Desert to Wetlands Tour

After meeting your guide in Windhoek or airport you will head southwards past towns of Rehoboth and Mariental. The Kalahari Desert covers most of Botswana and only a third of it is within Namibian Borders. The true desert of the Kalahari is experienced more on the Namibian side as there much less precipitation compared to Botswana. This is a 4-hour drive from Windhoek including photo/scenery stops. We should be there for lunch and a bit of relaxation before the afternoon sundowner drive.

Kalahari Anib Lodge

Before we leave for Lüderitz, we will visit the Fish River Canyon. This canyon is the least visited Africa’s wonders, stretching about 160km and 550 meters at its deepest, it is arguably second in size to Arizona’s Grand Canyon. This Canyon lies in the Fish River Canyon and Ai-Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier National Park. Although not so easy to spot in this rather barren habitat, wildlife here includes Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra, Greater Kudu, Klipspringer, Dassie and Chacma Baboon.

Lüderitz Nest Hotel

Namib-Naukluft

After a relaxed morning and breakfast, we will make our way to Sossusvlei. It is quite a scenic drive past a couple of privately owned concessions and ranches with very low human population. Animals that might be seen include Oryx, Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra, Giraffe, Plains Zebra, Springboks among others. Photographs are worthwhile because of the background where these animals will be.

Sossusvlei Lodge, Dead Valley Lodge

After breakfast, we will embark on the Living Desert Tour conducted by passionate and experienced desert specialists who are desert conservationists as well. If lucky you might see the desert “Little Five”; Shovel-nosed Lizard, Namib Sand Gecko, Namaqua Chameleon, Namib Desert Sidewinding Adder and the Cartwheeling Spider (“Dancing White Lady”). After lunch, you then proceed to the Sandwich Harbour, on an adventure 4 x 4 sand dune driving where sand dunes meet the sea.

Hansa Hotel, Strand Hotel

Etosha

After breakfast, we will proceed to Etosha past the Petrified Forest. This is a geological formation that happened 280 million years ago. Huge trees were carried by a river and buried here. Sand was deposited around them, creating ideal conditions for the cells of the wood to be replaced by silica and thus became petrified. This is a half an hour walk done by knowledgeable local guides. We will then proceed to Etosha National Park, and we should be in time for an afternoon game drive.

Toshari Lodge, Etosha Safari Lodge

Etosha

We will have more of a relaxed day of morning and afternoon game drives in the eastern part of Etosha, with a 3-to-4-hour break in between. This implies we will be back at the lodge around mid-day and go back into the park late afternoon. Enjoy the siesta or swimming pool and the tranquility of the lodge. Besides the 114 mammals found here, 340 bird species are known to occur in Etosha National Park.

Namutoni Camp, Mushara Lodge

We will do morning and afternoon game drives in Buffalo and Mahango Core Areas. Several game species including elephant, buffalo, zebra and wildebeest do seasonal movements. They remain at the Okavango River during the dry season and move inland during the wet season. This seasonal cycle is an important natural mechanism that guarantees that the vegetation structure can be in a resting period during some part of the year. Birding is excellent along the Okavango River as well.

Mahangu Safari Lodge, Divava Resort & Spa

Chobe

After breakfast, we will take leisurely Namibia wrap up drive through Mudumu National Park, past a couple of Conservancies, cross the border into Botswana’s Chobe National Park. We will arrive at the lodge and have a relaxing afternoon. Mudumu National Park is 1010 km2 expanse of dense savannah and mopane woodlands bordered in the west by the Kwando River. This park is alive with more than 400 bird species and a home to a small population of elusive Sitatunga.

Cresta Mowana Resort & Spa, Jackalberry Chobe

Victoria Falls

After a relaxed morning and breakfast, we will cross the border into Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls. It’s a short distance of an hour drive through Matetsi Safari Area to the small town of Victoria Falls that lies within Victoria Falls National Park. So, we are not in a hurry “Hakuna Matata”! After lunch, we will visit the Victoria Falls which is merely 2 km from the town center.

Cresta Sprayview Hotel, Ilala Lodge