Fly Stay Cruise - 17 Day Namibia Explorer with Chobe River Cruise & Victoria Falls
This package includes international airfares and flights will be added to your booking at no additional cost.
Enjoy an exceptional-value holiday that seamlessly combines return flights, pre- and post-cruise hotels and/or tours with a cruise—removing the stress of planning so you can enjoy every moment from departure to return.
For the true explorer, expedition small-ship cruising is the best way to get off the beaten track.This experience is not just about the ship’s creature comforts but very much the destination, its nature and wildlife. Daily shore excursions by Zodiac inflatable boats allow you to step onshore and explore. A world-class, expert expedition team will help you discover each exciting destination. Onboard you’ll enjoy informative and educational lectures. These trips will be a mix of fully guided or self-guided depending on your chosen package. There’s a land touring component with shared sightseeing and transfers.
This tour is categorised as 3 out of 5
Balanced exploration with walking tours: Our most popular style, this tour offers a good mix of planned activities and free time. Expect moderate daily walking tours, so pack comfortable shoes.
As a general requirement across all of our trips, you may be required to walk up and down stairs, get on and off transportation, handle your own luggage, and participate in all scheduled sightseeing that may be conducted on uneven ground and terrain. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability and where required, supporting documentation may be requested to ensure that we are comfortable that you will enjoy your trip.
✓ Return international airfares
✓ 15 nights accommodation including 3 nights cruising onboard Zambezi Queen on the Chobe River
✓ 1-night pre-tour stay at the 5-star Fairlawns Boutique Hotel, Johannesburg
✓ 2 nights Victoria Falls, 2 nights at the 4-star Kwessi Lodge in NamibRand Nature Reserve, 2 nights Swakopmund, 2 nights at the 4-star Etosha Oberland Lodge, plus stays in Windhoek
✓ Flights included: Johannesburg to Kasane, Victoria Falls to Windhoek, Swakopmund to Etosha
✓ All specified meals as per itinerary
✓ All airport transfers in Africa as specified
✓ Sightseeing and excursions as per itinerary, including game drives in Chobe and Etosha National Parks, guided Victoria Falls tour, visit to the Himba Living Museum, Sossusvlei and Deadvlei excursion and Swakopmund catamaran cruise
✓ Local English-speaking guides throughout
Inspiring Bonus Value
Namibia's most striking landscapes meet southern Africa's wildlife on this sweeping journey. Cruise the Chobe River aboard Zambezi Queen, marvel at Victoria Falls, sleep under NamibRand's famed night skies, travel the Skeleton Coast to Swakopmund, and search for the Big Five across Etosha National Park.
Today your southern African journey begins. Make your way to your local airport and board your included international flight to Johannesburg, South Africa. Sit back and relax as you travel overnight towards the start of your adventure. On arrival in Johannesburg, you will be met by a local representative and transferred to Fairlawns Boutique Hotel in the leafy Sandton neighbourhood. The remainder of the day is yours to settle in after your journey. Tonight is at your leisure, and you may wish to dine at the hotel or visit one of the nearby restaurants.
Special Information: Arrival airport transfers are included as part of your package. You will be met upon arrival at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Hotel check-in time is at 3pm. If arriving prior to this, you will be able to leave your luggage with hotel reception and explore your surroundings until check-in becomes available.
This morning after breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Kasane in Botswana. On arrival, transfer to the Chobe River, which forms the natural border between Botswana and Namibia. A tender boat will take you across to Zambezi Queen, moored on the Namibian side. Settle into your stateroom, enjoy a mid-afternoon snack and take time to explore the ship. This evening, join your fellow guests for a Welcome Cocktail Reception and Dinner on board.
Special Information:
Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.
After breakfast, set out on a morning boat safari along the Chobe River, one of Africa's most wildlife-rich waterways. Keep watch for elephants, hippos, buffalo and a wide range of birdlife as you glide through this remarkable ecosystem. Return to Zambezi Queen for lunch and enjoy a relaxing afternoon on the river, spending time on the sun deck or in the splash pool as the ship cruises along the Chobe.
Begin the day with another morning boat safari followed by a visit to a local African village on the Chobe River. Spend time with community members, including children and village elders, and learn about local traditions and culture. Return to Zambezi Queen for lunch and enjoy the rest of your time on board as the ship continues along the river.
This morning, disembark Zambezi Queen and set out on a full-day safari through Chobe National Park in open-top 4x4 vehicles. The park is known for having one of Africa's densest concentrations of wildlife, and you may see elephants, giraffes, zebras, sable antelope, warthogs and Cape buffalo. Keep watch for prides of lions, hyenas and, on rare occasions, cheetah. Enjoy a picnic lunch under the trees before continuing through the park. Later, transfer across the border into Zimbabwe and settle into your hotel in Victoria Falls.
