Small group trip from Victoria Falls to Cape Town

Today marks the beginning of your small group journey in the town of Victoria Falls, home to the spectacular Victoria Falls. The vibrant adventure town of Victoria Falls also offers a variety of optional activities for those seeking a dose of adrenaline. These waterfalls were discovered before 1900 by David Livingstone, a British explorer. He named them after the then Queen of England. Optional highlights: Bungy Jump, Gorge Swing, sunset boat cruise on the Zambezi, helicopter flight.

This morning there is an opportunity to partake in numerous optional activities in the town of Victoria Falls after breakfast. After lunch, we begin our Africa small group journey and travel the short distance to the Botswana border, which we cross and arrive at our accommodation on the banks of the Chobe River in the late afternoon to settle in. Subsequently, we take a boat ride on the Chobe River, where we see the numerous elephants that gather by the river in the afternoon. Chobe National Park is known for its large elephant population. Included meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Included highlights: Afternoon boat cruise.

We leave the banks of the Chobe River and head south on our Africa small group journey to the Kalahari Desert. You will notice the change in the bush landscape as you approach Nata, our overnight stop near Botswana's famous salt pans. In the afternoon, after our arrival in Nata, we enjoy a guided drive to the Nata Pans, which serve as a nesting ground for numerous waterbirds like pelicans and flamingos in thousands (birds depending on seasonal migration patterns). During the rainy season, the salt pans transform into a lake landscape. Included meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Included highlights: Excursion through the salt pans.

We will be without your Nomad truck for the next 2 nights, so it’s important we pack or collect our personal belongings that we may need for the coming two days/nights before departing camp today. Please pack light and take only what is needed for the next two nights. Today we make our way to the Okavango Delta. Upon our arrival in Maun (the gateway to the Okavango Delta), we will be picked up and taken to the Khwai Conservation Area in smaller 4x4 safari vehicles. Our guide will prepare us for what to expect during our afternoon mokoro excursion into the Okavango Delta, mokoros are traditional dugout canoes known as a means of transport in the delta. Included meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Today promises a safari experience as we embark on a full-day game drive in Moremi Game Reserve to search for the species that roam the plains. Expect some bumpy roads as we traverse this wilderness area in our 4x4 vehicles. With habitats ranging from wetlands, open water to grasslands and savanna woodlands, we hope to see as many species of fauna and flora as possible. In the evening we return to Khwai to share and compare all the amazing sightings during our safari over dinner. Included meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Included highlights: Full-day safari in Moremi Game Reserve.

Early in the morning we get out of bed and depart in our 4x4 vehicles back to Maun, where we will overnight before our next adventure in Namibia. Included meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

And once again early we get out of bed, as our Africa journey continues early in the morning heading northwest as we cross the border into Namibia, toward the Kavango River for our overnight stop in the small town of Divundu. We will check in and enjoy a leisurely boat ride on the beautiful Kavango River. Included meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Included highlights: Boat cruise on the Kavango River (evening).

After breakfast, we head for the gates of Etosha National Park. With giant salt pans, savanna, and woodlands, Etosha is one of Africa’s best wildlife parks. Covering an area of 18,000 km², it is one of the largest parks in Southern Africa and the largest in Namibia. Etosha means "great white place", referring to the large dry pan in the middle of the park. The African Big Five also call this place home. We will enjoy our first game drive as we enter the park and travel the short distance to our overnight camp for the night. Many unique safari experiences await us. Included meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

This morning we set off from camp to explore the surrounding plains in search of the many animal species that call Etosha home. After enjoying lunch at camp, the rest of the day is at leisure. The pool and veranda overlooking a waterhole are very inviting.

Our third day in Etosha allows for a full day of exploring the park. No day on safari is ever the same as another, and the anticipation of a special sighting is the motivation that keeps our eyes wide open. We explore the edges of the Etosha pan looking for the rich wildlife that resides in the park. A truly superlative safari experience awaits us today. Included meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Included highlight: Full-day safari in Etosha National Park.

