This affordable Cape Town to Victoria Falls Safari offers three unforgettable weeks of family-friendly exploration, excitement and discovery in beautiful Southern Africa. Travel from picturesque Cape Town to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, via Namibia and Botswana on this camping overland tour.
Journey through a diversity of stunning landscapes - striking Namib desert, watery Okavango Delta, remote Damaraland plains and the unspoilt African wilderness to mention a few. See the wildlife of Africa roaming free, in the famous Etosha and Chobe national parks, home to an abundance of animals and birds. Experience rich cultures, meet the local people, and enjoy extraordinary activities of your choice in the adventure capitals of Swakopmund and Victoria Falls.
During this trip, you are likely to come across activities that encourage tourists to participate in lion, elephant or other wildlife interaction. This includes walking with lions, riding elephants and any other tourist operation putting travellers in close contact with animals that would normally live wild and separate from human contact.
We absolutely do not encourage or endorse this type of wildlife interaction operation. For more information on why this is not good for Africa's wild animals, please see our detailed blog post on the subject.
Welcome to the stunning city of Cape Town! At the start of this South Africa, Namibia & Botswana Family Safari, you are collected from the Cape Town International Airport and transferred to your lodge close to the vibrant city centre.
At 17h00 there is a pre-departure meeting with your guide and fellow travellers at the lodge. Before and after the tour meeting you are free to explore Cape Town. This beautiful South African city has a multitude of excellent restaurants, bars, galleries, coffee shops and attractions. The cable car ride up Table Mountain is a must-do activity, offering panoramic views over the city and Atlantic coast.
The first full day of this epic 22-day Cape Town to Victoria Falls safari is dedicated to exploring the attractions of the Mother City and includes a tour of Cape Point with its pristine beaches and spectacular views, unique flora and fauna, which is home to abundant species of wildlife like bontebok, cape mountain zebra, dassies, and baboons. These primates are famous for loitering around the area and are not shy of humans, so you are most likely to see baboons. Fall in love with the natural beauty of Cape Town with its spectacular fynbos, exquisite beaches, and picturesque mountains, and see why Cape Town is consistently voted as one of the top destinations in the world to visit. After a wonderful day exploring exquisite Cape Town, enjoy a good night's rest at your lodge, ready to continue your Cape Town to Victoria Falls safari tomorrow.
Today you leave Cape Town for the Cedarberg area heading around Table Bay and making your way North through the Overberg. This region is known as the ‘bread basket of South Africa’ because of its abundant wheat fields and fruit-growing areas. As you cross the Piekernierskloof Pass, look out for the rich fruit-growing farms along the Olifants (elephants) River, so named for the vast herds of elephants that roamed her in the past. This area is also known for its wine farms and tonight you will camp beneath the African stars at a campsite that has a stunning view of these surrounding farms, a perfect way to begin your family overland safari adventure.
Today our Cape Town to Victoria Falls via Namibia & Botswana Safari continues travelling north into the semi-arid North Western Cape, entering the Namaqualand area. In spring the heathlands transform into a blanket of multi-coloured indigenous Namaqualand wildflowers. We stop for supplies in the tiny town of Springbok and drive on into the more arid Richtersveld area of the remote Northern Cape Province.
Tonight we camp along the former Orange River, now Gariep River, in a secluded natural spot. Here the blanket of stars shines brightly again.
Rise with the birds and set off down the Orange River in a canoe (optional extra), paddling along with the current. Look out for birds and animals along the rugged banks of the river as we enjoy our laid-back canoeing trip.
In the afternoon, after lunch, we cross into Namibia and drive to the nearby Fish River Canyon. One of the largest canyons in the world, we drive along the edge and stop to take photos and admire the breathtaking views of this dramatic landscape.
On day six of our camping overland tour we get an early start, driving north into the Namib Desert, Namibia's most iconic destination. We make our way to Sesriem near the Namib-Naukluft National Park, where the best-known landmarks of the Namib Desert are located. From Sesriem, we will explore the ancient desert to experience the majesty and solitude of this stark environment.
Arriving at our camp in Sesriem we settle in and have time to explore this arid area on foot. At the end of the day, we witness the changing colours of the desert as the sun sets and at night we are treated to spectacular stargazing.
