Okavango Delta safari, Meno a Kwena, Victoria Falls Zambia
Botswana Flying Safari
This Botswana and Zambia flying safari spends eight nights in three genuinely different landscapes — the flooded channels of the Okavango Delta, the dry escarpment above the Boteti River, and the banks of the Zambezi within reach of Victoria Falls. One camp is accessible only by helicopter. None of them are places you pass through on your way to somewhere else. From £7,899 per person, October 2026.
Quick facts
| Duration | 8 nights |
|---|---|
| Route | Okavango Delta (3) → Makgadikgadi (3) → Livingstone, Zambia (2) |
| From price | £7,899 per person |
| Board basis | Fully inclusive throughout |
| Flights | British Airways from London Heathrow; helicopter and ProFlight internally |
| Travel period | 1–31 October 2026 |
| Book by | 15 September 2026 |
| Protection | ATOL protected; operated by Somak Travel Ltd |
| Quote reference | 82129 |
Why this Botswana and Zambia flying safari works
Most southern Africa itineraries move between camps that feel broadly similar: same vehicle, same sundowner, different backdrop. This one is built on contrast. Water, then desert edge, then a great river — three ecosystems in eight nights, with short flights rather than long road days between them.
It also trades polish for space. Mokolwane has seven tents in a 180,000-hectare concession with no neighbouring camps. Meno a Kwena has ten. Waterberry has seven rooms. If your idea of luxury is a marble bathroom and a spa menu, this is not your trip. If it is waking up with no other vehicle within thirty miles, it is.
- Seclusion over scale. Twenty-four tents and rooms across the whole itinerary.
- Helicopter access. The transfer into the Delta is part of the experience, not an inconvenience.
- Real pacing. Three, three and two nights — enough to settle in at each stop.
- Cultural depth. A guided walk with members of the Ju|’hoansi San community.
- A proper finish. Victoria Falls, without staying in the middle of Livingstone.
Okavango Delta — three nights at Mokolwane Camp
Mokolwane sits among a scattering of mokolwane palms in the Xudum Concession, in an area with one of the highest recorded leopard densities anywhere in Africa. Open floodplains, palm islands and seasonal channels pull in large herds of elephant and buffalo, with lion and wild dog working the same ground.
Seven canvas tents make up the camp, deliberately unshowy against the surroundings. Days are given to game drives, with seasonal mokoro and boating when water levels allow. Evenings are quiet in a way that is difficult to find elsewhere. Access is by private helicopter from Maun.
Three nights, luxury tent, fully inclusive.
What you’ll do here
- Game drives in leopard country, with elephant, buffalo, lion and wild dog
- Mokoro excursions through the channels and sandbanks (seasonal)
- Night drives for nocturnal species
- Birdwatching across a genuinely pristine wetland
Makgadikgadi — three nights at Meno a Kwena
Meno a Kwena stands on a rocky clifftop above the Boteti River, on the edge of Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. The game viewing starts before you leave your tent: elephants file down to drink below, antelope follow, predators keep a respectful distance without going far.
Ten tents are strung along the escarpment, each one effectively a private box seat over the riverbed. From here you can join members of the Ju|’hoansi San community from Xai Xai village, on the Botswana–Namibia border in the Kalahari, for a guided walk through a hunter-gatherer way of life shaped by thousands of years alongside this wildlife.
Three nights, luxury tent, fully inclusive.
What you’ll do here
- Game drives inside Makgadikgadi Pans National Park
- Time on the Boteti riverbank among elephant and antelope
- The floating hide, for river-level wildlife viewing (water levels permitting)
- Boating (water levels permitting)
- Visits to local Batswana communities, on request
Livingstone, Zambia — two nights at Waterberry Zambezi Lodge
Waterberry sits on the banks of the Zambezi, close enough to Victoria Falls and Livingstone for an easy visit but far enough out to escape the helicopters, microlights and general noise of the town. Seven rooms, informal in tone, and the sort of place people come back to.
Days here are river cruises, island picnics, catch-and-release fishing and birding with guides who know the stretch well. Many guests take the village visit to the nearby community, where Waterberry built and continues to run the school — an uncommercial look at local life rather than a staged one. The KAZA Univisa covers both Zambia and Zimbabwe, so seeing both sides of the Falls is straightforward.
Two nights, lodge room, fully inclusive.
