Cape Town to Victoria Falls: Grand Explorer - 21 Days

(Small Group Tour)

Enjoy an epic journey through Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe on this fully accommodated semi-participation small group tour. This all-encompassing, action-packed overland odyssey includes the magnificent Fish River Canyon, the wildlife in Etosha Pan National Park, the Okavango Delta wetlands, the red Sossusvlei dunes in the Namib Desert and the amazing Victoria Falls!

Cape Town - Cedarberg - Gariep River - Fish River Canyon - Namib Desert (Sossusvlei) - Swakopmund - Damaaraland - Etosha - Windhoek - Kalahari - Okavango Delta - Maun - Makgadikgadi Pans - Chobe National Park (Waterfront) - Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)

Departs: Cape Town, South Africa (Thursday, 08.00am)
Ends: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (Wednesday, 08.00am)

**You can also end this tour in Windhoek if you'd prefer - 13 Days

Set Tour Departures 2025
*Bold dates: guaranteed departures (other dates guaranteed with minimum 4 people)

5 Feb
12, 26 Mar
9, 23 Apr
14 May, 28 May
11 June
9, 23, 30 July
6, 13, 27 Aug
3, 10 Sept
1, 22, 29 Oct
19 Nov
3, 10, 17, 31 Dec

From AUD$6,325 per person twin share
From AUD$7,655 per person single

*Single travellers are able to travel at twin share rate if willing to share with another single traveller of the same gender. If no additional traveller of the same gender can be found to share a room with you, you will receive a single room at the twin share rate.

Tour costs if ending in Windhoek - 13 Days:

From AUD$4,390 per person twin share
From AUD$5,165 per person single

This small group tour includes the following:

Maximum: 12 people
Professional Safari Guides
Transort in minibus / safari truck
16 nights staying in small 2-3 star lodges and guesthouses with en-suite facilities

Limited Participation: An essential part of your small group tour is participation. From carrying your own bag to your room to packing the truck in the morning – it’s all part of your adventure. Your tour leaders will do the meal preparation when required but you are asked to help (on rotation) with the washing up. There are some long travel days which means early morning starts so everyone needs to get involved to make the day run efficiently.

Namibia and Botswana small group tour map

Detailed itinerary

Distance/time: ±150km, 3h30 actual driving time, but with stops, penguins and lunch is a full day out.

Cape Town is one of the most picturesque cities in the world, with the majestic Table Mountain providing its central focus. After a tour briefing, you will depart from Cape Town at 08:00am to visit Hout Bay harbour en route to Cape Point Nature Reserve and then the African Penguin colony at Boulders Beach. Complete your day sampling some of Cape Town’s culinary wonders at a local restaurant in the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront (own expense).

Includes: Entrance fees to Penguin colony & Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve.

Stay at:
City Lodge V&A Waterfront (no meals included)

Distance/time: ±300km, 4h30 actual driving time, but with a stop for lunch and a hike in the Cederberg, expect a total travel day of ±8h30.

The Cederberg is a massive rock wilderness with giant sandstone boulders that have been sculpted by wind and rain into bizarre and artistic shapes. Head north to the Cederberg and explore the rugged landscape on foot before making your way to your overnight accommodation.

Includes: Entrance fees, and walk in the Cederberg.

Stay at:
Highlanders Lodge (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Distance/time: ±430km, 7h00 actual driving time, today is a stretch and with a border crossing (variable) expect a travel day of ±9h00.

Journey into the more arid regions and upon entering Namibia, stay at a lodge on the Gariep River. Namibia’s southern border river flows quietly and peacefully and the river valley is hardly affected by tourism. The riverbed is sandy, the water clean and clear. Time free for swimming and relaxing or you can venture down the river in canoes (own expense).

Stay at:
Felix Unite (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Distance/time: ±340km, 5h00 actual driving time, our first long gravel sections and viewing of the canyon, so expect a total travel day of ±7h30.

The Fish River Canyon, situated along the lower reaches of the Fish River, is one of the most impressive natural beauties in the southern part of Namibia. With its depth of up to 550 meters, the Fish River Canyon is the second largest canyon in the world. Make your way to the canyon in the afternoon to marvel at the sheer grandeur of the enormous canyon.

Includes: Entrance fees to look out point at Fish River Canyon & Quivertree forest.

Stay at:
Seeheim Hotel (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Distance/time: ±480km, 7h00 actual driving time, through magnificent scenery but it's long total travel day of ±8h30.

The parched Namib Desert has endless orange dunes blown into sharp ridges by the sand-shifting wind and at Sossusvlei, they form a gateway into the Namib Desert. You will walk to Sossusvlei, explore Sesriem Canyon and from the comfort of your lodge outside the national park watch dramatic sunsets over the world’s highest sand dunes. (If you prefer not to do the 4km walk to Sossusvlei there is an optional own expense 4WD transfer).

Includes: Entrance fees to Sesriem Canyon and Naukluft National Park.
Optional Activities: On arrival at Sossusvlei the guide will walk with the group into Sossusvlei (+/- 3.5km). For those clients who do not want to walk, there are 4WD vehicles that can drive you in (own expense).

