Southern Africa lodge safari
| country: | Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe |
| departures: | 2010: 30 Mar, 4 May, 1 Jun, 29 Jun, 13 Jul, 3 Aug, 17 Aug, 31 Aug, 14 Sep, 28 Sep, 13 Oct, 2 Nov |
| price: | From US $4625 (22 days) excluding flights. Local payment US $300. Single supplement US $670 |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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introduction to Southern Africa lodge safari
Our lodge style safari starts and ends in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe running through Namibia and Botswana.
You will experience the diverse cultural, wildlife and scenery of Southern Africa, while staying in comfortable lodges. Experience the splendour of untouched Africa by joining an unforgettable safari.
This diverse safari has every aspect an adventurous world traveler would be looking for; wildlife, culture, bush, pictorial cities, local markets, amazing coast and beach scenery. These African memories will last you a lifetime!
Highlights include: Caprivi Strip Wildlife, Cultural experience at Rundu, Etosha National Park, Himba Tribes, Damaraland, Desert Elephants, Swakopmund, Sossusvlei, Waterberg, Bushman Land, Okavango Delta, Khwai River, Magkadigkadi Pans, Chobe National Park, Victoria Falls.
You will experience the diverse cultural, wildlife and scenery of Southern Africa, while staying in comfortable lodges. Experience the splendour of untouched Africa by joining an unforgettable safari.
This diverse safari has every aspect an adventurous world traveler would be looking for; wildlife, culture, bush, pictorial cities, local markets, amazing coast and beach scenery. These African memories will last you a lifetime!
Highlights include: Caprivi Strip Wildlife, Cultural experience at Rundu, Etosha National Park, Himba Tribes, Damaraland, Desert Elephants, Swakopmund, Sossusvlei, Waterberg, Bushman Land, Okavango Delta, Khwai River, Magkadigkadi Pans, Chobe National Park, Victoria Falls.
Special Events on selected departures:
30 Mar 10: German Carnival (WIKA) in Windhoek – Day 10 of itinerary
14 Sep 10: Oktoberfest in Windhoek – Day 10 of itinerary
28 Sep 10: Oktoberfest in Swakopmund – Day 7 of itinerary
Tailor-Made Safaris: This safari is run on scheduled dates throughout the year and can also be tailor–made to meet your dates, time period and group size.
Includes: 21 breakfasts, 19 lunches, 16 dinners, transport on the tour, accommodation in lodges, resorts and tented camp, activities as per itinerary, game drives as per itinerary.
30 Mar 10: German Carnival (WIKA) in Windhoek – Day 10 of itinerary
14 Sep 10: Oktoberfest in Windhoek – Day 10 of itinerary
28 Sep 10: Oktoberfest in Swakopmund – Day 7 of itinerary
Tailor-Made Safaris: This safari is run on scheduled dates throughout the year and can also be tailor–made to meet your dates, time period and group size.
Includes: 21 breakfasts, 19 lunches, 16 dinners, transport on the tour, accommodation in lodges, resorts and tented camp, activities as per itinerary, game drives as per itinerary.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. On arrival at Victoria Falls Airport you will be met and transferred to your accommodation. The rest of the day is at your leisure for optional activities (own expense). (B,L,D) |
| Day 2: | Victoria Falls to Camp Kwando, Nambia. Our tour starts in Victoria Falls at Lokuthula Lodges. From here we make our way to Camp Kwando after crossing the Zambezi River and entering Namibia. In the early afternoon we will arrive at our Camp on the Kwando River. Before we have dinner at our Lodge we’ll go out on an afternoon game drive Mudumo National Park. In contrast to the rest of Namibia, the area is lush with riverine forest, marshes, dense savannah and mopane woodland. (B,L,D) |
| Day 3: | Rundu and N’kwazi Lodge, Namibia. Today we drive west along the Caprivi Strip to the town of Rundu. We make our way to N’Kwazi Lodge and spend a relaxing afternoon in our Lodge on the banks of the Kavango River overlooking Angola. You can do optional activities like a sunset cruise, horse riding or just relax in the pool with a sundowner and listen to calls of Mother Nature. Optional traditional dancing in the evening. |
| Day 4: | Cultural Experience in Rundu, Namibia. On this day you’ll have the opportunity for a real Namibian cultural experience. After breakfast we head out to visit a church or a school in Rundu, the closest town to our Lodge, to experience the lifestyle and traditions of the Namibian people. In the afternoon you will have more time for optional activities you missed the day before or have another relaxing afternoon by the pool. (B,L,D) |
| Days 5-6: | Etosha National Park, Namibia. After breakfast we leave our lodge and make our way further west into Namibia and onto Etosha National Park. We spend two nights here, listening to the wild animals at night and going for game drives during the day, hoping to spot the exciting wildlife that this park has to offer. At night you’ll have the opportunity to see the nocturnal animals of Etosha at the floodlit waterholes of the camps and during the day you’ll visit the Etosha Pan to view animals like Lions, Cheetah, Elephants, Giraffes and the numerous different types of Antelope the park has to offer. (B,L,D) |
| Day 7: | Damaraland to Kamanjab & Twyfelfontein, Namibia. We leave Etosha National Park through the Main Gate and drive through to Kamanjab, which is the gateway of the Damaraland. We visit a Himba village, before heading to our destination of the day, Twyfelfontein. We stop en route and walk to see the bushman paintings and etchings in the area. We will also visit the petrified forest, as well as the organ pipes, which are famous landmarks of Damaraland. (B,L,D) |
| Day 8-9: | Swakopmund, Namibia. Heading west out of the dry interior of Namibia we make our way to the coastal German town of Swakopmund on the Atlantic Ocean. The next day is spent at your leisure where you can explore this quaint town or participate in some of many optional activities like sand boarding, quad biking or scenic flights, fishing etc. (B,L) (B) |
| Day 10: | Namib Naukluft National Park and Kuiseb Canyon to Sosssusvlei, Namibia. Today is spent exploring the barren, arid and sometimes rocky landscape of the Namib Naukluft National Park. Once we reach our lodge then enjoy the evening under the countless stars and just relax. (B,L,D) |
