24 Day Cape Town, Victoria Falls to Joburg

Today we gather at 13h00 at the AHA’s Harbour Bridge Hotel at the Waterfront before we set off on an exploration of Cape Town. Following a briefing and some formalities, we begin our adventure by hiking up Table Mountain with our tour guide. Stunning views of the city and Atlantic Ocean can be seen from here. The following day, we explore the scenic Cape Peninsula by vehicle. We will visit Hout Bay, Cape Point, and the Cape of Good Hope. Upon returning to the hotel, we will freshen up before heading out to the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront for dinner and an evening of entertainment. Our exact itinerary will be weather-dependent. We stay at a lovely lodge situated on the beachfront for both nights. Lunches and dinner will be at your own expense.

Departing from the ‘Mother City’ we take one final view of the majestic Table Mountain from across the bay, we then journey northward through the ‘Swartland’ and along the West Coast making our way into Namaqualand. In the beginning of Spring, this normally desolate area comes to life with the blossoming of countless desert-adapted flower species.

Enjoy the contrast of scenery on our journey today. From vast open spaces to dramatic rock formations in the Cederberg. Our journey is long to our accommodation in Springbok.

We make our way across the border and into Namibia today, then journey a brief distance to our base camp situated on the Orange Riverbank where we prepare for our canoe expedition. The Orange River forms an incredible sight – a green ribbon snaking its way through the desert and enormous mountains of the Richtersveld National Park. We spend two nights in comfortable accommodation and on the second day we enjoy a long canoe trip down the river. As the day winds to an end we will return to our accommodation to take in the natural beauty that surrounds us.

We make our way directly to the magnificent Fish River Canyon, the second biggest of its kind in the world. Following a visit to the numerous viewpoints and exploring the rim of the Canyon, we carry on into the true Namib to our next destination.

Our lodge is located on our private Nature Reserve situated within the Namib Rand Nature Reserve and is home to a variety of desert-adapted animals and plant life. During our time spent here, we will embark on guided treks and drives.  During the drive we stop at a suitable place to enjoy the sunset and a traditional sundowner drink. Once it is dark we slowly drive back to the Lodge and hope to encounter some nocturnal animals adapted to living in the desert.

We have an early start today, journeying straight to the Sossusvlei dune-fields. The final part of our travels to the dunes will be through heavy sand, for which we make use of an open 4×4 vehicle with an opportunity to explore Sossusvlei and Deadvlei on foot. Once we have made our way to the dune summits for magnificent views, we head back to our vehicle and carry on to the unusual trading post of Solitaire.

We have a brief distance to travel, crossing the Kuiseb Canyon and the Namib-Naukluft National Park toward the seaside town of Swakopmund where we will spend two nights. Established in 1892, the German colonial influence is evident in the history, architecture, culture and cuisine of the town to this day. Modern Swakopmund is a visitor’s paradise, with great restaurants and shops, friendly locals and a multitude of adventure activities on offer. We have a full day of exploring this town that is rich in history, culture and activities.

Our lodging provides the perfect location for some exploration of Swakopmund. Here you will come across many beaches, markets, curio stores and a massive range of adventure activities, including quad biking, sky diving, horse riding, sand boarding and many more! Make an effort to try out the nightlife in Swakopmund, as well as delicious dinners out at the local restaurants (own expense).

We travel north up the Skeleton Coast today, to the seal colony of Cape Cross before making our way back inland. We journey through the desert to pay a visit to the rock paintings of the Bushmen at Brandberg, after which we spend the evening at the base of the mountain. We try our best to spot the elusive desert elephant.

Head north toward one of Africa’s premier safari destinations: the legendary Etosha National Park. Spanning over a century of conservation, this massive sanctuary is defined by the vast Etosha Pan—a salt crust so immense it can be seen from space, turning into a flamingo-filled oasis during the rains. Thanks to its open, sweeping terrain, tracking wildlife here is exceptionally rewarding. You’ll spend two full days exploring the park’s diverse habitats in a custom overland truck, keeping watch for lions, elephants, rhinos, and endemic black-faced impalas. A major highlight includes stakeouts at famous waterholes like Okaukuejo, where dramatic natural encounters unfold as animals gather to drink.

Today’s journey takes us deeper into northern Namibia, passing local villages and welcoming communities along the way. We head toward the Caprivi Strip—a 450-kilometer corridor stretching between Botswana and Angola, famously known as Africa’s “four corners” where four nations converge. This region offers a striking contrast to Namibia’s dry interior, transforming into a lush wetland paradise nourished by the Kwando and Chobe Rivers. Here, dense forests and flowing waters shelter dense populations of elephants, lions, zebras, hippos, and giant crocodiles. We end our day along the banks of the powerful Okavango River, soaking in the views of towering trees and river life just upstream from the famous delta.

