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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:
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.
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.
This Victoria Falls to Cape Town Camping Overland Safari starts at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, where your overland tour guide will give you a brief overview of what to expect on this budget-friendly African safari ahead.
The town buzzes with energy and offers plenty of optional activities for those keen to get the adrenaline pumping. If you’d rather take it easy, wander through the local craft markets or treat yourself to a classic high tea at the Victoria Falls Hotel.
The day is yours to explore the globally renowned Victoria Falls. This is your chance to immerse yourself in the mist that has earned this waterfall its local name, Mosi-oa-Tunya, translating to 'the Smoke that Thunders'. The spectacle of the mighty Zambezi River cascading over 100 feet into the chasm beneath, forming a colossal curtain of falling water that stretches 1.7km wide, is nothing short of awe-inspiring. The towering plume of mist, reminiscent of smoke, ascends to 400 meters high over Victoria Falls, making it visible from an astonishing distance of 50 km away!
At 17:00, meet your crew in the reception area of the Shearwater Explorers Village for a brief welcome. This evening, you’re welcome to join the group for an optional dinner at a local restaurant—a great chance to meet and unwind with your fellow travellers and swap stories from the day. Your guide will take care of the booking for anyone who’d like to join.
As the tour departs Victoria Falls early tomorrow morning, guests wishing to enjoy the full range of optional activities are advised to arrive one or two days in advance.
You have the option to book a multitude of adventure and sightseeing activities in and around Victoria Falls. The section of the Zambezi River below Victoria Falls is famed for its thrilling whitewater rafting experiences. Bungee jump into Batoka Gorge or take an exhilarating zip-line ride. Explore upriver on a boat trip to Livingstone Island or take a helicopter or microlight flight for breathtaking aerial views of ‘Vic Falls’.
We recommend that you arrive a few days before the overland tour departs to give yourself time to explore Victoria Falls and participate in the numerous adventure activities available.
This morning, we leave Victoria Falls, hop on our overland vehicle and begin our journey to Botswana.
Once border formalities are complete, we enter the vast Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, one of the largest protected regions in the world, stretching across five countries and sheltering an incredible variety of wildlife and habitats. We travel to the town of Kasane, which is uniquely located near the intersection of four countries: Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Kasane serves as the gateway to the famed Chobe National Park, celebrated for its abundant elephant population.
We arrive at our riverside campsite along the Chobe River, where we set up camp before our afternoon adventure. Later, we embark on a relaxed boat cruise through Chobe National Park, gliding past herds of elephants that often gather along the riverbanks, offering unforgettable close-up encounters with these magnificent creatures.
On Day 3 of our overland safari from Victoria Falls, we journey south into the dry savannah of northeastern Botswana, heading towards the Makgadikgadi Pans. Despite its barren nature, this enormous salt flat, spanning 16,000 square kilometers, supports a surprising array of wildlife during the rainy season.
We'll spend the night at a comfortable safari lodge in Nata, close to the salt pans.
On Day 4 of our camping overland safari, we drive west, skirting the edge of the Makgadigadi Pans to reach Maun, from where we depart for our two-day excursion into the Okavango Delta. We will stop at the viewing point of the Salt Pans en route (access is dependent on the season).
For the next two nights, you’ll be away from the overland truck, so please ensure you pack any personal items you may need before we leave camp today. We recommend packing lightly and bringing only the essentials required for the two-night stay.
From Maun, we are collected in smaller 4x4 safari vehicles to travel into the Okavango Delta. Our journey takes us through the delta backroads to the Khwai River Conservation Area. Here, we'll camp at a tented camp offering splendid views of the Khwai River floodplains.
After settling in, we'll head out for a sunset excursion into the Okavango Delta waterways on traditional dugout mokoro boats. As your mokoro glides silently through the tranquil waters of the Okavango Delta network of waterways, you can experience the unforgettable blend of serene beauty and raw nature.
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!
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.
This morning, we leave the delta behind and return to Maun in our 4x4 safari vehicles to be reunited with the truck. We will spend the night in Maun, at a comfortable campsite. You have the rest of the day at your leisure to relax at the camp or explore the village atmosphere of Maun.
On Day 7, our Victoria Falls to Cape Town Camping Overland Safari sets off from Maun early this morning.You have the opportunity for an optional early morning pre-bookable scenic flight over the Okavango Delta (weather permitting) before departing Maun.
Viewing the Okavango Delta from above reveals the grand scale and beauty of this unique ecosystem, allowing you to spot wildlife from above.
We travel northwest as we bid farewell to Botswana and journey through the untouched backroads of the delta, our route unfolding through the ever-changing landscapes of northern Botswana—open grasslands giving way to woodlands and scattered villages as we head to our next African destination - Namibia. Crossing into Namibia, the scenery softens into fertile floodplains as we follow the course of the Kavango River.
After border formalities, it’s a short drive to the quiet riverside village of Divundu on the banks of the Kavango River. By late afternoon, we reach Divundu, where we settle into our comfortable safari camp and soak in our first impressions of the Zambezi Region, a lush mosaic of waterways, forests, and wetlands alive with birdsong and wildlife.
This morning, we begin our day drifting along the tranquil waters of the Kavango River on a leisurely boat cruise, surrounded by lush riverbanks alive with birdsong and the possibility of spotting hippos wallowing or crocodiles basking in the shallows. Later in the afternoon, there’s the option to join a game drive in Mahangu National Park—a hidden treasure where peaceful landscapes meet exhilarating wildlife encounters, from herds of elephants and buffalo to antelope grazing gracefully, and perhaps even the rare sight of a big cat.
On day 9 of our Victoria Falls to Cape Town safari, our journey overland continues as our road follows the course of the Kavango River before heading southwest into more arid terrain. Our destination is Etosha National Park, Namibia's premier wildlife sanctuary. This colossal park, spanning over 18,000 square kilometers, is defined by the Etosha Pan, which lies at its heart, a vast salt pan visible even from space. The national park, known for its abundant wildlife, is sustained by a network of waterholes scattered throughout.
We will overnight at a comfortable safari campsite with shared ablutions near Etosha.
This morning, we head to our next safari campsite near Etosha, entering the park en route for a morning game drive in the overland truck. We arrive at our safari camp in time for lunch, afterwhich you have the rest of the day at leisure to unwind.
Over the next two days, we explore Etosha National Park on game drives. We cross the open plains, scattered with acacia woodlands, and visit waterholes and the dusty fringes of the Etosha Pan. The salt pan was once a massive inland lake, but today the flat expanse stands almost entirely dry, except for the shallow waters that sometimes collect during the rainy seasons. When shallow pools form in the pans, it attracts large flocks of birds. Short grasses sprout after the rains, which draw in herds of grazers.
At the watering holes, wildlife watching is often particularly rewarding, given the congregation of herbivores and predators drawn to the precious water sources. Etosha is known for its dramatic wildlife sightings, not only because of the stark landscapes but also due to the intense competition that unfolds in its harsh environment, especially at the waterholes. With some luck, we are likely to encounter lions, rhinos, and leopards. Chances of sighting elephants, zebras, giraffes, gemsbok, springbok, and other antelopes are excellent.
Day 11 starts with an early breakfast before heading out to explore Etosha on a full-day game drive.
Early this morning, we hop back on our overland safari truck, and bid farewell to Etosha. We head to the Brandberg Mountains (Burning Mountains), the highest peaks in Namibia, and home to the iconic White Lady painting, one of over 45,000 rock art depictions in the region.
Upon reaching our destination for the day, we'll embark on a ±2-hour round-trip hike to view this ancient artwork, believed to be around 2,000 years old. Please note that this hike may take place the following morning. The trail navigates rugged terrain along the gorge of the usually dry Tsisab River. We end our day with a restful overnight stay at a nearby camp.
Leaving Brandberg this morning, our journey continues towards the icy Atlantic coastline. Our drive takes us down the desolate coastline, stopping at 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 charming 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.
Day 14 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.
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.
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-Naukluft 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.
Day 17 begins with a long desert drive, ending 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 continue to Giants Playground, a bizarre landscape strewn with unusual stacks of large dolerite boulders about 160 to 180 million years old. Our next overnight stop is at Keetmanshoop nearby.
This morning we travel further south, stopping at the Fish River Canyon, second largest canyon in the world. We'll travel to a lookout point on the rim of the Fish River Canyon and stroll along the edge to stretch our legs and marvel at the view. We spend our final night in Namibia at a campsite on the banks of the Orange River. In the afternoon, you have the option 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.
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.
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.
For up-to-date and confirmed pricing info for optional items, please drop us an enquiry.
Minimum numbers may apply to activities
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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Our team has the destination knowledge to help you plan an unforgettable African adventure. We're based in Cape Town and ready to help.
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