Classic Namibia Diamond with Caprivi Extension - 23 Days Namibia, Botswana & Zimbabwe Itinerary

Depart from Sossusvlei Lodge in the late afternoon on a leisurely drive on the Lodge's private reserve. Watch the shadows lengthen as your guide takes you out to a panoramic location where sundowner drinks will be served as you relax and watch the spectacular sunset. The inner tranquillity that a desert sunset imparts while you sit amongst nature is really something special...

An early start from the Lodge to enter the Namib-Naukluft Park at sunrise, while the temperature is still mild and when the dune contrasts are at their best. You will travel in one of our all-terrain URI Gameviewer vehicles, custom-built in Namibia for the Lodge, with your own specially trained guide who will share all his knowledge of the area, animals, plant life and much more with you.

Regular stops are made on the spectacular ±60 kilometre drive through the dune corridor down to the Vlei to gain information or take in the vistas. At Dune 45, we make a stop to view the the world's most photographed dune. Im weiteren Verlauf folgt eine  geführte 2,6-Kilometer-lange Rundwanderung zum Dead Vlei ein Muss für die fitteren Besucher. Die Aktiveren haben die Möglichkeit, auf den oberen Grat der Big Daddy Düne zu klettern, eine der höchsten Dünen in diesem Gebiet! Wir verbringen Zeit damit, Sossusvlei zu erkunden, bevor wir ungefähr 5½ Stunden später zum Mittagessen zur Lodge zurückkehren.

The guided nature walk starts at sunrise, departing from the Lodge and takes place on and around the spectacular Elim Dune Belt.

Our knowledgeable guides focus on the small things often overlooked – nocturnal animal tracks, plant species and smaller wildlife.

Experience the remarkable depths of Sesriem Canyon. Our experienced guides will share the history behind this magnificent natural canyon carved by the Tsauchab River.

Discover the majesty of the Namib Desert by Helicopter!

Our Pilots are well experienced and will guide you through the scenery on an adventurous and informative flight.

We offer a range of scenic flights over the breath-taking grass plains to the towering dunes of Sossusvlei and the hidden mysteries of Deadvlei. Exciting flips over the Sesriem Canyon, Dune 45 and Elim Dune as well as custom built flights for photographers that wish to focus on specific areas of the Namib.

Desert Air have a well-maintained 6-seater Cessna 210 light aircraft permanently based on the Sossusvlei Lodge property along with an experienced pilot who also doubles as a trained "aerial" desert guide.

A number of routes are available on request, including:
A 40 minute trip to Sossusvlei and Sesriem Canyon will provide you with wonderful aerial photographs of the Vlei and Canyon.
A longer hour trip to the forbidden coast (Sperrgebiet) and the area known as Lange Wand, which is the coastal area of the Namib Desert, will provide you incredible views where a 'sea of desert dunes' meet the Atlantic ocean.
An hour and a half trip over the Sossusvlei area will include Conception Bay, a seal colony, shipwreaks and even old diamond miners camps.

"Up, up and away" as you sail silently over the reddish dune sea of the Namib. Add an exhilarating dimension to your visit to the desert.

The duration of the excursion is approximately 3½ hours. The Hot Air Balloon flight itself takes about one hour and ends with an exclusive Champagne Breakfast at the landing spot in scenic nature. The Breakfast is followed by a Nature drive back to Sossusvlei Lodge.

Special group rates apply for groups of min 24 pax, max 110 pax.

Due to the desert temperatures this activity is offered in the mornings only. Guests are collected at the lodge ½ hour before sunrise. The balloon rises as the sun rises. The first light hour of the day is known to be the most spectacular, especially in the desert with the rich contrast of colour and shape on the towering sand dunes of the Sossusvlei Area, on the vast desert plains and surrounding mountain ranges.

Host you special function or bush dinner in the heart of the Namib Desert!

With views of towering red sand dunes amidst the vast desert plains, this is the most awe-inspiring venue nature has on offer.

Sossusvlei Lodge have perfected the art of outdoor catering enthusing guests with delightful bush dinners, breakfasts at Sossusvlei, special events and even private intimate dinners.

Each function will be planned according to your requirements. You can be assured this will be a function that will be talked about and remembered for a lifetime!

Host you special breakfast function in Sossusvlei with views of the towering red sand dunes under the shade of the age-old acacias.

Sossusvlei Lodge can provide a full English or Continental Breakfast complete with a table and chair setup.

Each function will be planned according to your requirements.

Explore this ancient and arid landscape with your guide on the Nature Drive. Departing early in the morning, the guide will show you that this harsh, dry environment is alive with desert-adapted flora and fauna, and perhaps, if lucky, discover the desert-adapted elephant.

Usually departs at 06h30 and will go out for +/- 4 – 6 hours.
Drinks & snacks are included.

