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Peregrine Travel Centre

Experience Southern Africa

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Experience Southern Africa

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Description

Spot your favourite safari animals on this 16-day southern Africa adventure. Learn how the Black Mambas are deterring poachers on a bush walk through Greater Kruger National Park, visit the Khama Rhino Sanctuary and watch roaming wildlife like elephants, zebras and cheetahs on a scenic sunset river cruise. Cycle through the streets of Soweto with a local guide, camp under the stars in the heart of Botswana’s Okavango Delta wilderness and enjoy plenty of free time to explore Victoria Falls at your own pace.

Trip Name
Experience Southern Africa
Last Updated
1970-01-01
Days
16
Capacity
16
Highlights
  • Walk through the bush with members of the world's first all-female anti-poaching unit, the Black Mambas. During this Signature Experience, you’ll learn how they're deterring poachers and patrolling 20,000 hectares of nature reserve.
  • Spot elephants, cheetahs and lions in Chobe National Park during a sunset river cruise. This is when many animals come to drink, so get your cameras ready!
  • Spend two nights in a remote island bush camp in the heart of Botswana's Okavango Delta wilderness. At night, the sounds of the African bush are the only things you’ll hear.
  • Visit the only place in Botswana where both white and black rhinos remain – the Khama Rhino Sanctuary.
  • Experience the vast Makgadikgadi Pans, where you’ll meet a local meerkat colony, watch the sunset over the salt flats with a sundowner, enjoy dinner under the night sky and sleep out in the open air beneath a blanket of stars.

Itinerary

ITINERARY CHANGES Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Essential Trip Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It's important that you review this information prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, political unrest or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in-country. Your group leader or local representative will keep you up to date with any such changes once your trip is underway and has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if deemed necessary due to safety concerns. , ROAD CONDITIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN AFRICA: Roads in Africa are often in very poor condition, which makes it hard on our vehicles. Our vehicles are serviced regularly and are generally in good condition, but breakdowns can and do happen. Sometimes the going on this trip is quite tough, the distances covered fairly large and some of the roads and tracks are not exactly smooth or free from dust, but the rewards are exceptional. The travelling times indicated in our Essential Trip Information is just a rough guide and is dependent on various factors that may be outside our control, such as road conditions, weather and time spent at borders. DRIVE TIMES: The travel times listed in the day to day itinerary are a guide only. Please be aware that delays may occur and please be patient - it's all part of the experience afterall! Additionally, the travel times do not include time spent on game drives as these can vary with each departure., OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES A selection of optional activities that have been popular with past travellers are listed in the day-to-day itinerary. This isn't an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only for some of what might be available. Prices are approximate, are for entrance fees only, and don’t include transport to and from the sites or local guides unless indicated. All activities are subject to availability, and may be on a join-in basis. It may not be possible to do all the activities listed in the time available at each destination, so some pre-planning for what you are most interested in is advised. When it's recommended that travellers pre-book these activities, look for a note in the Special Information section of the day-to-day itinerary. For most, they can either be organised independently on the day, or let your group leader or local representative know you are interested at the Welcome Meeting and they can assist. Where activities are considered medium or high risk, we work with operators whose safety and credentials we have sighted and assessed. Although it is possible that you may find the same activity cheaper with another operator on the ground, we cannot vouch for the safety or quality of that operator. Medium and high-risk activities not listed above have not been assessed by us and as such our staff and group leader or local representative are unable to assist you with organising these activities. Activities that contravene our Responsible Travel policies are also not listed. Please remember that the decision to partake in any activity not listed is at your own discretion and risk., SOUTHERN AFRICA IN PEAK SEASON Southern Africa is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination. Despite the influx of travellers, bed numbers are not being increased to match the demand. This intentional move is aimed at minimizing the environmental impact of tourism and keeping the destinations exclusive. It is, therefore, becoming more and more difficult for us to confirm our allocation with our usual suppliers, particularly in peak season. We may use alternative accommodation which could affect driving times and distances listed in the Essential Trip Information. However, we will always use properties of the same standard and ensure that the included activities are not affected.

