Victoria Falls to Cape Town

Your journey begins at Victoria Falls, one of the largest waterfalls on Earth. You have the day free to arrive and settle in at your own pace. Around 6pm we meet the tour leader and fellow travellers to get to know one another and hear about the adventures ahead, then we share a welcome dinner. If you wish to explore further or arrive early, you can book extra hotel nights before the tour through your sales representative.

You have a free day with a wide choice of optional activities, including scenic flights, white water rafting and game viewing. Victoria Falls town sits on the Zimbabwean side of the falls and you can visit the viewpoints – entrance at your own expense, US$58.

There is a little free time at the campsite this morning before we depart around 11am for Kasane in Botswana, renowned for large populations of elephants and hippos. This afternoon you can take an optional game drive in Chobe National Park. Drive time: 95mi (150km) – one to two hours, plus border crossing of one to two hours.

We set out early on a game drive in Chobe National Park, then later take a boat ride on the Chobe River, a fantastic way to watch herds of elephants and other wildlife come to drink.

We travel through Chobe National Park into Namibia, continuing across the Caprivi Strip to our camp beside the Okavango River – the main watercourse feeding the Okavango Delta. Drive time: 250mi (400km) – five to six hours, plus about one hour for the border crossing.

We take a mokoro ride from our camp on the Okavango River, gliding quietly through tranquil channels alive with birdlife and, season permitting, game. If the river is flooded in March/April, we may switch to a boat ride. You can also choose an optional village tour to meet the local community.

We make a long drive from the Okavango River to Etosha National Park, a vast mosaic of forest and grassland centred on a shimmering saltpan. Wildlife gathers at waterholes near the excellent campsites and, with patience, we may be rewarded by a memorable night of sightings – wildebeest, zebra, impala, springbok, kudu, elephant, giraffe, lion and even rhino are frequent visitors. Etosha is superb for birds too, from waterbirds on the pans to weavers and hornbills in the trees. Drive time: 400mi (650km) – eight hours.

We devote the next two days to exploring Etosha, beginning with an early morning game drive. We may move between the camps at Okaukuejo, Halali or Namutoni – keeping plans flexible to follow where wildlife is congregating.

This morning we leave Etosha and travel towards Brandberg, Namibia’s highest mountain. We enjoy a walk of about two hours through Valley 45 to the White Lady rock painting, part of a cluster of artworks thought to have been created by San people at least 2,000 years ago. Drive time: 250mi (400km) – five to six hours.

We drive towards the Skeleton Coast and on to the Germanic town of Swakopmund, where we stay overnight. Drive time: 155mi (250km) – four hours.

Swakopmund is Namibia’s adventure capital and you have a full day to pick from optional activities, such as a dolphin cruise, a township tour or a scenic flight over the desert. Alternatively, you can wander the German style town and sample its excellent cake shops.

We drive via Walvis Bay to Sesriem through the Namib Desert, one of the driest and oldest deserts on the planet. Expect magnificent desert scenery with towering, jagged rock formations and striking lunar landscapes. Drive time: 185mi (300km) – 4hr 30min.

We have a full day to experience the Sossusvlei dunes and Sesriem Canyon. We rise early to watch the first light sweep across the dunes and, if you wish, climb one of the highest dunes in the world. Alternatively, you can watch from below as the colours shift with the rising sun. With luck we may spot gemsbok, ostriches or even black backed jackals among the sands. In the afternoon we visit Sesriem Canyon.

We set off early for the Fish River Canyon, the second largest canyon on Earth. Arriving in the afternoon, we set up camp, then transfer to the rim for unforgettable sunset views. Drive time: 310mi (500km) – 8hr 30min to 9hr.

We leave the canyon in the morning and reach the Orange River in time for lunch. This afternoon we plan to canoe on the river. Drive time: 110mi (180km) – 2hr 30min to 3hr.

This morning we cross from Namibia into South Africa and continue to the fertile Olifants River Valley, offering a glimpse of Western Cape agricultural life. You may also have the opportunity for an optional wine tasting experience. Drive time: about seven hours, plus about one hour for the border crossing.

We enjoy a relaxed morning in the Olifants River Valley. In the afternoon we travel through farmlands of citrus, maize, cattle and sheep before arriving in Cape Town. Drive time: 185mi (300km) – 4hr 30min to 5hr 30min.

Activities across our two days in Cape Town are interchangeable depending on the weather, as we aim to schedule the optional Table Mountain visit for a clear day. You could take the cable car for sweeping views, drive the spectacular Chapmans Peak to Houtbay, visit Cape Point and see the resident penguin colony at Boulders Beach.

It is our final day and time to begin the journey home. If you have free time before your flight, you can choose from optional activities in the city, including another visit to Table Mountain. If you would like to stay longer in Cape Town, speak to your sales representative about arranging additional nights.