19 Days Adventure Safari in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe

When you arrive at the beautiful Cape Town, you will make your way to the joining hotel. As an added service to travelers, your arrival airport transfer is included. You will walk out of the international arrivals area and look for a transfer person holding an Africa4us sign and your name.

Ask him or her what hotel he or she will take you to (do not volunteer this information), and then present your passport for proof of identity. The tour departs on Day 2 in the morning. A brief departure meeting will be held in the hotel reception area in evening on Day 1 of your tour at 06:00 p.m. Upon arrival, the reception will provide information from your tour leader regarding the meeting place and time.

Several nights under the African sky and a transport in a premium overland safari vehicle fitted with 12 ultimate safari seats will ensure that you will get an unforgettable experience in Africa. With time to explore on your own and optional activities, you will soak up the beauty and diversity of Southern Africa.

General information

• Comfort level: Comfortable
• Distance: 4,400 kilometers

Daily itinerary

Day 1: Cape Town

Explore the cosmopolitan city of Cape Town during the day and meet your group and your tour leader in the evening at 18:00 to get acquainted and review your trip details. Cape Town offers an unbelievable variety of experiences, tastes, and sightseeing.

Try a variety of exotic tastes, like some of the delicious Cape Malay curries, the famous local dish Bobotie, or the freshest seafood at one of the exquisite seafood restaurants at the V&A Waterfront. Make sure to arrive a day early to go to the world-famous Robben Island where former President Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison, visit Cape Point or go with a cable car up Table Mountain to enjoy a panoramic view of Cape Town from the top.

• Accommodation: Hotel
• Address: Breakwater Lodge, Portswood Road, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa
• Activities Included: Airport transfer, welcome meeting at 18:00
• Activities optional: Table mountain, Robben Island, V&A Waterfront

Day 2: Cape Town to Springbok

You will depart Cape Town early on your way to Springbok in the heart of Namaqualand. Springbok is set in a narrow valley bisecting the granite domes of the Klein Koperberge. This area is called “The Garden of the Gods” and is famous for the wondrous display of spring flowers that explode into bloom every August and September.

• Meals: Breakfast, dinner
• Travel time: 7 hours
• Accommodation: Hotel

Day 3: Springbok to Hobas

Travel onwards to Fish River Canyon and take in the sights. The hiking trail is one of the most unique trails in Africa. The canyon is the second largest in the world, being surpassed by the famous Grand Canyon in Colorado. With a length of 180 kilometers approximately stretching south from Seeheim down to the Orange River, which forms the border between Namibia and South Africa.

• Meals: Breakfast and dinner
• Travel Time: 6 hours
• Accommodation: Bungalow or lodge
• Activities included: Visit to the Fish River Canyon Rim
• Entrance fees included: Fish River Canyon
• Day 4: Hobas to Helmeringhausen

The adventure continues today to Helmeringhausen, a settlement made up of little more than a homestead, hotel, and petrol station. Located in the southern part of Namibia, between Fish River Canyon and Sesriem. Orange and red desert sands surround the settlement. Upon arrival, you can relax and take in the tranquility surrounding you.

• Meals: Breakfast and dinner
• Travel time: 5 hours
• Accommodation: Bungalow and lodge

Day 5: Helmeringhausen to Sesriem

Sesriem is a small settlement found in the Namib Desert. The name Sesriem means “six belts”, and was named by the Dorsland Trekkers, a group of Afrikaans-speaking settlers. It is said that they had to tie together 6 belts (made of oryx hide) to reach buckets down into the Sesriem Canyon to scoop up water. The Sesriem Canyon is a natural canyon carved in the sedimentary rock.

• Meals: Breakfast and dinner
• Travel time: 4 hours
• Accommodation: Bungalow or lodge

Day 6: Sesriem

An early departure will give you the opportunity to climb the majestic Dune 45 during the cooler time of the day. Dune 45 was named for its proximity to Sesriem gate before continuing to the entrance of Sossusvlei, a seemingly endless expanse of sand dunes. Sand that was carried to the west coast by the Orange River is blown back again inland by winds and formed the dunes of the Namib Desert.

The Namib, a minimum of 55 million years old, is regarded as the oldest desert in the world. The sand here is colored red due to the prominent levels of iron oxide. These dunes are known as star dunes, created by winds blowing from all directions and are also known as the highest sand dunes in the world.

