Day 1-2: Windhoek to Namib Desert
Meet your safari leader at 08:00am for a departure briefing. We 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 travel to our lodge and enjoy the vast open spaces of the Namib Desert.
The following day we visit the Namib Naukluft 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.
Day 3: Swakopmund
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 (own expense).
Day 4-5: Brandberg Massif
We 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 the rare desert elephants and 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.
Day 6: Etosha National Park
Today we head to Etosha National Park, and stay one night in the south-west part of the park. 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.
Day 7: Etosha National Park
We travel across Etosha to our next overnight stop in the eastern part of the park.
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 enjoy the evening sitting at the waterhole in anticipation.
Day 8: Grootfontein
We spend most of today in the Etosha National Park, 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.
Day 9: Kavango River
Driving northeast we enter the Kavango Region. 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.
Day 10-11: Okavango Delta
We 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 Pan handle. From our rustic lodge, we’ll explore the Okavango by mokoro and motor boat. Tranquil reed lined rivers, crystal clear water and abundant bird life. Time to rest, relax and enjoy the views of the Okavango Delta.
Day 12: Caprivi
We cross back into Namibia into part of the Caprivi Strip. A narrow piece of land 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 the then German Tanganyika (now Tanzania). We enjoy an afternoon boat cruise exploring the game-rich area.
Day 13: Chobe
Heading east we cross the Caprivi and enter Botswana at the Ngoma Border and drive 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 head out by boat into the park and get close to the elephants as they quench their thirst. We leave the park as the golden sun slips below the horizon.
Day 14: Victoria Falls
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 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.
