8 Day Best of Both - Bots & Zim - 5*

Marvel at Botswana’s teeming wildlife on a Safari. Then, prepare to be spellbound by the drama of Victoria Falls. Begin your adventure by walking the storied streets of South Africa’s biggest city, Johannesburg. Customise your Botswana Safari: opt to spot breathtaking elephants, the famed Big Five or the natural beauty of UNESCO wetlands. Whatever your desires are, we can help choose the best lodge for you. Marvel at the glorious Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River, at the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Settle in to the opulent Sanctuary Sussi & Chuma Lodge for a true taste of luxury.  This package will stay at Belmond Properties

ACCOMMODATIONS

• Fairlawns Boutique Hotel (Sandton – Johannesburg) – 1 Night – VISIT WEBSITE
• Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge (Chobe National Park – Botswana) – 2 Nights – VISIT WEBSITE
• Belmond Eagle Island Lodge (Okavango Delta – Botswana) – 2 Nights – VISIT WEBSITE
• Victoria Falls River Lodge (Zambezi River; Vic Falls – Zimbabwe) – 2 Nights – VISIT WEBSITE

KEYS

• BB – Bed & Breakfast
• DBB – Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
• L – Lunch
• LD – Lunch & Dinner
• D – Dinner
• FB – Full Board (Breakfast; Lunch & Dinner)
• AI – All Inclusive (All Meals, selected drinks, Game Drives/Walk)
• G/Drive – Open Safari Vehicle Game Drive

Sandton – JOHANNESBURG
HOTEL:  Fairlawns Boutique Hotel & Spa

Conveniently situated in the Sandton suburb of Morningside Manor, Fairlawns is an award-winning boutique hotel boasting a total of 40 highly individualized, world-class Suites The conference centre, a large fully equipped gym, Balinese Spa and an excellent a la carte restaurant are available to ensure a full range of services are on offer. Once the private home of the current live-in owners, John and Anna Thacker, the property was originally bought from the Little Brenthurst Trust of Oppenheimer fame, and consisted of 10 acres with horses and stables and rolling green lawns. Portions of the property have been sold off, but it has retained its stately, park-like ambiance with huge mature trees and prolific bird-life.

Chobe National Park – BOTSWANA
LODGE:  Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge

Botswana’s Chobe National Park is a dynamic wilderness. A sweeping expanse of savannah is dotted by rocky outcrops surrounding a marsh and the Savute Channel. Unpredictable wet and dry cycles shape the landscape and wildlife.
Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge hosts a cluster of twelve room residences raised on wooden platforms. Each has an outdoor lounge and is shaded by a traditional thatch roof. The large, private decks are furnished with easy chairs and a hammock. These are ideal for viewing wildlife, or for enjoying a private dinner in complete privacy.
Perched on the banks of the Savute Channel, with an elevated view of the river, Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge is a spectacular base from which to explore the area. Savute is also unrivaled for its sightings of excellent predator / prey interaction and is a ‘must stay’ on any Southern Africa safari.
Not to be missed is the Zebra Migration during the months of February and October, when the nutritious grasses of the Savute Marsh attract large herds of zebra. Savute is also home to some very rare rock paintings by Bushmen who once inhabited the region, and its little forests of ancient Baobabs.
Ancient treasures in the bush….out in the bush, where rocks rear up among stony hills, are a collection of paintings that take your breath away. These works by Bushmen are thought to be more than 1,500 years old—beautiful images of elephant, giraffe, sable and eland antelope. Normally these types of painting might be found hidden in caves, but here, unusually, they are out in the wide, open landscape. No-one knows what materials the bushmen used, but the paint is thought to be a mixture of snake venom, blood and plant juices.
After viewing these paintings, continue to the amazing baobab grove—a cathedral-like cluster of 13 giant trees that rival the Bushmen’s paintings in age. Stand among these towering columns at sunset, as the evening light bathes them in a russet glow and drinks are handed round—and wonder at this ancient land.

Okavango Delta – BOTSWANA
LODGE:  Belmond Eagle Island Lodge

Belmond Eagle Island Lodge has reopened as the ultimate Okavango Delta water- & experience-focused safari lodge, unveiling a sleek new look after an almost total rebuild.
The lodge is decorated to reflect an explorer’s base. Design highlights in the twelve spacious deluxe tented rooms include oversized beds with views of the delta, large outdoor decks with a vista, private plunge pools, indoor & outdoor showers, a reading nook and walk-in wardrobes.
Fully rebuilt public areas include a stylish dining area with a pizza oven, a lounge area with an artisan-style bar, a library, a campfire area and the Fish Eagle Bar which is located directly on the water. Local artisans and materials were used throughout the renovations.
The lodge offers a variety of water-focused safari activities including motorboat safaris, barge cruises, mokoro safaris (a local canoe), fishing, as well as walking safaris and the ultimate air safari experience by helicopter.

