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Victoria Falls Zimbabwe

20 Day Victoria Falls to Cape Town Overland Tour (Camping…

Tour Length20 days
Priced from pps $2768 R52400 £2194 2559 A$4242 C$3760 NZ$4619 Full pricing info
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Summary of this Camping Overland Tour

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  • Max. Group Size 20 Travellers
  • Departs from Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
  • Ends at Cape Town, South Africa
  • Accommodation Lodge & Camping Combo
  • Transport Large Overland Vehicle / Game Viewing Vehicle
  • Wildlife Big 5, Elephant, Leopards, Lions, Rhino & More
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Quick Itinerary Overview

A comprehensive Southern African Budget Safari travelling from Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls to Cape Town in South Africa.

Highlights on this affordable Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa Camping Tour include:

  • Optional Victoria Falls visit and adventure activities, Zimbabwe
  • Sunset boat cruise on the Chobe River
  • Moremi National Park game drive in the Okavango Delta, Botswana
  • Okavango Delta mokoro day trip and bush walk, Botswana
  • Drive Nata Pan of the Makgadigadi salt pans, Botswana
  • Etosha National Park game viewing, Namibia
  • Petrified Forest, Ancient Rock Art of Twyfelfontein, Namibia
  • Cape Cross Seal Colony & Swakopmund optional activities, Namibia
  • The Namib Desert, Sesriem Canyon, Fish River Canyon & Orange River, Namibia
  • Northern Cape, Cederberg, Cape Winelands & Cape Town, South Africa

A scenic, cultural and wildlife adventure through Southern Africa's diverse landscapes from rugged plains, towering mountains and desert dunes to the watery delta, deep canyons, game-rich national parks and mighty Vic Falls waterfall.

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

Our Victoria Falls to Cape Town Safari starts at the spectacular Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. One of Africa's most famous natural wonders and a World Heritage Site, Victoria Falls is must-see. Here the great Zambezi River tumbles over 350 feet over a ledge over 5000 feet wide, creating the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls the largest sheet of falling water in the world. Known by locals as Mosi-oa-Tunya, or 'The Smoke that Thunders', the river sends a spray of mist kilometers up into the air creating a natural rainforest around it.

Today is set aside to visit Victoria Falls, walking to viewpoints to admire the mighty waterfall and take photos. You can also explore the town of Victoria Falls, take high tea at the Victoria Falls Hotel, and dine out at one of the many restaurants. Victoria Falls also has a host of optional adventure activities on offer - from bungee jumping to white river rafting and gorge swinging. In the dry season when the waters are low you can take a swim in Devil’s Pool on the edge of the falls. Book a couple of days at Victoria Falls before our overland tour begins if you'd like to do more of these.

Tonight, we stay in pre-erected dome tents at a campsite next to the Zambezi National Park in Zimbabwe.

  • Optional Activities: Victoria Falls visit, bungee jumping, helicopter and microlight flights, white water rafting, gorge swinging, Zambezi sunset cruise, boma dinner experience, and more.
  • Meals: None included

Day 2: Victoria Falls to Kasane – Botswana

This morning you are free to explore and enjoy some of the many optional adventure activities in Victoria Falls. White water rafting, bungee jumping, and helicopter flights, to name a few. More placid options include a boat cruise on the Zambezi River spotting wildlife, visiting the craft markets, taking a tram ride, or perhaps a treetop zipline tour.

After lunch, we cross the border into Botswana and make our way to Kasane, near Chobe National Park. On night two of our Overland Africa Tour, we stay at a campsite on the banks of the Chobe River right next to Chobe National Park.

After settling into camp, we embark on a boat cruise on the Chobe River. From the water, we get up close to plenty of wild animals such as hippos, antelopes, buffalos, crocodiles, and elephants. Our boat-based game viewing provides excellent photographic opportunities for capturing the birds and wildlife attracted to the Chobe River.

