Sossusvlei Park

Namibia, Botswana & Zimbabwe

Trip to Namibia, Botswana & Zimbabwe

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Countries

Namibia

Climb the highest sand dunes in the world. Descend to the floor of the deepest canyon in Africa. Immerse yourself in the past at one of the Africa’s richest rock art sites, and watch wildlife shimmer against one of the most spectacular pans on earth. Explore the oldest, driest desert in the world and take time to listen to the silence and to your soul.

Namibia is home to vibrant cities where people are excited about the future, while remaining deeply connected to their rich, cultural past. A stable, democratic government, infrastructure that allows guests to move confidently off the beaten path and endless horizons that beckon you to explore define this country and its people.

This is Namibia, where you are sure to find adventure, and you may just find yourself.

Namibia Map

Botswana

Botswana is widely regarded as an African success story and is a must for every nature loving traveller. The country itself has a surface of about 581,730 km² and its population justs tops over 2.2 million inhabitants. 

The nation is a true paradise for safari enthusiasts and offers some of the best widlife parks and sightings of the African Continent. Its trademark parks are the Moremi reserve which finds itself in the Okavango delta, the Chobe national park where elephants roam the vast mopane forests and quench their thirst at the riverfront and the Kgalagadi transfrontier park where Africa’s cast use the longitudinal red Kalahari dunes as hunting fields. 

For culture and tribal life, one must certainly take a turn at a San village and learn about how the hunter gatherers coexist harmoniously with nature. Moreover, the land of the Tswana has a very welcoming population and will leave you with unforgettable souvenirs.

Botswana map

Zimbabwe


While politically Zimbabwe has not always been an example, the reality is completely different regarding its tourism. The country has a surface of 390760 km² and its population closes in on 17 million inhabitants (according to the latest census done in 2018).

During your travels in this wondrous and mesmerising country, you will find the local people to be friendly, outgoing, and respectful and the overall peaceful vibe of the country will create the perfect relaxed attitude in order to get the most out of your journey.

One should definitely visit the majestic Victoria Falls which is one of the world’s natural wonders. You can spot the Big Five in many of its national parks and discover the World Heritage archeological sites of Great Zimbabwe close to the town of Masvingo.

Zimbabwe map

Day to day itinerary

Arrival in Windhoek where you will be welcomed by your German-speaking tour guide. Namibia’s capital, Windhoek is a bustling metropolis that is unexpectedly neat and orderly.

This is the main port of call for most tourists, and all travellers pass through the city at least once. Situated in a pretty valley, Windhoek boasts buildings very much in the German architectural style. The German presence can be strongly felt in the food, restaurants – and, of course, the beer. The Namibian beer is said to be the best in Africa and is brewed in Windhoek.

Transfer to Okapuka Safari Lodge: In the afternoon (if possible / depending on your time of arrival) an afternoon safari at the lodge, where you will be looking for the local white rhino’s, sable antelopes and other wildlife.

Dinner and overnight in Okapuka Safari Lodge: https:/africanreservations.com/okapuka-safari-lodge/

  • Breakfast in Okapuka Safari Lodge
  • Drive to Mariental
  • Lunch in Kalahari Anib Lodge

The Kalahari Desert is a large semi-arid sandy savannah in Southern Africa. One of the most interesting Kalahari Desert facts is that it is not a desert in the strictest sense of the word, as it receives too much rainfall – between 5 and 10 inches annually.

However any rain filters rapidly through the vast expanses of sand, leaving nothing on the surface, turning the Kalahari into the “thirstland”. The name “ Kalahari” is derived from the Tswana word Kgala, meaning “the great thirst”, or Kgalagadi, meaning “a waterless place”.

Afternoon safari from the lodge on the beautiful red sand dunes; be on the look-out for the local wildlife which roams the Kalahari desert.

Dinner and overnight at Kalahari Anib Lodge: https://store.gondwana-collection.com/accommodation/kalahari-anib-lodge/

  • Breakfast in Kalahari Anib Lodge
  • Drive to Sesriem
  • Lunch in Sossusvlei Lodge
  • Afternoon visit to the Sesriem Canyon with your guide

Lying between a high inland plateau and the Atlantic Ocean, the Namib Desert extends along the coast of Namibia, merging with the Kaokoveld Desert into Angola in the north and south with the Karoo Desert in South Africa.

Throughout this vast and unforgiving landscape, a number of animals and plants have adapted to life here, including the mountain zebra (Equus zebra), gemsbok (Oryx Gazella), short-eared elephant shrew (Macroscelides proboscideus), Grant’s golden mole (Eremitalpa granti), Karoo bustard (Eupodotis vigorsii) and Peringuey’s adder (Bitis peringueyi).