| Day 11: | Sossusvlei and Windhoek, Namibia. We visit the world’s highest sand dunes at Sossusvlei. There is the option of taking a shuttle to the dunes instead of walking (optional cost of R125pp transfer from 2x4 parking to Sossusvlei/Dead vlei parking area). At sunrise these red sand dunes, which can reach a height of more than 300m, are absolutely spectacular and provide a fantastic photo opportunity. With luck there may even be water in the vlei (lake). After we’ve had breakfast we head for Namibia’s capital – Windhoek. (B,L) |
| Day 12: | Waterberg Plateau, Namibia. Today we leave Namibia’s capital behind us and drive North East to the Waterberg Plateau close to Otjiwarongo. Once we arrive we go for short hike in the reserve to view the wildlife on the plateau. (B,L,D) |
| Day 13-14: | Bushmanland - walking with the bushman, Namibia. Departing from the Waterberg we drive deep into Bushman land and to our lodge for the next two days, Nhoma Camp. The following day we take an 8 hour guided visit to the Ju'/hoan bushmen community and are shown the activities in the village, such as the food being cooked, the beadwork, bows and arrows being made, poison being prepared, etc. Then we take a walk in the vicinity of the village to search for honey or springhare and bush food. Traditional games will be played in the afternoon, ending in traditional dancing. Overnight at Bushman land Lodge for both nights. (B,L,D) |
| Day 15-16: | Okavango Delta, Botswana. We leave our Lodge in bushman land for Etsha 13, a small village on the western border of the Okavango Delta in Botswana. From here we go in our 4x4 vehicles and take a motorboat transfer us to Guma Lodge, where we spend the night. The next day is spent exploring the network of waterways through thick vegetation in mokoros (traditional dugout canoes) and speedboat viewing the wildlife in the delta. The Delta is a well-preserved gem of Africa with a vast oasis of crystal clear lakelets, lagoons and palm-fringed islands. (B,L,D) |
| Day 17-18: | Khwai River, Botswana. Heading out of the Okavango Delta we drive onto Maun from where we'll head to our tented Camp in the Khwai Region. Our camp is between Chobe National Park and Moremi National Park. On arrival at the lodge there'll be some time to relax on the pool before we head out on a night drive hoping to spot some of the numerous nocturnal animals in the area like lions, leopards, wild cats etc. The following day is spent on game drives in the Khwai River area viewing the wildlife. This is the premier game viewing area in Southern Africa with huge herds of Elephant, prides of lions, pods of hippos in the river and much more. We head back to camp after a fulfilling day out with the African wildlife. (B,L,D) |
| Day 19: | Planet Baobab, Botswana. We leave the bush behind and travel east to Planet Baobab. The rest of the afternoon we spend with a relaxed stroll to the elephant hole and relaxing at Planet Baobab's facilities. (B,L,D) |
| Day 20: | Kasane & Chobe National Park, Botswana. Today we drive up north to Chobe National Park. We stop at one of the the Magkadigkadi Pans to have a closer look. After appreciating the wide-open, uninhabited spaces under the endless canopy of blue sky, we step off for our final stop of the day, Toro Lodge. We have game viewing opportunities en route to Kasane and the Chobe area. The Chobe National Park, which is the second largest national park in Botswana and covers 10,566 square km, and has one of the greatest concentrations of game found on the African continent. In the afternoon we go on a sunset cruise on the Chobe River and will have the opportunity to get close up to all that the Chobe Park has to offer from lions, elephants, hippos, crocodiles, birds and much more. (B,L,D) |
| Day 21: | Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Continuing our trip we leave Botswana and drive back to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Your guide will take you through to Victoria Falls (entrance fee on own expense) and you will have the opportunity to take part in several optional activities like White Water rafting, Bungee jumping or Elephant back safaris, etc. (B,L) |
| Day 22: |
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. After breakfast this morning this 21-day safari ends. This memorable lodge safari will leave you with life long memories of all that the African continent has to offer. (B) B,L,D = Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
how this holiday makes a difference
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On this incredible safari, we pay special attention to the types of lodges used, as well as ensuring an in-depth view of Africa’s unique wildlife, eco-systems and history, by visiting incredible National Parks, World Heritage Sites and cultural villages.
In Nambia for example, the lodges all contribute to responsible tourism in their own way: At Camp Kwando, we visit two local schools bordering the lodge, with the main impetus being the quality of teaching, and that it be maintained at an adequate level. Thus our concern that all the money you pay for these visits is re-injected in schooling material. This project is monitored by Camp Kwando, who track all donations. At Nkwazi Lodge, they provide ecologically sensitive facilities and operations by utilising solar power as well as contributing to sustainable community development by encouraging guests to visit one of the local villages and attending a church meeting. At Palmwag, they provide ecologically sensitive soaps and shampoos, which clients are encouraged to use. To decrease water usage, there is no daily exchange of towels & linen if clients stay longer than a night to reduce water wastage; use of eco friendly pool maintenance solutions with water recycling and constant upgrade of drain systems. There is also no collection of firewood from the concession area; all firewood is supplied from local, commercial firewood suppliers. They control all access onto the concession, thereby reducing environmental impact and assist government ministries in annual conservation work & censuses. Palmwag also recruits staff from neighbouring communities only, empowering local communities and uplifting the local economy. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |
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