14 Day Namibia & Botswana Adventure- Victoria Falls to Swakopmund - Both Ways (SV14 & VS14)

Overland camping safari Semi Participate

  • Swakopmund
    • -
  • Spitzkoppe
    • -
  • Etosha National Park
    • -
  • Rundu
    • -
  • Maun
    • -
  • Okavango Delta
    • -
  • Maun
    • -
  • Chobe National Park - Botswana
    • -
  • Victoria Falls and surrounds - Zimbabwe

Itinerary:

DAY 1:  Swakopmund
Founded by the Germans in 1892, their colonial influence is still evident today.  Swakopmund has a selection of excellent coffee shops, restaurants & bars as well as many arts and crafts shops selling Namibian curios.  There are fine beaches to walk along as well as a great museum, aquarium and galleries to visit.  Today is spent at leisure exploring this seaside town & some of the activities available here.

DAY 2:  Swakopmund to Spitzkoppe [Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner]
Our departure from Swakopmund takes us to the ‘Matterhorn of Namibia’ - Spitzkoppe.  The 1728 m high rock formation, one of Namibia’s most recognised landmarks, is well known as an ancient San sacred site.  Explore the surrounding area and its San rock paintings.  Tonight we bush camp under the African stars.

DAY 3:  Spitzkoppe to Cheetah Park [Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner]
Today’s drive is to the Cheetah Park - a private farm dedicated to conserving Namibia’s cheetah population.  We get to meet the resident cheetahs, a photo opportunity not to be missed!

DAY 4:  Cheetah Park to the Etosha National Park [Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner]
After stopping briefly in Outjo to get supplies, we head to Etosha.  Covering 20 000 km2, Etosha is Namibia’s premier nature reserve.  Situated around the Etosha Pan with a large variety of animal and bird life, the extensive network of gravel roads affords us the opportunity of accessing even the most remote areas of the park.  We spend the remainder of the day exploring the park’s southern area.

DAY 5:  Etosha National Park [Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner]
Today we make our way 150 km across the park, keeping a look out for Etosha’s large herds of desert antelope such as Springbok and the famed Oryx.  After a full day of game viewing, we spend the evening relaxing at our camp.

DAY 6:  Etosha National Park to Rundu [Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner]
From Etosha, we head in a north-easterly direction towards the lush Kavango region of northern Namibia.  We stop at Rundu for supplies before heading to our spectacular campsite located on the banks of the Kavango River - complete with “open air” facilities and the occasional hippo grazing on the lawn!

DAY 7:  Rundu to Maun (Botswana) [Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner]
Following the Kavango River, we enter Botswana and travel east along the course of the Okavango River to the southern reaches of the Okavango Delta and our destination, Maun.  It is from here that we set off to explore the Okavango Delta.

DAY 8:  Maun to Okavango Delta (OPTIONAL) [Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner]
The Delta is a huge expanse of water, which has travelled from the Angolan highlands, spreading out to form the largest inland delta in the world.  Studded with exotic islands, The Delta is renowned for its incredible variety of bird life and animals and is unique to Southern Africa.
Here we have the opportunity to take the optional 3 Day / 2 Night Drive In/Mokoro Excursion into the Delta.  From Maun we drive north for a couple of hours to reach the mokoro poler’s station.   Mokoros are traditional dug out canoes manoeuvred through the waterways by local guides who “pole” them through the reeds.  After our guides find us a place to camp, we set off on an afternoon game walk, allowing us to experience The Delta wilderness.

For those who’d prefer not to explore The Delta, you can stay at the lovely campsite relaxing by the swimming pool or challenging each other to a game of volleyball. There is also a crocodile farm nearby that has it’s feeding times open to campsite visitors.

DAY 9:  Okavango Delta [Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner]
A day of rest, relaxation and Delta experiences await.  Today we have the opportunity to partake in a number of activities including swimming, game walks, mokoro cruises and even a chance to try our hands at poling our own mokoro!

DAY 10:  Okavango Delta to Maun [Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner]
This morning affords us a final opportunity for a game walk before packing up and setting off back to Maun.  We arrive back in the early afternoon and have the chance to complete our picture of the Okavango Delta by taking an optional sunset scenic flight over The Delta.

DAY 11:  Maun to Chobe National Park [Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner]
We travel east and then north to the town of Kasane where we set up camp on the banks of the Chobe River.  The Chobe River forms a border between Botswana and Namibia and Zambia.  The late afternoon sees us take a boat cruise along the Chobe River.  Elephant, hippo and many bird species can be viewed from the boat while we watch another glorious African sunset.  Listen out for the resident hippos!

DAY 12:  Chobe National Park [Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner]
This morning we have the option to do an early morning game drive into Chobe National Park.  Chobe is one of Botswana’s premier game parks, renowned for its large elephant herds.  After our game drive we return to camp for lunch and an afternoon at leisure.

For the adventurous spirits, there is the option for the Chobe National Park Sleep-out – an overnight experience in the Chobe National park. Spend the afternoon in search of wildlife en-route to the set camp within the park where we spend the evening surrounded by the night-time noises of the local wildlife. In the morning we continue our exploration and rejoin the group before heading to our next destination.

DAY 13:  Chobe National Park to Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) (Brunch)
Leaving Botswana we enter Zimbabwe and drive to the nearby Victoria Falls.  Here in Africa’s adventure capital, we set up camp in the town’s centrally located campsite.  Victoria Falls or Mosi-oa-Tunya (the Smoke that Thunders) is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and it’s not difficult to see why.  At 1700 m wide and around 100 m high, this is the world's largest sheet of falling water and a memorable sight on any African Safari!  The Falls can be viewed from the Victoria Falls National Park, Zimbabwe - a fantastic photo opportunity.  The afternoon is spent relaxing at the campsite’s swimming pool or exploring the many sights and delights of this town!