Zambezi River / National Park – Vic Falls – BOTSWANA
LODGE:  Victoria Falls River Lodge

Victoria Falls River Lodge is the first private game lodge to be built in the Zambezi National Park. This luxury tented lodge is situated on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River – so close to Victoria Falls one can see the spray in the distance!
The Victoria Falls River Lodge is built upon raised decks, and sheltered by an extensive thatched roof, the 13 luxurious ‘tents’ are tastefully decorated in earthy hues with liberal splashes of crisp white, soothing sage and duck egg blue. Each offers a larger than king size bed (twin bed configurations are also possible in all rooms), comfortable sitting area, indoor and outdoor showers and a private viewing deck with plunge pool whereupon guests are able to sit comfortably and watch the hippos wallowing.
Your stay will include transfers (shared) from/to the Victoria Falls Airport, all meals, local beverages, an optional daily transfer from camp (typically departing at 10h00 and returning at 15h00) to Victoria Falls town, a Tour of the Falls (part of daily transfer to town, the entry fee into the Rainforest is for guest’s own account), bird watching on Kandahar Island, two game activities – i.e. a choice of either a morning/afternoon game drive in the Zambezi National Park, and a sunrise/sunset river cruise – per person per day (subject to availability). Snacks & drinks are included on the game drives and/or the sunset river cruises.

DAY 1 – Fiarlawns Boutique Hotel – Sandton – Johannesburg

VIP Meet and Greet on Arrival at Johannesburg International Airport.  Transfers by Ilios Travel from Johannesburg Airport to Fairlawns Boutique Hotel.   Free at Leisure

DAY 2 – Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge – Chobe National Park – Botswana

Transfers by Ilios Travel from Fairlawns Boutique Hotel to Johannesburg Airport. 

VIP Meet and Greet on Arrival at Johannesburg International Airport.   

Flight:  Johannesburg to Maun (Economy) – One Way 4Z 11h45 / 13h15 (To be confirmed – tbc). 

Upon arrival in Maun, you will be met by a Belmond Safaris representative and escorted to check in for your scheduled charter flight which will depart within 30 – 60 minutes of your arrival at Maun Airport. 

Flight:  Maun Airport to Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge

Accommodation in rooms with air-conditioning, all meals (breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner), all drinks including a selected list of branded spirits and wines but excluding VSOP spirits, reserve wines & imported champagne, daily laundry service, 2 game viewing activities daily, emergency medical evacuation insurance, Botswana national park fees and 12% VAT.

DAY 3 – Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge – Chobe National Park – Botswana

Enjoy the Activities included in the package

DAY 4 – Belmond Eagle Island Lodge – Okavango Delta – Botswana

Flight: Belmond Savute Lodge to Belmond Eagle Island Lodge

The departure time of your scheduled charter flight will be advised the evening before your flight by the lodge staff.

Accommodation in rooms with air-conditioning, all meals (breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner), all drinks including a selected list of branded spirits and wines but excluding VSOP spirits, reserve wines & imported champagne, daily laundry service, 2 game viewing activities daily, emergency medical evacuation insurance, Botswana national park fees and 12% VAT.

• Activity Flight: Helicopter Excursion over the Okavango Delta from Belmond Eagle Island Lodge
• Included in your stay at Belmond Eagle Island Lodge is a spectacular and mind-blowing game-viewing helicopter flight, the images and impressions which will probably stay with you for a very long time. The open sides of the helicopter will allow you to take the most fantastic photographs, to capture this experience forever.

DAY 5 – Belmond Eagle Island Lodge – Okavango Delta – Botswana

Enjoy the Activities included in the package – you will do the Helicopter Excursion today if not done so yesterday.

DAY 6 – Victoria Falls River Lodge – Zambezi River / National Park – Vic Falls  – Zimbabwe

Flight:  Belmond Eagle Island Lodge to Kasane Airport – The departure time of your scheduled charter flight will be advised the evening before your flight by the lodge staff.
Transfers by Routes Through Africa from Kasane to Victoria Falls River Lodge

Accommodation, transfers (shared) from/to the Victoria Falls Airport, all meals, local beverages, bird watching on Kandahar Island, two game activities – i.e. a choice of either a morning/afternoon game drive in the Zambezi National Park, and a sunrise/sunset river cruise

DAY 7 – Victoria Falls River Lodge – Zambezi River / National Park – Vic Falls  – Zimbabwe

Enjoy the Activities included in the package

DAY 8 – Departure Day

Lodge transfer from Victoria Falls River Lodge to Victoria Falls Airport

Flight:  Victoria Falls to Johannesburg (Economy) – One Way BA6282 13h55/15h35 (tbc)

VIP Meet and Assist on Departure at Johannesburg International Airport

PACKAGE INCLUDES:

•  All Meals & Selected Beverages (as indicated in day to day info)
•  All Activities at the Camp (as indicated in day to day info)
•  All Light Charter Flights between Camps
•  Flights between Countries (on tour)
•  All Transfers between Camps
•  Helicopter Excursion over the Okavango Delta
•  VIP Meet & Greet & assist (as indicated on day to day info)

PACKAGE EXCLUDES:

•  Porterage for porters – not included
•  International Flights back & from your Hometown
•  Medical & Travel Insurance (for clients own account)
•  Visa’s (clients need to arrange)
•  Service Fees at Restaurants for staff (if applicable)