From soaring red sand dunes to Atlantic Ocean, to bush camping, experience now the ultimate adventure in Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe on our journey with an unrivaled blend of individuality, lots of wonderful activities and places!
18 days, 17 nights
Min 8-Max 10
18+
Windhoek Airport/Victoria Falls
Get ready for an epic adventure spanning three African countries: Namibia, Botswana and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, offering the perfect mix of wildlife, stunning landscapes and cultural experiences!
Our Namibia Botswana Victoria Falls Ultimate Adventure trip has it all!
What sets our Windhoek to Victoria Falls Expedition apart:
Experience Namibia, the most scenic country on the African continent, on this immersive adventure tour climbing Sossusvlei’s soaring sand dunes, exploring beautiful mountain landscapes of Spitzkoppe, tracking endangered desert elephants in Damaraland, kayaking with seals in Walvis Bay, seeing ancient rock engravings at Twyfelfontein, meeting unique local tribes, social project visits, marveling at wildlife in Etosha plains and wetlands of the Caprivi Strip, and much more. Hop across the border to Chobe National Park, Botswana’s home to an astonishing diversity of wild animals in high concentrations, and experience nature to its fullest on a bush camping adventure. Finish off your dream trip of a lifetime with the spectacular sight of Victoria Falls, bordering Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Don’t miss out on this adventure of a lifetime and secure your spot now on our epic Namibia Botswana Victoria Falls ultimate adventure trip!
Join us – where every moment is as exceptional as the destination itself!
While here, check out our in-depth Botswana mobile camping adventure tour!
Welcome to Namibia!
Upon arrival at Windhoek International Airport, you will be picked up and brought to our accommodation in Windhoek. Following a quick city tour (time permitting) relax in the lush garden setting by the pool or enjoy a cocktail at the bar and get to know your fellow travelers before our Namibia adventure starts the next morning. Tonight’s accommodation is centrally located, within walking distance of the famous restaurants in town where we can try local food.
First things first: we’ll start the day with breakfast at the restaurant of Penduka Village, just a stone's throw away from the busy streets of Windhoek on the shores of a quiet reservoir.
Penduka is a social enterprise and training center for underprivileged women in Namibia (https://www.penduka.com/en/), an exemplary social commitment with a remarkable track record of providing training to hundreds of women. By having breakfast here, we will not only fill our stomachs but contribute to their livelihood too.
Following the breakfast & project visit, we’ll hit the road driving southwest through spectacular scenery to the famous giant sand dunes of the Namib Desert. Along the way, we will make photo stops and have a picnic lunch.
After setting up our camp at our campsite inside the Namib-Naukluft National Park, we climb the Elim Dunes for sunset and enjoy our campfire BBQ dinner under the dark night sky.
We’ll rise early today to watch the sunrise over the red dunes of the Namib Desert, a truly epic sight. We’ll hop in our vehicle while it's still dark and drive the 60 km through the sand dunes towards Sossusvlei public car park. From here it’s a short walk to the base of the Big Daddy, the highest dune in the park. The climb would take anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on your fitness level and determination, but the tough hike on soft sand is worth it all. We’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views and a sense of achievement. After admiring the 360-degree views, we’ll run off the side of the dune into the Deadvlei and explore the salt pan filled with dead camel thorn trees. If you don’t want to hike or want to have more time for photography in Deadvlei, you can take the 4x4 shuttle (own expense) into Deadvlei and back to the parking lot.
We’ll spend most of the day exploring the desert floor and sand dunes on foot as this is the best way and with a bit of luck we might spot wild animals like oryx. We’ll stop at Dune 45 and 40 on our way out of the national park and take our time to explore and photograph the beauty of the desert for as long as we need. We’ll have breakfast and lunch at appropriate spots in the park.
Our last stop will be Sesriem Canyon before we exit the park and continue to our next campsite, roughly 1 hour away, where we’ll enjoy the sunset and starry night in another stunning landscape at the base of the rugged mountain range. For those who are still fit to move, there will be the option of a short guided night walk to spot nocturnal desert creatures after dinner (optional activity bookable at the campsite reception).
Today after breakfast, we’ll make our way to the town of Walvis Bay driving through Solitaire and the Kuiseb pass. We'll make photo stops as we travel through impressive rock formations and seemingly lifeless gravel plains.
