Your journey begins in the vast stillness of the Kalahari, where open skies, desert landscapes and year-round waterholes set the scene for a wonderfully wild safari introduction. Set within a private reserve on the northern boundary of the Central Kalahari, Dinaka offers a beautiful contrast to the water-based safari experiences that follow later in the journey.

You stay in a spacious Safari Tent on a full-board basis, with game activities included. Each tent is raised on a wooden deck and features an en-suite bathroom, generous walk-in shower, outdoor shower with a view, and excellent vantage points over the permanent waterhole.

Days here are filled with morning and afternoon game drives, night drives, guided bush walks, stargazing, and time at the underground photographic bunker or hide. Wildlife may include Giraffe, Antelope, Honey Badger, Bat-Eared Fox, Porcupine, Kalahari Lion, Cheetah, Leopard and Brown Hyena.

Birding is also excellent, with over 200 species recorded in the area, including Kori Bustard, Crimson-Breasted Shrike and Pale Chanting Goshawk. You can also enjoy an educational walk with San Bushmen, offering fascinating insight into traditional knowledge, tracking and desert survival.

For families, the Young Explorers programme offers engaging, age-appropriate wilderness experiences with a specialist family guide.

Transfers & Flights: You fly from Maun International Airport (MUB) to Dinaka Airstrip and check in at Dinaka.

From the dry beauty of the Kalahari, your safari flows into the lush waterways of the Okavango Delta. Set on the Xudum River, Kanana offers a wonderfully varied safari experience, with access to both land and water-based activities in a private concession.

You stay in a Safari Tent on a full-board basis, with game activities included. The camp has been beautifully refreshed and offers relaxed safari living, with a dining area, lounge, bar, swimming pool, sleepout deck and welcoming spaces that blend into the Delta surroundings.

Activities vary with the seasonal water levels, giving each stay its own rhythm. You may enjoy morning and afternoon game drives, night drives, guided walks, mokoro excursions, motorboat safaris, fishing when floodwaters allow, and time exploring the area’s birdlife, plants, reptiles and waterways.

The concession is known for varied wildlife and regular predator sightings, including Lion, Leopard and Wild Dog. Birding can be outstanding, with access to a seasonal heronry and the chance to experience the remarkable changing moods of the Delta.

For something truly memorable, the Sleep Out Deck offers the opportunity to spend a night beneath the African sky. Families are also well catered for through the Young Explorers programme.

Transfers & Flights: You fly from Dinaka Airstrip to Kanana Airstrip and check in at Kanana.

Your journey then continues into one of Zambia’s most iconic safari regions, a place known for exceptional guiding, walking safaris and wonderfully rich wildlife encounters. Puku Ridge is set deep within South Luangwa National Park, overlooking a private floodplain and waterhole.

You stay in a Safari Retreat on a full-board basis, with game activities included. The camp combines refined comfort with a strong sense of wilderness, offering elevated accommodation, private plunge pools, star beds, air conditioning, 24-hour power, international charging points and Wi-Fi.

The setting is superb for wildlife viewing. From camp, you may see Giraffe moving across the plains, Puku gathering near the floodplain, and hear the distant calls of Hyena after dark. The hide near the private waterhole also creates excellent photographic opportunities.

Activities include walking safaris, day and night game drives, and time in the hide. Custom-designed safari vehicles allow for comfortable exploring and excellent visibility, guided by an experienced team who bring the landscape beautifully to life.

After the safari intensity of Botswana and Zambia, your final chapter brings you to the soft shores of Lake Malawi. Set on Likoma Island, Kaya Mawa is a beautiful boutique beach retreat where clear water, white sand and relaxed island living create the perfect ending to the journey.

You stay in a Standard Room on a full-board basis, with non-motorised water sports included. Rooms are tucked into the island’s natural rocks and open towards lake and beach views, with features that may include a private deck, direct lake access, private dining, double or twin beds, minibar, safe and beautifully designed stone and polished interiors.

Kaya Mawa’s name means “maybe tomorrow”, which says everything about the pace here. Slow mornings, lake swims, beach time, sunset drinks and starlit dinners all become part of the natural rhythm. The lodge also has a strong focus on sustainability and community, operating on renewable energy and supporting local craftsmanship.

Included activities may include snorkelling, sailing, kayaking, paddleboarding, picnic lunches, e-mountain bike safaris and birding. At an additional cost, guests can enjoy spa treatments, waterskiing, wakeboarding, kitesurfing, diving, quad biking, fishing trips, island boat tours and guided Likoma Island experiences, including visits to St. Peter’s Cathedral, Katundu Workshop and the local town.

This is a wonderfully gentle finale, giving you time to slow down, reconnect and enjoy one of Africa’s most peaceful lakeside settings.

Transfers & Flights: You transfer from Puku Ridge to Mfuwe Airport, fly to Lilongwe International Airport (LLW), connect onward to Likoma Airstrip (LIX), and transfer to Kaya Mawa.

After your final morning by the river, you check out from Amanzi Camp and begin your onward journey. The itinerary concludes with a transfer to Jeki Airstrip, followed by a scheduled flight to Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, marking the end of your 13 Nights Zambia & Botswana Bushcamp itinerary.