Epic tour of Southern Africa’s plains, wildlife, cities and more

Phenomenal Southern Africa grand tour through Namibia, Botswana, South Africa & Zimbabwe with flights, breakfast, some dinners, excursions and more.

Days 1 & 2: Victoria Falls

Ready to begin your adventure through the wild, vibrant landscapes of Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia? Your first stop on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure is Victoria Falls. Check in to your hotel and acclimatise to your new surroundings, ready to bear witness to a formidable natural spectacle the next day. If you’re raring to make the most of your escape from the beginning, opt for a sunset cruise along the Zambezi River (fees apply).

One of the most emblematic sights of Africa, otherwise known as ‘The Smoke That Thunders’, you’ll have the chance to marvel at one of the most impressive natural sights in the world on Day 2. You’ll be taken on a tour of the Zimbabwe side of the falls: at over a mile long and 108 metres tall, it’s an awe-inspiring spectacle that you can’t help but be impressed by.

Day 3: Victoria Falls - Chobe Park

After a relaxing breakfast at the hotel, you’ll transfer at the indicated time and cross the border into Botswana. You’ll arrive in Kasane, the gateway to Chobe National Park. Spend the day at leisure, admiring the beautiful natural landscapes that surround you.

Day 4: Chobe National Park

Explore the vast Chobe National Park today on a full-day game drive. The park is famous for its enormous herds of elephants which bathe in the Chobe river, and there are also lions, buffalo and zebras to be found. In the late afternoon, you’ll be taken down the river on a boat cruise.

Day 5: Johannesburg

It’s time to leave Zimbabwe behind and embark on the next leg of your journey: you’ll transfer back to Victoria Falls and fly to Johannesburg, South Africa’s dizzying capital. . Spend the day at your leisure exploring the city and its diverse and vibrant neighbourhoods.

Days 6-8: Mpumalanga & Kruger National Park

From Johannesburg, you’ll make the three-hour car journey to Mpumalanga en-route to Kruger. Along the way, you’ll spot some of South Africa’s most iconic sights on the Panorama Route, such as Blyde River Canyon and the Three Rondavels. You’ll reach your hotel in Kruger by nightfall, and spend the first evening settling in.

Come morning, spend a full day basking in the glory of Kruger National Park. You’ll enjoy a full-day 4x4 game drive, starting early with breakfast on the go. Drive through the Southern Circle, home to rhinos and lions and keep your eye out for all manner of beasts, all day.

You’ll have one last full day in Mpumalanga to spend as you please: perhaps you’ll opt for another day trip to Kruger, and give another go at spotting elephants, buffalo, impalas, zebra, and more in their natural habitat (fees apply).

Days 9-12: Cape Town

An intense day of travel follows as you drive back to Johannesburg. Along the way, you’ll stop by to see the exterior of the Union Buildings in Pretoria, the official headquarters of the South African government. Then, you’ll fly to Cape Town (it’s around a two-hour flight) and once you’ve touched down, check-in to your hotel and rest up. The whole journey takes around seven hours, and you won’t be accompanied by a guide.

On your first full day in Cape Town, enjoy a hop-on, hop-off bus tour of South Africa's cosmopolitan capital, taking in some of the most remarkable attractions of the 'Mother City'. The next couple of days are yours to spend as you wish: why not take the Cableway and go up to Table Mountain, where you can enjoy one of the most breathtaking views of Africa's landscapes? There’s also a handful of optional excursions to choose from, including a visit to the Cape Winelands, and a full-day Cape Peninsula tour (fees apply).

Day 13: Otjiwarongo

Leave the cosmopolitan Cape behind today and fly to Namibia for the last leg of your escape. Touching down in Windhoek, you'll meet your expert guide and drive to the beautiful Otjiwarongo countryside. Depending on your arrival time, you'll visit a local craft market before spending the afternoon at leisure at your hotel. Free time here can be spent visiting the nearby cheetah conservation centre and Waterberg Plateau.

Days 14 & 15: Etosha National Park

Today, you’ll head to Etosha to visit one of the country’s most famous national parks, home to more than 114 mammal species and 340 varieties of birds. En route, you'll discover the ancient Himba village to experience the community's unique culture (please note, a mandatory fee of NAD 450 (local currency) must be paid here). It's not all game drives here though - when you're not getting your David Attenborough on, take a dip in your lodge's pool, surrounded by seringa trees and the natural bush.

The next day, you’ll head out on a once-in-a-lifetime, full-day game drive, where you'll have the chance to take in the stunning array of Etosha wildlife from an open-sided 4x4.

Day 16: Damaraland

Next up, you'll head to iconic Damaraland; a wild region characterised by dramatic landscapes, prehistoric rock art and desert-adapted elephants, for a stay in Twyfelfontein, home of the spectacular Twyfelfontein Rock - a UNESCO-protected site that's home to the largest collection of historic rock engravings in Africa. You’ll spend the night at a luxury tented camp in Twyfelfontein or a lodge in Damaraland, perfect for stargazing.

Days 17 & 18: Swakopmund

Today, you'll set off for Swakopmund, an idyllic coastal city with Instagram-worthy colourful buildings, beautiful sandy beaches and incredible seafood. On your way, you’ll stop off at Uis, where you'll take in spectacular views of the Brandberg Mountain (the highest peak in Namibia) and meet the resident seals of Cape Cross Seal Reserve. Spend the afternoon at leisure. (Meals: breakfast)

You have the next day to spend as you please, taking in all that Skakopmund has to offer; highlights include everything from dolphin and seal-spotting boat cruises on Walbis Bay to helicopter rides and quad biking over the sand dunes. Alternatively, take an optional Dolphine Cruise on Wavis Bay excursion (fees apply).

Days 19 & 20: Soussusvlei & Naukluft Mountains

Explore Soussusvlei's famous landscapes - a photographer's paradise with huge red sand dunes. Pass through Namib Naukluft Park and take in the breathtaking views of the Naukluft Mountains - where you'll spend the night.

The next day, you'll venture to the Dune 45, Deadvlei and the cavernous Sesriem Canyon, shaped by the Tsauchab River over millions of years. The journey to it is as spectacular as the final destination itself. Then, you’ll spend one final night in the Naukluft Mountains.

Days 21 & 22: Windhoek

You’ll spend the morning at leisure before transferring back to lively Windhoek for a city tour. You’ll learn more about Namibia’s enigmatic capital, and then after your final night, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight back to the UK.

The following optional excursions can be arranged directly with the supplier after booking:

• Sunset cruise on the Zambezi River on Day 1 (£70 per person)
• Guided tour of the Falls (Zambia and Zimbabwe sides) on Day 2 (£72 per person)
• 13-minute Angels Helicopter Experience over Victoria Falls on Day 2 (£182 per person)
• Adventure package in Johannesburg (full-day game drive in Kruger National Park, shark cage diving, and dunes quad biking) (£409 per person)
• Gastronomic package in Johannesburg (two meals at excellent restaurants, Bo-Kapp cooking tour, and Cape Winelands excursion) (£301 per person)
• Full-day safari in Kruger National Park on Day 8 (£107 per person)
• Winelands visit and full-day wine tasting tour on Day 11 (£93 per person)
• Full-day Cape Peninsula excursion on Day 12 (£100 per person)
• Dolphin Cruise on Wavlis Bay on Day 18 (£71 per person)