Special Information:
Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.
After breakfast, join your local guide for a walking tour of Victoria Falls, learning about its history and the rich plant and animal life that thrives in the surrounding rainforest. The afternoon is at your leisure. You might like to browse the craft markets, take a stroll along the Zambezi riverfront, visit the iconic Victoria Falls Hotel for afternoon tea on the terrace, or simply relax back at your hotel.
This morning, take a guided walk across the Victoria Falls Bridge into Zambia, exploring the more intimate Zambian side of the Falls and visiting the historic town of Livingstone. Return to Zimbabwe with the afternoon at leisure, where you might like to relax at your hotel, browse the local markets, or take in the views of the spray from the Falls rising in the distance.
This morning after breakfast, transfer to Victoria Falls Airport for your flight to Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. The influence of Namibia's German colonial past can still be seen today in its architecture, street names and cuisine. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. This evening, your local guide joins you for dinner at the hotel, where you will be briefed on the Namibian adventure ahead and can ask any questions.
Special Information:
Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.
On your departure from Victoria Falls you will say goodbye to your guide, and your group will be met by a local guide in Windhoek, who will coordinate your activities and be reachable to assist you as needed.
This morning after breakfast, bid farewell to Windhoek and travel southwest towards the NamibRand Nature Reserve, one of the largest private reserves in southern Africa. Established in the 1980s to protect the region's red dunes, golden grasslands and mountainous terrain, the reserve is now recognised as one of the continent's great conservation success stories. On arrival at Kwessi Lodge, there is time to settle in and take in your desert surroundings.
Special Information:
Your travel time today will be approximately 6 hours.
Today, join a full-day excursion into Namib Naukluft National Park. Enter the park at sunrise to see the towering dunes while the light is still soft, with shadows accentuating their shapes and curves. This area is home to some of the highest free-standing sand dunes in the world. Explore the areas around Sossusvlei and Deadvlei before returning to Kwessi Lodge in the late afternoon.
After breakfast, bid farewell to NamibRand and travel northwest through the ever-changing desert landscapes of Namib Naukluft National Park, taking in the striking Gaub and Kuiseb canyons along the way. Reach the Atlantic coast at the port town of Walvis Bay, once a whaling station and a key stopover for sea travel between South Africa and the Netherlands. Continue north to the seaside town of Swakopmund, with time this afternoon to explore the town centre and wander along the waterfront.
Special Information:
Your travel time today will be approximately 6 hours.
This morning, join a catamaran cruise along the coast in search of the marine life that thrives off Swakopmund, including seals, dolphins and, depending on the season, Southern Right and Humpback whales. The afternoon is at your leisure. You might like to wander the palm-lined promenade, browse the shops and cafes in the town centre, visit the Swakopmund Museum, or simply relax and enjoy the sea air.
After breakfast, transfer to Swakopmund Airport for your flight to Etosha. On arrival, you will be taken to your secluded lodge overlooking the savannah. Time permitting, you may join a guided game drive into Etosha National Park, one of Africa's top safari destinations, keeping watch for elephants, lions, springbok, zebras and the elusive black rhino.
Special Information:
Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.
Begin the day with a morning game drive into the heart of Etosha National Park in search of more of the region's wildlife and bird species. After lunch, there is time to relax back at the lodge, where you can take a dip in the infinity pool and keep watch on the neighbouring watering holes for visiting wildlife. Later, join an afternoon game drive. You may alternatively choose to spend the full day exploring the national park with a picnic lunch included.
This morning after breakfast, travel east through the Namibian landscapes and villages. Along the route, stop in Outjo to visit the Himba Living Museum. The Himba are an Indigenous seminomadic people who continue to live according to their ancestors' traditions. Spend time with the community as they go about their daily routines and learn about their customs, including the distinctive red ochre paste applied to their hair and skin. Continue on to Windhoek, where the day concludes with a farewell dinner alongside your local guide.
Special Information:
Your travel time today will be approximately 6 hours.
After breakfast, it is time to farewell your fellow travellers and Africa. Join your scheduled transfer to Windhoek Airport for your homebound flight. Sit back and relax as you travel home with plenty of memories from your journey across southern Africa.
Special Information:
Departure transfers are included as part of your package. You will be collected from your hotel at the appropriate time and transferred to the airport to meet your flight.
Please note that hotel check-out time is at 12 noon.
Welcome home. Arrive back in Australia today following your overnight flight, bringing your Inspiring southern African adventure to a close.
