Kavango - Zambezi - Vic Falls - Safari

Tour overview- "Kavango - Zambezi - Vic Falls - Safari"

Day 1: Arrival in Namibia ~ 45 km

Upon arrival at Hosea Kutako Airport, approximately 45 km east of Windhoek, you will be met by a car rental representative and taken to Windhoek, where you will pick up your vehicle including all necessary instructions and information.

You will then drive to your accommodation, where you can freshen up and rest. In the afternoon you will be picked up by your guide from Bwana Tucke-Tucke for an interesting city tour of Windhoek, where you will get to know historical buildings and the township of Katutura (optional).

In the evening you can go out for a relaxed dinner. We can recommend Joe's Beerhouse, Cape Town Fish Market or The Stellenbosch. Your accommodation can arrange a taxi for you. If you are staying at Heinitzburg you can enjoy an excellent meal at the hotel’s restaurant.

Day 2: Towards Etosha National Park~ 420 km (4h)

In the morning you leave Windhoek in a northerly direction and drive over good tar roads through the wide Namibian farmland. We recommend a visit to the crocodile park in Otjiwarongo for lunch. Apart from the usual menu the garden restaurant also offers some crocodile specialties. Otjiwarongo also has a well-stocked Spar Supermarket, should you still need to do some shopping.

You continue your journey north towards Etosha National Park and your amazing accommodation. Depending on how much time is left, you can take a short excursion into the Etosha National Park for a late afternoon game drive.

Day 3: Etosha National Park~ 180 km (6h)

Today you should depart very early to cross the Etosha National Park. We recommend driving via Okaukuejo to Halali (lunch break) and continuing via Namutoni to your accommodation near Onguma. It takes around 5-8 hours to cover these 180 km, depending on animal sightings.

The Etosha National Park is one of the most beautiful nature reserves in Africa. Etosha was declared a nature reserve in 1907, originally covering an area five times larger than today. The current size of the Etosha National Park is 22,270 km², about half the size of Switzerland.

The national park is home to large herds of springbok, impala, zebra and wildebeest, as well as around 1,500 elephants, 1,800 giraffes, 300 lions, leopards, cheetahs and 300 black rhinos, as well as over 300 different bird and around 110 different reptile species.

Day 4: Okavango River: Into the “real” Africa~ 430 km (5h)

Today you travel northeast to the Okavango River via the mining town of Tsumeb and Grootfontein to the Mururani Gate. The gate forms part of the veterinary fence which separates the commercial farmland of central Namibia from the communal areas. One could also say: This is where the “real Africa” begins.

Passing many small villages of the local Kavango people with great street stalls where you can buy local fruit, wood carvings or small clay pots, you reach Rundu, the wonderfully chaotic metropolis of northeastern Namibia.

Your accommodation is situated about 15 km west of Rundu and lies picturesquely on the banks of the Okavango River.

Day 5: Okavango river and culture~ 0 km

After the long journeys of the last few days, you can unwind today at the beautiful lodge and relax by the pool. Enjoy the view of the water and the African sounds of the Okavango.

In the morning, we recommend a walk to the close-by Mbunza Living Museum, next to the idyllic Samsitu Lake. The Mbunza Living Museum is a community project run by around thirty Mbunza people and offers visitors an interesting insight into the original and traditional culture of the Kavango people. The museum consists of a traditionally built farmstead with authentic huts under large trees. All proceeds go directly to the Mbunza.

In the afternoon, a boat trip with the lodge is recommended.

Day 6: Kwando River landscape – wildlife in the bush and in the water ~ 445 km (5h)

After a day of rest you continue your journey to the east, passing Rundu (here you can visit the traditional market if you find it) and driving to Divundu. Here you are able to stock up your supplies if need be.

The Zambezi region begins about halfway between Divundu and Kongola. Until 2013, this was officially called Caprivi, named after the German Chancellor Leo von Caprivi (1890-1894). The German government originally wanted to use the so-called Caprivi Strip to create a connection through British colonial territories to German East Africa (today Tanzania). The regions dry, sandy forest landscape in the west gives way to a tropical river system further east, which is home to an abundance of wildlife found nowhere else in Namibia.

Depending on which accommodation option you choose, your lodge will be located directly in the Kwando Core Area of the Bwabwata National Park (Luxury - Nambwa Lodge) or just outside the park at the banks of the Kwando River (Comfort/Camping - Namushasha River Lodge). Both accommodations are highly recommendable!

Day 7: Kwando Core Area ~ 60 km (5h)

Today you have time to explore the Kwando Core Area in your 4x4 vehicle, which, depending on the season, is teeming with elephants, buffalo, hippos, crocodiles and many antelopes. Also, a diverse range of bird species can be seen especially along the river.

If you are not sure whether the dusty roads, which often consist of deep sandy tracks and are sometimes not easy to navigate, are the right cup of tea for you, you can alternatively book a guided game drive with your lodge.

