Our top tour is a spectacular 20-days of contrasts, from the arid Namib Desert to the wetlands of the Okavango Delta to Victoria Fall’s roar, this is a celebration of Southern Africa’s natural wonders.

Highlights

One of our most sought-after routes, this tour is a kaleidoscope of fantastical biomes and famous landmarks across Southern Africa. Our traversal begins where the world seems to split open in a roar of mist and motion. At the edge of Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls crashes into the Batoka Gorge in an avalanche of water, rainbows curling through the rising spray.

Departing the falls, we enter Chobe National Park, a sanctuary where elephants wade like living monuments across its channels and hippos surface with flapping ears and wide eyes. The Chobe River beckons us on a boat cruise in the afternoon, its waters gilded by the dipping sun bringing an unfiltered view of the river at its most majestic.

The landscape shifts as we journey southwards into Botswana and the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA), past the vast white mirror of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. Our path takes us into the midst of the Okavango Delta. In the Khwai Conservation Area, we coast through luscious channels in mokoros, traditional dugout canoes steered by expert guides. The air is hushed and holds a space to enjoy the lilies and animal sightings. A full-day safari in Moremi Game Reserve follows, revealing a world stitched together by wetland, savanna, and riverine forest, where golden grasses sway with a dense array of species and prime wildlife sightings.

We drift westward into Namibia’s northeast, where the Kavango River cradles our next destination and a morning boat cruise awaits. Afterwards, we set off for Etosha National Park, where bone-dry salt pans gleam under the sun and creatures from near and far congregate around pools of life-giving water.

As the wild begins to recede, Namibia reveals its desert soul. Walk among boulders marked by San rock paintings in the Brandberg Mountains before a stop at coastal Swakopmund, presenting ample adrenaline-focused opportunities. Prepare to be enamoured with the phenomena of Namib-Naukluft National Park, marked by towering apricot dunes and complete with sites like Deadvlei, Sessreim Canyon and Dune 45.

We wander through the spectacle of Quiver Tree Forest, chase the rim of Fish River Canyon, and sleep under stars mirrored in the Gariep River. As the landscape softens, Namaqualand’s arid plains roll into bloom, scattering wildflowers in spring like brushstrokes across the earth. Finally, we arrive in Cape Town, where vineyards ripple across hills, and the energy of city life buzzes against nature’s stillness.

This tour is one that leaves you awe-struck and inspired by the contrasts of Southern Africa’s world, a memory encased in wildlife and wonder.

Beginning in Cape Town, we drive through the rooibos coated mountains of the Cedarberg. Namaqualand greets us with the beginnings of the desert, though it is famous for its fluorescent orange flowers that bloom in July till September, stopping at the banks of the Gariep River which is open to be paddled the next morning. Fish River Canyon offers an opportunity to stretch your legs along its rim on day three.

A day of the desert, this is a treat of eclectic sights. Wander the Quiver Tree Forest and Giants Playground before entering the Namib-Naukluft National Park, where you’ll ascend the red sands of Dune 45 and Deadvlei. Our next stop is the coastal hub of Swakopmund, where an array of daring activities await you, such as quadbiking where the sand dunes meet the ocean. We hike the Brandberg Mountains the next day to examine ancient rock paintings. Easing off our legs, we embark through the arid Etosha National Park, packed with wildlife like the Big Five and critically endangered black rhino, all gathering to the few waterholes in the area.

For a drastic change in scenery, we cross into Botswana and the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA), home to a stunning ecosystem. Taking a morning boat cruise along the Kavango River, our next destination opens into the heart of the Okavango Delta. Entering the Khwai Conservation Area, we take to the waterways by mokoro – a traditional canoe – hoping to see the resident elephants along its banks, followed by a full day safari in Moremi Game Reserve. We take a night in Makgadikgadi Pans before transitioning to the Chobe National Park, venturing out onto its golden-lit river on a boat cruise, giving exceptional sightings of the elephant and hippos that call it home.

After all the magnificent wildlife sightings, we drive to our final destination – the enthralling Victoria Falls, where the entirety of the Zambezi empties as a curtain of water into the gorge below. Choose from a variety of thrilling activities, from white water rafting to bungee jumping, the final day is yours to seize on the backdrop of the “Smoke That Thunders”.

Defined by its otherworldly landscapes, this tour is an unforgettable tableau marked by the Okavango’s sapphire waters and Namibia’s rolling dunes.