20 Day Cape Town to Victoria Falls

Explore the very best Southern Africa has to offer. Between cosmopolitan Cape Town and the natural wonder of the Victoria Falls lie endless ancient deserts, deep canyons and the most fascinating wildlife this planet has to offer.

Highlights:

• Wander in the dunes of the ancient Namib Desert
• Learn from a Bushman community
• Spot the beasts in the famous Okavango Delta
• Fly over the mighty Victoria Falls

Price: R 21,950
Local Payment: $ 745
Single Supplement: R 3,610

Activity Package: R 7,450
Countries Visited: South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. Important note: We will only go to Zambia in the unlikely event that we cannot go to Zimbabwe.
Type: Accommodated
Vehicle: Adventure Truck

What’s included

• Meals as indicated on the itinerary
• Accommodation
• Registered guides
• Transport

We also include some of the activities. These activities are listed below in the day-by-day descriptions.

What’s excluded

• All items of a personal nature
• Alcohol
• Snacks
• Souvenirs
• Tips
• Optional activities (see list for an indication of prices)

Note: All information is subject to change without prior notice. Travel times and campsites can change depending on road or weather conditions, etc. These are used as a guideline only.

20 Day Cape Town to Victoria Falls Itinerary

Arrival: Please be sure to arrive 1 day before your tour is due to depart. This will avoid any unpredictable problems.

Departure: Please book your flight to depart the day after the tour officially ends. This is to account for any delays that we may experience due to unpredictable road conditions.

Departure Point: 8.00 am, 1st Floor Leadership House, 40 Shortmarket Street, Greenmarket Square, Cape Town, South Africa. Tel: +27 (0) 825782199

End Point: Elephant Hills Resort, Park Way Drive, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Tel: +263 13 44793.

Detailed Itinerary

• Day 1 South Africa – Cederberg Mountain Region
• Day 2 Namibia – Gariep (Orange) River
• Day 3 Gariep(Orange) River – Ai-Ais
• Day 4 Fish River Canyon – Kokerboom Forest
• Day 5 Bushman Community – Namib-Naukluft Park
• Day 6 Namib-Naukluft National Park
• Day 7/8 Swakopmund
• Day 9 Kamanjab – Himba Tribe
• Day 10/11 Etosha National Park
• Day 12 Windhoek
• Day 13 Botswana – Ghanzi
• Day 14/15/16 Maun – Okavango Delta
• Day 17 Gweta
• Day 18 Chobe National Park
• Day 19 Zimbabwe – Victoria Falls
• Day 20 Victoria Falls

Day 1 South Africa – Cederberg Mountain Region

Leaving behind Cape Town, there’s one last photo stop at Table View for a spectacular panorama of Table Mountain. On the way we enjoy a wine tasting at an organic wine farm. We arrive at our accommodation and your guides will give you a full briefing on the tour.

• Meals: Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Two per room: Blommenberg Guesthouse
• Facilities: En-suites per room, hot showers, swimming pool.
• Included Activities: Wine-tasting
• Route: Cape Town to Clanwilliam. ±260 km
• Travel time: ±5 hrs

The Cederberg mountains extend about 50 km north-south by 20 km east-west. The dominating characteristic of the area is sharply defined sandstone rock formations, often reddish in colour. This group of rocks contains bands of shale and in recent years a few important fossils have been discovered in these argillaceous layers. The fossils are of primitive fish and date back 450 million years to the Ordovician Period. The Cedar trees are of the Widdringtonia cederbergensis species. They grow at an altitude of 1000m to 1500m. Some species are believed to live up to 1000 years. The highest peak in the range is Sneeuberg (2028m).

In 1660, the first European explorers from the Cape, led by Jan Danckert came across a great herd of elephants in the Olifants River Valley. The source of the river is in the mountains near Ceres. Above Clanwilliam, the Olifants is harnessed by a dam, built in 1935 and expanded in 1968, which irrigates 12140 hectares of farmland.

Day 2 Namibia – Gariep (Orange) River

Today we travel through the Northern Cape and Namaqualand, stopping at the remote town of Springbok for any last requirements. After crossing the Namibian border we check in to the lovely chalets overlooking the river that forms the border between South Africa and Namibia.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Two per room: Felix Unite
• Facilities: En-suite per room, water not drinkable, bar.
• Route: Clanwilliam to Gariep River. ±470 km
• Travel time: ±8-9 hrs and a border crossing

Border posts:

• South Africa: Vioolsdrift, Tel: +27 (27) 277 618 760, Open 24 hours.
• Namibia: Noordoewer, Tel: +264 (0) 63 297 122, Open 24 hours.

The Orange River (Afrikaans/Dutch: Oranjerivier) / Gariep River, is the longest river in South Africa. It rises in the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho, flowing westwards through South Africa to the Atlantic Ocean. The river forms part of the international borders between South Africa and Namibia and between South Africa and Lesotho, as well as several provincial borders within South Africa. Although the river does not pass through any major cities, it plays an important role in the South African economy by providing water for irrigation, as well as hydroelectric power.

