Waterways of Africa: Deltas, Floodplains & Falls

You’ll start this magnificent safari adventure to northern Botswana by flying into Maun, the main gateway to the Okavango Delta and Botswana’s ‘tourism capital’. From here, you’ll be taken into the matrix of palm-dotted islands, flood plains and woodlands that make up the watery, wildlife haven of the delta. Built on one of the islands and shaded by large ebony and fig trees, the remote Duba Plains Camp has just five tented suites with lace-draped beds, al fresco showers and scenic verandas.

With just a scattering of tents and so much space, you’ll feel like you have the reserve to yourself as you watch the colossal clashes between a herd of buffaloes and a brave pride of lions – the lions here are 15% larger than other lions, making for a fascinating show on your daily game drives. In the delta, daytime game drives are not the only way to explore the diverse wildlife – you can also jump into a mokoro to weave between pods of hippo and rare wildfowl or go on a night drive to see the glimmering eyes of nocturnal hunters roaming the plains.

From Duba Plains Camp you’ll be taken to sister property Zarafa Camp, which fringes the shores of the Zibadianja lagoon and offers fantastic views over the Selinda floodplains. There are just four tents with a maximum of eight guests at a time, which means that the schedule at the camp is very flexible and primarily follows the activity of the wildlife. With elephants congregating in front of your veranda and the roars of nearby lions echoing through the camp you really won’t have to go far to encounter the big cats and picture-worthy animals of the reserve.

For your morning thrill, the open-vehicle safari is ideal for capturing the drama of the floodplains, while the pontoon boat ride is one of our favourite afternoon excursions, especially when paired with a chilled sundowner drink. As the lodge was developed by National Geographic filmmakers, you can borrow state-of-the-art camera equipment for superb photographs or gaze out of the Swarovski binoculars in your tent for arguably the best views in Botswana.

If you’ve had your fill of big game in the delta, we recommend turning your eye to the birdlife, as there are plenty of sightings of black herons, pied kingfishers and African fish eagles.

Having explored, walked and canoed around northern Botswana in search of fantastic wildlife, you’ll be taken to the Zambian side of Victoria Falls where you can do as little or as much as you like. Victoria Falls has enough activities on offer to keep any adrenaline junkie entertained, from whitewater rafting through the stunning gorge to bungee jumping off the iconic bridge. You can also take a helicopter or microlight over the falls, visit Livingstone Island or cross the border into Zimbabwe. There are plenty of more wildlife encounters on offer too, such as walking with lions, tracking rhinos to get within metres of the endangered creatures and elephant safaris.

If you prefer to take it easier, there’s no better place to do that than the exclusive and serene lodge, Tongabezi, which is perfectly placed in its own little paradise on the sweeping banks of the Zambezi. Alternate between a boat trip along the Zambezi and a morning spent peering over the edge of Devil’s Pool with a leisurely massage, followed by an evening spent stargazing as you have dinner on the lodge’s seriously romantic floating platform.