The Namibian Explorer (Victoria Falls to Cape Town) 2011 

We depart London on Day 1 on an overnight flight to Johannesburg arriving on Day 2. We transfer to a business class flight to Livingstone, where, on arrival, we travel to the elegant 5-star Victoria Falls Hotel for an overnight stay. This afternoon is at leisure and you have the opportunity to take a helicopter flight for a bird's eye view of Victoria Falls (pay locally). Tonight we enjoy a wonderful sunset cruise on the Zambezi River, after which we return to the hotel for our welcome dinner. (Day 2 - L,D)

This morning we take a guided tour of Victoria Falls, the "smoke that thunders" is one of the world's natural wonders and the largest "curtain" of water in the world. After exploring the Falls we take a private flight from Livingstone to Ondawanga, close to the Angolan border. From here we drive through the beautiful Etosha National Park to the Kempinski Mokuti Lodge for a two-night stay (B,L,D)

Etosha, meaning "Great White Place", is one of Southern Africa's finest Game reserves with abundant wildlife including elephants, giraffes, rhinos, lions, leopards and cheetahs. We spend a full day in Etosha National Park, enabling us to experience the contrasts of early morning and afternoon game drives. (B,L,D)

Today we leave the Kempinski Mokuti Lodge behind and drive south to Kransberg, where we board our luxurious hotel train, the Pride of Africa. After settling into your cabin, we enjoy a welcome dinner together on board as we begin our journey towards the western coast of Africa and the infamous Skeleton Coast. (B,L,D)

Walvisbaai, on the Skeleton Coast, is famous for the huge natural lagoon which hosts an abundance of sea birds including cormorants, pelicans, and flamingos and is perhaps the most important coastal wetland in Southern Africa. This afternoon we visit Swakopmund, with well preserved examples of German colonial architecture. There is an opportunity to take an optional flight (payable locally) over the Skeleton Coast, named as such for all the shipwrecks that are beached on the inaccessible and remote shores. (B,L,D)

Windhoek is the capital of Namibia and is located in a beautiful valley bordered by the Eros and Auas Mountains. After lunch on board the Pride of Africa we travel to Rehoboth and drive to Namibia's largest sand dunes. We spend a night off the train at the wonderful 5-star Sossusvlei Lodge. (B,L,D)

The Sossusvlei, Namibia's famous landmark, is a huge clay pan enclosed by giant sand dunes. Some of the spectacular hills of sand reach heights of 300 metres making them the highest in the world. The best time to view Sossusvlei is at sunrise when the colours are strong and constantly changing affording excellent photographic opportunities. There is an opportunity to pre-book an optional hot air balloon ride (payable locally) over the dunes during our stay in this area. (B,L,D)

Today we traverse some of the planet's most spectacular desert scenery before arriving at the coastal town of Luderitz. Just outside the town we visit the former diamond mining village of Kolmanskop, which is now a ghost town. (B,L,D)

Our journey continues on the Pride of Africa across the Namib Desert to Keetmanshoop, the capital of southern Namibia and focal point of the region's scenic and historic attractions. (B,L,D)

Today  we visit the historic oasis town of Upington. Located as the gateway to the harsh landscape of the Kalahari Desert on the banks of the Orange River in Northern Cape. (B,L,D)

The morning is spent in Matjiesfontein, a lush oasis in the Western Cape's semi-desert, which was founded in 1884 by the legendary James Douglas Logan. Matjiesfontein has become well known for its historical buildings and is a National Historic monument. The station and Victorian buildings were meticulously restored and a museum opened to document the unusual history of the village. We continue on our luxury train through Worcester to Cape Town arriving early evening. We spend the next three nights at the 5-star Victoria and Alfred Waterfront Hotel. (B,L,D)

Today we travel along the coast to Simons Town and visit the penguin colony at Boulders Beach. We then travel onto Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope to enjoy the inspiring views from the southernmost tip of the Cape Peninsula. Late afternoon we arrive back in Cape Town with time to explore before dinner. (B,L,D)

You have a day to enjoy Cape Town at your leisure. Take a stroll along the vibrant V&A Waterfront, with its great selection of shops, cafés and restaurants, or perhaps take the boat across Table Bay for a guided tour of Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned. Alternatively, take the cable car to the top of Table Mountain for breathtaking views over the city and the ocean or pick up some souvenirs at one of Cape Town's oldest markets in Greenmarket Square, whose stalls are laden with locally-produced arts, crafts and African artifacts. Tonight we enjoy a farewell dinner together at the hotel. (B,D)

Your final day in Cape Town is free until we transfer to the airport for our overnight flight to London arriving on Day 16. (Day 15-B)

B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
These meals, where shown, are included in the price of your holiday