Day 1 – 3 : Etosha Safari Lodge
After breakfast we will depart for Etosha National Park where will spend the next 4 nights. Etosha is one of Africa’s biggest and best National Parks and one of the main tourist attractions in Namibia. It is 22 912 km 2 in size of which the Etosha Pan, a shallow depression that only holds water after good rainy seasons, is 5000 km 2 in size. Etosha is known for its spectacular game viewing and the waterholes attract huge numbers of game in the dry season when all the open water has dried up. During the rainy season in the park the dry grassland is transformed into a green oasis and this is the time you find young of various animal species in huge numbers. 114 Species of mammal are found in the park and it is the best place in the world to see Black Rhino. Other game include elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, giraffe, honey-badger, black-faced impala, kudu, eland, damara dik-dik, warthog and big herds of springbok, zebra, blue wildebeest, red hartebeest and oryx. More than 300 species of birds are found here and it is brilliant for finding raptors.
The Etosha National Park is Namibia’s premier game viewing experience, situated in the northwest of Namibia and is an area well known for its wildlife. Vegetation ranges from dense bush to open plains attracting a diversity of wildlife. In the heart of the Park is The Etosha Pan – a shallow depression that covers an area of 5000sq kilometres. Dry and shimmering for most of the year, the pans fill up with water after good rains to a depth which is seldom deeper than 1m. In the dry season wildlife is attracted to perennial springs and waterholes that makes for excellent game viewing. Within the park are three large public rest camps catering for the more budget orientated traveller. There are several smaller establishments on the outskirts of the park on private land offering a more intimate and comprehensive experience. All of these establishments offer excellent value for money.
Guests rave about the view: the restaurant and chalets, situated on a hillock, offer magnificent views of the African bush savannah. All of the 65 double room chalets have air conditioners and mosquito nets, and a choice of three swimming pools between them. Apart from the restaurant and bar there is a wooden platform for sundowners high above the Mopani bush. The Andersson Gate into Etosha National Park is a mere 9 km away.
Included are Park Fees and Game Drives in our vehicle.
We will do morning and afternoon games drives on day 2 and relax at the pool or camp waterhole between drives. Activities can include exploring Etosha West – the area and vegetation is very different to the south-eastern and eastern part of the park and the Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra can be found here. In this area and with a more undulating landscape, it makes for a very different wildlife experience. White dust and clay which makes up the Etosha Pan turns to a reddish-brown soil during this time which may lead you to believe you have entered an entirely new park when you visit. Included are Park Fees and a Full Day Game Drive.
Day 3 – 5 : Mokuti Etosha Lodge
From here we will make our way across the park in a full morning game drive to Mokuti Lodge on the eastern boundary where we will spend the next 2 nights. I love this lodge and park of the park with excellent game viewing and am sure you will enjoy this as well.
Located in North-western Namibia, Etosha East is a protected sanctuary in the eastern part of the world-renowned Etosha National Park, known as one of the most accessible game reserves in Southern Africa. Etosha East boasts vast open plains scattered with semi-arid savannah grasslands dotted with watering holes and secluded bush camps. An impressive 5000-square-kilometre Etosha salt pan makes up a large area of the eastern side of the park and can even be seen from space. This remote area teems with abundant wildlife such as lions, elephants, black rhinos and giraffes, as well as a variety of birdlife featuring flamingos, ostriches, eagles, hornbills, and owls.
Mokuti Etosha Lodge is the perfect venue for travellers wanting to explore the famous eastern side of Etosha National Park and is located on its own private 4 000 hectare nature reserve, which shares a common border with this impressive wildlife reserve. Known for its excellent and diverse wildlife encounters, it has become a popular venue for meetings, incentives, weddings and honeymoons. This intimate lodge has 90 rooms and 16 luxury rooms. Recently refurbished, they are all air conditioned and come equipped with satellite TV, a mini-fridge, safes, free Wi-Fi, tea/coffee-making facilities and en-suite bathrooms. The lodge also offers the Tambuti Dining Room and Marula Bar, the Pool Bar and Terrace, two tennis courts, a spa, a gym and the only open air African Boma in the area.
