Namibia, Botswana & Victoria Falls

Welcome to Windhoek, Namibia's thriving capital and largest city. Lying in a valley bordered by the Eros Mountains in the north and the Auas Mountains in the south, Windhoek is a scenic city with a harmonious blend of African and European cultures and architectural influences.

We don't want you to miss out on any aspect of your small group tour. To ensure that you don't, we recommend you arrive at your hotel by 8pm to join your fellow travellers for a welcome drink.

Today we will discover Windhoek on a city tour which includes a visit to Penduka Village, a development and training enterprise for over 500 underprivileged women. The enterprise offers work to the women and provides them with craft design and management skills.

Special Experience: Enjoy a carnivore feeding tour at Na'ankuse Lodge, as experienced guides feed baboons, lions, cheetahs and more. This evening we'll meet our fellow travellers for group welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

Delight in the beautiful passing scenery as we travel through the Namib Desert this morning to Sossusvlei. This phenomenal desert has been in existence for some 43 million years and its current landscape has remained unchanged for the last 2 million years. One of Namibia's most spectacular landmarks, Sossusvlei is a large white salt and clay pan, which is surrounded by magnificent red dunes. Some of these dunes reach over a staggering 400-metres-high, making them the highest on earth.

We'll arrive at the lodge in time for lunch and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

We're up before the sun this morning, along the way, switching to 4WD vehicles, to reach the vast Sossusvlei dunes for sunrise. We'll get the chance to climb the dunes to admire the desert and claypans from above. Be sure to bring your camera as this will be an incredible sight!

Next on the agenda is discovering the nearby Dead Vlei, characterised by the dark, dead camel thorn trees that are in stark contrast to the white claypan floor – another fantastic photo opportunity. We will admire the incredible views near Dead Vlei while enjoying a delicious breakfast.

We'll then visit Sesriem Canyon, formed around 30 million years ago when desert sands buried much of Namibia. A climatic change resulted in the formation of rivers which brought limestone, dissolved lime deposits and boulders. Around 2 million years ago, the Ice Age caused a drop in the sea level and following this, the increased flow of the Tsauchab River began to cut its way through the landscape to create what is now known as Sesriem Canyon.

Special Experience: Relax with a sundowner drink at Elim Dune and watch as the sun sets over the vast plains of the Namib Desert.

Challenging Day: Today is a particularly challenging day, where there will be extended periods of walking time, often across uneven ground and in areas of high altitude or heat and humidity.

This morning we make our way to Swakopmund, a German heritage town located on the south-west African coast. Established in 1892, Swakopmund is home to over 40,000 people and is the country's largest coastal town with palm-lined streets, sandy beaches, seaside promenades and old German colonial buildings.

The rest of the afternoon and evening is free for you to enjoy at leisure or take an optional scenic flight over the dramatic Skeleton Coast.

Optional Excursion: Swakopmund Scenic Flight (Cessna 210 Craft) – Often described as 'the flight of a lifetime', travelling from Swakopmund along the Kuiseb Riverbed to the awe-inspiring dunes at Sossusvlei. The colour and shadows of these gigantic mountains of sand change by the hour from beige to rust-red to purple, dazzling the eye. The flight continues over the ‘sea of sand', towards the shore at Conception Bay, soaring along the coastline and over the shipwreck of the German passenger liner, Eduard Bohlen. Other points of interests include Sandwich Harbour and it's a large saltwater lagoon, home to an incredible variety of bird life and one of southern Africa's greatest natural bird sanctuaries; and the salt mines of Walvis Bay, before landing back in the town of Swakopmund. 2 hours (610km) - from NAD4500pp (US $390pp) (minimum 4 participants)

Indulge in fresh local oysters and snacks on a scenic cruise of Walvis Bay, searching for dolphins, seals and pelicans. This morning we'll take off from Walvis Bay Waterfront to explore the Namibian Marine Big 5: whales, dolphins, mola, leatherback turtles and seals. Our route takes us past oyster farms as we make our way to Pelican Point, a remote peninsula in the Erongo region of the Namibian coast. Here we'll hopefully get a chance to spot one of the 60,000 playful Cape Fur Seals that call this area home!

This afternoon is at leisure for you to discover more of Swakopmund at your own pace. Why not visit the fantastic arts and crafts centre, or simply relax by the ocean?

