Journeys: Kruger, Victoria Falls & Namibia
Experience Overview
Southern Africa is blessed with captivating natural wonders, and on this epic trip—covering South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe—you’ll get to check off much of your adventure bucket list. Get up close to the famed "big five" on thrilling safaris, feel the spray of one of the world’s most spectacular waterfalls, and explore the oldest desert on Earth by 4x4. Along the way, meet with researchers from National Geographic sponsored–organizations for insights on wildlife conservation, and spend time in townships and villages to learn about daily life.
Highlights
- Relax during a scenic drive along the famed Panorama Route
- Look out for the Big Five during wildlife drives
- Experience a traditional dinner
- Take in the dramatic Namibian landscapes
- Feel the thunder of Victoria Falls
Trip Details
Product Code: 2066
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Moderate
Transport: Air-conditioned touring vehicle, 4x4, open safari vehicle, plane, walking.
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
National Geographic Journey, Extreme Adventures
Tour Operator:
G Adventures
Supplier Code: DSVNG
Starts: Johannesburg, South Africa
Finishes: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Duration: 18 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Light
Includes
Activities
- Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Carnivore Conservation Experience, Karongwe Private Game Reserve Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Mondesa Township Walk, Swakopmund Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Cheetah Conservation Experience, Otjiwarongo Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Zimbabwean Family Dinner, Victoria Falls Your Foodie Moment: Boma Braai, Karongwe Private Game Reserve Your Discover Moment: Swakopmund
- Arrival transfer
- Panorama Route scenic drive with entrances
- Kruger National Park and private nature reserve wildlife safari drives in open vehicles
- Sossusvlei desert excursion
- Desert excursion with a local
- Sandwich Harbour & Skeleton Coast Excursion
- Full-day open-vehicle wildlife safari drive in Etosha
- Tour of Victoria Falls
- Internal flights
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Accommodation
- Hotel (6 nts), Lodge (9 nts), Comfortable tent or chalets (2 nts).
- 17 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 13 dinners
Transport
- Air-conditioned touring vehicle, 4x4, open safari vehicle, plane, walking.
Group Leader
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer), local CEO in Victoria Falls, local guides/rangers.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $10,699 ($594 /day)
Itinerary
Day 1: Johannesburg
Arrive at any time and transfer to your hotel. Enjoy a dinner with your fellow travellers tonight.
Our accommodation is in the Rosebank area, just north of central Johannesburg. The hotel is conveniently located, should you have additional time. Taxi's can be easily arranged to get you around.
Day 2: Johannesburg/Greater Kruger Area
Set out towards Kruger National Park via the magnificent Panorama Route, one of the world's most picturesque drives. Make stops at the dramatic Blyde River Canyon and Bourke's Luck Potholes, and take in panoramic views of the forest-covered valley from the God's Window viewpoint. Continue to our lodge near Kruger National park, savour a delicious South African Dinner in this picturesque location.
Day 3: Kruger National Park
Rise early and climb aboard an open jeep for a full-day safari in Kruger National Park—home to an extraordinary array of large mammals. Spot elephants, lions, giraffes, and perhaps elusive leopards as we explore this breathtaking wilderness of savanna and scrubland. Return to our lodge in the evening, where you can take some time to relax and enjoy the nocturnal sounds of the bush.
At over 19,000 sq km (7,500 sq mi), South Africa's Kruger National Park is one of the largest and most impressive animal reserves in the world. With 147 species, Kruger has more species of large mammals than any other park on the continent.
Day 4: Greater Kruger Area/Karongwe Private Game Reserve
Travel to the Karongwe Private Game Reserve, a pristine wildlife sanctuary located in the Greater Kruger area. Meet with a researcher from the Endangered Wildlife Trust's Cheetah Range Expansion Project—a program funded in part by National Geographic's Big Cats Initiative and managed by National Geographic Explorer, Kulani Nyakane. Sit back for a lecture and learn about efforts to protect the region's cheetahs and other carnivores. After, the researcher then joins us for a wildlife-viewing excursion through the reserve.
For the next two days, enjoy ranger-led morning and evening wildlife safari drives in an open safari vehicle in Karongwe Nature Reserve, searching for Africa's famed Big Five. With over 9,000 hectares (22,240 acres) of supreme African bushveld, Karongwe Private Game Reserve is home to many creatures, and our safari drives provide several opportunities for wildlife viewing.
