July 6 – 21, 2012

This is the ultimate southern African safari. A small group of just eight travelers will cross a vast tract of Africa’s prime wildlife regions on a journey that evokes the classic safaris of old. 

• Explore Victoria Falls, the Namib Desert and the teeming waterways of the Okavango Delta.
• Tour out-of-the-way locales where we see far more big animals than people
• Stay in deluxe tented camps that are the apex of comfort and atmosphere in the bush.

Trip Itinerary

The dates below do not include travel time to and from the destination. Please consult our tour operator, Natural Habitat Adventures, to discuss your best flight options.

Friday, July 6, 2012: Livingstone, Zambia
Arrive in Livingstone and transfer to your wonderfully remote lodge set on the Zambian side of the Zambezi River, 11 miles upstream from Victoria Falls. River Club (D)

Saturday, July 7 through Monday, July 9: Linyanti Concession, Botswana
By road and ferry, journey to Botswana’s Chobe National Park, which is known for its vast elephant herds; its population exceeds 70,000 individuals! During a cruise down the Chobe River, it is possible to see 500 elephants in a single day. Waterbirds abound, including herons and storks, as well as hippos and crocodiles. This afternoon continue to the private reserve of Linyanti, the dramatic home of many big mammals. Elephants thrive in the mopane woodlands, especially in winter when they number in the thousands. Your camp is built on raised boardwalks overlooking a hippo-filled lagoon. Day and night drives may reveal the most-known large predators, as well as impala, zebra, giraffe, wildebeest, lechwe, tsessebe and other plains animals. DumaTau Camp (B,L,D daily)

Tuesday, & Wednesday, July 10 & 11: Southeastern Okavango Delta
Depart by light aircraft and journey to your deluxe bush camp bordering the acclaimed Moremi Reserve in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. The camp is a private oasis of luxury, with all the classic scenery one expects on an African safari – open floodplains, marshlands, acacia and mopane woodlands, riverine areas, and grasslands stretching to the horizon. The wildlife in this renowned corner of the Okavango is as diverse as it is prolific, from elephants and impalas to lions and wild dogs. Chitabe Camp (B,L,D daily)

Thursday & Friday, July 12& 13: Okavango Delta
Transfer by light aircraft into the heart of the shimmering Okavango Delta. Here, the river pours over the sands of the Kalahari in a green maze of canals and lagoons, sustaining a profusion of wildlife. Stay in solitude at a camp in the Moremi Reserve. Water is present year-round, and you’ll glide silently in a mokoro (a traditional dugout canoe) to spy on a host of animals and birds on the banks. Xigera Camp (B,L,D daily)

Saturday & Sunday, July 14& 15: Etosha National Park, Namibia
Fly over dramatic desert landscapes to Etosha National Park in Namibia (clearing customs en route). Your bush camp is set on an extensive private reserve, with access to the country’s best wildlife viewing. Etosha is an ancient lake bed where perennial springs draw a plethora of animals. Take day and night drives and walks, and watch animals up close from hides. A variety of species reside here, including black and white rhinos, elephants, lions, cheetahs, gemsbok and springbok. Ongava Tented Camp (B,L,D daily)

Monday & Tuesday, July 16& 17: Damaraland
Drive south to Damaraland Camp on the northern bank of the Huab River Valley and looking south toward the imposing Brandberg Mountains. The region’s endless rock vistas, rolling plains, ancient valleys and soaring peaks provide a wildlife experience like no other. Here, the stark desert is cooled by early-morning mists from the coast. Explore the austere and rocky terrain on foot and by four-wheel-drive vehicles, tracking the uniquely desert-adapted elephants and watching for ostriches. Damaraland Camp (B,L,D daily)

Wednesday, & Thursday, July 18& 19: Sossusvlei Sand Dunes
Fly to Sossusvlei, enjoying awe-inspiring views of the Skeleton Coast where the desert meets the Atlantic Ocean. Your destination is Kulala Wilderness Reserve, set amid massive gold-orange dunes that rise at least 1,000 feet from the floor of the oldest desert in the world. Amid this arid clime you may find springbok, gemsbok, ostriches, bat-eared foxes and aardwolves. Discover the desert’s quiet magic on short walks and safari drives, returning to the comfort of your camp for matchless sunsets and stargazing. Little Kulala (B,L,D daily)

Friday, July 20: Windhoek, Namibia
Depart the Great Sand Sea and enjoy your final gazes upon the desert floor and mountains as you depart by air for Windhoek. Upon arrival, drive to the Olive Grove, a luxurious converted home with a wonderful view of the Klein Windhoek Valley. Namibia was colonized in 1884 by Germany, and its capital, Windhoek, still exhibits much of the German history in its wonderful colonial buildings and atmosphere. Olive Grove (B,L,D)

Saturday, July 21:  Windhoek / Home
Time permitting, explore Windhoek on a cultural city tour before transferring to the airport for flights home. (B)