This past April, we took an incredible G Adventures overland camping tour of South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. We spent 15 days with a small group of other 18-to-30-somethings camping in tents and traveling everywhere in the Lando. We saw the incredible natural wonders of the Okavango Delta, Victoria Falls, and Matobo Hills and spotted wildlife on two river cruises and four game drives. It was an incredible experience, and I wanted to share 30 awesome things we did while exploring Southern Africa, in case you need some inspiration or reasons to add a safari to one of these countries to your bucket list!
OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA
After leaving from Johannesburg, the first major region we visited was the Okavango Delta in Botswana. The Okavango River ends in an inland delta across the north part of Botswana. The wetland environment it forms supports a vast number of wildlife, and it’s a truly unique ecosystem. It was amazing to see wildlife and experience the Okavango Delta with local people!
1. Spot hundreds of animals on a scenic flight over the Delta
We took an incredible scenic flight out of the Maun airport and over the Okavango Delta. We saw so many animals–hundreds of elephants, plus hippos, giraffes, zebras, impalas, buffalo and crocodiles! Not to mention, the scenery of the Delta itself is absolutely breathtaking from the air!
2. Float along the gorgeous, peaceful Okavango Delta channels
The next day we got to get up close and personal with the Delta. We floated in dugout canoes called mokoros navigated by local poler-guides. They took us to a site in the bush where we camped overnight. Both the way there and the way back were so serene, with only the sound of the pole coming out of the water and a few birds now and then as we watched the reeds, water lilies, and (at a safe distance!) hippos float by. We even got to stop at one point to go on land and see a couple of bull elephants!
3. Swim in the Okavango Delta
It was quite hot and, well, swampy at our bush camp in the Delta, so we all signed up to go with our guides to a local swimming hole to cool off! They just had to make sure they brought us to a site with no hippos or crocodiles around…
4. Encounter animals on a walking safari
That evening before sunset, some of the wildlife guides who came with our poler-guides took us out in groups on a walking safari. It was amazing (and at times slightly nerve-wracking) to see giraffes, zebras, hippos, and an elephant from the land. The guides also pointed out interesting plants, animal tracks, and remains to us as we walked along. Then, back at camp, we sat around the fire, hearing songs and playing a game that our guides taught us before walking down to where our mokoros were moored to glimpse fireflies over the Delta.
CHOBE NATIONAL PARK, BOTSWANA
Chobe National Park in Botswana was absolutely abundant with wildlife. We saw hundreds of impalas, dozens of elephants, and our guide even said most people have a 70% chance of seeing lions. It was amazing to see animals from both a safari vehicle and a safari cruise, too. It’s also not far from Vic Falls, and could easily be done as a day trip or short extension on a visit to Africa’s most famous waterfall!
5. See dozens of elephants–maybe even before you even enter the park!
Chobe National Park has a population of 50,000 elephants, so your odds of seeing one on a game drive or safari cruise are excellent! We actually saw our first elephants before even arriving in Chobe–on our way from Maun to Gweta and Gweta to Chobe, we saw about a dozen elephants each day along the “Elephant Highway”! And then, of course, we saw even more on our river cruise and game drive.
6. Get up close to hippos (safely!)
My best hippo photos of the trip came from our sunset safari cruise along the Chobe River! That’s because, as the most dangerous mammals in Africa (killing 500 people per year!) you generally don’t want to get too close to them on foot or in a small boat, but our river cruise boat was able to get fairly close to them in the water safely. On the river cruise, we also got up close to elephants and crocodiles, saw impalas and baboons along the bank, and enjoyed a beautiful sunset over the water.
7. Enjoy excellent birdwatching
Besides maybe ostriches, I honestly hadn’t thought much about what birds we might see in Africa. But on our game drive in Chobe National Park, we saw beautiful species like helmeted guineafowl (which our driver called “Chobe chickens”), yellow-billed hornbills, fish eagles, long-tailed paradise whydah, and lilac-breasted rollers (pictured).