  • Included Activity: Chobe River boat cruise
  • Optional Activities: Victoria Falls visit, bungee jumping, helicopter and microlight flights, white water rafting, gorge swinging, Zambezi sunset cruise, boma dinner experience, and more.
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3: Kasane to Nata Pan – Botswana

Day 3 of our Africa Overland Safari sees us leave the banks of the Chobe River, headed south. Lush bushveld gradually transforms to the stark beauty of the Kalahari Desert. Our destination for the night is Nata Pan, one of the salt pans making up Makgadikgadi Pans which originated from a super lake that dried up thousands of years ago, leaving behind an expansive salt pan landscape.

Nata pan is fed by seasonal waters in the rainy season and then slowly evaporates during the dry season. It is a breeding ground for a host of water birds, including thousands of pelicans and flamingos. We will take an afternoon drive around the pan to explore this fascinating place and see what birds we can spot. Note that the birds are migratory, so sightings will depend on the season.

  • Included Activity: Afternoon Pans drive
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4: Nata Pan to Khwai River Conservation Area, Okavango Delta – Botswana

On day four of our Overland Africa Tour, we head to Maun, gateway to the Okavango Delta. Should you wish, there will be time to take an optional scenic flight over the Delta (own expense). Viewing the Okavango Delta from above reveals the grand scale and beauty of this unique ecosystem, allowing you to spot wildlife from your aerial viewpoint.

We then transfer into smaller 4x4 Safari vehicles for a drive through the delta (smaller overnight bags will need to be packed as there is limited luggage space on these vehicles). We are headed to the game rich Khwai River region that will be our camp for the next 2 nights.

Later we drive to meet up with our guides who will take us out on the water in traditional dug-out canoes known as mokoro. This change of pace allows you to experience the serene beauty of the Okavango Delta, with its network of reed-fringed channels and peaceful lagoons adorned with floating lily pads. Lean back and allow the guides to expertly navigate the still waters with their poles. We will stop off on one of the many islands dotting the delta for a guided nature walk.

  • Included Activity: Okavango Delta Sunset Mokoro Trip
  • Optional Activity: Okavango Delta scenic flight, Tips for Delta Polers
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Okavango Delta

This incredible area of waterways and islands covers up to 15,000 km2 during the wet season. None of this water reaches the sea but flows into the Kalahari Desert. As a largely watery paradise, the Okavango is home to plenty of hippos, crocodiles, and fish. Many other of Africa's favorite animals call the Delta home, too. Zebra, rhino, buffalo, wildebeest, and many buck species also live there, some seasonally, others permanently. And the birdlife is incredible!

Day 5: Moremi National Park (Okavango Delta) - Botswana

Today we explore the fauna and flora of this unique Okavango Delta ecosystem. We spend the day in Moremi Game Reserve, named after Chief Moremi of the BaTawana tribe, who declared the reserve in 1963 to protect their delta home from uncontrolled hunting and cattle encroachment. This makes Moremi one of the first reserves in Africa to be established by local residents.

With palm-fringed islands and open grasslands surrounded by meandering waterways, lagoons and papyrus swamps, Moremi provides the perfect habitat for a wide variety of wildlife. On our safari drive we hope to encounter a plethora of animals, from the Big 5 (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhinoceros), to giraffe, cheetah, zebra, various species of antelope including the red lechwe adapted to surviving in marshy conditions, hyenas, jackals, and the endangered African Wild Dog. The park is also home to a rich variety of birdlife, making it a paradise for bird watchers.

  • Included Activity: Full day Game Drive
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6: Khwai to Maun – Botswana

This morning we leave the delta behind and return to Maun in our 4x4 safari vehicles to be reunited with the truck. We will overnight in Maun, in a comfortable campsite on the banks of the seasonal Thamalakane River where the waters drain out of the Delta. You have another chance to take optional scenic flight over the Okavango Delta.

