Namibia, Botswana & Zimbabwe Safari • JENMAN African Safaris

The Great Trans-African Lodge Safari

From the dunes of Namibia to the spray of Victoria Falls, this Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe safari traces a story written in dust and sunlight. Over 21 days, travellers journey across deserts and deltas, crossing borders that link three countries and some of Southern Africa’s most spectacular landscapes.

This is more than a safari. It’s a passage through sceneries that shift in colour and character with every sunrise. Days unfold between guided game drives, cultural encounters, and shared laughter around the campfire. Each departure tells its own story, shaped by the wildlife encountered, the guides who lead, and the friendships formed along the way.

“The guide was the thing that made the trip. He was involved, knowledgeable, and showed above and beyond for his role.”
– Anthony, Australian Guest

Windhoek, Namibia

Day 1

The journey begins in Windhoek, Namibia’s charming capital. After arrival and a warm welcome, travellers settle into their hotel, perfectly placed for exploring local markets and the small city’s blend of colonial charm and modern bustle.

That evening, guests meet their guide and fellow travellers for a briefing that sets the tone for the journey ahead.

Sossuvlei, Namib Desert

Days 2-3

After a night of rest, travellers head south toward one of the oldest landscapes on Earth. Sossusvlei.

Here, waves of red dunes surround the horizon. Guests have the opportunity to climb the famous Dune 45, explore the ancient pan of Deadvlei, or simply stand still and listen to the desert breathe.

An early morning wake-up rewards guests with one of the most unforgettable sights in Africa: sunrise over the towering dunes of Sossusvlei and the fossilised trees of Deadvlei. Evenings are spent beneath a clear sky, a time to sit beneath the stars and realise how far from ordinary they’ve come.

Namib-Naukluft to Swakopmund

Days 4-5

Driving west, the desert gives way to the cold Atlantic. Swakopmund greets travellers with sea breeze against warm skin, a small seaside town. Part German and part African coast.

A stop in Walvis Bay offers the chance to see flamingos feeding in the shallows before arriving in the seaside town. There’s time here to pause, walk along the shoreline, or choose from a range of optional adventures. Quad-biking across the dunes, sand-boarding, dolphin cruises, and scenic flights all reveal the desert from new angles.

Evenings belong to small coastal restaurants where seafood is fresh, the conversation easy, and the sea air carries a chill that feels almost foreign after the desert’s heat.

Swakopmund to Etosha National Park

Days 6-8

From Swakopmund, the road turns north to Etosha National Park, one of Africa’s greatest wildlife sanctuaries. While guests may not spot the entire Big Five here, the park offers remarkable diversity. Etosha’s vast salt pan, visible from space, draws animals from every corner. Lions lounge in the heat while herds of elephants move slowly through the dust.

Each lodge along the way has its own waterhole, perfect for quiet evening game viewing. Guests often gather after dinner, waiting by the firelight for the animals they’ve hoped to see to emerge from the dark.

“The game drives were the highlight of my trip.”
– Robyn, Australian Guest

Etosha to Okavango River

Days 9-10

Leaving Etosha behind, the journey follows the road north to Rundu and the banks of the Okavango River. Along the way, a stop at the Mbunza Living Museum introduces travellers to the Kavango people and their traditional ways of life.

The next day, the route continues east into the Caprivi region, Namibia’s greenest corner. The atmosphere shifts here, birdsong carried by heavy, humid air. Travellers explore floodplains by boat or visit local villages along the water’s edge, discovering how life unfolds beside these shifting channels.

Mahangu National Park and the Caprivi Region

Day 11

A morning game drive explores Mahangu National Park, part of the greater Bwabwata conservation area. Here, elephants move through thick woodland, herds of roan and kudu graze near the floodplains, and birdlife colours the sky.

By afternoon, guests return to Nunda River Lodge, their final Namibian stop, to relax and reflect before crossing into Botswana, where the dry deserts give way to wetlands, and the long-awaited Okavango Delta reveals itself.