Today we get up before sunrise, heading into the Namib-Naukluft National Park in time to climb Dune 45 and watch the sunrise. Seeing the desert at sunrise is an amazing sight as the red-orange sands light up and the shadows shift across the dunes.
Driving closer to Sossusvlei we take the shuttle and then walk the final stretch to the salt pan. The much-photographed Sossusvlei Dunes are amongst the tallest in the world, rising up to 300 m tall. We walk on the dry, white clay of the salt pan amid the blackened, dead acacia trees, capturing this striking and surreal setting encircled with ochre dunes on camera.
After exploring the Namib Desert we return to camp to enjoy the magical blanket of stars.
This morning we cross the gravel plains and the Tropic of Capricorn en route to Walvis Bay on the Atlantic Ocean coastline. Then we continue to Swakopmund, Namibia's most popular beach destination. Your guide will brief you on the exciting activities available in Swakopmund when we arrive. During the day there is plenty to do and at night you can eat out and have some fun out on the town.
The next two nights of our South Africa, Namibia & Botswana Family Safari are spent in dormitory accommodation, with the option of upgrading to a private room (subject to availability).
Day nine is a time for adventure and fun in the charming town of Swakopmund.
For families with kids, there are dolphin cruises, the aquarium, lovely beaches, and other highlights of the quaint town. For families with youngsters, there is horse riding, quad biking, sand boarding and sea kayaking along with arts and crafts markets. For the grown-ups sky diving, paragliding and scenic flights offer an adrenalin rush and art galleries, historical tours and side-walk cafes offer more cultural options. Walking around Swakopmund you will see old colonial German buildings mixed into this European-influenced African town.
Some passengers wrap up their family safari in Swakopmund, while new clients often join us here.
Today we leave Swakopmund and drive northeast to Spitzkoppe, one of the most recognizable geological features of Namibia. We cross the eerie plains of Damaraland to the massive granite outcrop of Spitzkoppe, standing 1728 m above the open plains. At Spitzkoppe we visit San rock art paintings on foot and look out over the dramatic landscape.
From Spitzkoppe we travel further into the Kunene Region to Brandberg Mountain, Namibia's tallest peak.
On day 11 of this Cape Town to Victoria Falls Safari we drive to a private game farm near Etosha National Park. We camp at the guest house set in the game area, hosting antelopes, wildebeest, zebra, ostriches, and other birds.
Today we embark on game drives in Etosha National Park, Namibia's top safari destination.
Covering 20,000 km² of arid bushveld and the barren Etosha Pan, Etosha Park offers superb game viewing in a dramatic wild setting. The national park hosts an abundance of wildlife, birds, reptiles, and other creatures, including large elephant herds, rhinos, and striking gemsbok antelopes. We explore the southern section of Etosha, taking a break during lunch and continuing our game viewing in the cooler afternoon hours.
Tonight we stay at the camp near Etosha again, enjoying a drink on the deck or in the quirky bar and a dip in the pool.
We venture back into Etosha National Park, for a full day of game viewing.
Our drive takes us to active waterholes as we make our way to Namutoni Camp on the fringes of the vast Etosha Pan. The salt pan stands dry most of the time, coming alive after the rains when short grasses sprout and blue-green algae grow in the shallow pools of water. Sightings include elephants, lions, zebras, rhinos, jackals, wildebeest, giraffes, kudus and other antelopes.
After dinner, you can watch wildlife at the camp's floodlit waterhole, a highlight of Etosha.
On day 14 of our overland camping tour we will have breakfast and exit Etosha National Park, enjoying game viewing on our way out. Our next overnight stop is in Windhoek, the capital city of Namibia.
Located on the central plateau of the Khomas Highlands in the middle of the country, this small city features interesting historical attractions and an old colonial charm. Spend the afternoon exploring on foot, visiting highlights and museums, shopping, and browsing at the markets.
Today we drive east through the semi-arid Kalahari Desert, crossing from Namibia into Botswana. We overnight in the remote, small town of Ghanzi, sometimes called the capital of the Kalahari.
In Ghanzi you can enjoy optional cultural activities that allow you to gain insight into the local San (bushmen) and their age-old survival strategies.