The river was first discovered by indigenous Nama people, who called it the Nu Gariep. The river was named the Orange River by Colonel Robert Gordon, commander of the Dutch East India Company garrison at Cape Town, on a trip to the interior. Gordon named the river in honour of William of Orange. A popular but incorrect belief is that the river was named after the supposedly orange colour of its water, as opposed to the colour its tributary, the Vaal River ( ‘vaal’ being Afrikaans for pale or grey). Since the end of apartheid, the original name, “Gariep” has had greater favour in official correspondence in South Africa, although the name “Orange” has greater international recognition.

Day 3 Gariep(Orange) River – Ai-Ais

This morning there’s the chance to canoe down the Gariep River or to spend some time relaxing. After lunch we travel north to the Ai-Ais Hot Springs. Optional Activities: Half-Day Canoe Adventure.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Two per room: Ais Ais
• Facilities: En-suite per room, hot springs, restaurant.
• Route: Orange/Gariep River to Fish River Canyon. ±180 km
• Travel time: ±4-5 hrs

Ai-Ais Hot Springs meaning ‘burning water,’ in the local Nama language, refers to the sulphurous thermal hot water springs found in the area. Pronounced “eye-ice”, the natural hot-spring oasis is situated at the base of the mountain peaks at the southern end of Fish River Canyon. Local legend goes that the hot springs were discovered in 1850 by a nomadic Nama shepherd rounding up stray sheep.

The springs originate deep under the riverbed and form an oasis in the extremely arid area. During the Nama uprising of 1903-07 the hot spring was used by German military forces as a base camp. In 1915, the area was also used as a base by South African troops who were recovering from wounds during the South-West Africa Campaign. In 1962, the spring was leased to a local entrepreneur and were subsequently proclaimed a national monument. In 1969, the springs became a conservation area and on 16 March 1971, the camp was officially opened. The thermal water has an average temperature of about 60 degrees centigrade. The water is piped to a series of indoor pools and jacuzzis

Day 4 Fish River Canyon – Kokerboom Forest

We take a scenic early morning walk along the edge of the Fish River Canyon, where photo opportunities are plentiful. Travelling into the Kalahari area of Namibia we visit the amazing Kokerboom Forest.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Two per room: Stampriet Historical Guesthouse
• Facilities: En-suite per room, hot showers.
• Included Activities: Hike along the rim of the Fish River Canyon and visit the Quiver tree forest
• Route: Ais Ais to Kalahari. ±560 km
• Travel time: ±7-8 hrs

Kokerboom Forest

The Kokerboom or Quiver Tree Aloe dichotoma is a tree aloe. It is also a succulent plant because it has the ability to store water in its stems and leaves. It is one of the most characteristic plants of the Namibia, and is known as ‘garas’ by the Namas (from the word meaning “to scratch lines”) and ‘choje’ by the Bushmen.

Confined to the Northern Cape and Namibia, this tree aloe is found growing mainly on the rocky habitat of the hills along the Orange River. In places it occurs in dense “forests”, and a good example of this is near Keetmanshoop. In the past, local people hollowed out the soft branches and used them as quivers for their arrows, hence the English vernacular name. Small animals make their homes between the leaves and in the corky trunk. Sociable Weavers can build huge communal nests of grass in the crown, sometimes covering the whole tree. These Sociable Weavers’ nests are shared by up to 400 birds.

A remarkable quality of this tree is its ability to accumulate water in its leaves and corky tissue. It has developed these adaptations because of the harsh climatic conditions in which it survives. Low air humidity, low soil moisture and intense sunshine levels have made it necessary to absorb even small amounts of moisture whenever the opportunity arrives. It has a superficial root system enabling it to absorb moisture quickly.

Day 5 Bushman Community – Namib-Naukluft Park

The Namib- Naukluft NP is one of Namibia’s geographic gems. There are massive sand dunes in the Sossusvlei desert area as well the remarkable landscape. After a optional morning tribal interaction with the Bushman (San) people we travel to the Namib and stay the night just outside the park. Optional Activities: African Tribal interaction.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Two per room: Hammerstein Lodge
• Facilities: En-suite per room, hot showers, pool
• Route: Mariental to Hammerstein. ±350 km
• Travel time: ±5-6 hrs

Since it is in the Namib desert, the Tsauchab carries water only during the rare times when rain falls in the Naukluft Mountains and runs off, since it cannot seep into the soil fast enough. During these rains, the Tsauchab becomes a rapid-running, strong river within a matter of hours. As a result of the occasional rains, it has over the past two million years carved Sesriem Canyon, a kilometer (0.6 mile) long and up to 30-meter (100-foot) deep canyon in sedimentary rock. The name Sesriem is Afrikaans and means “six belts”, since the early settlers had to attach together six belts (made of oryx hides), in order to reach buckets down into the canyon to scoop up water. The Sesriem Canyon is only two meters (6.5 ft) wide in some places, and has a portion that permanently contains water, which many animals use.

