Southern Africa Southbound: Dunes, Deltas & Falls
21 days, Livingstone to Cape Town
Itinerary
Day 1Livingstone
Arrive at any time.
Please make sure you have all of the necessary visas for this tour by the time of the welcome meeting. It is very important to read the visa section in our trip details to make sure you know which visas you will need, if any. Please note that not all nationalities are able to obtain a visa on arrival at the border.
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Day 2Livingstone
Opt to visit Victoria Falls, go whitewater rafting, or take a helicopter flight over the falls.
Livingstone is a great base to see both natural wonders and take part in some exciting activities. Get up close (and wet from the spray) to the awesome Victoria Falls, opt to raft the whitewater of the mighty Zambezi, or bungee jump (with Victoria Falls in sight).
Want to do more with your tour? Pre-book any two of the following activities: Zambezi Whitewater Rafting, Victoria Falls Helicopter Ride, or the Zambezi River Sunset Cruise.
Any optional activities listed on this day can also be booked upon arrival in Victoria Falls.
Free Time
Get out and explore the many things on offer in the Livingstone area.
Optional Activities - Day 2 HideShow
Victoria Falls Helicopter Ride (Zambia)
Charge up your camera and take flight over the massive Victoria Falls. From above, it's easy to capture the full breadth of the falls and their surroundings.
Victoria Falls Visit (Zambia)
One of the seven natural wonders, this waterfall is not the widest or highest, but it produces a horizontal curtain of falling water as it drops more than 152.4m (500 ft) into the gorge below, creating a spray of 396.2m (1,300 ft). If watching isn't enough, when the water levels are low, take a swim at the Devil’s Pool at the edge of the falls, or at Angel’s Armchair. The falls are visible from 48.2km (30 mi) away.
Standard Zambezi River Sunset Cruise
Jump on a boat and cruise on the beautiful Zambezi River. Enjoy some snacks, drinks, a festive atmosphere, and, of course, gorgeous views of the sunset.
Zambezi Whitewater Rafting
150-160USD per personTick one off your bucket list! Raft the Class III-V rapids of the Zambezi River, considered by many to be one of the best whitewater rafting rivers in the world. It's exhilarating!
Please note: River conditions and activity pricing vary depending on the seasons. High water season is from about February to July. Low water season generally runs from August to January each year - this is when the Zambezi is at its very wildest. The "closed season" is dependent on the season’s rains, and usually is from March to April; during this time rafting on the river is not permitted. Additionally, this activity requires passengers to hike down and up the deep Batoka Gorge to access the river, which requires reasonable level of fitness. This activity price excludes a $10 park entrance fee.
Zambezi Bungee Jump
168USD per personGet the adrenaline pumping with a bungee jump from the Victoria Falls Bridge over the Zambezi River. Hear the rush of Victoria Falls as you enjoy this once in a lifetime experience.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 3Livingstone/Kasane
Opt to take a wildlife viewing boat cruise on the Chobe River or a wildlife safari drive in an open safari vehicle in Chobe National Park.
You will stay over just outside of the park near the town of Kasane. This afternoon, take an optional wildlife safari drive in the park or an afternoon sunset boat cruise along the Chobe River - it's your best opportunity to view hippos, crocodiles, and many elephants wallowing in the water.
Lando
Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!
Border Crossing (Zambia - Botswana)
Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.
Ferry
Get to the next spot on your route aboard a convenient and efficient ferry boat.
Lando
Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!
Optional Activities - Day 3 HideShow
Chobe River Sunset Cruise
Get a fantastic perspective of one of Botswana's national parks and its thousands of resident elephants, crocodiles, and hippos on a sunset boat cruise on the Chobe River. Bring a few drinks and a camera, sit back, and enjoy the view.
Chobe National Park Safari Drive
Immerse yourself in Chobe National Park in an open-backed, open-seated safari vehicle, and experience the stunning wilderness of the game-rich park in the care of a very knowledgeable and friendly guide. Explore with your eyes as the tour drives along routes that overlook the beautiful Chobe River and keep an eye out for the remarkable variety of animals that are drawn to this permanent water source.