In the afternoon, you will visit the Sesriem Canyon, a miniature canyon by world standards but beautiful to walk around in and appreciate the distinctive sedimentary rocks and conglomerate that line the canyon walls.

• Meals: Breakfast and dinner
• Travel time: 5 hours
• Accommodation: Bungalow or lodge
• Activities included: Dune 45, Sesriem Canyon Visit, Sossusvlei transfer
• Entrance fees included: Namib Naukluft Park Sesriem/Sossusvlei

Day 7: Sesriem to Swakopmund

You will continue to Swakopmund with its cooler Atlantic sea air, cultural experiences, and options for some extreme adventures like quad biking, sand boarding, 4×4 safaris, skydiving (weather permitting), and more. The only meal provided on this day is breakfast as Swakopmund has plenty of wonderful places to eat local cuisine.

Swakopmund offers a variety of bakeries and cafes with a selection of reasonably priced meals. Budget is approximately 5 USD to 12 USD per meal.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Travel time: 7 hours
• Accommodation: Hotel
• Activities optional: Quad biking, sandboarding, and skydiving

Day 8: Swakopmund

Swakopmund’s wide variety of things to see and do caters for a wide scope of tastes and styles. You can take a walk along the beach and dip your toes in the icy Atlantic Ocean or visit the Krystal Galerie which boasts with the largest Quartz Crystal Cluster on display in the world, weighing in at 14,100 kilograms.

Browse the many excellent bookshops and curio shops and spoil yourself with a unique gift from the area. If adrenalin and outdoors is your thing then you can enjoy optional activities like quad biking, sand boarding, 4 × 4 safaris, skydiving (weather permitting), and more.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Accommodation: Hotel
• Activities optional: Quad biking, sandboarding, and skydiving

Day 9: Swakopmund to Outjo

You will depart for Outjo, which leads to the Etosha National Park. This quaint town was founded by German colonial Schutztruppe. This will be your stay overnight before heading into the Etosha National Park the following day.

• Meals: Breakfast and dinner
• Travel time: 6 hours
• Accommodation: Hotel

Day 10: Outjo to Etosha National Park

You will depart after breakfast for Etosha National Park, one of Southern Africa’s best-loved wildlife sanctuaries. You will head out for an afternoon game drive to search for elephants, the unique black-faced impala, zebra, endangered black rhino, or any of the more than 100 mammal species the park is home to.

In the rainy season, the salt pans turn into shallow lakes, with pelicans, flamingos and other bird species flocking to this temporary water haven. Animals often cluster around the watering holes close to the campsites, and this offers you the unique opportunity to sit and wait for the animals to come to you.

These fenced watering holes have seating areas and are perfectly safe. Floodlights give you the opportunity to sit at the waterhole and enjoy the interaction between different species of animals.

• Meals: Breakfast and dinner
• Travel time: 1 hour
• Accommodation: Bungalow or lodge
• Activities included: Himba settlement visit, game drives in overland vehicle
• Activities optional: Night drives
• Entrance fees included: Etosha National Park

Day 11: Etosha National Park

You will enjoy a full day’s game drive in the premium overland safari vehicle. You will have a chance to gather memories of unique sights that you will not likely experience again. Watch how ghostly grey-white elephants bathe themselves in the white dust of the area or zoom in on the magnificent sight of giraffes etched against a wide and open horizon.

You will stay overnight at another beautiful camp inside Etosha National Park, and maybe you can get lucky enough to fall asleep with the haunting call of a hyena or a lion roaring in the distance.

• Meals: Breakfast and dinner
• Accommodation: Bungalow and lodge
• Activities included: Game drive in overland vehicle
• Activities optional: Night drives
• Entrance fees included: Etosha National Park

Day 12: Etosha National Park to Windhoek

You will travel to Windhoek, Namibia's capital. You will spend the last few hours of the day exploring Windhoek and its strong German influence. You will have the option to celebrate at night at one of Windhoek’s famous restaurants. This tiny capital town has loads of interesting things to offer.

One of the most famous is the display of 33 meteorites, the Gibeon Meteorites in the Post Street Mall. Here, you can take pictures of and touch these extra-terrestrial bodies that are corrosive resistant due to the high amount of nickel in them. Shopping opportunities abound and for the historically inclined there are many museums and historical buildings within walking distance in the town center.

