Southern Africa: Kruger and Namibia

Arrive at any time. Transfer to hotel. Enjoy a traditional South African braai (barbecue) welcome dinner.

Enjoy a scenic drive along the famed Panorama Route with stops at Blyde River Canyon, Bourke's Luck Potholes, and God's Window. Continue to our tented camp located near the Kruger National Park and this evening enjoy a delicious South African dinner in the boma.

Enjoy a full-day wildlife safari drive through Kruger National Park in an open vehicle. Take in views of the abundant wildlife including elephants, lions, and giraffe. In the late afternoon, return to the lodge where you can relax on the deck with views of the surrounding area.

For the next two days, enjoy ranger-led morning and evening wildlife safari drives in an open safari vehicle in Karongwe Nature Reserve. Search for buffaloes, elephants, leopards, lions, and rhinos – Africa's famed Big Five. With over 9,000 hectares (22,240 acres) of supreme African bushveld, Karongwe Private Game Reserve is home to many creatures, and our safari drives provide several opportunities for wildlife viewing. We use various accommodations within the reserve (the location is based on availability). During your time here, you will either stay in lodge rooms or very comfortable permanent tents (both of equal quality and with similar amenities).

Wake up before the sun (around 5am) and sip your morning coffee before heading out on a morning wildlife safari drive. Return to the lodge for a bite to eat and some leisure time. Converse on the deck, walk the grounds and gardens, and enjoy high tea. Following tea, it's time for a late afternoon safari drive.

After one last wildlife safari drive, head back to the city. In the evening, enjoy dinner at our local guest house.

Fly to Windhoek and transfer to your hotel. Enjoy free time to explore the Namibian capital this afternoon.

Leave the Namibian capital behind and travel to Sesriem. Enter the breathtaking Namib-Naukluft National Park searching for the creatures that call this land home. Arrive at our lodge and unwind by the pool as the sun casts a fiery glow over the desert landscape.

Head out into one of Africa’s largest national parks and explore the Namib desert, the oldest desert in the world. Take pictures of camel thorn trees against the backdrop of massive dunes and visit the Sesriem Canyon.

Pass through desert landscapes as the group travels towards the coastal city of Swakopmund and search for wildlife along the way. Embark on a 4x4 drive through the desert with a local and learn how the bushmen survived in this harsh environment.

Take advantage of a free morning in Swakopmund and opt for a scenic flight over the Namib desert. Tour the Mondesa township with a local guide and visit the local market to learn about traditional foods. Then, visit an arts and crafts shop to speak with the locals and search for a special piece to take home. Tonight enjoy dinner at a family-run establishment.

View some of Africa’s largest concentrations of petroglyphs in Twyfelfontein, which also happens to be Namibia’s first UNESCO World Heritage site. End today’s journey at our lodge in the Palmwag nature reserve.

Relax and unwind this morning at the lodge or opt to go on a guided walk into the reserve searching for desert-adapted creatures. Then, travel to Etosha National Park and settle into the lodge located just outside this wildlife sanctuary.

After the vast desert, Etosha National Park offers a contrast of wide open grasslands, a massive salt pan that covers 4731km² and tall camel thorn trees intermixed with Mopani trees. Because of the park's diverse vegetation and natural waterholes, a lot of wildlife flocks here and the chances of observing elephants, lions, giraffes, and antelope are high. Depending on the season you could see flamingos in the salt pans and other migratory birds.

Today, embark on a visit to the Cheetah Conservation Fund for a tour of the facility to learn about the conservation and outreach work being done to protect this magnificent animal. Enjoy a drive through the grounds to see some of the rehabilitated cheetahs before travelling back to Windhoek for your final night.

Depart at any time.