This 22 day semi-participation safari is the best way to
see the most spectacular features of Southern Africa.
Enjoy the scenery, wildlife, culture and natural beauty
that cannot be compared.
Overall operator rating 9.7/10 from 24 trip reviews
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They did a great job setting up our safari - which had very specific time guidelines as I had to fit it into school holidays.
The operator made sure we were picked up at every airport and at every lodge to be taken to the next event. We had the most marvelous time at Camp Dizhana (about 1 1/2 hours north of Maun), where we were given the most comfortable tent and the most individual and professional attention.
I must have exchanged about 30 e-mails with my contact (Tanya) prior to the trip, where she answered my questions, suggested specific activities and lodges or camps, and ultimately came up with an internerary tailored to my needs.
Everything worked our perfectly! I have no problem highly recommending their service.
We took the 14 day Botswana mobile safari (camping only) from J'burg to Victoria Falls. Our guide, Blessed, was very personable, knowledgeable, and hardworking, as was the driver we had for most of the trip, Sage. He basically doubled as another guide. Also, both were very environmentally-conscious, showing a great appreciation for the animals and landscape, and ensuring that we left "only footprints".
In Africa, you have to take what it gives you. For us, the rainy season basically went a month longer than usual, which made it impossible to get to two of our destinations. We missed Kubu Island, but the operator compensated for this by putting us up in a very nice lodge in Maun (the Thamalakane River Lodge). Also, because the roads were flooded and impassable, we were not able to get to the mokoro rides in the Okavongo Delta, but again they compensated with a cruise on the Zambesi that included all food and beverages (including alcohol). That was very generous of them.
The camping and campsites were excellent, as was the food. The lodge we stayed at in Victoria Falls (the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge) exceeded my expectations - very nice. The group of 8 was the right size, and the vehicles were great for the roads and for game viewing. We saw all of the big 5 and just about every other animal we could think of. My favorite Park was Chobe, which is extremely dense with animals. The Chobe River is beautiful and also had a very nice cruise.
After this trip we took another 6 day safari in Kruger with a different outfit, and this one was clearly the better of the two.
this was a terific trip for cost. The guide (Garland) was excetional, the accomodations were good to great, the front office of the agency was always courteous and professional, the itineray was rich, the activites all doable, the group (whild divided) ended up with great cohesion.
it has opend my thinking to a new way to travel-overland journeys. compiments to the operator.
The Safari I experienced through Botswana, Namibia and into SA was very enjoyable indeed.
The lodges I stayed were very comfortable, the people that ran the smaller lodges were very welcoming and kind. the food was plentiful with lots of choices.
I travelled in a group of 8 which was a perfect amount for our size of vehicle as well it was a good size for organizing and group decisions.
And for myself the high light would be all the big animals we were able to observe and photograph. Overall the trip was a wonderful experience with lots of memories and new friends to have for a long time.
I am pleased to say that my safari/holiday was wonderful.
I delt with Nadia for everything except my hotel reservations. She was quite helpful and took care of all my needs. We communicated through emails and I called her once I had arrived in South Africa. The service was second to none.
She booked me with a 5 day walking safari. The safari group consisted of myself and 7 others with 2 guides. I was apprehensive at first traveling alone, but I could not have emagined that I would meet such wonderful people. Also the guides were very knowledgable and went the extra mile to insure that we all had a memerable experience.
The camp was more that i expected and I could not have been more comfortable. Although I have never been on a safari before this trip and have nothing to compare it too I give it a 10 out of 10. I would recomend this package to anyone, weither they are traveling alone or as a family. The 5 to 6 hour hikes in the morning were pleasant and gave me the opportunity to see the small details of the bush, and the afternoon and evening drives were amazing as we were able to get close to lots of game.
Unfortunately we did not see and of the big cats but a 30 minute encounter with a male elephant at less than 20 meters made up for anything I didn't see.
My daughter and I recently completed a 21 day trip from Cape Town to Victoria Falls.
It was an amazing and beautiful experience that exceeded all of our expectations and cannot be easily described. Our 8 travel companions were fantastic, there was not one day when we did not laugh and truly enjoyed ourselves, and we are already making plans for future travel with these newly made friends.
Everything was extremely well organized and things went as planned along our long route, with great selection of campsites and lodges and delicious meals that one could not have imagined could be prepared by a campfire.
Of course, having a great guide is what made a difference. Mike is extremely knowledgeable and has a love for the area that is contagious.
Thumbs up for keeping their groups small, for a well-planned route, for carefully selected sites, and for all the people who work there. Working with them was a pleasure, they were extremely helpful from the minute we started planning our trip, with all our questions, getting birthday’s organized and all their extraordinary efforts in helping us with visas, logistics, etc. We would highly recommend them
The tour I have recently taken part in was absolutely stunning:rich in emotions, colours and sounds which are still in my heart.
A special thank to Amina, who saved my life by promptly warning me the carrier I booked the flight with (by my own), went bankrupt in the meatime, and to Chantel, whose superb "lasagne" I will never forget...