The Namib desert occupies an area of around 80 900 km² (31 200 square miles), stretching about 1000 miles (1,600 km) along the Atlantic Ocean coast of Namibia. Its east-west width varies from 30 to 100 miles (50-160 km). Having endured arid or semi-arid conditions for at least 55 million years, it is considered to be the oldest desert in the world after the Atacama Desert in Chile. The Namib’s aridity is caused by the descent of dry air of the Hadley Cell, cooled by the cold Benguela current along the coast. It has less than 10 mm (0.4 inches) of rain annually and is almost completely barren.
A number of unusual species of plants and animals are found only in this desert. One of these is Welwitschia mirabilis. Welwitschia is a shrub-like plant, but grows just two long strap-shaped leaves continuously throughout its lifetime. These leaves may be several meters long, gnarled and twisted from the desert winds. Welwitschia is notable for its survival in the extremely arid conditions in the Namib, sometimes deriving moisture from the coastal sea fogs.

Day 6 Namib-Naukluft National Park

We have a full day in the Namib-Naukluft National Park that starts by being transported in to Sossusvlei, where we are joined by a expert local guide. Exploring on foot, this local guide will share his detailed knowledge of this ecosystem. Later we transfer to Dune 45 where you have the chance to hike up the dune for an amazing view and photo opportunity. In the afternoon there’s a short walk into the Sesriem Canyon.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Two per room: Hammerstein Lodge
• Facilities: En-suite per room, hot showers, pool
• Included Activities: Hike up Dune 45 & 3hr desert walk into the Sossusvlei area with expert guide.
• Route: Hammerstein to Sossusvlei. ±230 km
• Travel time: ±3-4 hrs

Namib-Naukluft National Park is an ecological preserve in the Namib Desert in southwest Africa. The park is the largest game park in Africa, and a surprising collection of creatures survives in the hyper-arid region, including snakes, geckos, unusual insects, hyenas, gemsboks and jackals. More moisture comes in as a fog off the Atlantic Ocean than falls as rain, with the average 106 millimeters of rainfall per year concentrated in the months of February and April.

The winds that bring in the fog are also responsible for creating the park’s towering sand dunes, whose burnt orange color is a sign of their age. The orange color develops over time as iron in the sand is oxidized, like rusty metal; the older the dune, the brighter the color. These dunes are the tallest in the world, in places rising more than 300 meters (almost 1000 feet) above the desert floor.

‘Namib’ means open space and the Namib Desert gave its name to form Namibia – “land of open spaces”. The park was established in 1907 when the German Colonial Administration proclaimed the area between the Swakop River and the Kuiseb River a game reserve. The park’s present boundaries were established in 1978 by the merging of the Namib Desert Park, the Naukluft Mountain Zebra Park, parts of Diamond Area 1 and some other bits of surrounding government land. The park has some of the most unusual wildlife and nature reserves in the world, and covers an area of 49,768 km² (19,215 square miles). It’s an area far larger than Switzerland, roughly the size of the US states New Hampshire and Vermont combined. The region is characterised by high, isolated inselbergs and kopjes (the Afrikaans term for rocky outcrops), made up of dramatic blood red granites, rich in feldspars and sandstone. The easternmost part of the park covers the Naukluft Mountains.

Day 7/8 Swakopmund

We cross the Tropic of Capricorn on our way from the Atlantic Coast. Our first stop is Walvis Bay where we may see some flamingos. Then it’s on to Swakopmund, the adventure capital of Namibia, where you will be briefed on the many optional activities available. Optional Activities: Dinner, Quad biking, Sand boarding, Sky Diving, Scenic Flights etc.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Accommodation: Two per room: Either: Villa Wiese Guesthouse or Dunedin Star Guesthouse
• Facilities: En suite, hot showers, drinkable water, cash bar, laundry service.
• Route: Hammerstein to Swakopmund. ±360 km
• Travel time: ±5-6 hours (including Walvis Bay)

Swakopmund was founded in 1892, two years later than Windhoek, by Captain Curt von François. It was intended to be the main harbour of German South-West Africa. Increased traffic between Germany and its colony necessitated establishing a port of its own, as Walvis Bay, located 33 kilometers south, was in British possession. The choice fell to a site north of the Swakop River, because water was readily available, and because other sites were unsuitable. Swakopmund is a beach resort and an example of German colonial architecture. Buildings in the city include the Altes Gefängnis prison, designed by Heinrich Bause in 1909 and the Wörmannhaus, built in 1906 with a prominent tower, is now a public library.

The majority of towns and villages in Namibia have grown out of indigenous settlements and very often were located close to sources of water. Names of places given by original inhabitants were very descriptive and in many cases those names were retained by European settlers who sometimes simplified pronunciations of the names.

The Nama word “Tsoakhaub” can be translated as “excrement opening” which was an offensive but accurate description of the waters of the Swakop River when it flooded, carrying masses of mud, sand, pieces of vegetation and animal corpses to the Atlantic Ocean. The Nama name was changed to “Swachaub” by German settlers, and with the proclamation of Swakopmund as an independent district of German South-West Africa in 1896, the present way of writing Swakopmund (meaning Estuary of the Swakop in German) came into use.

