Mana Magic & Mokete Mysteries – Safari to Mana Pools & Mababe Depression 2026

A Scheduled Trip to Botswana, Zimbabwe

Highlights

A safari where it's perfectly acceptable to lie face down in the riverbed, dig your toes in the sand and crabwalk on old wild dog droppings en route to the wild dog den...

Scheduled group tour from
October 5, 2026 - October 18, 2026

Starting from
USD 14,700
per person sharing

Duration
14 days / 13 nights

Transport
Fly-in Safari

Accommodation
Tented Camps and Lodges

Exploring
Mababe Concession, Mana Pools National Park, Victoria Falls

About this Safari

For a while now I’ve been wanting to revisit some of the great game reserves of Southern Africa. Not for the chandeliers and five course meals all too prevalent these days as camps and lodges escalate their attempts to out-deluxe the next! But by bringing the focus back to where it should always begin and end: On Africa’s stunning wildlife and its unadorned, raw natural beauty…back to the roots of safari adventure…back to canvas, if you will! Don’t get me wrong, the camps we’ve chosen will be quite comfortable and the food excellent, but the emphasis will be in proper focus: the great wilderness and wildlife of Africa! I, for one, cannot wait!

We’ll start our journey in a hidden corner of Botswana’s world famous Okavango Delta, in the erstwhile hunting grounds of Chief Moremi of the BaTawana people. Its reputation as a place of great drama precedes us, where predator and prey are locked in the daily life and death struggle for survival. In Moremi, we’ll be accompanied by our guide, Sam, and his mobile camping crew, and we will spend 4 nights immersed in the midst of the wildlife sightings that surround us.

From the Delta, we will fly to Chobe and spend a night at Chobe National Park. Our aim here is to enjoy the great elephant herds that pack the riverbanks during this driest month of the year. If we are lucky enough to see the countless elephants lining the Chobe River, we’d have seen one of the great wildlife spectacles of our planet! From here, it’s on to Victoria Falls, recognized as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, also a UNESCO World Heritage site, locally, known as Mosioa-Tunya, meaning “The Smoke that Thunders”. We’ll even (if you’re game) visit Devil’s Pool, and swim to the lip of the falls looking down as the Zambezi plunges 300’ below us (believe me, it’s not nearly as scary as it sounds) and toasting the sunset on the fabled river on a cruise above the falls.

We have chosen the best month of the year (it will be warm) for wildlife viewing in Mana Pools National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) in Zimbabwe splitting our time between two camps: one, along the banks of the mighty Zambezi River, and the other, adjacent to Kanga Pan. Both locations are magnets for wildlife! We should see the full range of African animals such as wild dogs (or painted wolves), lion and leopard, buffalo, hippo and crocodile, giraffe and zebra! And, oh, the elephants! Close interactions with elephants (in camp) are common and I’m crossing my fingers we get to witness Boswell, a particularly famous elephant in Mana Pools known for standing on his hind legs to feed on the hard-to-reach pods in the groves of Ana and winterthorn trees in the magical light of dusk! We’ll take walking safaris, canoe safaris and conduct game drives, whatever means to see as much as we can, even night drives revealing some of the most fascinating nocturnal wildlife!

Twelve nights of safari packed with activities and drama, but plenty of time just to chill and become immersed in the magic of Africa! I never miss a game drive but sometimes staying back in camp is just what you need to feed your soul and where the action is while the others are out searching it!

Think about joining me! I can promise it will be EPIC! Joel & Sangeeta

Costs –

This magical 14-day/13-night safari to Zimbabwe & Botswana costs: USD 14,700 per adult

We have space for 10 guests on this trip, accompanied by Joel & Sangeeta.

Request for the Full Itinerary

or call our African safari specialists at
+1 703 220 6393 or +91 9717 275237

Day By Day Itinerary

Day 1: Monday, October 5, 2026

Arrive in JNB at any time. We will spend tonight at the City Lodge at OR Tambo Airport. The hotel is……….