Elephants at waterhole

Southern Explorer

From: 
Regular price
$12,500.00
Sale price
$12,500.00

ZAMBIA – NAMIBIA - BOTSWANA

Small Group Safari (min 8 / max 18 passengers)
25 Days / 24 Nights
Livingstone to Livingstone

Victoria Falls (2) | Katima Mulilo (1) | Caprivi Strip (1) | Etosha National Park (2) | Okaukuejo (2) | Twyfelfontein (1) | Cape Cross (1) | Swakopmund (2) | Solitaire (1) | Sesriem (1) | Windhoek (1) | Kalahari (1) | Maun (1) | Okavango Delta (1) | Maun (1) | Nata (1) | Elephant Sands (1) | Chobe National Park (2) | Victoria Falls (1)
 
2025 Departure Date: 04 May (Fully Booked)
 
2026 Departure Date: 03 May
 

This safari offers ever-changing vistas as you journey through three countries. Vast deserts, huge national parks - including Etosha and Chobe - full of wildlife and birds, the Skeleton coast, Sossusvlei sand dunes, captivating Okavango Delta, and the famous Victoria Falls.

Highlights:

  • Hear the roar and feel the spray of the powerful Victoria Falls
  • Game drives in Etosha National Park
  • Relax around a floodlit waterhole with a cool drink and your camera
  • Learn about the fascinating Welwitschia plant and petrified forests
  • Wander through the stark beauty of Twyfeltontein with its ancient carvings
  • See the Skeleton Coast with its shipwrecks, seals and untamed coastline
  • Swakopmund – exhilarating adventures, cafes, art galleries and fresh seafood
  • Climb giant sand dunes and view stunning landscapes in the Namib Desert
  • Cruise on a mokoro into the Okavango Delta and overnight on an island
  • Shop for art and curios in Maun
  • Stay at a unique lodge where elephants rule
  • Enjoy a game viewing cruise on the Chobe River
  • Game drives in Chobe National Park
  • Witness stunning sunsets and sunrises over the Zambezi River

Day 1: Victoria Falls (Zambia)

On arrival in Livingstone, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Afternoon at leisure. This evening get to know your fellow travellers over sundowners and dinner (own cost). Your accommodation is ideally located right on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River, offering stunning views of this iconic waterway.

Day 2: Victoria Falls (BD)

Today explore the breathtaking Victoria Falls, taking in the views from various lookout points within the park. While it may not be the tallest or widest waterfall in the world, Victoria Falls holds the title of the largest, with a combined width of 1,708 meters and a height of 108 meters, creating the world’s largest sheet of falling water. Yes, you’ll get wet! In the afternoon, you’ll have time to enjoy optional activities, such as a scenic flight over the Falls, a jet boat ride on the Zambezi to the Elephant Cafe, or a trip to The David Livingstone Museum.

Day 3: Katima Mulilo (Namibia) (BLD)

Boarding the safari vehicle this morning, you will set off across the border into Namibia (this is a reasonably long day). By mid-afternoon arrive at the lively town of Katima Mulilo where there is some free time to shop and get local currency from ATM. Accommodation is on the outskirts of town, right on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River, offering a peaceful setting to relax after the drive.

Day 4: Caprivi Strip (BLD)

Today, drive through the Caprivi Strip, a narrow protrusion of Namibia bordered by Botswana, Angola and Zambia. The area is rich in wildlife and mineral resources and has been the subject of many a dispute over ownership. You will be able to look across the river to Angola from the grounds of the Lodge this afternoon.

Day 5: Etosha National Park (BLD)

Stop at Grootfontein in the morning for supplies before heading to Etosha National Park. Your camp tonight is within the grounds of an old fort originally built by the Germans in 1902. A floodlit waterhole next to the fort provides game viewing opportunities at all hours, there is also a swimming pool, bar/restaurant and gift shop (good place to buy map of Etosha).

Day 6: Etosha National Park (BLD)

Etosha is a vast reserve of over 20,000 km² with abundant wildlife. It is one of the largest parks in Africa and has been a game reserve since 1907. The dominant Etosha pan covers over 20% of the park and is seasonally flooded creating many drinking holes for animals. Vast arid plains, pockets of woodland and thick scrub are home to hundreds of species of mammals, birds, and reptiles. Spend a leisurely day game driving.

