Itinerary Include flights Expand all Day 1 Depart London. Depart London. Day 2 Arrive Cape Town. Those on the group flights will be taken to the hotel in Cape Town upon arrival. If you're not on the group flights we suggest you aim to arrive at the lodge in Cape Town by mid-afternoon. If the weather is good this afternoon there may be the opportunity for an optional excursion up Table Mountain via cable car. Table Mountain is often the first image that springs to mind whenever one thinks of Cape Town – the views across the city on a clear day are incredible. If the weather is not good enough this will be a free afternoon, with the opportunity to explore the famous V & A Waterfront. Sweetest Gusethouses or similar Day 3 Visit Cape Peninsula; afternoon wine tour. We generally begin today’s tour with a drive along the spectacular Chapman's Peak drive (please note, occasionally this drive is closed and we will have to go around it), via Houtbay. Continuing to the Cape Point Nature reserve, we have time to walk to the lighthouse and then along the boardwalk to the Cape of Good Hope. We then take a short visit to the Boulders Beach penguin colony and enjoy some lunch. In the late afternoon we visit a local wine farm – the area surrounding Cape Town is renowned for its wine and we will get a chance to sample some of the local produce. The order of activities in Cape Town is flexible as everything hinges around going up Table Mountain when the weather is best. Evening meals can be enjoyed at various restaurants on the beaches along the coast – Cape Town is a food and drink lover's paradise! Sweetest Guest Houses or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 4 To Olifants River. We leave Cape Town and travel through farmlands of citrus, maize, cattle and sheep as we start the journey towards Namibia. Our first stop is in the fertile Olifants River Valley, giving us a glimpse into the agricultural lifestyle of the Western Cape. (about 5hrs drive)Highlanders Lodge or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 5 To Orange River; afternoon optional canoeing. Today we drive to Orange River (5 hours + 1 hour border crossing), where Namibia's southern border meets South Africa. There is free time to relax this afternoon. Our camp for the night will be in a picturesque location on the riverbank. (450km, 6-7hrs)Felix Unite Cabanas or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 6 To Fish River Canyon; afternoon walk. In the morning we enjoy a canoe trip on the Orange River. It is not tough on the water and the trip gives us the chance to see the flora and fauna of the region as we drift by. We then take a short drive (3 hours) to the second largest canyon on earth – Fish River Canyon. The views from the canyon rim are spectacular and there is time for a short walk along it in the afternoon for superb sunset views.Canyon Mountain Camp / Canyon Lodge or similar* larger groups typically stay in two separate properties on this night due to the lack of accommodation options in the area - standards can vary and early bookers are assigned better rooms. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 7 To Sesriem. A day's travel along the edge of the Namib-Naukluft Park to Sesriem where we stay overnight outside the park. (550km, 8.5-9hrs)Little Sossus Lodge or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Day 8 Full day exploring Sossusvlei. We will leave our lodge early to spend the morning at the Sossusvlei dunes, one of the great sights of Africa. Whilst we cannot enter the park till sunrise, the early morning light on the dunes is still a spectacular site and it is worth getting up for. Those feeling energetic will have the opportunity to climb Dune 45. We will enjoy a picnic breakfast at the dunes. We take a 2km walk into the Hiddenvlei area (optional one way shuttle transfer instead). If we're lucky we may see gemsbok, ostrich or even black-backed jackals among the dunes, an irresistibly photogenic scene! In the afternoon we visit Sesriem Canyon.Little Sossus Lodge or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Day 9 To Swakopmund. A long, spectacular drive through Namib-Naukluft Park to Swakopmund via Walvis Bay to see, in season (summer), Flamingoes in their thousands. This national park, one of the largest in the world, is home to one of the driest and oldest deserts on earth. It contains some of the finest desert scenery in Africa, if not in the world, with towering jagged rock formations and incredible lunar landscapes. (300km, 4-5hrs)D'avignon Hotel or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 10 Free day to enjoy optional activities Swakopmund has invented itself as Namibia's adventure sports capital, and we have a full day in Swakopmund to enjoy some of the optional adventure activities on offer; go on a dolphin