12-day family safari Botswana

You'll arrive at Victoria Falls International Airport in Zimbabwe, where it's just a 20-minute transfer to your accommodation at Ilala Lodge Hotel, one of the closest hotels to the falls. From Ilala Lodge, you may even be able to hear the roar and see the spray from this awe-inspiring natural wonder. Relax by the pool with a sundowner, enjoy alfresco dining at the hotel's award-winning Palm Restaurant, and then rest your weary head on high-quality cotton bedding after your long journey. Accommodation| Ilala Lodge Hotel Meals| dinner

Mosi-Oa-Tunya (The Smoke That Thunders) is an impressive natural phenomenon. Explore the falls at your own pace, with hikes to the gorgeous, spray-filled viewpoints. You can also enjoy a wide range of adrenaline activities, including bungee jumping, the gorge swing, white-water rafting or a ride on a zipline. Accommodation| Ilala Lodge Hotel Meals| breakfast, lunch & dinner

After breakfast at your hotel, you'll transfer to Kasane Airport (around an hour-and-a-half drive away from Ilala Lodge Hotel) and board a light aircraft flight to Botswana's Kwando-Linyanti region. The flight is an adventure in itself, as you'll likely spot wildlife on the plains below. Arriving in Botswana, it's a quick 20-minute 4WD transfer to your next accommodation, Lebala Camp. Don't forget to keep your eyes peeled for wildlife en route. Accommodation| Lebala Camp Meals| breakfast, lunch & dinner

Enjoy game drives in your own private vehicle from Lebala Camp in the morning and evening. During these excursions watch out for sightings of big game such as elephant, giraffe, hippo, wildebeest, buffalo, zebra, impala and tsessebe, plus fearsome predators such as hyena, lion and cheetah. There are also rare species such as the critically endangered African wild dog. Accommodation| Lebala Camp Meals| breakfast, lunch & dinner

Today, your game drive will also be a transfer from Lebala Camp to Lagoon Camp, a property sitting on the banks of a quiet channel off the Kwando River, in a very different region of the large Kwando Reserve. Each of Lagoon Camp's eight large tents includes a private deck, living area and bathroom. They all have gorgeous views of the bubbling river. Accommodation| Lagoon Camp Meals| breakfast, lunch & dinner

Head out on an intrepid game drive and you'll meet many more of the region's natives, including big game favourites such as buffalo (herds of up to a thousand of these creatures are not uncommon in the winter). Where there are high concentrations of herbivores, predators are never too far away. In the afternoon, take a relaxing cruise down the Kwando River, watching wildlife bathe, swim and drink at the water's edge. Enjoy the drift effortlessly with the currents, sundowner in hand. Accommodation| Lagoon Camp Meals| breakfast, lunch & dinner

After a final game drive or boat trip from Lagoon Camp, you'll leave the Kwando Reserve and take a light aircraft flight to Kwara Reserve, located in Botswana's famous Okavango Delta region. You'll be staying at Splash Camp, a new luxury safari camp in the area. All rooms are en-suite, with indoor and outdoor showers, plus a private verandah with beautiful views of the camp's surrounding scenery. After the "African massage" of a game drive, you can unwind by the pool and relax by the campfire. Accommodation| Splash Camp Meals| breakfast, lunch & dinner

In the heart of the Okavango Delta, Kwara Reserve's Splash Camp is a great base for a wide range of wildlife-watching activities. Splash gets its name from the surrounding waterways in this area of the delta, with Kwara Reserve sharing a 30-kilometre water boundary with the nearby Moremi Game Reserve. The permanent water bodies, labyrinthine channels and seasonal floodplains attract all kinds of wildlife. Accommodation| Splash Camp Meals| breakfast, lunch & dinner

Finish up your Okavango Delta safari and head to Botswana's Salt Pans via a short flight. You'll be staying at Nxai Pan, a camp located in the fossil pan, from which the camp gets its name. The white-wash designs and thatched exteriors of the camp blend seamlessly into the surrounding salt pans, plus the property is 100% operated by solar power. Enjoy Nxai Pan's communal areas such as the open-air lounge, bar and pool, as well as the glittering landscapes of the pans. Accommodation| Nxai Pan Meals| breakfast, lunch & dinner

Popular activities around the salt pans include game drives, stargazing and nature walks. Enjoy a picnic lunch surrounded by the otherworldly and ancient baobab trees or take a walk with local San bushmen trackers. This offers another layer to your safari experience, as you learn about the land from those who know it best. Discover the traditions of the nomadic San, from how they hunt and gather food or water, to native plants which they use for medicinal purposes. Accommodation| Nxai Pan Meals| breakfast, lunch & dinner

Sadly, your family safari tour of Botswana and Zimbabwe comes to an end, as you transfer to Maun International Airport in plenty of time for your onward journey home.