Etosha and Zambezi

The day is devoted purely to the abundant wildlife found in the Etosha National Park, which surrounds a parched salt desert known as the Etosha Pan. The park is home to 4 of the Big Five - elephant, lion, leopard and rhino. The Park was proclaimed as Namibia's first conservation area in 1907 by the then Governor, von Lindequist. Despite the size of the Etosha National Park, only the southern edge of the pan is accessible to visitors. Game viewing in the park is primarily focused around the waterholes, some of which are spring-fed and some supplied from a borehole, ideal places to sit and watch over 114 different game species, or for an avid birder, more than 340 bird species. Popular game species such as giraffe, blue wildebeest, plains and mountain zebra, hyena, lion, leopard, antelopes such as kudu, oryx, eland, as well as some of the endangered species such as Black rhino, cheetah and the black-faced impala are all found here. An extensive network of roads links the over 30 water holes, allowing visitors the opportunity of a comprehensive game viewing safari throughout the park, as each different area will provide various encounters. 

Meal Plan: Breakfast

After breakfast, travel north towards Namibia’s lush Kavango region. En route, you will pass numerous villages lining the roadside. Arrive at the lodge just outside Rundu, known for its rich selection of hand-made wooden crafts. With its magnificent woodlands and perennial rivers, the Kavango region contrasts sharply with the rest of Namibia. Large swathes of tall woodland, riverine forests, floodplains and reed-lined channels dominate the area. This is also the area where you will see many of the traditional huts and homesteads still in popular use today. At our lodge, we can enjoy an optional Sundowner boat cruise on the Okavango River. 

Meal Plan: Breakfast

After breakfast, we follow the route of the Okavango River into the Zambezi Region. Lush, green, riverine – that is what the Zambezi region looks like. This juxtaposition is what makes Namibia the “Land of Contrasts”. The area is typified by perennial rivers and large forests of trees. Whereas most of Namibia is arid, this area is lush, the soil rich, and the wildlife plentiful. It is a lively hotbed where one can see subsistence and cattle farming, and the well-known traditional wood carvings. From the banks of the Okavango River, directly at the footsteps of our lodge, we have a magnificent view of the Popa Falls, a series of small rapids in a paradisiacal environment, before arriving at our lodge on the banks of the Okavango River and close to the Mahango National Park, where the following two nights are spent along the lush vegetation.

Meal Plan: Breakfast

After an early breakfast, we travel into the Mahango National Park. Being Namibia’s smallest but most densely populated National Park, the visit will be rewarding in terms of wildlife and bird watching. The Mahango National Park has a high number of elephants, as well as fair numbers of antelopes, which are scarce or not seen in other parts of Namibia. These include the roan and sable antelope, tsessebe and the red lechwe. The park is also home to several sitatunga. The Mahango National Park is an excellent destination for bird watching, with over 400 species to be spotted. Optional afternoon walk to a local village.

Meal Plan: Breakfast

We depart the Mahango National Park and travel across the Zambezi Region (prev. Caprivi) to the lush woodlands of the Chobe River. At the small town of Divindu, we stop at the Khwe San village, where we listen to stories of the bushman culture, traditions and see some of their desert survival skills. Hundreds of elephants, large Buffalo herds and numerous antelopes roam these majestic riverine woods. With over 400 species of birds, this area counts as one of the best birding hotspots in the whole of southern Africa. After settling in, you have the option to participate in an optional afternoon guided activity. 

Meal Plan: Breakfast

After breakfast, we travel across the border to Kasane, a small and bustling town right on the edge of the Chobe National Park. Our room for the following night is in a special corner of the African wilderness, where two mighty rivers meet, a wetland paradise that is a haven for nature and wildlife. Discover the wonders of this magical destination. Here, wildlife roams freely in profusion and diversity. It is home to the largest concentration of elephants in Africa, while other game consists of large herds of buffalo, puku, lechwe, bushbuck and kudu. Other significant species such as lion, leopard, wild dog, sable and roan antelope are encountered in many areas of the adjacent game reserve. In the afternoon, embark on a guided Chobe sunset river cruise along the National Park to experience the multitude of game species found along the banks of the Chobe River. 

Meal Plan: Breakfast

Early this morning, we take part in an optional game drive through the Chobe National Park, offered by the lodge’s own activity centre. With a cup of coffee or tea, enjoy the sunrise and nature's awakening before departing on an open game drive with lodge rangers, exploring the national park and seeing the forage of wildlife along the Chobe River, such as elephants, Lechwe, Roan or Waterbuck. Returning to the lodge, breakfast is served on the terrace overlooking the river. After breakfast on the Chobe River Front, our guide takes us across the border to Zimbabwe, where we reach our ultimate destination on this Safari. The afternoon is available for a variety of activities offered in and around Victoria Falls.

Meal Plan: Breakfast

Together with our guide, we join a local guided excursion to Victoria Falls to discover why the Victoria Falls is one of the seven natural wonders on Earth as we explore it on foot. This dramatically beautiful event is accompanied by a deafening roar and fine spray that arcs up into the sky, giving the falls their local name: Mosi-oa-Tunya - the "Smoke that Thunders”. Afterwards, visit a craft market where we can purchase or look at handmade crafts of the local inhabitants (optional), before returning to our hotel, located centrally in town. Here, the remainder of the day is at leisure. 

Meal Plan: Breakfast

Depending on your departure flight, your guide will transfer you to the Victoria Falls International Airport. 

Meal Plan: Breakfast