cruise or township tour or take a flight over the desert! Alternatively, explore the German-style town and visit some of the excellent cake shops for which Swakopmund is famous.D'avignon Hotel or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 11 To Brandberg; visit White Lady paintings. We leave the Atlantic coast behind and head inland towards Namibia’s highest mountain, Brandberg. We will enjoy a walk through valley 45 for approximately 2 hours to the famous ‘White Lady’ rock painting which, along with a number of other small paintings and engravings, are thought to have been left by Bushmen at least 2000 years ago. (250km, 4hrs) Brandberg Whilte Lady Lodge or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Day 12 To Etosha N.P. In the morning we drive north to Etosha National Park where some of the world’s best wildlife viewing can be found. We should arrive at Etosha, which means the 'Great White Place of Dry Water' in time to do a late afternoon game drive before arriving at our camp where there will be a waterhole for game viewing at night. (400km, 5-6hrs)Etosha Park Chalets or similar Meals included: Breakfast Days 13-14 Two days game viewing. We have two days to really enjoy this fabulous park with its mixed forest and grassland centred around a large salt pan. Etosha is home to a great variety and number of game, which is easy to find as the animals congregate at different times around the waterholes. There are waterholes next to the excellent campsites, and it is not uncommon for us to spend all night watching a gala performance of animals: wildebeest, zebra, impala, springbok, kudu, elephant, giraffe, lion and even rhino are all common sights here. Take plenty of patience and you will be rewarded by one of the greatest game spectacles in Southern Africa. Etosha is also a good place for birds, with plenty of waterbirds on the lakes and weaverbirds and hornbills in the trees. While in Etosha we move our camps (between Okaukuejo, Halali or Namutoni) but the itinerary is kept flexible depending on where the game is.Etosha Park Chalets or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 15 To Okavango River. Long drive through local villages to the Okavango River - the main watercourse supplying the Okavango Delta. (650km, 8hrs)Rainbow River Lodge or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 16 Mokoro (dugout canoe) ride on the Okavango. We take a mokoro (traditional dug-out canoe) ride from our camp on the Okavango River. Please note that in March/April, the river may be flooded and we may have to substitute our mokoros for a boat ride. The birdlife is prolific and, at certain times of the year, so is the game. Gliding through the waterways by mokoro is the ideal way to absorb the sheer peace and tranquillity of the place. We also have the option of a village tour to meet the local community. Rainbow River Lodge or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 17 To Chobe River. Drive through the Caprivi Strip and into Botswana to Chobe National Park area in Kasane, home to huge numbers of elephant and hippo. (400km, 5.5-6hrs, border crossing 1hr)Kwalape Lodge or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 18 Game drive and boat ride in Chobe N.P. Today we have an early morning game drive in Chobe National Park and an afternoon boat ride on the Chobe River where it is possible to view huge herds of elephant coming down to drink as well as many other types of game. For bird lovers, the river provides a home for the majestic African Fish Eagle and a number of species of brightly coloured bee-eaters. The area surrounding the Chobe River typically has the highest concentration of wildlife within the park as animals congregate here, particularly in the dry season (April to October).Kwalape Lodge or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 19 To Victoria Falls. After a leisurely breakfast we drive to Victoria Falls, a small town on the Zimbabwean side of the glorious Victoria Falls (entrance own expense US$ 30). The waterfall itself is majestic, the activities enthralling and the scenery of the Upper Zambezi beautiful. (100km, 1.5-2hrs plus border crossing 1-2hrs)Rainbow Hotel or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 20 Free day. Today you have a free day to enjoy the numerous activities on offer such as flights over the falls, white-water rafting, game viewing, or crossing into Zambia to see the falls from a different side (please note you will need a Zambian visa if you wish to go see the falls from the other side).Rainbow Hotel or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 21 Depart Victoria Falls. End Victoria Falls. For those on group flights, these depart in the evening and will arrive in the UK the following day. Meals included: Breakfast Day 22 Arrive London. Arrive London.
