Three Country Safari

Monday 12 August

Afternoon flight to Singapore. On arrival transfer for your overnight accommodation. 

Tuesday 13 August

Today free to explore Singapore before a late evening flight to Johannesburg. 

Wednesday 14 August

A mid-morning flight to Windhoek. On arrival in Windhoek, enjoy an afternoon city tour of Windhoek with its German architecture and government buildings, before your Welcome Dinner.

Thursday 15 August

After breakfast, travel out of town to visit a Bushman Village. Return to Windhoek with the afternoon free.

Friday 16 August

This morning travel across the desert plains of Namibia to arrive at our accommodation in the magnificent red sand Namib dunes for a two night stay. Afternoon at leisure.

Saturday 17 August

 Before sunrise, leave the lodge to enter the park with sun rising behind us.  Part of the day will be in small 4x4 vehicles.  The day will provide wonderful photo opportunities at Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei. Later, return to the lodge with the remainder of the day at leisure. 

Many visitors to Namibia say that no part of the desert is visually more stunning than Sossusvlei with its monumentally high sand dunes.  One of the largest of these star-shaped mountains of sand measured from the base is said to be 325m high!  The warm tints of the sand, ranging from pale apricot to brick orange and deep red, make the dunes a sought- after topic for artists and photographers.  One of the most attractive sites surrounding Sossusvlei is Dead Vlei, a combination of seemingly never-ending blue skies, deep red dunes dotted with skeletons of ancient camel-thorn trees carbon-dated between 500 and 600 years old.  The dunes are shaped by strong multi-directional winds, primarily the southwester and have three to five sinuous crests which meet at the highest point to give them their star shape.

Sunday 18 August

After breakfast, travel through the Gaub and Kuiseb Canyons, taking a scenic route via the Moonlandscape and see the Welwitschia Marabilis, before arriving at the quaint coastal town of Swakopmund. 

Welwitschia is a botanical curiosity and it is restricted to Namib Desert.  The Welwitschia has characteristics of both flowering and cone-bearing plants and is classified as Gymnosperm, an ancient plant order that includes cycads and conifers.  The giant Welwitschia is estimated to be about 2000 years old.  

Monday 19 August

Drive to Walvis Bay for a morning cruise to see the abundant sea life including seals, pelicans, flamingos and dolphins.  The afternoon is free to take an optional scenic flight along the coastline known as the Skeleton Coast or spend time in the resort town of Swakopmund.  Dinner is at a local restaurant – enjoy the occasion as there are no more towns for the next ten days!!

Tuesday 20 August

Today visit a Himba Village on the way to our lodge situated adjacent to the Andersson Gate of the world-renowned Etosha National Park.

Wednesday 21 August

Enter Etosha National Park and commence our game viewing through the south of the vast Etosha Pan.  Continue on to our accommodation in comfortable double rooms or bush chalets for two nights. 

Etosha National Park was proclaimed as Namibia’s first conservation area in 1907 by the then German Government and is now 22,270km2 – one of the largest game reserves in Africa.  Consisting of saline desert, savannah and woodlands, its definitive feature is the Etosha Pan, a vast, shallow depression of approximately 5,000km2.  For the greater part of the year the pan is a bleak expanse of white cracked mud which, on most days, shimmers with mirages.  Seeing vast herds of game against this eerie backdrop makes the Etosha game viewing experience unique.  Around 114 mammal species and about 340 bird species are dependent on about 30 springs and waterholes.  These provide excellent game viewing and photographic opportunities. 

Thursday 22 August

A full day game drive – often a tour highlight. Expect the unexpected. Dinner at the lodge. 

Friday 23 August

Today travel via the mining town of Tsumeb and through the ‘Maize Triangle’ to Rundu on the Okavango River. On arrival enjoy a Sundowner Cruise on the Okavango River. 

Saturday 24 August

Travel east to the point where the river joins the Okavango Delta region adjacent to Botswana’s smallest and most diverse National Park – Mahandu. Visit Poppa Falls en-route.

Sunday 25 August

Enjoy a morning 4x4 game drive into the Mahandu Game Reserve viewing trip in the National Park with an afternoon boat cruise on the Okavango River.

Monday 26 August

Continue travelling through the Caprivi Strip into Botswana and to our lodge on the banks of the Chobe River. Farewell your guide before evening game viewing in Chobe.

The Chobe River forms the northern boundary of the Chobe National Park, renowned for its reliable and diverse game viewing.  Safaris are conducted both by boat and on land.  This section of the park is best known for its elephant and hippo populations. The Chobe National Park in Botswana is only a two hour drive from Victoria Falls.  It is one of the greatest game reserves in Southern Africa, famous for its elephant numbers.  The Chobe River and Caprivi Flood plains provide a haven for huge herds of buffalo, elephant, zebra, wildebeest and impala which are followed closely by lions, hyenas and leopards and the bird life is exceptional.

Tuesday 27 August

Chobe has one of the highest elephant and cape buffalo concentrations on earth.  Morning and afternoon game viewing which includes river viewing by boat. 

Wednesday 28 August

Travel via Kasane to Victoria Falls for a two night stay.  

Victoria Falls is 1708m wide and the max drop is 107m - a magnificent sight in an unspoilt environment.  The local name is ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’ – (Smoke that Thunders) Be prepared to get wet!

Thursday 29 August

This morning experience a walking tour of the mighty Falls. The afternoon is free with the option of a helicopter flight over the Falls or one of the many other excursions on offer. This evening enjoy a sundowner dinner cruise on the Zambezi River. 

Friday 30 August

After breakfast drive to ‘The Hide’ in Hwange National Park.  At the National Park entrance transfer to 4x4 game viewing vehicles and travel to your accommodation deep in the National Park with game viewing en-route.  Arrive in time for lunch.  Settle into your accommodation in tented rooms with en-suites bathrooms, outdoor baths overlooking the waterhole.  Late afternoon game drive. 

‘The Hide’ has its own waterhole with excellent viewing day and night – a great opportunity to relax and watch a myriad of game arriving for a drink – all taking their turn! Hwange was set aside as a National Park in 1929 and is 14,650km2.  The elephant population is one of the largest in the world and there are more than 100 mammal species and nearly 400 bird species within the park. 

Saturday 31 August

Morning and afternoon game drives with time to relax and enjoy the surroundings in between. 

Sunday 01 September

Morning and afternoon game drives with time to relax and enjoy the surroundings in between. 

Monday 02 September

After breakfast return to the National Park gate by 4x4 vehicles and transfer to the coach for our return journey to Victoria Falls.  Farewell dinner at the colonial Victoria Falls Hotel.   

Tuesday 03 September

A leisurely morning before heading to the airport for the flight to Johannesburg.  Overnight stay. 

Wednesday 04 September

Depart on early afternoon flight to Singapore, 

Thursday 05 September

Morning connection from Singapore to arrive into Auckland this evening.