Departing mid-afternoon your guide will take you to explore this diverse landscape of ancient Damaraland, filled with geological wonders and other surprises.

Learn about the fascinating geological formations of Burnt Mountain and the Organ Pipes, and discover Namibia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, Twyfelfontein - known for being one of the largest and oldest collections of San rock art engravings in the world!

Usually departs at 15h00 and will last for +/-2 hours. along with seeing Burnt Mountain and the Organ Pipes.

Explore the local area around Mowani Mountain Camp by taking one of the short walking trails around the lodge. There are information points with short paragraphs explaining the nature along these trails, including flora and geological formations.

Should guests want to explore further afield on a longer walk, they are welcome to ask the guides or management - this is dependent on availability.

Sit atop a large rock.

Make yourself comfortable.

Order your drink of choice, or choose from one of the best cocktails or mocktails in Namibia.

Enjoy tasty snacks.

Relax and watch one of the most spectacular and memorable sunsets ever!

Guided afternoon/evening game drives take place on the private Ongava Game Reserve. The reserve is famed for its population of rhino as well as lion and other game such as antelope, including endemic black-faced impala. Private vehicles can be booked at an extra cost (subject to availability).

Full- or half-day guided morning game drives in the Etosha National Park, Namibia’s prime savannah wilderness area (with a packed lunch on full day). See the massive saltpan as well as the perennial springs that provide the water required by the Park’s high-density big game population, including its elephant population. Private vehicles can be booked at an extra cost (subject to availability).

Offered seasonally and subject to an available walking guide, nature walks through the area take in the abundant array of life, small and large; with a chance of potentially approaching white rhino.

The hide is a fantastic place to relax and while the hours away up close and personal with wildlife slaking its thirst at the camp waterhole. This arid environment where little water occurs makes this a popular drinking spot for game.

Guests can interface with science and research across the Ongava Game Reserve and part of this experience is an immersion into the world of natural history and science at the new Ongava Visitor Centre. With dozens of in-depth displays that feature information on the geology, animals, plants and ecological functioning of this fascinating region, guests are encouraged to meander through the self-guided exhibition area.

The Dream Cruiser is Onguma's newest and most unique under the stars sleep-out experience.

Arriving in time to enjoy sundowners and take a tour of your overnight accommodation, this sleep out in the wilderness of the reserve is on our custom built Land Cruiser, featuring a full bathroom on the lower deck and a bedroom with lounge area on the upper deck.

A night on the Dream Cruiser calls for al fresco picnic-style dining is delivered by our chef for you to enjoy as the evening turns to night and the stars dance in all their glory.
A ranger is on call via a two-way radio, so make the most of this time and relax in the safety and complete comfort of this unique space.

After a good night's rest, you can enjoy morning tea/coffee with homemade rusks before being collected for breakfast at the lodge.

Onguma's fabulous new water-level hide affords guests a great opportunity to calmly sit and enjoy nature unobserved. Amateur and professional photographers alike love the angles and light from this equipped hide.

There is a small ablution facility nearby, benches from which to view the surroundings and lots of windows and vantage points for creative camera angles.

Onguma Nature Reserve consists of 34 000 hectares of Namibian wilderness & is home to numerous plains game, more than 300 bird species ​and even 4 of the Big 5. ​The Reserve boasts over thirty different animal species. Plains game roam freely on the Reserve and predators although not always easy to spot, are nevertheless common residents of the area. Lions and Cheetahs are frequently seen and often heard. There is a healthy black rhino and leopard population and hyenas are also often seen and heard.

Etosha is a 22 750km² wildlife sanctuary in Namibia – one of Africa’s most stable and accessible countries. Etosha, meaning ‘place of dry water’, and refers to a flat calcrete depression (or pan) of about 5 000km². The ‘Pan’ (overlooked by the Onguma Reserve) provides a great, parched, silver-white backdrop of shimmering mirages to an area of semi-arid savannah grassland and thorn scrub. The pan itself contains water only after very good rains and sometimes for only a few days each year, but is enough to stimulate the growth of a blue-green algae which lures thousands of flamingos.

Africa takes on a new perspective when you experience it on foot as the first explorers did. A bush walk is a unique physical, mental and spiritual adventure through nature. Experience the sights, smells and sounds of the Namibian bush by conducting an early morning leisurely walk accompanied by one of our experienced armed rangers.

​Johan, our resident therapist, is a professional massage therapist with over 15 years experience, having lived and worked at renowned Wellness Centres in Asia and Africa. His passion for and dedication to massage therapy originated in the East, where he was trained and educated from the best teachers in their respective fields. Having the opportunity to spend considerable time with monks in Thailand, has also led him to incorporate focused awareness into his massage therapies.

