| Starts | Windhoek, Namibia, Namibia |
|---|---|
| Ends | Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe |
| Region | Africa |
| Duration | 10 days |
| Tour Operator | Peregrine |
Itinerary
Day 1
Windhoek
- Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm on Day 1. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask the hotel reception where it will take place. We'll be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so please ensure you have all these details to provide to your leader.
- On arrival in Windhoek, you will be met by a Peregrine representative and transferred to your hotel. This transfer is only valid if arriving on day 1 or if you have booked pre-trip accommodation through Peregrine. Please provide your flight details at the time of booking, or at a minimum 15 days prior to travel (note - we may not be able confirm request made within 15 days of travel). Once you have provided your details a transfer representative will be booked to meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel which is located about a 30-45minute drive from the airport.
- The old German colonial town of Windhoek has been blended into a modern city. The German architecture of the older buildings lends the town a historic atmosphere. Good examples of this German architecture can be seen in a number of buildings, but the best are the Tintenpalast (Ink Palace), the Christuskirche (church), the gymnasium and the Genossenschaftshaus.
- This evening you may wish to join the rest of the group for an optional welcome dinner.
Day 2
Ghanzi/Central Kalahari
- Cross the border into Botswana and travel to Ghanzi, known as the "Capital of the Kalahari".
- Accommodation tonight is at a community project in Ghanzi and a bit more basic than what you will encounter throughout your journey, however the concept and experience of Dqae Qare San Lodge will be well worth it.
- The Dqae Qare San Lodge is run and owned by the local San Bushmen people and supports the San D'Kar community through employment.
- There is an impressive concentration of bird life here and you may wish to go for a walk before dinner to stretch your legs after the long driving day.
- A 3 course meal prepared by the local women will be served in the communal lounge and dining area. There is also an 'honesty' bar with wine, beer and soft drinks available to buy.
- Later this evening we will be treated to a real cultural experience and interaction with the local Bushmen. As we sit around the camp fire the Bushmen will share their extraordinary knowledge of the Kalahari and culture through stories and traditional dancing.
Day 3-4
Okavango Delta
- Head to the Okavango Delta, where we board speedboats that will take us to your home for the next two nights, a houseboat in the middle of the Okavango Delta. Please note you will need to pack a small bag or backpack for this trip as we won't be taking all of our luggage with us.
- Your floating home for the next 2 nights is the most incredibly peaceful way to experience the delta. The houseboat has twin-share cabins with bedding, towels and mosquito nets provided (no single supplement is available on these nights). Cabins are very small, and basic but we don't expect you'll be spending much time in there. There is also a dining area on the deck, tea/coffee making facilities and a small collection of books and boardgames.
- This evening head to the deck where your captain will serve dinner, enjoy a sundowner, and listen to the sound of the Hippos along the waters edge.
- On Day 4 after breakfast we take a speedboat and 4x4 to a nearby poling station. From here you have the opportunity to experience the myriad waterways in traditional dugout canoes (mokoros) with a local guide. Your guide will take you on a nature walk around one of the many Islands in the Delta.
- After a picnic lunch, return to the houseboat where you're free to relax, read a book or do some fishing. This evening grab a sundowner, pull up a chair and witness the often breathtaking sunset.
- Please note that on occasions our houseboat won't be available due to regular servicing and maintenance requirements. If this occurs the program will be replaced with alternate land arrangements.
Day 5
Maun
- After disembarking from our houseboat, we again board the speedboats to take us back to our truck, and then on towards Maun - the gateway of the Okavango Delta.
- For those wanting more adventure, there's an opportunity to fly over the delta in a small plane for a bird's-eye view - a great way to appreciate the immensity of this watery world. Your leader can give you more information on this activity and how to book.
- Otherwise the afternoon is free to sit by the pool, catch up on emails and laundry.
Day 6
Makgadikgadi Pans
- We depart from our lodge after breakfast and head towards north-east Botswana. Our next stop is the Makgadikgadi Pans; a large salt pan situation in the middle of the dry savanna is located. This pan is now all that remains of the former Lake Makgadikgadi.
- Our accommodation tonight is at the magnificent Nata Lodge, which is located on the edge of the pans. Sit by the pool or relax in the lounge area and take in your surroundings after a long day.
- Head out to the Makgadikgadi Pans for an afternoon excursion in open 4x4's to one of the largest salt flats in the world before heading to our lodge.
Day 7-8
Chobe National Park
- Head to Kasane on the edge of Chobe National Park.
- Botswana's first national park, Chobe, is perhaps best known for its high concentration of elephants.
- On the morning of Day 8, you will wake early and take a dawn game drive in Chobe National Park, where you may see elephants drinking at the waters' edge, large herds of cape buffaloes and many impala within the park. In the afternoon you’ll take a breathtaking cruise on the Chobe River, ideal for spotting bird life such as saddle-billed storks, malachite kingfishers, fish eagles and beautiful bee-eaters as well as hippos, crocodiles and large families of elephants. Make sure you rug up, you will be in an open 4x4 vehicle and it can get really chilly in the mornings.
- You will spend the next two nights in a lodge located just outside Chobe National Park.
Day 9-10
Victoria Falls
- Travel on to Victoria Falls, crossing the border into Zimbabwe in time to have lunch on the banks of the Zambezi.
- A unique dinner at Boma restaurant is included, which specialises in Zimbabwean barbecue, is the perfect way to spend your evening.
- Your adventure will come to an end after a morning visit to the magnificent Victoria Falls on Day 10, which was named by the famous Dr David Livingstone.
- These falls are one of the natural wonders of the world and, when in full flow, form the largest sheet of falling water.
- No accommodation is included for tonight, but can be requested at your own expense.
