Lottie & Charlene in Vic Falls and Botswana

From the thundering Victoria Falls to the serene channels of the Okavango Delta, Travel Researcher Lottie Cameron and Charlene Chand from Niarra’s Reservations team went on a whirlwind exploratory trip across multiple habitats and conservation areas. Niarra Travel’s Content Writer, Sue van Winsen, caught up with them to learn about their favourite moments from the trip.

One of the most iconic safari combinations is the Victoria Falls in either Zambia or Zimbabwe, paired with the unparalleled wildlife experience of Botswana’s Okavango Delta. Visiting all three of these Southern African countries, Lottie and Charlene began with two nights of Zambezi River bliss in Zambia, followed by two nights on the Zimbabwe side of the Victoria Falls. From there, it was another short flight to the epic Selinda Reserve, before spending just over a week hopping from camp to camp across the wildlife-filled Okavango Delta.

I knew these destinations well on paper, because I have been organising trips to each for ages, but I was most excited about the Botswana portion of the trip. I knew it would be completely different to East Africa, which I am more familiar with, and getting to experience it firsthand was the highlight of the trip.

I was eager to explore the range of properties we offer in these regions, from African Bush Camps to Desert & Delta and Machaba, along with luxurious lodges from Great Plains, &Beyond and Wilderness. I wanted to get a better sense of the locations and the routes between them. The Okavango Delta is renowned for its wildlife, so I was looking forward to seeing if it would live up to its reputation – and it knocked it out of the park!

The Zimbabwean side generally has a fuller flow of water, but the Zambian side offers incredible views and numerous vantage points. However, the Zambian side can dry up during certain times of the year, making the Zimbabwean side a more consistent option.

Thorntree River Lodge was spectacular. The accommodation was beautiful, each room with its own plunge pool. The food was amazing, and I particularly enjoyed the sunset cruise on the Zambezi River. The variety of activities offered was also impressive.

Toka Leya was a highlight for me. The service and attention to detail was excellent and the views were epic. We participated in a sustainability walk and talk, led by a passionate member of the team who’s been driving conservation efforts for a decade. We even got to plant a tree as part of their reforestation project.

In terms of Zimbabwe, I fell in love with Matetsi. Mainly because I was able to experience a day out with the anti-poaching dog unit. It was so humbling as this team is doing so much to save people, wildlife and landscape and put their lives on the line because the job is so dangerous. It was a touching experience to spend a little bit of time with them and just say thank you from all of us for the amazing work they do.

I’d suggest starting with two nights at Victoria Falls. From there, you can either head to Botswana for a safari, as we did, or continue to South Africa to visit Kruger and Cape Town. Alternatively, you could include it in a more rustic adventure and combine it with Hwange National Park and Mana Pools in Zimbabwe.

Victoria Falls is a great destination for adventurous travellers offering activities like white-water rafting, abseiling down the Falls, zip-lining, bungee jumping and so much more. Then three nights would be ideal.

We started at Zarafa Camp in the Selinda Reserve, which had the ‘wow factor’. The spacious tents each had a plunge pool overlooking the lake and we could see wildlife right from our deck. The service, food and quality of the vehicles were exceptional. The landscape was a mix of shrubs and open plains, and we had some fantastic wildlife sightings, including a young leopard trying to take an impala kill up a tree. I also liked that you can only access Wi-Fi in your rooms, as in the shared spaces they encourage you to share stories with your fellow guests and sit back and watch ‘the bush TV’.

The actual tent itself was complete opulence in true Great Plains style: hardwood floors and Persian rugs. Each room had a camera for guests to use and the guide were trained in photography, helping us capture amazing moments. Our guide, Joe, was the best we had the entire trip. Not just because he got along well with us, but he was engaging, knowledgeable, and could read his guests. This is so important – a guide can make or break a trip.

Camp Moremi was lovely, offering a mix of land and water activities with a relaxed, homey feel. &Beyond Sandibe was also incredible, featuring open landscapes that made wildlife easy to spot; we even saw four cheetahs! Camp Okavango was a more rustic, adventurous option. We walked from the airstrip right to the camp and had an amazing bush walk with guides. The previous day, guests had seen lions attempting to take down a giraffe on foot!

Chitabe was wonderful, with our most memorable sighting being six lionesses defending their giraffe kill from a pack of hyenas, only for two male lions to steal it back. Our final stop, Mombo, had the best wildlife viewing from the deck of any camp we stayed at. We didn’t need to leave our tent to see incredible wildlife, including wild dogs!

While I was lying by the pool at Kiri Camp, reading my book, I looked up and saw an elephant had come to drink straight out of the pool. Then suddenly, another four appeared until eventually there were about 15 to 20 elephants all drinking out of the pool at once. It was a surreal and beautiful experience.

For me, it was the diversity of Botswana. I loved seeing how animals behaved in each of the different habitats. The way an elephant acts on land is completely different to how it behaves in water. I loved that you get the bigger picture of nature and not just one side of it.

1. Although it’s a year-round destination, the Delta is very seasonal and the weather patterns have changed because of global warming. The floods tend to now happen later, so if you want to see it in full flood, its best to travel in July, August and into September.
2. Be sure to pack a pair of sturdy shoes and a pair of binoculars.
3. It can be cool in the mornings so wear something extra that you can take off, as it will heat up quickly later on. Also remember to pack a few pairs of shorts, not only long trousers.
4. When you are on the light aircraft, always look out the windows – it is part of the safari and you get to see wildlife from above.

1. Don’t pack a water bottle – you will get many!
2. Pack a buff – especially in the shoulder seasons before the rain there can be a lot of dust.
3. In the Delta, always combine a land and a water camp – with two or 3 nights in each. It is spectacular to get to experience both of those.
4. Try the Okavango Gin over sundowners – and it also has a great little sustainability story behind it.

This itinerary is versatile, suiting everyone from adventurous couples to first-time safari-goers. It can cater to different preferences, from rustic to high-end, but families with young children should be cautious due to the abundant water and wildlife.