We offer:
- Therapeutic Full Body Massage - 60 min – N$ 850 / 90 min
- Lymphatic Drainage Massage - 60 min
- Back Neck & Shoulder Massage - 45 min – N$ 600 / 60 min
- Head & Face Massage - 45 min
- Thai Foot Massage - 45 min
- Unique Combination of Therapeutic Massage & Thai Yoga Massage - 90 min

Experience the waterworld of the Kavango on a romantic boat trip as the sun goes down; incl. ½ bottle of champagne per person

Experience catching one of the strongest fighting fresh water fish in the world. 2 persons per boat. Lost lures to be replaced at Lodge, drinks not included. The fishing licence is not included in the rate. Please bring your own fishing licence as licences cannot be obtained at the lodge until further notice.

We will gladly submit a detailed offer for a tailor-made excursion for the enthusiastic fishermen. Available on request.

Visit a Traditional Village nearby Divava Okavango Resort.

The Kavango inhabitants will welcome visitors to their village and show how they grow crops, prepare food and drinks and much more. Visitors will learn about their culture and watch their traditional dances.

This amazing National Park is only at 10 minutes drive from Divava Okavango Resort and offers guests a very good chance to spot four out of the Big Five!

Elephants, Buffalo, Lion and Leopard are very present in this park and easy to spot. This park is much smaller then the Etosha National Park and perfect to visit for only a few hours. Visiting Mahangu National Park is an absolute must! Visitors can do it with their own car and follow the roadsigns or take a guided tour with on of Divava Okavango's game drive vehicles.

Discover the Okavango River and its surroundings on one of Divava Okavango's boat cruises.

Explore the river on either a small or large boat, heading down stream where you will see Hippo, Crocodile, an enormous variety of Birdlife and much more! The guide will tell you everything you wish to know about the amazing nature and wildlife in and around the river.

Just before sundown the cruise will head up stream from the Resort, to the Popa Falls to watch the sunset with some refreshments and snacks.

Fishing is another fun and unique activity at Divava Okavango Resort! Go out on the mighty Okavango River for a few hours and catch some on the world’s most unique species like Tigerfish, Tilapia and Catfish!

The Buffalo Game Park is possibly less well-known than the Mahango National Park but also definitely worth a visit.
The park has many narrow roads some of which may not be accessible year-round, as the Okavango can break its banks if we experience a good rainy season.

You might see Elephant, Buffalo, Hippo, Crocodiles, Roan Antelope or one of the almost 400 bird species that have been recorded in West Caprivi.

The Popa Falls only qualify as a 'water fall' in Namibia, which has the distinction of being the driest country in Southern Africa. The Popa Falls is about 1.2km wide, and has a total drop off of about 4 meters.

However, this stunning setting creates the perfect ambience for a sun-downer boat cruise or island lunch.
The sound of the Popa Falls can be heard from Resort and provides the ideal soundtrack while relaxing in the Spa or enjoying dinner at the Restaurant.

Morning or Afternoon Boat Cruises take you drifting down the unspoilt Kwando River. You may opt for morning or afternoon boat cruises.

You may wish to enjoy your breakfast on the boat while meandering down the Kwando.

The early morning suns rays reflect off the waters edge, the soothing sound of the water as it is gently broken by the bow of the boat cutting through the waters surface. Our guides steer the boats past varied landscapes of papyrus islands and reed floodplains and get within respectful distances of hippos, crocodiles, other mammals and the varied bird species this area is known for. An informative, yet soulful experience on waterways similar to that of the Okavango Delta.

Morning or afternoon Game Drives within the Bwabwata National Park.

As dawn breaks or the afternoon shadows lengthen our game drives depart to discover the unknown behind every bend within the Bwabwata National Park, uniquely located within the largest Conservation area in the World.
Our guides find the perfect stop to disembark and setup the morning coffee or sundowner refreshment in true legendary African style.

Duration: 3 hours

"As the midday sun retreats and the afternoon shadows lengthen we depart on a journey, an adventure to discover the unknown behind every bend. Observing every branch for a rare endemic bird, to be rewarded instead by an elusive leopard. The silence broken by the deep low rumble vibrating through the bush, which could only belong to a large herd of elephants. Out of nowhere they appear with a focused determination towards the life-giving water up ahead. Knuckles white, as I grip the seat of the game viewer, relishing the moment as a highlight of my journey through Africa."

Walking Safaris are an incredible way to experience the bush in a more personal and energetic way.

Our local guides take great delight in sharing their ancestral repertoire of medicinal uses of the flora along the way and their tales of the wild and their upbringing in this area. It is an experience, which connects and grounds any participant to our Earth.

As we are in a truly natural environment with lion, buffalo, elephants, leopard and other wildlife roaming these plains freely, we discourage guests under the age of 12.

An exclusive evening drive to view the nocturnal wildlife after your sundowner stop back to the Lodge.