I recently returned from the 14 day Upgraded Botswana Wildlife Breakaway Safari.
We were a great group of 10 - 2 Irish, 5 Americans and 3 Australians and were fortunate to have the services of driver/ guide Mike Miles.
He really made our trip special, sharing his extensive knowledge of the wildlife, customs, history and politics of the countries we visited during the drives and around the campfires as we ate the delicious meals he prepared. He left no stone unturned to maximise our enjoyment of the safari. In the main our lodges were good. The itinerary was well thought out and we saw lots of animals but alas no cheetah, leopard or rhino. A pleasant surprise for me was the amazing variety of birdlife we encountered. The mokoro trip through the Okavango Delta was magical.
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Itinerary
Special Offer for 20th of March and 7th of April Travel with your friend or partner and you will both save on this special -10% off the first traveller and 20% off the second traveller.... ! Special for the following departure dates only: 20th March and 7th of April Terms and Conditions Apply
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Day 1: Cape Town, South Africa On arrival in Cape Town, please make your way to the Lady Hamilton Hotel. You have the remainder of the day at leisure. This evening you will meet your guide and the rest of the group.
Accommodation: Lady Hamilton or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool and restaurant)
Day 2: Cape Town to Cedarberg Mountains, South Africa An early start from the Lady Hamilton Hotel takes us to the beach on the Atlantic Ocean to have a last look at Table Mountain across the bay. After lunch we head for the Cedarberg Mountains, bypassing Citrusdal, a rural village set amongst lush green citrus orchards. [BLD]
Accommodation: Gecko Creek or similar (cabins or permanent tents, communal ablutions with hot water, swimming pool, bar)
Day 3 & 4: Cedarberg to Orange River, Namibia Travelling up the West Coast, we pass through some magnificent mountain ranges on our way to the Orange River. If you are travelling in spring you will see the spectacular carpets of wildflowers in the famous Namaqualand region. Later in the afternoon we will reach the Orange River, the natural border between South Africa and Namibia. The next day the only travelling is done in a canoe. Put your feet up and relax as the currents take you downstream the Orange River – mind the rapids though! [BLD]
Accommodation: Felix Unite Camp Provenance or similar (chalets with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, bar)
Day 5: Ai-Ais & Fish River Canyon, Namibia Today we head off for Ai-Ais, where we stop for lunch. Here thermal water rich in sulphates and fluorides and with a temperature of approx 60°C, gushes forth from the springs.. In the Nama language, "Ai-Ais" means "burning water". We then head onto Canon Road House close to the Fish River Canyon. Later in the evening we take in another perfect African sunset with the magnificent views and scenery along the edge of the Canyon. [BLD]
Accommodation: Canon Road House or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, bar & restaurant).
Day 6 & 7: Sossusvlei, Namibia Moving inland we make our way towards the Namib Naukluft National Park. This evening we embark on a wild cat walk at the lodge. The next morning we need to wake up early to visit the world’s highest sand dunes at Sossusvlei and Deadvlei. At sunrise and sunset these dunes, which can reach heights of over 300 m, are absolutely spectacular and provide for a fantastic photo opportunity. With luck, there may even be water in the vlei (lake). We also stop to view the Sesriem Canyon, which was carved millions of years ago by the Tsauchab River. [BLD]
Accommodation: Hammerstein Lodge or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, bar & restaurant)
Day 8 & 9: Namib Naukluft National Park to Swakopmund, Namibia The day is spent driving through the Namib Naukluft National Park on our way to Swakopmund. The Namib-Naukluft Desert is an ancient land with an ageless spirit. It is home to some of the rarest plant and animal species in the world; sightings of this flora and fauna on a Namibian safari are a must. The animals of this harsh landscape include the Oryx, springbok and Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra. One can also see the Welwitschia mirabilis which is an odd-looking desert shrub and one of these ‘shrubs’ is a large, protected specimen estimated at over 1 500 years old. We arrive into the charming coastal town of Swakopmund, where you will have the opportunity to partake in a few of the many optional activities that are offered over the next two days. Alternatively just soak up the atmosphere of this little quaint German town and enjoy its beauty and beaches. [BL]
Accommodation: Hotel A La Mer or similar (standard rooms with en-suite bathrooms)
Day 10: Cape Cross Seal Colony and Brandberg, Namibia We follow the barren Atlantic Coast line on our way out of Swakopmund to visit Cape Cross - the largest breeding place of the Cape Fur Seals. Leaving the cold Atlantic coastline behind we then head inland across the desert plains for Brandberg, the highest mountain in Namibia. Either this afternoon or the next morning we take a walk to visit the “White Lady” one of the most famous rock paintings in the area. The footpath to the site offers spectacular views over the plains of Damaraland. [BLD]
Accommodation: Brandberg White Lady Lodge or similar (permanent tent with shower and toilet swimming pool, bar & restaurant).