  • Optional Activities: Scenic Okavango Delta Flight
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7: Maun to Divundu, Caprivi – Namibia

Our Africa Overland Safari takes us through the outer reaches of the Okavango Delta and into our next African country, Namibia. Border crossing complete we drive through the lush Caprivi Strip where the Kavango River flows before it reaches the Okavango Delta. The area is rich in wildlife so keep your eyes open for any sightings.

Tonight, we stay at a campsite on the banks of the river near Divundu. Later we head out for a cruise on the Kavango River, getting up close to the resident hippos and keeping a lookout for game congregating on the riverbanks.

  • Included Activity: Boat Cruise
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 8: Divundu to Etosha National Park – Namibia

On Day 8 of our Victoria Falls to Cape Town Safari we leave the river behind and head through dry wide landscapes of rural Namibia towards Etosha National Park, the top safari destination in Namibia. The afternoon will be spent on our first game drive in this fascinating area dominated by Etosha Pan, a vast salt pan that covers nearly a quarter of the park. During the dry season, it's a hauntingly beautiful expanse of white, but in the rainy season, it fills with water attracting thousands of flamingos and other bird species. Etosha is home to a rich array of wildlife. It boasts over 100 mammal species, including four of the Big 5 - elephant, lion, leopard, and rhino.

We will spend the next 2 nights camping at rest camps in Etosha, which are known for their floodlit watering holes offering excellent game viewing opportunities. Make your way to the waterhole after dark to watch for nocturnal wildlife and sit back around the campfire listening to the night sounds of the African bush around us.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
  • Included Activities: Game Drive

Day 9 & 10: Etosha National Park – Namibia

We have 2 full days to explore Etosha National Park. We take game drives along the fringes of Etosha Pan, spotting wildlife from the raised vantage of our overland safari truck. Along the way, we also stop at watering holes and scan the open plains for wildlife and birds. With its 120 km-long dry lakebed, Etosha offers phenomenal game-viewing, due to the sparse vegetation of the pan and the life-giving waterholes dotting the bush.

Etosha National Park is rated as one of Africa's best game viewing destinations, hosting a surprising abundance of animals and birds given the arid environment. Keep an eye out for elephants in the bushy areas, as well as rhinos and elusive leopards. Common wildlife sightings in Etosha include lions and an array of herbivores - zebras, gemsbok, impalas, springbok, and giraffes. Hosting over 340 bird species, birding enthusiasts will be rewarded with a variety of sightings, from the martial eagles and kori bustards to bee-eaters and ostriches.

Spend the time between game drives relaxing at camp, sunning by the pool, sitting around the campfire and watching for wildlife at the spotlit watering hole.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner x2
  • Included Activities: Game Drives

Day 11: Etosha to Khorixas – Namibia

On day 11 of our Victoria Falls to Cape Town Safari, we have one last game drive through Etosha before heading southwest to our next destination in the Kunene Region. Today will be a journey back in time. First stop is a Petrified Forest, a national monument of fossilized tree trunks that offer a fascinating glimpse into the world as it was millions of years ago.

Next, we visit the Twyfelfontein Rock Engravings. Our knowledgeable local guide will tell us more about the Khoi San, early inhabitants of these lands for 6000 years, who have left behind one of Africa's densest concentrations of over 2500 rock petroglyphs.

We then continue to our overnight stop in the nearby town of Khorixas.

  • Included Activity: Game Drive, Petrified Forest, Twyfelfontein Rock Engravings
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 12: Khorixas to Swakopmund – Namibia

Leaving Khorias this morning, our journey continues towards the icy Atlantic coastline. Our drive takes us down the desolate coastline, stopping at Cape Cross to view the Cape Cross Seal Colony, one of the largest colonies of Cape fur seals in the world. There can be over 200,000 seals here during peak breeding season. Cape Cross is also the location where Portuguese explorer Diego Cão erected a stone cross in 1486 to mark his ship exploration down the coast of Africa.

