48 days in Zimbabwe, Namibia & Botswana Itinerary
Created using Inspirock Africa itinerary planner
Start: Perth, Australia
Fly
1
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
— 3 nights
Drive
2
Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
— 1 night
Drive
3
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
— 6 nights
Fly
4
Harare, Zimbabwe
— 5 nights
Fly
5
Namib-Naukluft Park, Namibia
— 5 nights
Drive
6
Swakopmund, Namibia
— 7 nights
Fly
7
Windhoek, Namibia
— 5 nights
Fly
8
Chobe National Park, Botswana
— 5 nights
Drive
9
Ngamiland East, Botswana
— 4 nights
Fly
10
Gaborone, Botswana
— 6 nights
Fly
End: Perth, Australia
Sun, Aug 14 - Fri, Sep 30
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Bulawayo, Zimbabwe — 3 nights
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A vacation in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second-largest city, offers a pleasant base for wider explorations of some of the country's national parks and game reserves.Get in touch with nature at Matobo National Park and African Wanderer Safaris. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Bulawayo: Matobo National Park - The Matopos (Matobo Hills & Cecil Rhode's Burial Place). There's lots more to do: stroll through Chipangali Wildlife Orphanage and Research Centre, walk around The Hillside Dams Conservancy, and examine the collection at Bulawayo Railway Museum.
To find where to stay, reviews, photos, and more tourist information, you can read our Bulawayo online vacation planner.
Perth, Australia to Bulawayo is an approximately 20.5-hour flight. Traveling from Perth to Bulawayo, you'll gain 6 hours due to the time zone difference. While traveling from Perth, expect a bit warmer days and about the same nights in Bulawayo, ranging from highs of 31°C to lows of 12°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 17th (Wed) to allow enough time to drive to Hwange National Park.
Side Trip
Find places to stay Aug 14 — 17:
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Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe — 1 night
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On the 18th (Thu), see exotic creatures in open habitats at a safari tour and then stroll around Hwange National Park.
Plan my day in Hwange National Park using traveler tips and tourist information provided by Inspirock.
Drive from Bulawayo to Hwange National Park in 5.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train; or do a combination of bus and taxi. In August, plan for daily highs up to 32°C, and evening lows to 12°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 18th (Thu) early enough to drive to Victoria Falls.
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Plan my day in Hwange National Park using traveler tips and tourist information provided by Inspirock.
Drive from Bulawayo to Hwange National Park in 5.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train; or do a combination of bus and taxi. In August, plan for daily highs up to 32°C, and evening lows to 12°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 18th (Thu) early enough to drive to Victoria Falls.
Find places to stay Aug 17 — 18:
Highlights from your trip
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Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe — 6 nights
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Victoria Falls, a Zimbabwean town near the eponymous waterfall, serves as one of two prime gateway points to the majestic cascade and its surrounding national park.Get outdoors at Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls National Park and River Rafting & Tubing. Spend the 24th (Wed) spotting exotic species with a safari tour. Next up on the itinerary: take a memorable tour with Tours, browse the exhibits of Prime Art Gallery, wander the wide-open spaces of Crocodile Park Victoria Falls, and learn about wildlife with up-close encounters at Victoria Falls Snake Park.
To find traveler tips, more things to do, where to stay, and other tourist information, read our Victoria Falls travel route planner.
Getting from Hwange National Park to Victoria Falls by car takes about 4.5 hours. Other options: drive; or take a train. In August, daily temperatures in Victoria Falls can reach 33°C, while at night they dip to 11°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 24th (Wed) so you can catch the flight to Harare.
Find places to stay Aug 18 — 24:
Highlights from your trip
Harare, Zimbabwe — 5 nights
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Sunshine City
Regarded as the nation's leading commercial, financial, and communications center, Harare attracts tourists with its modern architecture mixed with British colonial influence and traditional African flair.Escape the urban bustle at Imire: Rhino & Wildlife Conservation and Kuimba Shiri Bird Sanctuary. Take a break from Harare with a short trip to Gosho Park in Marondera, about 1h 30 min away. And it doesn't end there: Head underground at Domboshawa Caves, browse the exhibits of Shona Sculpture Gallery, relax and rejuvenate at Amara's Health Spa, and stroll through Twala Trust Animal Sanctuary.