A Boat cruise from the Lodge to Sijwa Island, where the Sijwa host will meet our guests and guide them through the project which was established by African Monarch Lodges as part of its endeavor to be sustainable and give back to the community and conservation by protecting the natural resources and developing the local community through a biodiverse economy. It is here where guests will be entertained and be enriched with local culture as they partake in a visit to the cultural village. A walk through the permaculture plants, recycling workshops where waste such as plastic, glass and cans are turned into beautiful artefacts for sale. Guests can buy and plant trees from our indigenous tree nursery to offset their carbon emissions at the project.

The Sijwa Project has a broad vision of empowering the local community by creating jobs, preserving traditional knowledge, teaching skills and conserving the surrounding environment through a variety of proposed activities. With the highest rate of unemployment in Namibia found in the Zambezi Region, the owners of African Monarch Lodges, carefully structured a project that will address some of these problems through a holistic approach. This bold project is multi-faceted and in the end self-sufficient. The Sijwa Project is the re-purposing and re-inventing of all recyclable waste from the African Monarch Lodges and from the local community, into exquisite saleable craft and art. It’s an organic permaculture nursery to supply food for local people and lodge guests (mitigating the air and road miles lodge food usually travels). It’s also a cultural village, artisanal skills training center, a beehive project, a free-range egg scheme and a junior ranger-training venue. Plus, it’s an indigenous tree nursery for visitors to buy and plant a tree to offset their carbon footprint, looked after by a local ‘tree guardian’.

We set a magical bush brunch on a private island under majestic trees which creates an authentic African Experience. Our Chef prepares eggs and bacon on the fire and an elaborate continental buffet is served.

Our management and staff take great pleasure in setting up these special experiences in the bush for our guests who are on honeymoon or celebrating a Birthday or Anniversary as well as for private parties or families travelling together.

For those specials occasions or celebrations we create the perfect experience at sunset at a prime location inside the park.

The famous Horseshoe Lagoon, with its vast herds of elephants is the most sought after spot for a sundowner and fresh homemade healthy snacks after an afternoon’s game drive. The evening’s warm starter is served whilst sitting barefoot in the sand soaking up the breathtaking sunsets together with hippos and large herds of elephants silhouetted over the water. An exclusive night drive, while viewing the nocturnal wildlife, takes you back home where a delicious meal awaits your guest.

Nothing tops a secluded personalized picnic under the canopy of majestic trees in the wild. A bottle of sparkling wine and a freshly prepared organic spread from our kitchen will set the scene for a truly spectacular vintage picnic safari.

Whether you are curious to explore ways to live a more mindful life, whether you would like to compliment your travels with time to rest and rejuvenate or you are a well-practised Yogi seeking to further your own practice - take part in one of our yoga retreats in the heart of the world's largest conservation area, exclusively hosted at Nambwa Tented Lodge. Please contact us to receive a complete itinerary of yoga retreats on offer.

No Chobe safari is complete without experiencing the beauty of the Chobe River and its incredible wildlife by boat.

The riverboats are specifically designed to ensure each passenger can take in the magnificent Chobe views in complete comfort from anywhere on the boat. Owing to the flexibility in seating arrangements and the flat deck, the boats are ideal for keen wildlife photographers, with ample space for equipment and the freedom to photograph from any angle.

Unlike any other water-based activity in Botswana, the game viewing while on a river safari in Chobe is unsurpassed anywhere in Botswana. Elephants line the water’s edge, hippo congregate in lagoons, hundreds of antelope and giraffe make their way to the water and sightings of predators along the river banks are common.

All of the boats at Chobe Game Lodge are solar-electric powered boats – a clean and quiet way to enjoy a boat safari and another first for tourism in Africa.

Owing to the location of Chobe Game Lodge inside the Chobe National Park, early-morning game drives set off as soon as the park opens, giving you the best chance of tracking predators while they are still active. The afternoon drives depart the lodge in the late afternoon (the exact time is dependent on the season), only returning at park closure time after sunset, thus maximising the time you spend out in the park to enjoy those special sightings.

The drives follow the course of the Chobe River as your experienced guide interprets the bush signs and tracks in search of the resident wildlife. Elephant encounters are common and huge herds of buffalo abound. The ever-present impala and the majestic giraffe are both common residents, while sightings of the puku antelope are also on offer. Predators are plentiful in the northern region of the Chobe National Park, and excellent sightings of lion, wild dog and leopard are to be had.

The Chobe Game Lodge vehicles are open 4WD game viewers redesigned to make your trip comfortable and your viewing experience astonishing. Included in the fleet are several silent, CO2 emission-free electric vehicles designed to further enhance your Chobe safari.

Birding is spectacular with Schalows turaco, barred owlet and white-browed coucal resident in the gardens as well as rosythroated longclaw, western-banded snake-eagle and hooded vulture among a few of the 450 species of the Chobe region.