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Chobe sunset by Joachim Huber

Deserts, Rivers & African Wildlife Safari due South

Tour Length14 days
Priced from pps $3688 R69918 £2898 3392 A$5624 C$4992 NZ$6064 Full pricing info
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Summary of this African Safaris for Senior

  • Max. Group Size 16 Travellers
  • Departs from Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
  • Ends at Windhoek, Namibia
  • Accommodation Bungalow or Chalet / Lodge / Safari Lodge / Hotel
  • Transport Overland Vehicle
  • Wildlife Elephant, Exceptional Birding, Leopards, Lions, Rhino & More
  •  See Departure Dates

Quick Itinerary Overview

Start with Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, then explore scenic deserts, rivers and wildlife reserves in Botswana and Namibia, staying at 3 to 4-star lodges en route.

Highlights on this affordable Southern African Wildlife Safari include:

  • Victoria Falls waterfall & optional activities in Zimbabwe
  • Game viewing sunset boat cruise along Chobe River in Botswana
  • Okavango & Kwando Rivers in the Caprivi Strip region of Namibia
  • Mokoro rides and guided bushwalks in the Okavango Delta
  • Game viewing drives in wildlife-rich Etosha National Park 
  • Sossusvlei Dunes, Deadvlei and Sesriem Canyon in the ancient Namib Desert
  • Coastal Swakopmund optional activities and Windhoek city

This laid-back and beautiful Deserts, Rivers & Wildlife Safari is a Budget Senior Tour designed for budget-conscious travellers over the age of forty.

Responsible Travel Note

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.

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Itinerary for this Tour

DAY 1: Victoria Falls – Zimbabwe

This southbound Deserts, Rivers & African Wildlife Safari begins at Victoria Falls - one of the most famous natural wonders in Africa. We start off with a group meeting at 15h00 so that your guide can tell you more about the journey ahead.

Before and after the pre-safari meeting at the lodge you have time to explore and jump into adventure activities. The following morning is also free for you to do as you please - explore the historic town of Victoria Falls and take on exciting outdoor activities.

Visiting the mighty Vic Falls waterfall is an unforgettable experience, an absolute must. This is the largest waterfall in the world - a thundering mass of water plummeting 108 meters into the Batoka Gorge. Standing before Victoria Falls you will see why it is known as Mosi-oa-Tunya, which means 'The Smoke that Thunders'.

There are numerous adventure activities to choose from, including hair-raising options such as bungee jumping off the Victoria Falls Bridge, white water rafting down the Zambezi River and flying over Victoria Falls in a helicopter, micro-light or fixed-wing plane. Other options include visiting the local market and historical attractions, taking a tram ride, and canoeing on the river.

  • Overnight at a comfortable hotel in Victoria Falls (or a similar lodge)

DAY 2 & 3: Chobe National Park – Botswana

On day two of our Budget Senior Tour, we cross into Botswana, heading to Kasane and our safari lodge along the Chobe River.

On the morning of day three, we embark on a game drive inside Chobe National Park, one of Africa's most renowned game parks. Chobe Park is best known for its large population of elephants and also hosts high concentrations of other mammals, including predators such as lions and hyenas.

In the afternoon we take a sunset boat cruise on the Chobe River - an ideal way to spot wildlife and birds up close. Moving slowly along the river also gives us time to admire the scenery and catch a spectacular sunset.

  • Overnight at a safari lodge near Chobe (or similar accommodation)
  • Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner (x2)

DAY 4 & 5: Okavango Delta - Botswana

Today we drive up to the border with Namibia, traveling through Chobe National Park, before crossing into the fertile Caprivi Strip region of this otherwise arid country.

Then we continue east along the Caprivi Strip and cross back into Botswana, making our way to the edge of the Okavango Delta. Settle in and enjoy the setting of our safari lodge on the fringes of the delta.