Maun, Botswana

Day 12

Maun marks the gateway to the Okavango Delta. After days in the bush, the afternoon is free for rest beside the pool or for optional activities, such as a scenic flight over the Delta’s intricate waterways.

Greater Moremi, Okavango Delta

Days 13-14

The tour continues deeper into Botswana’s Okavango Delta. Guests have the opportunity to join a mokoro excursion, gliding silently while kingfishers flash between papyrus stems.

Later, open-vehicle game drives explore the Moremi Game Reserve, where predators and plains game share the floodplains. Evenings at the lodge are unhurried, filled with the sound of frogs and crickets, the glow of lanterns, and the steady hum of life that never quite sleeps.

“Too many highlights to list. The staff exceeded my expectations. Norbert our guide and both drivers were first-rate.”
– Ed, Australian Guest

Greater Moremi to Nata

Day 15

Further east, the landscape opens into vast salt flats that shimmer beneath the sun.

At first glance, the Makgadikgadi seems empty, but look closer and life appears. Meerkats warming themselves at dawn, kori bustards calling, ostriches crossing the horizon, and baobab trees standing like ancient guardians of the plain.

At the Nata Bird Sanctuary, flamingos and pelicans gather in remarkable numbers, a living contrast against the white flats. Travellers may visit nearby villages, walk with local guides, or take an optional quad-bike ride across the pans at sunset, when the air cools and the horizon burns orange.

Nata to Chobe Region

Days 16-17

From the stillness of the pans to the pulse of the river, Chobe National Park welcomes travellers with one of the largest elephant populations in the world.

Morning game drives reveal lions and buffalo moving through the grasslands, while afternoons shift to the river for a different view. Guests raise their binoculars as boats drift past elephants, crocodiles basking, and flocks of carmine bee-eaters streaking the sky. Sometimes the silence is broken by a camera’s click or an elephant’s trumpet, but more often travellers sit quietly, listening to the water sway and letting the moment unfold.

“We saw some amazing wildlife and experienced much more than I had expected. Blown away by the size of the elephant herds.”
– Susan, Australian Guest

Chobe to Hwange National Park

Days 18-19

Crossing into Zimbabwe, the Great Trans-African Lodge Safari enters Hwange National Park, one of Africa’s famed wildlife areas.

Days begin before dawn, as vehicles head out across the plains. By mid-morning, golden light catches giraffes, zebras, impala and kudu moving through acacia groves while predators prowl in the distance.

Guides share their knowledge of the land, identifying tracks, birds, and trees with ease born of years in the bush.

“First rate guide who had our interest at heart.”
– Marilyn, Australian Guest

Evenings at camp are defined by firelight, storytelling, and the distant sound of lions calling through the night.

Hwange to Victoria Falls

Days 19-21

The final days bring travellers to Victoria Falls, where the Zambezi River plunges into a gorge in a spectacle of mist and thunder. Locally known as Mosi-oa-Tunya, the Smoke that Thunders, this natural wonder marks the grand finale of the Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe safari.

Here, travellers can choose how to end their journey: a sunset cruise on the Zambezi, a guided walk, or perhaps a helicopter flight for a bird’s-eye view of the falls.

Whatever the choice Victoria Falls is a fitting finale to the adventure of a lifetime.

“We saw much more wildlife than expected. We never thought we’d see the painted dogs and such huge herds of elephants.”
– Douglas, Australian Guest

The Safari That Stays With You

As the curtain of water at Victoria Falls falls across the stage of Southern Africa, every Great Trans-African Lodge Safari writes its own story. The animals move, the seasons change, and no two sunsets ever look the same. What remains constant is the spirit of adventure and the care of the team that makes each day feel seamless.

A safari may take travellers to Africa, but few connect them to it.

“It was a great tour group, well organised, friendly, and full of moments I’ll never forget.”
– Gary, Guest from New Zealand

Email: info@jenmansafaris.com
Phone: +27 21 683 7826

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