All Southern Africa Tours in January 2026
Page 2 of 28 Trips in Southern Africa during January 2026 with 6 Reviews
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Victoria Falls and Botswana - January 2026
5
I thought every single day was the best day of my life... Until the next day came along and overtook it, and then the next day and the next...
The Okavango Delta is pure magic. Easily the best place to see wildlife in Africa (and I have been to most of them on Contiki's). Its remote, there are barely any other tourists on safari out there and it felt like we were truly in Africa, experiencing it for how it should be and not a tourist destination to see wildlife. The camping set up there is awesome, you arrive and everything is set up from your tents and bedding, to a fire place to sit around at night, to a dining tent and chill tent on the river to watch elephants come downt to drink in the middle of the day - right in front of us! On the Game Drives we saw lions and even Wild Dogs (Painted Wolf) pups as well as the adults on the hunt. The safari vehicles had fridges to keep the beers cold, charge ports for our phones and a roof to climb on to watch the sunset over the Delta's waterways while lions were calling in the distance.
The Meerkats at the salt pans were amazing to see go about their day without even giving us a glance as we got close for photos and the sunset on the pans where you can see the horizon 360 degrees around you was extra special.
And Chobe was out of this world... That sunset on the river when everyone had left the park but we stayed in it at Contiki Special Campsite, plus the leopard in the tree... Goosebumps...
And I nearly forgot the adrendline and pure adventure of Victoria Falls. Bungeeing, rafting, heli flights, walking safaris... It has everything to get the heart racing but also some activity from sitting on safari vehicles. I guess some of the activities are pricey, but I felt super safe doing everything and would always rather pay a higher price for safety on the adventurous activities. I'd reccomend them all! The accommodation here felt so fancy with swimming pool, the spray of the falls in the distance, elephants drinking at the waterhole in front and out the back you could safely walk into town to do some shopping or exploring...
A trip I could VERY easily do again and again. Every safari drive is different with varying chances of seeing different animals doing different things (drinking/eating/hunting/playing with babies etc etc). Every drive felt special and unique...
The Africa bug has bitten me hard - I cant wait to go back
Natural landmarks sightseeing
Namibia, Botswana and Falls - 14 days - January 2026
SMALL GROUP LODGE SAFARI: Embark upon an amazing two week overland adventure in Southern Africa, staying in comfortable lodge accommodation. From Windhoek take in the highlights of Namibia and Botswana, en route to Zimbabwe's spectacular Victoria Falls. Travel through incredible landscapes, scale the towering Sossusvlei dunes and encounter wonderful wildlife on safari in Etosha and Chobe National Parks. Explore the waterways of the Okavango Delta, cruise the Chobe River and much more along the way.
Waterfalls
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Johannesburg to Zanzibar - January 2026
Travel through South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Tanzania towards Zanzibar on this northbound overland adventure. Your 29 days will be spent getting up close to rare black and white rhinos at the Kharma Rhino Sanctuary, taking a traditional mokoro through the fertile waterways of the Okavango Delta, tracking rhinos on foot in Matobo National Park with expert trackers, admiring Victoria Falls from all angles, exploring the highland villages, clear-water lakes, ruins and wide-open plains of Zambia and Malawi, and winding up on the idyllic shores of Zanzibar. Local guides and a knowledgeable crew have got all your needs covered, plenty of time for independent activities will have you curious to see more, and a travel group eager to explore will ensure the epic memories made are shared.
Road tripWildlife
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Victoria Falls To Cape Town (22 Days) - January 2026
Experience the incredible diversity of Southern Africa - from the abundant wildlife of the Okavango Delta in Botswana & Etosha National Park, to the breathtaking scenery of the vast coastal Namib Desert and Fish River Canyon in Namibia - the largest canyon in Africa. Try your hand at white water rafting & bungy jumping at Victoria Falls or quad biking and dune sledding at Swakopmund. This truly is a trip to stun the senses.
Note: This is one of our Overland Adventures which are run using one of our specialist famous yellow overland expedition trucks. Trips are run on a participatory basis – you’ll be involved in the day to day running of the trip and have fun taking turns helping to shop and cook for the group. Expect to sometimes get dusty and dishevelled and not to be able to have hot showers every night. Groups of up to 24 people are led by our crew of two.
Please note that the accommodation on this trip is predominantly camping, though there may be opportunities to upgrade this locally where rooms are available. Please see the trip inclusions for an approximate percentage of camping and room nights.
Our Overland Adventures provide once in a life time experiences and whilst some safari activities may be included in the itinerary, or be available to book locally, this should not be considered a traditional safari holiday, though we consider that part of the fun!!
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Gorillas to Vic Falls - January 2026
Spend 42 days travelling through the iconic vistas of East Africa. Seek out the rare mountain gorilla in Rwanda’s steamy jungle, enjoy thrill-packed safaris through lush forest and open savanna and finish in Victoria Falls. Be welcomed into small villages in Tanzania and Malawi, relax on sandy beaches in Zanzibar and track the Big Five in the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park. This overland adventure is a mix of locally guided excursions and free time to follow your heart to the stuff you want to see.
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Southern Africa Falls to Cape - 20 days - January 2026
SMALL GROUP COMFORT CAMPING: Take in the spectacular scenery, wildlife, and culture of Southern Africa on this 20-day overland adventure. Setting out from mighty Victoria Falls, search for wildlife in Chobe, Etosha, and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. Explore the waterways of the Okavango Delta, walk across giant dunes in the Namib Desert and marvel at Fish River Canyon. Ending in Cape Town, South Africa's captivating Mother City.
