15 days – Windhoek Victoria Falls Elephant Track Safari

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 1: Breakfast not included
Day 1: Lunch will be an own expense meal
Day 1: Dinner will be a set meal provided by the lodge
Day 2: Breakfast provided by the lodge
Day 2: Lunch will be an own expense meal
Day 2: Dinner will be a set meal provided by the lodge

Includes: Entrance fees to Sesriem Canyon and Naukluft National Park.
Distance/time: ±320km, 4h30 actual driving time, but the gravel road deteriorates and can be slow so with lunch and stops, we expect a travel day of ±7h30.
Overnight: Elegant Desert Lodge – twin rooms with en suite facilities. Restaurant, swimming pool & bar. WiFi not available.

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 3: Breakfast provided by the lodge
Day 3: Lunch will be an own expense meal
Day 3: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant

Includes: N/A
Distance/time: ±350km, 5h00 actual driving time, this gravel road is very rough, a stop for photo’s at the tropic of Capricorn, sightseeing and lunch in Walvis bay we expect a travel day of ±8h00.
Optional Activities: Sand boarding, skydiving, ocean canoe safari, scenic flights & many more.
Overnight: Hotel A La Mer – twin share rooms with en suite facilities. Telephone & restaurant. WiFi in the main building.

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 4: Breakfast provided by the hotel
Day 4: Lunch provided by the tour leaders
Day 4: Dinner will be a set meal provided by the lodge
Day 5: Breakfast provided by the lodge
Day 5: Picnic lunch provided by the tour leaders
Day 5: Dinner will be a set meal provided by the lodge

Includes: Entrance to Brandberg, walk with local guide to White Lady painting and 4WD excursion with a local guide.
Distance/time: ±250km, 3h30 actual driving time, starting on a “salt” road, the road is generally quite good, for a total travel day of ±4h00.
Overnight: Brandberg White Lady Lodge – twin share chalets with en-suite facilities, bar, restaurant & swimming pool. WiFi not available.

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.
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 6: Breakfast provided by the lodge
Day 6: Lunch own expense meal
Day 6: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant
Day 7: Breakfast provided by the lodge
Day 7: Lunch own expense meal
Day 7: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant

Includes: Entrance fees to Etosha National Park, 1 x full day game drive in Etosha NP.
Distance/time: ±450km, 6h00 actual driving time on day 6, the road can be rough and with an afternoon game drive in Etosha we expect a total of ±8h30 in the vehicle.
Overnight: Day 6: Okaukuejo, twin rooms en-suite with swimming pool, restaurant and bar.
Day 7: Namutoni, twin rooms en-suite with swimming pool, restaurant and bar.

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 8: Breakfast provided by the lodge
Day 8: Lunch own expense meal
Day 8: Dinner will be an own expense meal at the lodge restaurant

Includes: Morning game drive in Etosha NP.
Distance/time: ±560km, 5h00 actual driving time, as we game drive out of Etosha this morning before moving on, we expect a long travel day of ±9h30.
Overnight: Roys Rest Camp – twin permanent chalets with en-suite facilities, Swimming pool, bar & restaurant. WiFi not available.

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 9: Breakfast provided by the lodge
Day 9: Lunch provided by the tour leaders
Day 9: Dinner provided by the lodge

Includes: –
Distance/time: ±440km, 5h30 actual driving time, we head north this morning on a tarmac road and we expect a travel day of ±6h00.
Overnight: Nunda River Lodge – twin share permanent tents with en-suite facilities. Swimming pool, bar, restaurant, telephone. WiFi not available.

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 10-11: Breakfast provided by the lodge
Day 10-11: Lunch provided by the lodge
Day 10-11: Dinner provided by the lodge

Includes: Mahangu NP entrance fee & game drive in tour vehicle, Okavango mokoro and motorboat excursions.
Distance/time: ±160km, 2h00 actual driving time, border takes some time, and we expect a travel day of ±3h00.
Overnight: Guma Lagoon – twin en-suite canvas chalets. Swimming pool, bar, restaurant. WiFi available in the lounge.

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 12: Breakfast provide by the lodge
Day 12: Lunch will be an own expense meal
Day 12: Dinner will be a set menu provided by the lodge

Includes: River cruise on Kwando River.
Distance/time: ±380km, 4h30 actual driving time, + border control and a shopping stop, before a game drive in Mahangu and on to camp. We expect a total travel time of ±7hrs total.
Overnight: Camp Kwando – twin share permanent tents with en-suite facilities. Swimming pool, bar, restaurant, telephone. WiFi not available.

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 13: Breakfast provided by the lodge
Day 13: Lunch own expense meal
Day 13: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant

Includes: Afternoon boat cruise in Chobe NP, park fees.
Distance/time: ±260km,3h30 actual driving time, we look out for game as we head for a border crossing and a lunch stop total travel time ±6hrs total.
Overnight: Chobe Safari Lodge – twin rooms with en-suite facilities, swimming pool, restaurant & bar. WiFi available.

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.

Day 14: Breakfast provided by the lodge
Day 14: Lunch own expense meal
Day 14: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant

Includes: Entrance to see the Victoria Falls Zimbabwe.
Distance/time: ±100km, 1h30 actual driving time, It’s not a long way, but the border can be busy and slow so we anticipate a total travel day of ±3h30.
Optional Activities Sunset cruises, scenic flights & many more.
Overnight: PheZulu Guest Lodge, twin rooms with en-suite facilities. Swimming pool, restaurant, bar and telephone. Free WiFi available.

This classic journey ends at 08:00am at the lodge.

Day 15: Breakfast provided by the lodge
Day 15: Lunch not included
Day 15: Dinner not included

Includes: N/A
Distance/time: N/A
Please Note: The distance and travel times quoted above are an estimate only, and subject to local road conditions and animal sightings!

Please note: That the accommodation specified above and in the itinerary, is a guide only and is subject to availability. Alternatives will be of a similar standard, and accommodation changes will be made without notice.

Sustainable Tourism: In the Ugab wilderness region we stay at the White Lady Lodge. A partnership was signed in 2003 and the local community benefit through the employment and a percentage of the income of the lodge. There are also other spin-offs such as the sale of fire wood to the lodge.