One of the most widely photographed and a historical landmark is the Christ Church, a Lutheran church, built in the Gothic revival style. Windhoek is the “getting on” and “getting off” hub for people who have booked shorter “legs” of your combo trip. You might lose some of your travel companions and new people might join.

You might also have a change of vehicle and adventure crew (tour Leader and driver.) Although it might sound a bit daunting, please be assured that your vehicle will be the same standard and your adventure crew are very experienced in dealing with these changes to make it as smooth as possible.

All adventure crew is committed to giving the best possible service, but because all have their own style, own special recipes, and own passion with regards to culture, fauna and flora, and geology, having a change of crew will broaden your experience on the trip immensely.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Travel time: 6 hours
• Accommodation: Hotel
• Activities optional: Explore the city, craft markets, and museums

Day 13: Windhoek to Ghanzi

You will depart Windhoek early for a long drive through the eastern part of Namibia, crossing the border into Botswana, and traveling into the heart of the Kalahari Desert. Ghanzi is the farm where the San (Bushmen) live. They still have the knowledge of an ancient lifestyle and are eager to welcome visitors into their almost forgotten world.

In the evening, you will enjoy an optional ancient dance ritual performed around a campfire by the San and if the night is clear, you will enjoy the sparkling, starry skies for which Ghanzi is famous.

• Meals: Breakfast and dinner
• Accommodation: Bungalow or lodge
• Activities optional: Watch Bushmen dances in the afternoon

Day 14: Ghanzi to Maun

You will enjoy a morning walk with the San (Bushmen) as they display their survival skills that have been passed on from generation to generation before departing Ghanzi and arriving in Maun, Botswana’s fifth largest town, after lunchtime.

Once you arrive in Maun, you will have the option to get a spectacular birds-eye view of the Okavango Delta from above in a small fixed wing aircraft (weather permitting). Looking down on the Delta from the aircraft, you will get a fair idea of the magnitude of this massive mix of land and water with its intricate system of channels and islands.

You might also see families of elephants, giraffes, and herds of buffalo or even hippos from the air. If you skip the flight, you will have the chance to kick back and relax at the lodge.

• Meals: Breakfast and dinner
• Travel time: 5 hours
• Accommodation: Bungalow or lodge
• Activities included: Bushmen walk in the morning
• Activities optional: Delta flight in the afternoon

Day 15: Maun

On this day, you will experience a new way of travelling into the Okavango Delta with a mokoro, the same way as the local people do. A mokoro is a traditional dug-out canoe that seats two people. Your engine is a human being called a poler. The first part of the journey is in a 4×4 vehicle to the “polling station” where the mokoros and polers are waiting.

Once you are comfortable and laid back in your mokoro, the slow and tranquil journey into The Delta begins. Gliding along on the quiet water, you will have an unlimited source of opportunities to take stunning pictures of your surroundings. How long the mokoro journey will take, will depend on the time of year and water levels of the Delta.

You will stop for lunch on an island and enjoy a nature walk of a few hours. Then, you will head back to Maun again in your mokoro, enjoying a last hour or two on the water while the late afternoon sun starts heading for the horizon.

• Meals: Breakfast and dinner
• Accommodation: Bungalow or lodge
• Activities included: Okavango Delta half-day mokoro trail, including a nature walk
• Entrance fees included: Okavango Delta

Day 15: Mokoro Day Trip (Optional Fly-in)

You will have the option to go on a 1-day fly-in safari into the Okavango Delta. This is accessible by a light aircraft only, a 20-minute flight from Maun. Upon arrival, you will be met by your personal guide and welcomed to the island, situated on the edge of Chief’s Island, deep in the heart of the Okavango Delta, bordering the Moremi Game Reserve.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Accommodation: Bungalow or lodge
• Activities included: Flight from Maun to Chief’s Island, full day mokoro excursion, guided nature walks
• Entrance fees included: Okavango Delta

Day 16: Maun to Elephant Sands

You will set out for Elephant Sands, which is close to the Botswanan village of Nata. Elephant Sands is famous for its watering hole, voted as one of the top ten watering holes in Africa. Here, you can expect to see animals such as wild dogs, different antelope species, and of course, elephants that walk through the campsite searching for fresh water.

This will probably be the closest you will get to these wild animals on foot. With luck on your side, you may have the wonderful and unique experience of sitting in front of your tented room, watching elephants and other animals come and go to quench their thirst at the watering hole while you sip on a sundowner yourself.

