Botswana 9-night special featuring Victoria Falls

Located on a lush palm island in the heart of the Okavango Delta, Shinde is built in a “treehouse style” comprising tented guest suites, lounges, dining areas (indoor and outdoor) and a fire deck all with beautiful views over a permanent lagoon and under the shade of ebony and mangosteen trees.

The tents and main area provide a luxury experience with a touch of historical charm. The décor of the camp offers the best of nature within an authentic safari design – still with an understated, friendly and intimate feel. Elegant, Classic, Opulent ‘Out of Africa’... Shinde offers a ‘worldly’ sophisticated safari experience.

Each tent features a large bedroom, en-suite bathroom with indoor and outdoor shower. There is the choice of either a double or twin bed configuration on comfortable three-quarter, extra length or king-sized beds. Every possible comfort has been catered for – from full solar electricity, standing and ceiling fans through to yoga mats and hair dryers! Families are accommodated in a custom build two-bedroom shared en-suite bathroom family tent sleeping a maximum of five people.

Courtesy of its location Shinde can offer both water and land activities year-round. Motorboats or Mokoro provide a chance to experience the incredible bird, plant and reptile species found in the aquatic habitat of the Okavango Delta. Game drives are conducted by a personal guide in comfortable, specially designed game drive vehicles.

When out on game drives our window seat guarantee ensures no more than four guests per vehicle and individual use of a camera mount. For the more adventurous, guided walks are also available while fishing enthusiasts will enjoy fishing for a variety of species such as tilapia and tiger fish.

The only permanent lodge situated inside Chobe National Park, Chobe Game Lodge is a luxury, five-star eco lodge that is highly acclaimed for its eco sustainability credentials. It offers 44 air-conditioned rooms, all of which are river-facing with their own private terraces. There are also four river-view suites with their own plunge pools and lounge areas.

Decorated to an exceptional standard of luxury throughout, the décor at Chobe Game Lodge is a fusion of African tribal design with wonderful Arabian influences. The main areas are designed to encourage total relaxation and pampering, with six viewing decks, a riverside boma, two bars, six different lounges and four dining venues. There is also a wonderful boardwalk along the river bank.

This gives you a smorgasbord of choices about where to lay back, unwind and take in the incredible views in between activities. Add to this a large swimming pool and impeccable waiter service! The game-viewing activities are outstanding at Chobe Game Lodge. With either water or land-based safaris on offer, the choice is yours on how to split your time between the magnificent river and this legendary national park.

Early morning and late afternoon drives are on offer, as is riverside game viewing in small and highly manoeuvrable boats, making this a popular cruise option. The lodge's game viewing boats are solar powered to boot!

Chobe is legendary for its huge herds of elephants and buffalo. Indeed, it is home to the largest concentration of elephants in Africa and during the dry season especially these herds are easily found on the wide, fertile floodplains along the river, as well as on islands. This is where you will often see elephants in the water, bathing and playing.

Lion, painted wolves (African wild dogs), puku, red lechwe, sable, giraffe and roan antelope are also regularly seen. And if you are lucky you may even spot an elusive leopard prowling the rich, riverine forests. The river itself is full of life, from hippo and crocodiles to a rich variety of birdlife, from the beautiful African fish eagle to the yellow-billed stork.

Located in the north of Botswana not far from Shakawe and the border with Namibia, Xaro Lodge is nestled in a grove of giant mangosteen trees on an island in the Okavango River and is accessible only by boat.

This intimate 24-bed lodge's luxurious Meru-style safari tents, each with en-suite bathroom facilities and private decks looking out over the river, are designed to immerse guests in this tropical paradise surrounded by water.

The tents are raised on wooden platforms and have large, sliding glass doors allowing for uninterupted views from the comfort of the bed! Sunrises are spectacular here!

Xaro's communal lounge and dining areas offer a comprehensive library and plenty of space for relaxing with a pair of binoculars and updating your tick list!

Meals are hearty and home-cooked with love and served either in the dining area or outside, under the stars.

This is a birding and photography destination of note, with mostly water-based activities on offer, taking in the unique rivering forests and floodplains where more than 300 species of bird can be seen.

Land-based activities include guided bush walks and day trips to Tsodilo Hills, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its ancient San rock art. Cultural visits to a local village can also be organised.

On the doorstep of the Victoria Falls lies the Ilala lodge. From here you visit the falls and explore the bustling town of Victoria Falls.

Your time at Victoria Falls will be packed with activities ranging from a helicopter flight over the falls to a relaxing sundowner cruise on the mighty Zambezi River.

The more adventures can go White water rafting or why not do a bridge swing from the bridge over the Zambezi River?

Guests can choose rooms in the Deluxe Wing, the Garden Wing or the Pool Wing. The Deluxe Wing and the Pool Wing boast splendid views of the mesmerizing spray from Victoria Falls as well as the spectacular gardens that Ilala Lodge Hotel is famous for. The Garden Wing gives guests access to the lush and flourishing lawns where the animals visit.

The teak furnishings in all the rooms are made from local Zimbabwean railway sleepers, enhancing the African ambience and laid-back atmosphere of the hotel. All the rooms in the hotel have high-quality cotton linens and luxurious pillows for ultimate comfort.