Surrounded by the Namib Desert on three sides and the cold Atlantic waters to the west, Swakopmund enjoys a temperate climate. The average temperature ranges between 15°C (59°F) to 25°C (77°F). Rainfall is less than 15 mm per year, making gutters and drainpipes on buildings a rarity. The cold Benguela current supplies moisture for the area in the form of fog that can reach as deep as 140 km (87 mi) inland. The fauna and flora of the area has adapted to this phenomenon and now relies upon the fog as a source of moisture.

Swakopmund is well known for adventure sports including: skydiving, sandboarding and quadbiking. Your guides will be able to assist you in deciding on a suitable activity, alternatively, spend the day exploring the town and enjoying the various coffee shops and souvenir shops.

Day 9 Kamanjab – Himba Tribe

Today we head inland towards Khorixas in the north-west of Namibia. The following morning we will spend time with some of the semi-nomadic Himba people. The Himba are a pastoral people and are easily recognisable by their unique style of hair and dress

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Two per Room: Oasehouse
• Facilities: En-suites, swimming pool.
• Route: Swakopmund to Kamanjab ±220 km
• Travel time: ±5-6 hrs (if rainy season, alternative route will be taken due to bad road conditions)

The Himba are an ethnic group of about 20,000 to 50,000 people living in northern Namibia, in the Kunene region (formerly Kaokoland). They are a nomadic, pastoral people, closely related to the Herero, and speak the same language. The Himba breed cattle and goats. The responsibility of milking the cows lies with the women. Women take care of the children, and one woman will take care of another woman’s children. Women tend to perform more labor-intensive work than men do, such as carrying water to the village and building homes. Men handle the political tasks and legal trials.

The Himba wear little clothing, but the women are famous for covering themselves with a mixture of butter fat, ochre, and herbs to protect themselves from the sun. The mixture gives their skins a reddish tinge and symbolizes earth’s rich red color and the blood that symbolizes life, and is consistent with the Himba ideal of beauty. Women braid each other’s hair and cover it in their ochre mixture (called otjize in their language). Modern clothes are scarce, but generally go to the men when available. Traditionally both men and women go topless and wear skirts or loincloths made of animals skins in various colors. Adult women wear beaded anklets to protect their legs from poisonous animal bites.

Situated about 20 km outside of town, a guided tour around the village will not only give you an in depth insight into the life and ways of the last traditional tribe in Namibia, the Ova-Himba, but an amazing photographic opportunity as well. You will experience the milking ceremony, the smoke bath, be informed on the beliefs around the holy fire, ancestors, and herbal medicine. You will also learn about the jewelry and hairstyles to imitate the status of each tribe member and their close relationship with nature, their cattle and children.

The income generated from these excursions, helps to sustain the tribe from day to day, buying food and supplies, medicine (if necessary) and taking care of the children adopted by Jaco from various families unable to support them, some of them needing books and clothing for school. Please take note that the village is not for show or a human zoo, you will be allowed inside these amazing peoples’ home and have a cultural exchange. Please respect their lives and ways as they would respect yours and in this way help preserve their culture and traditions.

Day 10/11 Etosha National Park

After our informative time spent with the Himba we travel south-east to Etosha NP. The open plains allow spectacular viewing from your truck while on game drives. Our quality bungalow accommodation is inside the park at Okaukuejo and/or Halali which both boast floodlit night water holes where the animals come regularly to drink. Optional Activities: Night Drive with Game Ranger

Day 10

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Two per Room: Okaukuejo
• Facilities: En-suites, bar, shop, swimming pool
• Included Activities: Guided visit to the Himba Tribe and afternoon game drive in truck
• Route: Kamajab to Etosha National Park ±270 km
• Travel time: ±3-4 hrs

Day 11

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Two per Room: Halali
• Facilities: En-suite, bar, shop, swimming pool
• Included Activities: Full day game drive in truck

Etosha National Park is one of Southern Africa’s finest and most important Game Reserves. Etosha Game park was declared a National Park in 1907 and covering an area of 22 270 square km, it is home to 114 mammal species, 340 bird species, 110 reptile species, 16 amphibian species and, surprisingly, one species of fish.

Etosha, meaning “Great White Place”, is dominated by a massive mineral pan. The pan is part of the Kalahari Basin, the floor of which was formed around 1000 million years ago. The Etosha Pan covers around 25% of the National Park. The pan was originally a lake fed by the Kunene River. However the course of the river changed thousands of years ago and the lake dried up. The pan now is a large dusty depression of salt and dusty clay which fills only if the rains are heavy and even then only holds water for a short time. This temporary water in the Etosha Pan attracts thousands of wading birds including impressive flocks of flamingos. The perennial springs along the edges of the Etosha Pan draw large concentrations of wildlife and birds.

