Namibia & Botswana Southern Circle

Day 1-2: Livingstone

Arrive to the lodge at any time on and check in. Your tour pre-departure meeting will be at 2:00pm on Day 1 and the remainder of the day is yours to spend at leisure.

Victoria Falls is one of the natural wonders of the world and the next full day will also be dedicated to exploring this stunning area. There are plenty of of optional activities on offer, including sunset cruises, white water rafting, bungi jump, scenic flights and many more.

Includes: Entrance to see the Victoria Falls.
Distance/time: N/A

Meals: [chalet Breakfast x1--]

Day 3: Caprivi

After breakfast, depart Zambia toward the Caprivi airstrip, where you will spend two days travelling west through this game-rich area. Explore the Kwando River by boat and game drives led by experienced camp guides.

Includes: Entrance fees, boat cruise & game drives.
Distance/time: Day 3: ±230km, 4h00 actual driving time, we travel via Kazungula and Ngoma, crossing briefly through Botswana (the most efficient route). Two border crossings & a lunch stop mean we expect a total travel day of ±5h30.
Day 4: ±410km, 6h00 actual driving time, en route we stop for a village walk and expect a travel day of ±08h00.

*Note: different room types so lodge will allocate rooms on arrival.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 4: Caprivi

Continue the journey into the Mahango Game Reserve where you will cross through contrasting vegetation, and a variety of wildlife along the Okavango River. Arrive at the camp in the late afternoon.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 5: Rundu

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.

Includes: N/A
Distance/time: ±240km, 3h30 actual driving time, with a couple of stops it's a travel day of less than ±4h30.

Breakfast and Lunch included.

Day 6-8: Etosha National Park

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. Of the 114 mammals species found in the Park, several are rare and endangered like the black rhino or the black faced impala. Your guide will also introduce you to the complex subject of managing such an enormous reserve. Our lodge lies on the boundary of the park and we spend our mornings and afternoons on game drives.

Includes: Entrance fees to Etosha National Park, 2x full days 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.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 9: Brandberg

Today's journey covers some beautiful desert landscapes as you move south towards the Brandberg Mountain. The 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.

Includes: Entrance to the Brandberg rock art.
Distance/time: ±445km, 6h00 actual driving time, and with a couple of stops on the way it’s a long and varied day of ±9h00 to our nest overnight stop.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 10-11: Swakopmund

Today you will depart to Swakopmund and cross through the flat open plains towards the coast for a quick visit to see the Cape Cross seal colony.

With palm-lined streets and seaside promenades, Swakopmund is a very popular holiday destination in Namibia. Its pleasant summer climate and long stretched beaches attract anglers and surfers from all over Southern Africa. Take time to get the feel of this quaint town with its historic buildings, museums, shopping arcades and beach bar that has transformed into its own personality by the vibrant use of color and the bohemian lifestyle. German colonial influences are strong in the town of Swakopmund as is reflected in the restaurant menus and the architecture.

A variety of optional activities are available here that range from exploring the Namib Desert, City tours, Scenic Flights, Skydiving, Quad Biking, and Sand boarding on the dunes.

Includes: Entrance to Cape Cross seal colony.
Distance/time: ±350km, 5h00 actual driving time, after a morning walk we have travel day of 8h00 including a visit to Cape Cross.

*Lunch is at your own expense on Day 11.

Breakfast included.

Day 12-13: Namib Desert

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.

Includes: Entrance fees to Sesriem Canyon and Naukluft National Park.
Distance/time: ±360km, 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 ±7h00.

Note: 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 option is an optional extra and would be at your own expense (+/- N$85 each way).

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 14: Windhoek

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. On arrival, you may have the chance to explore the city with its colonial-style buildings, street cafes and craft markets. This evening we enjoy a meal at a local restaurant, which is at your own expense.

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.

Breakfast and Lunch included.

Day 15: Kalahari

Crossing into Botswana, you will overnight in the heart of the Kalahari. 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. The lodge you overnight in is owned and operated by the community.

Includes: Nature walk with local San bushman and translator.
Distance/time: ±535km, 6h30 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 ±7h30 into the Kalahari.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 16-18: Okavango Delta

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 then spend 2 nights in our tented camp on a remote island and enjoy game walks, swimming and the birdlife in this pristine wilderness area.

Includes: Entrance to Okavango Delta, morning and afternoon game walks with local guides.
Distance/time: Day 16: ±340km, 05h00 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 ±6h30.
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.

Tented Camp: 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. The group will need to take their own water and all equipment. Wild tented camping can be very enjoyable but please remember that it is ideal to leave no trace of your stay and take all rubbish away with you. The wilderness tented camp supplies all linen blankets and pillows. The camp chairs have a backrest. You will need to bring your own towel.

*Dinner is also included on Day 17 and 18 while at the tented camp.

Breakfast and Lunch included.

Day 19: Makgadikgadi Pans

Starting with a mekoro ride, a 4x4 transfer, and then repacking into the safari vehicle, you continue our journey to the Makgadikgadi Pans. 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.

Includes: Entrance fees to Makgadikgadi Pans.
Distance/time: ±360km, 5h30 actual driving time. Starting with a mekoro ride, a 4x4 transfer and then repacking into the safari vehicle it's a big travel day of ±8h00.

Breakfast and Lunch included.

Day 20: Chobe National Park

Turn north through the Chobe Forest Reserve to Kasane where you will settle into your lodge. Chobe National Park is famous for large herds of elephant and buffalo. The afternoon is spent on an exciting wildlife boat cruise in the National Park.

Includes: Sunset game viewing boat cruise on the Chobe River.
Distance/time: ±335km, 4h30 actual driving time. We leave early and aim for a midday arrival. Total travel for the day of ±5h00.

Breakfast and Lunch included.

Day 21: Livingstone

This morning you will be transferred across the Zambezi River on the Kazangula ferry to Livingstone where the tour comes to an end at about noon. A free drop off at Livingstone Airport at 12:00 is included so passengers can book a departure flight that afternoon if they wish.

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.

Breakfast included.