Day  1: Departure to Africa

Today the journey begins with a long-haul flight to Namibia.

 

Day  2: A drive to the Kalahari- Welcome to Namibia

Arrival at Hosea Kotako airport in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. Here you can take your pre-ordered rental car and you're on your way to an unforgettable tour through Southern Africa! You then drive along the Trans-Kalahari Highway through the unique desert region of the Kalahari. You will be staying at a private, large game farm near Gobabis. A large amount of animals live here, including springbok, zebra, kudu sand even leopard and cheetah. After checking into your beautiful chalet, the farm invites you to leisurely walk across the farm or relax by the pool. 168 km / SC

 

 

Day 3: Cross the border with the Bushmen in Botswana

After breakfast, drive West on the way through the vast expanses of the Kalahari, an incredibly stunning 1.2 acre sand desert of predominantly powdery red sand, many acacia trees and wild animals. After the border crossing to Botswana, which is located in the middle of the Kalahari, you will reach the small desert village Ghanzi. Here, just outside the 12,000-inhabitant-counting, so-called "capital of the Kalahari", you arrive at your beautiful bush lodge. Very close to your lodge is a Bushman village. After checking in you can meet members of the! Kung tribe (optional - not included in the tour price). You have the option to take a walk through the grasslands, where you can possibly see the rare rhinos, and gain general knowledge about the the! Kung tribe. 338 km / B

 

Day 4: To the edge of the Okavango Delta

After breakfast, the trip continues Northeast through wide bush and grassland landscapes, the foothills of the mighty Kalahari Desert. You will pass typical African huts frequently. Wild animals along the road are not uncommon here. In the early afternoon you finally reach the Southwestern edge of the Okavango Delta. Just outside Mauns you will find your trendy campsite. 280 km / SC

 

Day 5: Natural Paradise Okavango Delta

Today is at your free disposal for excursions and activities of all kinds, which are very easy to book through your backpackers. A guided tour in a typical Mokoro (dugout boat), a romantic sunset cruise , a game drive amongst the wild animals, as well as a flight in a small engine aeroplane over the unique Okavango Delta. (Activities not included in travel prices) 0 km / SC

 

Day 6: The salt pans at Nata

In the early morning after breakfast, drive East to Nata on the Makgadikgadi Pans. These giant salt pans are considered to be the largest in the world, stretching over more than 8,400 km². Your accommodation destination will take you to a very nice lodge right on the edge of the pan. In the late afternoon, you can take an impressive drive in the open lodge-owned, off-road vehicle through one of the lonesome salt pans, which can be filled with water from time to time. You will be impressed by the unbelievable expanse. You drive and walk in this fascinating landscape until dusk, which immerses the salt pan in a ghostly light and makes the stars sparkle intensely. You will not experience this elsewhere. 320 km / SC

 

Day 7: To the North of Botswana - to the Chobe National Park

Leave the lodge this morning, heading North on a road parallel to Hwange National Park. Due to the lack of border fences, the road is well known for its abundance of animals. In the early afternoon, you will reach the northern most city of Botswana, Kasane, on the edge of the world-famous Chobe National Park. The National park was founded in 1967 as the first National park in Botswana and has an extension of 10,566 km ². Known for its huge elephant and buffalo herds, the park was named after the Chobe River, which forms the northern boundary of the park. The Chobe comes from Angola, known as the Kuando River. It frequently happens that you meet the pachyderms here. You will be lodged for the next two nights at the campsite of a beautifully situated lodge on the legendary Chobe River. In the early evening, a truly spectacular boat excursion on the Chobe River awaits you, with excellent wildlife viewing opportunities up close - facing the dramatic sunset. 311 km / SC

 

Day 8: In the Chobe National Park and on foot to the Victoria Falls

Get up early this morning, as you will be getting closer to the wildlife of Chobe National Park before breakfast from your lodge. Especially known for its large herds of elephants, official counts in the year 2009 yielded around 120,000 elephants! The Chobe area is home to numerous other large mammal species. Large predators are represented by lion, stain hyenas, cheetahs, leopards and wild dogs. Plains zebras are found in the area, as well as giraffes, hippos and warthogs. Numerous antelope species such as hartebeest, blue wildebeest, eland, kudu, sable, impala and waterbuck are among the fauna of the area. Back on the lodge, a big highlight of your trip awaits you: you will be picked up by our local partner with a bus and drive on a day trip with your English-speaking driver across the exciting border crossing from Kazungula to Zimbabwe. Your driver will assist you with the border formalities (USD 30 per person not included in the entry visa). Your destination is the nearby Victoria Falls city. On foot you will visit the mighty Victoria Falls (entrance fee of currently USD 30 per person not included). The incredible masses of water of the Zambezi rush here with deafening thunders over 100 m deep into a narrow gorge. A dense spray rises into the sky and ensures that you get wet on your walk even in bright sunshine. The locals call the waterfall here "Mosi-oa-Tunya" (in English: the smoke that thunders). The name refers to the water spray, which rises from the falls up to 300m in height and can still be seen up to 30 km away. In the immediate vicinity, there is a small rainforest at the falls, which you can also visit on foot today. There is enough time for many photos of the truly breathtaking forces of nature. In the afternoon, the bus and your driver will take you back across the border to Botswana and your lodge in Kasane. 180 km / SC

 

 

Day 9: The wild-romantic Zambezi region

In the morning you will leave the lodge and head North-west across the Namibian border. Today's journey takes you along the former Caprivi Strip, which covers the now known Zambezi region. The area is limited by the rivers Okavango, Cuando (Kwando) and Zambezi and has at a maximum width of 100 km and West-East extension of about 500 km. The Zambezi region holds the most water in Namibia; this is due to the year-round water-bearing rivers Kwando, Okavango, Zambezi, Linyanti and Chobe, as well as the frequent rainfalls. The vegetation is mostly very dense. Along the rivers are forests and swamps. The former Caprivi Strip contains the highest population of wildlife in Namibia. Due to its large size, it is not surprising that there are four reserves in this small piece of land: the Bwabwata National Park, the Mudumu National Park, the Mamili National Park and the Khaudom National Park. Thanks to the non-existent border fences around the parks, the animals can walk unhindered between Namibia, Zambia and Botswana. Here you will find yourself at the campsite of a beautiful lodge on the banks of the Kwando River. 250 km / SC

 

Day 10: At the end of the former Caprivi strip in Rundu

On the journey to the west along the Zambezi region you will pass through a very rural area. You will frequently find small settlements with typical thatched huts. The people living here are very warm and friendly. In the afternoon you will reach the Okavango River just before Rundu. The Okavango River is the lifeline for the region and forms a 400 km long natural border between Namibia and the Republic of Angola. Your stay for the next two nights will be in a cozy lodge, in a family atmosphere on the banks of the river, opposite the border of Angola. 426 km / B

 

Day 11: In the realm of the Kavangos

Directly from the lodge, you  can walk through a rural area with a local guide, passing through small villages and round-hut settlements of the Kavangos, where you will learn about their way of life. The population makes a living primarily from retail, fishing and agriculture. Small, local villages and street markets ensure a flourishing trade throughout the region, especially with fish and other foods. If you are lucky, the Kavangos will sing and dance for you - the cheerfulness of these people living here is overwhelming. You can walk along the peaceful Okavango River back to your lodge. In the late afternoon, a short romantic boat cruise on the Okavango River awaits you. 0 km / B

 

Day 12: To Etosha National Park
In the morning, after breakfast, head south to the world famous Etosha National Park. On the way you can stop in the old mining town, Tsumeb where you can visit the interesting city museum. The impressive mining history of the city, the life of the indigenous people and the German colonial history of Namibia are brought to you here with many, very well-preserved relics. After a further stop at the beautiful Otjikoto Lake you will arrive at the entrance of the world famous Etosha National Park in the afternoon. After paying the nature conservation fee (not included in the price) you take a short drive to the Namutoni Camp, where you will be staying. 426 km / SC

 

Day 13: The Etosha Pan
Today is dedicated to the famous Etosha National Park. The name "Etosha" comes from the Oshivambo and means "big white place". The Etosha National Park is home to a huge variety of animals: except for crocodiles, hippos, waterbuck and buffalo. You can find almost all large animal species of Southern Africa here. On your game drive through the Etosha National Park you will discover 114 mammal species, 340 species of birds, 110 species of reptiles and 16 species of amphibians. A visit to the 5,000 km ² large actual pan must not be missed. After your fantastic game drive, you will reach your next lodge for the night. The lodge is situated in the Southern area of the park, where a large pool invites you to cool off. Tonight you can watch the impressive illuminated waterhole. 134 Km/ SC

 

Day 14:The Waterberg Massif

Today you drive further south. You leave the Etosha National Park via the southern Andersson rocky peak and drive past the village of Outjo, known for its good German baker! In the afternoon you will reach the famous Waterberg Plateau, an impressive and historic massif that rises about 200 meters from the plain. Here you can take a rewarding walk, where magnificent views await you on the top. The walk takes approximately two and a half hours, however, you do have the option to personalise it. At the foot of the massif, you will find your campsite for the night. 298 km / SC

 

Day 15: Back to Windhoek

This morning you will leave the Waterberg area and head south to the starting point of your trip, the capital of Namibia. Windhoek only has 320 000 residences, which is quite small for a capital city, however it has much to offer. Here you can have a guided tour through Windhoek learning more about the city. In the early afternoon, you can check into your lovely guesthouse. A farewell dinner awaits you in the evening. We are happy to give you a good recommendation and reserve a table for you in a great restaurant in the city. 305 km / SC

 

Day 16: Africa invites you back

Depending on the departure time, you drive back to Windhoek International Airport, where it is time to say goodbye to Southern Africa. You leave your rental car at the airport and the long-haul flight to Europe follows. 42 km / B

 

Day  17: Return home

 

Arrive in home country

 

Prices and Dates on request. Tour code:  African Bluebell

 

* The offer is valid for a group size of 2 participants (single travellers on request).

* The travel price excludes general increases in transport costs and currency fluctuations.

* Prices are subject to the availability of selected accommodations.

* We reserve the right to change the travel program at short notice.

 

 

Included:

 

- Rental car (Toyota Hilux or similar. With camping equipment) from a reputable provider; full insurance coverage (NAD1.500 in case of damage - the terms and conditions of car rental apply); including all driven kilometres and taxes

- 5 nights in selected, upscale accommodations and 9 nights in campsites

- Meals as advertised excl. Drinks (B = breakfast, D = dinner, SC = self-catering)

- Activities (except optional program items)

 - Detailed, English-speaking, personal travel guide with exact directions, distances, road maps, excursion tips and restaurant recommendations

- African Kombi Tours emergency telephone number - available on site 24hrs. 

- detailed travel documents

- EUR 5 per person to support the pre-school kindergarten Penguin Kidz at Betty's Bay, South Africa

 

Excluded:

 

- Long distance flights to and from Namibia

- Rental car security deposit (to be paid on site by credit card deduction), fuel costs, tolls, border crossing fees, if necessary administrative fee for additional services on site, accidents or unforeseen events, additional driver's fee and a navigation device

- Visa Fees (Zimbabwe currently USD 30 per person - payable locally in cash

-Visitor tax of USD 30 per person in Botswana for a 30-day multi-entry stay (payable locally in cash)

- Drinks, tips and personal expenses

- Parking fees (except Chobe National Park - already included in the tour price), nature conservation fees, admissions to museums, optional activities, - gratuities and personal expenses

 

- travel insurance