Activities can include exploring Etosha Pan. Aeons ago, Etosha Pan was the bed of a vast lake; today what remains is a glittering, silvery-green salt pan that stretches across roughly 5000 square kilometres. Etosha is protected by the Etosha Pan National Park surrounded by savannah plains and woodlands supporting large herds of elephants. When dry, the pan sustains little life except for the algae that gives it its distinctive colour, and migratory birds that use it as a pit stop, but with heavy rain it becomes a shallow lake where flamingos breed, pelicans wade and feed, and a variety of mammal species come to quench their thirst, including leopards, lions, white rhinos, hunting dogs and antelopes.
Included are Game Drives in our own Vehicle and Park fees.
We will do morning and afternoon games drives on day 4 and relax at the pool or camp waterhole between drives.
Activities include exploring Etosha East – Located in North-western Namibia, Etosha East is a protected sanctuary in the eastern part of the world-renowned Etosha National Park, known as one of the most accessible game reserves in Southern Africa. Etosha East boasts vast open plains scattered with semi-arid savannah grasslands dotted with watering holes and secluded bush camps. An impressive 5000-square-kilometre Etosha salt pan makes up a large area of the eastern side of the park and can even be seen from space. This remote area teems with abundant wildlife such as lions, elephants, black rhinos and giraffes, as well as a variety of birdlife featuring flamingos, ostriches, eagles, hornbills, and owls.
Included are Park Fees and Full Day Game Drive.
Day 5 – 7 : Mahangu Safari Lodge
After breakfast we will depart for the Caprivi, one of Namibia’s hidden secrets. The Caprivi with its lush green woodland and big rivers are completely different to what we experienced in Etosha. We will enjoy a good night’s rest after the day’s journey while listening to the sound of hippos.
Mahango Game Park is a small park, a short drive south of Popa Falls, on the border with Botswana. As Popa Falls is a natural point to break the long journey between Rundu and Katima Mulilo, Mahango Game Park should be considered for inclusion in the itinerary. Driving the route through the park will take approximately half a day. In order to drive the full circular route, an off road vehicle will be needed. There is a shorter route which can be driven by a sedan in the dry season. The effort of visiting the park will be rewarding in terms of wildlife and bird watching. The Mahango Game Park has a high number of elephants, as well as fair numbers of antelopes which are scarce or not seen in other parts of Namibia. These include the roan and sable antelope, tsessebe and the red lechwe. The park is also home to a number of sitatunga, however these antelopes are very scarce, and sightings will be excellent luck. The best time to see elephants and antelope will be during the dry season. Part of the park borders on the Kavango river, so the possibility of seeing crocodiles exists. In order to see hippos, the traveller should book a nocturnal game viewing trip, as hippos are nocturnal creatures. The best time for game viewing is in the dry months between March and October. The Mahango Game Park is an excellent destination for bird watching. It has three different habitats: the Kavango River, the flood plains, known as omurambas and woodlands, so a wide spread of species can be seen. The best time of year for bird watching is in the rainy months from November to February.
The comfortably-styled, thatched Mahangu Safari Lodge is a new lodge in the Caprivi Region of Namibia, next to the Mahango National Park. The Lodge offers beautiful campsites with power points next to the river. Campers are welcome to make use of the restaurant. Mahangu Safari Lodge offers a game drives, boat trips as well as fishing excursions. Included are Dinner, Bed and Breakfast.
After breakfast on day 6 we will do a boat cruise on the Okavango. After lunch at our lodge while enjoying the beautiful view of the mighty Okavango River we will go on an afternoon game drive in Mahangu National Park which is well known for their big buffalo herds and plenty of hippos. Other game that we might see includes elephant, lion, leopard, wild dog, impala, kudu, lechwe. Other additional activities that could be arranged include a mokoro trip or trying your hand at catching the legendary tiger fish.
