Four days on the Chobe River — the highest elephant density on earth, 120,000 in the wider ecosystem, sometimes 600 at a single waterhole. We game-drive twice a day from a riverside lodge, then sunset cruise the river while elephants swim across. On day three you cross into Zambia for Victoria Falls — 1.7 km wide, 108m drop, 'Mosi-oa-Tunya' (the smoke that thunders) — micro-light flight optional, helicopter optional, walking the bridge mandatory.
"600 elephants in front of the lodge at golden hour, the calf walking right past our deck. Three of us cried."
"The micro-light over Vic Falls is the splurge. Open cockpit, 1,000ft above the gorge. Don't think — book it."
Mar–May is peak flow — 500 million litres/min, spray reaches 400m. You get wet, see less. Oct–Nov is low flow — see the geology, less spray. Both spectacular, totally different.
Yes — the classic Bot combo. End this trip in Maun for our Okavango Delta fly-in. Combined 8 days from $5,890/pp.
Zim side is wider view of the falls, Zambia side gets you closer (Devil's Pool, etc.). We use Zambia side because the bridge walk + Royal Livingstone access is easier.