Day 8: Zambezi~ 160 km (2,5h)

Today’s journey leads you to the Zambezi Mubala Lodge near Katima Mulilo, the capital of the Zambezi region. The lodge is located directly at the Zambezi River, the fourth longest river in Africa and is known for its huge colonies of colorful carmine bee-eaters.

You shouldn't miss a boat trip in the afternoon or book a fishing trip and take the challenge to catch the elusive tiger fish (catch and release).

Day 9: Day Trip to Victoria Falls~ 0 km

Having ventured this far into the north-east of Namibia, you definitely shouldn't miss visiting the world-famous Victoria Falls with their bombastic, raging masses of water. It is advisable to book the tour in advance as a guided day trip. You will be picked up from the lodge at 6am, travel via Ngoma into Botswana, through the elephant-invested Chobe Game Park and across the Kazangula border into Zimbabwe to Victoria Falls, where you will have enough time to visit the famous falls, before returning back on the same route to your lodge. All you need is a passport, camera, sunscreen and a hat.

If a visit to the Victoria Falls is not an option for you, you can spend another relaxing day at Zambezi Mubala Lodge.

Day 10: Back to the Okavango~ 370 km (4h)

It’s time to leave the Zambezi region and begin the return journey. You drive back to Divundu, where you will have time to explore this area over the next 2 days.
If you have enjoyed the visit to the Mbunza Living Museum, you might be interested in visiting another living museum on the way just before Divundu:

The Khwe Living Museum offers an interesting and authentic insight into the hunter-gatherer culture of the San (Bushmen). Here you will experience traditional dances, gain an insight into the ancestral world of the Khwe and discover the historical life of the ethnic group from the north-east of Namibia.

You will arrive at your accommodation, once again enjoying a romantic sunset at the Okavango River.

After the many camping adventures, we also recommend that camping enthusiasts take a self-catering bungalow in the beautiful Mobola Island Lodge for the next 2 days.

Day 11: Buffalo Core Area or Mahango National Park~ 80 km (5h)

Both Buffalo Park (Buffalo Core Area) and Mahango National Park are quite easy to explore on a self-drive day trip. Ask the lodge which park is particularly worthwhile at the moment. The wild- and birdlife in both parks is spectacular. Various antelopes, elephants, African buffalos, hippos and crocodiles frolic in or at the water. With a bit of luck, you might even spot lions in the Buffalo Park.

Optional: The safari can be extended by one day. Both Mobola Island Lodge and the Divava Okavango Resort are paradise. Saying goodbye here is particularly difficult!

Day 12: Ghaub in the Maize Triangle~ 480 km (5,5h)

Today you will have a slightly longer route back via Rundu to the veterinary border (this time from north to south - you're not allowed to have raw meat in the car) and back into Namibia's commercial farmland.

Your accommodation, the Ghaub Guest Farm, is located in Namibia's so-called Corn Triangle, between the towns of Grootfontein, Otavi and Tsumeb.

Day 13: Ghaub excursions~ 0 km

You can book some unique activities at Ghaub Guest Farm.

If you have not yet seen rhinos on your trip, you have the opportunity to take part in rhino trekking with qualified rangers in the morning. You can often find white rhinos and learn a lot about the animals' behavior. This excursion takes place in the morning.

Alternatively (also in the morning), you can also embark on a cave excursion. The Ghaub stalactite cave is the third largest cave in Namibia. However, we only recommend this activity for travellers who are reasonably fit and not claustrophobic. This activity is also offered in the mornings.

In the afternoon you can go on the “Rhino Drive”, a farm tour where you can see many animals and most likely the white rhinos.

Day 14: Cheetah Conservation Fund / Waterberg~ 180 km (2h)

Leaving the Maize Triangle you head south. Passing through Otavi you reach the D2433 just before Otjiwarongo, which takes you to the Cheetah Conservation Fund. The Cheetah Conservation Fund is an organization dedicated to Namibia's cheetah population. The visit will bring you close to these elegant predators and provides for beautiful photographic motives.

Continue via the D2440 pass Otjiwarongo to the scenic and historically interesting Waterberg. 

Day 15: Waterberg activities~ 0 km

In the morning you can take a fairly easy hike up to the Waterberg Plateau and enjoy the spectacular views. Alternatively, you can also book some of the activities offered by your accommodation, such as game drives onto the plateau!

In the evening it's time to enjoy the last sundowner in this beautiful landscape!

Day 16: Back to Windhoek – Farewell from Namibia ~ 295 km (3,5h)

Today is the last day of your journey. Time to say farewell to the Waterberg and Namibia. Depending on your flight schedule you can either spend some more time at the Waterberg or you can so some more souvenir shopping in Windhoek.

The journey to Windhoek takes around 3-4 hours. You return your vehicle to the car rental company in Windhoek, which will then transfer you to Hosea Kutako International Airport.

Good-bye Namibia !