The journey begins in Johannesburg. Arrival time depends on your flight. KLM arrives in the evening. The other airlines fly overnight and arrive on the morning of the first travel day.

You stay at Sunrock Guest House.

The first drive north takes you to Marakele National Park on the way towards Mapungubwe. This is a good place for the first game drives and for getting used to the 4x4 and camping equipment.

You stay at Bontle Restcamp.

Mapungubwe combines wildlife with history. The area carries real historical weight as the home of the Mapungubwe people. The park lies close to the borders with Zimbabwe and Botswana, near the confluence of the Sashe and Limpopo rivers.

Elephants are regularly seen here. Rhino, lion and leopard are also present. Spend the day on game drives, then return to camp for sunset and a braai.

You stay at Mazhou Campsite.

A second night at Mazhou Campsite. There is no long transfer today.

You have a full day in Mapungubwe National Park for game drives and optional activities such as a walk.

Continue north from Mapungubwe towards Khama Rhino Sanctuary. Depending on your departure time, you arrive during the afternoon.

Rhino are the main draw here. A game drive, or time spent in one of the hides beside a waterhole, gives you a good chance of seeing them.

You stay at Khama Rhino Sanctuary.

Kubu Island in the Makgadikgadi salt pans is today’s destination. The route starts on tarmac and gravel before becoming a more involved 4x4 track across parts of the pans.

After several cattle fences, Kubu Island appears on the horizon. The campsite is simple and close to the island. You can explore on foot and look out across the open pans.

You stay at Kubu Island Campsite.

Today you cross the Ntwetwe Pan. It is one of the 4x4 highlights of the Botswana leg.

After the dusty drive, you reach Planet Baobab in Gweta. The afternoon can be spent exploring Gweta or beside the pool.

A shorter drive takes you to Maun. After six nights of camping, you stay in fixed accommodation here.

Maun is also a practical stop. Stock up on groceries and diesel before the next days in the wildlife reserves.

You stay at Discovery B&B.

After the morning in Maun, continue towards Moremi Game Reserve. Third Bridge, on the edge of the Okavango Delta, is today’s destination.

Once you pass the Buffalo Fence, the drive turns into one long game drive. Lion, hyena, leopard, elephant and antelope all live in this area.

Campsites inside Botswana’s parks are unfenced, so wildlife can move through camp during the day and at night. You stay at Third Bridge Campsite.

The route from Third Bridge to Khwai is a game drive from start to finish. Start early to leave extra time for a game-drive loop along the way.

You reach North Gate and Khwai Campsite during the afternoon. Once camp is set up, there is time to slow down or drive along the Khwai River.

From Moremi, drive north into Chobe National Park. The sandy tracks are where the 4x4 earns its place in the journey.

You reach Savuti Campsite during the afternoon. The area is known for large bull elephants and the Savuti Pride, a lion pride living around the Savuti Marsh. The Savuti Channel runs through this landscape and feeds into the marsh.

There is time for a longer game drive around Savuti later in the day.

A rougher drive on sandy tracks takes you through Chobe to Ihaha on the Chobe River. You can start the day with another game drive before leaving Savuti.

Several antelope species, along with lion, elephant and buffalo, gather along the river.

You stay at Ihaha Campsite.

Kasane on the Chobe River is the next stop. Follow the river east and keep an eye on the waterholes along the way.

You arrive at Chobe Safari Lodge during the day. A sunset cruise on the Chobe River is one of the activities available here.

In the morning, hand the 4x4 back to the rental company. The journey then continues into Zambia.

You reach the lodge in Livingstone around midday, close to Victoria Falls. Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe is an alternative to staying in Livingstone.

You stay at Zambezi Waterfront Lodge.

A second night at Zambezi Waterfront Lodge. The full day is yours.

Stay at the hotel, join an activity such as rafting on the Zambezi, or visit Victoria Falls.

The final day of the journey. During the morning, you are transferred from the hotel to Livingstone Airport for your flight home.