Day 7: Etosha National Park - Okaukuejo (BLD)

Depart this morning, spotting game as you drive through to Okaukuejo Rest Camp where you will stay for the next two nights. Okaukuejo has a popular floodlit water hole where you can observe the game coming to drink at all hours of the night. Elephant and Rhino are regular visitors to this water hole.

Day 8: Okaukuejo (BLD)

Up early this morning for a game drive in the Park before returning to Okaukuejo for lunch. You can spend the rest of the day relaxing by the pool and watching wildlife at the water hole.

Day 9: Twyfelfontein (BLD)

This morning drive to Outjo for supplies before continuing on through scenic Damaraland. Stop for lunch at a Petrified Forest and take a guided walk through the site with a local tribesperson. It’s not actually a forest but huge tree trunks dating back 280 million years which have fossilized. You will also learn about Namibia’s fascinating centuries old desert plant – the Welwitschia, which has survived for centuries in these harsh conditions. Continue to Twyfelfontein and spend some time at this UNESCO World Heritage site. The site has been inhabited for 6,000 years, first by hunter-gatherers and later by Khoikhoi herders then white farmers. Both ethnic groups used it as a place of worship and a site to conduct shamanist rituals. In the process of these rituals thousands of rock carvings and rock paintings were created. Your accommodation is nestled along the mountainside and blends in beaurifully with its unique landscape, utilising natural stone and thatched roofs.

Day 10: Cape Cross (BLD)

An incredibly scenic drive today through to the Skeleton Coast Park. Stop at the Cape Cross Seal Reserve, home to over 80,000 seals before arriving at the Cape Cross Lodge. Take a sunset stroll along the wild Atlantic coast just metres from the Lodge, or perhaps visit the Lodge’s museum or art gallery.

Day 11: Swakopmund (B)

An easy day as you make your way down the Skeleton Coast stopping to view some of the shipwrecks. Arrive into Swakopmund in the afternoon and settle into your accommodation. Tonight, dine out in a restaurant renowned for its fresh seafood (own cost).

Day 12: Swakopmund (B)

Swakopmund is a seaside resort town with a German village feel to it. The Namib Desert around the town is the number one draw card offering countless exhilarating activities such as sand boarding, quad biking and scenic flights. For those looking for something more relaxed, the town has plenty to offer too, including art galleries, museums, a snake park, an aquarium and tours that will take you to a local town to learn about the Herero people (optional activities own expense). Swakopmund also has many great restaurants and cafes (lunch and dinner your own arrangements while here).

Day 13: Namib Desert Park - Solitaire (BLD)

Depart early this morning for The Namib Desert Park. Spread over 50,000km² and one of the largest conservation areas in the world - in the local language, ‘namib’ means vast and that’s exactly what you will experience today. Huge vistas, picturesque rock formations, sand dunes, flat plains, and with a sharp eye you will also spot wildlife. Arrive to Solitaire for lunch where you’ll find a delicious bakery to purchase your lunch (own cost).
Set against the stunning backdrop of the Naukluft Mountains, Moon Mountain Lodge delivers an unmatched luxury experience amidst the untamed beauty of the Namibian wilderness. Relax in your spacious room surrounded by tranquil desert views. Your room even has its own private plunge pool!

Day 14: Sesriem (BLD)

This morning journey through to the giant sand dunes at Sesriem. Take an energetic walk/scramble up Dune 45 (over 80 metres in height) named from the fact that it is at the 45th kilometre of the road that connects the Sesriem gate and Sossusvlei. It is composed of 5-million-year-old sand that is detritus accumulated by the Orange River from the Kalahari Desert and then blown here – truly more stunning than you can imagine. Then take a 4WD trip further in to the park, followed by a walk into Sossusvlei.

Day 15: Windhoek (BL)

An easy drive in to Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. This small city is located in a basin between the Khomas Highland, Auas and Eros Mountains and is 1,680m above sea level. With German-influenced architecture and a European café culture, it is a pleasant place to enjoy a stroll around.

