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Intrepid Travel Premier
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4.6 . Excellent
94%
Travel Style: Array Full on
Physical Level: Walking or physical activity half to most of day - no carrying equipment. Easy
Lodging Level: Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels. Value (3*)
14 days
From: $ 9,580 $ 684 / day
Checking price

Overview

Highlights (Bullets)

  • Enjoy two magnificent Feature Stays – a perfectly positioned camp on the Namibian banks of the Zambezi River, and a scenic lodge in a private reserve within the Greater Kruger Region.
  • Let Exclusive Experiences take you closer to nature, including a 4x4 drive through the striking Makgadikgadi Pans and a privately catered cruise down the Zambezi River.
  • Spot Chobe National Park's abundant wildlife and the world’s highest concentration of elephants from multiple vantage points with an early morning 4x4 game drive, and an afternoon boat cruise along the picturesque Chobe River.
  • Seek out the Big Five of Africa – lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino with two full days in South Africa’s biggest reserve, Kruger National Park, in 4x4s with an expert local guide.
  • Visit the thundering Victoria Falls, one of the world's most spectacular natural wonders. Admire their power, then return to your comfortable lodge boasting magnificent views of uninterrupted wilderness.

Short Description

Uncover the true beauty of southern Africa on a 14-day Premium adventure through South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. Spend three unforgettable days in the Greater Kruger region, cruise down the Zambezi River at sunset, marvel at the showstopping Victoria Falls and look out for a wealth of elephants in Chobe National Park. Set out in search of wildlife on a series of game drives, cruise down the Chobe River, hang out with a family of meerkats at the Ntwetwe Salt Pans and admire the curious beauty of the Makgadikgadi Pans. With expert knowledge from local guides you’ll discover the best of this magnificent part of the world.

Style Small group tour
See all the highlights and popular spots on a classic tour.
Itinerary Focus Classic Highlights
Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels.
Lodging Level Value (3*)
Flight & Transport Inclusions All internal ground transport
Start City Sandton
End City Maun

Activities & Interests

N/A

Age Requirement

15-99

N/A
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Itinerary

Day 1 Johannesburg

Welcome to South Africa! Your trip begins in Johannesburg, where you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your lodge. Please ensure that you organise the details of your arrival transfer well in advance. You'll meet the rest of your group and leader for a welcome meeting at 6pm, but if you do happen to arrive early, the day is yours to spend at leisure. After your meeting, join your leader and fellow travellers for dinner at your lodge. South Africa enjoys a diverse food scene flavoured by its multicultural influences. This evening, you may like to try some boerewors, a spiced South African sausage, or perhaps some springbok carpaccio.

Day 2 Kruger National Park

Set off early for a drive to Kruger National Park, arriving just in time for lunch at an exceptionally intimate lodge, your Feature Stay accommodation for the next three evenings. Developed in partnership with the local Mdluli community, Mdluli Safari Lodge is in perfect harmony with its wild surroundings. Chalets feature first-class amenities, with private en suites, indoor and outdoor showers, air-conditioning and a gorgeous swimming pool for cooling off. Sit back and relax in the cosy lounge of the main lodge and take in spectacular views. In the afternoon you'll enjoy your first open 4x4 vehicle game drive. Experience close encounters with wild animals in their own habitat, and if you’re lucky, you may meet lions, elephants, rhinos and leopards. Retire to your lodge in the evening.

Day 3 Kruger National Park

Rise early and make the journey into the heart of Kruger National Park. Upon entry, you'll find yourself in the perfect position to catch a glimpse of one, or hopefully all, of the Big Five. Take a packed breakfast at a picnic spot then proceed with a full day of wildlife safari, stopping off at waterholes and various other points to observe these animals in their natural habitat. One of the largest game reserves in Southern Africa, Kruger National Park is not only home to members of the Big Five, but also 500 bird species, 100 species of reptile and 150 mammal species. The endangered African wild dog, herbivores like hippo, zebra, giraffe and numerous different types of antelope also enjoy the park’s rich mosaic of habitats, including savanna, mixed acacia woodland, rocky hills and mopane woodland. Return to the lodge this evening to relax and relive your favourite moments from the day.

Day 4 Kruger National Park

Return to Kruger National Park for another thrilling game drive. This is an opportunity to catch a glimpse of any animals the group didn't see the day before. Today's game drive will finish in time for sunset and drinks, served on a kopje at your Feature Stay. Pronounced 'kopee' these large ancient rock formations provide scenic contrasts across Africa's vast landscapes. Take a moment to sit back and take in the sounds and sights of the bush as day turns to night.

