12 Day Windhoek to Victoria Falls Tour (Accommodated)

Day 1: Windhoek, Namibia

Arrive whenever is convenient for you. The arrival transfer is included. Meet your tour leader and fellow travel companions this evening at dinner.

Accommodation: Windhoek Country Club Resort (or similar)
Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Windhoek – Sesriem, Namibia

We drive from Namibia’s capital to Sesriem, the gateway to Namib-Naukluft National Park. Keep an eye out for the oryx, springbok, jackal, hyena, and more that call these arid lands home-red-hued desertscapes, stark camel thorn trees, and dramatic curved dunes. Relax by the poolside at our lodge, watching the desert sunset.

Sesriem and Sossusvlei offer postcard-perfect desert sunsets, vast landscapes of reds and orange, and dramatic dunes with curved ridges. In this area, you can also see oryx, springbok, jackal, ground squirrel, and hyena, among many other wildlife species.

Accommodation: Sossusvlei Lodge (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities: Sossusvlei Sundowner & Nature Drive
Distance: +/- 340 km
Travel Time: +/- 6 hours

Day 3: Sesriem – Sossusvlei, Namibia

Experience the thrill of exploring one of Africa’s largest national parks. Discover the massive dunes of Sossusvlei and the white clay pan of Deadvlei in the Namib desert, the oldest desert in the world. An orange dune backdrop and a crisp blue sky combine to make for dramatic photos of dead camel thorn trees. Next, visit Sesriem Canyon, a natural gorge carved by the Tsauchab River over millions of years.

Accommodation: Sossusvlei Lodge (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Included Highlights: Sossusvlei Dunes Visit, Sesriem Canyon Visit, Deadvlei Visit
Optional Activities: Sossusvlei Sundowner & Nature Drive

Day 4: Sesriem – Swakopmund, Namibia

Follow the road through a changing desert landscape towards Swakopmund. Before heading into the countryside, look out for roaming zebra, kudu, springbok, and oryx, and stop for a break in Solitaire. On this 4×4 journey, we learn about the survival strategies of bushmen who lived thousands of years ago in this inhospitable region. We also search for smaller wildlife that has survived here, such as snakes, geckos, spiders, and an array of insects.

Accommodation: Hansa Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Included Highlight: Living Desert Tour
Distance: +/- 375 km
Travel Time: +/- 8 hours

Day 5: Swakopmund, Namibia

Take advantage of a free morning in Swakopmund to experience the town’s unique Afro-German culture; or explore the Namib desert by sandboarding. Tour Mondesa township this afternoon with a local guide and learn about its history and people. Get a taste of traditional foods at the local market, including wild spinach, mopane worms, and dried sardines. Explore a local arts and crafts shop, chat with the locals, and finish the day with dinner and a performance in a cozy, family-run restaurant.

Accommodation: Hansa Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Included Highlight: Mondesa Township Walk, Sandwich Harbour & Skeleton Coast Excursion

Day 6: Swakopmund, Namibia

Enjoy a free day in Swakopmund. Explore this German influenced coastal town with its unique building features. Go for a wild ride on a quad bike through the red dunes with coastal views along the way, take a kayaking trip on the shores of Namibia, or scream your way down a dune at 60km/h. The activities on offer here should keep you busy all day.

Accommodation: Hansa Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activity: Sandboarding, Fat Tire Bike Tours, Sea Kayaking, Quad Biking
Distance: 350 km
Travel Time: +/- 6 hours

Day 7: Swakopmund – Etosha National Park, Namibia

A fair distance needs to be covered today to reach our destination bordering Etosha National Park. We shall travel in a private vehicle and stop in a town called Outjo for a refreshing break, before heading on to our lodge for the night. Get the cameras charged up and ready for tomorrow’s game driving experience.

Accommodation: Taleni Etosha Village (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Distance: +/- 610 km
Travel Time: +/- 8 hours

Day 8: Etosha National Park, Namibia

Safari through Etosha National Park, where open grasslands meet a massive salt pan. As you explore Etosha in your open vehicle, keep your camera handy to capture images of lions, elephants, and other endangered species. Lunch can be enjoyed at one of the park’s rest areas, where you can also swim and watch animals flock to nearby watering holes, including hundreds of birds.

In contrast to the vast desert, Etosha National Park offers wide open grasslands, a massive salt pan covering 4,731km2 and tall camel thorn trees mixed with Mopani trees. Wildlife flocks to the park because of its natural waterholes and diverse vegetation. In areas with thicker vegetation, some of the largest elephants as well as leopards can be found. In the grasslands, you can find lions, giraffes, ostriches and antelope species, while birders will love the salt pans. Etosha National Park is home to more than 340 species of birds, including the European bee-eater, Kori bustard, and numerous migratory birds.

Accommodation: Taleni Etosha Village (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Included Highlights: Etosha Open Vehicle Wildlife Safari Drive
Distance: +/- 115 km
Travel Time: +/- 3 hours

Day 9: Etosha National Park – Windhoek, Namibia

You can visit the Cheetah Conservation Fund after breakfast, which was established by National Geographic Grantee Dr Laurie Marker. Learn how they protect the world’s fastest land animal through conservation and community outreach and enjoy a talk by one of the researchers. After that, take a drive through the grounds to see some of the rescues and rehabilitated cheetahs at the centre. Our final evening in Namibia is in Windhoek.

Accommodation: Windhoek Country Club Resort (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Included Highlight: Cheetah Conservation Experience
Distance: +/- 415 km
Travel Time: +/- 6 hours

Day 10: Windhoek – Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Fly to Victoria Falls, one of the most powerful waterfalls on Earth, in Zimbabwe. Visiting the bustling market in a nearby village is a fun way to get groceries. Enjoy a traditional Zimbabwean meal with a local family and learn about their culture as you prepare the meal.

Accommodation: Explorers Village Lodge (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Included Highlight: Zimbabwean Family Dinner

Day 11: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Get an up-close and personal look at Victoria Falls. They were named after Queen Victoria by Scottish explorer David Livingstone, but their indigenous name is Mosi-oa-Tunya-“the smoke that thunders.” Experience a scenic sunset cruise on the Zambezi River or visit the wildlife-rich Chobe National Park.

Accommodation: Explorers Village Lodge – Deluxe (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Included Highlights: Victoria Falls Guided Tour
Optional Activity: Canoeing the Zambezi; Full Day Excursion to Chobe National Park; Victoria Falls Historic Bridge Tour

Day 12: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Feel free to depart whenever you are ready. Should you want to extend your stay in Vic Falls, then please speak to your travel consultant as this can be arranged.

Meals: Breakfast

Onward Travel Plans

Due to circumstances beyond our control while on tour (such as border crossings, traffic, breakdowns and delays, etc), the end time on the last day cannot be guaranteed. Therefore we strongly recommend you stay the night and fly out the next day. Please consult with your booking consultant.