Day 1 - Johannesburg
Sawubona – welcome to South Africa! Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive early, maybe visit the eye-opening Apartheid Museum to start your journey with some crucial history before meeting up with your group. After your meeting this evening, why not head out for an optional group dinner and get to know your new travel companions. Your leader can point you in the right direction with the best bar and restaurant recommendations.
Day 2 - Kruger National Park
Rise and shine for an early departure from Johannesburg, the 'City of Gold' – it’s time to officially set off on your African adventure! Be prepared for a long drive, but rest assured, it’s well worth it. A truly unique African experience unfolds as you enter the Greater Kruger National Park ecosystem on the journey to your campsite. In the evening, relax and have dinner with your group at your camp, located in Kruger National Park.
Day 3 - Kruger National Park
After breakfast, embark on a full day 4WD safari through Kruger National Park. One of the largest game reserves in Southern Africa, Kruger National Park is home to over 500 bird species, 100 species of reptile and 150 mammal species, including all your favourites from The Lion King – elephants, rhinos, buffalo, giraffes and more! It’s home to many vulnerable species including the southern ground hornbill, the blue crane and the endangered African wild dog. You’ll spend your day game viewing, birdwatching and stopping at various waterholes and viewpoints. Your camp tonight will be within Kruger National Park.
Day 4 - Kruger National Park
Head to the outskirts of Kruger National Park, where you'll be lucky enough to camp for the evening with the Black Mambas at their headquarters. The Intrepid Foundation is proudly partnered with Helping Rhinos, which directly supports the work of the Black Mambas – the world's first all-female anti-poaching unit. Made up of a team of 42 young African women, the Mambas patrol 20,000 hectares of the Olifants West Nature Reserve, part of Greater Kruger National Park. Turning a traditionally male-dominated industry on its head, they’re putting their female prowess to work protecting the wildlife of Kruger National Park in an unconventional way. You'll join them on a bush walk to learn how they find and destroy snares firsthand. Later, enjoy a special dinner by lantern light, then relax by the campfire with the Black Mambas as they share stories about their path to becoming rangers and their conservation work.
Day 5 - Moremi Gorge
Say farewell to the Black Mambas and head straight for the Botswana border as you travel towards Goo Moremi Gorge. Perennial streams have carved deep gorges into the hills at this beautiful national heritage site. Here, waterfalls cascade into deep pools surrounded by lush vegetation. The gorges are home to many birds that feed on fish and small crabs in the pools and are breeding grounds for the endangered Cape vulture. Baboons and rock rabbits live on the cliffs above the gorge and, though very elusive, leopards, hyenas and kudu can also be found here.
Day 6 - Nata
Today, journey to Nata, where you'll head out on a three-hour 4WD excursion to explore the seemingly endless salt pans of the Nata Bird Sanctuary. Surrounded by the Kalahari Desert, these vast plains remain dry and salty for much of the year, creating an otherworldly landscape where shimmering heat mirages stretch across the horizon. When the rains arrive, the landscape transforms into a lush refuge, attracting migratory birds and wildlife to the newly formed wetlands.
Day 7 - Victoria Falls
Today, you'll travel to Victoria Falls, crossing the border into Zimbabwe. Have lunch, then continue to your permanent tent, set within a large rest camp. After settling in, you may want to set out on a highly recommended optional trip to visit Victoria Falls. Spanning about a mile wide and falling 108 m into a narrow gorge below, the spray from the falls can sometimes be seen from kilometres away. In the dry season, the view of the falls is unobstructed by spray and it's possible to see little islets in the river below. Otherwise, a range of other activities are available through the local activity centre. This evening, why not join your group for dinner and celebrate the adventures you've shared.
Day 8 - Victoria Falls
Spend the day soaking in the sights and sounds of Victoria Falls until your next welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. Maybe explore the magnificent falls – a thundering curtain of water approximately 1.5 km wide, falling 108 m into a narrow gorge below. In the wet season, the spray created can rise to an incredible 400 m, and the falls become a raging torrent. In the dry season, the view of the falls is unobstructed by spray, and you can see little islets in the river below. After the welcome meeting,  sit down to a traditional Zimbabwean dinner and cultural performance by a local group who celebrate and preserve African stories and values through movement, while their profits go to supporting vulnerable groups and providing free dance lessons to local youth. Dinner will feature local Zimbabwean dishes, including village-style goat stew and peanut butter rice.
Day 9 - Kasane
Travel to Chobe National Park in Botswana this morning. You’ll stop at the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust along the way – one of The Intrepid Foundation’s projects. Here, you’ll learn about the rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife, the human-wildlife conflict and the trust’s role in anti-poaching. There may also be a chance to meet any rescued or orphaned wildlife currently in their care. Chobe National Park was the first national park to be established in Botswana and is best known for its high concentration of elephants, which can often be seen swimming in the Chobe River. The river also attracts wallowing hippos, a variety of birdlife and crocodiles that like to sun themselves by the water's edge. Cheetahs and lions also come down to drink in the river, so if you’re lucky, you might spot one of the predators, too! In the late afternoon, embark on a scenic sunset cruise on the Chobe River guided by an expert local guide and look out for wildlife.
Day 10 - Makgadikgadi Pans
This morning, drive to Gweta where you'll stop for lunch before heading out to explore the amazing Makgadikgadi Pans. Covering some 12,000 sq km, this is one of the largest salt flats in the world. See the region’s iconic baobab trees and visit a local meerkat colony, where you can watch these social animals play and interact in their natural habitat. Then, venture out across the seemingly endless white salt flats in time for sunset. Take in the views, perhaps with a drink in hand, followed by dinner and stargazing under the dark night sky. Tonight, you’ll sleep out on the salt flats in a comfortable bedroll, surrounded by the stillness of the Makgadikgadi and an uninterrupted view of the stars.
Day 11 - Okavango Delta
Wake up on the Makgadikgadi Pans this morning and enjoy breakfast before making your way back to Gweta, where you’ll have time to freshen up and have a shower. Then, continue towards the Okavango Delta and into the unspoiled wilderness for another adventurous camping experience. The Okavango Delta is unlike anything else in the world – a 16,000-square-kilometre maze of waterways, green islands and lush plains, home to wildlife including hippos, crocodiles, elephants and big cats. Explore the waterways by mokoro (a traditional dugout canoe) with local ‘polers’ and learn more about this incredible ecosystem along the way. Tonight, camp on a remote island in the heart of the delta and listen as the nocturnal creatures of the African bush come to life after sunset.
Day 12 - Okavango Delta
It's an early start this morning as you venture out for a sunrise walk to catch a glimpse of some local elephants and maybe a few Cape buffalo. After, return to camp for breakfast and enjoy a leisurely free day to relax. You might like to go on an afternoon walk, or there’s the opportunity to go on another mokoro trip. You may notice that the mokoros of today are made with fibreglass (rather than wood) but retain their original shape – this keeps the traditional feel of the boats while reducing the amount of tree-cutting in the delta.