We use various accommodations within the reserve (the location is based on availability). During your time here, you will either stay in lodge rooms or very comfortable permanent tents (both of equal quality and with similar amenities).
Day 5: Karongwe Private Game Reserve
Spend the day exploring Karongwe on morning and afternoon safaris with our local guides. Search for Africa's famed "big five" as we drive through the shrublands of the bushveld. Back at camp, relax on deck or take a walk around the grounds before enjoying a traditional South African dinner with your fellow travellers.
Wake up before the sun (around 5am) and sip your morning coffee before heading out on a morning wildlife safari drive. Return to the lodge for brunch and some leisure time. Converse on the deck, walk the grounds and gardens, and enjoy high tea. Following tea, it's time for a late afternoon safari drive. After spotting tons of wildlife, it's time to return to camp and freshen up before dinner, a traditional braai.
Day 6: Karongwe Private Game Reserve/Johannesburg
Embark on one last safari this morning, keeping a lookout for Karongwe's iconic inhabitants. Then head back to the city, where you'll enjoy dinner in our lodge.
Day 7: Johannesburg/Windhoek
Fly to Windhoek and transfer to your hotel. Enjoy free time to explore the Namibian capital this afternoon.
Day 8: Windhoek/Sesriem
Set off from the Namibian capital towards Sesriem, the gateway to jaw-dropping Namib-Naukluft National Park. Drive past red-hued desertscapes, stark camel thorn trees, and dramatic curved dunes while keeping an eye out for the astonishing creatures that call these arid lands home—the oryx, springbok, jackal, hyena, and more. Settle in to our lodge and relax poolside, watching a fiery crimson sunset over the desert.
Enjoy postcard perfect desert scenery around Sesriem and Sossusvlei - vast desertscapes of reds and orange, stark camel thorn trees and towering dunes with dramatic curved ridges. Also keep an eye out for the surprising amount of wildlife that call this area home such as oryx, springbok, jackal, ground squirrel and hyena.
Day 9: Sesriem
Embark on a thrilling excursion into one of Africa's largest national parks. Explore the Namib desert, the oldest desert in the world; and venture to the massive dunes at Sossusvlei and the white clay pan of Deadvlei. Capture dramatic images of dead camel thorn trees against a backdrop of orange dunes and a crisp blue sky. Then visit the Sesriem Canyon, a natural gorge carved out by the Tsauchab River over millions of years.
Day 10: Sesriem/Swakopmund
Continue by road through changing desert landscapes towards the coastal city of Swakopmund. Look out for roaming zebra, kudu, springbok, and oryx on the way and stop at a local bakery renowned for its delicious homemade apple pies. Enjoy one of these tasty, fresh baked treats before the group gathers with our local guide for the bushman walk through the desert. Along the walk, learn about the survival strategies of bushmen who lived in this inhospitable area thousands of years ago and search for the smaller wildlife that has managed to survive here, such as snakes, geckos, spiders, and an array of insects. Continue on to Swakopmund later in the day for free time, or join an orientation walk. Dinner will be at your leisure with options in town and at the hotel.
Day 11: Swakopmund
Rise early for breakfast at the hotel. Our local guide will meet the group there before beginning our excursion to Sandwich Harbour and the Skeleton Coast. Travel on scenic roads to Walvis Bay while our guide provides background information on the Namib Desert landscape and wildlife. After stopping at a few different viewpoints the group will enter Namib Naukluft Park, and depending on the tide, drive along the beach to Sandwich Harbour. Enjoy a deeper immersion into this ever shifting environment on an exhilarating 4x4 ride through the towering dunes. Stop for lunch along the route at a private location in the park to fully appreciate the desert meeting the ocean.
This afternoon, take a tour of Mondesa township with a local guide, learning about its people and history. Visit the local market for an introduction to traditional foods such as wild spinach, mopane worms, and dried sardines or kapenta. Stop by an arts and crafts shop; chat with the locals; and round off the day with dinner and a performance at a cozy family-run establishment.
Day 12: Swakopmund
Enjoy a free morning in Swakopmund, getting a taste of the town's unique Afro-German culture; or opt to try different activities like, sandboarding in the Namib desert, sea kayaking, or a fat tire bike tour of Old City Swakopmund. In the evening, come together as a group for an included dinner at the hotel.
