Mana Magic & Mokete Mysteries – Safari to Mana Pools & Mababe Depression 2026
A Customizable Trip to Botswana — 14 Days / 13 Nights
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…
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.
Rates
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…
Day 2: Tuesday, October 6, 2026
This morning we will take the first flight from OR Tambo out to Maun (flight included),
where we will be collected by our guide Sam, and transferred directly to…
Day 3-5: Wednesday – Friday, October 7-8-9, 2026:
Three full days will be spent here exploring this extraordinary ecosystem with its extraordinary population of charismatic wildlife. We will have the…
Day 6: Saturday, Oct 10, 2026
Today, we will be transferred to the nearby Xaxanaxa Airstrip, and from there we will fly
directly to Chobe NP for where we hope to see a staggering agglomeration of…
Day 7: Sunday, Oct 11, 2026
We will be transferred overland, after breakfast, to the Palm River Hotel in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, where water levels are at their lowest at this time of year, thereby
allowing us…
Day 8 – 10: Monday – Wednesday, Oct 12, 13, 14, 2026
We will fly from Vic Falls Airport to Dandawa Airstrip in Mana Pools National Park.
Activities on Days 1-2-3: Walking and vehicle safaris and canoeing in Mana Pools, in the floodplains area, which teems with wildlife at this time of year. Our days will be…
Day 11 to 13: Thursday – Saturday, Oct 15, 16, 17, 2026
Transfer from Zambezi Expedition to Kanga Expedition Camp. As the season progresses and it gets hotter and dryer by the day, animals start to congregate on the floodplains and at any…
Day 14: Sunday, October 18, 2026
This morning, you will fly from Dandawa Airstrip to Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe.
Your homebound flight should start here.
This is a condensed overview of the journey.
Request the full itineraryInclusions & Notes
Details of costs
Inclusions:
- Day 1: Monday, October 05, 2026 –
- Inclusions at City Lodge Hotel at OR Tambo International Airport: 01 night accommodation on bed and breakfast basis (Note: Dinner & drinks tonight are payable directly)
- Day 2: Tuesday, October 06, 2026
- Walk: City Lodge Hotel at OR Tambo International Airport to Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport
- Scheduled Morning Flight: Johannesburg Airport to Maun Airport (estimated cost, subject to change & subject to availability)
- Transfer directly to Moremi Game Reserve in the Okavango Delta.
- Overnight Stay: Sam’s Mobile Camp Inclusions at Sam’s Mobile Camp: 04 nights full board accommodation + selection of house drinks (soft drinks, beer, wine & local spirits), water will be replenished throughout day + all shared and scheduled safari activities, mokoro excursion (01 per journey) + 04 days Park Fees
- Day 3 to Day 5: Wednesday, October 07, 2026 to Friday, October 09, 2026
- Overnight Stay: Sam’s Mobile Camp Inclusions at Sam’s Mobile Camp: As mentioned above
- Day 6: Saturday, October 10, 2026
- Transfer to Xaxanaxa Airstrip Shared Charter Flight: Xakanaxa Airstrip to Kasane Airport
- Note: Baggage allowance is 20 kg per person, including hand baggage and camera equipment. Only soft-sided bags are permitted, with maximum dimensions of 25 cm (10″) wide × 30 cm (11″) high × 62cm (24″) long.
- Chobe Safari Lodges Shared Transfer: Kasane Airport to The Chobe Safari Lodge
- Activity: Boat cruise for 03 hours (park fees included)
- Overnight Stay: The Chobe Safari Lodge – 03 x Luxury Rooms (01 twin & 02 doubles)
- Inclusions at The Chobe Safari Lodge: 01 night half board accommodation with dinner and breakfast
- Day 7: Sunday, October 11, 2026
- Private Transfer: The Chobe Safari Lodge to The Palm River Hotel
- Activity: Livingstone Island High Tea – Zambia (return transfers included)
- Overnight Stay: The Palm River Hotel – 03 x Deluxe Rooms (01 twin & 02 doubles) Inclusions at The Palm River Hotel: 01 night accommodation on bed and breakfast basis (Note: Dinner is included today)
- Day 8: Monday, October 12, 2026
- Private Transfer: The Palm River Hotel to Victoria Falls Airport
- Shared Charter Flight: Victoria Falls Airport to Mana Pools National Park
- Note: Baggage allowance is 20 kg per person, including hand baggage and camera equipment. Only soft-sided bags are permitted, with maximum dimensions of 25 cm (10″) wide × 30 cm (11″) high × 62 cm (24″) long.
- Overnight Stay: Zambezi Expeditions Camp – 03 x Standard Rooms (01 twin & 02 doubles) Inclusions at Zambezi Expeditions Camp: 03 nights full board accommodation + local drinks (excluding premium drinks) + shared & scheduled game drives, walking safaris, canoeing, fishing and bird watching + limited laundry + 03 days Conservation Levy & Park Fees
- Day 9 & 10: Tuesday, October 13, 2026 & Wednesday, October 14, 2026
- Overnight Stay: Zambezi Expeditions Camp – 03 x Standard Rooms (01 twin & 02 doubles)
- Inclusions at Zambezi Expeditions Camp: As mentioned above
- Day 11: Thursday, October 15, 2026
- Kanga Expeditions Shared Transfer: Zambezi Expeditions Camp to Kanga Expeditions Camp
- Overnight Stay: Kanga Expedition Camp – 03 x Standard Rooms (01 twin & 02 doubles) Inclusions at Kanga Expeditions Camp: 03 nights full board accommodation + local drinks (excluding premium drinks) + shared & scheduled game drives and walking, canoeing and fishing + limited laundry + 03 days Conservation Levy & Park Fees
- Day 12 & 13: Friday, October 16, 2026 & Saturday, October 17, 2026
- Overnight Stay: Kanga Expedition Camp – 03 x Standard Rooms (01 twin & 02 doubles) Inclusions at Kanga Expeditions Camp: As mentioned above
- Day 14: Sunday, October 18, 2026
- Transfer: Kanga Expedition Camp to Dandawa Airstrip
- Shared Charter Flight: Dandawa Airstrip to Harare Airport
- Note: Baggage allowance is 20 kg per person, including hand baggage and camera equipment. Only soft-sided bags are permitted, with maximum dimensions of 25 cm (10″) wide × 30 cm (11″) high × 62cm (24″) long.
- Depart Harare Airport – own arrangement
Exclusions:
- International flights, visa fees, vaccinations, medical and travel insurance;
- Any accommodation, activities, domestic flights, transfers or meals not mentioned above;
- Shopping and other items of a personal nature;
- Porterage, tipping and gratuity to camp guide and staff;
Tour Accommodation
Map
Best Months to Visit
Gallery
Enquire About This Safari
Fill in your details and our safari specialists will get back to you within 24 hours.