During the safari drives it is not uncommon to spot several of Africa’s “big five” in the greater Chobe area and the early morning drive lasting 3 hours is a wonderful opportunity to have some unique sightings.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 4Kasane/Gweta
Opt to do a morning safari drive before travelling south to Gweta. Camp under ancient baobab trees.
Lando
Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 5Gweta/Maun
Opt to catch a bird's-eye view of the delta on a scenic flight.
Lando
Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!
Optional Activities - Day 5 HideShow
Okavango Delta Flight
Get a fresh perspective on the vast wilderness of Africa with a once-in-a-lifetime view only a select few will ever see. Enjoy the hippos in the waterways and elephants and buffalo in the tree line. Gaze at the winding water channels as they make their way through the Delta.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 6Maun/Okavango Delta
Enjoy a wildlife walk, a traditional mokoro (dugout canoe) excursion, and birding.
Please note that there will be no shower tonight, as our camp is very basic in the wild - you will be compensated by the incredible landscape and wildlife!
Once we are in Maun, you can pick up any supplies and prepare for our excursion into the Okavango Delta. We recommend you buy a 5 litre bottle of water to take with you into the Delta; this should be sufficient to use for drinking and cleaning purposes.
Safari Vehicle
Get a better view and take better snapshots aboard this off-road ride.
Mokoro
Climb into a traditional canoe for a closer view of the shoreline.
Okavango Delta Excursion
Step into the heart of Botswana’s wilderness on an unforgettable journey into the Okavango Delta. Your adventure begins with a scenic drive in an open 4x4 safari vehicle, travelling deep into the Sankoyo Concession, a pristine area teeming with wildlife and rich in natural beauty.
Our secluded camp offers a true bush experience, with comfortable, fully-set-up tents and the sounds of nature all around. From here, you’ll explore the Delta the traditional way, gliding quietly through the waterways in a mokoro canoe, steered by skilled local polers who know the channels like the back of their hand.
Back on land, a guided walking safari gives you the rare opportunity to connect with the bush on foot. Learn about the plants, animal tracks, and smaller wildlife often missed from a vehicle, while keeping an eye out for the Delta’s bigger residents.
Evenings are spent relaxing by the campfire under a sky scattered with stars, swapping stories and listening to the night sounds of Africa. This is more than a trip, it’s an immersion into one of the world’s most remarkable ecosystems, guided by the people who call it home.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 7Maun/Ghanzi
Visit the Kalahari Desert and meet the local San Bushmen. Enjoy an optional walk to learn survival skills from the locals.
We continue through the western part of Botswana, the heart of the Kalahari, to Ghanzi. Get a glimpse of how the San adapted to the Kalahari Desert. Learn fascinating wilderness survival skills by local Bushmen on an optional Bushman walk.
Mokoro
Climb into a traditional canoe for a closer view of the shoreline.
Safari Vehicle
Get a better view and take better snapshots aboard this off-road ride.
Lando
Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!
Optional Activities - Day 7 HideShow
Traditional San People Dancing
2000BWP per groupAround the campfire at night, you can experience the ancient dance rituals of the San People. On special occasions this could be a healing or trance dance, which can continue all night, and is an intense spiritual experience for both participants and visitors alike. The dances have changed minimally in the last 20 000 years of San People culture. These dances are not only a celebration of life but are also a means of passing on historic folklore from generation to generation.
Walk with San People
150BWP per personGet a glimpse of how the San tribe adapted to the Kalahari Desert and learn about their fascinating wilderness survival skills. The gatherer life of the San People has all but disappeared; there are few remaining who retain the survival skills of their ancient way of life. During the walk, San People guides will share their knowledge on mastering this harsh environment, helping us learn about the botany of our surroundings.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 8Ghanzi/Windhoek
Opt to explore the city centre of Windhoek after a long drive and a border crossing.
Lando
Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!
Border Crossing (Botswana - Namibia)
Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.
Meals included:
Breakfast | LunchDay 9Windhoek/Etosha National Park
Enjoy a wildlife safari drive in the overland vehicle in Etosha National Park. Opt to take an open vehicle wildlife safari night drive.
Lando
Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!
