A Safari Sandwich in Southern Africa | A Quiet Travel Documentary

This is a first-time safari “mello-mentary” — a calming documentary. A Safari Sandwich in Southern Africa follows our journey through South Africa and Botswana, blending two very different safari styles — guided luxury at the head and tail of the trip, with a self-drive, DIY experiment in between. From the riverside comfort of Leopard Sands in Kruger, through four independent days at Satara, and on to the remote waterways of the Okavango Delta at Xugana and Xakanaxa, this film captures a first-time introduction to the wildlife and landscapes of the southern African bush.

Along the way we experienced unforgettable game drives, rare wildlife encounters, quiet days of independence, and the contrast that makes the “Safari Sandwich” so rewarding. This was our first dip into Southern Africa, and it proved to be a successful and deeply satisfying experiment — not too tame, not too wild.

The Desert and Delta Safari company are the operators of the Xugana island lodge and Xakanaxa camp. They were great! In no way is this a sponsored video.

We’d love to hear from you:
Have you done a guided safari, a self-drive safari, or both? If you have questions about the DIY versus guided experience, or are planning a similar trip, feel free to leave a comment — we’re happy to share what we learned.

Music Credits

"Shumba" — Ninetoes, Thomas Mapfumo
"Whispering Stars" — Pacific Moon / Zen Garden
"Up Lift", "Youngest Sister", "Slowness" — Sheldon King (Still Dawn)
"Welcome" — Jon Hopkins (Music for Psychedelic Therapy)
"Sedona" — Erik Wøllo

0:00 Arrive and Drive to Leopard Sands
2:02 Kruger Game Drives
7:36 To Satara Rest Camp & Chill
11:20 Satara Sunrise — Cats & Game Drive
12:35 Bush Plane to Okavango Delta — Xugana Camp
16:02 Xugana — Boat to Palm Island & Wildlife Hike
23:04 Xakanaxa — Lion, Moremi Game Drive
26:29 Xakanaxa Moremi — Full Leopard Sighting
30:59 Xakanaxa — Maunachira River by Boat
33:32 Bonus Feature — Mosi-oa-Tunya (Victoria Falls)

Filmed on location in South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
All footage and narration © 2025 Roy Williams.

Disclaimer:
This film is a personal travel documentary intended for educational and non-commercial purposes. All wildlife was filmed ethically and in accordance with local park regulations. No animals were disturbed or intentionally approached for the purposes of filming. The filmmakers do not encourage untrained or inexperienced travelers to undertake solo overland travel without proper preparation, local knowledge, and safety precautions. Always follow the guidance of park authorities and professional guides when traveling in wildlife areas.