Once in Walvis Bay, there will be time to have lunch by the lagoon accompanied by flamingos before we embark on a special safari in search of the tiny inhabitants of the desert dunes. While the untrained eye can only see sand, our guide will spot unique creatures like the Dancing White Lady, the Desert Chameleon, the sand-diving Gecko, and many more. With an enriched perception of the desert, we'll head to our guesthouse to wash off our desert dust before going out for dinner at a great local restaurant.
This morning, we’ll board a catamaran to get to Pelican Point, rich in wildlife and home to one of the largest colonies of Cape Fur Seals in Namibia. We’ll be the first ones landing on the beach where our guides will be waiting to take us on a kayak tour amongst the curious seals. No previous kayaking experience is necessary, fun and up-close encounters with the seals are guaranteed; pelicans, dolphins, and other mammals can be spotted if lucky.
When we return to the beach following the thoroughly entertaining morning, we jump in our 4 x 4 vehicles and drive across the epic sand dunes of Sandwich Harbour, where ancient sand dunes meet the crashing Atlantic Ocean. We’ll spend an exciting, educational roller-coaster afternoon in this wild and dramatic location featuring otherworldly scenery with an endless view of sand and sky.
As part of this full-day combo excursion, we’ll have lunch on the beach or in the dunes. At the end of this fabulous day, we’ll have a short drive to Swakopmund, the adventure capital of Namibia, where we will spend the next two nights.
Today is a free day to spend at your own leisure. Have a well-deserved lie-in, or take part in some of the amazing optional activities, like skydiving, sandboarding, fat biking, paragliding, scenic flight, township tour, shopping, and much more. Swakopmund has also great cafes and restaurants, and sunset bars on the beach if you fancy. To optimize flexibility and time management, our accommodation in Swakopmund is centrally located within a couple of blocks from the beach and the best restaurants in town.
After a leisurely breakfast, we’ll head towards the Skeleton Coast and Cape Cross Seal Colony. We’ll stop by one of the famous Skeleton Coast shipwrecks on the way before reaching the largest breeding cape fur seal colony in the world.
We'll spend hilarious moments with the seals before we continue to the stunning and majestic Spitzkoppe, aka ‘The Matterhorn of Africa’ that highlights Namibia's uniqueness and diversity.
After setting up our camp in Spitzkoppe, we’ll scramble among the giant boulders, granite peaks, and rock formations in search of the best sunset spot (and night photography should we desire to capture the starry night). Spitzkoppe is truly a hiker's paradise where you can immerse yourself in the beauty and stillness of the desert.
This morning we’ll explore the brilliantly colored mountains that rise abruptly out of the desert plains on a guided hike along one of the official hiking routes in Spitzkoppe where the hike would take roughly 3-4 hours. We will then continue towards Damaraland, best known as being home to desert elephants with a backdrop of mountains, valleys, and amazing flora and fauna.
We’ll make a stop in the old mining town of Uis for lunch and pass Namibia’s highest mountain, the Brandberg on our way to visit a Himba village to learn about their culture and traditional practices.
Please note that in today's Africa, virtually all villages on the tourist routes are not real villages in the traditional sense. They are simply a “living museum” where the tribespeople demonstrates their ancient traditions to earn a living. MAHO On Earth makes a point to pick places that do not feel like mass production and are run by enthusiastic people eager to share their culture and traditions. We believe tribal visits play an important role in preserving heritages if done rightly.
Our campsite for the next two nights is a very special one on an elevated platform with unparalleled views of the Ugab valley, where free-roaming desert elephants may come and visit us.
Today we will be heading out on an educational drive to track the endangered desert elephants of Namibia in the wild. A super exciting day dictated by the movement of elephants.
Namibia’s desert elephants are one of only two populations worldwide that have adapted to live in a desert environment. Our guide will tell us all about these majestic creatures and how they survive in a such harsh environment, as well as the problems for humans living alongside them. Depending on the location of the animals, this activity may take an entire day, and if we are lucky we might spot other desert-adapted wildlife.
Please note that there are several places offering elephant tracking tours in Damaraland, however, we've handpicked this activity where all proceeds go directly to conservation projects and research aiming to reduce conflict between elephants and humans. Your contribution will make a difference to ensure that Namibia’s desert elephants live a long, happy, healthy life and help rural communities. In turn, you'll get a chance to discover the true meaning of engagement and respect for nature.
Our ultimate destination today is Etosha National Park, however, before we get there we'll hit two unmissable cultural sites along the way. We’ll first visit the ancient rock engravings at Twyfelfontein, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which has one of the largest concentrations of rock engravings in Africa. From there we’ll head to the Damara Living Museum where you will learn about the traditional Damara culture, one of the oldest tribes in Namibia.