Next stop is a lichen field where these curious organisms thrive due to the moisture from the sea fogs which are a common feature on this desert coastline. We also pay a visit to the curious desert seaside village of Wlotskasbaken whose quaint cottages make for a great photo opportunity.

Our destination for the night is the charming town of Swakopmund, where we spend the next two nights in en-suite rooms at a lodge in the town. This evening your guide fills you in on the many adventure activities on offer in and around the town.

  • Included Activity: Cape Cross Seal Colony, Lichen Fields, Wlotskasbaken Village Visit
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 13: Swakopmund – Namibia

Day 13 of our Africa Overland Safari is yours to enjoy at your leisure. Go sightseeing and enjoy some of the numerous optional activities in and around Swakopmund. For adrenaline junkies, Swakopmund offers a whole range of thrilling adventure activities including sandboarding, skydiving, and quad biking. For those less inclined to high-adventure, dolphin cruises are a popular option, or you can simply amble along the sea, walk around the German-influenced town and enjoy a leisurely coffee. The town is small enough to explore on foot, featuring beautiful colonial-era architecture, quaint shops, a craft market, and historical sites.

  • Optional activities: Quad biking, Sandboarding, Skydiving, Dolphin Cruises, and more.
  • Meals: Breakfast

Day 14: Swakopmund to Sesriem, Namib Desert – Namibia

From the charming town of Swakopmund, we travel south into the ancient Namib Desert. Along the way, we pause at the Tropic of Capricorn to mark this special crossing with a photo opportunity.

Leaving the Atlantic we proceed to the red-orange sea of dunes in the Namib Desert. After settling in at our desert campsite, we are taken on a guided afternoon walk through this starkly beautiful ecosystem. Our guide tells us more about the flora and fauna of the Namib and the incredible survival techniques of the desert fauna & flora as we walk.

We get an early night tonight, but before you turn in don't forget to look up and marvel at the star-studded desert sky - it is breathtaking.

  • Included Activity: Tropic of Capricorn, Guided desert walk with a local expert
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 15: Namib-Naukluft National Park – Namibia

Waking before dawn, we drive into the Namib Desert and hike up Dune 45 to catch the vivid colors of sunrise over the desert. The changing hues and shifting shadows of the dunes in the early morning hours will leave you awe-struck!

After admiring the sweeping desert views from the top of Dune 45 we take a 4x4 drive to Sossusvlei in the Namib-Nauklft National Park. Exploring the strange landscapes of the stark Sossusvlei and Deadvlei pans on foot is an unusual and visually striking experience. Take a walk amongst the gnarled dead trees scattered across the cracked clay pans, encircled by ochre dunes.

Leaving the tall Sossusvlei Dunes and surreal-looking clay pans behind we drive to Sesriem Canyon. Here we enjoy a short walk through the incredible passages of Sesriem Canyon, carved into the rock over millions of years by the Tsauchab River.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
  • Included Activities: Hike up Dune 45, visit Sossusvlei Dunes & Deadvlei & Walk in Sesriem Canyon

Day 16: Namib Desert to Keetmanshoop – Namibia

On day 16 of this Victoria Falls to Cape Town Safari, we have a leisurely start before traveling east to Keetmanshoop. Our journey takes up most of the day.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 17: Keetmanshoop to Quiver Tree Forest, Giants Playground, Ais-Ais & Fish River Canyon – Namibia

Our day begins with a visit to the Quiver Tree Forest near Keetmanshoop. Some 250 quiver trees constitute this forest, declared a national monument in 1995. The quiver tree forest includes specimens between 200 and 300 years old making it an important ecological site.

We follow with a visit to Giants Playground, a bizarre landscape strewn with unusual stacks of large dolerite boulders about 160 to 180 million years old. From the rock formations of Giant's Playground, we drive south along the deserted roads crossing the open gravel plains of southern Namibia. Our next overnight stop is at the Ais-Ais hot springs, where you can take a soothing soak in the mineral pools.