Activities can include travelling Mahango Game Reserve. Mahango Game Park is a small park, a short drive south of Popa Falls, on the border with Botswana. As Popa Falls is a natural point to break the long journey between Rundu and Katima Mulilo, Mahango Game Park should be considered for inclusion in the itinerary. Driving the route through the park will take approximately half a day. In order to drive the full circular route, an off-road vehicle will be needed. There is a shorter route which can be driven by a sedan in the dry season. The effort of visiting the park will be rewarding in terms of wildlife and bird watching. The Mahango Game Park has a high number of elephants, as well as fair numbers of antelopes which are scarce or not seen in other parts of Namibia. These include the roan and sable antelope, tsessebe and the red lechwe. The park is also home to a number of sitatunga, however these antelopes are very scarce, and sightings will be excellent luck. The best time to see elephants and antelope will be during the dry season. Part of the park borders on the Kavango river, so the possibility of seeing crocodiles exists. In order to see hippos, the traveller should book a nocturnal game viewing trip, as hippos are nocturnal creatures. The best time for game viewing is in the dry months between March and October. The Mahango Game Park is an excellent destination for bird watching. It has three different habitats: the Kavango River, the flood plains, known as omurambas and woodlands, so a wide spread of species can be seen. The best time of year for bird watching is in the rainy months from November to February. Included is 1 x Boat Cruise and Game Drives at Mahangu National Park.
Day 7 : Namushasha River Lodge
After breakfast we will continue our safari further east along the Caprivi Strip. After a short drive of about 200 km we will have lunch and settle into our lodge on the banks of the channels of the beautiful Kwando River. We will then explore the Kwando River with an afternoon boat cruise. We will try and find elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, wild dog, impala, sable, tssesebe, roan, giraffe, hippo, zebra, wildebeest, lechwe, baboons and steenbok.
The 6100-square-kilometre Bwabwata National Park incorporates the West Caprivi Triangle around Kongola, the Mahango Game Reserve, Popa Falls and the Buffalo Core Area. The park aims to rehabilitate wildlife populations that were lost to poachers; therefore, community game guards and resource monitors are employed as part of a long-term strategy aimed at conservation as well as job creation for local Caprivian people. It is because of places like Bwabwata that there has been a steady increase in the numbers of Namibian wildlife, including several rare species. The best time to visit the park is in October when animals gather around the remaining waterholes along the Kwando River.
As the evening sky turns into a red glow you sit back, high above the river, enjoying a chilled drink while listening to the deep grunt of hippos – this experience awaits you on the sundowner deck of Namushasha River Lodge on the Kwando River in eastern Caprivi. Situated 24 km south of Kongola on the C 49 (former D 3501), it is the perfect stop-over en route to the Victoria Falls. Apart from 24 rooms in chalets the lodge consists of a restaurant, a bar and a swimming pool. Watch elephant, hippo, buffalo or sable antelope on excursions by boat and off-road vehicle or take time to observe the colourful birdlife (more than 400 species).
Activities can include exploring the Kwando River. Kwando is an excellent game viewing area with the perennial waters of the river attracting plentiful wildlife to the area. The Kwando River is the life blood of the region and the Linyanti Swamps to the south and is renowned for its large herds of elephants. Included is a Boat Cruise.
Day 8 – 10 : Chobe Safari Lodge
After breakfast you will be picked up for your transfer that will take you to your lodge where you will be spending the next 2 nights. You will cross over into Botswana at the Ngoma gate which is one of the most scenic border posts overlooking the Chobe River floodplain. The last 60 km of this road takes us right through Chobe National Park and after settling in at your lodge in Kasane you will enjoy a sun-downer drink while enjoying the great view over the Chobe River. Kasane is a small-town bordering Chobe National Park and is the perfect base from which to explore this park. It is not uncommon to see wildlife in and around town.
The Chobe River forms the northern boundary of the Chobe National Park, renowned for its diverse and abundant game viewing opportunities. This section of the park is best known for its dense concentration of wildlife including elephant and hippo populations, but the waters attract all manner of game including large herds of buffalo and the lions that prey on them. A visit to this area guarantees close encounters with an array of African wildlife. Visitors can look forward to some exciting activities such as: driving along the game-dotted river banks in a 4WD; cruising along the river in a motorboat, spotting rare birdlife and for a unique, luxury safari experience, hire a houseboat.
