THE GREAT TRANS AFRICAN SAFARI - 2010
A cultural tour of Zimbabwe, Namibia & Botswana

Covering three of the most intriguing destinations in Southern Africa, and with an overland small group, this makes an experience while none other. We cover some of the most sought after attractions – like the might Zambezi, the fascinating Etosha, the fascinating experience of being with the Himba tribe and Bushman, the unique Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park and the World Heritage site – Victoria Falls! What an incredible journey.

Day 01 (TUE): Arrive Victoria Falls (ZIMBABWE)
We arrive Victoria Falls Airport and are cordially welcomed and transferred to our hotel. Balance of the day is free. Viewing of the majestic Victoria Falls being intentionally scheduled at the end of our overland safari. Evening at 7PM there will be a briefing on the tour and an opportunity to meet your fellow travelers.
Overnight: Amadeus Garden, Victoria Falls (1 night)

Day 02 (WED): VFA / Camp Kwando (NAMIBIA) (221 kms)
Our Great Southern Africa safari begins from the wonderful location of the Zambezi Waterfront. After crossing the mighty Zambezi River we make our way to River Kwando in Namibia. Our afternoon game drive is to the Mudumo National Park home to herds of red lechwe, the occasional sitatunga, white spotted-necked otters, hippos and crocodiles.
Overnight: Chalets at Camp Kwando (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 03 (THU): Kwando / Rundu (400 kms)
Driving westbound along the Caprivi Strip we head for Rundu from where we proceed to our halting point for the night-at the N’Kwazi Lodge. We spend a relaxing afternoon in our lodge which is ideally located on the banks of the Kavango River overlooking Angola. Optional activities like sunset cruise, horse riding or just relax in the pool with a sundowner and listen to the cries of Mother Nature.
Overnight: Chalets at N’Kwazi Lodge (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 04 (FRI): Rundu
Today we have the opportunity for a real Namibian cultural experience. After breakfast, we visit a local church and school in Rundu. Rundu is a small African town where time has stood still and life depicts a true African village giving us a good idea about the lifestyle and traditions of the Namibian people. (B, L, D)

Days 05 & 06 (SAT-SUN): Rundu / Etosha Park (420 kms)
After breakfast we make our way further west into Namibia and onto the world famous Etosha National Park. Here we spend two nights, listening to the wild animals at night with daytime game drives hoping to spot the ‘Big 5’. At night we have the opportunity to see the nocturnal animals of Etosha at the floodlit waterholes of the camps. During the day, we visit Etosha Pan to view animals like, Lions, cheetah, Elephants, Giraffes and the numerous different types of antelope. In the evenings we enjoy our guide’s self cooked meals around the campfire.
Overnight: Chalets at Namutoni / Okakuejo (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 07 (MON): Etosha Park / Damaraland / Kamanjab (473 kms)
We leave Etosha National Park through the Main Gate and drive through to Kamanjab, which is a gateway of the Damaraland. It is a world of incredible mountain scenery, a refuge for the rare desert elephant, black rhino and giraffe and home to the Himba people. This afternoon we visit a Himba village before heading to our destination of the day – Oase Guest House.
Overnight: Chalets at Oase Guest House (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 08 & 09 (TUE - WED): Twyfelfontein / Swakopmund (Drive 217 Kms)
Heading west out of the dry interior of Namibia we make our way to the coastal German town of Swakopmund on the Atlantic Ocean where we have our lunch. The next day is spent at leisure where one can explore this quaint town or participate in some of the many optional activities like sand boarding, quad biking, scenic flights, fishing etc.
Overnight: A la Mer (1 night) (B, L, D)