There is also an extraordinary diversity of succulent plants, as well as the shrub-like Welwitschia mirabilis, which has only 2 leaves and can live for over 1,000 years!

Dinner at Sossusvlei Lodge

Overnight at Desert Quiver Camp: https://desertquivercamp.com/

  • Breakfast pack (Sossusvlei Lodge)
  • Drive to Deadvlei and Sossusvlei / Visit to Dune 45, Deadvlei and Sossusvlei
  • Lunch in Sossusvlei Lodge
  • Free afternoon to relax and enjoy the facilities of the lodge

Amidst the towering red dunes of the Namib Rand, just outside Sossusvlei, lies the haunting and spectacular Deadvlei. The name Deadvlei means dead marsh (from the English dead and the Afrikaans vlei). What once was a marsh, is now a dried white clay pan, surrounded by some of the highest sand dunes in the world that have literally rusted over thousands of years, giving them their fiery complexion.

It is believed that the clay pan formed more than a thousand years ago, when the Tsauchab river flooded after heavy rainfall and created shallow pools of water. In these marshes camel thorn trees began to grow. But after around 200 years, the climate changed. Drought struck the area. The sand dunes that encroached the area soon blocked off the Tsaucheb river and any water from the once luscious marsh.

Dinner in Sossusvlei Lodge

Overnight in Desert Quiver Camp: https://www.desertquivercamp.com/

  • Breakfast in Sossusvlei Lodge
  • Road to Swakopmund and stop at Solitaire
  • Lunch in Walvis Bay
  • Guided city trip of Swakopmund

Swakopmund is Namibia’s playground, a holiday destination for tourists and locals alike looking to escape the heat of the interior and to have a little adventure.

The city itself resembles a small German town and manages to create a feeling of timelessness with its palm-lined streets, seaside promenades, restaurants, cafes, art galleries and museums. And while there’s plenty to do within city limits, the real action happens in the desert surrounding Swakopmund. Quad-biking, sand-boarding, sand-skiing, parasailing and dozens of other guided adrenaline inducing activities are available by reservation from many of the adventure companies operating in the area.

At Walvis Bay, visitors can join a dolphin cruise or explore the lagoon on a kayak tour.

Dinner in Swakopmund

Overnight in The Stiltz: https://thestiltz.com/

  • Breakfast in the Stiltz
  • Morning boat cruise at Walvis Bay
  • Lunch during the boat trip

Free afternoon to enjoy the city of Swakopmund or to partake in optional activities (scenic flight, Sandwich Harbour 4X4, etc.)

Walvis Bay is a small quirky town, 30 kilometres south of Swakopmund. The town is focused around the busy harbour with many townspeople employed in the huge fishing and shipping industry that operates out of it. As a tourist, one of the most unique and interesting aspects of Walvis Bay is the huge natural lagoon. This always has numerous seabirds on and around it. Over 100,000 birds were counted on the lagoon, the most noticeable being the flamingos and pelicans. These are joined annually by another 200,000 migratory birds, making this an excellent place for keen birdwatchers.

It is an ideal place from which to enjoy a guided trip to Sandwich Harbour, a freshwater lake surrounded by dunes 50 kilometres south of the town.

It is also very convenient for kayak trips to Pelican Point and the adventurous can go and climb Dune 7, just outside town. In town, attractions include the local museum, birdlife information centre and several restaurants and cafés.

Dinner in Swakopmund

Overnight in The Stiltz: https://thestiltz.com/

  • Breakfast in the Stiltz
  • Road to Twyfelfontein area
  • Lunch in Twyfelfontein Country Lodge
  • Afternoon visit to the Twyfelfontein rock engravings with your local guide

Twyfelfontein is famous because of its many rock paintings and rock engravings (Petroglyphs) of the San (Bushmen) of which 2500 were counted. Specifications about the age of the engravings fluctuate and a period of 1000 – 10000 years is stated. Remarkable is that the engravings were made without the use of metal tools. It is presumed that quartz tools were used instead as many quartz chips were found here.

The motives of the rock engravings are on the one hand hunting scenes, in which the hunters are pictured with bow and arrow. On the other hand many animal engravings (antelopes, zebras, giraffes, lions, etc.) are depicted. Remarkable is also the engraving of a seal, as the ocean is about 100 km away.

The valley was declared a national monument in 1952 to stop the common stealing of rock engravings. The paintings/ engravings can only be visited with a local guide. UNESCO declared Twyfelfontein as World Heritage Site in 2007.