Day 16: Kalahari (Botswana) (BLD)

Sit back and relax on a reasonably long day driving across the northern fringes of The Kalahari into Botswana.

Day 17: Maun (BLD)

Arrive in Maun early afternoon and prepare for your trip into The Okavango Delta. Maun is the hub of the Delta safari industry and quite a bustling town with shopping centres and hotels. It still retains its raw edge with local tribesmen bringing cattle to sell, antelopes grazing the quiet river banks, and donkeys and goats wandering the main road.

Day 18: Okavango Delta (BLD)

Early morning transfer by 4WD to the Poling Station. The Okavango Delta is a natural wetland where the Okavango River fans out into the largest inland delta in the world. Load all our gear into the mokoros (dugout canoe) and be poled by local guides in to the Delta – an absolutely surreal experience. Set up camp on an island under shady trees. From here you can explore the myriad of waterways and stunning scenery on foot or mokoro. Hippo, crocodile, buffalo, giraffe and elephant are at home here, as are numerous species of bird. Enjoy the serenity amongst the swamps, lily pads and swaying delta grasses. Guided bush walks, great game viewing, stunning sunsets and entertainment around the bush fire this evening – just awesome!

Day 19: Maun (BLD)

After a morning nature walk, you will have lunch back at camp before packing up and boarding mokoros for the journey out of the Delta. Eyes peeled for wildlife and birds along the way. This afternoon, you have the opportunity to do a scenic flight over the Okavango Delta (own cost), or relax by the hotel pool.

Day 20: Maun (BLD)

Board the truck for a morning drive to Nata. Your lodge sits among Mokolwane palms at the edge of the vast Makgadikgadi Salt Pans – the largest salt pans in the world and the remnants of Africa's largest inland sea. The Nata River creates a delta that feeds into the Sua Pan, providing a vital breeding ground for a spectacular array of water birds.

Day 21: Nata (BLD)

Back onboard the truck and journey through to Elephant Sands Lodge, located near Nata. This is a fabulous place to enjoy viewing elephants at a natural waterhole right in front of the lodge’s bar and swimming pool. You will be wide-eyed watching these impressive creatures whilst they hang out at the waterhole just a couple of meters away from you. This is bush TV at its best! There is plenty of other wildlife around on an unfenced 16000 ha of private conservancy.

Day 22: Chobe National Park (BLD)

Continue to Chobe Safari Lodge in Kasane where you are based for the next two nights. This upmarket lodge sits on the banks of the Chobe River and borders the world-famous Chobe National Park.

Day 23: Chobe National Park (BLD)

Chobe National Park is the second largest national park in Botswana and covers a mere 10,566 sq kms! It also has one of the greatest concentrations of elephant found on the African continent. Its uniqueness in the abundance of wildlife and the true African nature of the region, offers an excellent safari experience - perfect for an early morning game drive by 4WD. Later this afternoon board a boat for a 3-hour wildlife cruise on the Chobe River – an excellent chance to get up close to elephant, hippo, crocodile and other animals and birds. As the sunsets over the river, cruise back to the Lodge with a cool drink hand.

Day 24: Victoria Falls (Botswana-Zambia) (BLD)

Leave Botswana and cross back to Zambia on the Kazungula ferry. It is only a short drive back to Livingstone where you spend the last night of the safari. In the evening there will be a sunset cruise on the Upper Zambezi & you can spend some time reminiscing about a memorable trip. Truly magical.

Day 25: Livingstone

The safari ends today with a transfer to the airport for your onward flight.

TOUR INCLUSIONS:

  • 24 nights’ safari accommodation (1 night camping)
  • Meals as indicated (B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner)
  • Sightseeing as indicated
  • Services of experienced driver/guide plus camp/cook assistant
  • Fully equipped safari vehicle, with camping / cooking equipment
  • All road tolls, vehicle taxes, National Park entry fees
  • Airport transfers on Days 1 & 25 only between the hours 0600-1800

TOUR EXCLUSIONS:

  • International Airfare
  • Entry Visa to Zambia (approx. US$40 double entry issued on arrival). Botswana US$30 Tourism Development Levy.
  • No visa required for Botswana & Namibia for New Zealand passport holders
  • Items of a personal nature (eg. drinks, souvenirs)
  • Sleeping bag
  • Gratuities
  • Any optional activities you choose to take yourself
  • Travel insurance – mandatory

Accommodation based on the following or similar

Victoria Falls

Waterfront Lodge

Katima Mulilo

Zambezi Lodge

Caprivi Strip

Kaisosi River Lodge

Etosha National Park

Namutoni Rest Camp

Okaukuejo

Okaukuejo Rest Camp

Twyfelfontein

Twyfelfontein Country Lodge

Cape Cross

Cape Cross Lodge

Swakopmund

Alte Brucke Resort

Solitaire (Namib Desert Park)

Moon Mountain Campsite

Sesriem

Soussusvlei Lodge

Windhoek 

Safari Court Hotel

Kalahari

Buitepos Motorcamp

Maun

Sedia Hotel

Okavango Delta

Bush Camping

Day 18: Maun

Sedia Hotel

Nata

Nata Lodge Lodge

Elephant Sands

Elephant Sands Lodge

Chobe National Park

Chobe Safari Lodge

Victoria Falls

Waterfront Hotel

IS THIS SAFARI FOR YOU ?
  • These safaris are designed for travellers aged 40+  
  • The average age group is 55-65 years of age. If you have a sense of adventure, get on with people from all walks of life, don't mind getting a bit dusty during the day, and have a reasonable level of fitness and health then you are perfectly suited to our safaris!  
  • If you are travelling solo and would like to twin share with same gender, we will endeavour to find you a room mate.
  • If you are aged 75+ we will require a Medical Certificate confirming your fitness for the safari.
TRANSPORTATION:
Southern Explorer
  • Coach seats for up to 18 guests
  • Air bag suspension
  • Opening glass windows for unencumbered views
  • Secure safe for money and passports
  • 250 litre water tank providing free safe drinking water
  • Fridges to keep food chilled
  • Camp stools
  • Charging facilities for NZ or UK plugs
  • PA system
MEALS:

The Safari Company are are renowned for providing wholesome tasty meals using fresh ingredients. We cook outside on charcoal and gas BBQs. Meals are served buffet-style on a main table and we have camp stools to sit on.  

Most days we include 3 meals (specified in itinerary):
B - Breakfast (cereal, fresh fruit, toast, tea, coffee along with cooked options eg. eggs, bacon, sausage)
L - Lunch (cold meat, salad, bread, fruit, juice)
D - Dinner (vegetable soup, meat & vegetables, eg. bbq, curry, stew)

ACCOMMODATION:

Safaris feature a variety of accommodation including upmarket lodges, first class hotels, unique cottages/chalets, permanent tents with ensuites.  

Bush camping is only on our Southern Explorer safari.  Roomy dome tents high enough to stand up in and a 50mm mattress. You will bring your own sleeping bag.

ON THE ROAD:
Africa is huge and we do need to do some long days on the road to get to our favourite destinations. The roads vary between modern bitumen highways to bumpy dusty tracks and everything in between but there's always something interesting to view from your seat high up on the truck. Toilet stops are often roadside behind a bush - Africa is not blessed with a lot of public toilets outside of the cities. The truck is naturally air-conditioned with fresh air blowing in the window.
Getting onboard the truck is via steepish steps but once on-board you are rewarded with fantastic views and the sweet sounds and smells of Africa. On our Eastern safaris there is the opportunity to sit up above the cab in the open air.

Trip prices and dates are correct at the time of the website going live, however all offers are subject to reconfirmation at the time of booking. All featured tour itineraries and offers may be subject to change due to seasonal variations without notice, or due to local conditions or other conditions. Please confirm all details at time of booking. Travel insurance is mandatory for all Innovative Travel bookings. All passports must be valid for 6 months prior to your return to your home country. Visas are the responsibility of the traveller. Special VIP meet and assist offers are available in some destinations for New Zealand passport holders, for other nationalities please check at the time of booking. For full terms and conditions, please refer to our Booking Conditions page.

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