Etosha National Park Wildlife Safari Drive (Lando)
Set off into the wilds of Etosha National Park in search of a wide variety of wildlife. More than 100 species of mammals call Etosha home, including lions, rhinos, elephants, giraffes, blue wildebeest, springbok, zebra, and hyenas. As for birds, the salt pan attracts pelicans, flamingos, and many other winged wonders. Bring your camera and go wild!
Optional Activities - Day 9 HideShow
Etosha Open Vehicle Wildlife Safari Drive
1200NAD per personSet off in an open 4x4 safari vehicle with a naturalist guide in search of the stunning wildlife in the park. Wildlife often come to the many watering holes to drink, so keep your eyes peeled for many animals on the move.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 10Etosha National Park
Enjoy a full-day wildlife safari drive at Etosha National Park.
Etosha National Park Wildlife Safari Drive (Lando)
Set off into the wilds of Etosha National Park in search of a wide variety of wildlife. More than 100 species of mammals call Etosha home, including lions, rhinos, elephants, giraffes, blue wildebeest, springbok, zebra, and hyenas. As for birds, the salt pan attracts pelicans, flamingos, and many other winged wonders. Bring your camera and go wild!
Optional Activities - Day 10 HideShow
Etosha Open Vehicle Wildlife Safari Drive
1200NAD per personSet off in an open 4x4 safari vehicle with a naturalist guide in search of the stunning wildlife in the park. Wildlife often come to the many watering holes to drink, so keep your eyes peeled for many animals on the move.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 11Etosha National Park/Damaraland
Morning wildlife safari drive in the overland vehicle. Travel to Damaraland through beautiful desert landscapes.
Lando
Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!
Etosha National Park Wildlife Safari Drive (Lando)
Wildlife safari drives are done in our overland vehicle.
Optional Activities - Day 11 HideShow
Prehistoric Rock Engravings Guided Tour
100NAD per personStep back in time to see prehistoric rock engravings made during the early Stone Age. Their exact origin is uncertain, but these works depicting animals and hunters are probably the work of Bushmen or Nama artists estimated to have lived near Twyfelfontein at least 5,000 years ago. Marvel at the more than 2,500 rock carvings and paintings and understand why this is Namibia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 12Damaraland/Spitzkoppe
Visit the Damaraland Living Museum to learn more about the lost culture of the Damara people, then travel south and enjoy the granite peaks of Spitzkoppe.
Explore on your own by foot, and be sure to check out the night sky—it's great for star-gazing!
Our basic bush camp will have long-drop toilets and no running water.
Lando
Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!
Damaraland Living Museum
Step into the past and learn about the lost culture of the Damara people at this museum depicting the life and customs of one of the oldest nations in Namibia.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 13Spitzkoppe/Swakopmund
Wake up and feel like you crash landed on Mars. Gaze in wonder at this wild landscape and let peace wash over you (trust us you’re going to need it) before the group travels through the coastal region of Namibia to the adrenaline capital of Swakopmund.
Sandwiched between the Atlantic Ocean and the mighty Namib desert this coastal city has strong German heritage which is reflected in the architecture around town. The group will spend two nights in Swakopmund so fear not you have time for all of the things you may want to try.
Lando
Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!
Meals included:
Breakfast | LunchDay 14Swakopmund
Fill free time with sandboarding, skydiving, quad-biking, or a living desert tour.
Please note that there are no remaining departures for Swakopmund Skydiving in December 2019.
Free Time
Enjoy a free day in Namibia's adventure capital.
Optional Activities - Day 14 HideShow
Dolphin Cruise
600NAD per personClimb aboard with a knowledgable skipper and head towards Walvis Bay to visit a seal colony, looking out for dolphins en route.
Sandboarding in the Namib Desert
700NAD per personHead out into the desert, grab a board, and surf the sand dunes. Choose to lie down headfirst, or stand up, surfer-style.
Skeleton Coast Scenic Flight
4800NAD per personTake in amazing views of bird life, shipwrecks, and one of the largest seal colonies in the world over the northern coastline. On the way back, see Namibia's highest mountain, Damaraland, and the picturesque Spitzkoppe rock formations from above.