Plan a trip to Harare easily and quickly by telling Inspirock to suggest an itinerary.
Getting from Victoria Falls to Harare by flight takes about 3 hours. Other options: drive; or take a bus. When traveling from Victoria Falls in August, plan for a bit cooler days in Harare, with highs around 29°C, while nights are about the same with lows around 9°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 29th (Mon) to allow time to fly to Namib-Naukluft Park.
Side Trips
Find places to stay Aug 24 — 29:
Highlights from your trip
Namib-Naukluft Park, Namibia — 5 nights
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One of the world's largest nature and game reserves, the vast Namib-Naukluft Park boasts sweeping desert and mountain landscapes, a diverse range of animal life, and the surreal Sossusvlei, a scenic saltpan sprinkled with towering red sand dunes and petrified acacia trees.Escape the urban bustle at Sesriem Canyon and Kuiseb Pass. Explore Namib-Naukluft Park's surroundings by going to Tropic of Capricorn Sign (in Solitaire) and Gobabeb (Gobabeb Desert Research Station & Dorob National Park).
For maps, reviews, and tourist information, go to the Namib-Naukluft Park day trip website.
Fly from Harare to Namib-Naukluft Park in 6 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of train, bus, and shuttle; or do a combination of bus and shuttle. You'll gain 1 hour traveling from Harare to Namib-Naukluft Park due to the time zone difference. Traveling from Harare in August, expect nights in Namib-Naukluft Park to be about the same, around 11°C, while days are little chillier, around 24°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 3rd (Sat) early enough to travel to Swakopmund.
Side Trips
Find places to stay Aug 29 — Sep 3:
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Swakopmund, Namibia — 7 nights
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Nestled on Namibia's Atlantic coast and surrounded by the sand dunes of the vast Namib Desert, the resort town of Swakopmund enchants visitors with its distinct German colonial architecture and pleasant climate.Take a break from the city and head to Safaris and Cape Cross. Change things up with these side-trips from Swakopmund: Walvis Bay (Walvis Bay Waterfront, Off-Road Tours, &more). Next up on the itinerary: stroll through Welwitschia Plains, identify plant and animal life at Wildlife Areas, examine the collection at Swakopmund Museum, and get interesting insight from Tours.
To find reviews, traveler tips, other places to visit, and more tourist information, refer to the Swakopmund trip builder site.
Use the Route module to find suitable travel options from Namib-Naukluft Park to Swakopmund. September in Swakopmund sees daily highs of 24°C and lows of 12°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 10th (Sat) to allow enough time to fly to Windhoek.
Side Trips
Find places to stay Sep 3 — 10:
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Windhoek, Namibia — 5 nights
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Located in the heart of the country, Namibia's capital city Windhoek receives a constant influx of tourists, in part because of its international airport.Get in touch with nature at NamibRand Nature Reserve and Safaris. There's much more to do: admire the striking features of Christuskirche, look for gifts at Wecke & Voigts, brush up on your knowledge of spirits at Naute Kristall Cellar and Destillery, and hunt for treasures at Namibia Craft Centre.
To see traveler tips, more things to do, reviews, and tourist information, refer to the Windhoek trip itinerary builder website.
You can fly from Swakopmund to Windhoek in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can take a shuttle; or drive. Prepare for a bit warmer weather when traveling from Swakopmund in September: high temperatures in Windhoek hover around 34°C and lows are around 16°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 15th (Thu) early enough to catch the flight to Chobe National Park.