DAYS 14:  Victoria Falls [Breakfast]
After breakfast, we exchange addresses and part ways, having just experienced a trip of a lifetime!

Inclusions / Exclusions

Inclusions
- Meals per itinerary
- Game or Park entrance fees and permits
- Qualified professional guide
- Equipment provided for specific activity
- Single/double dome safari tents and safari ablution facilities
- Trained cook who prepares meals whilst on tour
- Transport as per itinerary

Exclusions
- Sleeping bag and mat
- Personal travel insurance
- Visas
- Items of a personal nature
- Optional excursions
- Restaurant meals and drinks

Extra information

Please Note: This itinerary should be used as a guide only and may vary from day to day depending on road & weather conditions, political situations and group decisions. All prices & Local Payments are subject to change with prior notice. Due to Tourism Laws in some of the countries we visit, there may be a truck and crew change during the trip.

PASSPORTS AND VISAS
You should have a full passport valid for at least six months after the end of your safari. It is advisable to allow at least one blank page for each country to be visited. If your passport is almost full you may find yourself unable to complete the tour. Note: it is advisable to bring a photocopy of your passport in case you lose the original. Visas are your responsibility. Please check visa requirements with the consular office of each country that you will be visiting. Alternatively, consult your agent or us. You should allow plenty of time for obtaining necessary visas. In Africa, most visas can be obtained en-route. Note: Passports and vaccination certificates with an indication of travel to Israel must be replaced.

VACCINATIONS
Please consult your doctor or immunisation centre for the relevant vaccination requirements for the countries to which you will be travelling. Please note, however, that a Yellow Fever vaccination is compulsory for most African countries. In addition for African safaris, we would recommend vaccinations for typhoid, polio, tetanus, hepatitis, meningitis, and perhaps, cholera. Note: you should have a photocopy of your Certificate in case you lose the original.

MEDICAL / HEALTH
All the vehicles carry a first aid kit that is for use in emergencies and passengers are asked to replace any item they use. However, we would strongly advise you to bring a personal medical kit. Any reputable medical store will be able to provide this. Suggested contents includes: Lip balm, anti-histamine cream or tablets, Sunscreen, water purifying tablets, Painkillers, anti diarrhoea remedy, Moisturiser, dehydration salts, Elastoplasts/band aids, insect repellent, Sterile dressings, antiseptic cream. Malaria is endemic in most parts of Africa. It is your responsibility to provide anti-malaria tablets and other preventative measures. You should consult your doctor as to the correct prophylaxis for the countries to be visited. It is also useful to avoid being bitten through the use of an insect repellent containing DEET and wearing long sleeved shirts and trousers at night.

INSURANCE
Personal travel insurance is compulsory for all the safaris. This should include a comprehensive medical cover including repatriation, personal effects and luggage, as well as cancellation and curtailment insurance. If you are in any doubt as to the cover you need, please contact us (travel@toursa.com). Note: Please bring a photocopy of your Insurance Policy and hand to the Trip Leader at the pre-departure meeting. 

LUGGAGE AND WHAT TO BRING
As a guide we recommend you keep to your airline's restriction ie. 20kg or less. Most people bring along a backpack (preferably with built-in frame) and a day bag. Large suitcases are not recommended, as these can be difficult to store on the truck. Most people make the mistake of bringing too much clothing. Clothes should be easy to wash and dry, but avoid nylon and other synthetics, which can be very uncomfortable in hot weather. Please remember that Africa can be colder than you might expect, particular at night and in the early morning.

The following is a suggested list of clothing and accessories:
2 long sleeved shirts/blouses;  3-4 short sleeved shirts or T-shirts; 2 pairs trousers or 1 pair and 1 skirt;  1-2 pairs shorts;  Tracksuit pants;  Heavy sweater;  Light sweater;  Water/windproof jacket;  Underwear;  Hat;  Boots or trainers;  Sandals or thongs;  Set of smart clothes and shoes(semi formal);  watch (inexpensive);  sunglasses (inexpensive);  torch and spare batteries;  small sewing kit;  washing soap for clothes;  plastic bags;  clothes line and pegs Swimsuit small scrubbing brush Sleeping bag, sleep sheet and roll mat;  penknife;  Music (our vehicles are equipped with stereos);  personal toiletries and towel; water bottle;  vaccination certificates;  money and traveller's cheques; Passport (plus photocopy); camera and film.

We recommend that you bring hiking boots and wet weather clothes as well as gloves (such as gardening gloves). If you wear glasses (or contacts) it is also advisable to bring a spare pair.

If you wish to sleep out on warm nights you will need to bring a mosquito net and ground sheet.

SPENDING MONEY
Well, only you know to what extent your spending habits will tax you ie. whether you smoke or drink, what souvenirs you are most probably wanting to buy, or any extra excursions you may want to do. Africa is not as cheap as a lot of the travel books have you to believe and as such we would recommend that you allow, in addition to the listed optional excursions in our brochure, a figure of US$20 to US$30 per day. It is advisable to bring spending money in both cash and travellers cheques, preferably in US dollars or pounds sterling, or both. Cash should be in a variety of denominations, and if travelling to East Africa, please make sure that US dollar notes are post 1993.

ITINERARY FLEXIBILITY
The itinerary as set out is intended as a guideline only and may vary slightly as the trip progresses. Each trip must be flexible to allow for all variables, such as road conditions, political situations, weather and even possible breakdowns. Where possible you will see everything listed and probably more.

 

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