Arrive in Kasane, Botswana. After the 4x4 handover, drive to camp for the first night of this self drive.

If arrival time allows, take a sunset cruise on the Chobe River. You can also save that activity for your return to Kasane. You stay at Senyati Safari Campsite.

Cross the border into Zimbabwe today. You reach Victoria Falls around midday.

You camp at Victoria Falls Backpackers. The two nights in Victoria Falls can be upgraded to a lodge. At Victoria Falls Backpackers, a safari tent is another possible upgrade.

A full day in Victoria Falls. Visit the falls and choose from several possible activities.

A scenic flight, rafting on the Zambezi, mountain biking and walking are all on offer. You can also keep the day quiet and use the time to settle into the journey.

You stay a second night at Victoria Falls Backpackers.

After Victoria Falls, continue to Hwange National Park, the largest wildlife park in Zimbabwe.

Silwane Camp is small and unfenced, so animals can move freely through camp. It lies close to the Main Camp entrance gate.

You stay at Silwane Campsite.

Today you drive from Silwane to Kapula South Camp in the middle of Hwange National Park.

The whole journey is a game drive. Stop at different waterholes and use the hides to watch animals coming in to drink.

Reach Kapula South Camp later in the day. Towards evening, watch the light fade from the safari tent or head out for one more short game drive.

Your third day in Hwange can start slowly or before sunrise. Take an early game drive and return for brunch, or sleep a little longer.

Then continue from Kapula to Robins Camp in the eastern part of the national park. Wildlife may appear anywhere along the route. Detema Dam makes a good picnic stop, and Mandavu Dam is also worth including.

Towards the end of the day, another game drive around Robins Camp is possible. You stay at the Robins Camp campsite.

After Hwange, cross the border at Pandamatenga and return to Botswana.

There is still time in the morning for a game drive near Robins Camp. Then continue to Elephant Sands Campsite near Nata.

From Elephant Sands, head south towards Nata and the edge of the Makgadikgadi salt pans.

A dusty drive over bush tracks takes you to Kubu Island. The rocky island rises from the pans and is dotted with baobabs.

The campsite is simple and close to the island. Explore Kubu Island on foot and look out across the open flats as the sun drops over the pans.

There is still time early in the morning to explore Kubu Island.

Then drive part of the route back north towards one of the cattle fences. From there, cross the Ntwetwe Pan towards Gweta and continue to Khumaga. Around midday, Gweta is a useful stop for lunch.

When the pans are wet, there is an alternative route. In that case, travel south from Kubu Island and take the Orapa-Motopi road towards Khumaga.

From Khumaga, you can drive directly to Maun on tarmac.

Another option is to add an extra game drive through Makgadikgadi Pans National Park before continuing.

In Maun, you stay at Discovery B&B.

Use the morning in Maun to buy supplies and fill up with diesel for the days in the wildlife areas.

Then continue to Moremi Game Reserve and Third Bridge Camp on the edge of the Okavango Delta. From here, the day revolves around game drives and wildlife.

Your chances of seeing lion, hyena and leopard are good. Elephants and several antelope species are also common.

Campsites inside Botswana’s parks are unfenced, so wildlife can move through camp by day and night.

After a morning game drive, continue through Moremi Game Reserve towards Khwai at North Gate.

The transfer itself remains part of the safari. Lion and leopard occur in this area.

Reach North Gate and Khwai Campsite in the afternoon. Once camp is set up, slow down for a while or take an evening game drive along the Khwai River.

The 4x4 track from Khwai to Savuti is a long game drive. Leaving early gives you time for one more loop around North Gate before continuing into Chobe National Park.

Reach Savuti Campsite in the afternoon. This part of Chobe is known for bull elephants and the Savuti Pride, the lion group around Savuti Marsh.

The Savuti Channel crosses the area and runs into the marsh. The channel remained dry for decades before water returned several years ago.

There is still time for an extended game drive in the late afternoon.

After Savuti, continue north through Chobe National Park.

The sandy tracks give the 4x4 another proper role. Reach Ihaha on the Chobe River in the afternoon.

Once camp is set up, there is still time for a game drive. You stay at Ihaha Campsite.

Drive to Chobe Safari Lodge in Kasane.

Along the route, you may see antelope and possibly predators such as lion or wild dog. Leave Ihaha in the morning and you can reach Kasane by early afternoon.

There is still time for another drive in Chobe National Park. This final night can also be upgraded to a lodge instead of camping.

The final day of the journey. After returning the 4x4, continue to your next destination or travel home.

This self drive can also be travelled in the opposite direction, finishing with a lodge stay near Victoria Falls. In that case, you can fly home from Victoria Falls International Airport.