Chobe Safari Lodge is situated in Kasane on the banks of the Chobe River and shares a border with Chobe National Park. Right on the doorstep is the meeting of four African countries: Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Chobe Safari Lodge therefore offers an excellent getaway location to Chobe, Victoria Falls or Caprivi.
The close proximity to Victoria Falls International Airport, Livingstone International Airport and Kasane International Airport makes it easily accessible, with daily road transfers or charter flights connecting all these airports with Chobe Safari Lodge. The lodge has been recently renovated; matching a magical lodge experience to the spectacular game viewing. Included are Dinner, Bed and Breakfast, and excluded is lunch.
This whole day will be dedicated to explore Chobe National Park. You will do a game drive and a boat cruise and the time of the year will determine which one you do first. Chobe has the highest concentration of elephants in the world as well as one of the highest wildlife concentrations on earth. Besides all the elephants you will also try and find buffalo, sable, wild dog, puku (southernmost limit of its range), lechwe, lion, leopard, hippo, crocodile, bushbuck, waterbuck, giraffe and huge zebra herds. Elephants crossing, playing or swimming in the Chobe River is a sight you will never forget. You will again stay in the same lodge overlooking the Chobe River.
Activities can include travelling Chobe National Park. Renowned for its impressive, shifting migratory population of more than 50 000 elephants, Chobe National Park is situated in the far north-east of Botswana, bordered to the north by the mighty Chobe River. It is the second largest national park in Botswana featuring four distinct eco-systems: the Savuti Channel in the west; the Linyanti Swamps in the northwest; the arid hinterland in between and Serondela in the extreme northeast with fertile plains and thick forests. This diversity of habitats provides a sanctuary to an astonishing array of African wildlife. In addition to spotting Chobe’s great pachyderm herds, you are likely to spot lion, leopard, hyena, wild dog, impala, waterbuck, kudu, zebra, wildebeest giraffe, and warthog. The park is also famous for its wonderful riverboat safaris, making Chobe an essential destination for any avid safari enthusiast.
Included are Game Drives with Chobe Safari Lodge and a Boat Cruise with Chobe Safari Lodge. Excluded is lunch.
Day 10 : A’Zambezi River Lodge
After breakfast you will be transferred across the border into Zimbabwe which will be your third and last country that you will visit on this safari. It is a short drive of about 70 km and continue to keep an eye open for wildlife along the way. After arriving in Victoria Falls you will continue straight to your lodge which is situated close to the falls which is also known as ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’ – The Smoke that Thunders. It is one of the most beautiful and most majestic waterfalls in the world and it is not difficult to see why the Victoria Falls are one of the 7 natural wonders of the world. After lunch and settling into your lodge you will have the afternoon open for any activities which is not included in the price.
Resting on the southern banks of the Zambezi River at the western end of the eponymous falls, this popular tourist town is compact enough to walk around and makes an ideal base for travellers exploring the seventh wonder of the world, the unfathomably vast Victoria Falls. About two thirds of the falls can be viewed from the Zimbabwean side and, while the falls are undoubtedly the star attraction, the area provides both adventure seekers and sightseers with plenty of opportunities to warrant a longer stay. Popular activities include scenic flights over the falls in helicopters or micro lights, bungee jumping off the Victoria Falls Bridge, white-water rafting (seasonal), and day trips to Chobe National Park. The town itself offers some excellent accommodation and restaurant options as well as an eclectic variety of African curios and authentic art sold by friendly Zimbabwean locals who are wonderfully welcoming and eager to help you enjoy your stay.
The immense beauty of the Zambezi has captured the hearts of explorers for over a century. A’Zambezi is famed for its African-style design, curvy lay-out, distinctive thatched roof and its perfect blending into the surrounding environment. Likewise, its accommodation follows the same theme, with thoughtfully decorated river-theme rooms in a variety of options.
Included are Dinner, Bed and Breakfast and excluded are all activities and lunch.
Day 11 : transit
After a relaxing breakfast and depending on your flight times you will be transferred to Victoria Falls International Airport. Kindly arrange this transfer time directly with the lodge and please take note that this is for your own account. Excluded is Airport Transfer
and Lunch.
