Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival
You'll arrive at your own pace and connect with the rest of your group. Your transfer to the accommodation is sorted, so you just need to show up and get settled in.
Included Activities
- Arrival Day and Welcome Meeting
- Day 2
Cape Town
Start the day wandering through Cape Town's Bo-Kaap neighborhood to get a feel for its multicultural character. From there, you'll walk through Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden before heading to Boulders Beach to see the African penguins up close. Later, you'll drive out to Cape Point lighthouse and the Cape of Good Hope to take in the views.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Kirstenbosch Guided Walk
- Guided Cape Town Orientation Tour and Excursion to Cape Point
- Boulders Beach visit with African penguins
Landmarks/POIs Bo-Kaap Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Boulders Beach Cape Point Cape of Good Hope - Day 3
Cape Town
This day is yours to shape. You can take the cable car up Table Mountain for sweeping city views, or head to the Cape Winelands and explore historic Stellenbosch for wine tastings. If something more active appeals to you, try abseiling or walk around the V&A Waterfront. The city centre also has museums and theatres if you'd rather spend time indoors.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Table Mountain cable car visit
- Cape Winelands tour visiting Stellenbosch with wine estate tours and tastings
- V&A Waterfront visit
- Abseiling adventure
- City centre exploration with historic buildings and gardens
- Cultural Historical Museum visit
- Planetarium visit
- Museums and theatres visits
- Robben Island visit (must be booked directly with museum prior to travel)
Landmarks/POIs Table Mountain V&A Waterfront Stellenbosch Robben Island - Day 4
Cape Town to Johannesburg
You'll fly to Johannesburg and then take a guided tour through Soweto township, a place central to South Africa's anti-apartheid history. The Mandela House Museum helps you understand this important part of the country's past and what the struggle meant to everyday people.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Soweto Tour
- Mandela House Museum visit
Landmarks/POIs Soweto Mandela House Museum - Day 5
Johannesburg to Kruger National Park
You're driving towards Kruger National Park along the Panorama Route, which ranks among the world's most dramatic drives. You'll stop at Blyde River Canyon and Bourke's Luck Potholes, then hit God's Window viewpoint before continuing to your lodge. By evening, you'll watch the sun drop over the landscape from your new base near Kruger.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (South African Dinner at lodge)
Included Activities
- Panorama Route Scenic Drive
Landmarks/POIs Panorama Route Blyde River Canyon Bourke's Luck Potholes God's Window - Day 6
Kruger National Park
Get up early and climb into an open jeep for a full-day safari through Kruger National Park. You'll be on the lookout for elephants, lions, giraffes, leopards, and other large animals as you move through the savanna. By evening, you're back at the lodge where you can relax and listen to the sounds of the bush around you.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Kruger National Park Open Vehicle Wildlife Safari Drive - Full day
Landmarks/POIs Kruger National Park - Day 7
Kruger National Park to Karongwe Private Game Reserve
You'll travel to Karongwe Private Game Reserve in the Greater Kruger area and meet with a researcher from the Endangered Wildlife Trust's Cheetah Range Expansion Project. They'll share what they're doing to protect cheetahs and other carnivores, then take you out on a wildlife viewing drive through the reserve.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Carnivore Conservation Experience
- Wildlife-viewing excursion with conservation researcher
Landmarks/POIs Karongwe Private Game Reserve Endangered Wildlife Trust - Day 8
Karongwe Private Game Reserve
Wake around 5am for morning coffee, then head out on an early safari with local guides searching for Africa's Big Five. You'll return for brunch and have leisure time to relax on the deck or walk the grounds. High tea comes in the afternoon before you head out again for a late safari drive. Dinner is a traditional South African braai back at camp with the other travelers.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Traditional South African braai)
Included Activities
- Karongwe Private Reserve Open Vehicle Wildlife Safari Drive
- Boma Braai
Landmarks/POIs Karongwe Private Game Reserve - Day 9
Karongwe Private Game Reserve to Johannesburg
Take one last safari this morning to catch sight of Karongwe's iconic wildlife. After that, you'll head back toward the city and have dinner at your lodge to wrap up your time in the game reserve area.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Karongwe Private Reserve Open Vehicle Wildlife Safari Drive
Landmarks/POIs Karongwe Private Game Reserve - Day 10
Johannesburg to Windhoek
You'll fly to Windhoek and transfer to your hotel. The afternoon is free, so you can explore the Namibian capital on your own schedule and get a feel for the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks/POIs Windhoek - Day 11
Windhoek to Sesriem
Driving from Windhoek towards Sesriem, the gateway to Namib-Naukluft National Park. The landscape shifts to red desertscapes and stark camel thorn trees, and you might spot oryx, springbok, jackal, or hyena. Once at your lodge, relax by the pool and watch the sunset turn the desert crimson.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Landmarks/POIs Namib-Naukluft National Park Sesriem - Day 12
Sossusvlei and Deadvlei
You're heading into one of Africa's largest national parks to explore the Namib desert, the oldest desert in the world. Drive to the massive dunes at Sossusvlei and the white clay pan at Deadvlei, where you'll photograph dead camel thorn trees against orange dunes. Later, visit Sesriem Canyon, a natural gorge carved by the Tsauchab River over millions of years.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Sossusvlei Dunes Visit
- Deadvlei Visit
- Sesriem Canyon Visit
Optional Activities
- Sossusvlei Sundowner & Nature Drive (455 NAD per person)
Landmarks/POIs Namib Desert Sossusvlei Deadvlei Sesriem Canyon - Day 13
Sesriem to Swakopmund
Traveling by road through shifting desert landscapes towards Swakopmund on the coast. Watch for zebra, kudu, springbok, and oryx along the way. Stop at a local bakery for fresh-baked apple pies. Your guide will take you on a bushman walk through the desert where you'll learn survival strategies and look for smaller creatures like snakes and geckos. Dinner later is at your leisure with options around town and at the hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Living Desert Walk
- Stop at local bakery for homemade apple pies
Optional Activities
- Orientation walk of Swakopmund
- Free time to explore Swakopmund
Landmarks/POIs Swakopmund - Day 14
Swakopmund
Breakfast at the hotel before meeting your guide for an excursion to Sandwich Harbour and the Skeleton Coast. You'll drive scenic roads to Walvis Bay while your guide explains the Namib Desert landscape. Depending on tide conditions, you'll drive along the beach to Sandwich Harbour for a 4x4 run through towering dunes where desert meets ocean. Lunch is at a private spot in the park. This afternoon, tour Mondesa township with a local guide, visiting the market and an arts and crafts shop. Dinner includes a performance at a local family-run place.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at private location in Namib Naukluft Park), Dinner (Dinner and performance at family-run establishment in Mondesa)
Included Activities
- Sandwich Harbour & Skeleton Coast Excursion
- Mondesa Township Walk
- Dinner and performance at family-run establishment
Landmarks/POIs Sandwich Harbour Skeleton Coast Walvis Bay Namib Naukluft Park Mondesa - Day 15
Swakopmund
The morning is free to explore Swakopmund's Afro-German character, check out curio shops, the museum, and restaurants. Optional activities include sandboarding, sea kayaking, or a fat tire bike tour if you want something more active. The group comes together in the evening for included dinner at the hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Included dinner at hotel
Optional Activities
- Sandboarding in the Namib Desert (700 NAD per person)
- Sea Kayaking (800 NAD per person)
- Fat Tire Bike Tours (450 NAD per person)
- Free time to explore town's Afro-German culture
- Curio shops visit
- Museum visit
- Restaurant visits
Landmarks/POIs Swakopmund - Day 16
Swakopmund to Etosha National Park
After breakfast, you're heading towards Etosha National Park, arguably Namibia's top wildlife destination. Stop in Outjo, a charming town, to stretch your legs and grab lunch at local cafes if you'd like. Continue to your lodge outside the park. The evening is yours to spend at leisure or on an optional wildlife drive in the surrounding area.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Lunch at local cafes or restaurants in Outjo
- Optional wildlife drive in surrounding area
Landmarks/POIs Etosha National Park Outjo - Day 17
Etosha National Park
Full day on safari in Etosha National Park, where grasslands meet a massive 4731 sq km salt pan. Keep your camera ready for lions, elephants, and other endangered species. Lunch is at one of the park's rest areas where you can also take a swim. Watch hundreds of bird species and other creatures gather at nearby watering holes throughout the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at park rest area), Dinner
Included Activities
- Etosha Open Vehicle Wildlife Safari Drive
Landmarks/POIs Etosha National Park Etosha Pan - Day 18
Etosha National Park to Windhoek
After breakfast, you'll visit the Cheetah Conservation Fund, a global research center founded by National Geographic Grantee Dr. Laurie Marker. Tour the facility to learn about their conservation and community work protecting cheetahs. A researcher will give a talk, then you'll drive through the grounds to meet rescued and rehabilitated cheetahs. Later, head to Windhoek for your final evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Cheetah Conservation Experience
- Talk by conservation researcher
- Drive to meet rescued and rehabilitated cheetahs
Landmarks/POIs Cheetah Conservation Fund Windhoek - Day 19
Windhoek to Victoria Falls
You'll fly to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, named after one of Earth's most powerful waterfalls. Visit a nearby village and shop at the bustling market. Then sit down with a local family for dinner, helping them prepare a traditional Zimbabwean meal using ingredients you picked. Hear stories about their lives and the local culture.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Traditional Zimbabwean family dinner prepared with local hosts)
Included Activities
- Zimbabwean Family Dinner
- Village visit and grocery market shopping
- Traditional meal preparation with local family
Landmarks/POIs Victoria Falls - Day 20
Victoria Falls
Tour the magnificent Victoria Falls, named by Scottish explorer David Livingstone after Queen Victoria, though the indigenous name is Mosi-o-Tunya, meaning the smoke that thunders. You can choose an optional day trip to wildlife-rich Chobe National Park or take a sunset river cruise instead.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Victoria Falls Tour
Optional Activities
- Full Day Excursion to Chobe National Park
- River Song Sunset Cruise (79 USD per person)
- Canoeing the Zambezi (160 USD per person)
- Victoria Falls Historic Bridge Tour (55 USD per person)
Landmarks/POIs Victoria Falls Chobe National Park - Day 21
Departure
You're free to depart at any time. Safe travels on your way home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Departure Day