With a hearty breakfast, we depart from Etosha National Park. After one last morning of exploration as we leave the park, we exit and travel in our truck towards Khorixas. Along the way, we stop at the Petrified Forest, a national monument featuring petrified prehistoric tree trunks. These remnants were once massive trees swept away by a river and eventually trapped in alluvial sands, becoming a fascinating piece of history. Our final destination for the day is the enchanting rock engravings of Twyfelfontein in the Kunene region, where we will be joined by a local guide. This area, inhabited by the Khoi San for 6000 years, harbors one of the highest concentrations of rock art in Africa. The ancient inhabitants used this site for shamanistic rituals, leading to the creation of 2500 rock paintings. After a full day of exploration, we will end our day in Khorixas. Included meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Today we leave Khorixas where the hot desert sands meet the cool waves of the Atlantic. En route, we will make a stop at the famous seal colony at Cape Cross, one of the largest of its kind in the world. Here, more than 200,000 Cape fur seals can be observed congregating along the coast. The spot is also of historic significance, marking the area where the first European explorer set foot on the Namibian coast in 1486. Diego Cao erected a cross here in honor of the then King of Portugal. (Please note that the seal colony at Cape Cross can occasionally be inaccessible, which may prevent us from visiting the seals.) Our journey continues with a visit to the lichen fields. Your guide will give a fascinating talk about the complex colonies of lichens covering the area. It is an extraordinary opportunity for unforgettable photos. Our final stop before reaching Swakopmund is the coastal holiday town of Wlotskasbaken. This charming town offers a fantastic photo opportunity with its picturesque houses and views of the Atlantic Ocean. After capturing these memories, we continue our journey and finally reach the beautiful coastal town of Swakopmund, where an exciting day of exploration comes to an end.

While for many, the adrenaline-pumping adventures are at the forefront, Swakopmund offers everything and more. Take the opportunity to explore the town at your own pace today, as there is a variety of attractions for every taste. Don’t miss the famous cafés and bakeries offering a delicious selection of German treats. Swakopmund offers all the amenities of a small town and is the perfect base for exploring the northern regions of the country.

As we bid farewell to the charms of Swakopmund, we continue our journey toward southern Namibia and the Namib Desert. As we say goodbye to the ocean this morning, we stop to celebrate our crossing of the Tropic of Capricorn before veering east toward the heart of the desert. In the afternoon, we have the privilege of participating in an insightful desert excursion with a local expert. Our local guide will introduce us to the wonders of the desert environment – an astonishing introduction to the Namib that will ready all your senses for the days to come. An early bedtime is advisable as we will rise early tomorrow, but tonight we will sleep under the magnificent desert sky, knowing that the next day holds further adventures among the red sand dunes.

Today we will rise early for our transfer to Namib-Naukluft National Park. We will enter the park shortly after sunrise and head to the famous Dune 45. A brisk climb up Dune 45 provides us with the perfect viewpoint to admire the changing colors of the desert. After conquering this famed dune, we enjoy a hearty breakfast before taking a 4x4 transfer to Sossusvlei, where we will spend time walking to visit the pans in Sossusvlei and Deadvlei. This evening we will camp in front of the dune fields, shaking the red sand from our shoes and falling asleep to the unique calls of the shy barking geckos.

We have a relaxed morning before we pack up and head east toward Keetmanshoop. Today we will spend most of the day driving to our next destination.

Contrary to popular belief, the quiver tree is actually not a tree, but a plant that can live up to 200 - 300 years. Our exploration continues this morning with a visit to the Quiver Tree Forest and Giants Playground, named after the way the massive dolerite rocks have been stacked to create formations and a maze of alleys. We hop back on the truck and drive along the gravel roads of southern Namibia towards Ais-Ais. Famous for its hot springs, the resort and its thermal baths are the perfect way to wash off the dust of the Namib. The Fish River Canyon is one of the largest in the world, and this afternoon we take a walk along the rim of the canyon and end our day with an unforgettable sunset at the edge of the canyon.

As the day breaks, we head to the Orange River and our last stop in Namibia. We spend our final night in Namibia on the banks of the Orange River, and the best way to experience the Orange River is by canoe. This afternoon you will have the option to participate in a canoe trip on the river.

A final border crossing takes us this morning into South Africa as we travel through the desert landscapes of Namaqualand on our way to the Cederberg region. If you are fortunate enough to travel in the spring months (July to September), you may encounter the wildflowers that have made this region famous. But no matter the time of year, the unusual desert vistas provide a unique backdrop for today’s journey. This evening we enjoy a traditional meal and celebrate the many memories we have made.

The Cederberg region dazzles not only with spectacular mountains and orange farms but is also home to the Rooibos shrub. Native to the slopes of the Cedarberg mountains, this herbal drink has gained international acclaim as a healthy and refreshing alternative to regular tea. The Cederberg region is known for its mountain fynbos and spectacular views of the jagged Cederberg Mountains. As we approach Cape Town, you will see Table Mountain rising in the distance, and we will stop to view the mountain from the other side of Table Bay. Your tour ends upon arrival in central Cape Town.