Victoria Falls, Safari Days & Giant Dunes

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart for an exciting day of 4x4 game viewing, and observe majestic elephants, buffalos, lions, hyenas, and even African wild dogs. The Chobe is truly a paradise for nature lovers: Spot native birds from herons to fish eagles. 

While in the safari park, take a few moments to unwind–perhaps with a dip in the pool or some time on the stunning viewing deck with a drink or a good book. Dinner and overnight stay in Kasane.

Breakfast at the hotel. Take in the scenery from the deck one last time before heading south towards the renowned Makgadikgadi Salt Pans in Botswana’s dry savannah. 

Arrive at the lodge. After settling in a bit, take off for an afternoon excursion to see the salt flats, a uniquely barren landscape that paradoxically supports a complex ecosystem during the rainy season. Dinner and overnight stay in Nata.

Breakfast at the hotel. Prepare for another travel day and head west towards Maun, our base for exploring the Okavango Delta. Get settled in the village and get to know your surroundings. Take your time to explore the lodge and rest in the midst of calm natural beauty. Overnight stay in Maun.

Breakfast at the hotel. Get an early start for a full-day excursion through the waterways of the Okavango Delta on traditional mokoro boats. Glide swiftly through the water and get an up-close view of this untouched landscape and the diverse creatures who inhabit it. Enjoy a delicious packed picnic lunch included as part of this activity. Overnight stay in Maun.

Note: Children of all ages are welcome to this activity, but they must be under constant adult supervision.

Breakfast at the lodge. Today, head to Ghanzi to spend a night in the heart of the Kalahari Desert.

Spend the afternoon learning the skills necessary to survive in this harsh but majestic landscape from the local San people, who have honed fascinating survival techniques over generations. Continue bonding over fire, dance, and song in the evening, observing ritual ceremonies performed by both men and women. Overnight stay in Ghanzi, Kalahari desert area.

Breakfast at the lodge. Head west and cross the border into our final country of the tour: Namibia. Continue until we reach the capital: Windhoek, the economic and cultural center of the country with notable influence from the Nama and Herero tribes as well as Afrikaner and German settlers.

Check in to the hotel and use the rest of the day as you like to relax or explore the city on your own. Overnight stay in Windhoek.

Breakfast at the hotel. Escape the bustling city and head back towards the famous Etosha National Park, one of the largest on the African continent and the first ever in Namibia, dating back to 1907. If time allows, enjoy a visit at the local wood carvers market in Okahandja to stock up on souvenirs that will last you a lifetime. Set up camp at our lodge just outside the park, take the rest of the afternoon at your leisure, perhaps with a dip in the pool or some time on the stunning viewing deck with a drink or a good book. Overnight stay in Etosha.

Breakfast at the lodge. Prepare for a full day of safari adventures within the park, guided with an open 4x4 truck. The area is home to hundreds of species of mammals, birds and reptiles, even several threatened and endangered species such as the famed black rhinoceros. Spend the day learning about this amazing natural ecosystem and observing the majestic creatures who inhabit it. Overnight stay in Etosha.

After breakfast, set off for a visit to Omapaha, a Himba village. This indigenous community is one of the last nomadic tribes left in Namibia, known for their distinctive traditional clothing and hairstyles. Broaden your perspective as you understand more about this unique culture.

Continue west towards the coastal city of Swakopmund. This beach resort characterized by charming colonial architecture is known as “Namibia’s Playground.” Arrive in the afternoon and take the evening to enjoy dinner at your leisure – your guide can happily recommend a restaurant nearby in town. Overnight stay in Swakopmund.

Note: For the visit to the Himba Village, a mandatory fee of NAD 450.00 in cash must be paid at the destination.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today is a free day to spend as you wish in Swakopmund, whether you prefer relaxing by the water, exploring the old town, or going on more optional adventures outside the city limits. In the morning, check out an optional cruise* through Walvis Bay with drinks and food included. After lunch (at your own expense), you have the option of doing a 4x4 excursion** in the Namib Desert. Overnight stay in Swakopmund.

*Optional Walvis Bay cruise: Take a leisurely cruise along the coast, enjoying fresh oysters and champagne as you observe the aquatic ecosystem replete with dolphins and sea turtles.

**Optional Sandwich Harbor 4x4 Excursion: Set off on an adventure through the Namib Desert, traversing sky-high sand dunes that have impressive views over the vast blue ocean beyond.

Note: Guests are able to participate in both optional activities, as they take place at different times.

Enjoy your final breakfast in Swakopmund before we drive off once again towards Solitaire, one of the most isolated settlements in the world and the only available stopping point on this long journey. On the way, stop at the Tropic of Capricorn as marked by colorful road signs.

Pass through the stunning Kuiseb and Gaub passes, with extraordinary views of the canyons below that occasionally flow with running water. Overnight stay in Sossuvlei. 

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, embark on an early adventure where you will truly familiarise yourself with the magnificence of Namibia. Start by exploring the Namib Naukluft National Park at sunrise to watch the first rays of light colour the mountains in beautiful apricot, red and orange hues—the perfect opportunity to immortalise this moment on film. Next, make your way to captivating Deadvlei, home to some of the highest dunes on Earth and Sossusvlei, where the dry Tsauchab River ends abruptly amongst dunes. Take this opportunity to walk up one of these majestic dunes to admire the desert landscape beneath. Finally, you will visit the Sesriem Canyon, a life sustaining natural phenomenon in the heart of the Namib Desert. Overnight stay in Sossuvlei.

Note: This activity is done in the morning (before sunrise) in order to avoid extreme heat. There are no set pick up times as these vary according to sunrise. At your lodge, please consult your guide the day before to confirm the pick up for this activity. This activity is not suitable for persons with reduced mobility due to the nature of the excursions and the terrain.

Enjoy one last breakfast in Solitaire and depart for Windhoek, passing through either the Remhoogte Pass or the Spreetshoogte Pass depending on weather and road conditions. Both offer incredible views of the valleys below.

Arrive around midday and take advantage of your final full day in Africa with a city tour, visiting the Schwerinsburg Castle and the historic Christ Church. Continue to The Ink Palace (Tintenpalast), currently the seat of the National Assembly and Parliament Gardens, containing Namibia’s first post-independence monument. Visit the controversial Rider Memorial, the Cape Dutch-style Railway Station, and the Old Fort, designed to serve as headquarters of the imperial German army during the colonial era. Overnight stay in Windhoek.

Breakfast* at the hotel. Unfortunately, it’s time to end your journey though Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia. At the specified time, meet for your transfer to the airport and get on your way back home to the US or onward to your next destination.

*Note that your departing flight may require an earlier departure, in which case you may not be able to enjoy the included breakfast at the hotel.