Day 13 - Maun
This morning, enjoy a relaxing morning to say goodbye to the delta. Then, it’s on to your next stop. After taking down your camp, head out on a mokoro safari on your way out of the Delta then travel by vehicle to Maun. When you arrive, you’ll have the option to take a scenic helicopter flight over Maun and the delta, seeing things from a bird's eye view.
Day 14 - Khama Rhino Sanctuary
Travel to the Khama Rhino Sanctuary this morning. On the edge of the Kalahari Desert, the Khama Rhino Sanctuary is a community-based conservation project staffed by local village residents. Built in a former hunting area to protect Botswana's only remaining populations of both black and white rhinos, the sanctuary is also home to other wildlife including zebras, giraffes, leopards, ostriches and wildebeest, all of which can be seen around the many natural waterholes. Visiting this project benefits local communities and contributes to the protection of the highly endangered white rhinoceros. In the evening, head out on a dusk game drive in an open safari vehicle with an expert local ranger to see the rhinos (this will be replaced by a dawn game drive if the group arrives at the sanctuary too late).
Day 15 - Soweto
Cross the border into South Africa and travel on to Johannesburg - a sprawling city of remarkable contrasts. As you come into town, you'll likely see opulent mansions alongside tin-roof shacks, and verdant city parks alongside the concrete. Enjoy a relaxing evening upon arrival.
Day 16 - Soweto
Head to Soweto and take to the streets on a bicycle. Learn about the Soweto uprising and the resistance against apartheid. It's interesting to see how the community has changed and developed into what it is today. You'll also visit a former migrant workers' hostel and stop at many other local landmarks. Your cycling adventure should finish at around 3 pm today, whereafter you will be returned to your hotel in Johannesburg. With no further activities planned, your trip comes to an end at this point.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
20-12-202604-01-2027AUD $ 5,516-
02-05-202717-05-2027AUD $ 7,790-
16-05-202731-05-2027AUD $ 7,670-
06-06-202721-06-2027AUD $ 7,900-
20-06-202705-07-2027AUD $ 7,900-
27-06-202712-07-2027AUD $ 7,900-
04-07-202719-07-2027AUD $ 8,130-
08-08-202723-08-2027AUD $ 8,285-
15-08-202730-08-2027AUD $ 8,285-
29-08-202713-09-2027AUD $ 8,285-
05-09-202720-09-2027AUD $ 8,285-
12-09-202727-09-2027AUD $ 8,285-
15-09-202730-09-2027AUD $ 8,285-
19-09-202704-10-2027AUD $ 8,130-
26-09-202711-10-2027AUD $ 8,195-
10-10-202725-10-2027AUD $ 7,900-
17-10-202701-11-2027AUD $ 7,900-
07-11-202722-11-2027AUD $ 7,670-
05-12-202720-12-2027AUD $ 7,670-
19-12-202703-01-2028AUD $ 7,670-
02-01-202817-01-2028AUD $ 8,055-
06-02-202821-02-2028AUD $ 8,055-
09-04-202824-04-2028AUD $ 8,055-
23-04-202808-05-2028AUD $ 8,055-
07-05-202822-05-2028AUD $ 8,055-
21-05-202805-06-2028AUD $ 8,055-
04-06-202819-06-2028AUD $ 8,295-
11-06-202826-06-2028AUD $ 8,295-
18-06-202803-07-2028AUD $ 8,295-
25-06-202810-07-2028AUD $ 8,295-
02-07-202817-07-2028AUD $ 8,535-
16-07-202831-07-2028AUD $ 8,535-
30-07-202814-08-2028AUD $ 8,535-
06-08-202821-08-2028AUD $ 8,700-
20-08-202804-09-2028AUD $ 8,700-
27-08-202811-09-2028AUD $ 8,700-
03-09-202818-09-2028AUD $ 8,700-
10-09-202825-09-2028AUD $ 8,700-
17-09-202802-10-2028AUD $ 8,535-
24-09-202809-10-2028AUD $ 8,535-
01-10-202816-10-2028AUD $ 8,295-
15-10-202830-10-2028AUD $ 8,295-
29-10-202813-11-2028AUD $ 8,055-
03-12-202818-12-2028AUD $ 8,055-
17-12-202801-01-2029AUD $ 8,055-

Accommodation

Hotel (2 nights), Lodge (3 nights), Chalet with shared facilities (1 night), Permanent Tented Overland Camp (2 nights), Camping with facilities (3 nights), Tented Camp (2 nights), Basic Camping with no facilities (2 nights).

Transport

Overland vehicle, Boat, Mokoro, Bicycle, Open Safari Vehicle

Map

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