On arrival at Windhoek International Airport, you will be met by your guide and then start your journey. The first stop is Windhoek and a chance to collect anything we might have forgotten as well as some snacks & drinks for the road. From Windhoek, we head south via Rehoboth, home of the Baaster people, and then south-west, past the Naukluft Mountains and into the Namib Desert. Option to make a stop at Neuras Wine Farm, the only winery in the Namib Desert. Arrival at Elegant Desert Lodge mid-afternoon where you  can join any of the optional activities or just relax and take in your first Namibian sunset.

A leisurely morning today give you the chance to join an optional morning quad bike tour or take a walk with your guide to explore the area on foot before departing no later than 11h00. We aim to arrive on the NamibRand Reserve where from where we start our 2 night/3 day hike. The NamibRand Nature Reserve, located in southern Namibia, is a private nature reserve established to help protect and conserve the unique ecology and wildlife of the south-west Namib Desert. Conserving the pro-Namib, the area along the eastern edge of the Namib Desert, is critically important in order to facilitate seasonal migratory wildlife routes and to protect biodiversity. It is probably the largest private nature reserve in southern Africa, extending over an area of 215,000 ha. The Reserve shares a 100km border with the Namib-Naukluft National Park in the west and is bordered in the east by the imposing Nubib Mountains. Virtually all facets of the Namib Desert are represented on the Reserve – sand and gravel plains and stretches of savanna alternate with mountain ranges, inselbergs and vegetated dune belts.

Early morning tea or coffee is served before sunrise followed by a light breakfast so that you can set off in the cool of the early morning. The highlights of the walk are the breath-taking views of the dunes and plains. During the course of the day your guide will explain some wonders of the Namib to you – how the fascinating desert flora survives, how insect and reptile life adapts to the harsh environment and how mammals can survive here without water. Birding is surprisingly good and you may be lucky enough to see one of Namib endemics, the dune lark. Larger animals you might come across include bat-eared fox, oryx, springbok and ostrich. As we realize that our survival depends on the water that has been deposited for us, this will probably heighten our admiration for the plants and animals that dwell here. We stop for lunch at a shady spot where you can enjoy the treats prepared by our chefs and fill up your water bottles. There is plenty of time to relax, have a siesta and reflect on all you have seen. As the heat recedes you start walking again up and over the dunes to your second overnight spot. The scene in front of you is a sea of endless dunes and “fairy circles” against a backdrop of magnificent mountain scenery. A sundowner and a delicious dinner after a long and enjoyable day are indeed welcome. You might hear some barking geckos, owls or just deafening silence.

We end our hike around 11h00 and from here, we head north through to Sesriem where we can check in to our rooms and grab some lunch before heading straight into the National Park to explore Deadvlei & Sossusvlei in the late afternoon. Situated in the largest conservation area in Africa (The Namib Naukluft National Park), Sossusvlei is easily one of Namibia’s most spectacular attractions, characterized by the large red dunes surrounding bleached clay plans. The dunes in this area are some of the highest in the world, measuring almost 400m, and offering some of the most incredible photographic opportunities particularly around sunrise. Make sure you add a short visit to the nearby Sesriem Canyon before departing the park, a small (in comparison to Fish River) canyon, but of vital importance to the local area.

This morning enjoy an early morning optional hot air balloon flight over the Namib Desert, or choose to return to Dune 45 for sunrise, or instead opt for a lie in to recover after many early starts. Departure for Swakopmund should be no later than 12 noon with a long drive ahead through the Namib Desert with stops at Solitaire, Tropic of Capricorn, Kuiseb & Gaub Passes before reaching the coast and visiting the Walvis Bay Lagoon to get a glimpse of the greater and lesser flamingos. From there, it’s just a short drive through to Swakopmund, home for the next 2 nights.

Today can be as busy, or relaxing as you choose, with a range of different optional activities on offer, from sky diving and sand boarding to a Dolphin Cruise, or Sandwich Harbour excursion, to a Living Desert tour or a scenic flight. Instead, opt to relax and explore Swakopmund on foot.

Today is a long drive as we leave the coast and head north to Etosha National Park. Should we wish to enjoy a more scenic drive and meet some local people, then leave Swakopmund no later than 7h30 and head north to Henties Bay and then inland through Damaraland on the C35. This route gives us the chance to meet the Himba, Herero & Damara people that call this region home. Alternatively we head inland and stick to the tar road which will get us to Etosha much faster and enable us to do a proper afternoon game drive.

Today is a full day of game driving, exploring one of Southern Africa’s premier game reserves. The park itself covers 22,270 kms², and gets its name from the salt pan that makes up approx. 23% of the park. Once a massive lake, the Etosha Pan is now mostly dry, with the exception of good rainfall years when the pan fills up enough to become a breeding ground for flamingos that migrate between Walvis Bay and Sua Pan in Botswana.

Another early departure this morning, aiming to have breakfast and check out by sunrise, starting our game driving as early as possible. Depending on the game viewing, we can stop for lunch at Halali or Namutoni, before exiting the park and checking in to Onguma Bush Camp. The Onguma private reserve borders Etosha National Park, and if home to large numbers of animals, including predators so good idea to keep our eyes peeled here.

Today is another long drive, heading from central Namibia into the Kavango region. Here we will notice a distinct change in landscape as we reach the Kavango where dry savannahs turn into lush green forests with rivers that flow. Tonight we are at Divava Lodge and perched on the banks of the Kavango River, the main tributary for the Okavango Delta in neighbouring Botswana. Here we can spend the evening on the banks of the river, enjoy a totally different Namibian landscape from what we have seen before. We recommend that tonight you repack bags for the 2 nights with Mashi River Safaris. Aim to limit luggage so 1 soft bag between 2 people, only taking what you need.

Another early start this morning as we leave Divava no later than 7h30 to travel across to the Bwabwata region where we start our adventure with Mashi Rivers Safaris. Our safari starts with a cruise downriver to Njazanga island taking in Bwabwata NP, full lunch on river including drinks. Arrive at island mid-afternoon to pitch camp and after snacks and refreshments either afternoon guided walk on island or afternoon game cruise or both (clients choice). Dinner is on island prepared on open fire including wines and local beer.

This morning we rise early with coffee and rusks followed by activity of client’s choice. Return to camp around 9h00 for full cooked breakfast. Pack up camp and begin the cruise upriver toward campsite 2 with possibilities for swimming, birding, game viewing, fishing and walking along the way. Arrive at camp around mid-afternoon and pitch tents. Lunch followed by relaxation time. Afternoon game cruise with sundowner drinks. Return to island camp for evening meal cooked on an open fire.

Yet another early start this morning for coffee and rusks followed by early boat cruise. Return to our campsite for full breakfast before breaking camp and departing for Mavunje Disembark mid-morning. From Mavunje, we hit the road, travelling via Katima Mulilo, then arriving in Kasane. Here, we say goodbye to our guide as he returns to Namibia and take a private transfer on to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Our journey today is not a long drive in terms of distance, but with 2 border posts it will take time. We aim to arrive in Victoria Falls in the late afternoon and can check in to our accommodation, our home for the next 2 nights. Victoria Falls is known not only for it’s majestic waterfalls, but also it’s abundance of adventure activities. Should we wish, we can enjoy anything from a bungee jump or gorge swing to white water rafting, or a scenic river cruise on the Zambezi.

Check out today from Shearwater and transfer through to Victoria Falls International Airport in time for your onward flight. End of services.