We spend the following day exploring the watery delta of Botswana, one of the wildest natural areas in Southern Africa. In the morning we take a motorboat ride deeper into the delta and then explore further on foot and by mokoro. Our guided walks (subject to water levels) on the smaller islands of the delta are ideal for zooming in on the small creatures and plants of the intricate delta ecosystem. We may also come across large animals but the focus of the walks is on the small miracles of the bush. Mokoro rides are done in the traditional dug-out canoes used by locals to get around the delta. A local guide poles your mokoro along the quiet waterways of the Nxamasire area while you sit back and enjoy the scenery.

Spending time in the Okavango Delta is a magical experience - the highlight of many a Botswana trip!

  • Stay in chalets with en-suite facilities (or similar)
  • Meals included: Day 4: Breakfast & Dinner; Day 5: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6: Okavango River - Namibia

On day six, we transfer to the boat station where we reunite with our vehicle. Heading back over the border into Namibia we continue along the Caprivi Strip to our safari lodge.

This comfortable lodge looks out over the river and neighboring Angola. You can take a boat cruise this afternoon (own account) enjoying the lush surroundings and keeping an eye out for small animals and birds.

  • Overnight at a safari lodge in the Caprivi Strip (or similar)
  • Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner

DAY 7 & 8: Etosha National Park – Namibia

Next up, is the famous Etosha National Park of Namibia, one of Africa's top wildlife safari destinations.

Entering the striking and harsh habitat of Etosha Park the game-viewing adventure begins. This game park is home to numerous wildlife species, including the most famous large mammals - lion, elephant, leopard, wildebeest, giraffe, cheetah, and rhino, as well as the striking oryx (gemsbok) and various other antelopes. After our afternoon game drive in the eastern section of Etosha, we exit the park and head to our overnight safari lodge nearby.

On day eight we embark on a morning game drive that takes us westwards through Etosha Park. Exiting the park we check in at our safari lodge just outside of Etosha and break for lunch. Later this afternoon we return to the wilderness of Etosha in 4x4 safari vehicles for an action-packed game drive. On our game drives in Etosha, we stop at waterholes to watch the animals and birds that gather at the water to bathe and drink.

  • Overnight at safari lodges near Etosha National Park (or similar)
  • Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner (x2)

DAY 9: Damaraland – Namibia

One more spin in the wild world of Etosha, eyes open for animals and birds, as we leave the park. From the big game territory of Etosha Park with its shimmering saltpan, we drive into the rugged and remote wilderness of Damaraland. This arid region has an eerie beauty to it - with its barren, rocky landscapes largely free of human development.

The next lodge on our African Wildlife Safari is perched on the ridge of a hill overlooking the open plains, rocky koppies and ancient riverbeds. Spend the afternoon soaking up the stillness of this stunning setting and splashing in the natural-stone swimming pools at the safari lodge, or explore the barren surrounds on foot, before settling down for some incredible stargazing.

  • Overnight at a lodge in Damaraland
  • Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner

DAY 10: Swakopmund – Namibia

On day 10 of our Budget Senior Tour, we make our way to the west coast of Africa, traveling across the open gravel and dry grassland plains of Damaraland to meet the icy Atlantic Ocean. Tracing the dramatic coastline south, we arrive in the town of Swakopmund - the top seaside holiday spot in Namibia.

There are no planned activities in the afternoon or the following morning in Swakopmund, allowing you to do what you like. The town offers activities suitable for families, cultural buffs and adventure-seekers. Walking in the town you can see old European architectural styles in the churches, monuments, colonial-era buildings, and other traces of this African town's colonial German-influenced history. Stroll along the sandy beach or on the jetty, brave a dip in the cold waters, visit the aquarium or museum and sit at a sidewalk cafe.

You can go sea kayaking, take a dolphin cruise or go fishing. More adventure-based activities (own account) include sandboarding and quad biking on the dunes near Swakopmund, skydiving and hot air ballooning, and scenic flights over the desert and ocean terrain of this stunning area.