This afternoon we visit the Fish River Canyon, one of the largest canyons on the planet, 160 km long and 27 km wide in places. Walking along the rim of the massive canyon in the late afternoon we get to watch the shifting shadows and colors of sunset over this natural wonder. We overnight at the Ais-Ais campsite.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
  • Included Activities: Quiver Tree Forest, Giants Playground, Ais-Ais Hot Springs & Fish River Canyon

Day 18: Ais-Ais to Gariep (Orange) River – Namibia

This morning we travel further south to the Gariep River, commonly known by its former name - the Orange River. We spend our final night in Namibia at a campsite on the banks of the Orange River.

In the afternoon you have the chance to go canoeing on the Orange River. Paddling along the river in a canoe is the best way to take in the rugged scenery and spot birds and even small animals. Alternatively, you can explore on foot, cool off in the river, and laze on the riverbanks.

  • Optional Activity: River Canoe Trip (half-day)
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 19: Gariep (Orange) River to Namaqualand & Cederberg Region – South Africa

Our Africa Overland Safari takes us further south into our final country this morning. We cross the Gariep River, which forms the border with South Africa. Our drive takes us through the Namaqualand region of the arid Northern Cape Province. This part of South Africa is famous for its spectacular wildflower displays in spring (around August/September) so you may see the rolling hills covered in multi-colored flowers in season.

Continuing south we head to the rugged Cederberg Mountain region of the Western Cape. The Cederberg is known for its stunning rock formations, San rock art, and fantastic hiking trails. On our last night, we tuck into a hearty South African meal together, at the campsite just outside the town of Citrusdal.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 20: Cape Town – South Africa

Leaving the fertile tea and citrus farms of the Cederberg, we travel down to Cape Town, the final destination on our Africa Overland Tour. Nearing the city, we pause in Table View to enjoy the best views of Table Mountain - panoramic vistas from across the bay - and take some photos. In the picturesque city of Cape Town, we sadly say goodbye and part ways.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Optional Extras and Excursions

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

Zimbabwe Activities

  • Victoria Falls waterfall visit
  • Zambezi Sunset Cruise
  • Morning Tram & Bridge Tour
  • Bungee Jumping
  • Helicopter Flights
  • Gorge swinging

Botswana Activities

  • Chobe National Park game drive
  • Tips for Delta Polers 
  • Scenic Okavango Delta Flight
  • San Guided Walk

Namibia Activities

  • Dolphin Cruise
  • Skydiving 
  • Sandboarding 
  • Quad Biking
  • Half-Day Gariep Canoe Trip 

Child Policy

This tour does take children.

There is a minimum age limit of 8 years of age, for travellers on scheduled departures, however, children aged 8 and 9 years of age are accepted on a request basis only.
A maximum of 4 children, aged between 10 - 15 years will be allowed per scheduled tour departure date.
Should there already be 4 children confirmed on a tour, any further children requests will be dealt with on a request basis only.

Age restrictions may apply to certain items listed in the respective tour activities and it is important that you are aware of these restrictions prior to confirming children on tour.

Please contact African Budget Safaris for further information.

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Zimbabwe Activities

  • Victoria Falls waterfall visit
  • Zambezi Sunset Cruise
  • Morning Tram & Bridge Tour
  • Bungee Jumping
  • Helicopter Flights
  • Gorge swinging

Botswana Activities

  • Chobe National Park game drive
  • Tips for Delta Polers 
  • Scenic Okavango Delta Flight
  • San Guided Walk

Namibia Activities

  • Dolphin Cruise
  • Skydiving 
  • Sandboarding 
  • Quad Biking
  • Half-Day Gariep Canoe Trip 
+Included in the Tour Price
  • Meals as per the itinerary
  • Accommodation
  • Registered guides
  • Transport
  • Activities as per the itinerary
+Not Included in the Tour Price
  • Travel insurance
  • Drinks and snacks
  • Personal items and tips
  • Optional activities
  • Sleeping Bag & Pillow
+Departure Dates

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