Windhoek Tours in July 2026

The trip of a Lifetime! If you're looking for a once in a lifetime adventure, the Contiki Southern African Safari is it. This tour takes you through the heart of South Africa, Zimbabwe/Zambia, Botswana, and Namibia, showcasing some of the most breathtaking landscapes and unforgettable experiences Africa has to offer. Every country on the journey brings something unique from the vibrant cultures to the stunning natural beauty and wildlife encounters that truly leave you speechless. Each day was an adventure of its own. Whether it was tracking the Big Five on safari drives in National Parks, standing in awe before the mighty Victoria Falls, cruising the Chobe River while elephants played on the shore, or exploring the vast dunes and star-filled skies of Namibia’s Namib Desert, the variety of experiences was nothing short of magic. Botswana's pristine wilderness and the sheer abundance of animals created some of the most intimate and powerful nature moments of the entire trip. It's a place where time seems to pause and the natural world completely envelopes you. Truly unforgettable. The trip managers and local guides were outstanding. Their passion, deep knowledge of the region, and warm personalities made every moment more meaningful. They weren’t just guides they felt like part of the travel family, always ready to share stories, answer questions, and ensure we were getting the most out of every stop. Some highlights: * Game drives that brought us up close to lions, elephants, rhinos, giraffes, wild dogs and more. A real-life National Geographic experience. * Visiting Victoria Falls, one of the natural wonders of the world hearing the roar, feeling the mist, and watching rainbows arc across the gorge was unforgettable. * The surreal beauty of Namibia, with its otherworldly landscapes and unforgettable sunsets. * The serenity and raw beauty of Botswana’s wilderness, with unforgettable river cruises and wildlife moments. * Engaging with local communities, learning about different cultures and histories across Southern Africa. The sights were breathtaking, the moments magical, and the memories unforgettable. I cannot recommend this trip enough for anyone with a sense of adventure and a love of nature, culture, and exploration. Contiki absolutely nailed it, this was not just a holiday, it was an experience that will stay with me forever.

Overall I believe this trip was absolutely worth the money. Botswana was incredibly underrated. Maybe the best animal sightings and experiences of 2 months traveling Africa. Namibia was STUNNING. It was a smaller group but I can’t understand why. Amazing picturesque landscapes, adventures and fun safaris. Across the board it was a great trip and I highly recommend.

This trip around all of Namibia was everything I expected and more. The landscape, people, and wildlife is awe-inspiring! There were so many times my jaw dropped at the beauty. The huge spaces, the dunes, the ocean, the desert, and pan - all of it was wonderful. The rooms are fine, and some are excellent. Many meals are included, which is helpful. There was a lot of driving, but it did not bother me because the landscape was interesting. The Landcruiser is comfortable, with the roof popping up for wildlife viewing and the AC/heating is good. Uakotaka Kastro was an excellent, experienced guide who helped the trip run smoothly. I recommend that Explore please add curtains or shades to the vehicle for comfort. It can turn into a greenhouse very quickly on the sunny side of the Landcruiser!

Namibia is an amazing country with stunning scenery. We did so many new things .... One of the most brilliant things about the trip was the lack of people - for many of the activities we were the only people there, very few tourists, so for example camping in the desert surrounded only by mountains and climbing Dune 40 at sunrise we were the only people there. The people were warm and friendly, the winter daytime weather warm and cloudless once the sun came up but very cold at night. We felt safe and looked after by the great local team, and everything was well organised. The cycling in itself is not too hard in terms of elevation or distance but the road surfaces are unpaved gravel, often bumpy and uneven with loose sand and gravel so you have to concentrate very hard much of the time which makes it harder going than it might have been. We took a flight over the skeleton coast where desert meets sea, saw seals and flamingoes, had a very lucky and close encounter with 4 lions on our Etosha safari (once again there were no other vehicles around which made it more special). Campsite in Etosha had a floodlit waterhole so you could sit out at night watching groups of elephants, giraffes, rhinos coming to drink. We cycled in a private game reserve and were able to see rhinos and a group or 6 giraffes close up. We had a great smallish group of 8, great company, like minded people.

A packed and varied itinerary with desert landscapes, mountain walks and a chance to see a huge range of wildlife (we got to see the Big 5). Accommodation was good: big rooms, mosquito nets when needed, always a fridge and kettle, tea, coffee. Pretty good for vegetarians. Breath-taking skies and vast plains and mountains.

Trip overall was great. Colin, our guide, was amazing! Accommodation was fantastic! My only complaint was the truck - although I was told it was the only truck to do the trip - I wondered if the suspension could have been better as we had some very rough riding!