Overview
Embark on the ultimate 8-day private safari, a journey that actively visits the majestic Victoria Falls and the iconic, wildlife-rich Zambezi, Hwange, and Chobe regions. This adventure delivers the “big three” of classic safari activities: exhilarating game drives, immersive bush walks, and unique boat safaris. Crucially, this is a private journey designed exclusively for you, not a fixed group tour. Therefore, you can further customize this incredible trip to perfectly suit the number of days you wish to travel. Moreover, you can easily extend this personalized experience to include other premier destinations, such as Botswana’s renowned Okavango Delta (located just south of the Chobe region).
Day 1: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe & Zambia
Today, you will fly directly to Victoria Falls (or Livingstone), arriving from one of the major hubs, which include Addis Ababa, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Kruger, Nairobi, or Windhoek. Upon arrival, your local guide, Mortimer, will efficiently transfer you the short distance to your accommodation, nestled in the leafy residential area of town. Even here, you will remain within earshot of the magnificent roar emanating from Mosi-oa-Tunya—”The Smoke that Thunders.”
After checking in, Mortimer will be available to actively discuss your Victoria Falls stay and promptly make any necessary arrangements. Although the town offers a seemingly endless variety of wildlife and adventure experiences, its location—just minutes from the Falls and on the fringes of the Zambezi National Park—retains a charming pioneering and colonial atmosphere. For dinner tonight, you can choose from several excellent dining options, including African-style feasts complete with accompanying tribal entertainment at The Boma or Jungle Junction restaurants. Alternatively, you might opt for a delightful afternoon High Tea at the iconic Victoria Falls Hotel.
Day 2: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe & Zambia
We are pleased to offer you a complimentary guided visit to Victoria Falls during your stay, including entrance fees for both the Zimbabwean and Zambian sides. Significantly, we have not pre-booked any other activities into your safari schedule, giving you complete freedom to choose exactly what you want to do and when you wish to do it. Consequently, you can select from a plethora of activities on offer, which includes serene Zambezi River cruises, thrilling white-water rafting or canoeing, intimate rhino and elephant walking safaris, dramatic helicopter and microlight scenic flights, and authentic African township and village tours. For adrenaline enthusiasts, options range from bungee jumping to zip sliding, and much more! To help you decide, we will send you our separate “Victoria Falls Activities” booklet. Furthermore, we can easily pre-book any of these exciting options for you, or your guide, Mortimer, can organize them upon your arrival.
Day 3-5: Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
Next, you will travel by comfortable private vehicle to Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe’s largest safari wilderness. From here, you will embark on an initial game drive directly to The Hide Safari Camp. Consequently, you will spend 3 nights completely immersed in The Hide’s special wilderness area, which boasts the dual advantage of being located within Hwange National Park and surrounded by a private wildlife concession.
Significantly, this private concession status means the camp is not bound by the standard regulations imposed on camps situated solely within the National Park. Therefore, The Hide can offer flexible, year-round day and night game drives, alongside intimate guided bush walks. Hwange National Park, easily accessed from Victoria Falls, is home to some of Africa’s largest elephant herds and is renowned for its healthy wild dog population. This massive park 14,650 km2 remains a superb year-round safari option, and we highly recommend combining it with a visit to Botswana’s Chobe region to secure “the big three” experience: game drives, bush walks, and boat safaris.
Day 6: Chobe National Park, Botswana
Subsequently, you will travel by private road transfer across the border into Botswana, destined for the small safari town of Kasane and your luxurious lodge, which is situated directly on the banks of the Chobe River. Importantly, this scenic drive from Hwange passes through prime bushveld, where you will often encounter wildlife like elephants and giraffes, offering early game-viewing opportunities. Furthermore, your dedicated guide, Mortimer, will accompany you throughout the journey, actively assisting with all cross-border formalities.
After settling in and freshening up, you will embark on an exciting afternoon boat safari on the iconic Chobe River. Following this exhilarating experience, you will enjoy a congenial dinner back at the lodge. This evening, the local hippos will serenade you to sleep with their unique grunts as they venture out of the water to graze peacefully on the lodge’s lush lawn. Crucially, to make your safari extra special, Compass Odyssey travelers exclusively receive a private guide and a dedicated vehicle/boat throughout your stay in Chobe*. In stark contrast, other companies typically offer shared game drives with up to 10 passengers and boat safaris carrying between 10 to 50 or more travelers.
Day 7: Chobe National Park, Botswana
Your day in Chobe National Park will revolve around exhilarating morning and afternoon game drives. Between these adventures, you will enjoy delicious home-style meals and will have ample time for quality relaxation by the pool, perhaps even taking a midday siesta.
During your game drives, actively look out for formidable predators such as lions and hyenas, alongside iconic herbivores including buffalo, zebras, giraffes, warthogs, and wildebeest. Moreover, your boat safaris along the Chobe River will bring you face-to-face with all manner of wildlife, notably including massive Nile crocodiles and the Chobe’s magnificent herds of elephants as they come to the river’s edge to drink and playfully frolic in the freshwater.
Alternatively, you have the option today for a full-day private game drive that actively ventures much further into the park, traveling away from the main tourist traffic. Note: This exclusive option incurs an additional cost and includes a special picnic lunch.
Day 8: Farewell
To conclude your incredible safari adventure, this morning offers you the choice between one final boat safari or an exciting game drive. Following your last activity, you will enjoy a hearty brunch back at the lodge. Afterwards, we will bid you tsamaya sentle (“goodbye and go well” in Setswana) as you are transferred the short distance to Kasane Airport for your further travel arrangements. Currently, a daily flight departs for Johannesburg, however, we can also arrange for Mortimer to efficiently return you by road to Livingstone or Victoria Falls (a scenic 2.5 to 3-hour transfer), should you require it.
