12 Day Windhoek to Victoria Falls Tour (Accommodated)

Day 1: Windhoek, Namibia

Arrive whenever is convenient for you. The arrival transfer is included.

Accommodation: Windhoek Country Club Resort (or similar)

Day 2: Windhoek – Sesriem, Namibia

Drive from Namibia’s capital to Sesriem, the gateway to Namib-Naukluft National Park. Keep an eye out for the oryx, springbok, jackal, hyena, and more that call these arid lands home-red-hued desertscapes, stark camel thorn trees, and dramatic curved dunes. Relax poolside at our lodge, watching the desert sunset.

Sesriem and Sossusvlei offer postcard-perfect desert sunsets, vast landscapes of reds and orange, and dramatic dunes with curved ridges. In this area, you can also see oryx, springbok, jackal, ground squirrel, and hyena, among many other wildlife species.

Accommodation: Sossusvlei Lodge (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Route: Windhoek- Sesriem
Distance: 340 km (5h-6h travel time)

Day 3: Sesriem, Namibia

Experience the thrill of exploring one of Africa’s largest national parks. Discover the massive dunes of Sossusvlei and the white clay pan of Deadvlei in the Namib desert, the oldest desert in the world. An orange dune backdrop and a crisp blue sky combine to make for dramatic photos of dead camel thorn trees. Next, visit Sesriem Canyon, a natural gorge carved by the Tsauchab River over millions of years.

Accommodation: Sossusvlei Lodge (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Included Highlights: Sossusvlei Dunes Visit; Sesriem Canyon Visit

Day 4: Sesriem – Swakopmund, Namibia

Follow the road through a changing desert landscape towards Swakopmund. Before heading into the countryside, look out for roaming zebra, kudu, springbok, and oryx, and stop for a break in Solitaire. On this 4×4 journey, we learn about the survival strategies of bushmen who lived thousands of years ago in this inhospitable region. We also search for smaller wildlife that has survived here, such as snakes, geckos, spiders, and an array of insects.

Accommodation: Hansa Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Route: Sesriem – Swakopmund
Included Highlight: Living Desert Tour
Distance: 375 km (7 – 8 hours travelling time)

Day 5: Swakopmund, Namibia

Take advantage of a free morning in Swakopmund to experience the town’s unique Afro-German culture; or, explore the Namib desert by sandboarding. Tour Mondesa township this afternoon with a local guide and learn about its history and people. Get a taste of traditional foods at the local market, including wild spinach, mopane worms, and dried sardines. Explore a local arts and crafts shop, chat with the locals, and finish the day with dinner and a performance in a cozy, family-run restaurant.

Visit curio shops, the museum and restaurants in this town with a unique mix of German and African cultures.

Accommodation: Hansa Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Included Highlight: Mondesa Township Walk
Optional Activity: Sandboarding; Fat Tire Bike Tours; Sea Kayaking

Day 6: Swakopmund – Damaraland, Namibia

Embark on your journey to Twyfelfontein — Namibia’s first UNESCO World Heritage site —to witness some of Africa’s largest petroglyph concentrations. Prehistoric hunters and gatherers carved these impressive engravings depicting rhinos, elephants, ostriches, and footprints of humans and animals. After that, we will continue to our lodge located in the heart of Damaraland. From the deck, take in a colourful sunset or swim in the pool.

Accommodation: Damara Mopane Lodge (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Route: Swakopmund – Twyfelfontein
Distance: 350 km (5-6 hours travelling time)
Included Highlights: Prehistoric Rock Engravings Guided Tour

Day 7: Damaraland – Etosha National Park Area, Namibia

Explore the rich sandstone treasures of Damaraland during a morning of relaxation at our lodge. Visit Etosha National Park in the afternoon, one of Namibia’s most spectacular wildlife sanctuaries. Get comfortable in our lodge, located outside the park.

Accommodation: Taleni Etosha Village (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Route: Damaraland – Etosha National Park 
Distance: 208 km (2-3 hours travelling time)

Day 8: Etosha National Park Area, Namibia

Safari through Etosha National Park, where open grasslands meet a massive salt pan. As you explore Etosha in your open vehicle, keep your camera handy to capture images of lions, elephants, and other endangered species. Lunch can be enjoyed at one of the park’s rest areas, where you can also swim and watch animals flock to nearby watering holes, including hundreds of birds.

In contrast to the vast desert, Etosha National Park offers wide open grasslands, a massive salt pan covering 4731km2 and tall camel thorn trees mixed with Mopani trees. Wildlife flocks to the park because of its natural waterholes and diverse vegetation. In areas with thicker vegetation, some of the largest elephants as well as leopards can be found. In the grasslands, you can find lions, giraffes, ostriches and antelope species, while birders will love the salt pans, which attract flamingos during the rainy season. Etosha National Park is home to more than 340 species of birds, including the European bee-eater, kori bustard, and numerous migratory birds.

Accommodation: Taleni Etosha Village (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Included Highlights: Etosha Open Vehicle Wildlife Safari Drive
Distance: 115 km (3 hours travelling time)

Day 9: Etosha National Park Area – Windhoek, Namibia

You can visit the Cheetah Conservation Fund after breakfast, which was established by National Geographic Grantee Dr Laurie Marker. Learn how they protect the world’s fastest land animal through conservation and community outreach, and enjoy a talk by one of the researchers. After that, take a drive through the grounds to see some of the rescues and rehabilitated cheetahs at the centre. Our final evening is in Windhoek.

Accommodation: Windhoek Country Club Resort (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Included Highlight: Cheetah Conservation Experience
Route: Etosha National Park Area- Windhoek
Distance: 415 km (5-6 hours travelling time)

Day 10: Windhoek-Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Fly to Victoria Falls, one of the most powerful waterfalls on Earth, in Zimbabwe. Visiting the bustling market in a nearby village is a fun way to get groceries. Enjoy a traditional Zimbabwean meal with a local family, and learn about their culture as you prepare the meal.

Victoria Falls’ mist can rise up to 400 metres (1312 feet). Originally called Mosi-o-Tunya, or “the smoke that thunders,” the falls were renamed after Queen Victoria in 1855 by explorer and missionary David Livingstone.

Accommodation: Explorers Village Lodge – Deluxe (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Included Highlight: Zimbabwean Family Dinner

Day 11: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Get an up-close and personal look at Victoria Falls. They were named after Queen Victoria by Scottish explorer David Livingstone, but their indigenous name is Mosi-oa-Tunya-“the smoke that thunders.” Experience a scenic sunset cruise on the Zambezi River, or visit the wildlife-rich Chobe National Park.

Accommodation: Explorers Village Lodge – Deluxe (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Included Highlights: Victoria Falls Guided Tour
Optional Activity: Canoeing the Zambezi; Full Day Excursion to Chobe National Park ;Victoria Falls Historic Bridge Tour; Victoria Falls Historic Bridge Tour

Day 12: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Feel free to depart whenever you are ready.

Meals: Breakfast

Onward Travel Plans

Due to circumstances beyond our control while on tour (such as border crossings, traffic, breakdowns and delays, etc), the end time on the last day cannot be guaranteed. Therefore we strongly recommend you stay the night and fly out the next day. Please consult with your booking consultant.