2025
Botswana & Zimbabwe Tour – Day 1
White Haven Campsite | ±420 km from Middelburg to the Stockpoort Border.
The engines roared, spirits soared, and the open road called! After a full day’s travel (±420 km), we pulled into our first stop – White Haven Campsite near Lephalale.
Nestled in the bushveld under starry skies, this peaceful escape was the perfect launchpad before crossing into Botswana.
Calm, quiet, and pure adventure vibes.
Every adventure starts with that first stop… White Haven, you’ve given us the calm before the wild!
Botswana & Zimbabwe Tour – Day 2
Woodlands Stop Over and Lodge, Francistown (±430 km from White Haven)
From the Stockpoort Border we crossed into Botswana, where the roads stretched wide and endless, guiding us north through the heart of the bushveld.
After ±430 km of travel, we reached our haven for the night – Woodlands Stop Over & Lodge in Francistown.
Known as one of the most beloved overlander stopovers, Woodlands offers everything the road-weary traveler craves: peaceful chalets, shady campsites, and the soft chorus of Botswana’s bush all around.
Francistown gave us rest, Woodlands gave us peace – a true overlander’s haven on the road north!
Botswana & Zimbabwe Tour – Day 3
Antelope Park Gweru (±520 km via Plumtree Border)
Another border day in the books! After a long ±520 km stretch of tar and dust, we crossed from Botswana into Zimbabwe through Plumtree and made our way to Antelope Park – a true gem near Gweru.
Antelope Park is where wide open spaces meet raw Zimbabwean wilderness. Known for its conservation work, incredible wildlife encounters, and a campsite that lets the bush come alive right at your doorstep – it’s the perfect welcome to Zim!
From border stamps to wild camps – Antelope Park was our first true taste of Zimbabwe’s raw heart.
Botswana & Zimbabwe Tour – Day 4
After a long stretch northbound on Zimbabwe’s tar roads, our convoy rolled into Karoi for the night. The destination: Spring Restaurant & Lodge – a welcoming roadside stop where weary travelers can find exactly what they need before heading deeper into the wild.
Karoi is a bustling little town on the main Harare–Chirundu highway, often serving as a gateway for overlanders en route to Mana Pools.
Spring Lodge offers comfort without complication and a safe place to reset before the adventure intensifies.
After ±410 km of travel, this stop was less about the sights and more about the pause:
Refueling tanks & tummies
Stretching legs after hours of tar road cruising
Recharging before the raw wilderness of Mana Pools
Botswana & Zimbabwe Tour – Day 5
After days of tarred highways, the adventure truly shifted on Day 5. We left Karoi behind, rolled north for ±220 km, and the smooth roads gave way to gravel, dust, and raw wilderness.
Along the way, we paused at the shores of Lake Kariba – a shimmering inland sea framed by distant hills. The calm waters offered a brief moment of reflection before the journey pulled us deeper into wild country.
By late afternoon, we reached Chitake Baobab Campsite in Mana Pools National Park. Towering baobabs stood like ancient guardians, casting long shadows across the dust. As night fell, the soundtrack shifted — hyenas calling in the distance, the crackle of our campfire, and the reminder that here, we are guests in Africa’s untamed kingdom.
Sleeping under giants – Chitake Baobab reminded us how small we really are in Africa’s wild kingdom.
Botswana & Zimbabwe Tour – Day 6
Just more or less 15 km down the rugged track, yet it feels like stepping into another world. At Chitake 1, the bush comes alive around the dry riverbed, where every footprint tells a story. Herds of elephants wander through camp, lions prowl unseen until you catch their golden eyes at dusk.
This isn’t just camping — it’s immersion into raw Africa. No fences, no frills, just the heartbeat of the wild pulsing around you. Nights here are filled with echoing calls, rustling grass, and the thrill of knowing you’re truly a guest in nature’s untamed kingdom.
Here, you don’t visit the wild – the wild visits you. Chitake 1 is not for the faint-hearted.
Botswana & Zimbabwe Tour – Day 7-10
After days of moving deeper into the bush, we finally reached paradise — Nyamepi Campsite, our longest stay of the journey. Just ±65 km from Chitake 1, the landscape opened up to the mighty Zambezi River, where the real magic of Mana Pools unfolds.
For four unforgettable nights, we woke to hippos grunting in the shallows, elephants casually strolling through camp, and lions roaring in the distance under star-drenched skies. Each sunset painted the river in gold and crimson, while mornings buzzed with the calls of fish eagles.
Nyamepi isn’t just a campsite — it’s an iconic overlanding base where Africa’s raw beauty surrounds you from every angle. From lions and wild dogs to elephants, crocs, and hippos — this is where you feel the wild at its purest.
Mana magic Four nights of sunsets, lion roars, and hippos on the riverbank – Nyamepi, you’ll never be forgotten.
Botswana & Zimbabwe Tour – Day 11
After days of raw wilderness and thrilling encounters along the Zambezi, we turned our noses south again – a solid ±420 km journey that brought us to a whole new vibe.
Evergreen Campsite welcomed us with lush gardens, cooler weather, and a peaceful pause from the wild intensity of Mana Pools. The soft lawns and shaded corners felt like a gentle reset after the dust and adrenaline of the bush.
Just a short drive away lies the famous Chinhoyi Caves, a natural wonder steeped in history and crystal-clear blue waters that seem almost otherworldly.
After roaring lions, echoing hyenas, and untamed nights, Evergreen was exactly what its name promised – a fresh, green breath of life.
“From roaring lions to quiet gardens – Evergreen was the breath of fresh air we needed.”
Botswana & Zimbabwe Tour – Day 12
After covering ±520 km south from Chinhoyi, we reached the final leg of our Zimbabwe adventure – the stunning Phomolo Safari Lodge near Figtree. This stop wrapped up our journey and one last golden African sunset to close the chapter.
But before resting our heads, we made a must-visit detour to Matobo National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its dramatic granite landscapes, incredible rock art, and rich wildlife. From rhino tracking to sweeping safari views, Matobo was the perfect way to end our Zimbabwe experience on a high note.
Every story has an ending – ours finished with sunsets, safari skies, and memories to last a lifetime. Thank you, Zimbabwe!