21 days – Namibia Botswana Southern Circle

Tour departure meeting at 14:00pm. Victoria Falls is one of the natural wonders of the world and we take 2 days to explore this area. Adventure activities abound, white water rafting on the mighty Zambezi, helicopter flights or an 111m bungi jump (own expense).

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

Includes: Entrance to see the Victoria Falls
Distance/time: N/A
Optional Activities: White water rafting, sunset cruises, scenic flights & many more
Overnight: Victoria Falls Waterfront – Twin share Adventure Village chalet with en-suite facilities. Swimming pool, bar, restaurant, telephone. (Or Maramba Lodge, twin share chalet with en-suite facilities). Internet café.

Crossing out of Zambia into the Caprivi strip, we spend two days travelling west through this game rich area. We’ll explore the Kwando River by boat and a game drive into the Mahango Game Reserve.

Day 3: Breakfast provided by the lodge
Day 3: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 3: Dinner provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 4: Breakfast will be provided by the lodge
Day 4: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 4: Dinner provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group

Includes: Entrance fees & game drives.
Distance/time: Day 3: ±300km, 7h00 actual driving time, but with a seasonally potholed road, a slow border crossing and lunch stop we expect a total travel day of ±9h30. This is a long travel day takes us to a special overnight stop.
Day 4: ±200km, 3h00 actual driving time, en route we stop for a village walk and expect a travel day of ±04h00.
Overnight: Camp Kwando – twin share permanent tents with en-suite facilities. Swimming pool, bar, restaurant, telephone. WiFi not available.
Ngepi Camp – twin share tree houses with en-suite facilities. Swimming cage in the river, bar & restaurant. WiFi free in the main building.

After a morning enjoying the abundant birdlife that surrounds the camp, our road takes us along the Kavango River. Villages of grass huts and local wooden crafts and carvings a common sight. We stop for the night at our riverside lodge in Rundu and enjoy a spectacular sunset.

Day 5: Breakfast provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 5: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 5: Dinner will be an own expense meal provided by the lodge

Includes: N/A
Distance/time: ±210km, 3h00 actual driving time, with a couple of stops it’s a travel day of less than ±4h00.
Overnight: Inkwazi Lodge – twin permanent chalets with en-suite facilities, Swimming pool, bar & restaurant. WiFi not available.

We head deeper into Namibia to the Etosha National Park. The National Park surrounds the Etosha Pan and is locally named “the great white place of dry water”. Waterholes surround the pan and attract game. Etosha is known for great sightings of elephant, antelope and lions. Our lodge lies on the boundary of the park and we spend our mornings and afternoons on game drives.

Day 6: Breakfast will be provided by the lodge
Day 6: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 6: Dinner provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 7, 8: Breakfast provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 7, 8: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 7, 8: Dinner provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group

Includes: Entrance fees to Etosha National Park, 2 x full day game drive in Etosha NP.
Distance/time: ±620km, 8h00 actual driving time, day 6 is a long transit travel day of ±9h30. The following full day is set aside for game drives in Etosha NP.
Overnight: Tarentaal Guest Farm – private working farm outside Etosha National Park. Twin rooms with en-suite facilities. Swimming pool, bar & telephone. (35km/25min from Anderson Gate to Etosha). WiFi not available.

Our journey covers some beautiful desert landscapes as we move south towards the Brandberg Mountain. Our lodge is situated in the dry Ugab River which is home to the rare desert elephants. We take a walk with a local guide to view the famous White Lady rock painting in the area.

Day 9: Breakfast provide by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 9: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 9: Dinner provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group

Includes: Entrance to the petrified forest and San Rock Art.
Distance/time: ±430km, 6h00 actual driving time, and with a couple of stops on the way it’s a long and varied day of ±10h00 to our nest overnight stop.
Overnight: Brandberg White Lady Lodge – twin share chalets with en-suite facilities, bar, restaurant & swimming pool. WiFi not available.

We cross flat open plains to the coast where we visit the Cape Cross seal colony. Further south is the coastal town of Swakopmund where we have a day free to explore the town or try sea kayaking or dune boarding (own expense). German colonial influences are strong in the town of Swakopmund as is reflected in the restaurant menus and the architecture.

Day 10: Breakfast provide by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 10: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 10: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant
Day 11: Breakfast will be provided by the hotel
Day 11: Lunch will be an own expense meal
Day 11: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant

Includes: Entrance to Cape Cross seal colony.
Distance/time: ±250km, 3h30 actual driving time, after a morning walk we have travel day of 6h30 including a visit to Cape Cross.
Optional Activities: Sand boarding, Skydiving, Ocean canoe safari, Scenic flights & many more.
Overnight: Hotel Pension a la Mer – twin share standard rooms with en suite facilities. Telephone & restaurant. WiFi in the main building.

The lunar landscapes surround the town of Swakopmund and we visit these as we leave and head into the Namib Desert with its towering red sand dunes. We will walk to Sossusvlei, explore Sesriem Canyon and from the comfort of our lodge outside the
National park watch a dramatic sunset over the world’s highest sand dunes.

Day 12: Breakfast will be provided by the hotel
Day 12: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 12: Dinner provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 13: Breakfast provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 13: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 13: Dinner provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group

Includes: Entrance fees to Sesriem Canyon and Naukluft National Park.
Distance/time: ±350km, 5h00 actual driving time, the desert scenery is varied but the road is rough gravel, so with a few stops it’s a long travel day of ±7h30.
Optional Activities: On arrival at Sossusvlei the guide will walk with the group into Sossusvlei (+/- 3.5km). For those who do not want to walk, there are 4WD vehicles that can drive you in. The 4WD, is an own expense (+/- N$85 each way) and is optional.
Overnight: Namib Desert, Desert Camp – twin share permanent tents with en suite facilities. Restaurant, swimming pool & bar. WiFi not available.

Windhoek is the capital and largest city in Namibia, its charm lies in its harmonious blend of African and European cultures and the friendliness of its people and an interesting mix of modern and German colonial era influenced architecture. We arrive late in the day and enjoy a restaurant meal (own expense).

Day 14: Breakfast provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 14: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 14: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant

Includes: N/A
Distance/time: ±345km, 5h00 actual driving time, starting the day on rough gravel roads we climb the escarpment for a travel day of ±6h00.
Overnight: Klein Windhoek Guest House – twin rooms with en-suite facilities, swimming pool, restaurant & bar. WiFi available.

Crossing into Botswana we overnight in the heart of the Kalahari. We take a walk with the local San Bushmen to learn fascinating bush skills and get an insight into how these incredible people survive in this desert environment. Our overnight lodge is owned and operated by the community.

Day 15: Breakfast provided by the guest house
Day 15: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 15: Dinner provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group

Includes: Nature walk with local San bushman and translator.
Distance/time: ±550km, 7h30 actual driving time. An early start on all tarmac roads, but with a border crossing and lunch stop we expect a total transit day of ±8h30 into the Kalahari.
Overnight: Dqae Qare San Lodge. WiFi not available.

An annual flood of fresh-water spreads into the Kalahari Desert creating the reed lined channels of the Okavango Delta. Our first night is spent in Maun in preparation before journeying deep into the delta on mekoro (dugouts) – an experience not to be missed. We have 2 nights in our tented camp on a remote island and enjoy game walks, swimming and the birdlife in this pristine wilderness area.

Day 16: Breakfast provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 16: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 16: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local
Day 17, 18: Breakfast provided by the guest house x 1, by the tour leaders with the help of the group x 1
Day 17, 18: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 17, 18: Dinner provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group

Includes: Entrance to Okavango Delta, morning and afternoon game walks with local guides.
Distance/time: Day 16: ±300km, 04h30 actual driving time on a good tarmac road to Maun. After a morning walk, the drive and supply shopping in Maun, it’s a travel day of ±5h30.
Day 17: ±50km, 2h00 actual driving time to mekoro station. Mokoro ride to camp is dependent on campsite location so overall travel time for the day ±6h30.
Optional Activities: Scenic flight over the Okavango Delta.
Overnight: 1 x night Maun Island Safari Lodge, twin share bedrooms with en suite facilities. Swimming pool, bar, restaurant, telephone. WiFi not available.
2 x nights Okavango Delta – wilderness tented camping – 2 nights tented camp in the Okavango. Each tent has twin camp beds with linen and an en suite chemical toilet. Shared bucket shower tent with hot water off the fire. Tents have built-in insect nets. We need to take our own water and all equipment. Wild tented camping can be very enjoyable but please remember that we leave no trace of our stay and take all rubbish away with us. The wilderness tented camp supplies all linen blankets and pillows. The camp chairs have a backrest. You will need to bring your own towel. WiFi not available.

Feel the vastness of Africa under a big sky sunset. After the rains, the pans fill with water and attract thousands of water birds and herds of zebra, wildebeest and springbok. Day 19: Breakfast provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group

Day 19: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 19: Dinner will be an own expense meal

Includes: Entrance fees to Makgadikgadi Pans.
Distance/time: ±320km, 4h00 actual driving time. Starting with a mekoro ride, a 4×4 transfer and then repacking into the safari vehicle it’s a big travel day of ±8h00.
Overnight: Nata Lodge – twin share luxury tents with en suite facilities. Swimming pool, bar, restaurant, telephone. (or Pelican Lodge, – chalets with en suite facilities. Swimming pool, bar, restaurant, telephone). WiFi not available.

We turn north through the Chobe Forest Reserve to Kasane where we settle into our lodge. Chobe NP is famous for large herds of elephant and buffalo. Our afternoon is spent on an exciting wildlife boat cruise in the Chobe NP.

Day 20: Breakfast provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 20: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 20: Dinner will be an own expense meal

Includes: Sunset game viewing boat cruise on the Chobe River.
Distance/time: ±300km, 4h00 actual driving time. We leave early and aim for a midday arrival. Total travel for the day of ±4h30.
Overnight: Thebe River Safaris – twin chalets with en suite facilities. Swimming pool, bar, restaurant, telephone. WiFi available.

This morning we transfer across the Zambezi River on the Kazangula ferry to Livingstone where the tour ends at +/-12:00 noon.

Day 21: Breakfast provided by the lodge
Day 21: NA
Day 21: NA

Includes: N/A
Distance/time: ±70km, 1h00 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 ±3h00.
Overnight: N/A

We do a free drop off at Livingstone airport on day 21 at 12:00 so you can book your flight out for the last day of the tour.

Please note: The distance and travel times quoted above are an estimate only, and subject to local road conditions and photo
stops!
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.

Special Interest: The Namib Desert, at 55 million years old, is one of the oldest deserts in the world and covers an area of over 80,
00km². It is home to several unusual species including Stenocara gracilipes beetle which survives by obtaining water from morning fog settling on its raised body.

Sustainable Tourism: The sausage tree is the traditional tree cut down to make mokoro (dugouts) used in the Okavango Delta, but sadly these trees are disappearing from the region. Sunway has set up a project to encourage the local community
polers to buy fibreglass replica mekoros. Sponsorship for each mokoro is needed. If you would like to contribute, please talk to your guide.