Stay at:
Namib Desert, Desert Camp (2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners)

Distance/time: ±360km, 5h30 actual driving time, this gravel road is very rough, expect a total travel day of ±8h00.

Swakopmund is a popular seaside resort with a slightly nostalgic atmosphere, characterised by numerous colonial buildings. In terms of flora, both the Welwitschia Mirabilis and the Kokerboom grow on the stony plains of the Namib and many beautiful specimens surround this coastal town. Swakopmund is also the adventure activity capital of Namibia. Day free to explore the town or try dune boarding or sea kayaking (own expense).

Optional Activities: Sand boarding, Skydiving, Ocean canoe safari, Scenic flights & many more.

Stay at:
Hotel Pension a la Mer (2 breakfasts, 1 lunch)

Distance/time: ±330km, 5h00 actual driving time, starting on a "salt" road. The road is generally quite good, for a total travel day of ±6h00.

Namibia is a land of great contrasts and Damaraland demonstrates this with stark plains, dry river beds and ancient valleys leading to rocky outcrops and the soaring peaks of the Brandberg Massif Mountains. On your way north you will visit the Cape Cross seal colony where thousands of Cape fur seals come ashore to rest and have their pups.

Includes: Entrance fees to Cape Cross Seal colony and San Rock Art.

Stay at:
Brandberg White Lady Lodge (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Distance/time: ±540km, 7h30 actual driving time, the road can be rough and with an afternoon game drive in Etosha, expect a total of ±9h30 in the vehicle.

Once a vast lake fed by the Kunene River, the pan that is Etosha National Park dried up thousands of years ago when the river waters chose a new course. Etosha is big game country. You will take game drives around the huge pan to find elephants, herds of antelope and lions around the waterholes. Stay at a lodge on the outskirts of the national park.

Includes: Entrance fees to Etosha National Park, full day in Etosha NP.

Stay at:
Tarentaal Guest Farm (2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners)

Distance/time: ±410km, 5h00 actual driving time, good tarmac road and a stop for market shopping, expect a total travel day of ±6h00.

This pretty town, beautifully situated in a valley, combines the architecture of a modern city with numerous buildings in the style of the German colonial era. The charm of the city of Windhoek lies in its harmonious blend of African and European cultures and the friendliness of its people. You will visit the cosmopolitan capital and enjoy a restaurant meal (own expense).

Stay at:
Terra Africa Guesthouse (breakfast, lunch)

Distance/time: ±530km, 6h30 actual driving time, an early start, good tarmac road but it's a long way and with border formalities, expect a total travel day of ±7h30

Crossing into Botswana you overnight in the heart of the Kalahari. Take a walk with local San Bushmen to learn fascinating bush skills and get an insight into how these incredible people survive in this desert environment. Your overnight lodge is owned and operated by the community.

Includes: Nature walk with local San bushman.

Stay at:
Ghanzi Trail Blazers - chalet (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Distance/time: ±400km, 5h30 actual driving time, as we skirt the Okavango the road can be very potholed, so expect a travel day of ±6h30.

The Okavango Delta is the only inland delta in the world: the annual flood of fresh water spreads over 15000sq km of the Kalahari sand in a maze of lagoons and channels. You journey to the western floodplains of the Okavango Delta to your lodge overlooking a permanent lagoon, where you will enjoy a game walk, a mokoro excursion and the amazing birdlife in this pristine wilderness area.

Includes: Entrance to Okavango Delta, game walk and Mokoro excursion.

Stay at:
Guma Lagoon (2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners)

Distance/time: ±360km, 5h30 actual driving time, cross wide open expanses and expect a travel day of ±6h00.

The shimmering saltpans of Makgadikgadi are the size of Switzerland and most of the time appear as a glaring, white, endless plain. When the rain comes a dramatic change takes place as the pans come to life with frantically feeding water birds and great herds of zebra, wildebeest and springbok.

Includes: Entrance fees to Makgadikgadi Pans.

Stay at:
Nata Lodge (breakfast, lunch)

Distance/time: ±320km, 4h00 actual driving time, after a leisurely start head north for an easy transfer, expect a travel day of ±4h30.

Chobe National Park is famous for large herds of elephant and buffalo. You explore the national park on a morning game drive and spend the rest of the day on the river, enjoying lunch on a cruise boat with spectacular wildlife viewing.

Includes: Chobe NP entrance fee, 3 hour morning game drive + a full day river cruise in Chobe NP.

Stay at:
Thebe River Safaris (2 breakfasts, 2 lunches)

Distance/time: ±100km, 2h00 actual driving time. It's not a long way, but the border can be busy and slow, so anticipate a total travel day of ±3h00.

Magnificent Victoria Falls is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. A mile-wide (1.6 km) sheer basalt fault line over which the mighty Zambezi tumbles to a depth of 100m, creating a cloud of spray. The falls are also the centre of a wide range of activities, including white water rafting on the mighty Zambezi, scenic flights or a 111m bungee jump (own expense). Tour ends at 08:00am at the hotel on day 21.

Travel Africa can help you with additional nights in Victoria Falls or your onwards travel.

Includes: Entrance fees to Vic Falls.
Optional Activities: White water rafting, sunset cruises, scenic flights & many more.

Stay at:
Shearwater Explorers Village (2 breakfasts)

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