Botswana Vaccination against Yellow Fever is necessary if you are coming from a country with Yellow Fever, and you must bring a valid certificate of vaccination. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. Malaria prophylaxis is essential and we suggest that you seek advice from your GP or travel health clinic about which malaria tablets to take.
Namibia There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. Malaria prophylaxis is essential and we suggest that you seek advice from your GP or travel health clinic about which malaria tablets to take.
South Africa There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. Malaria prophylaxis is essential if travelling in the greater Kruger area and we suggest that you seek advice from your GP or travel health clinic about which malaria tablets to take. The rest of South Africa, including the Garden Route, has a low risk of Malaria. Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for Dengue, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
Zimbabwe There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. Malaria prophylaxis is essential and we suggest that you seek advice from your GP or travel health clinic about which malaria tablets to take.
Lodges & Guesthouses 16 nights in a hotel or lodge and 3 nights in a guesthouse. We will stay in a range of properties, usually 2/3 star lodges or chalets. All rooms are en-suite throughout the trip and we upgrade to superior rooms in Etosha. The location of the accommodation means there are slight variations in the itinerary between the Lodge and Camping departures. Because accommodation is very oversubscribed we cannot always guarantee a particular lodge or hotel, but in Cape Town we will stay within walking distance of restaurants and it'll be easy to catch a taxi ride to the V & A Waterfront (please note that in Cape Town the group might be accommodated in different Sweetest Guest House properties). Wifi is available about half the time but not always very reliable. Single supplement available Please note that due to the limited amount of accommodation within Etosha National Park, it may be necessary to sleep outside the park on some or all of the nights that we are there. This will not impact on the number of game drives that we have within the park.
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Reviewed November 2019 Paul Kelly Trip: Cape Town to Victoria Falls - Hotel/Lodge Cape Town to vic falls A great full on trip seeing loads of animals, meeting many different local people. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Visiting townships and meeting locals, especially the children who were genuinely pleased to see us. What did you think of your group leader? Very knowledgeable and caring, we were invited to a leaders home in a township for dinner, very good evening with singing and dancing. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Prepare for early starts, don’t pack non essentials, take $US and use atms.
Reviewed October 2019 Joanne McMullan Trip: Cape Town to Victoria Falls - Hotel/Lodge Cape Town to Victoria Falls Lodging Have just completed this epic journey and can honestly say it’s been one of the most memorable trips I’ve ever taken. It’s really more of an expedition than a holiday, but for that very reason delivers so much. We covered around 5600km in 3 weeks so that involves a lot of early starts and long days spent bumping about on dusty, rocky roads. The diversity of experience however makes it totally worthwhile - from the hustle and bustle of Cape Town to the red sands of Namibia and the quiet majesty of the Okavango Delta. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? For me, the most inspirational moment was when our guide Timon organised for us to have dinner with a local family in one of the townships in Swakopmund. I have never been made to feel so welcome by complete strangers in my entire life. The memory of the hospitality, good humour, excellent food and crazy dancing will stay with me to the end of my days. What did you think of your group leader? Timon was absolutely superb, demonstrating great patience, empathy and outstanding leadership throughout. Some of my best memories are as a result of the nights we spent listening to his stories from years of experience in the tourism industry - all told with such energy and genuine enthusiasm. He was also an exceptional cook - anyone who can rustle up Chicken A La King from the back of a truck in the dust and heat in the middle of nowhere gets my seal of approval! A real asset to Exodus. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Please, please come with an open mind and prepare to step out of your comfort zone. You will stay in a variety of places - some very comfortable, some less so .... they’ll all be clean and safe. That’s all you need. Also, take the advice of your guide/s. They are all well trained and know the conditions/circumstances on the ground. You’ll get so much more out of the trip if you just go with the flow and let them lead the way. Is there anything else you would like to add? Africa is a huge and diverse continent. There are sights and sounds you’ll never encounter at home, and some traditions and conditions that might make you uncomfortable. The landscape is incredible and the food is top quality, but for me it was the people who made my trip - from fellow travellers to our crew and the local people along the way. If you take the time to listen to their stories, your experience will be even richer. Oh, and finally, take more $$$ than the trip notes suggest - I think the amount recommended somewhat underestimates how expensive the countries visited actually are.