8. Observe wild lion interactions
The most exciting thing we saw in Chobe National Park was definitely lions! We saw three adolescent lions hanging out by the river, and got to observe the mating pair of lions above interact. They were mostly just chilling, but at one point the male tried to make a move and they got in a little fight, which was amazing to watch! This was the only place on our trip where we saw lions, so it was very special. If you want to see big cats on safari, you will need to wake up early, though–this game drive started just before dawn!
VICTORIA FALLS, ZIMBABWE
Victoria Falls (or Mosi-oa-Tunya) is the largest single waterfall in the world, lying on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. We stayed on the Zimbabwe side, in the town of Victoria Falls, but we also did cross over the border to see the falls from the Zambia side (and get an extra stamp in our passports!) as well. One thing we didn’t do (that I would highly consider next time) is get a bird’s eye view of the falls via a scenic flight or helicopter ride. I definitely appreciated how massive they are from the ground, but I think seeing them from the air would take the experience to a whole new level!
9. Watch adventure-seekers bungee, swing or zip line over Batoka Gorge
If you’re more adventurous than us, you can actually do one of these activities! The bridge spanning over Batoka Gorge, with a view of a slice of Victoria Falls (local name Mosi-oa-Tunya, meaning “the smoke that thunders”), is an epic place to bungee jump, zip line, or swing! We saw people swinging and zip lining, and it confirmed for us that we were happy to just walk across the bridge, but I bet their views were incredible!
10. Get soaked by Vic Falls on the Zambia side
Since we were on the tail end of the wet season, we got absolutely soaked on the Zambia side of the falls, in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park! It was harder to take pictures, but an excellent way to get a feel for how truly immense the falls is–how fast the water is flowing, and just how much of it. In dry season, the Zambia side can dry up considerably. But never fear–if you visit then, it’s actually the perfect time to visit the infamous Devil’s Pool!
11. Enjoy rainbows on the Zimbabwe side of Vic Falls
Between 2-4pm is the perfect time to see rainbows made by the spray from Victoria Falls on the Zambia side. As you walk the 2.4-mile loop through Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls National Park, nearly every new angle of the falls or rainbows will take your breath away. Be sure you have enough space on your memory card before you go!
12. Sample traditional Zimbabwean foods–like mopane worms!
The Lusumpuko Women’s Club was nice enough to prepare a traditional Zimbabwean meal for us on our arrival in Vic Falls. The pap (maize meal), rice, vegetables, chicken, pork, and sauces were all really tasty. The most adventurous item (to us, at least) was trying fried mopane worms (caterpillars). We were told to place them directly on your molars to avoid your tongue being poked by the spikes. The taste was good, similar to beef jerky, but it was enough chewing that I decided not to take a second one. 🙂
MATOBO NATIONAL PARK, ZIMBABWE
Before booking this tour, I’d never heard of Matobo National Park, but it ended up being an incredible place, where we were able to enjoy spectacular views and rock formations, learn about bushmen culture, and walk up close to endangered white rhinos. I’ll never forget the twisty trees with yellowing leaves, rocks covered in a rainbow of lichen, and rhino-noises our guide made to calm them as we got close!
13. Trek up close to white rhinos on a walking safari
One of the main highlights of Matobo National Park is going on a walking safari to see white rhinos. Thanks to our super knowledgeable guide (nicknamed “the rhino guy”), we were able to get within 30 feet of three resting female rhinos. It was incredible!
14. Learn about bushmen/San people and see ancient rock paintings
While in Matobo National Park, we hiked up to Nswatugi Cave where we were able to see 26,000-39,000 year old rock paintings by the bushmen people. Our guides told us all about the bushmen (aka San) people–their unique physiology and adaptation, language with nine types of clicking sounds, and religious beliefs. We also learned that their lifestyle is in danger, and many of them have been forcibly removed to the Kalahari Desert. Since the trip, I’ve learned that Survival International is one of the main agencies working to restore them to their home lands and preserve their way of life.
15. Hike up to breathtaking views
I imagine there’s a lot of excellent hiking in Matobo National Park, with all the rock formations and cave paintings to explore. If you’re open to paying a little extra, you can check out Worlds’ View, a 360-degree panorama of the park and burial site of Cecil Rhodes. We went at sunset, and it was stunning! There are even a few critters to see up there among the boulders–elephant shrews and colorful lizards.
