16 Oct 2026
Twin share
£6,990pp
Single from £8,650
Escorted tour
Amazing Southern Africa: Cape Town to Victoria Falls – 23 Days
Four countries overland with no camping: Cape Town, Sossusvlei, Etosha, an Okavango houseboat, Chobe and Victoria Falls.
23 days
From £6,280
Tour overview
This 23-day small-group journey crosses four countries of southern Africa from Cape Town to Victoria Falls, combining Namibia's deserts with Botswana's wetlands and wildlife. Groups have up to 13 travellers aged 15 and over, with a leader throughout, travelling in a purpose-built overland vehicle. You stay 22 nights in comfortable accommodation, with no camping: nine nights in lodges, eight in hotels, three in permanent desert camps and two on a houseboat in the Okavango Panhandle with shared facilities. Twenty-two breakfasts, 16 lunches and 16 dinners are included.
After two days in Cape Town, you travel up the west coast to Lamberts Bay and cross into Namibia to a lodge on the Orange River. The vast Fish River Canyon, one of the largest canyons in the world, leads on to the Namib Desert. From Sesriem you rise early to visit Sossusvlei, where some of the world's highest red dunes surround the white clay pan of Deadvlei and its ancient dead trees.
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Crossing the desert to the Atlantic coast, you have free time in the seaside town of Swakopmund for optional activities such as sandboarding or a boat trip. In Damaraland you explore with a local guide, visiting the Petrified Forest and the rock engravings of Twyfelfontein, before two days of game drives in Etosha National Park, where rhinos, elephants and lions gather at waterholes.
After Windhoek you cross into Botswana via Ghanzi in the Kalahari to the Okavango Panhandle for two nights on a houseboat, with mokoro trips through the papyrus channels. Maun, the Makgadikgadi Pans with a three-course dinner under the baobabs, and a dawn game drive in Chobe National Park follow, before the trip ends at Victoria Falls.
The physical rating is medium, with long travel days on rough roads. This journey suits travellers with time to see the great variety of southern Africa in one trip, with a sociable group and no camping. Travelling overland lets you watch the landscapes change, from the fynbos of the Cape to the red sands of the Namib, the bush of Etosha and the papyrus of the Okavango, and the longer stays at key stops give you time to rest between drives.
Trip highlights
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The Fish River Canyon (Day 5)
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The dunes of Sossusvlei and Deadvlei (Day 7)
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Swakopmund on the Atlantic coast (Days 8–9)
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Game drives in Etosha National Park (Days 12–13)
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Two nights on an Okavango houseboat (Days 16–17)
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Chobe and Victoria Falls (Days 21–22)
Your route
16 stops from Cape Town to Victoria Falls
- Cape Town Days 1–2
- Lamberts Bay Day 3
- Orange River Day 4
- Fish River Canyon Day 5
- Sesriem Days 6–7
- Sossusvlei Day 7
- Swakopmund Days 8–9
- Damaraland Days 10–11
- Etosha National Park Days 12–13
- Windhoek Day 14
- Ghanzi Day 15
- Okavango Panhandle Days 16–17
- Maun Day 18
- Makgadikgadi Pans Day 19
- Chobe National Park Days 20–21
- Victoria Falls Days 22–23
Why choose this tour
Namibia, Botswana and Victoria Falls in one journey, staying in lodges and hotels rather than tents. Deserts, wetlands and big game, with a leader handling every border crossing.
Best suited to
- Travellers with time for a long trip
- Photographers drawn to deserts and wildlife
- Solo travellers looking for a sociable group
- Anyone wanting overland adventure without camping
Day-by-day itinerary
23 days from Cape Town, South Africa to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
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Day 1 · Cape Town Arrive in Cape Town
A welcome meeting at 6pm.
- Hotel
- Hotel
-
Day 2 · Cape Town Cape Town
A free day to explore Table Mountain, the waterfront or the Cape Peninsula.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 3 · Lamberts Bay Lamberts Bay
Travel up the west coast to Lamberts Bay.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 4 · Orange River Orange River
Cross into Namibia to a lodge on the Orange River.
- Hotel
- Lodge
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 5 · Fish River Canyon Fish River Canyon
Visit one of the largest canyons in the world.
- Hotel
- Desert camp
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 6 · Sesriem To Sesriem
A long drive into the Namib Desert.
- Hotel
- Desert camp
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 7 · Sossusvlei, Deadvlei Sossusvlei
An early visit to the red dunes of Sossusvlei and Deadvlei.