The Okavango Delta is the world’s largest inland delta and one of nature’s most unique spectacles. We cross the border into Botswana with great excitement.

A river flowing from central Angola to the northwest of Botswana, the Okavango River slowly stretches into one of the biggest inland deltas in the world, creating a unique ecosystem that supports an array of wildlife and plants. A Jacana strides delicately between flowering lilies, a bee-eater dive for an unsuspecting insect, and the African Fish Eagle calls in his familiar cry – all contribute to one of nature’s unique masterpieces. Once the river spills its contents into the sands of Makgadikgadi, the river disappears.

At the edge of one of the largest lagoons, we have a comfortable and well-appointed camp where we can explore the area. Our guides, who have grown up in the region, will teach us about the animals and plants of the Delta while we glide through narrow, reed-lined channels by mokoro, walk on uninhabited islands, and picnic in the wilderness. In this isolated wilderness, we will have the chance to learn about the local people and their way of life through informal interaction with the guides. As well as relaxing on the beautiful wooden deck with a cold drink in hand, we can also take a refreshing dip in the pool or take in the stunning views of the glistening lagoon. We will enjoy a relaxing sunset cruise on a boat. The vast Delta can be seen from the air with a helicopter flight (at your own expense).

Today we journey to Maun towards our accommodation for the night. You will have time to relax after the day of travelling. Maun Tented Lodge sits alongside the seasonal Boteti River. The lodge offers a swimming pool for you to relax next to a cosy bar.

After a few early starts, enjoy a leisurely morning relaxing by the lodge pool or taking a walk through Chanoga, the nearby village where many of our lodge team live. Following an early lunch, we journey east toward the striking Makgadikgadi Salt Pans region. Here, endless golden grasslands transition into vast, brilliant-white salt flats stretching under an open sky. We’ll pause to take in the quiet beauty of this unique expanse before making our way to tonight’s lodge, where close-up encounters with wild elephants visiting the waterhole are a regular highlight.

Travelling north we head to the world-famous Chobe National Park home to large amounts of elephants. We take a boat cruise in the afternoon along the river before crossing the border and heading for the highlight of our trip – Victoria Falls. We make our way to our accommodation for the night, situated within walking distance to the falls and many other attractions.

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Cross into Zambia, where you’ll be greeted by your local guide and transferred directly to the lodge. In the evening, gather for dinner at the riverside restaurant, dining right alongside the gentle currents of the Zambezi River.

We are awoken in the early morning to explore Victoria Falls, the ‘Adventure Capital of Africa’. We spend an entire day here, providing us with plenty of time to view the Falls themselves and to partake in the variety of activities available here, including white water rafting, bungee jumping from an astounding height of 111 metres, helocopter flips and more. The evening meal and lunch will be at your own expense.

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Fuel up with breakfast at the lodge before diving straight into the wild wonders of Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. After an exciting morning game drive, step out of the safari vehicle for a thrilling guided walking safari—a rare, unforgettable chance to track endangered rhinos on foot alongside expert rangers. Savor a scenic picnic lunch before unwinding back at the lodge during a peaceful afternoon at leisure. As the golden hour approaches, board a sunset cruise along the Zambezi River to soak in breathtaking views (drinks available at your own expense). Wrap up your day with a relaxed dinner at the lodge restaurant or explore local flavors at a nearby hotel (own expense).

Following some time spent at your leisure in town, we head back into the wild. We journey the brief distance to Hwange, famous as one of the finest conservation regions in Africa. Once we’ve completed a lengthy open vehicle drive, we spend our evening relaxing at our accommodation, listening to the surrounds of the bush.

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Victoria Falls, Zambia

Following breakfast, set out on a guided tour to witness the grandeur of Victoria Falls from the Zambian side—known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya, or “The Smoke That Thunders.” Afterward, enjoy time to explore at your own pace, with the option to cross into Zimbabwe for alternative viewpoints (visa required) or book thrilling activities like helicopter flights or river rafting. You can also wander through Victoria Falls town to browse local craft markets and cultural displays. In the evening, enjoy a transfer into Livingstone to dine out at a local restaurant.

Today we journey southward to the broad roads of Zimbabwe’s second biggest city, Bulawayo. We carry on through the Matobo region where, at midday, we embark on a trip into the National Park to observe animals and track rhino through the thickets on foot. This evening, we sleep amongst cautiously balanced boulders that this area is renowned for.

Continuing south today, we cross the border back into Botswana and to our accommodation situated on a private game reserve within the Limpopo valley. On arrival in the afternoon there will be time for a short walk in the surrounding bush.

For our final day we head toward Johannesburg, the city of gold. Our trip winds to an end in the early evening. Post-tour accommodation can be arranged if you would like to stay for longer and do some activities on offer in and around Johannesburg. Speak to your travel consultant.