Johannesburg – Begin your journey in South Africa's largest city with a relaxing pre-tour stay
Chobe River – Cruise aboard the intimate Zambezi Queen through one of Africa's wildlife-rich waterways
Chobe National Park – Set out on an open-top 4x4 safari through one of Africa's densest wildlife regions
Victoria Falls – Marvel at one of the world's most famous waterfalls and walk across the bridge into Zambia
Livingstone – Step into Zambia and visit this historic town on the banks of the Zambezi
Windhoek – Discover Namibia's capital, shaped by German colonial heritage
NamibRand Nature Reserve – Stay at Kwessi Lodge in one of southern Africa's largest private reserves
Namib Naukluft National Park – Explore the world-famous dunes of Sossusvlei and Deadvlei at sunrise
Walvis Bay & Skeleton Coast – Travel the dramatic Atlantic coastline of Namibia
Swakopmund – Take a marine catamaran cruise in search of seals, dolphins and whales
Etosha National Park – Search for elephants, lions, black rhino and more on guided game drives
Outjo – Meet the Himba people at the Himba Living Museum and learn about their traditions
Zambezi Queen
Designed specifically for safari river cruising on the Chobe River, Zambezi Queen is a 28-guest boutique vessel offering an intimate wildlife cruising experience along the border of Botswana and Namibia. With floor-to-ceiling windows throughout, staterooms feature private balconies and panoramic river views to help you make the most of every sighting. On board you will find a sophisticated dining experience showcasing regional cuisine, a relaxing lounge, a small splash pool, a spa service and an open-air upper deck, all designed to bring you closer to the wildlife and waterways that define this remarkable region.
Guaranteed Cabin - What This Means for You
Your cabin is booked on a Guaranteed basis. This means you're confirmed in your selected cabin category (or higher), however your specific cabin number will be allocated by the cruise line closer to departure. You may receive an upgrade at no additional cost, but cabin location and deck cannot be requested. Rest assured, you'll enjoy all the features and inclusions of the category you've chosen - the exact cabin details will simply be revealed a little later.
Included Cabin Type - Main Deck Stateroom
Main Deck staterooms onboard Zambezi Queen feature a private balcony with floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors, comfortable bedding configurable as a king or twin, an ensuite bathroom and individually controlled air conditioning.
Payment Information
Secure your trip with a $99.00 deposit per person.
Once we receive your deposit, we will send you an invoice with your remaining balance and payment options.
Instalment Schedule:
Cooling Off Period
This product is eligible for a 3 day cooling-off period.
Terms and conditions
Please review the terms and conditions here: Terms and Conditions
Starting Point
Your starting hotel may differ from the original itinerary. Please refer to your final documentation which will be provided approximately 14-30 days before departure for your confirmed hotel list. If you need to book pre-tour accommodation independently, we suggest you do this only once you have received your final hotel list for your tour. If you would like to book something sooner, we recommend that you book using a flexible rate that can be cancelled through your chosen third-party provider without penalty.
Travellers will arrive at various times throughout the day depending on flights booked. If arriving before standard check-in time, which is generally 3pm, you are welcome to leave your luggage at hotel reception and explore your surroundings until check-in becomes available as there are no scheduled activities on day 1 of the itinerary. The hotel may grant early check-in, however this is strictly subject to availability and at the hotel’s discretion.
Note: if you need to apply for a tourist visa before departure, we recommend using the details of the suggested hotel on the tour itinerary if you wish to fulfil this before the release of your final tour documentation. Please refer to our visa section for more information on whether or not a visa is required for your destination.
Arrival Details
Airport transfers are included as part of your package.
On arrival look out for a representative holding a sign with your name after you have collected your baggage and exited customs. If you cannot find them, try to avoid wandering around and instead stay in one place and call the emergency contact number on your documentation.
In Case of Emergency
Although we strive to deliver exceptional holiday experiences, unforeseen circumstances can occasionally arise during travel. If any issues arise during your tour, it's essential to promptly communicate them to your tour leader or local representative. This ensures they can take immediate action to address the problem and mitigate any negative impact on the remainder of your journey.
We understand that there may be instances where your tour leader or local representative is unable to resolve a situation to your satisfaction. In such cases, we encourage you to request that the tour leader or local representative escalate the matter to their direct manager for further assistance.
When your final tour documentation is released, this will include an emergency contact for our local travel partner while you are on tour.
Finishing Point
Your finishing hotel may differ from the original itinerary. Please refer to your final documentation which will be provided approximately 14-30 days before departure for your confirmed hotel list. If you need to book additional post-tour accommodation, please do so once you have the final hotel list. We recommend booking a flexible rate that can be changed or cancelled without penalty should there be any unforeseen changes to your booking.
