Southern Skies – Zimbabwe, Botswana & Namibia
15 DAY SAFARI FROM VICTORIA FALLS TO SWAKOPMUND.
Your journey starts in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Practice your wildlife spotting in Chobe National Park and the outstanding Okavango Delta in Botswana. Continue to the expanses of Etosha for wonderful game viewing and experience the breath-taking sand dunes of the Namib Desert.
QUICK FACTS
| Tour type:
Duration:
Start: End:
Countries visited: |
Small group lodge safari
15 days
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe Swakopmund, Namibia
Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia
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Meals:
Vehicle:
Group Size: |
14 x Breakfast
11 x Lunch 06 x Dinner
Suitable touring vehicle according to group size 2×4 vehicle for transfers
Min. 4* / Max. 12 *Guaranteed departures with no minimum pax available
|
2023 Cost:
$4289 per person sharing a room
Single supplement: $960 per person
Park fees and activities: $385 pp
DEPARTURE DATES 2023
| MONTH | TOUR START | TOUR END | TYPE | MONTH | TOUR START | TOUR END | TYPE |
| January | 18/01/2023 | 01/02/2023 | # | August | 07/08/2023 | 21/08/2023 | |
| March | 02/03/2023 | 16/03/2023 | F | September | 05/09/2023 | 19/09/2023 | GD |
| April | 04/04/2023 | 18/04/2023 | D | October | 09/10/2023 | 23/10/2023 | F |
| 21/04/2023 | 05/05/2023 | 24/10/2023 | 07/11/2023 | GD | |||
| May | 04/05/2023 | 18/05/2023 | November | 12/11/2023 | 26/11/2023 | D | |
| June | 20/06/2023 | 04/07/2023 | December | 09/12/2023 | 23/12/2023 | ||
| July | 23/07/2023 | 06/08/2023 | GD / D |
D – German guided departures / GD – Guaranteed departures /
F – French guided departures / # – Green Season Discount
ITINERARY
B – Breakfast L – Lunch D – Dinner
DAY 1: VICTORIA FALLS, ZIMBABWE
On arrival into Victoria Falls, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day may be spent at leisure or partaking in one of the many activities on offer (at own expense). Your guide will take you on a tour of the mighty Victoria Falls, known by the local Kololo tribe as Mosi oa Tunya- “the Smoke that thunders”. In the afternoon we have a relaxing sunset cruise on the mighty Zambezi River, basking in the afterglow of the day. This evening you will meet your guide and the rest of the group for your pre-departure meeting.
Accommodation: A’Zambezi River Lodge or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, bar & restaurant)
Lunch & Dinner: For your own account
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES IN VICTORIA FALLS
Below is a list of some of the most popular optional activities on offer in Victoria Falls. Pre-booking is recommended to avoid disappointment. All activities are subject to availability and may require a minimum amount of passengers to operate. Certain activities only operate at specific times of the year. Please contact our reservation office for further information. Should you wish to partake in an activity that is not listed below, we will gladly assist you with rates and reservations.
15 Minute Helicopter Flight Flying Fox (Cable Slide)
22 Minute Helicopter Flight Gorge Swing
Boma Dinner incl. transfers Zip Line
Guided Tour of the Victoria Falls Horse Back Safaris (novice)
Dinner Cruise Canoeing (full day)
Bungee Jump Rafting (full day, low water)
Bridge Swing Rafting (full day, high water)
Bridge Slide Batoka Gorge Hike and Ndebele Village Tour
Historical Bridge Tour Traditional Village Tour
Canopy Tour
DAYS 2 & 3: VICTORIA FALLS TO CHOBE NATIONAL PARK, BOTSWANA BLD, B
This morning is available for exploration of Victoria Falls and all it offers. A mid-morning departure takes you on to Botswana for the next two nights. You will have the remainder of the day at leisure or to partake in optional activities.
The next day, we rise early for a morning game drive in the Chobe National Park, the second largest park in Botswana covering 10,566 km2. Chobe has one of the greatest concentrations of elephant found on the African continent. In the afternoon we go on a cruise on the Chobe River, a truly unforgettable experience and one of the best ways to view the wildlife and the spectacular sunset.
Distance: 90 km Departure: 08h00
Accommodation: Chobe Safari Lodge or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, bar & restaurant)
Day 2
Breakfast: At A’Zambezi River Lodge or similar
Lunch: Prepared by the guide
Dinner: At Chobe Safari Lodge or similar
Day 3
Breakfast: At Chobe Safari Lodge or similar
Lunch & Dinner: For your own account
DAY 4: CAPRIVI, NAMIBIA BLD
Leaving Botswana, we drive through Chobe National Park before crossing over into Namibia and driving through the Caprivi to our camp on the banks of the Kwando River. The afternoon is at leisure for a number of optional activities, or sit back and relax and take in the sights and sounds of the Kwando River.
