Majestic Victoria Falls,
Wild paradise of Caprivi and the emblematic wildlife of Etosha
Mosi – Oa – Tunya
The smoke that rumbles
From Victoria Falls to Etosha National Park
Majestic Victoria Falls
At the crossroads of Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia, the Zambezi River plunges into the fault that forms the border between Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Livingstone in Zambia. One of the seven natural wonders of the world, Victoria Falls is simply spectacular. During the rainy season, they form the world’s largest curtain of water, with a width of 1,708 metres and a height that can reach a maximum of 108 metres. On average, some 550,000 cubic metres of water flow into the fault every minute.
Eight gorges and several islands in the central area serve as breeding grounds for birds. The site features basalt from ancient lava flows, Kalahari sandstone and chalcedony. Artifacts of Homo habilis dating back three million years, and tools from the late Stone Age indicate occupation by hunter-gatherers (Bushmen).
Prior to their discovery by explorer David Livingstone, the falls were known locally as Mosi-Oa-Tunya, meaning ‘rumbling smoke’. The name hints at the immensity of the falls, which emit a thunderous noise and a thick cloud visible from 30 km away.
The site is naturally protected from the surrounding hustle and bustle by the rainforest that borders the gorge. This fringe of tropical rainforest, surprising in a rather dry environment, is created by the permanent humidity of the air saturated with spray from the falls.
You can walk the trails of Victoria Falls National Park, winding through rainforest and reaching viewpoints at the edge of the gorge. You’ll be greeted head-on by the glorious main falls as they surge into the rocky chasm below, causing tremors in the ground beneath your feet.
Contact us
Our travel packages
Etosha N.P.
A must-see ecological challenge in Namibia
Etosha is a huge fenced-in park, and the great migrations between wet and dry areas are no longer possible, but the wildlife can still move over considerable distances. Most of Etosha’s 3,000 or so elephants spend the dry season near waterholes along the southern bangs of the pan, then disappear at the start of the rainy season into the wooded areas. Wildebeest, Burchell’s plains zebra and springbok migrate between the vast eastern and western grasslands, as the rains fall.
Plus de 100 espèces de mammifères et plus de 400 espèces d’oiseaux ont été recensées à Etosha.
Fossils dating back 12,000 years attest to the presence of hippopotamus, sitatunga and tsessebe. Etosha was clearly an important evolutionary center. The bones of prehistoric species of elephant, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, crocodile and ostrich date back 6 million years. Perhaps the most unexpected discovery was that of a South African mammoth, discovered in 2007.
For many, Africa is all about the Big Five. Etosha is an ideal place to discover four of them, the only one missing being the buffalo.
European explorers Charles Andersson (Swedish) and Francis Galton (British) arrived in the region in 1851. They traded with the Owambo and quickly developed trade routes.
For some thirty years, Cuvelai was marked by clashes between the different peoples. The San and Hai//om were marginalized, oppressed, dispossessed of their land, actively exterminated and expelled in 1954.
In 1907, the German governor Friedrich von Lindequist conferred national game reserve status on some 100,000 km² of the cuvelai. In 1967, the South African parliament granted Etosha national park status, and the area was reduced to 22,000 km².
Following this period, due to extreme drought, war and hunting, the variety and density of wildlife was severely depleted. Today, thanks to extensive environmental and ecological management efforts, the rarest species and numbers have been able to thrive. However, the oribi, bushpig and guinea pig have disappeared, as have the buffalo, roan, sable and wild dog.
Contact us
Chobe N.P.
The northern region of Chobe National Park, known as the Chobe River Front, stretches along the river of the same name. Often referred to as Noah’s Ark, the Chobe River Front boasts a fantastic diversity of flora and fauna. Along its banks, huge herds of elephants and buffalo come to drink and bathe… If you’d like to enjoy a wonderful cruise at the end of the day on the Chobe River, you’ll have the opportunity to observe elephants, crocodiles, hippos… in exceptional conditions.
The small town of Kasane, at the gateway to the park, offers a range of facilities: bank, post office, petrol stations and a few stores for supplies.
Contact us
Chobe River Front
An unforgettable experience on the road to Caprivi
Very different from the rest of Namibia in terms of landscape, population and wildlife, this park is home to an abundance of fauna, as it forms a migration area between Botswana and Angola. Here you can observe large herds of elephant and buffalo, hippopotamus, antelope, numerous bird species and felines such as lions and leopards. The refuge is also home to the largest concentration of wild dogs, the wild dogs.
Contact us
Bwabwata N. P.
An unmissable Safari
One of the world’s most intact reserves in terms of biodiversity. The Bwabwata N.P. is rarely visited by tourists, but offers visitors an extraordinary adventure on a 4 x 4 safari drive, for the pleasure of the eyes, for photography and for observation.
Popa Falls
Where Kavango plunges into Okavango
A charming and peaceful place where the Kavango River in Namibia becomes the Okavango in Botswana.
| Itinerary Victoria Falls to Etosha |
|---|
| Zimbabwe Victoria Falls |
| Botswana Kasane – Chobe River Front |
| Namibia Nkasa Rupara NP Bwabwata NP Popa Falls Buffalo Core Area NP Etosha NP Otjiwarongo Windhoek |
Réservation
Reservations must be made well in advance, due to the small number of pitches at campsites and lodges. It is best to allow 8 to 10 months for this itinerary.
Travel insurance is compulsory for trips to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Reservation deposit: 30% of invoice amount.
Balance to be paid on the invoice due date, i.e. 2 months before departure.
Guaranteed start.
Price information
Prices are indicative. They include 4 x 4 rental vehicle with standard insurance and camping equipment, selected accommodation and meals, escort, entrance fees to reserves, selected activities.
Not included: flights, drinks, food and beverages not included in the selected accommodations, refuelling and self-catering, fuel, activities not included in those selected, tips, personal expenses, travel insurance.