Dinner and overnight in Twyfelfontein Country Lodge: https://www.twyfelfontein.com.na/

  • Breakfast in Twyfelfontein Country Lodge
  • Free morning in order to enjoy the lodge’s facilities
  • Lunch in Twyfelfontein Country Lodge
  • Afternoon safari with the lodge in the dry river bed of the Huab river in the search of the desert dwelling elephants

Desert elephants or desert-dwelling elephants are not a genetically distinct species of elephant, but are African bush elephants (Loxodonta africana) with unique characteristics. These elephants have made their home in the Namib desert in Namibia, Africa, and subsequently, these elephants exhibit small adaptations to the extreme temperatures and terrain.

Desert-dwelling elephant population in Namibia: We estimate the population of desert-dwelling elephants within the main riverbeds; Ugab, Huab, Hoarusib, Hoanib, and Uniab to be approximately 150 elephants.

Dinner and overnight in Twyfelfontein Country Lodge: https://www.twyfelfontein.com.na/

  • Breakfast in Twyfelfontein Country Lodge
  • Road to Okaukuejo
  • Lunch in Okaukuejo NWR Resort
  • Afternoon safari in Etosha National Park

Etosha National Park is unique in Africa. The park’s main characteristic is a salt pan so large it can be seen from space. Yet there is abundant wildlife that congregates around the waterholes, giving you almost guaranteed game sightings. At the same time Etosha National Park is one of the most accessible game reserves in Namibia and Southern Africa.

The abundance of game in Etosha National Park is somewhat unexpected, showcasing some of the most common and rarest wildlife species. The areas with thicker vegetation are home to elephant (some of the largest in Africa due to the vitamins and nutrients found in the ground), the endangered black rhino and even leopard. Lions are camouflaged in the pale-golden colour of the grasslands, while giraffes rise- high above most of the dry vegetation.

Birderwatchers will love the rainy season in Etosha. After good rains the salt pan fills with water attracting a cloud of flamingos. More than 340 bird species have been counted in Etosha National Park. Among the migratory species, the European bee-eater is possibly the most popular sighting. The game reserve is also home to the world’s largest bird, the ostrich, and the heaviest flying bird, the kori bustard.

Dinner and overnight in Okaukuejo NWR resort: https://www.nwr.com.na/resorts/okaukuejo-resort/

  • Breakfast in Okaukuejo NWR Resort
  • Morning safari
  • Lunch in Halali NWR Resort
  • Afternoon safari

Etosha National Park is unique in Africa. The park’s main characteristic is a salt pan so large it can be seen from space. Yet there is abundant wildlife that congregates around the waterholes, giving you almost guaranteed game sightings. At the same time Etosha National Park is one of the most accessible game reserves in Namibia and Southern Africa.

The abundance of game in Etosha National Park is somewhat unexpected, showcasing some of the most common and rarest wildlife species. The areas with thicker vegetation are home to elephant (some of the largest in Africa due to the vitamins and nutrients found in the ground), the endangered black rhino and even leopard. Lions are camouflaged in the pale-golden colour of the grasslands, while giraffes rise- high above most of the dry vegetation.

Birderwatchers will love the rainy season in Etosha. After good rains the salt pan fills with water attracting a cloud of flamingos. More than 340 bird species have been counted in Etosha National Park. Among the migratory species, the European bee-eater is possibly the most popular sighting. The game reserve is also home to the world’s largest bird, the ostrich, and the heaviest flying bird, the kori bustard.

Dinner and overnight in Mushara Bush Camp: https://www.mushara-lodge.com/mushara-bush-camp/

  • Breakfast in Mushara Bush Camp
  • Morning and afternoon safari
  • Lunch at Mushara Bush Camp

In the language of the Ovambo tribe, Etosha means ‘great white place’, a name passed on to the first Europeans to come across this “immense hollow”, Sir Francis Galton and Charles Andersson in 1851, with the help of travelling Ovambo traders. The area was originally inhabited by the Heli/ om- people who were well known hunter gatherers and co- existed in harmony with huge herds of wildlife in the area. It was only in 1851 when the huge pan first became known to Europeans. Explorers Charles Andersson and Francis Galton reached a cattle post called Omutjamatunda which is today called Namutoni. The two explorers provided the first written account of the pan.

It is believed that this natural mineral pan was first formed over 100 million years ago. About 16,000 years ago, the Kunene River in Angola would have flowed all the way to Etosha, forming, for some time, a huge and deep lake. But the river would later change its course due to tectonic plate movement and head for the Atlantic, causing the lake to slowly dry up and leaving the salt pan behind.

