An Opulent Luxury Escape: Zimbabwe & Botswana
Ideal time to visit April—October
Duration 13 days
Price Guide From US$ 30,700
Embark on a two-week safari through Zimbabwe and Botswana, crafted in the highest style and anchored by a handpicked collection of the region’s most iconic lodges. Your journey begins in Zimbabwe, on a private concession bordering the UNESCO-protected wilderness of Mana Pools National Park. From here, trace the course of the Zambezi upstream for an unforgettable encounter with the thunderous Victoria Falls. Continue into northern Botswana for three nights in the wild Linyanti Reserve, famed for its vast buffalo herds and world-class predator sightings. Conclude at Mombo in the Okavango Delta – the legendary “place of plenty” – a fitting finale to an extraordinary adventure.
Bespoke safaris with Orange Moon
We craft journeys as unique as you are, weaving luxury into every detail. Our tailor-made safaris offer immersive experiences designed exclusively for you.
- Exclusive luxury camps, lodges and hotels
- Expertly guided explorations
- Seamless private transfers
- Skilled guides and local wildlife experts
- Curated experiences
Destinations and Highlights
Mana Pools
Canoe the Zambezi, wander ancient albida forests, and track lions on foot—Mana Pools is Africa at its most untamed, perfect for those seeking raw wilderness.
Days 1-4
Victoria Falls and Matetsi
Feel the thunder of the Victoria Falls and drift along the Zambezi, pairing natural spectacle with riverside luxury for an unforgettable ultra-luxury private escape.
Days 4-7
Mombo, Okavango Delta
Discover Mombo in the Okavango Delta, a place of plenty where wildlife thrives, blending daily game drives with luxury camps for an unforgettable romantic safari escape.
Days 10-13
Liyanti Reserve
Venture into the Linyanti, where vast herds roam and predators prowl, blending thrilling safaris with secluded lodges for an unforgettable ultra-luxury wilderness journey.
Days 7-10
Highlights
Wild Mana Encounters
Canoe the Zambezi, walk with expert guides, and watch elephants amble past your luxury riverside camp.Victoria Falls Wonder
Witness the thundering “Smoke that Thunders” on a private guided tour, with the option of a scenic helicopter flight above the falls.Riverside Safari Splendor
Stay at Matetsi’s exclusive reserve, where elephants, lions, and rare antelope roam along the Zambezi’s edge.Predators of Linyanti
Track lions, leopards, and wild dogs on day and night drives in Botswana’s pristine private reserve.Mombo, Place of Plenty
Conclude in the Okavango Delta’s most legendary concession, where abundant wildlife and ultra-luxe camps meet.
Itinerary in detail
Untamed Mana Pools
Day 1 – Into the Wild Heart of Mana Pools
Arrive in the untouched wilderness of Mana Pools, where the Zambezi glitters in the fading light and elephants wander casually past your luxury camp. From your private terrace or roll-top bath, watch giants feast on albida pods as the river flows endlessly before you, setting the rhythm for days of pure safari magic.
Day 2 – Canoes and Footsteps in the Bush
Begin at dawn, gliding silently in a canoe along secret waterways, hippos yawning wide as kingfishers dart in streaks of blue. Later, walk with your expert guide across ancient floodplains, tracking lion prints pressed into the sand — each step a lesson in wild Africa, each pause a moment of reverence.
Day 3 – Game Drives and Golden Evenings
An open-air safari takes you deep into the park’s rich heart, where wild dogs chase in packs and lions laze in dappled shade. Afternoon gives way to twilight, and with a crystal glass in hand, you watch the sun dissolve into crimson skies, the sounds of the bush rising with the stars.
Victoria Falls & Matetsi Majesty
Day 5 – Matetsi’s Riverfront Sanctuary
Settle into a riverside retreat at Matetsi, where the Zambezi’s flow meets the pulse of wild Africa. On guided drives, spot vast herds of elephants, sable antelope, and prides of lion moving through golden grasslands. In the still of evening, float along the river at sunset, champagne flute in hand as hippos break the water’s surface.
Day 6 – The Smoke That Thunders
Wake to a day of marvels. Explore Victoria Falls on foot with your private guide, where rainforest mist glistens and rainbows curl through the spray of the mighty Mosi-oa-Tunya. Then lift into the skies on an exclusive helicopter flight — a bird’s-eye view of the world’s greatest waterfall, the endless Zambezi tumbling into eternity, a sight both humbling and exhilarating.
Linyanti Predator Paradise
Day 7 – Into the Linyanti
Cross into northern Botswana, where the Linyanti Reserve unfolds in endless wilderness. At your private lodge, discover a sanctuary where buffalo herds stretch to the horizon and predators roam freely. Sunset paints the water channels gold, your first night here alive with the distant roar of lions.
Day 8 – Predator’s Realm
Your day begins with lion tracks, hyenas trailing in the dawn, and perhaps the flash of a leopard’s tail vanishing into the reeds. Game drives spill into night safaris, when the bush awakens differently — owls calling, nocturnal creatures moving, and stars so bright they feel within reach.
Day 9 – Adventures Beyond the Vehicle
Step into the wild on foot with an expert ranger, or drift along the water in a mokoro canoe, watching elephants crossing in stately silence. For those who crave the thrill of the raw, sleep under canvas in a secluded hide, the sounds of the delta your lullaby.
Mombo, Heart of the Delta
Day 10 – To the Legendary Mombo
Your journey crescendos as you fly into the heart of the Okavango Delta. At Mombo — the legendary “place of plenty” — wildlife thrives in staggering abundance. Your arrival feels like stepping into Eden, every direction alive with giraffe, rhino, zebra, and the shadow of predators in pursuit.
Day 11 – Predator Capital of Africa
At dawn, follow the drama of Africa’s great predators — lions hunting in coordinated strength, cheetahs sprinting across the plain, wild dogs coursing with endless energy. Here, the cycle of life unfolds in real time, raw and mesmerizing, from the sanctuary of your private game drive.
Day 12 – The Delta in Motion
Float along the labyrinthine waterways in a mokoro, lilies blooming at your fingertips. Return to camp for an indulgent spa treatment, or simply gaze from your plunge pool as herds gather in the shimmering light. Every moment here is a study in stillness, beauty, and wild abundance.
Day 13 – Farewell to the Wild
On your final morning, the bush offers you one last gift — perhaps a herd of elephants bathed in the glow of dawn or the fleeting shadow of a leopard at your vehicle’s edge. You depart from Mombo with the sounds, scents, and spirit of Africa etched forever into your memory.