Travellers will depart at various times throughout the day depending on flights booked. Check-out time is generally from 10am-12pm. You are welcome to leave your luggage at the hotel reception and spend your final moments of free time exploring the area or please speak with hotel staff if you would like to extend your check-out time. This service is subject to availability and will likely come at an additional cost payable directly.
Departure Details
Airport transfers are included as part of your package, at a suitable time you will be collected from your hotel and transferred to the airport.
Accommodation
All hotels listed are subject to change; any changes will be of an equal or higher standard. Bedding requests cannot be guaranteed and are always on a request basis with the hotel.
Bedding Configuration
Bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only. All efforts will be made to meet your preferences, but we can not guarantee your request will be available at all properties.
Single travellers
When booking this tour, solo travellers will be presented with two options:
1 - Single Supplement
By paying an additional $24,050.00 per person, in addition to the twin-share price, you guarantee the privacy of your own room throughout the entire trip.
Please note when choosing Single Supplement for this tour, your room will generally consist of a double or semi-double bed. Occasionally there may be a hotel that will provide a single bedded room for single travellers.
2- Shared Room with a known friend
If travelling together with a friend, you can opt to share your room with them and avoid paying a single supplement.
You and your friend can create a unique booking each. Creating a unique booking, gives each of you the flexibility of making different travel arrangements (such as adding extra accommodation, flights, etc), making separate payments and having individual access to our Traveller Hub
During the purchase path, you will need to provide your friend’s booking ID (if known) or at a minimum, your friend’s full name.
Itinerary Changes
Please note that as part of our commitment to constantly improving our passenger experience, there may be itinerary changes between the time of booking and when you travel. These changes are always made with your experience in mind and will be clearly communicated in advance if they affect your booking.
Trusted Travel Partner Tour
Your chosen tour will be operated by one of our trusted travel partners. These are meticulously crafted tours designed by established travel partners we know and trust. These tours offer a unique and exciting way to explore the world, packed with incredible sights and experiences
Documentation
Travel documentation is sent digitally 30 days before departure. No postal documents are issued. You must complete your cruise personaliser directly with the cruise line. We cannot complete this on your behalf. Visit the Know Before You Go section for guidance, and you will receive an email reminder when it is time to complete this.
Visas & Entry Requirements
Many countries require a visa and obtaining the correct visa for your tour and any countries you may transit through is your responsibility. We recommend you check your visa requirements as soon as you have booked your tour. This will ensure you have time to prepare your documents and for your visa application to be processed. You can check the visa entry requirements for your nationality via our page here:
https://inspiringvacations-8357211.hs-sites.com/visa-information
You’ll need a valid passport to travel internationally and most countries require your passport to have a minimum of 6 months validity, so remember to check the expiry date.
We need your passport information to get everything ready for your tour so the information on your booking must match your passport exactly. Please take care to provide the correct details. We recommend carrying a copy of the photo page of your passport while travelling and leaving a copy at home with family or friends.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is strongly recommended on all our tours. We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. It is also important to consider forced pre-tour cancellations and how your chosen insurance policy may cover such circumstances, so please keep this in mind when choosing your provider.
We strongly recommend all travellers have a policy that also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage or personal effects. For international tours, you will be asked by your tour leader for your travel insurance details if they were not already added to your Traveller Hub account pre-departure.
If you have credit card insurance your Inspiring Vacations tour leader or local guide may require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number, and emergency contact number rather than the bank's name and your credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details before arriving in-country.
Before you depart, you will be asked to submit your Travel Insurance details through the booking holder's Traveller Hub account through the Inspiring Vacations website. This is to ensure that we have this information readily available should we ever need it.
Official Travel Advice
To ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey, we recommend referring to the official travel advisory website of your home country for the latest updates on your chosen destination. These websites provide valuable information on:
Here is a help link to get you started:
In the unlikely event of a situation that could potentially disrupt your tour, we want to assure you of the following:
By staying informed and working together, we can ensure a fantastic travel experience for you. We will post our own travel updates to our website here.
Post-Tour Feedback
Once your booking is confirmed, you will receive a link to a post-purchase survey, which is your opportunity to share your feedback with us on your booking experience and interactions with our Sales and Customer Success teams. This feedback is invaluable to ensure that we are servicing our customers to the best of our ability.
Terms and Conditions
For the full terms and conditions for Cruises by Inspiring Vacations, please see HERE.
This is a flight inclusive package.
This package includes international airfares and flights will be added to your booking at no additional cost. Select your departure city after clicking ‘Book Now’.
Visit our Flight Hub for more information on terms and conditions, amending your flights and information on luggage allowances.
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