Dunes to Falls: 21-Day Namibia, Botswana & Zimbabwe Safari

Dunes, deltas, and thundering falls – a journey to the wonders of Southern Africa

Some journeys leave a mark – not on a map, but deep within the heart. This 21-day safari, spanning from the glowing red dunes of the Namib and the water labyrinths of the Okavango Delta to the thundering cascades of Victoria Falls, is exactly that kind of trip. It is a journey that does more than connect places; it creates experiences that stay with you.

Welcome to “Dunes to Falls” – a unique group tour through Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe, led by experienced guides in a small-group setting with a deep respect for people, wildlife, and nature. Whether you are visiting Africa for the first time or have already fallen in love with this mysterious continent, this tour will enchant you.

The journey begins in the gentle bustle of Windhoek before venturing out into the vastness of the Namib Desert, where the wind shapes golden dunes and the gnarled trees of Deadvlei look like a painting. We continue to the rugged Atlantic coast, where flamingos dance in the lagoons of Walvis Bay and the cool sound of the ocean breezes through Swakopmund.

In Damaraland, you will walk in the ancient footsteps of the San, and in Etosha, you will witness lions, elephants, and giraffes coming to life at the waterhole. The journey follows the river’s path – through the fertile banks of the Kavango, into the green wonder of the Caprivi region, and on to the legendary Okavango Delta. There, you will glide silently in a mokoro canoe through reeds and water lilies, sleep in a bush tent under millions of stars, and experience nature on its own terms.

And as if that weren't breathtaking enough, the private reserves of Moremi and Mababe follow with world-class safari experiences. In the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, you feel as though you are on another planet – silent, vast, and surreal. Finally, we head to Zimbabwe, where the granite mountains, rhinos, and rock paintings of Matobo are as spiritually moving as they are visually stunning.

The grand finale? The thundering Victoria Falls – one of the seven natural wonders of the world. A place that overwhelms the senses, opens the heart, and reminds you once more of what Africa truly is: wild, beautiful, and deeply moving.

This trip is more than just a vacation. It is an experience. An invitation to travel slower, see more consciously, and dive deeper. It is designed for those who travel with open eyes and open hearts. Together with Ajimba African Tours and our partner Sunway Safaris, you will experience Africa intensely and get to know the people and projects that shape these regions in such a special way.

Are you ready to leave your footprints in the sands of the south? Then come along – from the dunes to the falls. Africa is waiting.

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windhoek

Victoria Falls

Terra Africa Guesthouse — windhoek — 1 night
Desert Camp/Namib Naukluft Soft Adventure Camp — Namib desert — 2 nights
Hôtel A La Mer — Swakopmund — 1 night
Brandberg White Lady Lodge — Brandberg/Damaraland — 1 night
Tarentaal Guest Farm — Etosha South — 2 nights
N'kwazi Lodge — Rundu — 1 night
Ngepi Camp — Caprivi (Mahangu) — 1 night
Mochaba Crossing — Maun — 1 night
Wilderness tent camp — Okavango Delta — 2 nights
Private bush tent camp — Mababe/Moremi — 1 night
Mochaba Crossing — Maun — 1 night
Nata Lodge — Makgadikgadi Pans — 1 night
Hermit's Peak — Matobo National Park — 2 nights
Miombo Safari Lodge — Hwange National Park — 2 nights
PheZulu Guest Lodge — Victoria Falls — 1 night

(please note that in exceptional cases, accommodation may be replaced by equivalent accommodation)

Travel prices 2026:
‍€4,390,00 p.p. in a double room
(plus US$ 300.00 on site payment)

EZ supplement: €800.00

(Sunway offers solo travelers to share tents/rooms with travelers of the same sex. There is no additional cost. Alternatively, you can book a single room for an additional fee.)

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🔹 Accommodation & Meals

• 20 nights in local-style accommodation:
  • 18 nights in permanent lodges, guesthouses, and chalets with en-suite bathrooms
  • 2 nights in a wilderness tented camp in the Okavango Delta (with camp beds, chemical toilets, and bucket showers)
• Includes 20 breakfasts, 18 lunches, and 13 dinners
  (Meals prepared partly by the accommodation providers and partly by the Sunway team)
• Drinking water, coffee/tea, and fruit juice with meals (as available)

🔹 Transport & Transfers

• All travel in a specially equipped safari truck with 12 seats and panoramic windows
• Selected excursions in open 4x4 safari vehicles (Moremi, Hwange, Matobo)
• Transfer to the Okavango Delta by vehicle & mokoro (traditional dugout canoe)
• Luggage transport (please limit to max. 12 kg in a soft bag + daypack)

