16-Day Namibia to Victoria Falls Explorer Safari

On arrival at Windhoek's International Airport, you proceed through immigration and customs, collect your luggage, and enter the arrivals hall. A representative of your car rental supplier will be waiting for you in the arrival halls. Please look for a signboard with your name on it. It can take some time to get through immigration.
Your journey begins in Windhoek, Namibia’s capital, set in a basin surrounded by rolling hills.Main Destination:Windhoek (City, Namibia)Accommodation:Olive Grove Guesthouse

• Mid-range guest house in Windhoek (City, Namibia)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

After a hearty breakfast, you begin your journey to the Namib Desert. It's a fairly long drive of 4-5 hours, depending on which route you take. We suggest the Spreetshoogte Pass. With gradients between 1:4 and 1:6, it is the steepest pass in Namibia, as well as the one with the biggest elevation difference, descending almost 1,000 metres within 4 kilometres. It offers spectacular views down the escarpment to the desert plains below. You continue via the small settlement of Solitaire and on to your overnight stop on the edge of the Namib dune sea.Main Destination:Sossusvlei (Sand Dunes, Namibia)

Accommodation:The Elegant Desert Lodge

• Mid-range lodge1-2hr drive from Sossusvlei (Sand Dunes, Namibia)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)
• Drinks not included

You have a full day to explore the dune fields and pans of Sossusvlei. The park gates open at sunrise and close at sunset. We recommend an early start to experience the beautiful early morning light on the dunes. You'll spend the morning exploring Sossusvlei & Dead Vlei. Then, you will return to your lodge for lunch and a siesta. In the afternoon, you can explore Sesriem Canyon and enjoy the late afternoon light on the escarpment mountains.Main Destination:Deadvlei (Sand Dunes, Namibia)Accommodation:The Elegant Desert Lodge

• Mid-range lodge less than 1hr drive from Namib-Naukluft NP (Namib Desert, Namibia)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)
• Drinks not included

From the desert, your safari continues to the coastal town of Swakopmund, where you will stay for two nights at Namib Guesthouse in a standard double room on a bed and breakfast basis. This quaint seaside town offers a unique blend of German colonial charm and adventure activities. During your stay, you will enjoy a full-day Marine Dune excursion, combining a boat cruise in Walvis Bay lagoon—where you may encounter dolphins, seals, and pelicans—with an exciting 4x4 dune drive along the Skeleton Coast.Main Destination:Swakopmund (City, Namibia)Accommodation:Namib Guesthouse

• Mid-range guest house in Swakopmund (City, Namibia)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

The full-day Marine Dune Day Safari combines a scenic marine cruise in Walvis Bay with an exciting 4x4 dune adventure along the Skeleton Coast. The day starts with a boat trip where you may see dolphins, seals, pelicans, and flamingos, often accompanied by light refreshments. It then continues into the desert, where expert guides drive along towering dunes meeting the Atlantic Ocean, offering stunning views and chances to spot desert-adapted wildlife such as oryx and jackals.Main Destination:Sandwich Harbour (Highlight, Namibia)Accommodation:Namib Guesthouse

• Mid-range guest house in Swakopmund (City, Namibia)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

Leaving the coast behind, you'll travel inland to the Otjiwarongo region, where you will spend one night at Okonjima Plains Camp, home of the AfriCat Foundation. Accommodation is in a classic double room on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis. In the afternoon, you will participate in a leopard tracking excursion, offering a rare opportunity to observe these elusive predators in their natural habitat while learning about vital conservation efforts.

Main Destination:Okonjima Private Nature Reserve (Namibia)

Best WeatherAccommodation:Okonjima Plains Camp

• Luxury lodge located inside Okonjima NR (Namibia)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)
• Drinks not included

Your safari then continues to the renowned Etosha National Park, where you will stay for two nights at Onguma Bush Camp on the eastern side of the park. Accommodation is in a double loft room on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis. Etosha is one of Africa’s premier wildlife destinations, centered around a vast salt pan and dotted with waterholes that attract large concentrations of game, including elephants, lions, giraffes, and a variety of antelope species. Game drives in and around the park provide excellent wildlife viewing opportunities.Main Destination:Eastern Etosha National Park (Namibia)

Accommodation:Onguma Bush Camp

• Luxury lodge located inside Onguma GR (Namibia)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)
• Drinks not included

Undoubtedly one of the great parks of Africa, Etosha covers more than 22,300 square kilometres and is synonymous with big game and wide open spaces. The name Etosha means “great white place” referring to the massive (130km long and 50km wide) dry saline pan in the middle of the park, believed to have been formed over 100 million years ago. Etosha is home to a staggering amount of wildlife, both common and rare, including several threatened and endangered species. The mammal list is at over 110 species, including four of Africa’s Big Five, cheetah, giraffe, spotted hyaena, zebra, greater kudu, springbok, gemsbok/oryx (Namibia’s national animal), warthog, honey badger and many more. Etosha also has a bird list of more than 350 species. The park is also home to smaller mammals like banded and yellow mongoose, scrub hare and springhare, as well as rare ones like pangolin, aardvark, aardwolf and Cape porcupine.Main Destination:Eastern Etosha National Park (Namibia)

