6 Days Victoria Falls Chobe Wildlife and Okavango Delta Tour

The best part of this six-day trip is the change in scenery: you begin beside the spray of Victoria Falls, watch elephants gather along the Chobe River, cross the stark Makgadikgadi Salt Pan, and finish in the Okavango Delta by mokoro, a traditional dugout canoe. Few short safaris pack in such different settings.

I like the small group limit of six, which should make transfers and wildlife viewing easier, and I like the mix of activities: a boat safari, open-sided 4×4 drives, a walking safari and canoe travel. The main drawback is the amount of road time. Day 3 and Day 4 involve long drives, and the Delta night uses movable tents with basic bush ablutions.

Key points to know

• Three very different wildlife areas: Chobe, Makgadikgadi and the Okavango each offer a distinct setting.
• A three-hour Chobe River cruise: Animals come to the water, giving you a low, steady viewing position from the boat.
• Two Chobe game drives on Day 2: Early morning and late afternoon are the key wildlife hours.
• One night in a simple Delta camp: Expect movable tents and bush facilities, not a polished lodge.
• Optional Okavango flight: A scenic flight costs about $150 per person and requires at least five people.
• Point-to-point route: The tour begins with pickup in Victoria Falls and ends in Maun, with flights not included.

From Victoria Falls to Chobe in 90 minutes

Your trip begins with a transfer from your hotel in Victoria Falls to Kasane, Botswana. The drive and border crossing take about 1 hour and 30 minutes, so this first leg is fairly manageable. It also gives you a useful change of scene: Zimbabwe’s famous waterfall town gives way to Botswana’s main gateway for Chobe National Park.

Kasane is not just an overnight stop. It is the base for the first major wildlife section of the trip. Chobe is especially known for its large elephant population, along with Cape buffalo, hippos, lions and antelope. The park also includes the Linyanti Marsh and Savuti Marsh, though this six-day route focuses on the Chobe River area and nearby game-drive zones.

The tour details list the first afternoon transfer at about 2:30 p.m., followed by boarding the boat around 3 p.m. This timing matters. The heat of the day begins to ease, and animals often gather at the river to drink. You get roughly three hours on the water before returning to the dock around 6 p.m., just before dark.

Why the Chobe River cruise earns its place

I like the river cruise because it changes the usual safari viewpoint. From a 4×4, you look across the bush from a higher, enclosed position. From the boat, you move at water level, with open views toward the riverbank.

Elephants are the main attraction here. Chobe’s dry-season riverfront draws large numbers to the water, and the boat gives you time to watch them approach, drink and move along the bank. Hippos and other animals may also appear near the water, while birds become a constant part of the scene.

The three-hour duration is useful. This is not a quick sightseeing ride squeezed between transfers. You have time to watch animal behavior instead of simply collecting sightings. Bring a camera, but also keep your attention on the full river scene: the shoreline, the water, the sky and the movement of animals along the bank.

The boat cruise is included in the overall experience, as are the listed drinks and meals. Exact boat style and seating are not specified, so ask the operator about the departure point and boat arrangement if that matters to you.

Two Chobe game drives on Day 2

Day 2 is the most traditional safari day. The early drive begins around 6 a.m. and runs until about 9 a.m. Tea and coffee are served in the bush, with a full breakfast around 9:30 a.m. An afternoon drive follows from about 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

This split schedule is sensible. Dawn and late afternoon are generally the most active parts of the day, and the tour description specifically points to predators and nocturnal animals during these transition periods. You might find lions finishing a night hunt, hyenas near a den, leopards making their last rounds, or daytime animals beginning to feed.

The break between drives also keeps the day from becoming one long ride in an open vehicle. You return for breakfast and a rest before heading out again. That said, this is still a full safari day. Expect early starts, several hours on uneven roads and long periods of watching and waiting.

The open-sided 4×4 is important to the feel of the experience. You have broad views and a better chance of hearing the bush around you, but you also have less protection from sun, dust and weather. Pack a hat, sunscreen and a light outer layer. Those are practical choices for any open vehicle, especially with a 6 a.m. departure.

Day 3: the stark silence of Makgadikgadi

After breakfast at about 8 a.m., you leave Chobe for a drive of roughly 300 kilometers to the Makgadikgadi Salt Pan area. The journey takes about four hours, although the full stop is listed at around seven hours, allowing for the visit and time along the route.

Makgadikgadi is a sharp contrast to Chobe. Instead of a riverfront filled with animal activity, you get huge, open salt flats in the middle of dry savanna. The pan is the remains of an ancient lake that once covered an area larger than Switzerland. Its name is translated as vast, lifeless land, which gives you a good sense of the scale and mood.

The word lifeless can mislead you. The area is not simply empty, and the route may produce animal sightings. Still, its real appeal is space and silence. You are here for the broad horizon, pale ground and feeling of distance rather than the concentrated wildlife viewing of Chobe.

This is one of the days when the tour’s long drives become a real consideration. Keep your camera accessible, as the route can include wildlife, and carry anything you need for several hours in the vehicle. The salt pan stop is included, but the precise viewing conditions will depend on the season and local conditions.

Day 4: crossing to Maun and the Delta

The next morning begins with another drive, this time about four hours through Makgadikgadi National Park toward Maun. The route includes more game viewing, and you should arrive in time for lunch before reaching your hotel in the afternoon.

Maun is the practical gateway for the Okavango Delta. On this tour, it also marks a shift in pace. The first part of the trip uses road transfers, river cruising and vehicle safaris. The final section becomes quieter and more hands-on, with a dugout canoe, a bush camp and a guided walk.

You may have time for an optional flight over the Delta after reaching the hotel. The listed cost is about $150 per person, and the flight requires at least five people. Since the group limit is six, the activity may fit the group size, but it is not guaranteed by the tour details. Confirm availability and payment arrangements before counting on it.