- Hotel
- Desert camp
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 8 · Swakopmund To Swakopmund
Cross the desert to the Atlantic coast.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
-
Day 9 · Swakopmund Swakopmund
A free day for optional activities.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 10 · Damaraland Damaraland
Head into the rugged landscapes of Damaraland.
- Hotel
- Lodge
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 11 · Petrified Forest, Twyfelfontein Twyfelfontein
Visit the Petrified Forest and ancient rock engravings with a local guide.
- Hotel
- Lodge
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 12 · Etosha National Park Etosha
Travel to Etosha for an afternoon game drive.
- Hotel
- Lodge
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 13 · Etosha National Park Etosha game drive
A 4WD game drive among Etosha's waterholes.
- Hotel
- Lodge
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 14 · Windhoek Windhoek
Drive to Namibia's capital.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 15 · Ghanzi Ghanzi
Cross into Botswana to the Kalahari.
- Hotel
- Basic lodge
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 16 · Okavango Panhandle Okavango houseboat
Board your houseboat in the Okavango Panhandle.
- Hotel
- Houseboat with shared facilities
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 17 · Okavango Delta Mokoro trip
Explore the waterways by mokoro.
- Hotel
- Houseboat with shared facilities
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 18 · Maun Maun
Return to land and drive to Maun.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 19 · Makgadikgadi Pans Makgadikgadi Pans
A baobab dinner by the salt pans.
- Hotel
- Lodge
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 20 · Kasane To Chobe
Drive the elephant highway to Kasane.
- Hotel
- Lodge
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 21 · Chobe National Park Chobe
A dawn game drive in Chobe.
- Hotel
- Lodge
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 22 · Victoria Falls Victoria Falls
Cross into Zimbabwe to see Victoria Falls.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 23 · Victoria Falls Trip ends
The trip ends after breakfast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Cape Town (2 nights) Hotel
- Lamberts Bay (1 night) Hotel
- Orange River (1 night) Lodge
- Fish River Canyon and Sesriem (3 nights) Permanent desert camps
- Swakopmund (2 nights) Hotel
- Damaraland (2 nights) Lodge
- Etosha (2 nights) Lodge
- Windhoek (1 night) Hotel
- Ghanzi (1 night) Basic lodge
- Okavango Panhandle (2 nights) Houseboat with shared facilities
- Maun (1 night) Hotel
- Makgadikgadi Pans (1 night) Lodge
- Chobe (2 nights) Lodge
- Victoria Falls (1 night) Hotel
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 9 nights in lodges, 8 in hotels, 3 in permanent desert camps and 2 on a houseboat
- Meals 22 breakfasts, 16 lunches and 16 dinners
- Purpose-built overland vehicle throughout
- Fish River Canyon, Sossusvlei and Deadvlei
- Damaraland with a local guide, the Petrified Forest and Twyfelfontein
- Etosha game drives
- Okavango houseboat with mokoro trips, a baobab dinner and a Chobe game drive
- Leader throughout
Not included
- Flights to Cape Town and from Victoria Falls
- Zimbabwe visa
- Optional activities in Swakopmund
- Tips, travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want a short trip — this journey lasts 23 days
- You dislike long drives — distances are large
- You want private bathrooms every night — the houseboat has shared facilities
- You want flights included — they are not
Good to know
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £6,280 per person, twin share, tour only. 30 upcoming departures.
23 Oct 2026
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£6,730pp
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11 Dec 2026
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28 Jan 2027
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£6,960pp
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05 Mar 2027
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02 Apr 2027
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14 May 2027
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21 May 2027
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04 Jun 2027
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11 Jun 2027
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18 Jun 2027
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25 Jun 2027
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02 Jul 2027
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09 Jul 2027
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16 Jul 2027
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30 Jul 2027
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06 Aug 2027
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13 Aug 2027
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20 Aug 2027
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27 Aug 2027
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03 Sep 2027
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10 Sep 2027
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17 Sep 2027
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24 Sep 2027
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£7,520pp
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01 Oct 2027
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£7,375pp
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15 Oct 2027
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£6,960pp
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05 Nov 2027
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£6,960pp
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10 Dec 2027
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£6,960pp
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Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
Is there any camping?
No. The desert camps are permanent camps with beds, and other nights are in lodges, hotels and a houseboat.
What is the houseboat like?
Small, simple cabins with shared facilities, for two nights on the Okavango River.
How long are the drives?
Some days are long, as distances in Namibia and Botswana are large.
Which countries do we visit?
South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe.
Is malaria a risk?
Northern Namibia, Botswana and Victoria Falls are malaria areas. Seek medical advice.
How many people travel together?
Up to 13 travellers aged 15 and over.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
ATOL protected
100% financially protected in a Trust bank account
PTS 6035
4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary