South West Safari 19 Day

By size, Chobe is the third largest game park in Botswana – and it’s home to a huge variety of wildlife, including elephants, lions, buffaloes and hippos. It’s got heaps of birdlife, too (keep an eye out for the famous African fish eagle). During our time here, we’ll cruise down the Chobe River trying to spot hippos, elephants and buffaloes bathing in the water. Cameras at the ready!

We’ll start the day with an early morning game drive before continuing on to our next campsite.

Maun is the fifth largest town in Botswana, and is packed with an eclectic mix of modern buildings and native huts. We’ll stay here for the night before pressing on to the Okavango Delta tomorrow.

When we get to the Okavango Delta, we’ll travel by mokoro (dugout canoe) past giant lily pads and tall grasses in search of hippos, crocodiles and a variety of birds. After settling into our island tented camp, we’ll explore the area on a walking safari. Anyone for critter bingo?

Back to Maun! Spend the rest of your time here on your own watch, taking in the awesome natural scenery from camp.

In Ghanzi, we’ll head out on a guided Kalahari Bushman walk and discover how the locals manage the resources around them to the max. Tsamma melon, anyone? FYI: Your support of this ecotourism venture will give the Bushmen a sustainable income (plus, it helps keep their culture alive). It’s a win-win!

Departing Ghanzi, we’ll head south to Windhoek – the capital of Namibia. Quick fact: Windhoek is home to approximately 200,000 people (an extremely small capital by global standards). Pro tip: take the opportunity to check out one of the local restaurants or visit the famous Joe’s Beer House tonight.

Today we’ll make our way north to Etosha National Park. After pitching our tents near a floodlit waterhole (OMG), we’ll embark on a short afternoon game drive. As dusk falls, keep your eyes peeled for a range of nocturnal visitors – including elephants, giraffes, zebras, hyenas... and even lions!

Etosha National Park = the ultimate game viewing destination. Picture this: a barren landscape full of flamingos and pelicans, surrounded by nothing but native bush, scrubland and saline lakes. Trust us, this place is magical! Keep watch for more of the local residents on today’s game drive.

Our next stop is Spitzkoppe, where we’ll take a closer look at the ancient bushman paintings that are still visible on the area’s peculiar rock formations. The rocks peak at approximately 2,000 metres above sea level, making for some ah-mazing views – one of the most impressive being the 'Bushman Paradise' cave (Google it).

Next up: a few days of adventure activities in Swakopmund. Wanna tick off some bucket list items? This is the place to do it!

Swakopmund is Namibia's main seaside resort, sandwiched slap bang between the desert and the ocean. Make the most of your time here with a spot of quad biking, sandboarding or skydiving (weather permitting). Not your thing? Steal a moment to yourself and take a look at the town’s many shops, restaurants, museums and art galleries – or simply stroll along the promenade admiring the ocean. #beaut

Today we’ll cross over the Tropic of Capricorn on our way south, with a stop for a photo opportunity en route to Solitaire (Namibia’s smallest town).

Time to crack on to the desert landscapes of Namib Naukluft Park, home to the highest sand dunes on the planet (we’re looking at you, Dune 45). We’ll also head off on a Sossusvlei shuttle to see the Sesriem Canyon and take a guided walk.

One of the natural wonders of Africa, Fish River Canyon is around 500 metres deep and over 160 kilometres long, and is the second largest canyon in the world after the Grand Canyon. Prep your camera lens for amazing photos this afternoon, especially when the sun begins to set over the sharp bend in the river known as ‘Hell’s Corner’. Trust us, it’s friendlier than its name implies.

Tonight we’ll set up camp on the South African side of the Gariep (Orange) River. If you’re looking for a few creature comforts, you’re in luck – our site provides hot showers, flush toilets, grassy floors and even a bar. Hello, sundowners!

Today we’ll head to our campsite on the Western Cape, where we’ll spend our final night under the huge African sky. Try not to get too emosh!

After waving goodbye to the scenic Cederberg area, we’ll make tracks to cosmopolitan Cape Town – without a doubt one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Here, out trip will come to a close (sad face). If time allows, why not spend a few days exploring the city and its surrounds?