Day 5 Victoria Falls

Rise early and depart for Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, where you will say goodbye to South Africa and board a mid-morning flight to Victoria Falls airport in Zimbabwe, your gateway to the Victoria Falls. Continue to your lodge accommodation, which serves up stunning views of uninterrupted wilderness and a waterhole frequented by elephant, buffalo, kudu and more. Spend the afternoon relaxing by the pool or spotting wildlife from any of the multiple viewing decks around the lodge. This evening head above the falls onto the Zambezi River and embark on a small and intimate Dinner Cruise. The specially designed jet-propelled boats allow you to reach the shallow water among the islands directly above the Victoria Falls. Two private chefs will prepare dinner with locally sourced fresh ingredients and serve drinks while the captain navigates the islands above the thundering Victoria Falls. Sit back in your comfortable lounge chair as you enjoy a seven-course meal while looking out for crocodiles lazing on the banks or elephants and hippos submerging themselves in the river – this is truly an experience to remember.

Day 6 Chobe National Park

This morning, visit the unforgettable Victoria Falls – one of the world's true natural wonders, forming the largest sheet of falling water in the world when in full flow. Once inside the park, your guide will take you through the falls area, stopping at different vantage points along the way to explain the history of the falls and their surroundings. After an exciting morning at the falls, depart Zimbabwe and make the journey to Chobe National Park in Botswana, crossing the Kazangula border. The afternoon is free to walk in Kasane town (watch out for wandering warthogs!), sit poolside on the edge of the Chobe River and watch the sunset, or perhaps opt for an optional afternoon game drive in the Chobe National Park.

Day 7 Chobe National Park

Start the day with a game drive through Chobe National Park, the first designated national park in Botswana. Chobe is known for its huge population of elephants and buffalo and you may well see them drinking at the local watering hole during the drive. Then, head back to the lodge for breakfast. Afterwards embark on a cruise along the picturesque Chobe River, an ideal location for spotting bird life such as saddle-billed storks, malachite kingfishers, fish eagles and beautiful bee-eaters, as well as hippos, crocodiles and large families of elephants, often seen crossing the river between the boats. You will be joined by other travellers on the boat cruise, which has a toilet and a small bar to purchase drinks. Enjoy a drink on board and watch the sunset over the river.

Day 8 Chobe National Park

Today is free to do as you please in Chobe National Park. You may like to book an optional game drive or river cruise, or simply relax at your lodge. As this is a combination trip, a meeting will take place at 6pm this evening to welcome any new travellers joining you on the next leg of your journey. After your meeting, join your group and leader for dinner at the lodge. Enjoy a celebration of indigenous food and the rich flavours of Africa as you dine alongside the scenic Chobe River.

Day 9 Zambezi River

Rise early for a morning game drive in Chobe National Park. You might see elephants drinking at the water's edge, large herds of cape buffaloes and many impalas within the park. Head back to the lodge for breakfast, then journey to the Ngoma Border Post before continuing to the Namibian side of the Zambezi River. Here you will find your Feature Stay accommodation, the fabulous Zambezi Mubala Lodge. Newly-built, modern, innovative and stylish, Zambezi Mubala is a secret river hideaway where you can find hippo, vervet monkeys and over 450 species of birds. Arrive in time for a hearty lunch at the lodge, then enjoy some downtime to relax by the pool, spot wildlife from the bar or soak up the wild surroundings on the banks of the Zambezi River. Speak to your leader about some fabulous optional activities for the afternoon, including a canoe trip, guided walking trail or a birding drive.

Day 10 Zambezi River

Today, head out for two boat cruises on the Zambezi River. The privileged position of your camp allows you to access a part of the river that most visitors don’t get to see, which means you’ll have the special opportunity to view abundant wildlife without the crowds. This region offers a wildlife spotting experience like no other – with a bit of luck you will see large herds of elephants, buffalo and antelope. Head back to the lodge to enjoy lunch, refreshments and time to relax. In the afternoon, head back out on the boat for sunset and enjoy drinks and refreshments as you watch the changing colours of the spectacular landscape.

Day 11 Makgadikgadi Pans

Heading south, cross the Ngoma border back into Botswana and continue your journey to the vast salt flats and grassy plains of the Makgadikgadi Pans. Located in the north-east of Botswana, the Makgadikgadi Pans are situated in the middle of a dry savanna and are all that remain of the former Lake Makgadikgadi. This afternoon, get to know your gold-hued, otherworldly surroundings during a 4x4 excursion into Nata Bird Sanctuary. The immense, sprawling salt flat will unfold in front of you as you look out for aardvark, ostriches and mongooses. Surrounded by the Nata sanctuary, a breeding ground for thousands of water birds, the horizon is tinted pink by clouds of flamingos and pelicans. Savour the ethereal landscape as you sit out on the pans and enjoy drinks and snacks as the sun sets. Return to the lodge for dinner and relive the highlights of an exciting day.