Day 12 Windhoek

En-route to Namibia’s capital, Windhoek, we stop at a craft market where you can buy authentic African carvings and paintings. On arrival in Windhoek we take a short driving tour around the city, and there’s some free time to explore the centre. Optional Activities: Dinner out

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Accommodation: Two per Room: Hotel Safari
• Facilities: En-suites, restaurant, bar.
• Included Activities: Short City Tour
• Route: Etosha National Park to Windhoek. ±550 km
• Travel time: ±7-9 hrs (Long Day)

The city of Windhoek is traditionally known by two names: Ai-Gams, from the Nama people, which literally refers to the hot springs that were once part of Windhoek, while the second name, Otjomuise, meaning a place of steam, was given by the

Herero people. Theories vary on how Ai-Gams/Otjomuise got its modern name of Windhoek, most believe the name Windhoek is derived from the Afrikaans word Wind-Hoek, meaning “corner of wind”. It is also thought that the Afrikaners named Windhoek after the Winterhoek Mountains, at Tulbagh in South Africa, where the early Afrikaner settlers had lived. In those days Windhoek was the point of contact between the warring Namas, led by Jan Jonker Afrikaner, and the Herero people.

Present-day Windhoek was founded on 18 October 1890, when Von François fixed the foundation stone of the fort, which is now known as the Alte Feste (Old Fortress). During the next fourteen years Windhoek developed slowly, with only the most essential government and private buildings being erected. In Klein-Windhoek, plots were allocated to settlers, who started farming on a small scale with fruit, tobacco and dairy cattle. After 1907, development accelerated as people migrated from the countryside to the city and also some immigrated from outside the country. There was also a larger influx of European settlers arriving from Germany and South Africa. Businesses were erected on Kaiser Street, present Independence Avenue, and along the dominant mountain ridge over the city, including the three eye-catching castles.

The winter months of June, July and August usually experience little or no rain. Minimum temperatures range between 5 °C (41 °F) and 18 °C (64 °F). Nights are usually cool, although the temperature seldom drops below 0°C, and it almost never snows. Days are usually warm to hot, varying from a maximum of 20 °C (68 °F) in July to 31 °C (88 °F) in January.

Day 13 Botswana – Ghanzi

We say goodbye to Namibia and journey through the Botswana border. Later we arrive at our lodge in Ghanzi, and this evening we experience some traditional tribal dancing from the Bushman (San) community.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Two per Room: Tautona Lodge
• Facilities: En-suites, bar, swimming pool.
• Included Activities: Bushman dancing in evening
• Route: Windhoek to Ghanzi. ±570 km
• Travel time: ±8-9 hrs and a border crossing

Border posts:

• Namibia: Buitepos, Tel: +264 62 560401, Open: 07h00-24h00.
• Botswana: Mamanu, Tel: +267 (0) 659 2013/2064, Open: 07h00-24h00.

The San People who were formally know as the Bushmen, are indigenous to Botswana (and Namibia) and have lived here for over 30,000 years. It is truly an incredible experience to get an understanding of what Africa was like so many years ago and how the people survived in these desert conditions when their very existence was based on the land. It is said that the word San meant ‘wild people who can’t farm’, however historically they didn’t have a collective word for themselves. Now they call themselves Ncoakhoe meaning ‘red people’, but it seems San has stuck. They were nomadic people – primarily hunter gatherers, moving to where the food and water could be found. It is estimated that there are 55,000 San people left, with 60% of them living in Botswana and many examples of their cave drawing’s can be found dotted around. Sadly nowadays, their existence is similar to the aboriginals and can be found in ‘squalid alcohol plagued settlements’ or on farms and cattle posts.

As we cross the border we’ll start to see villagers, cattle, donkeys, and sheep roaming along the side of the highway. Sometimes the donkeys and cows sit in the middle of the road and any amount of horn blowing won’t get them out of the road. Independent since 1966 (formally a British protectorate) three of the world’s richest diamond mines were discovered in Botswana, and this has made Botswana quite a rich nation, allowing them to pick and choose their future. Now 40yrs old, it is known as the African success story. Politically stable and with the foresight to invest in education, healthcare, high economic standards and without the racial issues that have plagued other countries has resulted in Botswana having the best economy in sub-Saharan Africa. The government has employed a strategy of high income – low impact tourism. This is where they reduce the number of tourists entering any area of the country by charging a lot more than neighbouring countries, thereby making it more restrictive for the budget traveller.

Day 14/15/16 Maun – Okavango Delta

Maun is well known as the gateway to the Okavango Delta, the world’s largest inland delta. We spend one night in Maun and prepare for this excursion. Small planes transport us over this amazing area to our next overnight stop. Animals are often spotted from the lodge, but we also take a nature walk and, if the water level allows, a mokoro (traditional canoe)trip.