We’ll stop for lunch at a local restaurant in the town of Outjo. From there we’ll head into Etosha National Park and safari our way to the campsite. Our camp has a floodlit waterhole where you can watch the animals as they come to drink.
Etosha is home to a great variety of species, which are generally easy to find as the animals congregate at different times around the waterholes. Wildebeest, zebras, impalas, springbucks, kudus, elephants, giraffes, lions, and even endangered rhinos are all common sights here. Bring plenty of camera memory and patience, and you will be rewarded with one of the greatest game spectacles in Southern Africa.
We’ll spend the next two days on full-day game drives, departing early in the morning, and proceeding through the Etosha National Park exploring the south side of the Etosha pan from Okaukuejo to Halali and Namutoni. We will be spending time at waterholes, and enjoying unexpected encounters with the paradise-like wildlife found here in the endless vistas. Today and tomorrow are all about game viewing.
Before sunset, we will move to our new campsite inside the national park, which has one of the best waterholes in Etosha. If you wish you can simply sit down and watch the animals come and go the whole night. African Bush TV at its best!
Again an early departure to catch the animals when they are most active. We'll proceed through the park in game drive mode observing the animals as they interact with each other. We will exit the park gate before sunset. Our last campsite in Namibia on this trip will be a luxury one in a private game reserve just outside the park gates. Here you will have the opportunity to get a real massage (own expense) following the “African massage” you’ve got in the vehicle for so many days.
This morning you can have a well-deserved lie-in or if you’ve still got the safari bug you can join a ranger for a guided sunrise bush walk in the private game reserve (own expense), or simply watch the animals come to the waterhole in front of the lounge/restaurant.
After breakfast, we’ll head northeast into the narrow part of Namibia known as Caprivi Strip between Angola, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe. We'll arrive in the afternoon at our lovely lodge on the banks of Okavango River, where we will enjoy the welcomingly lush setting before we embark on a sunset boat cruise along the Okavango River to spot hippos, crocs, buffalos among other wildlife.
Today is a free day to spend at your own leisure. Have a well-deserved lie-in, relax and unwind in the spectacular tranquility of the lush nature while enjoying a drink at the comfortable deck of our lodge, wander around, get refreshed in the natural pool, or take part in some of the amazing optional activities, such as, Khwe Living Museum, traditional village visits, fishing trips, or additional safaris in nearby Mahango and Buffalo National Parks. Rest assured that whatever you choose to do will be nothing short of amazing!
Today we will travel further east, making our way through the fertile Caprivi Strip before crossing into Botswana. After the border formalities, we will drive into Chobe National Park and enjoy game drive until late afternoon where we can see large concentration of animals grazing and drinking water. Then we arrive in our bush camp to freshen up and admire the sunset over the fields for a perfect end to the day, while our crew prepare a two-course bush dinner cooked on open fire.
We'll spend the night in our mobile bush camp in the true wilderness of the Chobe National Park listening to the sounds of the African bush.
We'll raise early today to a friendly Botswana "dumela" (good day) along with a quick cup of tea or coffee and a light continental breakfast before setting off on an early morning game drive in search of the big cats, or possibly the endangered wild dogs as they are the most active at this time. Around mid to late morning, we will return to camp for a delicious “bush brunch” and have the opportunity to take a refreshing shower and a siesta.
In the afternoon, as the day starts to cool off, we go on a sundowner game drive. All game drives take place in 4x4 safari vehicle with local Botswanan guides with excellent knowledge of the area. Stunning sunsets and outstanding game viewing await you in Botswana's Chobe National Park. It's not uncommon to find herds of elephants, buffaloes and zebras numbering several thousand individuals! With a high prey density comes great predator populations.
We return to camp after sunset for a reflective fireside chat, bush dinner and as always accompanied by the unforgettable sounds of the African night.
Following another "dumela" dawn wake-up call and breakfast, we go on an early morning game drive in search of more exciting wildlife in action. We head back to our bush camp to pack and freshen up before we exit the park in game drive mode. But before leaving Botswana, we still have an absolute must-do activity on agenda, namely a boat cruise on Chobe River! Chobe riverfront is incredibly scenic and is home to many large lion prides who take advantage of the great abundance of prey. So, while we enjoy our lunch on boat, we may get a front row seat to the hungry lions' play.