Distance: 265 km Departure: 08h00
Accommodation: Camp Kwando or similar (permanent tented chalets with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, bar & restaurant)
Breakfast: At Chobe Safari Lodge or similar
Lunch: Prepared by the guide
Dinner: Prepared by the guide
DAY 5 & 6: CAPRIVI TO OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA BLD
We leave our camp on the Caprivi for Etsha 13, on the western border of the Okavango Delta in Botswana. Unlike other deltas, it flows into the Kalahari Desert without reaching the coast, which makes it unique. Enroute to camp we will go on a game drive to the Mahangu National Park which is rich in fauna and flora. In the park you have the chance of spotting game such as sable and roan, elephants, hippos, buffalos, and many types of antelope. For bird watchers the Mahangu National Park offers more than 420 different bird species.
The next day is spent exploring the network of water pathways floating through thick vegetation in mokoros (traditional dugout canoes), discovering a variety of birds and wildlife. We stop at a secluded island to take a 1½ hour guided walk hoping to spot elephants, waterbuck or other animals living in this water filled paradise.
Distance: 385 km Departure: 08h00
Accommodation: Guma Lagoon Camp or similar (permanent tents with en-suite bathrooms, bar area)
Day 5
Breakfast: At Camp Kwando or similar
Lunch & Dinner: Prepared by the guide
Day 6
Breakfast: At Guma Lagoon Camp or similar
Lunch: Lunch pack from Guma Lagoon Camp
Dinner: Prepared by the guide
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES AT GUMA LAGOON
Pre-booking is recommended to avoid disappointment. All activities are subject to availability and may require a minimum amount of passengers to operate. Certain activities only operate at specific times of the year. Please contact our reservation office for further information.
Scenic Helicopter Flight 30 Minute 1-3 pax
DAY 7: OKAVANGO DELTA TO KAVANGO RIVER, NAMIBIA BL
Leaving Botswana we make our way into Namibia and head along the Caprivi to Rundu. We make our way to Kaisosi River Lodge and spend a relaxing afternoon at our lodge on the banks of the Kavango River. Optional activities such as a visit to the Mbunza Living Museum, a traditional cultural school and communal business for the local Kavango people, or a sunset cruise are available. Alternatively just relax by the pool with a sundowner listening to the sounds of Mother Nature.
Distance: 380 km Departure: 07h00
Accommodation: Kaisosi River Lodge or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, bar & restaurant)
Breakfast: At Guma Lagoon Camp or similar
Lunch: Prepared by the guide
Dinner: For your own account
DAYS 8, 9 & 10: ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK, NAMIBIA BL, BL, BLD
The following morning we head off to Etosha National Park. We fill the next 3 days with game drives in the hopes of spotting lion, leopard, elephant and rhino as well as cheetah, giraffe, zebra and the numerous different types of antelope the park has to offer. Our nights are spent at the flood lit waterholes encountering the park’s various nocturnal animals as they come to drink. Etosha Game Park was declared a National Park in 1907 and it is home to approx. 114 mammal species, 340 bird species, 110 reptile species, 16 amphibian species and, surprisingly, one species of fish.
Day 8
Distance: 435 km Departure: 08h00
Accommodation: Namutoni or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, bar & restaurant)
Breakfast: At Kaisosi River Lodge or similar
Lunch: Prepared by the guide
Dinner: For your own account
Day 9
Distance: 150 km Departure: 08h00
Accommodation: Okaukuejo or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, bar & restaurant)
Breakfast: At Namutoni or similar
Lunch: Prepared by the guide
Dinner: For your own account
Day 10
Distance: 100 km Departure: 08h00
Accommodation: Okaukuejo or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, bar & restaurant)
Breakfast: At Okaukuejo or similar
Lunch: Prepared by the guide
Dinner: At Okaukeujo or similar
DAY 11: KAMANJAB – HIMBA EXPERIENCE, NAMIBIA BLD
We leave the wild animals of Etosha behind and move onto the spectacular scenery of Damaraland. Our final destination for the day will be Kamanjab. In the afternoon we explore a Himba village, which will be a journey of culture exchange, learning and understanding the ways of the last traditional tribe in Namibia, the Ova-Himba.
Distance: 280 km Departure: 07h00
Accommodation: Oppi Koppi Restcamp or similar (chalets with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, bar & restaurant)
Breakfast: At Okaukuejo or similar
Lunch: Prepared by the guide
Dinner: At Oppi Koppi Restcamp or similar
DAY 12: OMARURU, NAMIBIA BL
After our cultural experience in Kamanjab we head southwards to Omaruru. Once a mission station, the settlement has great historic significance and has evolved into an artistic hub for local crafts and small industries. We will stop at local distillery and small wine cellar to taste some of its home-grown produce before arriving out our accommodation in the afternoon.