16. Buy awesome, super affordable souvenirs
The best value for souvenirs I got on our whole trip was at the market in Matobo National Park. If we weren’t limited on space, I probably would’ve brought home even more treasures than I did! As it was, I got a carved malachite rhino and a carved stone lion for only $15, and picked up some colorful seed necklaces for only $2 each!
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH AFRICA
If you’ve only heard of a handful of national parks in Africa, I’m willing to bet Kruger is one of them! As South Africa’s first national park and one of the largest game reserves in Africa (over 7500 square miles!), it has a worthy place on any safari adventurer’s bucket list. We spent two days in the park, the first just driving through in our Lando, and the second on a game drive. I was floored by the sheer amount of wildlife we saw just from the Lando on the main road! And of course, it helped us finish out our Big Five checklist on our last game drive of the tour.
17. Learn about unusual animal friendships
One of the fun things we learned during our trip was the way different prey animals pair up to help each other out in the bush. Impalas and baboons are one pairing–baboons can see further from the trees, while impalas are constantly alert, with good sight and hearing. They also stir up bugs for the baboons to eat from the grass. We also saw quite a few zebras and wildebeests hanging out together–the zebras are benefiting from the wildebeests’ good hearing and sense of smell, while the dim-sighted wildebeest benefits from the zebras’ keen eyesight. On our game drive, the first animals we saw were this herd of zebras with a pair of giraffes. The zebras are benefiting from the giraffe’s ability to see much further thanks to their long necks. I’m not exactly sure what the giraffes get out of it, but it was absolutely adorable to see them wait to make sure their zebra friends were following them across the road!
18. Stargaze from your campsite
Perhaps the darkest sky of our whole trip, our night camping in Kruger National Park was perfect for stargazing. I got some great pictures, our group enjoyed having dinner under the stars, and I even saw a couple of shooting stars–and wished for leopards or cheetahs on the next day’s game drive!
19. Finish out your Big 5 checklist
My wish came true! Although it wasn’t easy… We told our driver in the morning that we really wanted to see either leopards or cheetahs for the day, so he took us all over the park in search of them. We saw tons of other wildlife–elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffalo, impalas, waterbucks, hippos, warthogs, crocodiles, and various birds–but no cats. As the day wore on into the afternoon, when animals lie low because of the heat, we nearly gave up hope. But then, turning down one last little-traveled road in the park (past the time we should have been headed back to our lodge for the evening), we saw one! The driver had to quickly turn around so we could glimpse the leopard crossing the road before wandering off into the bush. We only saw it for a few minutes, but it was amazing. Especially since we’d already seen the other four of the big five (elephants, rhinos, lions, leopards, and buffalo), and this was our last chance of the trip to complete our checklist!
20. Participate in a Zulu song and dance show
At our resort in Hazyview just outside of Kruger National Park, we got to enjoy some Zulu songs and dances performed by a local teenage dance troupe. They even pulled us on-stage to join in the fun at the end. It was nice to learn a bit more about Zulu culture before leaving the Kruger area!
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
Our tour started and ended in Johannesburg, and I added a day on each side so we could explore what that area has to offer. Johannesburg has a not-completely-unwarranted reputation for being a dangerous city for tourists, so be sure to take precautions if you’re going out on your own! Our touring both days that we went out was done with a guide booked through the hotel, and we didn’t have any issues at all.
21. Watch cheetahs run at full speed & get up close to African wild dogs
On our last day in Joburg, a guide who also works at Airport Game Lodge where we stayed took us out to visit a couple of places before flying out. High on my priority list was the Ann Van Dyk Cheetah Centre. We weren’t lucky enough to see cheetahs or African wild dogs on any of our game drives, but this center has breeding programs for both endangered species, and takes you on a game drive through enclosures for cheetahs and African wild dogs. It was incredible to see these animals up close–and especially to watch two cheetahs run at full speed! We also got to see hyenas, vultures, caracals, and servals at the center. They also have several king cheetahs, a genetic variation that leads to larger spots (and very cool looking cheetahs!)