What you’ll do here
- Entrance to view Victoria Falls from the Zambian side
- Boating and sunset cruises on the Zambezi
- Catch-and-release fishing
- Birdwatching and game viewing
- Self-guided bush walks from the lodge
What’s included
- Return international flights with British Airways from London Heathrow
- 23kg baggage allowance per person
- Return private helicopter flights between Maun and Mokolwane Camp
- Scheduled ProFlight direct flights between Maun and Livingstone
- Airport taxes and surcharges (regional supplements may apply)
- Shared road transfers, Maun to Meno a Kwena
- Shared road transfers, Livingstone Airport to Waterberry Zambezi Lodge
- Eight nights’ accommodation, fully inclusive throughout
Not included
- Travel insurance — required, and we’d ask you to arrange it at the point of booking
- Visas and the KAZA Univisa fee
- Botswana’s mandatory $30 USD Tourism Development Levy
- Gratuities, and personal items such as curios and premium spirits
- Optional excursions in Livingstone, including Zimbabwe-side Falls visits
Who this itinerary suits — and who it doesn’t
This suits second- or third-time safari travellers who already know they prefer small camps, and couples or friends travelling as a pair who want quiet over social. October is the height of the dry season in Botswana: game concentrates hard around water, which is exactly why the Boteti and the Delta channels perform so well. It is also hot, frequently into the mid-thirties Celsius by mid-afternoon.
It is less suited to first-time safari travellers who want the reassurance of a larger lodge, families with young children, or anyone with significant mobility limitations — camps are unfenced, walkways are uneven, and the helicopter and light-aircraft legs carry strict luggage restrictions. If any of that applies, we’d rather talk it through before you book than after.
Practical planning
- Luggage. 23kg on the international flights, but soft-sided bags only on the helicopter and ProFlight legs, with lower weight limits. We confirm the exact allowance at booking.
- Entry requirements and health. Check the current position for both countries on GOV.UK foreign travel advice before you travel; requirements change.
- Taxes. Botswana levies a mandatory $30 USD Tourism Development Levy on international visitors. Zambia applies no separate tourist tax, but tourism services carry 16% VAT.
- Financial protection. This holiday is ATOL protected — you can verify any licence at atol.org.uk.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Mokolwane Camp only reachable by helicopter?
The Xudum Concession has no airstrip within practical reach of the camp, and seasonal flooding makes road access unreliable. The helicopter transfer from Maun is included in the price and doubles as an aerial view of the Delta that a road transfer could never give you.
Is October a good time for this trip?
For game viewing, it is among the best months. Surface water has largely gone, so animals concentrate on the Boteti and the Delta’s permanent channels. The trade-off is heat — expect hot afternoons and plan on the traditional early-morning and late-afternoon rhythm.
Can we see both sides of Victoria Falls?
Yes. The itinerary includes Zambian-side entry. The KAZA Univisa covers both Zambia and Zimbabwe, so crossing to the Zimbabwean side is a straightforward day trip we can arrange locally.
Can we depart from a regional UK airport?
The advertised price is based on London Heathrow. Departures from other UK and Irish airports are usually possible and supplements vary by routing and date — ask when you enquire and we’ll price it on the actual connection rather than a flat add-on.
Can the itinerary be changed?
Yes. Nights can be redistributed, camps substituted, and the Livingstone stay extended. Different travel dates are available at different prices — this particular fare is tied to the October 2026 window.
Plan this Botswana and Zambia flying safari
Quote reference 82129. Priced from £7,899 per person for travel between 1 and 31 October 2026, based on two adults sharing and a 6 October departure. Book by 15 September 2026.
Send us an enquiry and one of our Africa specialists will come back to you with live pricing and availability, usually within one working day.
You may also want to read our guides to the best time to visit Botswana (CHECK URL) and planning an Okavango Delta safari (CHECK URL), or browse our full range of Botswana safari holidays (CHECK URL).
Terms and conditions
Prices are fluid and subject to availability. Price based on two adults sharing, based on a departure date of 6 October 2026. Botswana imposes a mandatory $30 USD Tourism Development Levy (TDL) on all international visitors to fund conservation and tourism infrastructure. No single tourist tax applies in Zambia; instead standard taxes apply, and tourism activities, safaris and tourism-related services incur a 16% VAT rate. Prices are correct at time of posting 13/08/2026.
Our reference: SLT888420. Prices are per person unless stated otherwise. Prices are not live and are subject to change at any time. Where applicable, prices include any advertised discounts. Holidays are subject to availability and tour operator/supplier’s booking conditions apply. Offers can be changed or withdrawn without notice. Latest price, availability and operator details will be confirmed at time of enquiry — ask for more information. This holiday is ATOL protected and is operated by Somak Travel Ltd.
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