Once we arrive back from the boat at around 2pm, we proceed to Victoria Falls town in Zimbabwe. Our accommodation tonight is within walking distance from the Victoria Falls National Park, one of the most beautiful natural wonders in the world. Time and fitness permitting, we might choose to go for a sunset walk to view the falls or get ready for a traditional boma dinner to celebrate our incredible African adventure (own expense).
With our hearts full of the impressions of the past weeks, today after breakfast, we bid farewell to those who can't extend their stay in Victoria Falls, the adventure capital of Africa. If you can, however, we recommend you stay a couple of nights longer to truly enjoy the activities on offer ranging from scenic flights to swimming under the waterfalls. Depending on your flight schedule, you might be able to squeeze in a quick zipline activity this morning perhaps? Or simply browse the local markets for last minute souvenir shopping.
Airport transfers can be arranged upon request.
Trip Destinations: Windhoek (1), Sesriem (2), Walvis Bay (1), Swakopmund (2), Spitzkoppe (1), Damaraland (2), Etosha (3), Divundu (2), Chobe (2), Victoria Falls (1)
The accommodation on this tour is a combination of camping adventure (10 nights) and good quality, lovely establishments (7 nights) specially chosen for their location, uniqueness, value for money, or excellent activities.
All rooms and tents on this trip are shared with two people in each room/tent. You'll have the option of a double bed or two single beds. Rooms vary slightly by layout and view and will be assigned based on booking order.
Solo travelers will be paired up with another participant. If you explicitly wish to have your own room/tent, or if we cannot find another participant to share that room/tent, there will be an extra surcharge as stated in the booking form.
Camping is indispensable to Namibia like pizza is to Italy. We will be staying inside the national parks not to waste time traveling between places so that we can maximize the experience; though camping in the parks is usually more expensive than a ‘lodge’ outside the park boundaries. You should not miss the experience of falling asleep under the African starry sky, hearing the hyenas or lions roaring in the distance, and being woken up in the morning by the unique African sunrise. However, to ensure that comfort is not neglected, accommodation with proper beds is planned whenever feasible, so we will have the best of both worlds.
All camping gear will be provided by our local partners. However, MAHO On Earth recommends you bring your own sleeping bag for the sake of comfort and hygiene. We will provide you with a packing list as part of your pre-departure information pack.
On camping days in Namibia, your active participation in setting up and breaking down the tent is required. Don't worry though, the tents are easy to set up, and even if you're new to camping, you'll master the task very quickly. In Namibia, we will usually have access to a swimming pool and a bar, as well as a small shop with drinks and snacks at the campsites, with the exception of Damaraland and Spitzkoppe campsites.
When camping in Botswana, the tents and camp will be set up by the crew, so you can relax and enjoy your holiday. The bush camping is a truly authentic experience in exclusive wilderness areas with no other campers, no power and limited facilities (rustic open air bucket showers and long drop-style toilets).
Please note that this is Africa and one cannot expect the western standards in the places visited. Especially with respect to service, expect a lovely “laid back, unhurried” environment.
17 Breakfasts, 11 Lunches and 12 Dinners are included in the tour price as outlined in the itinerary.
On camping days, most meals will be prepared by our guide/cook. You will be surprised by what delicious food our guide can prepare over the campfire, including BBQ, stews, and pasta dishes. Lunches will generally be in the form of picnics/sandwiches, consisting of cold meat, cheese, fruits, and salads.
To even out the meals, whenever suitable, we exclude lunch and/or dinner to give you the freedom of choice and diversify the options. Our guides will be happy to recommend good restaurants on the days when lunch or/and dinner are not included.
Vegetarians can be catered for if you inform us upon booking, however, note that the options are extremely limited in Namibia. For other dietary requirements (vegan, gluten-free, allergies, etc.), please contact us to discuss the best course of action for you.
During the trip in Namibia we will use a 4x4 tour vehicle with a pop-up roof and climate control with a maximum capacity of 10 passengers. In Botswana, we’ll use 4×4 safari vehicles. Transfer to Victoria Falls will be in a van.
For the countries visited on this trip, your passport must be valid for a minimum period of six months beyond the planned date of entry. Additionally, when entering Namibia and Botswana there must be at least three blank pages in the passport, meaning a total of 4 blank pages at a minimum.
Holders of ordinary passports issued by most EU and Commonwealth nationalities can enter Namibia and Botswana without a visa for a maximum stay of 90 days. Citizens of 42+ countries can obtain a visa on arrival (e.g. Mexico, Turkey) for a fee (currently ca. US$ 70). Some nationals must apply for a visa in advance (e.g. China). Please consult the respective Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy/Consulate in your country of origin/residency.