Fat Tire Bike Tours
480NAD per personDiscover the beauty of Namibia’s landscapes on a fat tire bike tour, from a scenic ride through the world’s oldest desert to the historic streets of Swakopmund. Whether you choose to partake in a thrilling adventure or take your time exploring the desert’s unique flora and fauna, this is a unique way to journey through one of the most breathtaking regions of Namibia.
Swakopmund Skydiving
Buckle up your harness, practice your exit, then take a plane up and over the dunes of the Namib Desert. Take a deep breath, leap out and freefall with an instructor before he opens the parachute. Admire the view over the dunes as you descend and land safely back on the ground. Wow!
Mondesa Township Tour
750NAD per personExplore the back streets and local culture on a guided interpretive walk. Learn about the history of Swakopmund, its housing and other various topics to get a better understanding of local life. Visit a woman from the Herero ethnic group and also a Nama Medicine Woman, who will host a 'click' lesson in the local Daman language. Finish at a local pub called a 'shebeen' with the opportunity to try the local bush delicacy of Mopani worms and a drink.
Day 15Swakopmund/Namib Desert
Arrive in the area in the afternoon where we will be camping on the edge of the Namib Desert. Opt to walk with a local expert who will explain the desert and its mysteries.
Lando
Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!
Sesriem Canyon Visit
Enjoy a short stop at Sesriem Canyon, a small canyon typical of the area. The Tsauchab River flows through the canyon every five to ten years, and this creates the nearby salt and clay pan of Sossusvlei.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 16Namib Desert
Explore the Sesriem Canyon, a small canyon typical of the area. Then continue on to the Sossusvlei Dunes and climb up breathtaking Dune 45.
We will leave early morning towards Sossuvlei campsite, where the towering red sand dunes of Sossusvlei form the gateway into the Namib Desert. Here you will really feel as though you’re in the middle of nowhere.
The afternoon is spent exploring the natural wonders of this bizarre environment. Visit Sossusvlei - a clay pan, enclosed by the world’s largest sand dunes, up to 300m (984 ft) high. Here, opt to take a guided walk in the sands dunes, or enjoy some free time to explore on your own.
Lando
Distance excludes drive to Sossuvlei.
Dune 45 Visit
Set off for a climb of the mighty Dune 45. Look out and view the surrounding desert displaying its amazing orange and yellow hues. Magic!
Optional Activities - Day 16 HideShow
Sossusvlei Desert Walk
180NAD per personVisit Sossusvlei, a clay pan enclosed by the world’s largest sand dunes and enclosing ancient dead trees.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 17Namib Desert/Fish River Canyon
Enjoy the sunset at Fish River Canyon.
Lando
Duration includes canyon visit, excludes dune 45 sunrise.
Fish River Canyon Visit
Visit Fish River Canyon, the largest canyon in Africa and, arguably, the second largest in the world. We will only have access to the rim, but the views are spectacular.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 18Fish River Canyon/Gariep (Orange) River
Head to the border and cross into South Africa. Camp at the scenic Gariep River and opt to go canoeing.
Set up camp on the banks of Gariep River for the night. After, enjoy a late afternoon of swimming, relaxing, or possibly even canoeing on the river.
Lando
Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!
Border Crossing (Namibia - South Africa)
Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.
Optional Activities - Day 18 HideShow
Swimming
Grab your bathing suit and go for a refreshing swim.
Paddling on Orange River
400ZAR per personGrab a paddle and hop in a raft. Be sure to wave at the locals from Namibia and South Africa on either side of the river.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 19Orange River/Cederberg
Travel past large plantations of rooibos tea and view dramatic Western Cape scenery.
Lando
Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 20Cederberg/Cape Town
Arrive in vibrant Cape Town and enjoy beautiful views of Table Mountain. Opt for a final night out with the group.
Please note that we arrive in Cape Town in the early afternoon, you might not have time to participate in lengthy activities or see many sights. If you would like to see or do anything, we recommend booking an extra night or two before your return flight home.
Lando
Climb aboard our custom built ride …. overlanding G-style!
Meals included:
Breakfast | LunchDay 21Cape Town
Depart at any time.
We highly recommend booking an extra night in Cape Town to explore all that this area has to offer.
If you book any optional activities on the final day of your itinerary please contact your sales agent to see if booking a post-night is necessary to participate in the activity.
Departure Day
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.