Day 14

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Two per Room: Sitatunga
• Facilities: Hot showers, En-suites, bar, swimming pool.
• Route: Ghanzi to Maun. ±300 km
• Travel time: ±4-5 hrs

Day 15

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Two per Meru Tent: Moremi Crossing
• Facilities: En-suite, bar, hot water, swimming pool
• Included Activities: Flight from Maun to Moremi Crossings approx 20min, Afternoon Nature Walk
• Luggage Restriction: 10kg luggage per person

Day 16

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Two per Meru Tent: Moremi Crossing
• Facilities: En-suite, bar, hot water, swimming pool
• Included Activities: Mokoro Rides and Nature Walks

Maun is the fifth largest town in Botswana. It is an eclectic mix of modern buildings and native huts. Maun is the “tourism capital” of Botswana. Since Maun’s founding in 1915 as the tribal capital of the Batawana people, it has had a reputation as a hard-living ‘Wild West’ town helping the local cattle ranching and hunting operations. However, with the growth of the tourism industry and the completion of the tar road from Nata in the early 1990s, Maun has developed swiftly, losing much of its old town character. It is now home to over 30,000 people and is today a thriving, chaotic tourist town, infamous for its infestation of donkeys and to lesser extent, goats. These animals can be seen standing around on their own as the local farmers arrive in the innumerable taxis to sell their wares on the kerbside.

With the influx of tourism dollars, the typical traditional Rondavels of yesteryear have been replaced by square but modestly sized cinderblock homes roofed with tin and, rarely, tiles. It is not unusual to see mud rondavels with satellite dishes, attesting to the increasing affluence of Botswana, and the increasingly reliability of power and communications in Maun. Likewise, mobile phone service in Maun is excellent to a range of about 20 to 25km depending on weather. Opposite the main shopping strip which has grown around Riley’s Garage, multi-level air-conditioned shopping centres are incongruously surrounded by potholes, dusty or muddy car parking lots, also inevitably a marketplace for whoever wishes to sell. There is now, also, no less than three major chain supermarkets, Cbstore, Spar, Shoprite and a Nandos.

The Okavango delta is the world’s largest delta. Its headwaters start in Angola’s western highlands, with numerous tributaries joining to form the Cubango River, which then flows through Namibia (called the Kavango) and finally enters Botswana, where it is then called the Okavango. Millions of years ago the Okavango River used to flow into a large inland lake called Lake Makgadikgadi (now Makgadikgadi Pans). Tectonic activity and faulting interrupted the flow of the river causing it to back up and form what is now the Okavango Delta. This has created a unique system of waterways that now supports a vast array of animal and plant life that would have otherwise been a dry Kalahari Savannah.

The delta’s floods are fed by the rains in Angola and Zambia, which start in October and finish sometime in April. The floods only cross the border between Botswana and Namibia in December and will only reach the bottom end of the delta (Maun) sometime in July, taking almost nine months from the source to the bottom. This slow meandering pace of the flood is due to the very minor drop in elevation – little more than 60 meters over a distance of 450 kilometres!

There are an estimated 200 000 large mammals in and around the Okavango Delta. Many of these animals live in the Delta but the majority move in and out. They leave with the summer rains to find renewed fields of grass to graze on and trees to browse, and then as winter approaches and the countryside dries up they make their way back to swamps. This leads to some of the most incredible sightings as large numbers of prey and predators get squashed into a smaller and smaller area, providing some of the best predator action that you can see anywhere in the world.

The Delta provides a seasonal habitat to numerous different species, among these are African Bush Elephants, the African Buffalo, the Hippopotamus, the Lechwe, the Topi, the Blue Wildebeest, the Giraffe, the Nile crocodile, the Lion, the Cheetah, the Leopard, Brown and Spotted Hyenas, Greater Kudu, the Sable Antelope, both the Black and the White Rhinoceros, the Plains Zebras, the Warthog and the Chacma Baboon. Notably the endangered African Wild Dog is present within the Okavango Delta, exhibiting one of the richest pack densities in Africa. The Delta also includes over 400 species of birds, including the African Fish Eagle.

Day 17 Gweta

A second scenic air-transfer will return us to Maun and the truck. This afternoon we drive to Planet Baobab where our evening accommodation is set amongst the majestic Baobab trees.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Two per Room: Planet Baobab Campsite
• Facilities: En-suites, bar, swimming pool.
• Route: Maun to Gweta. ±201 km
• Travel time: ±3-4 hrs

Along the cracked and crop-less landscape on the road between Maun and Francistown, where elephants tear up any tree that dares to raise its head, a large grey hulk looms into sight at the edge of the road. If this is an elephant it is a very peculiar one! As the eyes recognise a giant anteater, the brain begins to wonder what might have been in that last beer?

But, follow the side road pointed out by that anteater snout and you will discover the intriguingly named “Planet Baobab”. Welcome to the Baobab capital of the world and home of the Kalahari Surf Club! The average age of each baobab tree; 4000 years and beyond, the boundless salt pans of the Makgadikgadi, a lunar landscape the size of Switzerland.

Thankfully, the funkiest bar in the Kalahari awaits your pleasure, a well known watering hole for travellers of every description and the more colourful characters from Maun. At any one time, locals jostle the cross-continentals who have slogged it through the bush, and worse, to get here. Just a stone’s throw from all this beer and bustle is the elephant’s paddling pool. Oblivious to Guests crouching in the nearby trees, the elephants and travellers mostly ignore each other.