Dinner and overnight in Mushara Bush Camp: https://www.mushara-lodge.com/mushara-bush-camp/

  • Breakfast in Mushara Bush Camp
  • Road to Divundu
  • Lunch in Rundu
  • Afternoon boat trip on the Okavango river

The Caprivi is a thin strip of land that makes up the north-east region of Namibia. This area of the country has many unique characteristics: 6 tribes call the area home; it shares its borders with Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and Angola; it is surrounded by the perennial Chobe, Kwando, Linyanti and Zambezi rivers and is home to Bwabwata, Nkasa Rupara, Mudumu and Mahango National Parks.

Mahangu National Park

There are a number of national parks in the Caprivi. Mahangu is characterised by riverine forests, flood plains and magnificent baobabs. The park is rich in game with many antelope species, elephant, buffalo and lion. The picnic spot in the park overlooks a wonderful hippo pool. Neighbouring Bwabwata has extensive savannah, ancient Kalahari woodland, lily studded wetlands and abundant game.

Dinner and overnight in Nunda River Lodge: https://www.nundaonline.com/

  • Breakfast in Nunda River Lodge
  • Am safari in Buffalo core area (Bwabwata National Park)
  • Lunch in Nunda River lodge
  • Afternoon safari in Mahangu core area (Bwabwata National Park)

Bwabwata plays a pivotal role in the protection of Namibia’s elephant population. Over a third of the 22,000 elephants estimated for Namibia can be found here. Travellers can look forward to the seasonal movement of elephants across the Kwando into Bwabwata when herds of elephant wade through the river.

The park is similarly important for the conservation of many other species, such as wild dog, sable, tsessebe, roan and red lechwe. Both crocodile and hippo sightings are common in this area.

Dinner and overnight in Nunda River Lodge: https://www.nundaonline.com/

  • Breakfast in Nunda River Lodge
  • Road to Botswana, border crossing and transfer to Maun
  • Road to the Okavango Delta
  • Lunchpacks by Nunda River Lodge

Upon arrival in Thamalakane river lodge possibility to enjoy the lodges facilities and have some rest after a long day’s drive.

This delta in north-west Botswana comprises permanent marshlands and seasonally flooded plains. It is one of the very few major interior delta systems that do not flow into a sea or ocean, with a wetland system that is almost intact. One of the unique characteristics of the site is that the annual flooding from the River Okavango occurs during the dry season, with the result that the native plants and animals have synchronized their biological cycles with these seasonal rains and floods. It is an exceptional example of the interaction between climatic, hydrological and biological processes. The Okavango Delta is home to some of the world’s most endangered species of large mammal, such as the cheetah, white rhinoceros, black rhinoceros, African wild dog and lion.

Dinner and overnight in Thamalakane River Lodge: https://trlmaun.com/

  • Early breakfast
  • Departure for a full day 4X4 safari in the Okavango Delta (Moremi Game Reserve)
  • Lunch packs provided by Thamalakane River Lodge
  • Late return to the lodge in the afternoon

100 years after explorer David Livingstone called this land ‘country full of rivers’, the environment and wildlife in the Moremi area were under threat. It is because of the bold, local Batawana people that this area was proclaimed Moremi Game Reserve in 1963, making Moremi the oldest and first protected reserve of the Okavango Delta.

As a sign of gratitude, the reserve is named after Batawana tribe members, Chief Moremi III and his wife. Now, the Moremi Game Reserve is one of the most diverse reserves with surprises everywhere, even for the most seasoned Africa-travelers.

Dinner and overnight in Thamalakane River Lodge: https://trlmaun.com/

  • Breakfast in Thamalakane River Lodge
  • Crossing of the Moremi Game Reserve towards Khwai
  • Lunch packs by Thamalakane River Lodge
  • Full day safari in the Okavango Delta

On the outskirts of the enchanting Moremi Game Reserve, Khwai offers a wildlife-rich patchwork of lagoons, shallow flooded pans, open grasslands, and woodland forests. Without a doubt one of the most scenic areas of Botswana, the Khwai Concession is 1800km of land in the northeastern Okavango Delta. It’s most well-known for its abundant population of wild dog, high concentrations of predators, and many other species.

Dinner and overnight in Sango Camp: https://www.sangosafaricamp.com/

  • Breakfast in Sango Safari Camp
  • Drive to Gweta
  • Lunch in Planet Baobab Lodge
  • Afternoon walk around the lodge premises and relaxation time in the lodge

The Makgadikgadi Pan comprises of 3 separate salt pans – Sowa (Sua), Nxai and Ntwetwe – which together cover 12,000 square kilometres of the north-eastern part of Botswana, making this the largest collection of salt pans in the world.

