Great Trans-African Safari

On arrival at Windhoek Airport we will be met and transferred to our accommodation. The rest of the day is at our leisure for optional activities (own expense). There will be a pre-departure meeting at 6pm, presented by our guide this evening. It is imperative that all participants attend this meeting to not miss any critical information.

Moving south we make our way towards the Namib Naukluft National Park and our accommodation for the next two nights, Agama River Camp. The park contains what is considered to be the oldest desert in the world. The next morning we need to wake up early to visit the world’s highest sand dunes at Sossusvlei and Deadvlei. These dunes, which can reach heights of over 300 m, are absolutely spectacular and provide for a fantastic photo opportunity. With luck, there may even be water in the vlei (lake). We also stop to view the Sesriem Canyon, which was carved millions of years ago by the Tsauchab River.

Spend the day in Sossusvlei

The day is spent driving through the Namib Naukluft National Park on the way to Swakopmund. The Namib-Naukluft Desert is an ancient land with an ageless spirit. It is home to some of the rarest plant and animal species in the world. Sightings of these unique fauna and flora are a must on a Namibian safari. The animals of this harsh landscape include the oryx, springbok and Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra. We can also spot the Welwitschia Mirabilis, an odd-looking desert shrub of which one is a large, protected specimen estimated at over 1500 years in age. Enroute we make a stop in the small town of Walvis Bay where we may spot a variety of birds including flamingo’s in the lagoon. We arrive at the charming coastal town of Swakopmund in the late afternoon, where we will have the opportunity soak up the atmosphere of this quaint, little German town and enjoy its beauty and beaches.

We leave Waterberg National Park and travel via Cheetah Conservation Foundation at Otjiwarongo to Etosha. The CCF is an internationally recognised centre for research and education on cheetahs and their eco-systems. It boasts an extensive visitor’s centre, which encourages tourists to learn more about these beautiful cats and the efforts being made to save them. We continue our journey towards Namibia’s best-known highlight of the north – Etosha National Park. The first night is spent at our lodge neighbouring the park, situated on an outcrop of dolomite rocks and overlooking a forest of Mopane and white Seringa trees. Spend the afternoon relaxing at the pool, or take a leisurely stroll through the natural bush and gardens. Optional game drives are also available.

After breakfast we make our way to Namibia’s best-known highlight of the north – Etosha National Park. We enter the park via the Western Corridor, a previously restricted part of the park, which boasts some of the highest numbers of wildlife. We fill the next two days with game drives in the hopes of spotting the Big Five as well as cheetah, giraffe, zebra and the numerous types of antelope the park has to offer. Our nights are spent at the flood-lit waterholes or viewpoints encountering the park’s various nocturnal animals that come to drink. Etosha was declared a National Park in 1907 and it is home to approx. 114 mammal species, 340 bird species, 110 reptile species, 16 amphibian species and, surprisingly, one species of fish

Spend the day in Etosha National Park

Departing from Etosha we drive into Bushmanland and take a guided visit to the Living Museum of the Ju’Hoansi-San, a local Bushmen community who offer us the opportunity to participate in their daily activities. The Living Museum is an authentic open-air museum where guests can learn about the traditional culture and the original way of living of the San people. A walk is taken in the vicinity of the village with the hunters to search for bush food, watch them prepare snares and ropes and start a fire the Ju/’Hoansi way. After lunch in the shade of the trees, our journey continues to the town of Rundu as we make our way to Kaisosi River Lodge on the banks of the Okavango River. We will arrive in the late afternoon to relax by the pool with a sundowner listening to the sounds of Mother Nature.

This morning we travel eastwards onto our camp in the western Caprivi region, Mahangu Lodge. Before departure however, there will be time for optional activities such as an early morning boat cruise at the lodge or a visit to the Mbunza Living Museum, a traditional cultural school and communal business for the local Kavango people. We then continue to Mahangu, meaning ‘food of the local people’, which is situated next to the Okavango River. Enjoy an afternoon game drive in the Greater Bwabwata National Park, which extends from the Kavango River in the west to the Kwando River in the east and incorporates the Mahangu Game Reserve. Elephant, roan, kudu and buffalo are amongst the animals likely to be seen as well as prolific birdlife.

We leave the Caprivi and travel south to Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta and Moremi Game Reserve. The name Maun is derived from the San word “maung”, which means “the place of short reeds”. The afternoon is ours to spend at leisure, either relaxing next to the pool at the lodge or if we are keen for some excitement, why not book a scenic flight over the Okavango Delta.

After breakfast we will be picked up by our local Botswana guides and take a short drive to the mokoro station. From here, we will float in dug-out canoes through the thick vegetation of the Okavango Delta discovering a variety of birds and wildlife. Unlike other deltas, it flows into the Kalahari Desert without ever reaching the coast. After this spectacular excursion, we make our way to camp, which is situated in close proximity to the famous Khwai River. NOTE: there is no electricity at this traditional camp. Once settled, we enjoy dinner and embark on a night game drive – a fantastic opportunity to spot some nocturnal animals that are more difficult to encounter during the day.

We have the opportunity to spend the day on game drives. In our open 4x4 vehicle we will explore the Khwai River region area on morning and afternoon game drives hopefully spotting a variety of game that frequent this region. This large area is renowned for its concentration of mammals and it is not unusual to see many different types of wildlife during just one game drive. Game viewing is seasonal; depending on the time of the year you may see different species in different areas. The best time for game viewing is the end of the dry season or spring from August to November. During this season, in order for us to offer the best game viewing possible, extra driving may be required due to the animals migrating closer to the river. In the summer, birdlife can also be viewed in abundance with exceptional sightings of wildfowl and raptors.

Today we leave the bush behind and travel east towards the Makgadikgadi Pans, once a large river fed lake, however the pans are now saline and empty. In the afternoon we visit the Nata Bird Sanctuary, where we get the opportunity to enjoy the magnificent view over the Sowa pan, which is part of the Greater Makgadikgadi Pans. (Please note a visit to the pans is subject to the road conditions and water levels as well as time constraints.)

This morning we head north to Kasane, the gateway to the Chobe National Park. Chobe, which is the second largest national park in Botswana and covers 10,566 square km (4080 square miles), has one of the greatest concentrations of elephant found on the African continent. The afternoon is at leisure to partake in a number of optional activities or to relax by the pool. The next day we will get to see the wildlife of the Chobe National Park on a morning game drive, with the hope of spotting big game up close and also the possibility of an encounter with one of the large predators. In the afternoon we go on a cruise on the Chobe River, a truly unforgettable experience and one of the best ways to view the animals as they come down to drink, as well as the spectacular African sunset.

Spend the day in Chobe National Park

Today we make our way across the border into Zimbabwe and onto Hwange National Park where we spend the next two nights. Hwange National Park is one of Africa's finest havens for wildlife and is home to vast herds of elephant, buffalo, and zebra and has a very large concentration of giraffe. It is also home to many predators and endangered species plus varied birdlife. A full day game drive is included on the park on the second day.

Spend the day in Hwange National Park

Continuing our trip, we turn northwards to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Our guide will take us on a tour of the mighty Victoria Falls, known by the local Kololo tribe as Mosi oa Tunya - “the smoke that thunders”. The rest of the day may be spent at leisure or partaking in one of the many optional activities on offer.

Our safari ends after breakfast. You will be transferred to Victoria Falls Airport in time for your departure flight. We hope to welcome you again one day on another of our African adventures.