Day 12 Thamalakane River

Embrace a very early start this morning and head out with a packed breakfast in hand. Today’s experience will surely be one to remember. Travel to the edge of the Ntwetwe salt pan, home to a resident family of entertaining Meerkats. With the aid of trackers, arrive in time to observe their morning rituals as the sun rises. Watch the meerkats bask in the morning sun before heading out for their daily foraging – the fantastic conditions and lighting will help you snap an unforgettable picture of these marvellous creatures. Stop at a neighbouring lodge for lunch, then continue to Maun, the gateway to one of the world's most complex ecosystems, the Okavango Delta.

Day 13 Thamalakane River (Okavango Delta)

Today, you'll take a traditional mokoro – a dugout canoe steered by friendly local 'polers' – for an Okavango waterways experience. With some luck, you could spot some of the delta's unusual wildlife and exotic birdlife. Spend some time today exploring the maze of lagoons, lakes and streams by mokoro before exploring on foot with a local guide. View plants, trees and animals from a different perspective and observe close-up details often missed on game drives. Your guide will provide expert knowledge and help you gain a deeper understanding of the environment. Lunch will be served on one of the many secluded islands created by the Delta waterways.

Day 14 Thamalakane River (Maun)

The trip concludes today after breakfast, but this doesn’t mean the adventure has to end. If you’d like to spend more time here, we’ll be happy to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability). Please speak to your booking agent ahead of time. For those interested, there is the opportunity to fly over the delta in a small plane for a bird's-eye view. This is a great way to appreciate the vast scale of this waterscape. Your leader can give you more information on this activity and how to reserve a place.

Availability

Checking price
Price From $ 9,580
Price Per Day: $ 684 per day
Checking price
Start DateFinish DateBase PriceAvailability 
Apr-06-2024Apr-19-2024$ 9,5806 spots left Reserve
May-04-2024May-17-2024$ 10,820Sold Out Reserve
May-18-2024May-31-2024$ 10,820Sold Out Reserve
Jun-01-2024Jun-14-2024$ 9,5802 spots left Reserve
Jun-15-2024Jun-28-2024$ 11,2541 spots left Reserve
Jun-22-2024Jul-05-2024$ 9,9661 spots left Reserve
Jun-29-2024Jul-12-2024$ 9,9663 spots left Reserve
Jul-06-2024Jul-19-2024$ 10,34412 spots left Reserve
Jul-20-2024Aug-02-2024$ 10,3449 spots left Reserve
Jul-27-2024Aug-09-2024$ 10,34411 spots left Reserve
Aug-03-2024Aug-16-2024$ 9,96611 spots left Reserve
Aug-17-2024Aug-30-2024$ 10,2643 spots left Reserve
Aug-31-2024Sep-13-2024$ 9,9665 spots left Reserve
Sep-07-2024Sep-20-2024$ 10,3449 spots left Reserve
Sep-21-2024Oct-04-2024$ 10,34412 spots left Reserve
Sep-28-2024Oct-11-2024$ 10,34410 spots left Reserve
Oct-26-2024Nov-08-2024$ 9,58012 spots left Reserve
Feb-15-2025Feb-28-2025$ 11,83012 spots left Reserve
Apr-12-2025Apr-25-2025$ 11,83012 spots left Reserve
May-03-2025May-16-2025$ 11,83012 spots left Reserve
May-17-2025May-30-2025$ 11,83012 spots left Reserve
May-31-2025Jun-13-2025$ 11,83012 spots left Reserve
Jun-14-2025Jun-27-2025$ 12,30512 spots left Reserve
Jun-28-2025Jul-11-2025$ 12,30512 spots left Reserve
Jul-12-2025Jul-25-2025$ 12,77512 spots left Reserve
Jul-19-2025Aug-01-2025$ 12,77512 spots left Reserve
Jul-26-2025Aug-08-2025$ 12,77512 spots left Reserve
Aug-02-2025Aug-15-2025$ 12,30512 spots left Reserve
Aug-16-2025Aug-29-2025$ 12,30512 spots left Reserve
Aug-30-2025Sep-12-2025$ 12,30512 spots left Reserve
Sep-06-2025Sep-19-2025$ 12,77512 spots left Reserve
Sep-13-2025Sep-26-2025$ 12,77512 spots left Reserve
Sep-20-2025Oct-03-2025$ 12,77512 spots left Reserve
Oct-04-2025Oct-17-2025$ 12,30512 spots left Reserve
Oct-25-2025Nov-07-2025$ 12,30512 spots left Reserve
Dec-13-2025Dec-26-2025$ 11,83012 spots left Reserve
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4,408 Intrepid Travel Travel Reviews & Ratings