  • Overnight at a guesthouse/ hotel in Swakopmund
  • Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 11 & 12: Sossusvlei & Sesriem – Namibia

Spend the morning of day 11 exploring Swakopmund and enjoying optional adventure activities. At lunchtime, we leave Swakopmund behind and travel further south.

Next, our African Wildlife Safari takes us inland into the ancient Namib Desert where dune fields stretch out as far as the eye can see. We cross open gravel plains driving into the famous red-orange dunes of Namibia. Our next safari lodge sits on the outskirts of the desert - surrounded by sandy scrub-covered hills and flats of the semi-arid desert terrain.

On day 12 we wake early and head into the Namib Desert to visit Sossusvlei. Driving into Namib-Naukluft National Park as day breaks we watch the dunes light up in glowing warm colors. We see some of the world's highest dunes in the Sossusvlei Dunes area, walking 5km through the desert to reach the actual pans of Sossusvlei and Deadvlei.

The stark pans consist of pale-colored, clay ground dotted with dead trees, fringed with low shrub and acacia vegetation, and encircled orange to red sand dunes. Photographic opportunities are superb in this natural setting of contrasts -where cracked clay earth, blue skies, ochre dunes and silhouetted tree skeletons meet.

This afternoon we walk through the narrow Sesriem Canyon to see the effects of ages of erosion in the sedimentary layers of rock exposed in the gorge.

  • Overnight at a desert camp (or similar)
  • Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner (x2)

DAY 13: Windhoek – Namibia

After breakfast, we head out of the vast Namib Desert traveling over mountains and onto the central plateau where Windhoek lies.

We spend the last night of our African Wildlife Safari at a comfortable lodge in the capital of Namibia, where you can enjoy the local nightlife and cuisine.

  • Overnight at a lodge in Windhoek
  • Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 14: Windhoek – Namibia

This morning you are free to walk around the city of Windhoek, visit the attractions, and see the sights. Later you are transferred to the airport where this fabulous, yet affordable Budget Senior Tour comes to an end.

  • Meals included: Breakfast

Please Note:

  • This African Wildlife Safari also runs in the reverse order from Windhoek to Victoria Falls (following the same itinerary in the opposite direction), for the same price but traveling on different dates. See - Deserts, Rivers & African Wildlife Safari North

Transfers:

Arrival & departure transfers in Windhoek & Victoria Falls are included. Pre-tour and post-tour accommodation can be pre-booked for Victoria Falls and Windhoek through African Budget Safaris.

Tour Details:

This Budget Senior Tour makes use of very comfortable 3-4 star lodge accommodation with private en-suite facilities. The lodges are selected for their scenic locations and personalized service. The safari is conducted by a knowledgeable and experienced guide, traveling in a group of at most 16 clients.

Optional Extras and Excursions

For up-to-date and confirmed pricing info for optional items, please drop us an enquiry.

  • Sunset boat cruise on the Okavango River
  • Swakopmund activities
  • Victoria Falls adventure activities

Child Policy

This tour does not take children.

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+Where does the tour go to?
+Optional Activities & Day Trips
For confirmed pricing on these optional items, please drop us an enquiry
  • Sunset boat cruise on the Okavango River
  • Swakopmund activities
  • Victoria Falls adventure activities
+Included in the Tour Price
  • 13 Nights of en-suite accommodation at 3 to 4 star hotels, lodges & chalets 
  • Meals as per the itinerary
  • Entrance fees and activities as per itinerary 
  • Arrival & Departure Airport Transfers
+Not Included in the Tour Price
  • International flights, visas & airport taxes
  • Drinks & mineral water
  • Gratuities and personal items
  • Optional excursions
+Departure Dates

This safari requires a minimum of 4 people to guarantee departures.

Scheduled Tour Departures
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If you do not see departures listed for your dates, please do contact us for further info.

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1. Etosha National Park, Namibia

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