Distance: 330 km Departure: 07h00
Accommodation: Omaruru Guest House or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, dining room area)
Breakfast: At Oppi Koppi Restcamp or similar
Lunch: Prepared by the guide
Dinner: For your own account
DAYS 13 & 14: SPITZKOPPE AND SWAKOPMUND, NAMIBIA BL, B
We move westwards across the desert plains travelling to Spitzkoppe, an iconic group of curved granite mountains with vivid colours. After a walk amongst the boulders to view the ancient Bushmen paintings and engravings, we head towards the coast. We arrive into the charming town of Swakopmund, an oasis set between the expanse of the desert and the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean.
The next day, the afternoon is spent at leisure to partake in optional activities or alternatively just soak up the atmosphere of this little quaint German town and enjoy its beauty and beaches.
Day 13
Distance: 310 km Departure: 08h00
Accommodation: Hotel A La Mer or similar (standard rooms with en-suite bathrooms)
Breakfast: At Omaruru Guest House or similar
Lunch: Prepared by the guide
Dinner: For your own account
Day 14
Distance: 250 km Departure: 08h00
Breakfast: At Hotel A La Mer or similar
Lunch & Dinner: For your own account
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES IN SWAKOPMUND
Below is a list of some of the most popular optional activities on offer in Swakopmund. Pre-booking is recommended to avoid disappointment. The rates are per person and are quoted in South African Rand. All activities are subject to availability and may require a minimum amount of passengers to operate. Certain activities only operate at specific times of the year. Please contact our reservation office for further information. Should you wish to partake in an activity that is not listed below, we will gladly assist you with rates and reservations.
Quad biking (2 hour)
Sand boarding lie-down
Sand boarding standing up
Living Desert Tour
Township Tour
Tandem Sky Diving
Scenic flights (various)
Shore fishing
Boat fishing
Kayaking
Dolphin, Seal & Whale Cruise
DAY 15: SWAKOPMUND, NAMIBIA B
Your journey ends after breakfast this morning, thereafter you will be transferred to the airport. We hope to welcome you on one of our African adventures soon.
Breakfast: At Hotel A La Mer or similar
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PRE-DEPARTURE INFORMATION
DEPARTURE:
The Southern Skies departs from A’Zambezi River Lodge in Victoria Falls.
Please note that the daily departure times are a guideline only and are subject to change due to seasonal variations, as well as unforeseen circumstances. The final decision rests with your guide who will advise you at what time you will be departing each day.
On the evening of day 1, there will be a meeting presented by your guide, at 18h00 at your lodge. It is imperative that all clients attend this meeting so as not to miss out on any critical information.
Whilst it is our every intention to adhere to the above mentioned itinerary, there may on occasion be a necessity to make alterations in order to make the tour more enjoyable or practical. Therefore please treat the itinerary as a guide only.
TRANSPORT:
We use fully equipped Toyota Land Cruisers, Sprinters, 12-seater 4×4 safari vehicles or other appropriate vehicles with comfortable seating, large windows for game viewing, a music and PA system. We endeavor to ensure that air-conditioning is provided, however we are unable to guarantee this for vehicles travelling through Namibia. All luggage, besides hand luggage and photo equipment, is carried on the vehicle or trailer roof racks to ensure maximum comfort in the vehicle. For transfers between Kasane and Victoria Falls (or vice versa), 2×4 vehicles may be utilised.
TRAVELLING TIMES AND DISTANCES:
All travelling times are affected by road conditions, border crossings, detours and weather conditions, therefore on certain days travelling times may be longer than anticipated especially where there is a lot of distance to be covered. Please keep in mind that the time it takes to travel 100 km in your home country is not equivalent to the time it takes to travel 100 km on African roads, therefore we encourage you to sit back and enjoy the spectacular scenery Africa has to offer. Where possible additional stops will be made to ensure your travelling comfort at all times.
ACCOMMODATION:
We make use of mid-range typical African standard lodge accommodation. Accommodation is situated either in National Parks, on the banks of a river, or in other places of interest. The accommodation will be a mix of lodges, chalets and tented camps. All of them offer a private bathroom with a shower/bath and toilet. Some properties are equipped with swimming pools and/or bar and restaurant areas.
MEALS:
Where included, most breakfasts and dinners will be enjoyed in the restaurants of the various accommodation establishments, however on certain nights the guide will provide an authentic mea for the group, which will be enjoyed together in the evening, often around a camp fire. please advise us of any special dietary requirements in advance.
VISAS:
The onus is on the client to organize all visas required for clients to visit Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia prior to departure. Please note that travellers entering Botswana will be required to present a valid international health certificate of vaccination for yellow fever should they originate from or have travelled through countries which have been declared yellow fever infected areas within the preceding 6 months.
TRAVEL INSURANCE:
Please note that travel and cancellation insurance is mandatory for every guest travelling. All insurance is solely the responsibility of our guests. Please ensure you arrange your own insurance with protection for the full duration of your journey to cover personal injury, damage and loss of personal items including but not limited to camera equipment and other electronic items, medical expenses, repatriation expenses and loss of luggage, etc. Please speak to your travel agent if you require assistance.
Call or text (818) 353-9500