15-Day Namibia to Victoria Falls Elep...

>> Meet your safari leader at 8:00 am for a departure briefing. We'll then drive through the rolling hills south of Windhoek and drop down the escarpment onto the desert plains to stop at Solitaire for the world’s best apple tart (own expense). This afternoon, we'll travel to our lodge and enjoy the vast open spaces of the Namib Desert.

On the next day, we'll visit the Namib Nauklauft National Park to witness the amazing landscapes of Sossusvlei and Deadvlei. The vleis are clay pans formed by the occasional flooding of the Tsauchab River. Sossusvlei is dotted with ancient Camel Thorn trees (Acacia erioloba) while the trees on Deadvlei are lifeless and stark against the surrounding tall orange sand dunes

• Time: 8-10Hrs
• Meals: Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included) Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

•  Accommodation: The Elegant Desert Lodge Mid-range lodge less than 1hr drive from Namib-Naukluft NP (Namib Desert, Namibia)

>> Swakopmund lies on the Atlantic coast, and the relatively cool sea breezes will be a welcome change from the hot desert days. The town lies at the mouth of the Swakop River which flows infrequently but forms the northern boundary of the relentlessly northward migrating sand dunes. Optional scenic flights from Swakopmund offer spectacular desert landscapes as they fly along the Skeleton Coast (at your own expense).

• Time: 8-10Hrs
• Meals: All meals included Drinks not included

•  Accommodation: Hotel Pension A la Mer Mid-range hotelin Swakopmund (City, Namibia)

>> We'll head inland to the Tsiseb Conservancy and the Brandberg, a mountainous granite outcrop. Standing at over 2,600m, it towers above the surrounding plains and is visible from a great distance. The Tsisab Ravine at the foot of the mountain contains more than 1000 rock shelters and some 45,000 rock paintings including the famous “White Lady”, which is a short 40-minute walk up the ancient watercourse.

Our lodge, situated in the dry Ugab River valley, is ideally situated to explore the area in search of rare desert elephants. We’ll join a local guide on a 4WD excursion. Being far-ranging and elusive, a sighting of the elephants cannot be guaranteed, but with the knowledge of our local guide, the day will be fascinating.

• Time: 8-10Hrs
• Meals: All meals included Drinks not included

•  Accommodation: Brandberg White Lady Lodge Mid-range lodge bordering Damaraland (Namibia) without fences

>> The salt pan in Etosha is the remnants of a large lake that dried up thousands of years ago. This “Great White Place” is 120km wide and forms the central attraction in the national park. Natural springs and waterholes around the edges provide life-giving water that sustains the wildlife in this otherwise arid area.

Elephants coated in the white salt dust from the pan make for extraordinary photos. Our camp is located on the edge of a floodlit waterhole allowing us to get a glimpse of the nocturnal animals that come to drink, including the rare black rhino, lion and possibly leopard. We'll enjoy the evening sitting at the waterhole in anticipation.

• Time: 8-10Hrs
• Meals: All meals included Drinks not included

•  Accommodation: Namutoni Resort Mid-range lodge located inside Etosha NP (Namibia)

>> After an early breakfast, we'll leave the camp and spend most of today in the Etosha National Park looking for the big game before moving to our overnight lodge in the Grootfontein district. En route, we’ll stop at the Hoba meteorite. At over 60 tons, it is the largest known meteorite on Earth.

• Time: 8-10Hrs
• Meals: All meals included Drinks not included

•  Accommodation: Roy's Rest Camp Budget lodgeless than 1hr drive from Grootfontein (Town, Namibia)

>> Driving northeast, we'll enter the Kavango Region (Caprivi strip). Our lodge is situated on the banks of the Kavango River, which flows from Angola, across the Caprivi and feeds the Okavango Delta. There are excellent bird-watching opportunities. Enjoy the swimming pool, bar and restaurant.

• Time: 8-10Hrs
• Meals: All meals included Drinks not included

•  Accommodation: Nunda River Lodge Mid-range lodge located inside Zambezi Region (Namibia)

>> We'll explore the Mahango Game Reserve on a morning game drive in our tour vehicle before we cross into Botswana at the Mohembo border and head south to our lodge at Guma Lagoon on the Okavango Panhandle. From our rustic lodge, we’ll explore the Okavango by mokoro and motor boat. Enjoy tranquil reed-lined rivers, crystal clear water and abundant bird life. Time to rest, relax and enjoy the views of the Okavango Delta.

• Time: 8-10Hrs
• Meals: All meals included Drinks not included

•  Accommodation: Guma Lagoon Camp Mid-range tented camp located inside Okavango Panhandle (Botswana)

>> We'll cross back into Namibia and cross part of the Caprivi Strip. A narrow piece of land was annexed to the German South West African colony in 1890, allowing access to the mighty Zambezi River and a trade route to the East coast of Africa and then to German Tanganyika (now Tanzania). We'll enjoy an afternoon boat cruise exploring the game-rich area.

• Time: 8-10Hrs
• Meals: All meals included Drinks not included

•  Accommodation: Camp Kwando Mid-range tented camp located inside Zambezi Region (Namibia)

>> Heading east, we'll cross the Caprivi entering Botswana at the Ngoma Border and driving across the Chobe National Park to the small town of Kasane. The Chobe River attracts an abundance of wildlife. Our afternoon activity is an incredible experience on the Chobe River where we'll head out by boat into the park and get close to the elephants as they quench their thirst. We'll leave the park as the golden sun slips below the horizon.

• Time: 8-10Hrs
• Meals: All meals included Drinks not included

•  Accommodation: Chobe Safari Lodge (Botswana) Mid-range lodge located just outside Chobe NP (Botswana)

>> The Zambezi River rises in Zambia before flowing through Angola and along the border of Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe, before plunging 100 metres over the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls. The spray billowing up from the gorge creates a lush rainforest that surrounds the falls. With our local guides, we'll explore the national park where we walk to the very edge of the falls and marvel at the power of the water that created this wonder.

• Time: 8-10Hrs
• Meals: All meals included Drinks not included

•  Accommodation: PheZulu Guest Lodge Mid-range guest house located at Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)

>> Prepare for depature time

• Time: 8-10Hrs
• Meals: Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included) Drinks not included

•  Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour)