Cape Town to Victoria Falls: Grand Explorer - 21 Days

(Small Group Tour)

Enjoy an epic journey through Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe on this fully accommodated semi-participation small group tour. This all-encompassing, action-packed overland odyssey includes the magnificent Fish River Canyon, the wildlife in Etosha Pan National Park, the Okavango Delta wetlands, the red Sossusvlei dunes in the Namib Desert and the amazing Victoria Falls!

Cape Town - Cedarberg - Gariep River - Fish River Canyon - Namib Desert (Sossusvlei) - Swakopmund - Damaaraland - Etosha - Windhoek - Kalahari - Okavango Delta - Maun - Makgadikgadi Pans - Chobe National Park (Waterfront) - Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)

Departs: Cape Town, South Africa (Thursday, 08.00am)
Ends: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (Wednesday, 08.00am)

**You can also end this tour in Windhoek if you'd prefer - 13 Days

Set Tour Departures 2024
*Bold dates: guaranteed departures (other dates guaranteed with minimum 4 people)

10 July, 24 July, 31 July
7 Aug, 14 Aug, 28 Aug
4 Sept, 11 Sept
2 Oct, 23 Oct, 30 Oct
20 Nov
4 Dec, 11 Dec, 18 Dec

Set Tour Departures 2025
*Bold dates: guaranteed departures (other dates guaranteed with minimum 4 people)

9 Jan
27 Feb
20 Mar
10 Apr, 24 Apr
29 May
5 June, 12 June
3 July, 17 July
21 Aug, 28 Aug
25 Sept
9 Oct, 23 Oct
13 Nov, 27 Nov
11 Dec

From AUD$6,325 per person twin share
From AUD$7,655 per person single

*Single travellers are able to travel at twin share rate if willing to share with another single traveller of the same gender. If no additional traveller of the same gender can be found to share a room with you, you will receive a single room at the twin share rate.

Tour costs if ending in Windhoek - 13 Days:

From AUD$4,390 per person twin share
From AUD$5,165 per person single

This small group tour includes the following:

Maximum: 12 people
Professional Safari Guides
Transort in minibus / safari truck
16 nights staying in small 2-3 star lodges and guesthouses with en-suite facilities

Limited Participation: An essential part of your small group tour is participation. From carrying your own bag to your room to packing the truck in the morning – it’s all part of your adventure. Your tour leaders will do the meal preparation when required but you are asked to help (on rotation) with the washing up. There are some long travel days which means early morning starts so everyone needs to get involved to make the day run efficiently.

Namibia and Botswana small group tour map

Detailed itinerary

Cape Town is one of the most picturesque cities in the world, with the majestic Table Mountain providing its central focus. After a tour briefing, you will depart from Cape Town at 08:00am to visit Hout Bay harbour en route to Cape Point Nature Reserve and then the African Penguin colony at Boulders Beach. Complete your day sampling some of Cape Town’s culinary wonders at a local restaurant in the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront (own expense).

Stay at:
City Lodge V&A Waterfront (no meals included)

Journy into the more arid regions and upon entering Namibia, stay at a lodge on the Gariep River. Namibia’s southern border river flows quietly and peacefully and the river valley is hardly affected by tourism. The riverbed is sandy, the water clean and clear. Time free for swimming and relaxing or you can venture down the river in canoes (own expense).

Stay at:
Felix Unite (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

The Fish River Canyon, situated along the lower reaches of the Fish River, is one of the most impressive natural beauties in the southern part of Namibia. With its depth of up to 550 meters, the Fish River Canyon is the second largest canyon in the world. Make your way to the canyon in the afternoon to marvel at the sheer grandeur of the enormous canyon.

Stay at:
Seeheim Hotel (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

The parched Namib Desert has endless orange dunes blown into sharp ridges by the sand-shifting wind and at Sossusvlei, they form a gateway into the Namib Desert. You will walk to Sossusvlei, explore Sesriem Canyon and from the comfort of your lodge outside the national park watch dramatic sunsets over the world’s highest sand dunes. (If you prefer not to do the 4km walk to Sossusvlei there is an optional own expense 4WD transfer).

Stay at:
Namib Desert, Desert Camp (2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners)

Swakopmund is a popular seaside resort with a slightly nostalgic atmosphere, characterised by numerous colonial buildings. In terms of flora, both the Welwitschia Mirabilis and the Kokerboom grow on the stony plains of the Namib and many beautiful specimens surround this coastal town. Swakopmund is also the adventure activity capital of Namibia. Day free to explore the town or try dune boarding or sea kayaking (own expense).

Stay at:
Hotel Pension a la Mer (2 breakfasts, 1 lunch)

Namibia is a land of great contrasts and Damaraland demonstrates this with stark plains, dry river beds and ancient valleys leading to rocky outcrops and the soaring peaks of the Brandberg Massif Mountains. On your way north you will visit the Cape Cross seal colony where thousands of Cape fur seals come ashore to rest and have their pups.

Stay at:
Brandberg White Lady Lodge (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Once a vast lake fed by the Kunene River, the pan that is Etosha National Park dried up thousands of years ago when the river waters chose a new course. Etosha is big game country. You will take game drives around the huge pan to find elephants, herds of antelope and lions around the waterholes. Stay at a lodge on the outskirts of the national park.

Stay at:
Tarentaal Guest Farm (2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners)

This pretty town, beautifully situated in a valley, combines the architecture of a modern city with numerous buildings in the style of the German colonial era. The charm of the city of Windhoek lies in its harmonious blend of African and European cultures and the friendliness of its people. You will visit the cosmopolitan capital and enjoy a restaurant meal (own expense).

Stay at:
Terra Africa Guesthouse (breakfast, lunch)

The Okavango Delta is the only inland delta in the world: the annual flood of fresh water spreads over 15000sq km of the Kalahari sand in a maze of lagoons and channels. You journey to the western floodplains of the Okavango Delta to your lodge overlooking a permanent lagoon, where you will enjoy a game walk, a mokoro excursion and the amazing birdlife in this pristine wilderness area.

Stay at:
Guma Lagoon (2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners)

Magnificent Victoria Falls is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. A mile-wide (1.6 km) sheer basalt fault line over which the mighty Zambezi tumbles to a depth of 100m, creating a cloud of spray. The falls are also the centre of a wide range of activities, including white water rafting on the mighty Zambezi, scenic flights or a 111m bungee jump (own expense). Tour ends at 08:00am at the hotel on day 21.

Travel Africa can help you with additional nights in Victoria Falls or your onwards travel.

Stay at:
Shearwater Explorers Village (2 breakfasts)

Contact us now

What else can Travel Africa help you with?

Travel Africa specialises in all types of travel in Southern Africa.
Please enjoy looking through our website. Here are some other itineraries you might be interested in.