Day 18 Chobe National Park

After continuing north to Kasane, we take a sunset river cruise on the Chobe River where animals such as hippos, buffalo and elephant are plentiful. Optional Activities: Chobe Game Drive (next morning)

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Two per Room: Thebe River Safaris (no website available)
• Facilities: Hot showers, En-suites, bar, swimming pool.
• Included Activities: Sunset Boat Cruise in the Chobe NP
• Route: Gweta to Kasane. ±400 km
• Travel time: ±6-7 hrs

The Chobe National Park, which is the second largest national park in Botswana and covers 10,566 square kilometres, has one of the greatest concentrations of game found on the African continent. Its uniqueness in the abundance of wildlife and the true African nature of the region, offers a safari experience of a lifetime.

The park is divided into four distinctly different eco systems: Serondela with its lush plains and dense forests in the Chobe River area in the extreme north-east; the Savuti Marsh in the west about fifty kilometres north of Mababe gate; the Linyanti Swamps in the north-west and the hot dry hinterland in between.

In 1931 the idea of creating a national park in the area was first mooted, in order to protect the wildlife from extinction and to attract visitors. In 1932, an area of some 24,000 square kilometres in the Chobe district was declared a non-hunting area and the following year, the protected area was increased to 31,600 square kilometres. However, heavy tsetse fly infestations resulted in the whole idea lapsing in 1943. In 1957, the idea of a national park was raised again when an area of about 21,000 square kilometres was proposed as a game reserve and eventually a reduced area was gazetted in 1960 as Chobe Game Reserve. Later, in 1967, the reserve was declared a national park – the first national park in Botswana. There was a large settlement, based on the timber industry, at Serondela, some remains of which can still be seen today. This settlement was gradually moved out and the Chobe National Park was finally empty of human occupation in 1975. In 1980 and again in 1987, the boundaries were altered, increasing the park to its present size.

Chobe National Park is probably best known for its spectacular elephant population: 50,000 elephants today, it is actually the highest elephant concentration of Africa. Moreover, most of them are probably part of the largest continuous surviving elephant population on earth. The elephant population seems to have solidly built up since 1990, from a few thousand.

Elephants living here are Kalahari elephants, characterized by rather brittle ivory and short tusks, perhaps due to calcium deficiency in the soils. Damage caused by the high numbers of elephants is rife in some areas. In fact, concentration is so high throughout Chobe that culls have been considered, but are too controversial and have thus far been rejected.
At dry season, these elephants sojourn in Chobe River and the Linyanti River areas and in rainy season, they make a 200-km migration to the southeast stretch of the park. Their distribution zone however outreaches the park and spreads to northwestern Zimbabwe…

Day 19 Zimbabwe – Victoria Falls

After an early morning optional game drive we cross into Zimbabwe where we have a short briefing on all the activities available here. Then we enter the much anticipated Victoria Falls NP where we will experience the might of the great Zambezi River. Officially your tour finishes the next day after breakfast but most people will spend the day White Water Rafting, Optional Activities: Zambezi Sunset Cruise, Dinner out, White Water Rafting, Bungee Jump, Elephant Excursion, White Water rafting and many more…

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Accommodation: Two per Room: Elephant Hills Resort
• Facilities: En-suite, bar, swimming pool.
• Included Activities: Vic Falls National Park Entrance
• Route: Kasane to Vic Falls. ±100 km
• Travel time: ±2 hrs and a border crossing

Border posts:

• Botswana: Kazangala Road, Tel: +267 62 50320, Open: 06h00-20h0
• Zimbabwe: Kazangala Road, Open: 06h00-18h00

The small tourist town of Victoria Falls is located within walking distance of the famous waterfall. Victoria Falls is also an adventure hub with activities that include the ever-popular white water rafting, the flight over the Falls, an encounter with the Lions as well as the opportunity to ride an Elephant!

Once we have crossed the border into Zimbabwe it is a short drive to town where we will be briefed about all the different activities available. Choose carefully as almost all of them are really worth doing, speak to your guides for some advice. Please be aware that you cannot use credit/debit cards in Zimbabwe, so cash (USD) is best. The prices of the activities are listed at the beginning of this dossier so you can make sure to bring what you need.

Victoria Falls is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. David Livingstone, the Scottish explorer, is believed to have been the first European to view the Victoria Falls. The older, indigenous name of Mosi-oa-Tunya is the name in official use in Zambia. While it is neither the highest nor the widest waterfall in the world, it is claimed to be the largest. This claim is based on a width of 1,708 metres (5,600 ft) and height of 108 meters (360 ft), forming the largest sheet of falling water in the world. The falls’ maximum flow rate compares well with that of other major waterfalls.

The unusual form of Victoria Falls enables virtually the whole width of the falls to be viewed face-on, at the same level as the top, from as close as 60 metres (200 ft), because the whole Zambezi River drops into a deep, narrow slot like chasm, connected to a long series of gorges. Few other waterfalls allow such a close approach on foot.

Victoria Falls are one of Africa’s major tourist attractions, and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The falls are shared between Zambia and Zimbabwe, and each country has a national park to protect them and a town serving as a tourism centre: Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park and Livingstone in Zambia, and Victoria Falls National Park and the town of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.