Your South Africa, Namibia & Botswana Family Safari leaves Ghanzi today and continues to the fairly modern town of Maun. Located on the outskirts of the world-famous Okavango Delta, Maun is seen as the tourism capital of Botswana and is the perfect base from which to explore the delta. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Okavango Delta is a destination like no other with a biologically diverse ecosystem that protects and supports a rich variety of flora, wildlife, and birds unique to Southern Africa. Situated in a basin that is surrounded by the Kalahari Desert, every year rains from Angola’s highlands, flow through Namibia and into Botswana, where it floods into the desert, creating the natural wonder that is the Okavango Delta, one of the largest inland deltas in the world.
This nature lover’s paradise is best explored on foot or by the traditional mode of transport called a ‘mokoro’, which is a traditional dug-out canoe steered by a long pole along the myriad of waterways. Once you’ve settled into your accommodation, your tour leader will brief you on what is needed and what to expect on your mokoro safari day trip exploring the delta tomorrow.
Today you get to experience one of the top highlights of your Botswana Family Safari - exploring the Okavango Delta on a mokoro safari. With your supplies packed, you meet your local guide at the Mokoro station, who will expertly steer this traditional dug-out canoe through the reeds with a long pole along the waterways. These waterways are dotted with fishing villages where people still live very traditionally, giving you a glimpse into the lives of the local people. Some of these villages are so remote that they can only be reached by this traditional mode of transport.
The quietness and slowness of the mokoro make for an unforgettable relaxing and tranquil river safari experience taking in the breathtaking scenery, discovering channels and lagoons and spotting wildlife you wouldn’t normally see from a game drive vehicle or on foot. After your mokoro safari experience on the waterways and transfer back, you have the option of experiencing a birdseye view of the Delta with an optional scenic flight (dependent on weather conditions), thereby completing your picture of this unique ecosystem.
We leave Maun today and drive through the largely uninhabited rural countryside to our next camp, located on a private wildlife concession near Nata, in northeastern Botswana. At camp, you can sit back with a drink and watch for elephants and other wildlife at the waterhole, or you can embark on an optional game drive or guided walk on the conservancy. Your guide will tell you more about the optional game drive and bushwalk on the road.
Today we are off to Kasane and travelling to the far north-eastern corner of Botswana, where four countries (Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Botswana) meet. Settle in at your camp beside the Chobe River, before enjoying a Chobe River cruise looking out for the numerous wildlife such as hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffalo, and antelope like kudu, waterbuck, and impala who come to drink at the river. Later, unwind at the camp and enjoy another breathtaking African sunset by the Chobe River where you can relax and do some bird watching.
Wake up with the birds to find yourself immersed in mother nature, before setting off on an exhilarating game drive in Chobe Park. After spotting some more of Africa's amazing creatures we pack up camp and return to Kasane. Here we transfer from a 4x4 safari vehicle to a safari truck and head northeast into the landlocked country of Zimbabwe located between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers in the part of Africa.
Our destination for the next two days is the bustling town of Victoria Falls which is named after the mighty and magnificent Victoria Falls where your guide will brief you on the wide selection of activities available at Vic Falls. Enjoy these two days participating in the wide variety of optional activities, or relax at your accommodation. Centrally located in the town within walking distance of the adventure booking agents, restaurants, and shops for your convenience, your accommodation is also a short walk from the entrance to view the Falls.
Victoria Falls is one of the largest waterfalls in the world and the largest waterfall in Africa. Located on the Zambezi River in southern Africa, it serves as a natural border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Considered one of the seven natural wonders on Earth, it boats the largest sheet of falling water in the world and is known as Mosi-oa-Tunya (the Smoke that Thunders) It was named Victoria Falls by the explorer, David Livingstone on his expedition here.
Enjoy breakfast on the last day of your Cape Town to Victoria Falls via Namibia & Botswana Safari with enough time to say goodbye to your travel companions before heading home or to your next destination.
We recommend booking a few extra days in Victoria Falls, to allow time for more activities after the safari. Optional activities include bungee jumping, white water rafting, scenic flights, trips to Livingstone Island, and many more.
This family overland tour departs from Cape Town, travelling north through South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana, before ending at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. We recommend that you arrive a few days early to explore Cape Town and spend some extra time at Victoria Falls after the safari. Accommodation can be booked through African Budget Safaris.
This itinerary is a guide that is subject to change, dependent on local conditions. All prices are subject to change and tourism laws in some countries require truck and crew changes.
For up-to-date and confirmed pricing info for optional items, please drop us an enquiry.
This tour does take children.
Please contact African Budget Safaris for further information.
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