic light aircraft to Nxai Pan Camp.

The minimalistic white-washed design of the camp is in keeping with the surrounding white salt pans. Nxai Pan accommodates a maximum of eighteen guests in nine thatched units specially designed to provide a constant and comfortable temperature throughout the year, when seasonal temperatures can fluctuate from below freezing to well over 45 degrees Celsius.

The main areas of the camp include an expansive open-air lounge and dining area, with a bar, pool and curio shop.

Nxai Pan is a 100% solar-operated camp.

The camp’s tents face the waterhole, with the main area being the central best place for game viewing from the water hole. Frequent visitors to the water hole include elephants, cheetah, as well as the migratory herds of zebra (usually) from late December to early April, however this is entirely dependent on the summer rainfall in Botswana which affects the migratory cycle.

Today you enjoy activities on offer at camp. Game drives (day) and bushmen experience with guide and tracker. We also offer star gazing.

The camp operates game drives using a guide and tracker, this adds to the experience on two levels. You have two sets of eyes searching out the action, looking for tracks – this ensures a good chance of sightings, especially predators. In addition,

having the tracker concentrating on tracking means that the guide is more able to talk to clients, keep them informed and answer all their questions, it leads to a more relaxed, convivial game drive atmosphere.

As well as game drives, we offer a day trip to see the famous Baines’ Baobabs – they are truly majestic, sentinels standing tall on the edge of the salt pan.

As Nxai Pan is within a national park we must follow their regulations. The area is ecologically sensitive and as such we are not permitted to drive at night nor off road.

We do offer nature walks and star gazing here, in addition to the game drives. The nature walks are led by one of the Bushmen trackers. It is a fascinating experience where we take a step towards learning and understanding how it is possible to survive in such a hostile environment – we get a glimpse into the way of life and beliefs of the original inhabitants of the Kalahari Desert.

The pans were once part of the super lake that covered much of central Botswana, including Lake Ngami and the Okavango Delta.

The landscape is largely covered by grassland and dotted with clusters of umbrella acacia trees and mopane woodland to the north. During the rains, from November to late March, the landscape changes to lush green, the pans become covered in succulent grasses which attract large herds of antelope. Bird life during this period is prolific, many species being different to what one would see in the Delta – it is a birders paradise.

The area is well known for large numbers of springbok and elephant and during rainy season zebra migrate to the region. Giraffe and oryx are also often seen in the area in large herds with up to 30 in a group. These large herds attract many predators – lion, cheetah, jackal, spotted and brown hyena and sometimes the endangered wild dog and the secretive leopard.

You’ll awake to enjoy a final, delicious breakfast at Nxai Pan Camp, before departing by light aircraft to Maun Airport for your return flight to Johannesburg.