The falls are formed as the full width of the river plummets in a single vertical drop into a chasm 60-120 metres (200-400 ft) wide, carved by its waters along a fracture zone in the basalt plateau. The depth of the chasm, called the First Gorge, varies from 80 metres (262 ft) at its western end to 108 metres (360 ft) in the centre. The only outlet to the First Gorge is a 110-metre-wide (360 ft) gap about two-thirds of the way across the width of the falls from the western end, through which the whole volume of the river pours into the Victoria Falls gorges.

There are two islands on the crest of the falls that are large enough to divide the curtain of water even at full flood: Boaruka Island (or Cataract Island) near the western bank, and Livingstone Island near the middle. At less than full flood, additional islets divide the curtain of water into separate parallel streams. The main streams are named, in order from Zimbabwe (west) to Zambia (east): Leaping Water (called Devil’s Cataract by some), Main Falls, Rainbow Falls (the highest) and the Eastern Cataract.

Day 20 Victoria Falls

Most people will spend the day white water rafting, a not-to-be-missed experience of a lifetime! Vic Falls offers many exciting alternatives, such a walk with lions, or a helicopter flight over the Victoria Falls. Your tour officially finishes after breakfast, but there is the option to book extra nights. Optional Activities: White Water Rafting, Bungee Jump, Elephant Excursion, White Water rafting and many more.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Accommodation: Own Arrangements / Post Tour accommodation can be booked through Nomad

Tour Ends

We will drop you off at the Elephant Hills Hotel. You need to pre book this accommodation through your travel agent or Nomad.

Note: Accommodation providers are subject to change without notice, the accommodation listed in this dossier is our preferred supplier, but sometimes due to availability, we are unable to make use of the property listed in this dossier. If we cannot use the accommodation provider as listed we will substitute another property of similar standards, however, en-suite facilities are not always guaranteed.

Optional Activities

Note: There are more optional activities being created every day – we have listed only the most popular. If there is something specific you would like to do then speak to your guide as they will be able to assist you.

Green Seats – Making Africa Greener

We give you the opportunity to offset your carbon foot print by purchasing a “Green Seat”. Please ask us for the donation on this tour.

Onward Travel

This tour can be linked with the Accommodated South African Explorer, Classic Kruger Big 5, Mozambique Explorer, the East African Adventure and the 2 day Journey to Johannesburg transit.

Preparation

Visas

Please note that these are your responsibility. Some nationalities require visas for Namibia and Botswana. Most nationalities will require visas for Zimbabwe. See Pre Departure Booklet for more information.

Health

Please inform us of any pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or asthma and any prescription medicine you may be taking. We also need to know about any food allergies or physical disability that you may have.

Malaria

Malaria prophylactics are required. Very low risk of malaria in northern Namibia, but the risk increases to high risk as we travel north to Zimbabwe.

Vaccinations

No vaccinations are prescribed by law for the countries being visited on this tour. Please see the Pre Departure Information booklet for detailed information on vaccinations in Africa.

Local Information

Climate

The African sun is very strong. Please use a factor 30 sunscreen and wear a hat. You should drink at least 3 litres of water per day to avoid dehydration. It can also get very cold during winter months on this route. Please see Pre Departure Booklet for detailed information.

Currency and Banking

South African Rand is the most widely used currency on this route. US Dollar cash can be used for optional activities. In Botswana, the Pula is the local currency. You can change your Rand or Dollars to Pula when you enter Botswana. ATM’s do not always work in Botswana. Travellers cheques can take a long time to change into cash and often incur unreasonable charges. Credit Cards cannot always be processed – especially in remote areas. USD Notes printed before 2002 (i.e. the old style notes) will not be accepted and many places will not accept USD100 notes, so make sure to bring small notes for tips and craft markets. Please see Pre Departure Booklet for detailed information on each country.

Local Payment – USD745

Payable in cash to the guide on departure. Only small denominations ($50, $20, $10, $5) notes printed after 2002 will be accepted. The local payment covers the 2 day Okavango Excursion, including a flight into and out of the Delta, entrance to Chobe National Park and a sunset boat cruise in Chobe National Park.

Tipping on Tour

Southern Africa: In general tipping in restaurants is generally expected and is around 10% for good service, more if you have received exceptional service, and, feel free not to tip at all if you received poor service. Tipping taxi drivers etc is really at your own discretion and not always expected. If in doubt please ask your guides.

Our guides do work hard, but they are also paid at (and often above) industry levels for this work. Our Crew can be tipped if you feel that they have done a good job and/or gone above and beyond the call of duty.

The best way to arrange tips is to elect one person in the group to collect the money. We recommend USD1 (or about R5) per day per person, per guide as a fair tip. So if you have 3-crew on a tour, we would recommend that 3 envelopes are used and each crew members name written on one. Place what you feel is fair in to each envelope and the elected person can give these to the crew at the end of the tour. If you do not feel that the crew deserve a tip, please, do not tip them. You must remember that tipping is only for exceptional service and is not at all compulsory or expected.

Pre and Post Tour Accommodation

If you require accommodation before or after your tour we can arrange this for you. We can also arrange airport transfers – contact your travel agent to make these bookings.