A flight offers a useful aerial view of the Delta’s channels and seasonal floodplains. It is also an extra cost, so I would treat it as optional rather than necessary. The ground-level canoe and walking sections provide the core Delta experience included in the trip.

Day 5: into the Okavango by mokoro

After an early breakfast, you leave the hotel for the two-day, one-night Okavango safari. A 4×4 transfer takes you to the river, where local polers meet you and guide the canoe journey toward an island.

The mokoro is a dugout canoe. It moves quietly through the channels, which makes it a very different experience from a motorboat or game vehicle. You travel close to the water and focus on reeds, channels, birds, hippos and the changing view around you.

The wording of the tour makes clear that this is a basic bush stay. You set up camp on arrival and sleep in movable tents. Bush ablutions are provided, rather than hotel-style bathrooms. That simplicity is part of the appeal, but you should be comfortable with outdoor conditions before booking.

Around 4 p.m., you take a two-hour walk with a local guide. This is not the same as viewing animals from a vehicle. You move at foot pace and pay attention to tracks, plants, sounds and smaller details. Exact wildlife sightings cannot be promised, so the value of the walk lies in learning how to read the bush as much as in finding large animals.

Dinner and the overnight camp follow the walk. The tour includes dinner, and water and non-alcoholic drinks are provided. Even so, confirm what personal items you should bring for the camp, especially luggage limits, bedding arrangements and toiletries. Those details are not specified here.

Day 6: a final walk and return to Maun

The last morning starts with coffee and rusks before a morning walk. A full breakfast follows, then you pack up the tents and return by mokoro for about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

A 4×4 vehicle meets you and takes you back to Maun. The safari finishes after lunch on arrival in town. This is a fitting end because the return is part of the Delta experience, not just a road pickup. You get one more quiet canoe ride before returning to the practical center of the region.

The tour ends in Maun rather than returning to Victoria Falls. Plan your onward flight or next hotel around that fact. Flights are not included in the $2,250 price, so your international and domestic air arrangements need to be handled separately.

What the $2,250 price covers

At $2,250 per person, this is not a budget bus trip, but it includes a substantial amount for six days. You receive hotel transfers, cross-border transport, Chobe activities, game drives, the Makgadikgadi stop, the Maun transfer, the Delta canoe safari and the one-night bush camp.

The listed inclusions cover five breakfasts, five dinners and six lunches, along with water and non-alcoholic drinks. That reduces the daily cost of arranging food in remote areas. Flights, however, are excluded, as is the optional Delta flight.

Value depends heavily on what you want from Botswana. If your priority is a polished lodge, private bathroom and long stays in one reserve, this trip may feel too mobile and basic. If you want several major Botswana settings in one route, the price reflects the range of transport, guiding and activities packed into a short period.

The group maximum of six is another positive factor. Small groups generally make vehicle seating, border transfers and meal arrangements easier. They also keep the Delta canoe and walking sections more personal. Ask whether the price is based on shared or private arrangements if you want a particular level of exclusivity.

Guides, organization and practical planning

Africa Uncovered Safaris operates the trip. The names Tafara and Archie are associated with the wider Zimbabwe and Botswana touring operation. Tafara has handled airport pickups and multi-day routes, while Archie has helped with trip planning and advice. If having one of them lead your particular departure matters, ask before booking because the assigned guide is not specified in the tour details.

Pickup is offered, and confirmation is provided at booking. The operating hours listed are Monday through Sunday, from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Most people can participate, and the maximum group size is six.

The route crosses from Zimbabwe into Botswana, so allow time for the border. Keep your passport and travel documents easy to reach, and do not bury essential items in luggage. The tour begins in Victoria Falls and ends in Maun, so it works best as a one-way regional journey rather than a loop.

The cancellation terms are straightforward: you can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations made inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Who should book this six-day safari?

I would recommend this trip if you want a broad first look at northern Botswana without arranging every transfer yourself. It suits you if elephants, open vehicle drives, river travel and a simple bush camp all appeal to you.

It is also a good fit if you enjoy variety. Chobe provides concentrated wildlife viewing, Makgadikgadi offers open salt flats and silence, and the Okavango adds canoe travel and walking. The route gives each place a different role.

I would think twice if you dislike early mornings, long drives or basic camping. The tour moves often, and two days involve roughly four-hour road journeys. The Delta camp uses movable tents and bush ablutions, so this is not a luxury safari.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want three major Botswana environments in six days, with meals, transport and guiding arranged in one package. The Chobe River cruise and the Okavango mokoro section are the strongest reasons to choose it, while the small group limit adds practical value.

Before paying, confirm your pickup point, border requirements, hotel names, luggage arrangements for the Delta camp and the guide assigned to your departure. Also plan carefully for the final arrival in Maun. If you accept the road time and simple overnight camp, this is a well-packed route from Victoria Falls to the Okavango with plenty of real outdoor time.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

The tour begins with pickup from your hotel in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends in Maun after lunch on Day 6.

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts approximately six days.

What is the group size?

The maximum group size is six people.

Is the Chobe River cruise included?

Yes. The afternoon Chobe River cruise is part of the tour, and it lasts about three hours on the water, plus transfer time.

How many game drives take place in Chobe?

Day 2 includes a morning game drive from about 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and an afternoon drive from about 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Is the Okavango Delta flight included?

No. The optional flight costs about $150 per person and requires a minimum of five people.

Are meals and drinks included?

The package includes five breakfasts, five dinners, six lunches, water and non-alcoholic drinks.

Are flights included in the price?

No. Flights are not included.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience starts. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the local start time are not accepted for a refund.