Reviewed May 2019 Kathleen Ramsey Trip: Cape Town to Victoria Falls - Hotel/Lodge An exciting three-week trip This was a wonderful introduction to Southern Africa. Although there were some long days travelling, the constantly changing scenery in Namibia was a delight, and we gained an appreciation of the vastness and emptiness of the country. The bus was noisy but not uncomfortable, and with eleven members of the party, there was plenty of room for us to move around. We had a brief introduction to the Cape Town area, then travelled north firstly through farmland in South Africa, and then through the wonderful Namibian desert scenery before spending a few days observing the wild animals in Etosha (Namibia) and then in Chobe (Botswana). Victoria Falls made a spectacular end to our trip. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? My main reason for choosing this trip was to see the desert landscape in Namibia and visit Victoria Falls, both of which exceeded my expectations. The scenery in Sossusvlei and Deadvlei was spectacular. However, I was bowled over by the variety of wildlife we saw on game drives in Etosha, and very much enjoyed observing the interactions between animals at the waterholes. What did you think of your group leader? Jonathan (our leader) and Molifi (our driver) made a good team. They were well-organised and despite being on duty virtually all the time, they were both unfailingly cheerful and helpful. They prepared some excellent lunches and suppers for us, and did their best to make sure that we got the most out of our African experience. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Unemployment is very high in Zimbabwe and most people are very poor; we left all our partly-used toiletries, dressings, basic medicines and even some clothing to be distributed by a local charity. Had we realised how short most people are of basic necessities, we would have made sure we had more with us to leave there. Zimbabwe is expensive and cash is not available from ATMs. The border crossing into Zimbabwe was frustrating, and we had to queue for well over two hours in the hot sun. Make sure you are adequately prepared for the wait (sunscreen, hats, drinks). Is there anything else you would like to add? The optional visit to a village settlement in northern Namibia was sobering but worth experiencing. On our free day in Swakopmund, we booked on the morning Living Desert tour, which was worth doing, despite the early start. We chose to go over into Zambia on our free day in Victoria Falls, to see the cascades from the other side. It was well worth the effort, as you can get closer to the falls and can climb down to the river side at Boiling Pot, as well as visit the top of the falls. Taking or hiring a waterproof can limit the extent of the inevitable soaking.
Reviewed November 2018 beverley wynne Trip: Cape Town to Victoria Falls - Hotel/Lodge Cape Town to Vic Falls We thoroughly enjoyed this adventure! Our driver guides Jonathan and Ante worked long hours driving us and cooking our food, they were humorous and informative keeping 16 of us in line. Our group was a great bunch which made the driving times (which are VERY LONG) quite fun. There is a lot of "Bushy Bushy" stops along the way. All the accommodations were great. The only complaint I would have is that the ":Stevie" bus was not Air Conditioned, it was a very HOT drive in the Namibian Desert with no AC. Also no one was told there would be an extra cost for the safari drives in Etosha Park which was $100.00 US each. I also feel the amounts of money in the Trip Notes is way off base, you will need a lot more than what is recommended. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Chobe and Etosha Park What did you think of your group leader? Both Jonathan and Ante were Fantastic Do you have any advice for potential travellers? See above notes
Reviewed August 2018 Sheena Rsentreter Trip: Cape Town to Victoria Falls - Hotel/Lodge An Amazing and Incredibly diverse Adventure This trip was the ultimate collection of culture, animals and sightseeing. From metropolitan Cape Town to the beauty and remoteness of Namibia's deserts and sand dunes, the thrill of game drives and the beauty of Victoria falls, this trip has it all. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Climbing Dune 45 in a sandstorm or feeling the rain of Victoria Falls covering you under a lunar rainbow were incredible highlights. What did you think of your group leader? I've been on many group tours and Andrew and Ende have to be some of the best guides I've ever had. Inspiring, hard working and patient as well as able to overcome anything Africa and her bumpy roads had to throw at us. These two were excellent. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? TIA. This is Africa. Be open to the fact that this country is incredibly different from where you might be from and enjoy every part of that experience. It's a completely different culture and world and embracing that gives you a one of a kind experience and memories that will last lifetime.