Side Trip
Find places to stay Sep 10 — 15:
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Chobe National Park, Botswana — 5 nights
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A trip to Chobe National Park awakens the naturalist in every traveler and opens numerous possibilities for adventure.Visiting Savute Reserve and Serondela Reserve will get you outdoors. And it doesn't end there: stroll through Nogatsaa and Tchinga, take an exotic tour of Steenbok Safari, and get interesting insight from Livingstone Trails.
To see other places to visit, ratings, more things to do, and more tourist information, you can read our Chobe National Park trip maker site.
Traveling by flight from Windhoek to Chobe National Park takes 4 hours. Due to the time zone difference, you'll lose 1 hour traveling from Windhoek to Chobe National Park. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 20th (Tue) to allow enough time to travel to Ngamiland East.
Find places to stay Sep 15 — 20:
Highlights from your trip
Ngamiland East, Botswana — 4 nights
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Ngamiland East, a sub-district of Botswana's North-East District, is all about the wildlife and safaris.Get in touch with nature at NG/32 Okavango Kopano Mokoro Community Trust and Moremi Wildlife Reserve. Spend the 23rd (Fri) exploring at Okavango River. It doesn't end there: take a memorable tour with Safari Specialists.
To see maps, more things to do, and tourist information, you can read our Ngamiland East online tour itinerary planner.
Use the Route module to find suitable travel options from Chobe National Park to Ngamiland East. In September in Ngamiland East, expect temperatures between 39°C during the day and 19°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 24th (Sat) early enough to fly to Gaborone.
Side Trip
Find places to stay Sep 20 — 24:
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Gaborone, Botswana — 6 nights
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Planned as the capital after Botswana gained independence in the 1960s, Gaborone quickly transformed into a bustling city and the country's commercial center.Escape the urban bustle at Mokolodi Nature Reserve and Khutse Game Reserve. There's much more to do: see exotic creatures in open habitats at Maroon Tours & Safaris, contemplate in the serene atmosphere at ISKCON Gaborone, relax and rejuvenate at some of the top local wellness centers, and pause for some serene contemplation at Christ the King Cathedral.
To see maps, reviews, other places to visit, and more tourist information, go to the Gaborone route builder website.
You can fly from Ngamiland East to Gaborone in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. Traveling from Ngamiland East in September, you will find days in Gaborone are little chillier (34°C), and nights are warmer (34°C). Finish up your sightseeing early on the 30th (Fri) so you can travel back home.
Find places to stay Sep 24 — 30:
Highlights from your trip
Zimbabwe travel guide
Tourism in Zimbabwe experienced a boost after the country's turbulent recent history seemed to settle down. Waterfalls, "Big Five" national parks, and the Eastern Highlands provide contrasting but complementary images of southern Africa, with the growing tourism infrastructure helping visitors see the best of what the country offers. Though corruption and unemployment remain everyday problems, the vast majority of Zimbabweans are a welcoming bunch, proud of the natural riches and culture of their hopeful country.
Namibia travel guide
Land of the Brave
Since gaining independence from South Africa in 1990, Namibia has sought to rival its neighbor in terms of tourist appeal. While it hasn't yet gotten up to the numbers of South Africa, Namibia tourism sector has plenty to work with. The desert and mountainous areas represent a real source of appeal, with species of classic African game animals, such as desert lions, zebras, and elephants real highlights of safaris through the national parks. Namibians are rightly proud of their country, and the myriad traditional villages, colonial German towns, and lively urban centers all deserve your attention.
Botswana travel guide
Sparsely populated Botswana possesses some of the most unadulterated wilderness and animal-rich areas in Africa. Largely unfenced national parks allow the world's largest population of elephants to roam freely--these protected areas also shelter varied birdlife and many endangered and rare mammal species. Tourism in Botswana largely caters to visitors seeking luxury lodges and exclusive safari experiences, but expeditions into traditional villages are also strongly recommended. The preserved cultures of these agricultural settlements show a link between man and nature formed over centuries, a relationship that many visitors to Botswana come to reconsider in their own lives.
