Chameleon Holidays & Travel for Safaris & Vacations in Africa | Southern Africa | Namibia | Namibia to Livingstone - Camping Package Deal (11 days)

11 Day Namibia to Livingstone - Camping Package Deal - Bronze Level

Day 1       Chameleon Guesthouse, Windhoek - 1night accommodation
Upon arrival at the airport you are collected and transferred to the Chameleon Guesthouse in Windhoek, depending on the time of your arrival you may choose to wander into the city centre, or relax by the pool. Chameleon Guesthouse has a hotspot zone and you can use this facility to browse the internet while you are outdoors on your own laptop, or perhaps just sit and relax by the pool. Alternatively you join an optional township tour, enjoy a horse ride, or even head out for a birding trip. Overnight is in a twin room with en suite facilities on a bed and breakfast basis, all other meals will be at client’s expense.
Windhoek Capital City: Located within the Central Region of the country, Windhoek nestles in a basin surrounded by rolling hills, bounded by the Eros Mountains in the northeast, the Auas Mountains to the southeast and the Khomas Hochland in the west and with a population of around 250,000 people this small city has a laid-back ambience.  It is often described as having a continental atmosphere, mixing African lifestyle with European history; picturesque German architecture, European influenced restaurants and shopping malls combine with street-vendors make it unique.  Windhoek offers a wide choice of accommodation options, ranging from four-star hotels and homely pensions to backpackers establishments and campsites. Just outside of the city are a number of lodges and guest farms

Day 2           San Village, Gobabis - 1night camping
You will be collected between 07:30 & 08:00 from your accommodation and we drive to our wilderness bush camp, which is based on a local farm in the Kalahari, near Buitepos Border, via the eastern village of Witvlei. On arrival we first meet our host family before going to our camp site, meet our guides and pitch the tents. You are welcome to enjoy a relaxing afternoon, wait for the sun to set and enjoy a fire cooked dinner and the tranquillity of an evening in a remote wilderness environment. (BLD)

Day 3            Ghanzi, Kalahari, Botswana - 1night camping  
We start the day with a morning bush walk where we learn more about the Bushman hunting techniques such as tracking and stalking, the women and men will teach us about many edible plants, where to look for them and how they are used, e.g. contraceptives and healing. While on the walk you will learn how they gather food, start fire with sticks, about wind direction and how to get water from underground roots. The game tends to concentrate on the farm and our chances of spotting different species or spoors are enhanced by the sharp eyes of the Bushmen local guides. After lunch we leave, making use of the Trans Kalahari Highway, a relatively new road that provides an invaluable communication link between Namibia, Botswana and South Africa. After completing the immigration formalities we continue, through rural Botswana to the town of Ghanzi, located in the centre of cattle farming Botswana.  Ghanzi is located almost in the middle of the Kalahari Desert and was almost unknown before the Trans Kalahari Highway. (BLD)

Day 4         Okavango Delta Panhandle - 1night camping
An early start and a quick stop in Ghanzi to collect any last minute supplies before continuing west, traversing the linear dunes of the Kalahari and passing through small towns along the way. A change in vegetation heralds our arrival on the very western edge of one of the natural wonders of the world, the Okavango Delta.  Here we turn north for some way before again pointing our wheels west as we enter the Delta proper.  We see our first glimpse of the crystal waters through the lush vegetation and we make our camp on the banks of a pristine African lagoon. Overnight camping. (BLD)

Day 5           Okavango Delta Panhandle - 1night camping
We are in the territory of the river people, so this morning we leave our vehicle behind and travel in a more appropriate fashion, first by motorboat and then by traditional mokoro (dugout canoe), deep into the Delta.  Mokoros will be our main form of transport.  These amazing traditional craft are perfectly designed for the narrow waterways of the Okavango and allow us to travel further into the Delta than if we were using more modern forms of transport.  Mokoros carry three people, two seated passengers and one driver.  The driver stands in the rear of the canoe, (a real feat of balance), and uses a long wooden pole to propel and steer the mokoro through the twisting channels.  It really is the only way to travel.   Back to camp in the late afternoon for another night by the Okavango waters. Overnight camping. (BLD)

Day 6          Caprivi, Namibia - 1night camping
Back on the road today and our destination is Namibia, once passport formalities are completed at the border we go directly into the Mahango Game Reserve, a small but excellent park right on the edge of the Okavango River. We game drive our way through Mahango and have the chance to spot rarely seen Namibian species such as roan the majestic sable antelope. Our camp for tonight is just outside the Game Reserve, and we are again beside the Okavango, but this time the main river, on its journey from the Angolan highlands, through the pan handle to waters end, the delta. (BLD)

Day 7      Chobe National Park, Kasane, Botswana - 1night camping
We continue our drive along the Caprivi, this strip of land is a long narrow stretch of territory running along Botswana’s northern border. It is a landscape of broadleaf forest with many small communities dotted along our route, we near the end of our long transit of the Caprivi region, arriving in Namibia’s easternmost town, Katima Mulilo. A short break here before crossing back across the border into Botswana, the road takes us directly into the world famous Chobe National Park. Chobe has the world’s largest population of African Elephants and the chances of seeing some big game are very good as we transit through the park to the small town of Kasane.  We make camp in the grounds of a local lodge, right on the banks for the Chobe River. (BLD)

Day 8      Chobe National Park, Kasane, Botswana - 1night camping
An early hot drink before we head off on a leisurely game drive, exploring the wonders of the Chobe National Park by road. Game drives within the park offer the opportunity to view abundant elephant and other big game species up close, and there is also the possibility of an encounter with one of the large predators.Time to relax over lunch at our camp before joining a river boat cruise, back into the park.  From the boat we will have the chance to see a huge amount of wild game, both on the river banks and in the waters swirling around us. Crocodiles and hippos abound in the forbidding Chobe River and on the land side there is often a kaleidoscope of different antelope and species such as elephant, buffalo and even the Big Cats come to the river banks for their sundowner drink.  The Chobe River provides a very broad habitat for bird life and it is possible to see many beautiful species of our feathered friends. (BLD)

Day 9          Livingstone, Zambia - 1night camping  
Another border crossing today, we drive out of Kasane to the Kazangula ferry depot and complete our Botswana exit formalities.  We cross the Chobe on the local ferry boat, enter Zambia and from here it is a short drive to the town of Livingstone.  Named after the famous British missionary and explorer Dr. David Livingstone, the town is a bustling African centre, we make our camp on the banks of the Zambezi River and have time to explore the town and to visit the mighty Victoria Falls, the views of the waterfall from the Zambian bank are fantastic; there are many small paths and lookout points to explore.This afternoon your guide will help you organise the many optional activities available in Livingstone. These include white water rafting, bungi jumping, other excursions on the river and scenic flights to mention but a few.Dinner will be in a local restaurant at your own expense. (NB:  All extra activities are subject to availability and are done at the clients own risk and expense) (BL)

Day 10            Livingstone, Zambia - 1night camping
This is a free day for you to explore the area or to take part in optional activities.  It’s a wonderful opportunity to relax a bit after your trip. For some of you, this will be your final night and what a fantastic place to enjoy your last evening with your group. Lunch and dinner today, are not included in the price of the trip. (We recommend staying with the trip for this day and if you are departing from Livingstone, that you fly tomorrow) (B)

Day 11         End of safari - Flight
Depending on your flight time, you may have time to relax and take one last look around time before transferring to the Livingstone Airport (own expense) to catch your onward flight. End of services