Today we travel north to Damaraland via the picturesque Brandberg, Namibia's highest mountain, arriving at our lodge in time for lunch (not included).

This afternoon, we'll drive out in search of the unique desert elephants. They have adapted to their semi-desert environment by having a smaller body mass with proportionally longer legs and seemingly larger feet than other elephants, meaning they can travel vast distances over arid dunes to reach water.

We begin our day with a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Twyfelfontein, the site of at least 2,500 ancient rock engravings. We'll explore the incredible Zieben Platten National Heritage Site on foot.

Our next stop is the Damara Living Museum. Together with the Kalahari Bushmen, the Damara belong to the oldest nations in Namibia. Their original culture was a mixture of a hunter-gatherer society and a herder, however, during colonisation their loose social structures meant they were unable to defend themselves. Now the traditional culture has become somewhat ‘lost'. We'll witness this fascinating ‘lost culture' first-hand.

We then make our way to the Petrified Forest, an accumulation of fossilised tree trunks which are approximately 280 million years old.

We will stop enroute to the world renowned Etosha National Park to visit a traditional Ozohere Himba Village where we will learn about their lives and culture. It is here that the last semi-nomadic people of Namibia reside, who are known for covering themselves in a mixture of butterfat and ochre pigment known as ‘otjize paste'. This red-orange colouring not only helps cleanse the skin over long periods of water scarcity and protects them from the climate, but it is also consistent with their idea of beauty.

Challenging Day: Today is a particularly challenging day, where there will be extended periods of walking time, often across uneven ground and in areas of high altitude or heat and humidity.

Etosha is one of Africa's most diverse and well-known wildlife reserves, boasting over 110 different animals and over 300 different bird species. It is characterised by an immense salt desert, so large that it can be seen from space – the Etosha Pan. The perennial springs along the edges of the Etosha Pan draw large concentrations of wildlife and birds during the dry season each year. After a period of rain, the salt pan fills with water and flamingos, making for an ideal photo opportunity.

We have an early start today for our full day of game viewing through Etosha National Park. The park is home to four of the famous ‘Big Five' – elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo and rhino. Its waterholes support a rich diversity of birds and mammals, including rare species such as the black-faced impala, cheetah and Namibia's smallest antelope, the Damara dik dik. Make sure you bring your binoculars to spot the magnificent birdlife!

Another day is devoted to viewing the abundant array of exciting wildlife found in the park. We head out early on a 4WD safari, keeping an eye out for elephant in the densely vegetated areas, giraffe in the drier regions and lion in the golden grasslands.

Today our eyes are set on Namibia's north, travelling to the Kavango region, an area considerably greener than the rest of Namibia due to the larger than average rainfall.

This afternoon, we enjoy a sundowner cruise on the Okavango River, which also acts as the border between Namibia and Angola. The birdlife here is impressive, and we'll delight in the opportunity to soak up the setting sun while sipping a refreshing drink.

Today we venture deep into the Kavango region to Mahango National Park, an area home to diverse wildlife. Along the way, we'll stop at charming Zambezi villages, getting a feel for local life.

Mahango, located in the Caprivi Strip is affectionately known as Namibia's panhandle. German chancellor, Leo von Caprivi, negotiated the acquisition of the land in 1890. It is said that he believed it would provide access to the Indian Ocean for trade via the Zambezi River, however, the 355-foot drop of the world's largest waterfall got in the way, just 65 kilometres east of Caprivi.

This afternoon, we'll enjoy a blissful cruise along the Kavango River with a sundowner.

Mahango is famous for its many species of antelope, however, you can also expect to see elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs, hippos, crocodiles, warthogs, baboons and vervet monkeys. The enormous baobab trees and vast floodplains provide a fantastic visual setting for photography.

We explore the area on a morning game drive, searching for more wildlife in Mahango National Park. Make sure to have your cameras handy!

The afternoon is at leisure for you to sit back, relax and enjoy the idyllic views over the river.

Travelling south today, we cross the border into beautiful Botswana with our eyes set on reaching the small city of Maun. Maun lies at the southern edge of the magnificent Okavango Delta, the largest inland delta on earth and a UNESCO World Heritage-listed area.

Situated along the banks of the Thamalekane River, Maun offers easy access to the delta. It has come a long way since its early days as a small frontier town, now acting as the gateway to one of the best wildlife experiences in the world.

The afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure.

Today we travel northeast along basic dirt roads to Moremi Game Reserve. Located in the heart of the breathtaking Okavango Delta, Moremi National Park is a haven for wildlife and photographic safaris in northern Botswana. We'll take a game drive through the reserve to reach our natural safari campsite.

This evening we enjoy a fantastic dinner under the stars, accompanied by delicious South African wines.

After an early breakfast, we commence our morning game drive. Boasting one of the richest and most diverse ecosystems in the world, Moremi is unrivalled in its beautiful scenery and is host to a splendid array of birds, animals and plants. Boarding motorboats, we experience the permanent lagoons of Xaxanika or Godikwa heronries.

We'll return to the camp for lunch and have some time to relax before we head out again this afternoon in search of more wildlife. Did you know there are over 500 species of bird in Moremi?

Back at our camp this evening, we'll indulge in sundowners and another amazing dinner under a blanket of stars.

This morning we take a final game drive after an early breakfast, and then board a light plane for a scenic flight over the spectacular Okavango Delta.

Enjoy the fantastic views of the expanded waterways, white claypans and palm-lined lagoons. Keep an eye out for hippos in the channels, and elephants and buffalo huddling in the shade of the trees.

We'll arrive back in Maun, before making our way towards Nata and the Makgadikgadi Pans.

This fascinating region is made up of a series of pans all crossing over each other in the barren wilderness. Typically, during the dry season (March to September) the pans are nothing more than empty, cracked mud, however, in the wet season (November to March) it comes alive as a haven for the wildlife that flock to the watering holes.

This morning we'll explore our incredible surroundings on a guided nature drive in an open safari vehicle discovering the Sua Pan and Nata Sanctuary.

Later, we make our way to famous Chobe, the third largest national park in Botswana. Chobe is home to the highest elephant concentration on earth and is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular national parks in the whole of Africa.

The riverine forests and floodplains support an abundance of game species, which in turn attract predators such as lions, leopards and hyenas. The park is divided into four distinctly different ecosystems: Serondela, with its lush plains and dense forests in the Chobe River area in the extreme north; the Savuti Marsh in the west; the Linyanti Swamps in the north-west; and the hot, dry hinterland in between. The large concentration of elephants that reside here during the dry season (June to October) congregate along the fertile floodplains of the Chobe River.

Shortly before sunrise, we take our first open-air safari in this amazing national park. We return to our lodge for breakfast and some time at leisure to relax.

Later today, we'll look out for game during our cruise along the Chobe River. A multitude of incredible wildlife species can be found along its banks. Enjoy the serenity as we watch the sun sink into the horizon.

This morning we cross the border from Botswana to Zimbabwe during our transfer to the mesmerising Victoria Falls.

Victoria Falls, also known as the ‘Smoke that Thunders', is suggested to be the world's biggest waterfall at 1.7-kilometres-wide and 110-metres-high. The noise of the falls can be heard from 40 kilometres away, while its spray and mist can be seen from 50 kilometres.

Victoria Falls is located on the mighty Zambezi River, which forms the international border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. David Livingstone is believed to have been the first European to discover the waterfall in November 1855 and named it in honour of Queen Victoria.

Later this afternoon, we'll embark on a peaceful sunset cruise along the Zambezi River.

Victoria Falls is one of the seven natural wonders of the world, and we are set to explore this incredible location on foot this morning.

Our walking discovery will take us to various vantage points from which to view this natural phenomenon. Facing the Zambian side, each viewing point affords a different perspective of the falls, one providing a view of the Victoria Falls Bridge, others taking you through the jungle and some even allowing you to peer right over the edge. Witness the spray and rapturous thunder of the falls. Millions of tonnes of water tumble over the ridge into the deep narrow gorge, where the Zambezi River continues its eastward course some 110 metres below towards the Indian Ocean.

Special Experience: Discover the history of Victoria Falls Bridge during an informative and exciting under-the-bridge walk.

Our tour concludes after breakfast this morning. We bid farewell to our new friends and to our incredible adventure across Africa. We hope you leave with fantastic memories!