• Meals: Breakfast and dinner
• Travel time: 6 hours
• Accommodation: Tented rooms
• Activities included: Watering Hole at Camp

Day 17: Elephant Sands to Chobe River (Kasane)

You will continue to the small town of Kasane, which is adjacent to the Chobe National Park and Chobe River. You can relish the views during your included afternoon sunset boat cruise.

You will take your own sundowner with you as you look for wildlife on the banks of the Chobe River. Game such as elephant, buffalo, kudu, bushbuck, hippo, giraffe, and sable are commonly seen along the river edge, and it is a birdwatcher’s paradise during the summer months.

You have an opportunity to go on an optional photo safari at your own expense, however, you would forfeit the included afternoon sunset boat cruise.

• Meals: Breakfast and dinner
• Travel time: 4 hours.
• Accommodation: Bungalow or lodge
• Activities included: Chobe boat cruise
• Activities optional: Pangolin photo safari
• Entrance fees included: Chobe National Park

Day 18: Chobe River (Kasane) to Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)

On this day, you will have time to do some of the action-filled activities that the area offers. You can to go bungee jumping or a gorge swing off the Victoria Falls Bridge that links Zambia and Zimbabwe and have a different view of the Victoria Falls at the same time. This bridge is constructed to carry railway, road, and foot traffic.

For an adrenaline activity, closer to the Zambezi River, you can choose a half day or full day white water rafting adventure. Many of the groups opt to book their final evening together aboard a sunset cruise along the Zambezi River with game-viewing, beautiful scenery, and an open bar.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Travel time: 3 hours
• Accommodation: Bungalow or lodge
• Activities optional: Chobe game drive, white-water rafting, bungee jumping, helicopter fights, boat cruise

Day 19: Zimbabwe (Victoria Falls)

You will have a last goodbye, a healthy breakfast, and the end of another incredible tour.

• Meals: Breakfast

• Chobe boat cruise
• Flight from Maun to Chief’s Island
• Full day mokoro excursion
• Guided nature walks
• Himba settlement visit
• Morning Bushmen walk
• Okavango Delta half-day mokoro trail, including a nature walk
• Visit to Dune 45, Sesriem Canyon, and Sossusvlei
• Visit to the Fish River Canyon Rim
• Watering Hole at Camp

This tour will be held in South Africa, Bostwana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. In South Africa, you will visit Cape Town, Table Mountain, Springbok, Namaqualand, and Klein Koperberge. In Namibia, you will visit Fish River Canyon, Helmeringhausen, Sesriem, Namib Desert, Sesriem Canyon, Dune 45, Sossusvlei area, Swakopmund, Outjo, Etosha National Park, and Windhoek. In Botswana, you will visit Ghanzi, Maun, Okavango Delta, Elephant Sands, Chobe National Park, Kasane. In Zimbabwe, you will visit Victoria Falls.

The cost of the packages include 18 breakfasts and 13 dinners.

On this tour, you will have the option to go on a Fly-in Mokoro Day Trip. Please note that this is an optional activity and it is not included in the tour price, and it is subject to availability and weather conditions.

Other options

• Chobe game drive, white-water rafting, bungee jumping, helicopter fights, boat cruise
• Delta flight
• Explore the city, craft markets, and museums
• Night drives
• Pangolin photo safari
• Quad biking, sandboarding, and skydiving
• Visit to Table mountain, Robben Island, and V&A Waterfront
• Watch Bushmen dances

• All game drives as mentioned
• All excursions as mentioned
• Visit the Fish River Canyon
• Climb Dune 45
• View the sunset at Sesriem Canyon
• Sossusvlei transfer
• Himba visit
• Game drives in overland vehicle in Etosha National Park, San (Bushmen) Walk, and Okavango Delta
• Half-day Makoro Trail including nature walk, Chobe River boat cruise
• 18 breakfasts
• 13 dinners
• 18 nights accommodation
• Entrance fees to Fish River Canyon, Namib Naukluft Park - Sesriem/Sossusvlei, Etosha National Park, Okavango Delta, and Chobe National Park
• Airport transfer
• All transports in a premium overland safari vehicle
• Services of 1 tour leader, 1 driver for the duration of the tour, and local guides as per activities included

• Optional excursions

• A reservation requires a deposit of 36% of the total price.
• The deposit is fully refundable if the booking is cancelled up to 60 days before the arrival date.
• The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.