6th to 18th September  2009

 3.000 Km.

This etapa takes in some of the most extraordinary landscapes that southern Africa has to offer. From the harsh expanses of the Kalahari Desert, to the rich diversity of the Okanvango Delta and finally to one of the natural wonders of the world €“ Victoria Falls.

Your journey begins in Windhoek, a capital city that stands like an oasis on the edge of the Kalahari, it has retained much of its German cultural heritage with broad streets and bright clean churches, amid the bustling energy of an African city. It is worth spending a day or two just north of Windhoek at the Okonjima Guest Farm, part of the AfriCat Foundation, it is dedicated to the preservation of Namibia´s big cat population and provides a fascinating insight into sustained development allied with conservation. 

As you leave Namibia and cross into Botswana you will find yourself immersed in the Kalahari Desert, an experience that is both brutal and inspiring. While you experience the desert for yourself, take some time to find out more about the last remaining San tribes people that live here and you will being to appreciate just how well adapted they are to their inhospitable environment.

The Okanvango Delta is the polar opposite of the Kalahari, endless dusty sand transforms into lush green vegetation and the most incredible bird life you can imagine. It is worth taking the time to travel into the Delta itself, spend a night in one of the camps surrounded by all the nocturnal sounds and activities followed by a day travelling by mokoro through the channels of crystal clear water, but watch out for the resident hippos and crocodiles!
The Caprivi Strip is part of Namibia, but links the Delta with Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia. As you head north you will pass through the famous Chobe National Park which has incredible populations of elephants, along with all the Big Five and large herds of Kudu, Eland and other antelope. Botswana has always focused on high cost, low impact tourism so make the most of the luxury that surrounds the wildlife here.

You will hear the roar of the incomparable Victoria Falls, (or as the locals call them Musi-O-Tunya, The Smoke that Thunders), before you see the cloud of spray that hovers permanently over the gorge and finally witness the falls themselves. Here it is time to have some water based fun, with white water rafting, canoe safaris and fishing trips all readily available in the great, fast-flowing Zambezi River. 

Lusaka itself is a real taste of an African city, with the smells and sounds of street traders and blaring taxi music. If you prefer a slightly more tranquil end to your journey head for the nearby Lilayi Lodge, the park is full of game and birdlife with traditional accommodation in thatched rondavels.