🔹 Activities & Entrance Fees

• All national park and reserve fees as per the itinerary:
  • Namib-Naukluft National Park incl. Sossusvlei & Deadvlei
  • Sesriem Canyon
  • Etosha National Park (multiple game drives)
  • Mahangu National Park in the Caprivi Strip
  • Okavango Delta (incl. mokoro excursions and guided bush walks)
  • Moremi Game Reserve & Mababe Private Reserve (game drives in open 4x4 vehicles)
  • Makgadikgadi Pans (incl. Nata Bird Sanctuary)
  • Matobo National Park (incl. rhino walk & San rock art)
  • Hwange National Park (full-day safari in an open vehicle)
  • Victoria Falls (entry fees & guided tour)
• Windhoek city tour
• Visit to the Painted Dog Conservation Centre

🔹 Tour leadership & support

• Two experienced, English-speaking Sunway safari guides (with translation provided on German-speaking departure dates)
• Small group with a maximum of 12 participants
• Travel in the style of an active adventure tour with comfort – no pressure to participate in group activities, but some involvement is expected (e.g., helping with the dishes)

🔹 Highlights

• Overnight stays in carefully selected, predominantly locally-run lodges and camps. Along the route, you will get to know selected projects and initiatives, including:
  • Okavango Kopano Mokoro Community Trust
  • Matobo Rhino Trust
  • N'kwazi Education Project
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• This trip does not include stays at hunting lodges or any hunting tourism offerings.
• The trip price includes a climate protection contribution for flight emissions via our partner, atmosfair.

🔹 Additional Inclusions

• Pre-departure information materials
• Support with preparations (e.g., visa, packing list, vaccination advice)
• Insolvency protection certificate in accordance with German travel law

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🔹 International and individual arrival & departure

• Flights to Windhoek (Namibia) and back from Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)
• Airport transfers (can be booked on request)

🔹 Meals outside the program

• All meals not specifically mentioned:
  • 7 dinners (including Windhoek, Swakopmund, Maun, Victoria Falls)
  • 2 lunches (including in Victoria Falls)
• All types of drinks (except fruit juice, tea and coffee with meals as available)
• Personal snacks & drinking water (available along the route)

🔹 Personal expenses & optional activities

• Souvenirs, laundry service, tips for guides and lodge staff
• All optional trips, such as:
  • Helicopter flight over the Okavango Delta
  • Sunset cruise on the Zambezi
  • Visiting local craft markets
  • Bungee jumping or “Flight of Angels” at Victoria Falls

🔹 travel insurance

• Travel cancellation insurance
• International health insurance with repatriation
• Insurance for loss of luggage and trip interruption
  (Completion is highly recommended — Ajimba is happy to help you choose a suitable protection)

🔹 Entry formalities & visas

• Visa costs (if necessary; e.g. in case of multiple entries to Zimbabwe)
• Valid passport with enough free pages
• Vaccinations (e.g. yellow fever — depending on individual travel itinerary)

🔹 Local payment (mandatory)

• 300 US dollars per person, payable directly to the tour guide at the start of the tour
  (serves to cover national park fees, local transfers, cash costs and community-based projects)

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See dates. A large part of the departures are guaranteed. Otherwise, the minimum number of participants is 4 people

Availabilities:
✅green dates are available at ⚠️ Only a few places are still available in yellow 🔴 Red dates cannot be booked at the moment. However, it is often possible to book a waiting list. Sometimes seats are reserved only without obligation and are released again. Please contact us anyway if your desired trip is shown as booked out here.

Status:
empty -> Tour has availability, but the minimum number of participants (four guests) has not yet been reached.
1 or 2 guaranteed -> only one or two guests are missing to reach the minimum number of participants. With your booking, this could already be achieved.
guaranteed -> the trip takes place.

language:
German -> this tour is accompanied by an English-speaking expedition leader with translator or by a local German-speaking expedition leader.
English -> On this tour, the language is English.

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Detailed travel information

🔹 Travel style – Comfortable adventure travel

This safari is designed as an “Accommodated Adventure” – meaning it features fixed accommodations while maintaining an active, nature-focused character. The tour combines immersive nature experiences with the comfort of carefully selected lodges and camps.

🔹 Participation & Assistance

A certain level of participation is part of the travel experience. This includes:

• Carrying your own luggage
• Assisting with loading and unloading the vehicle
• Occasional help with washing up after shared meals

This shared responsibility fosters a sense of community and helps ensure the trip runs smoothly.

