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Namibian Elephant Herd

The African Safari

May 12-22, 2024
Eleven Days, Four Countries

This African Safari trip has been scheduled to provide a second opportunity to travel on our African Safari following the 2023 trip selling out in less than a week!

Introduction

After transiting through Johannesburg, South Africa, our unique overland safari begins at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, continues to the famous Chobe Game Reserve in Botswana, and then winds its way south through picturesque and wildlife-rich Namibia, including the historic Caprivi Strip, Etosha Park (home of the famous desert elephants and lions) and Bushman Land, and finally ends in Windhoek, Namibia’s lovely capital. 

 

Namibia is on Africa’s southwest coast. Sparsely populated, it is Southern Africa’s safest country, with first-class infrastructure, friendly people and enormous conservation reserves teeming with wildlife. On game drives, our open-air trucks and boats will put us right into the midst of the herds—we’ll hear and maybe even smell the wildlife. (No touching, please!) 

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May is the end of summer in South Africa. The rains have stopped, but the scenery is still lovely and green. The nights are getting cooler and daytime temperatures are, on average, around 75-79°F.

Itinerary

day 1 – may 11, 2024

Arrive in Johannesburg, South Africa, check into our airport hotel and relax before an early dinner and a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow we’ll take an easy one-hour flight north to legendary Victoria Falls, where our adventure truly begins.

day 2 – May 12

Our private guide will meet us at the airport at Victoria Falls. We’ll check into the Kingdom Resort and then explore the area with a cruise on the Zambezi River, listening to hippos and other wildlife grunt and splash. Dinner will be at Jungle Junction, where the menu offers local game as well as more normal fare, and we’ll be entertained by tribal dancing.

Day 3 – may 13

With our sighted guides, we’ll follow easy footpaths through the ancient rainforest to lookout points where we’ll stand in awe of Mosi-oa-Tunya, the Smoke that Thunders—Victoria Falls. The roaring water makes the ground tremble beneath our feet and dazzling clouds of mist float as high as the Empire State Building. We’ll also visit the open-air craft market, where we can barter for something special to bring home. Dinner at the Boma restaurant will include an African drumming show. Our optional adventure today will be an elephant encounter experience.

day 4 – may 14

Today we drive west to the Chobe Safari Lodge on the banks of the Chobe River in Kasane, Botswana. After lunch, we’ll take a game-viewing cruise on the river, where we may encounter elephant, lion, buffalo, hippo, crocodile, sable antelope and other wildlife. We’ll enjoy sundowners—evening drinks and snacks—on the river before returning to the lodge for dinner and a comfortable night’s sleep.

day 5 – may 15

Our next destination is Mahangu Safari Lodge on the Okavango River in Namibia’s Caprivi Strip. We’ll take a game drive through Mahango National Park and for lunch we’ll rendezvous with Sue’s husband Silvio at a private tent camp in the park. Today we’re likely to meet large numbers of elephant, hippo, Cape buffalo, impala, zebra, giraffe, crocodile and other wildlife, and we’ll drive beneath ancient giant baobab trees. Our optional extra this evening will be a sundown cruise on the river.

day 6 – may 16

We’ll continue driving west along the Caprivi Strip to the town of Rundu. We’ll visit a living cultural museum to get a better understanding of the local Kavango People. Then we drive on to our next overnight stop, Hakusembe River lodge, also on the Okavango River. Having covered some miles in recent days, we’ll chill out and relax by the pool. Our add-on option for today will be another sundowner river cruise. 

day 7 – may 17

Today we’ll meet the original inhabitants of Namibia, the San People, also known as the Bushmen. We’ll visit one of their villages, another living cultural museum, to learn about their unique culture and bush skills. Then we’ll drive west and south to Onguma Bush Camp, near Etosha National Park. We’ll spend two relaxing and comfortable nights here. In the evenings, we should hear lions grunting and roaring and the crazy laughing call of hyenas in the distance. Laundry service is optional.

day 8 – may 28

Our accommodations at Onguma Bush Camp are lovely two-room thatch-roofed cabins called rondavels, with full baths and all modern comforts and conveniences. We can relax by the pool today or (this is our suggestion) visit Etosha National Park on morning and/or afternoon game drives. Etosha, with its waterholes surrounded by white sands, is known around the world for its desert-adapted wildlife.

day 9 – may 19

We’ll hit the road—a paved road, Namibia’s scenic central Highway B1—for the drive south to Windhoek, the capital, located by design in the center of the country. Enroute, we’ll stop at the Okonjima Day Centre, where we can observe the Afri-Cat Foundation’s work and learn about predators such as the lion, leopard and cheetah, and their fight for survival. For our final two nights, we’re booked into the Windhoek Hilton.

day 10 – may 20

Today we’ll take in the sights of Namibia’s modern, bright capital city, Windhoek. We’ll browse the famous woodcarvers’ market; visit the Craft Centre, the Reiser taxidermy studio and Nakara Tannery & Leather Goods; and end with dinner at the city’s best-known restaurant, Joe’s Beerhouse, where we can sample local brews and enjoy more fantastic regional cuisine. 

day 11 – may 21 – departure

Our guide will see to it that we get to the airport in plenty of time for our flights back home. 

Package Price

$10,990 per person​ for double occupancy

$2,000 for single supplement

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$1,500 down payment to hold your space

$1,500 payment due October 1, 2022 (second part of the down payment)

Final non-refundable payment due March 1, 2023

Inclusions and Details

  • Flight from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls.

  • One sighted guide per client 

  • Two comfortable vehicles with no more than eight persons (clients and sighted guides) per vehicle.

  • All lodging, all meals.

  • Airport transfers, transportation, park fees.

  • Activities as listed, and Namibia’s 15% Value Added Tax.

  • Baggage handling at lodges.

  • The price does not include alcoholic beverages, personal shopping or guide gratuities. 

  • As noted above, additional excursion or activity fees may apply.

  • Accommodations in the Itinerary may unavoidably have to change due to availability. 

  • Mind’s Eye Travel recommends trip insurance. 

  • Our trips are non-smoking and not combinable with any other offer.

  • ​Until further notice, full COVID vaccination required.

Our Safari Map

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