National parksWaterfalls
Table Mountain to Victoria Falls - 20 days - January 2026
SMALL GROUP LODGE SAFARI: Travel from Cape Town's iconic Table Mountain in South Africa to thundering Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe on this lodge accommodated overland adventure, taking in the highlights of Namibia and Botswana en route. Marvel at Fish River Canyon and the towering Sossusvlei dunes, enjoy game drives in Etosha and Chobe, mokoro rides in the Okavango Delta, and more, in 20 unforgettable days.
City sightseeingNational parks
Exploring South Africa, Victoria Falls & Botswana - January 2026
Get ready for an unparalleled journey through the cultural diversity and abundant wildlife of southern Africa. Seek out the “Big 5” on 8 different safaris. Get a taste of South African culture at local wineries. Witness the natural beauty of Victoria Falls and learn about its people during a township visit and home-hosted lunch. Greet African elephants and spend time learning about them. Search for animals along the winding Chobe River. Epic scenery and winding coastlines come together in an incredible adventure.
WaterfallsWildlife
Zimbabwe Heritage and Wildlife Tour: 10 Days - January 2026
Be part of this ten-day, leisurely tour of Zimbabwe`s main tourist attractions and get the chance to discover the rich culture as well as the large variety of wildlife that call this country home. See the towering ruins of the Great Zimbabwe, which gave this country its name, and visit Matobo Hills National Park to see leopards and rhinos along with bushmen rock paintings.
Also included in the itinerary are Hwange National Park, one of the premiere wildlife reserves in the country for big game sightings, as well as the Victoria Falls. Please scroll down to the itinerary section for more details.
Cultural, religious and historic sites
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Real Southern Africa - January 2026
Four countries, eight national parks, 17 days, hundreds of animals, countless birds and a new group of lifelong friends all make this one unforgettable journey through the best of Southern Africa. Track rhinos at sunset in Zimbabwe, search for wildlife in Kruger National Park, laze in the lagoons of the Okavango Delta in Botswana, and learn about ongoing rhino conservation in Zimbabwe. This overland camping trip brings you everything wild and wonderful about Southern Africa plus a crew of good pals to take it all in with.
National parksWildlife
Mkambati Magic - January 2026
Book this guided trip and spend an amazing 5 days in and around Mkambati Natural Reserve. Explore one of the most pristine places on the South African coastline and uncover its mystique. Discover some of the secrets of the Wild Coast while Hiking along the beach past the Mzamba Fossils. Learn more about the rural Pondo communities.
Start your South African adventure from Wild Coast Sun, a popular resort in Port Edward, where you will meet both your guide and group members. Hike along a 14km coastal stretch to reach the Nyameni River. See Strandlooper and Mkambati falls. Enjoy a cultural tour to a traditional Xhosa village and get the chance to learn more about this community. Take a boat trip to the stunning Mtentu Estuary and visit Mkambati's best kept secret, Swallow Tail Falls.
See innumerable waterfalls, take refreshing dips in natural pools, and relax on the beach during this hike. Enjoy our full-board service except on the first and the last day of the hike. You will be driven back to Wild Coast Sun after the trip is over.
Trekking and HikingBeach
Victoria Falls & Chobe - 4 days - January 2026
Spend three nights in Zimbabwe's adventure capital, Victoria Falls. Take a walking tour to Victoria Falls and soar above the waterfall on a helicopter flight. See the famous Victoria Falls Bridge and enjoy a day trip into Botswana's Chobe National Park spot wildlife on a Chobe River cruise and game drive.
WaterfallsNational parks
Nelson Mandela Capture Site & Phezulu Tour - January 2026
Explore the history of KwaZulu-Natal, the distant and the recent, on this guided tour. Learn about the struggles during and the triumphs over the apartheid as well as get a glimpse of Zulu culture before the dawn of the 20th century. End the day with a thrilling visit to a reptile park.
The tour departs from Durban for the capital of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg. Your guide will give you a short tour of the city, including Mahatma Gandhi’s statue by Pietermaritzburg City Hall.
Next stop will be the small town of Howick to visit its waterfall. KwaNogqaza or Howick Falls is approximately 95 metres in height and lies on the Umgeni River. The local Zulu people named it the “Home of the Tall” referring to its height. Next to the fall lies a quaint old section of Howick that houses a number of historical museums and antique stores.
Next, head to the Nelson Mandela Capture Site and Apartheid Museum. The Capture Site boasts a large sculpture of Nelson Mandela made up of multiple steel columns. Tourists at the Capture Site are required to stand 35 meters away the steel columns to clearly see the large bust of Nelson Mandela in focus. Facing west the impressive sculpture is a unique monument for the local Howick community. The Apartheid Museum is dedicated to Nelson Mandela’s life and his struggle against the Apartheid government.
Next is the "Valley of 1,000 Hills" to experience traditional Zulu culture at PheZulu Cultural Village and visit the Reptile Park. Visitors are taken into a traditional Zulu sibaya or homestead to experience traditional Zulu life before modernization. Inside a traditional Zulu homestead there are thatched huts placed in a circular position, with the cattle placed in the centre as a form of protection. At PheZulu homesteads the thatched huts are surrounding the auditorium which faces the beautiful valley.
The local PheZulu guide will take you on a guided tour of the PheZulu sibaya and explain the Zulu cultural practices to gain insight into Zulu traditions during the 1800’s. The local Zulu dancing show serves both educational and entertainment purpose as local performers sing and dance to beautiful traditional Zulu songs with complete Zulu attire.
PheZulu also has the Reptile Park. The local guides are very knowledgeable and eager to take you around the park and share interesting facts about the animals in the park. PheZulu Reptile Park has diverse reptilian wildlife on site, including crocodiles, alligators, snakes, tortoises and iguanas. The guides will let you touch or hold some of the animals, including a small crocodile and the giant Burmese python, just long enough to take a photo.
City sightseeing