Southern Africa Self-Drive Camping Tour

Welcome to Africa! You’ll arrive at OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg and be greeted by your guide, who will drive you to your hotel in Pretoria for the rest of the day.

After breakfast, you’ll receive your rental vehicle(s) in the morning at the hotel. Then, it’s off to the shops for any needed supplies. From there, you’ll depart towards Limpopo. Limpopo is South Africa’s northernmost province, known for its quintessentially African vistas. You’ll call it a night near the Groblersbrug border post at a safari lodge.

After waking up in paradise, you’ll enter Botswana at the border post and head towards Francistown and the cozy campsite chalets where you’ll spend the night. Enjoy a day of incredible African scenery, and keep your eyes peeled for wildlife as you cruise.

Today, you’ll head north towards Gweta. Gweta is the gateway to the Makgadikgadi Pans, where Stone Age inhabitants lived. You can enjoy star-studded African skies while sipping baobab milkshakes, relax at the campsite pool, spot zebra and wildebeest, and enjoy the village. You’ll be camping here for the next two nights.

There is plenty to do in and around Gweta, and you have the choice between several activities to fill your day. There are game drives in the Ntwetwe Pan, an extremely unique landscape. You can also get up close and personal with Kalahari meerkats, visit the local village and learn about the local culture over a traditional lunch, or take a Baobab bush walk with a local guide. Depending on the season, you can also opt for a zebra and wildebeest migration tour or take a quad bike out over the plains.

In the morning, it’s time to depart to Maun, the third-largest town in Botswana. Maun has great access to the Okavango Delta and nearby game reserves. You can actually take a helicopter tour over the delta if you like! You can also opt to stop into the Nhabe Museum, take a game drive in the Moremi Game Reserve, or take a spin on a 4x4.

Day 7 of your camping tour of Botswana and Zimbabwe is yours to plan. There are a few different activities you can enjoy in Maun, including game drives in Moremi, mokoro rides, or boat cruises to Chief’s Island. Enjoy!

Set off in the morning for Divundu, a small village that gives fantastic access to the Okavango River and nearby game reserves. Welcome to Namibia! After you pitch your tent, you can stop by the Mahango Game Park, go fishing, take a bird-watching boat ride, or explore nearby Popa Falls.

Today is yours to enjoy Divundu. Some of the local activities you can take part in include boat cruises, bushmen excursions, mokoro trips, delta tours, or relaxing by the river.

In the morning, you’ll set off along the Caprivi Strip and back into Botswana. Enjoy the scenery as you make your way to Muchenje, a town on the Chobe riverfront, renowned for its diverse wildlife and game viewing opportunities. You’ll likely spot a few elephants and hippos while pitching your tent. There are several different ways to explore the area, so hop on a quad or boat and see what you can find!

The day is yours to enjoy. You can take a game drive in Chobe National Park, enjoy a boat cruise on the river, or take your own vehicle for a spin around the area.

You can’t visit Zimbabwe without seeing Victoria Falls. Pack up camp and depart for the border, making your way towards the town. Depending on when you arrive, you may have time for a sunset cruise on the Zambezi.

This day of your African camping adventure is all about Victoria Falls. There are many ways to enjoy this natural wonder of the world, but guided tours are a favourite. You can also take a guided tour of the township, enjoy a traditional village tour, or even hop in a helicopter to view the Falls from above!

In the morning, it’s off towards Hwange National Park. This is Zimbabwe’s largest game reserve and home to giraffe, lion, zebra, and 40,000 elephants. The landscape is fantastic, ranging from desert dunes to vast savannah. You can enjoy the afternoon on an open-vehicle game drive in the park.

Spend the day in the park, finding all the animals you can and enjoying the incredible scenery.

In the morning, you’ll leave Hwange and head to the Matobo Hills area. This region hosts the Matobo National Park, an area with rich human history and magnificent flora and fauna. The landscape consists of massive red granite boulders dotted among forests, making it an excellent hiking destination. Once you arrive, set up camp and plan tomorrow’s day in the park.

Spend the day enjoying Matobo Hills. You can take a game drive, a rhino walk, and go hiking. Have fun!

Depart for Botswana in the morning, where you’ll spend the night in Palapye. Keep an eye out for wildlife as you drive, and then take the time to enjoy the amenities of your hotel after a few nights of camping.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before heading into South Africa, eventually reaching Pretoria. You’ve got the rest of the day to enjoy Pretoria before bedtime.

In the morning, your rental car will be picked up from the hotel, and then you’ll be driven to the airport in Johannesburg. Safe travels home!