94%
4.6 out of 5 (100+ reviews)
Excellent 3,319
Great 672
Average 144
Disappointing 80
Terrible 193
Value
4.6
Guide
4.6
Activities
4.6
Lodging
4.6
Transportation
4.6
Meals
4.6

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Went on Highlights of Japan Tour

4.0
Details
Value4.0
Guide4.0
Activities4.0
Lodging4.0
Transportation4.0
Meals4.0
Went on Highlights of Japan Tour, 8 days on19/11/23. Tour Leader was Yuki Saida, she was marvellous. Helpful, knowledgeable and patient.I suggest you keep her as she is an amazing asset to your Company. The group jelled together well but there is one point that needs examining. We travelled to the countryside a spent a night at a homestay on 21/11/23 at a stay called Voketto. The young man who owned it was charming but the place was a mess, cold, damp and basically a building site. He admitted he couldn't cook and he was right. i definitely advise a host course or a revamp of property if he is to remain on your books There was a trainee guide on the tour Junko she was very good too. Thank you Lesley Webb
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Avoid Intrepid

1.0
Details
Value1.0
Guide1.0
Activities1.0
Lodging1.0
Transportation1.0
Meals1.0
Many recent reviews are pointing to a sharp decline in quality and service with Intrepid. My recent experience echoes all that has been mentioned. They are appalling at responding to serious concerns. I have countless auto responses from its laughingly useless and lazy customer service department. Their financial management is a joke. They couldn't find my payment despite my twice providing traces from my bank. They are pathetic liars about not just the money. They lied about their failure to send me any information about my upcoming trip, how they omitted me from the group email circulation. They lied about anyone including a 'senior manager' trying to phone me.
Even the length of the trip is a con with first day being nothing more than a brief meeting at 1800. The last 'day' being breakfast at the hotel with not a sight or sound of the Rep.
Intrepid is a dishonest mess. They are now purely concerned with making money.
Do not use this company. They are terrible and there are many better (and safer) providers out there.
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We joined the Intrepid “Real Italy Food…

5.0
Details
Value5.0
Guide5.0
Activities5.0
Lodging5.0
Transportation5.0
Meals5.0
We joined the Intrepid “Real Italy Food Tour” and enjoyed it thoroughly. Our tour guide, Micol, was very knowledgeable and provided us with lots of good information. It seems Micol knew many of the staff of the venues we visited, including the pasta making class we attended. Our group of 11 travelers was extremely compatible, which greatly added to the fun and enjoyment.
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Central Asia Explorer

5.0
Details
Value5.0
Guide5.0
Activities5.0
Lodging5.0
Transportation5.0
Meals5.0
This was my third trip with Intrepid, and I'll continue to plan future trips with them. I choose Intrepid to travel to parts of the world where I don't feel comfortable traveling alone, and the experience is always memorable. Intrepid provides experiences that would be difficult for a traveler to do on their own. The most recent trip I did was to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, and it was a fantastic experience.
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Our trip to India's Classic Rajasthan…

4.0
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Value4.0
Guide4.0
Activities4.0
Lodging4.0
Transportation4.0
Meals4.0
Our trip to India's Classic Rajasthan was a great experience - varied, interesting and exciting. Accommodation was varied, with some lovely heritage hotels - although a couple of places, although in amazing locations and really great to visit, could do with an upgrade! Our guide was exceptional - interesting facts abounding; care and concern for us all; taking us to excellent restaurants. Altogether a really memorable holiday.
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My Favourite Travel Company

5.0
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Value5.0
Guide5.0
Activities5.0
Lodging5.0
Transportation5.0
Meals5.0
Absolutely love travelling with Intrepid and I have done so many times. Perfect for solo travellers who don't wish to travel alone!

Details

Flight & Transport Inclusions

All internal ground transport 4x4,Open 4x4 Safari Vehicle,Private vehicle,Plane,Riverboat

Group Size

Small Group - 24 max

Maximum Number of People in Group: 12

Accommodations

Hotel (1 night),Lodge (12 nights)

Guides

All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leaders. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Premium leaders are Intrepid’s most experienced, with in-depth knowledge and extensive local networks to make it a trip of a lifetime. Your leader will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. When not already included in your trip, your leader will be able to recommend a local guide service who can share more detailed or specialised information at specific sites should you be interested in delving deeper.

Age Notes :

Min. Age: 15

Max Age: 99

Additional Information

Finish point

  • Thamalakane River Lodge
  • Sexaxa Ward, Maun, Botswana
  • Maun
  • BOTSWANA

Trip ID#:

intrepid-UBPKC

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