Explore the town's unique mix of German and African culture and opt to visit curio shops, the museum and restaurants. Optional activities include sandboarding.
Day 13: Swakopmund/Etosha National Park Area
Depart from Swakopmund right after breakfast and travel towards Etosha National Park, arguably Namibia's most spectacular wildlife sanctuary. Stop in Outjo for a refreshing break in this charming town before continuing your journey to Etosha National Park. Opt to enjoy lunch at one of the local cafes or restaurants, savor a taste of Namibian hospitality, and stretch those legs. Continue onwards to our lodge, located outside of the park and spend the evening at leisure, or on an optional wildlife drive in the surrounding area.
Day 14: Etosha National Park Area
Spend a full day on safari in Etosha National Park, where open grasslands converge on a massive salt pan. Etosha harbours some of the largest populations of lions, elephants, and other endangered species, so keep your camera on the ready as you explore in your open vehicle. Enjoy lunch at one of the park's rest areas, where you can also take a swim; and sit back and watch all manner of creatures—including hundreds of species of birds—flock to the nearby watering hole.
After the vast desert, Etosha National Park, offers a contrast of wide open grasslands, a massive salt pan that covers 4731km² and tall camel thorn trees intermixed with Mopani trees. With a combination of natural waterholes, and diverse vegetation, wildlife flock to the park. Some of the largest elephants in Africa can be found in areas of thicker vegetation, as well as leopards. Lions, giraffe, ostrich and many antelope species can be found in the grasslands, while birders will love the salt pans which attract flamingos in the rainy season. More than 340 bird species have been counted in Etosha National Park including the European bee-eater, the kori bustard and numerous migratory birds.
Day 15: Etosha National Park Area/Windhoek
After breakfast, visit the Cheetah Conservation Fund, a global research and education center founded by National Geographic Grantee Dr Laurie Marker. Tour the facility to learn about the important conservation and community outreach work they do to protect the world's fastest land animal, and enjoy a talk by one of the researchers. Then head out on a drive through the grounds to meet some of the center's rescued and rehabilitated cheetahs. Continue to Windhoek for our final evening.
Day 16: Windhoek/Victoria Falls
Catch a flight to the town of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, named after one of the most powerful waterfalls on Earth. Visit a nearby village and go grocery shopping in the bustling market. Then sit down with a local family for dinner, helping your hosts prepare a traditional Zimbabwean meal using the ingredients you picked out, and hear stories about local life and culture.
The mist off Victoria Falls can rise to a height of more than 400m (1312 ft). Local tribes used to call the falls Mosi-o-Tunya or “the smoke that thunders.” Explorer and missionary David Livingstone renamed the falls after Queen Victoria when he first saw them in 1855.
Day 17: Victoria Falls
Set out for a tour of magnificent Victoria Falls. Scottish explorer David Livingstone named them after Britain's Queen Victoria, while their older, indigenous name is Mosi-oa-Tunya—“the smoke that thunders.” Opt to take a day trip to wildlife-rich Chobe National Park or enjoy a sunset river cruise.
Day 18: Victoria Falls
Depart at any time.
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
G Adventures
G Adventures is an operator of small-group escorted tours. It is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with 28 offices worldwide. It offers more than 700 itineraries in more than 100 countries, and carries 200,000 travelers from 160 countries each year.