Zimbabwe grants a 30-day visa on arrival for most EU and Commonwealth nationalities for a fee of US$ 30 single entry, or US$ 45 for double entry. The fee is higher for passport holders of UK, Ireland, Canada and China ranging from US$ 55 to US$ 90.
You must ensure that passports and visas are valid for the countries visited. If your passport is in its final year, you should check with the Embassy of the country you are visiting.
Disclaimer: The following information is intended as a guide only and is not intended to replace professional advice. We, at MAHO on Earth, cannot guarantee that the following information is complete, up-to-date, accurate, or error-free.
As of the publishing date, there are no mandatory vaccinations to enter Namibia, Botswana, or Zimbabwe if entering directly from EU. However, since the information may change quickly, we advise you to follow up on the latest travel updates and/or contact your local embassy. If you are entering the country from a yellow-fewer region, you may need to present proof of yellow-fewer vaccination. Please consult with your local authorities.
Most places visited on this trip within Namibia pose a very low risk of Malaria (first 12 days). In Caprivi Strip, Chobe and Victoria Falls, where water is abundant, the risk is higher. We do highly recommend that you obtain professional travel health advice at your doctor or an institute of tropical medicine with respect to your individual needs and your intended travel, including advice on vaccinations, anti-malarial and other medications based on your past vaccination history, your present medical condition, and your intended itinerary.
To join this trip, you'll need to have a reasonable level of fitness. While not too strenuous, the tour involves somewhat long journeys on gravel roads (this is Africa), a fair amount of walking, early-morning wake-up calls, being in the sun in potentially hot temperatures, cold desert nights, and other similar scenarios.
This trip may not be suitable for people with special needs such as reduced mobility due to local conditions and activities. If in doubt, please contact us.
Please do not send sensitive information (such as health, accident or other highly personal information) through our contact form. You may want to get in touch with us directly via phone instead.
We do strongly recommend you take out travel insurance as soon as you make your deposit to ensure the most coverage. Your travel insurance policy should at least cover medical expenses, trip cancellations, activities you intend to do, and repatriation in the event of an accident or illness. We will reach out and collect your travel insurance and emergency contact details shortly before the departure date. Your trip price with us does not include any travel insurance. Travel insurance policies are generally speaking more economical when taken out locally in your country of origin.
While your trip with us cover most of the expenses, things such as alcoholic beverages, souvenirs, snacks, laundry, visa fee, meals not included are examples of a few additional costs that might arise during your trip. Any optional activity is mentioned clearly so that you don't have to worry about hidden costs.
The countries visited on this trip accept the USD or EUR for tourism. While credit cards are accepted, there is usually an additional fee. ATMs are scarce outside of bigger towns. We recommend carrying some cash and budgeting around $20 – $50 USD per day for incidental expenses and tips.
Please note: Our tour price does not include tips/gratuities for the local guides, as tipping is discretionary and should be based on your satisfaction with the service provided. It is however customary to express your appreciation for a job well done, and guidelines will be given on tipping local guides.
Further details and recommendations on what to pack will be provided prior to departure.
We care about getting to know our fellow travelers, hence we keep our groups small and intimate. Our tours usually run with 12 or fewer participants and require a minimum of 8 participants to take place. It will be an international group and the main language will be English. We also speak German and Turkish.
People from all walks of life and nationalities, singles, couples, friends, and families with a sense of adventure, an open mind, and an open heart can join our tours. We consider each trip as an opportunity to cultivate our travel persona with humility, curiosity, and respect, what we call a "Mindful Adventure".
Designing a trip is engineering work, and this is not a cookie-cutter tour. Maho and Tom, founders and owners of MAHO on Earth, curated this immersive itinerary to make the best use of your hard-earned bucks and vacation days with lots of wonderful handpicked activities and locations included!
We want you to have the most rewarding experience possible. We take care of all the hassle of planning, and you can enjoy your vacation with peace of mind, not least because we support social projects and NGOs, and partner with the best local enterprises.
Join us on this Mindful Adventure, Highlands to Oceans in Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe!
To reserve your spot, please use our booking form.
Please note, the minimum age to participate in this tour is 18.
Should you need any support with your pre or post-tour travel arrangements, we are here to help.
Have we missed anything?
Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or if you’re ready to make your Africa dream a reality.
Can’t make this one? Then, simply sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know when registration opens on future trips.
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Min - Max (Persons) | Adult Price |
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1 - 8 | €5.215,00 |