NAMIBIA AND BOTSWANA ADVENTURE – 14 DAYS
VICTORIA FALLS TO SWAKOPMUND / SWAKOPMUND TO VICTORIA FALLS

Beginning from the mighty Victoria Falls, this 14-day trip takes us into Botswana and the Chobe National Park, where we hope to see some of the thousands of elephants that the park is famous for. We then spend a couple of nights camping in the wilderness of the Okavango Delta, the world's largest inland delta of tranquil channels, islands and lagoons. We cross into Namibia and our next safari is in the Etosha National Park, where magical waterholes attract a host of African animals. We end the trip in Namibia's seaside town of Swakopmund where you can explore the desert on a number of activities.

	Location:	VICTORIA FALLS TO SWAKOPMUND / SWAKOPMUND TO VICTORIA FALLS	Dates:	Departs regularly
	Fees:	£355 - 14 days USD 370 - Local Payment	Payment:	£180 deposit at time of booking – balance due 8 weeks before departure
	Reference:	AT004

General Information

Please Note: This trip operates in both directions

Start and end points: Victoiria Falls to Swakopmund or Swakopmund to Victoria Falls

Countries visited: Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia

Departure Point Victoria Falls:  Victoria Falls Rest Camp, Parkway Drive
Check in: 9.00am

Departure Point Swakopmund: Swakop Lodge, 42 Nathaniel Maxulili Street
Check-in time: 8.45am  Departure time: 9.00am
Pre-departure meeting: 5:00 pm the day before at the departure point

Itinerary

DAY 1: Victoria Falls

Today is spent relaxing or participating in a myriad of Optional Excursions. AT 1700 metres wide and around 100 metres high, Victoria Falls are one of the most memorable sights on this African safari. All year round, flights can be taken in fixed wing planes, micro lights or helicopters. Back on the ground, the falls can be seen from the Victoria Falls National Park with its many viewing points or from the Zambian side. All offer fantastic photographic opportunities.  Choose from white water rafting in the Batoka Gorge to elephant back safaris. 

DAY 2: Victoria Falls to Chobe National Park (Botswana)

After breakfast we cross the border into Botswana and head to Kasane where we set up camp on the banks of the Chobe River. Listen out for the resident hippos! The Chobe River forms a border between Botswana, Namibia and Zambia. This National Park is one of Botswana’s premier game parks, renowned for its large elephant herds.  Adventurous spirits can choose to sleep overnight in the Chobe National Park, spending the afternoon in search of wildlife en-route to our 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 after stopping off at the camp for lunch, we meet the rest of the group for the sunset boat cruise.

DAY 3: Chobe National Park

For those not on the sleep-out, today offers the option of an early morning game drive in the Chobe National Park. An early start sees us spend the morning observing the large herds of wildlife.  After our game drive we return to camp for lunch. 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. 

DAY 4: Chobe National Park to Maun

Today we travel in a south-westerly direction 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 5: Maun to Okavango Delta

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 take a 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. 

DAY 6: Okavango Delta

A day of rest, relaxation and Delta experiences await. Today we have the opportunity to partake in a number of activities including swimming (dependant on area & water levels), game walks, mokoro cruises and even a chance to try our hands at poling our own mokoro! 

DAY 7: Okavango Delta to Maun

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 8: Maun to Rundu

Following the Kavango River, we enter 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 9: Rundu to Etosha National Park

From Rundu, we head towards Etosha National Park. Covering 20 000 square kilometres, Etosha is Namibia’s premier nature reserve. Situated around the Etosha Pan with a wide 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.

DAY 10: Etosha National Park

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 11: Etosha National Park to Cheetah Park

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 12: Cheetah Park to Spitzkoppe

Our departure from the Cheetah Park 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 13: Spitzkoppe to Swakopmund

Today we head for 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. Accommodation will be in dormitories. Upgrades are possible, but depend on room availability. 

DAYS 14: Swakopmund

After breakfast, we exchange addresses and part ways, having just experienced a trip of a lifetime! Optional excursions include sky diving, quad biking, sand boarding, scenic desert flights, dolphin cruises, fishing trips, golf, horse riding and more. An activity briefing will be held on arrival in Swakopmund, see below for a variety of excursions on offer.

Optional excursions

Victoria Falls Bungee Jump - $90

Victoria Falls White Water Rafting, Zambezi - $95

Chobe National Park - Game Drive - $35

Chobe National Park Sleep Out (1 night) - $110

Scenic Flight over the Okavango Delta - $70
Bungee Jumping - $90
Microlight over the Falls - $90
Helicopter over the Falls - $95
Swakopmund Quad Bike - $45
Swakopmund Sky Diving - $250

All prices are in US dollars.  For a more comprehensive list of things to do before, during or after your trip, please email or call Amanzi Travel on 0117 904 1924. 

Please Note - these prices are approximate and are subject to change, and where activities occur away from your base, there may be an additional transfer cost. 

Support

Support and advice is available from your Trip Guides whilst on your expedition and from the UK Amanzi Travel Team.
Find out more about Amanzi Travel support.

Orientation

A comprehensive information pack will be sent to you upon booking your placement and we are always on hand to offer further advice and information provided via telephone and email before departure. The day before your trip begins, you will have a full orientation at 5pm at the departure point by the project coordinator including information on the current status of the overland trip.  The pre-departure meeting is not essential but it is recommended, and is a great opportunity to meet your trip companions.

Accommodation and Meals

Our trips are camping trips, and we provide spacious 2-person tents with sewn in ground sheets and a separate fly sheet.  Most nights you will stay in organised campsites which usually have hot water showers and extra facilities such as a bar or swimming pool.  Increasingly these places have simple roomed accommodation, so on occasion you have the choice at extra cost to upgrade to a bed if you want to. Occasionally, when we are unable to drive any further or when there is no local campsite available, we may have to bush camp.  Our vehicles are completely self-sufficient for this and camping out in the middle of the African bush can be a memorable experience.

 

The safari cook does all the cooking on your trip, although you may have to participate in the preparation of the meals on a rota basis.  Meals and menus vary depending on what is available locally, but you can be ensured of three healthy square meals a day on the road.  We purchase fresh fruit and vegetables from market stalls, which is supported by a bulk buy of goods bought prior to departure.  In the towns and cities there is the optional alternative of sampling the local restaurants.

Getting There

The most convenient airport to fly into for this trip is Victoria Falls Airport.  Make sure you arrive in plenty of time for this trip, to allow for flights delays.  We offer help with organising local accommodation if required. 

(There may be a number of ways to reach your destination airport – for further information or advice please contact Amanzi Travel)
Let Amanzi Travel arrange your flights for you

Project Fees

What is included

• Fully equipped expedition truck/vehicle

• All cooking and camping equipment

• Meals

• Game park fees and excursions as detailed in the itinerary

• Trip leader and safari cook

What is excluded

• Sleeping bag and mat

• Personal travel insurance

• Visas

• Items of a personal nature

• Optional excursions which are detailed below

• Restaurant meals and drinks