In Business Since 1990
Reviews
Joseph - Traveled, June 2024
It was a great and wonderful experience, so much so that we now have a strong desire to see more of Africa! My first experience with G Adventures and I found the CEO's of each tour to be some of the best in the business.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/12/2024
Ingrid - Traveled, June 2024
Africa is an amazing place to visit. Our tour covered everything from local markets and foods to UNESCO heritage site, and one of the seven wonders of the world. My only regret is that I didn't cone to Africa sooner. We will be back and travel with G Adventures. Great CEOs, like Johan Noppes, Chris Ncube and Thembie Sibanda. They were knowledgeable, professional and always helpful
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/06/2024
Michael - Traveled, May 2024
It met my expectations and exceeded them in parts, like Namibia. I saw all the animals I wanted to see and will forever carry the memories. Overall, the tour was well put together, but in the end, it was a rushed experience in Victoria Falls with little cohesion as a group.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/24/2024
Soo - Traveled, May 2024
i had an amazing time enjoying the sights and experiences without having to worry about travel arrangements which was well taken care of. The trip was well organised, good accomodation and food, helpful and knowledgable guides.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/03/2024
Nona - Traveled, April 2024
A once in a lifetime adventure, a bucket list must do!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/24/2024
Judith - Traveled, April 2025
Our National Geographic G Adventures tour of Kruger, Namibia and Victoria Falls was a fabulous small group tour, with outstanding wildlife experiences, luxurious accommodation, great people and flawless organisation. I would recommend it to anyone Small group travel, superb wildlife experiences, luxurious accomodation, great people
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/11/2024
Carolyn - Traveled, April 2024
A wonderful experience. We are glad we went and will sing the praises of the trip to our friends. Depending on the person's age. Altho the physical grading is 'light', the roads in Namibia were horrific and very tiring on the body.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/05/2024
Alan - Traveled, April 2025
A wonderful, busy and intriguing adventure which surpassed our expectations. Well organized and great tour leaders. An excellent tour overall. we had a very good experience, with few issues.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/28/2025
Robyn - Traveled, August 2024
This was a trip of a lifetime and I can highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in a hassle-free, fun, and friendly adventure in Southern Africa. The CEO Gavin, was sensational: friendly, funny, and extremely attentive to all participants; I always felt that he was willing and able to address any concerns that could possibly arise.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/26/2024
Wesley - Traveled, July 2024
Was a great experience. Was a great and well organized trip
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/19/2024
Leslie - Traveled, February 2024
It was an excellent way to experience Africa. I would have liked to understand more of their current politics and the history. I should have read up more before the trip. every thing worked like clockwork. Our guides Gail, Dee and Princess were all excellent. The accommodations and food were better than I expected. Drives were a little long.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/22/2024
Ellen - Traveled, February 2024
A great introduction to southern Africa, with varied experiences - everything from safaris to dune adventures - and great guides. We especially appreciated the organization's commitment to helping the local communities. Everything has been great. I like the organization's way of operating, and the fact that you are focused on helping the community. I would definitely recommend the Africa trip to anyone who is active( but doesn't mind a lot of time sitting in planes, buses and jeeps), who doesn't doesn't mind the heat or packing and unpacking frequently.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/17/2024
Ronald - Traveled, February 2024
Excellent vacation experience with very few snafus. For Vip's who have done 5 G Adventure trips I think something like a T shirt would be a good idea supporting the company and it's corporate philosophy. Could be given when the introductions are done at start of trip. Passed G Adventure trip plus excellent trip this time.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/04/2024
Joan - Traveled, November 2023
It was fun, well organized and executed. We like the level of service, comfort and convenience The trip went well.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/16/2023
William - Traveled, October 2023
Amazing trip! Highly recommend! Loved the variety of activities. Amazing wildlife views. Fun hiking sand dunes. Victoria Falls was incredible. Really enjoyed Swakopmund Great guides and itinerary
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/10/2023
Janet - Traveled, October 2023
A very good trip but we would expect this for the price paid. Our experience over the three trips has made us realise that we like to travel with a more diverse group of travellers from other areas of the world apart from primarily USA & Canada.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/24/2023
Rhonda - Traveled, September 2023
I think overall G Adventures offer a wonderful experience and I would highly recommend them. A couple of tweaks here and there The variety of the experiences that were included in our itinerary. The experience and knowledge of our CEO
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/22/2023
Linda - Traveled, August 2023
Skip Namibia and promote South Africa and Victoria Falls. Long rides when air may be available.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/13/2023
Nancy - Traveled, July 2023
This trip met all our expectations and would recommend it to friends. Enjoyed small group ? 12 to 14 people is plenty per tour. Guides were all lovely people....would travel with any of them again. Enjoyed the "mix" of activities and opportunities to visit with local people. Satisfactory experience with a few mis-steps.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/17/2023
Epifania - Traveled, May 2023
Fantastic!! I enjoyed it so much I'm ready to go on another safari. Thoroughly enjoyed my trip. Learned so much about the animals from well versed guides and trackers. Accommodations were great. It was also good to have some interaction with local people and gain knowledge of their cultures and living conditions; i.e visit to Mondessa township in Namibia, dinner at a private home in Victoria Falls.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/03/2023
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