Accommodation:Onguma Bush Camp

• Luxury lodge located inside Onguma GR (Namibia)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)
• Drinks not included

From Etosha, you'll travel northeast to Rundu, where you will overnight at Hakusembe River Lodge in a unique Camping2Go tented unit on a dinner, bed, and breakfast basis. Situated along the Okavango River, this lodge offers a tranquil setting with beautiful river views, abundant birdlife, and a chance to experience Namibia’s lush Kavango region.
Welcome to the real Africa!Main Destination:Rundu (City, Namibia)

Accommodation:Hakusembe River Lodge

• Luxury lodge located outside Zambezi Region (Namibia)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)
• Drinks not included

The journey continues into the Zambezi (Caprivi) region, a stark contrast to the desert landscapes you have previously explored. You will spend two nights at Namushasha River Lodge near Kongola, staying in a double room on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis. This area is rich in waterways and wildlife, and during your stay you will enjoy a guided half-day excursion into Bwabwata National Park, where you may encounter elephants, buffalo, and a variety of bird species in a more tropical environment.

Main Destination:Bwabwata National Park (Zambezi Region, Namibia)

Best Time To VisitMay to September (Animals are easier to see)

High SeasonJuly to October (It never gets crowded)

Best WeatherMay to August (Less hot)

Accommodation:Namushasha River Lodge

• Mid-range lodge just outside Bwabwata NP (Zambezi Region, Namibia)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)
• Drinks not included

Spending a day at Namushasha River Lodge allows you to experience the lush beauty of Namibia’s Zambezi region. Set along the Kwando River, the lodge offers a tranquil setting surrounded by waterways and rich birdlife. In the afternoon, you will head out on a guided excursion into Bwabwata National Park, where you may encounter elephants, buffalo, antelope, and a variety of bird species. This lesser-visited park provides a more remote and intimate safari experience, with diverse landscapes ranging from riverine forests to open floodplains.

Main Destination:Bwabwata National Park (Zambezi Region, Namibia)

Accommodation:Namushasha River Lodge

• Mid-range lodge just outside Bwabwata NP (Zambezi Region, Namibia)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)
• Drinks not included

You have a fairly long day today with a relatively long drive plus a border crossing. You have good tar roads across what used to be called the Caprivi Strip, now known as the Zambezi Region. Caprivi, or the Caprivi Strip, was named after German Chancellor Leo von Caprivi, who negotiated the acquisition of the land in an 1890 exchange with the United Kingdom. The river later proved navigable and inaccessible to the Indian Ocean due to the largest waterfall in the world, the Victoria Falls, being in the way! Katima Mulilo is a bustling town on the banks of the Zambezi River. There's a busy food market and a lovely woodcarver’s market. Kavangos and Caprivians are talented wood carvers and make beautiful bowls, walking sticks, giraffes, elephant mostly in a striking two-toned wood called Kiaat. Leaving the town behind, you head towards the border post at Ngoma. This must be one of the prettiest border posts, nestled beneath shady trees on a ridge overlooking the flood plains of the Chobe.

Main Destination:Chobe National Park (Botswana)

Accommodation:River View Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located less than 1hr drive from Chobe NP (Botswana)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)
• Drinks not included

Spending a day at River View Lodge in Kasane offers a perfect introduction to the wildlife-rich Chobe region. Your day begins with an early morning game drive in Chobe National Park, when animals are most active, and the soft light creates ideal viewing conditions. You may encounter large herds of elephants, buffalo, giraffe, and a variety of predators such as lions and hyenas. After the drive, you will return to the lodge to relax and enjoy the peaceful riverfront setting, with views over the Chobe River and opportunities to spot wildlife and birdlife from the comfort of the lodge.

Main Destination:Chobe National Park (Botswana)

Accommodation:River View Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located less than 1hr drive from Chobe NP (Botswana)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)
• Drinks not included

You will transfer by road from Kasane to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. You will stay for two nights at Pamarah Guest Lodge in a double room on a bed and breakfast basis. Upon arrival, you will enjoy a relaxing sundowner cruise on the Zambezi River, where you can take in the spectacular African sunset while spotting wildlife along the riverbanks.

Main Destination:Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)

Accommodation:Pamarah Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located at Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

Today is dedicated to exploring the magnificent Victoria Falls, known locally as “The Smoke that Thunders.” A guided tour of the Falls will allow you to experience this breathtaking natural wonder from various viewpoints. You will also enjoy lunch at the Rainforest Café, located within the lush surroundings of the falls.

Main Destination:Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)

Accommodation:Pamarah Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located at Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

Your unforgettable safari concludes on Day 16, leaving you with lasting memories of Namibia’s dramatic landscapes, abundant wildlife, and the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls.
You will be dropped off at the airport on time.

Main Destination:Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)

Accommodation:No accommodation (End of tour)Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included