Days 10 (THU): Namib Naukluff Park / Kuseb Canyon / Soussusvlei (390 Kms)
Today is spent exploring the barren, arid and sometimes rocky landscape of the Namib Naukluft Natinal Park. Once we reach Sesriem we camp in wide-open space under the countless stars.
Overnight: Hammerstein (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 11 (FRI): Soussusvlei / Windhoek (400 Kms)
Today we visit the world’s highest sand and dunes at Soussusvlei. There is the option of taking a shuttle to the dunes instead of walking (optional cost of R95pp transfer from 2X4 parking to Sossusvlei / Dead vlei parking area). At sunrise these red sand dunes, which can reach a height of more than 300m, are absolutely spectacular and provide a fantastic photo opportunity. With luck there may even be water in the vlei (lake). After breakfast we head for Namibia’s capital –Windhoek.
Overnight: Pension Uhland (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 12 (SAT): Windhoek / Waterberg Plateau (Drive 300 Kms)
Today we leave the cold Atlantic coast behind us and drive North East to the Waterberg Plateau located close to Otjiwarongo. Afternoon is an interesting easy hike in the reserve to view the wildlife on the plateau.
Overnight: Chalets at Waterberg Resort (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 13 & 14 (SUN-MON): Waterberg Plateau / Bushmanland (Drive 590 Kms)
Departing from the Waterberg Plateau we drive deep into Bushman land to our lodge where we stay for the next two days. The following day we take an 8 hour guided visit to the Ju’/hoan bushmen community and are shown the activities of the village folk which includes how food is cooked, the beadwork, bows and arrows being made, poison being prepared, etc. Then we take a walk in the vicinity of the village to search for honey or springhare and bush food. We join local folks in their traditional games followed even by learning how to learn traditional dancing. Overnight at Bushman land Lodge for both nights.
Overnight: Nhoma Camp (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Days 15 & 16 (TUE-WED): Bushmanland / Okavango Delta (Botswana) (Drive 283 Kms)
Okavango – here we come! We drive to the small village of Ethsa where we get into our 4 x 4’s to Guma Lodge. The next day is an exciting day spent exploring the network of waterways through thick vegetation in mokoros (traditional dugout canoes) and speedboat viewing the wildlife in the delta. The Delta is a well-preserved gem of Africa with a vast oasis of crystal clear lakelets, lagoons and palm-fringed islands.
Overnight: Guma Lagoon Lodge (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Days 17 & 18 (THU-FRI): Okavango Delta / Khwai River (Drive 380 Kms)
After a memorable experience of the Okavango we drive to Maun from where we’ll head to our tented Camp in the Khwai Region. Our camp is between Chobe National Park and Moremi National Park. Evening we go on a night drive to spot some of the numerous nocturnal animals in the area like lions, leopards, wild cats etc. The following day is spent on game drives in the Khwai River area viewing the large wildlife. This is the premier game viewing area in Southern Africa with huge herds of Elephant, prides of lions, pods of hippos in the river and much more.
Overnight: Chalets at Mankwe Lodge (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Days 19 (SAT): Khwai / Planet Baobab (Drive 310 Kms)
We leave the bush land behind and travel east towards the Magkadigkadi Pans. The rest of the afternoon we spend with a hike to the elephant hole and relax under the endless canopy of blue sky of Planet Baobab. Tonight another highlights as it will be traditional accommodation yet very comfortable and with all amenities including en-suite washrooms.
Overnight: Traditional huts at Planet Baobab (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 20 (SUN): Planet Baobab / Kubu Lodge (Drive 460 Kms)
It is our day at the world famous Chobe National Park. The Chobe National Park, which is the second largest national park in Botswana and covers 10,566 square km, and has one of the greatest concentrations of game found on the African continent. Late afternoon we go on a sunset cruise on the Chobe River where we will have the opportunity to get close up to all that the Chobe Park has to offer from lions, elephants, hippos, crocodiles, birds and a lot more.
Overnight: Chalets at Chobe Safari Lodge (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 21 (MON): Chobe Safari / Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) (110 Kms)
Continuing our journey we bid farewell to Botswana and cross the mighty Zambezi on a ferry to our final destination, Victoria Falls – home to the World Heritage Site, Victoria Falls. Our guide will take us through to Victoria Falls (entrance fees not included) where we have the opportunity to take part in several optional activities like White Water rafting, Bungee jumping or Elephant back safaris, etc.
Overnight: Amadeus Garden (1 night) (B, L)

Day 22 (TUE): Tuesday: Victoria Falls / departure
After breakfast our 22-day safari ends. This memorable safari will leave memories with you for a whole life and the next one! We are transferred to the airport for our departure flight. (B)

 

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Departure Dates
2010 English Speaking Departures Mar 30, May 04, Jun 01 & 29, Jul 13, Aug 03,17 & 31, Sep 14 & 28, Oct 13, Nov 02 Click here for 2011 departure dates
Inclusions
Tour Price Includes Tour Price Does Not Include Accommodation as mentioned or similar category International airfares or airport departure taxes Meals as indicated (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner) Visas Activities and game drives as per the itinerary Tips All transfers and sightseeing Local payment of $ 300 Services of local English speaking driver/guide
Tour Price
We accept payment in US $ (US Dollars), CA $ (Canadian Dollars) or equivalent EURO (for clients outside North America). Bestway Tours & Safaris offers conversion rate protection. Once full payment has been received, and no modification has been made to the tour itinerary, we will honour that rate. For complete payment procedures, please download Bestway_Payment_Info.pdf Note: to read this file you must have Adobe Acrobat.
Departure Double Occupancy Single Room Supplement 2010 US $ 4895 US $ 790
Estimated International Airfare - International airfare is NOT included in this tour
Canada - West Coast N/A USA - West Coast US $ 1500 Canada - East Coast N/A USA - East Coast US $ 1500
Participants
This tour operates on a minimum of 04 and a maximum of 10 participants.
Notes (on Accommodation)
The accommodation on this overland journey has been carefully selected to offer all amenities like en-suite washrooms and in most cases lodges also have swimming pools (all days except Day Days 16-16, 20-21), including bars.
Customised Itinerary If you would like to have a tour on dates other than the above ones or with a customised itinerary, please contact us and we will be happy to work out an exclusive program for you. Foreign Language Departures Please contact us for information on French, German, Italian and Spanish speaking departures. You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com or call us at 604.264.7378. Residents of U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1.800.663.0844.