Day 11: Twyfelfontein, Petrified Forest and Himba Village, Namibia On our journey today we will stop to see ancient Bushmen paintings at Twyfelfontein as well as the Petrified Forest, the trees of which are estimated to be 250 million years old. Twyfelfontein was named a World Heritage site in 2007, the first in the country. Depending on the time of arrival we go and explore a traditional Himba village this afternoon or the next morning. This will be a journey of culture exchange, learning and understanding of the last traditional tribe in Namibia, the Ova-Himba. [BLD]
Accommodation: Porcupine Camp or similar (permanent tents, communal ablutions with hot water, swimming pool, bar & restaurant).
Day 12: From Kamanjab to Etosha National Park, Namibia After our cultural experience in Kamanjab, we head to Etosha National Park. Etosha Game park was declared a National Park in 1907, it is home to approx. 114 mammal species, 340 bird species, 110 reptile species, 16 amphibian species and, surprisingly, one species of fish.
Accommodation: Okaukuejo or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, bar & restaurant).
Days 13 & 14: Etosha National Park, Namibia We fill the next 2 days spent on game drives in the hopes of spotting the big five as well as cheetah, giraffe, zebra and the numerous different types of antelope the park has to offer. Our nights are spent at the flood lit waterholes encountering the parks various nocturnal animals as they come to drink. [BLD, BLD]
Accommodation: Halali and Namutoni or similar (tents, communal ablutions with hot water, swimming pool, bar & restaurant)
Day 15 & 16: Etosha to Kavango River, Namibia Our journey continues west as we drive along the Caprivi Strip to the town of Rundu. We make our way to N’Kwazi Lodge and spend a relaxing afternoon at our lodge on the banks of the Kavango River. Optional activities such as horse riding or a sunset cruise are available; alternatively just relax by the pool with a sundowner listening to the sounds of mother nature. [BL, BL]
Accommodation: N’Kwazi Lodge (chalets with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, bar & restaurant)
Days 17 & 18: Kavango River to Okavango Delta, Botswana We leave Namibia for Etsha 13, on the western border of the Okavango Delta in Botswana. Unlike other deltas, it flows into the Kalahari Desert without reaching the coast, which makes it unique. The next day is spent exploring the network of water pathways through thick vegetation in mokoros (traditional dugout canoes), discovering a variety of birds and wildlife and will stop at a secluded island to take a 1½ hour guided walk hoping to spot elephants, waterbuck or other animals living in this water filled paradise. [BLB, BLD]
Accommodation: Guma Lagoon Camp or similar (permanent tents with en-suite bathroom, bar area).
Day 19: Eastern Caprivi, Namibia Leaving Botswana, we drive up the Western border of the Okavango Delta before crossing over into Namibia and driving through the Caprivi to our camp on the banks of the Kwando River. In the afternoon you will go on a game drive to the Mudumo National Park. In contrast to the rest of Namibia, the area is lush with riverine forest, marshes, dense savannah and mopane woodland. [BLD]
Accommodation: Camp Kwando or similar (Chalets with en-suite open-air bathrooms, bar and swimming pool).
Day 20: Chobe National Park, Botswana The next morning we head along the Caprivi and cross the border back into Botswana to Kasane, the gateway to the Chobe National Park. Chobe, which is the second largest national park in Botswana and covers 10,566 square km, has one of the greatest concentrations of elephant found on the African continent. In the afternoon we go on a cruise on the Chobe River, a truly unforgettable experience and one of the best ways to view the wildlife and the spectacular sunset. [BL]
Accommodation: Chobe Safari Lodge or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, bar & restaurant).
Day 21: Chobe National Park to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe Continuing our trip we leave Botswana and drive to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Your guide will take you on a tour of the might Victoria Falls, known by the local Kololo tribe as Mosi oa Tunya- “the Smoke that thunders”. The rest of the day may be spent at leisure or partaking in one of the many activities on offer. [B]
Accommodation: Lokuthula Lodges or similar (chalets with shared bathrooms, swimming pool & bar).
Day 22: End of tour Our safari ends after breakfast. We hope to welcome you again one day on another of our African adventures. [B]
Highlights: Cape Town, Cedarberg, Orange River, Fish River Canyon, Sossusvlei, Sesriem, Swakopmund, Himba experience, Etosha National Park, Okavango Delta, Eastern Caprivi, Mudumo National Park, Chobe National Park, Victoria Falls.
Included in the price: Fully Accommodated Safari: 21 nights in fixed accommodation All transport in fully equipped vehicle, use of camping equipment, game drives as mentioned, meals as per itinerary (prepared by the guide) and activities as mentioned in itinerary, park entrance fees, experienced local guide.
Not included in the price: Travel insurance, flights, pre and post tour accommodation, optional activities, all drinks, tips and curios, all personal expenses.
Price per person 2012: USD 3825 Single supplement: USD 665 Local payment: ZAR 2500
Our Half Accommodated Option includes 11 nights in fixed accommdation and 10 nights camping USD 3279 Single supplement: USD 405 Local payment: ZAR 2500
Or why not try our Camping Option USD 2795 Single supplement: USD 160 Local payment: ZAR 2500