🔹 Vehicle & Travel times

• Specialized safari vehicle with 12 forward-facing seats
• Partially open 4x4 vehicles for game drives
• Some longer travel days are necessary to cover the vast distances in Southern Africa
• Travel times may be delayed by road conditions, wildlife sightings, border crossings, or weather

🔹 Luggage

• You are allowed one piece of luggage weighing up to 12 kg (please use a soft bag, no hard-shell suitcases!)
• Plus one daypack
• For the Okavango Delta , your main luggage must be left in Maun; you will need to repack for 2 nights there

🔹 Accommodation

• Fixed accommodation in lodges, guesthouses, and tents with en-suite bathrooms
• In the Okavango Delta: wilderness camp with camp cots, chemical toilets, and shared bucket showers with warm water
• Bed linen is provided everywhere, please bring your own towel for the Delta camp

🔹 Meals

• Freshly prepared meals by the tour guide and team
• Breakfast: cereals, toast, occasionally hot options
• Lunch: salads, sandwiches, cold platters
• Dinner: grilled dishes, stews, stir-fries
• Crockery & cutlery are provided
• Vegetarian and vegan options can be accommodated – please specify when booking
• Allergies are respected – selection may be limited in remote areas

🔹 Drinking water & beverages

• Water is available in local shops (not included)
• Fruit juices at breakfast, tea/coffee at breakfast & dinner included
• Additional drinks at your own expense

🔹 Insurance

• International health insurance with medical evacuation coverage is mandatory
• Travel insurance for luggage, cancellation & trip interruption is highly recommended

🔹 Visa & entry requirements

• Passport with at least 6 months validity and sufficient blank pages required
• Visa requirements depend on nationality:
  • Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe
• You will receive further information with your travel documents or from Ajimba

🔹 Health & Vaccinations

• Malaria prophylaxis is recommended
• Please consult your GP or a tropical medicine institute for vaccination advice
• Yellow fever vaccination only requiredif you are arriving from a yellow fever endemic area

🔹Trip style & difficulty level

• This trip is designed for active people with average physical fitness and a healthy sense of adventure. If you enjoy being outdoors, discovering new environments, and don't mind dusty roads, long drives, or basic sanitary facilities, you will thoroughly enjoy this tour.
  
  The itinerary is comprehensive – after all, we are covering long distances across three countries in 21 days. This includes some long travel days to experience the fascinating diversity of Southern Africa. At the same time, the tour offers plenty of time for outdoor activities, such as game drives, bush walks, or relaxing hours amidst magnificent landscapes.
  
  The accommodations are comfortable but not luxurious. Especially in remote areas like the Okavango Delta, you will experience the wilderness up close – with tents, campfires, and shared showers. That is exactly what makes this trip so appealing: pure nature, combined with comfort, safety, and respectful local interactions.
  
  Participants should be open to unexpected situations: road conditions, border crossings, or weather can affect the daily schedule – flexibility and a smile are the best travel gear you can bring.
  
  In short: If you are looking for an adventurous journey off the beaten path, this tour is perfect for you – and it will leave you with unforgettable impressions.

🔹 Age restrictions

• Minimum age: 12 years (when accompanied by an adult)
• No maximum age – participants over 65 require a medical clearance/self-declaration of fitness to travel
• This trip is suitable for active, healthy individuals with a spirit of adventure

🔹 Responsibility

• The trip supports numerous local initiatives:
  • SOS Trees Project (Mokoros in the Delta)
  • Rhino Trust (Matobo)
  • Educational projects (e.g., N'kwazi Lodge)
• All accommodations are locally owned or community-based
• Conscious route planning, waste reduction measures, and collaboration with local partners
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🔹Local payment

Amount: 300 USD per person, payable in cash to the tour guide at the start of the tour

🔹 What is the local payment used for?

The local payment is an integral part of the total price, but is paid in cash on-site because many services in Southern Africa cannot be paid by bank transfer or card . It is used by the tour guide directly to cover the following expenses:

• Entrance fees for national parks & reserves
• Camping & accommodation fees in particularly remote areas
• Cash payments to local partners and service providers (e.g., mokoro guides, community guides)
• Fuel costs in regions where cards are not accepted
• Local markets & stops where only cash is accepted
• Supporting community projects and conservation initiatives

🔹 Why not pay in advance?

Many of the places visited on this trip are very remote. There, you will find:

• No stable banking system
• No credit card terminals
• No way to make bank transfers

Paying in cash allows the organizer to work directly with small vendors and local communities – for example, with the SOS Trees Project in the Okavango or educational projects like the one at N’kwazi Lodge.

🔹 What should you keep in mind regarding payment?

• Bring only USD banknotes in good condition
  (no old, damaged, or torn bills – especially no series printed before 2013!)
• The amount must be paid in full and in exact change at the start of the trip
• Managed and utilized directly by your Sunway tour guide

Your benefit as a traveler

• Transparency regarding costs directly on-site
• You support local economic cycles and ensure immediate impact
• This allows Sunway to react flexibly to local conditions – for the benefit of the group

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