Great trip, wonderful group and marvelous guides. Be prepared for early mornings and long drives but the pace of the trip is about right with plenty to see and do with "down time" when you need it.
Explored namibia with great guides, dunes, sea shore, fabulous wildlife. A wonderful country of varied scenery, good accomodation, wonderful meals all at a reasonable price.
Highlights -
Stunning landscapes, especially around the Namib desert/Sossusvlei, Brandberg area and Walvis Bay/Swakopmund.
Wildlife viewing was excellent - plenty of time to view and observe and search both mammals and birds throughout the trip. You will get some amazing photos and memories!
A knowledgeable guide who sorted everything that needed doing and had a great understanding of the wildlife/country.
A couple of the lodges were above expectations (NB the app stated that there might be changes and there were).
Things that surprised me:
One of the lodges was disappointing but we were only there for one night (Brandberg White Lady Lodge - no proper AC and nowhere to charge anything plus very basic room and the food was also below par).
There wasn't much time to decompress and just enjoy the areas without being on the move - ideally this should be a 14 or 15 day trip with Toshari or Makuti and Swapokmund stays being extended by a further day.
Water is not provided at many of the lodges or at the inclusive meals so you end up buying plastic bottles of water (more costly than a beer!) that you then can't keep chilled as the rooms often did not have a fridge.
One of the recommended excursions in Walvis Bay was a waste of time and very expensive. The Shifting Sands excursion to Sandwich Harbour was vastly more costly (x3) than the Desert Discovery trip (both 3 hours) and yet covered much the same but at a much lower standard. The Desert Discovery Trip had much better guides, much more to see and a far superior dune driving experience. The Sandwich Harbour trip just gave the "dunes meeting the sea" and a fraction of the elements covered in the other trip but for the time/cost and drive it would have been better to have stayed in Walvis Bay and appreciate all the birdlife and coast there. Avoid that if offered.
What I needed on the trip:
The following items were really useful:
A sarong - to sit on a very hot seat or use as a sunshield in various locations; a water bottle flask that kept my water chilled all day;
A broad brimmed hat - in summer a baseball cap did not cut it at Sossusvlei;
Binoculars - even a basic pair;
A power bank for your phone as some days you are on the road for 12 hours and with all the photos you'll need an extra power source.;
A usb adaptor for your phone charger as a few lodges had these in the socket spaces;
Washing powder as you may end up hand washing a lot;
A basic set of general medications..... you never know!
Additionally I would recommend going at least one day earlier so you have time to take in a township and Windhoek tour. The on-cost of the hotel was minimal (arranged directly) but it meant we had no stress of being late and we had a chance to acclimatise, plus had a good look around prior to meeting the rest of the group and the guide. The Mercure has full access to the sister Movenpick which has a great pool area, other restaurants and spa/gym for use by all residents.
If you fly through Germany and direct on to Windhoek, you travel overnight and arrive morning time giving you a whole afternoon plus a whole day before you meet the group at 6pm. Plus your return flight is early evening so you get the departure day too if you extend your room at the Mercure. Well worth it!
Overall a truly great and varied trip even if you have done safaris before.
Travel from Zanzibar's pristine coastline to the southern hub of Cape Town to see an array of amazing African vistas. Sample the exotic flavours of Africa's 'Spice Island', relax on Kande Beach at Lake Malawi, scale the sand dunes in Sossusvlei, glide through the Okavango Delta by local mokoro and keep your eyes peeled for elephants, hippos, crocodiles and lions on your multiple included game drives. With an expert local leader and a small group of eager travellers joining you each step of the way, this incredible adventure will open your eyes to the natural beauty of southern Africa.
Cape Town, Zanzibar, Stone Town, South Luangwa National Park, Petauke, Lusaka, Harare, Masvingo, Bulawayo, Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park, Bagani, Okavango Delta, Grootfontein, Etosha National Park, Spitzkoppe, Swakopmund, Sesriem, Konkiep River, Fish River Canyon, Orange River, Western Cape, Mikumi, Iringa, Chitimba, Lake Malawi
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Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Camping, Hotel, Guest House
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Brand
Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Brandberg, Swakopmund, Sesriem, Sossusvlei, Fish River Canyon, Orange River, Olifants River Valley, Cape Peninsula, Chobe National Park, Okavango River, Etosha National Park
This trip was the ultimate collection of culture, animals and sightseeing. From metropolitan Cape Town to the beauty and remoteness of Namibia's deserts and sand dunes, the thrill of game drives and the beauty of Victoria falls, this trip has it all.
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Brand
Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Brandberg, Etosha National Park, Okavango River, Chobe River, Chobe National Park, Cape Peninsula, Olifants River Valley, Orange River, Fish River Canyon, Sesriem, Sossusvlei, Swakopmund
Travel from the southern tip of South Africa to Tanzania’s famous Spice Island on this epic Overland journey through Africa. Starting in Cape Town, head through remote deserts, rolling savannas and lush mountains; cruise delta waterways by canoe, feel the spray of the massive Victoria Falls and meet locals in rural villages. Take 4WD safari drives through three national parks in search of elephants, lions and hippos, relax on pristine beaches and sample local cuisine on this all-encompassing African adventure.
Cape Town, Zanzibar, Stone Town, Spitzkoppe, Etosha National Park, Grootfontein, Bagani, Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park, Victoria Falls, Bulawayo, Masvingo, Harare, Lusaka, Petauke, Orange River, South Luangwa National Park, Lake Malawi, Chitimba, Iringa, Dar Es Salaam, Fish River Canyon, Sesriem, Bush Camp, Swakopmund
I loved the itinerary! We saw so much in Namibia and Botswana. The wild camping was very memorable in the Okavango Delta. The lodge in Etosha National Park was special as we were walking distance to a waterhole and saw rhinos and leopards! We saw all of the Big 5 on the trip. The sand dunes were a highlight as well. I felt extremely safe as a solo female traveler on the trip. Everything was outstanding on the trip, and very well done. I also loved the group and sharing the experience with like-minded people.