Reviewed December 2017 Sue Royal Trip: Cape Town to Victoria Falls - Hotel/Lodge An amazing overland adventure This trip lived up to our expectations and we thoroughly enjoyed it! The lodges and hotels were all very different and on the whole of a good standard. Beds were clean and comfortable. The journey is over 5000km in total, therefore includes long days, often over bumpy unmetalled roads. Included activities were varied and enjoyable. Some early starts but these were all for good reasons! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Climbing dune 45 at Soussosviel in the early morning followed by an al fresco breakfast What did you think of your group leader? Cesar was a genial and friendly leader who looked after us well. He helped us along the way, especially by facilitating the border crossings. His communication skills were good. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Think carefully about the distances involved. This is a classic overland trip and 5000km is what you sign up for. Check up on currencies for each country before you go. At present S Africa rand is readily accepted in Namibia. Take plenty of US dollars for Zimbabwe. It is an expensive country. Be prepared for regular early starts.
Reviewed May 2017 Janet Dalby Trip: Cape Town to Victoria Falls - Hotel/Lodge Cape Town to Victoria Falls - Lodge This was a fantastic trip. It involved a lot of driving through the virtually uninhabited desert of Namibia, along mainly unpaved 'corrugated' roads which provided a great deal of 'African massage'. Potential travelers should be prepared for this experience but the desert scenery is ever changing as are the colors. You certainly gain a very real appreciation for the size of the country. For me the first memorable activity was canoeing on the Orange River - so peaceful with amazing scenery! Fish River Canyon was also impressive. My only real complaint is that the Trip Notes mentioned that on Day 7 we would 'watch the early morning light creep over the dunes' at Sossusvlei. This proved to be impossible for two reasons - one is that the park gates do not open until 7:30 am (the sun rises at about 6 am) so it would be necessary to stay inside the park overnight, the second is that we had to drive about one hour passed the park to our lodgings, so adding two hours to our already considerable drive. We ended up climbing Dune 45 in the heat of the mid-day sun. Still an incredible (and very memorably hot) experience but definitely not what we had been lead to believe. Etosha National Park exceeded all expectations - especially at the water hole at Halali where we saw two families of elephants, rhinoceros and a leopard! Also a couple of honey badgers. Of course on safari we saw impala, zebra, giraffe, kudu, oryx, ostrich and many, many birds. Okavango Panhandle overwhelmed us with hippos. Chobe National Park also provided great safaris, hippos and many, many male elephants feeding at a reed bed in the middle of the Chobe River at sunset. Not to mention more birds. We were upgraded to a 5 star hotel in Victoria Falls and the Falls definitely lived up to their reputation. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The wildlife in general, the Halali water hole and the elephants in the middle of the Chobe River in particular. Also the Sossusvlei Dunes. We stayed at some really remote lodges in the middle of the desert. What did you think of your group leader? Nyasha and Sam were great leaders. It seemed they never stopped working - they shared the driving and the cooking and clean up duties, loaded and unloaded the luggage, fixed a flat tire and dealt with a vehicle that was swallowing oil at an alarming rate and had to be exchanged for another mid-trip, as well as dealing with our sometimes high maintenance fellow travelers. They seemed to have encyclopedic knowledge of the flora and fauna They always managed to be cheerful and patient with positive outlooks. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? If you are looking for a real African experience and have a spirit of adventure then this trip is for you. If you need to be pampered and enjoy lot of luxuries then perhaps you should pay more and choose another trip! If you decide to go, I would recommend you take the south to north option as the trip just gets better and better every day. Is there anything else you would like to add? I feel there should have been at least one more leader/driver/cook. I have no idea how Nyasha and Sam managed to hold it all together and they would never have been permitted to put in such long hours driving in the western world. There was a maintenance problem with this bus - I know this is a fact of life but it would have been good if the exchange of vehicles could have been made easier for everyone concerned.
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