22. Visit the Apartheid Museum and Soweto
On our first full day in Johannesburg, we set out on a tour of the Apartheid Museum and Soweto (“southwest township”). The Apartheid Museum was perfectly curated, and we learned so much about South Africa’s history. Though we only spent two hours there, we could’ve easily spent all day walking through the sculptures in the outdoor area, watching all the video content, and checking out exhibitions on the rise and fall of Apartheid. Afterward, we visited a few sites in Soweto, like Nelson Mandela’s house, the Hector Peterson Memorial, and a couple of coal stacks that have been converted into a bungee jump platform. Finally, we visited one of the informal settlements on the outskirts of Joburg, where an 18-year-old guide showed us how that community lives. The whole day was very moving and eye-opening!
23. Check out the Cradle of Humankind
After checking out the Ann Van Dyk Cheetah Centre, we had our guide take us to the Cradle of Humankind, an area deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of all the early hominid remains discovered in the area. Unfortunately the Sterkfontein Caves were closed due to flooding, but we were still able to check out the museum and learn more about the paleo-anthropological finds of this region.
24. Hand-feed giraffes
This one was definitely an unexpected bonus! Between the cheetah center and the Cradle of Humankind, we decided to stop for lunch. We found ourselves at Neck & Deck Cafe on the Bothongo Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve. The food was excellent, and I was able to order giraffe food as well, and experience their extremely long, slimy tongues!
EVEN MORE SOUTHERN AFRICA ACTIVITIES
I tried to hit the major tourist regions of our trip in this post, but since we were overlanding, there were a lot of great stops in between the major landmarks, cities, and national parks as well! I wanted to share a few here.
25. Spot endangered white rhinos at Khama Rhino Sanctuary
Our first game drive and our first sightings of rhinos, giraffes, and various types of antelope happened at Khama Rhino Sanctuary in Botswana. It was amazing to see so many rhinos in one place, and especially to photograph them at sunset! We camped there for the evening as well, and got to try out our tents for the first time.
26. Swim in the perfect mineral spring-fed pools at Tshipise
Between Matobo National Park and Kruger National Park, we stopped at Tshipise, a site known for its hot mineral springs. They also have different pools fed by those springs at various temperatures, and the water in the “medium” pool felt perfect–perhaps because of the balance of minerals in the water? There was also a cold pool (think regular swimming pool temperature), a kids pool, and two “rheumatic” hot pools that I couldn’t get into for more than a few seconds!
27. Sip delicious Amarula
Made from the marula fruit beloved by elephants, we also learned to love Amarula liqueur while in Africa! We tried a few different flavors, but the most memorable recipe was probably the springbok shot–half Amarula, half creme de menthe. It was pretty delicious!
28. Sleep under towering, ancient baobab trees
Between the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park, we camped at a place called Planet Baobab, where we were able to camp, eat, and swim under enormous baobab trees! They said the average age of the baobab trees on site was over 4000 years old, so that felt pretty incredible.
29. Order way too much chicken at Nando’s
Nando’s is an iconic South African chicken fast casual chain that you need to try while touring Southern Africa. Since many of our meals were cooked around a fire or ordered from a lodge restaurant, we didn’t realize quite how cheap the food at Nando’s would be, an ending up ordering this enormous platter of food! It was delicious, but definitely more than we needed for what should have been a light lunch on the road. 🙂
30. Meet incredible people!
We met fantastic people on the trip, whether it was our G Adventures CEOs, our fellow travelers, or our various guides for all the different game drives, cruises, and excursions we participated in. People were really friendly and wanting to help tourism recover from the blow that was Covid-19, so that really helped as well.
I hope this guide gave you some ideas for fun things to do in South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. As you can see, we had an incredible trip where we saw so much wildlife and beautiful landscapes, experienced the local culture, and met great people. We may already be planning our next trip to the region–our guides did say Namibia was their favorite place to go in Africa…
If you have any questions or suggestions for even more great Southern Africa highlights, please share in the comments below!