For the majority of the year, especially during the sizzling hot winter months, the stark whiteness of the vast pans reflects against the brilliant blue sky, creating eerie heat mirages that shimmer enticingly and fool the brain into thinking imaginary lakes exist on the horizon. 

Then, in late November/early December time, the rains come. The dry pan is transformed into a teeming mass of wildlife, as the animals move into the area to seek much needed water, which gathers in depressions in the pan and remain long after the rains have stopped in March – sometimes until April or even May.

Dinner and overnight in Planet Baobab: https://planetbaobab.travel/

  • Breakfast in Planet Baobab Lodge
  • Free morning for relaxation at the lodge
  • Afternoon and overnight visit of the Ntwetwe pan (night under the African stars)
  • 4×4 drive to the Ntwete pan and visit at the local Meerkat family

The Ntwetwe Pan was fed by the Boteti River until it was left permanently dry following the construction of the Mopipi Dam, which provides water for the diamond mines in Orapa. The waters may have returned to the river but Ntwetwe is now famous for its extraordinary lunar landscape, particularly the rocky outcrops, dunes, islets, channels and spits found along the western shore.

Dinner with Planet Baobab Lodge on the Ntetwe pan: https://planetbaobab.travel/

Night on the Ntwetwe pan

  • Breakfast on the Ntetwe pan
  • Drive to Kasane, drive to Chobe
  • Afternoon to relax in the lodge
    • Famed for its massive elephant populations, big herds of buffalo (matched only by some large lion prides) and incredible birdlife, Chobe National Park will leave an everlasting memory. Where else can you find such an amazing riverfront, with bustling wildlife, undisturbed predators, heavenly landscapes and tranquil lodges? The most accessible area of the park is the Chobe Riverfront, this is also where you will find the largest concentration of wildlife. For a more predator-rich area: head off to Linyanti Marshes. Or nourish your soul in the remote Savuti area. Wherever you go in this park, wildlife encounters are plentiful and all of Chobe feels like true wilderness. It is a place that can be enjoyed by everyone: couples, families and seasoned Africa travelers.

      Dinner and overnight at Chobe Safari Lodge: https://underonebotswanasky.com/botswana-lodges/chobe-safari-lodge/

  • Breakfast in Chobe Safari Lodge
  • Morning 4×4 safari in Chobe National Park
  • Lunch at Chobe Safari Lodge
  • Afternoon (private) boat trip on the Chobe river

The Chobe River waterfront near the town of Kasane attracts massive herds of elephant and buffalo in the dry season, offering fantastic photographic opportunities as they bathe and drink in the late afternoon sunlight.

Perhaps the most relaxing way to spend the afternoon, after hours in the game drive vehicle exploring the river banks and deeper into Chobe National Park, is to take a sunset cruise down the river in pursuit of that perfect photograph and to look for Chobe bushbuck, a localised race of the more common bushbuck. And of course birdwatching adds another level of enjoyment as you drift downstream, with a cold G&T in one hand and binoculars in the other.

Dinner and overnight at Chobe Safari Lodge: https://underonebotswanasky.com/botswana-lodges/chobe-safari-lodge/

  • Breakfast at Chobe Safari Lodge
  • Transfer to the Kazangula border
  • Border crossing (visa cost: 30 USD single entry)
  • Transfer to hotel in Victoria Falls
  • Lunch at Bayete Guest Lodge
  • Afternoon guided tour of the Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls presents a spectacular sight of awe-inspiring beauty and grandeur on the Zambezi River, forming the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. It was described by the Kololo tribe living in the area in the 1800s as ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’ – ‘The Smoke that Thunders’. In more modern terms Victoria Falls is known as the greatest curtain of falling water in the world.

Columns of spray can be seen from miles away as, at the height of the rainy season, more than five hundred million cubic meters of water per minute plummet over the edge, over a width of nearly two kilometres, into a gorge over one hundred meters below.

Dinner and overnight at Bayete Guest Lodge: https://www.thebayetecollection.com/bayete-guest-lodge/

  • Breakfast at Bayete Guest Lodge
  • Transfer to Victoria Falls international airport

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Included in the price

  • Private transportation
  • All necessary travel permits
  • English speaking local guide
  • Accommodation on a single/twin room basis
  • Sightseeing and monastery entrance fees as per the itinerary
  • Full board basis meals

Not included in the price

  • Insurance of any kind
  • Additional costs due to a natural calamity or unforeseen circumstances
  • Bar bills and other personal expenses
  • Tips for the guide

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