This 20-day camping tour guides you from Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe through Botswana and Namibia down to Cape Town. Optional lodge accommodation upgrade.
Okavango Delta
Orange River canoe trip
Victoria Falls
Chobe National Park
Etosha
Damaraland
Cape Cross
Sossusvlei
Fish River Canyon
Caprivi
The almighty Mosi-oa-Tunya ("The smoke that thunders"), also known as Victoria Falls, is over a mile in length and is the largest curtain of water in the world. Exploring this Southern African highlight is completed prior to the Southern Experience and day one see you leaving the town of Livingstone, on the Zambian side, and heading West to the Chobe National Park, Botswana's premier game viewing destination. After a stop over in the Western Caprivi, you enter the breathtaking Okavango Delta, one of the largest inland river deltas in the world and 15-000sq. kilometres of unique African paradise.
You spend two days of serenity travelling through swampy waterways in Mokoros, with dramatic photo opportunities and splendid animal & bird life. The next major stop is Etosha, one of the largest game reserves in Africa, famous for its impressive pan - a vast, shallow depression and over 114 mammal species. You move southwards onto Swakopmund, a true oasis on the west coast of Namibia, where you catch up on a bit of civilization before you head south again to experience the highlights of an ancient African desert. You see, amongst other attractions, the world's highest sand dunes at Sossusvlei. With heights of over 300 m photographic opportunity are spectacular especially at sunrise and sunset when sand dunes turn brick red. Another awesome space to reflect is the Fish River Canyon, Africa's second largest natural canyon.
From here, you continue southwards and find ourselves camping on the banks of the great Orange River and spending a full day exploring it by canoe. You cross the border into South Africa and travel through the magnificent Namaqualand, overnight in the Cedarberg mountain area and onto the much-anticipated Cape Town! Ample optional activities are available in Cape Town, Livingstone and Swakopmund. Please see relevant section within itinerary.
Day 1 Chobe National Park Depart Victoria Falls for Chobe National Park, Botswana. A mid morning departure takes you from Livingstone in Zambia by ferry across the Zambezi and onto Botswana (1 hour). The afternoon is spent on a sunset cruise game viewing in a part of Africa?s unspoilt wilderness, Chobe National Park. Chobe has an abundance of Game whose distinctive calls can be heard throughout the night. [LD]
Day 2 Caprivi Strip Western Caprivi, Namibia. Leaving Botswana, we drive through Chobe National Park before crossing over into Namibia and driving through the Caprivi to our camp on the banks of the Kwando River. In the afternoon you will go on a game drive to the famous Mudumo National Park. Mudumo is home to herds of red lechwe and the occasional sitatunga, while spotted-necked otter, hippo and crocodile are also found in these fertile waterways. [BLD]
Days 3 & 4 Okavango, Maun Caprivi to Okavango Delta, Botswana. We leave our camp on the Caprivi for Etsha, on the western border of the Okavango Delta. The next 2 days are spent exploring the network of water pathways through thick vegetation in mokoros (traditional dugout canoes) and speedboat. The Delta is a well-preserved gem of Africa with a vast oasis of crystal clear lake lets, lagoons and palm-fringed islands. [BLD, BLD]
Day 5 & 6 Okavango River Okavango Delta to Kavango River, Namibia. Leaving Botswana we make our way into Namibia and head along the Caprivi to Rundu and onto N'kwazi River Camp, which is on the bank of the Kavango River overlooking Angola. A sunset cruise, horse riding, traditional dancing in the evening as well as visiting a local village are optional or you can just put your feet up and relax on the banks of the river as the sunsets. [BL,BL]
Day 7-9 Etosha National Park, Namibia. The following morning we head off to Etosha National Park. We fill the next 3 days with game drives, which includes evening game viewing at floodlit waterholes. In the mornings we have the opportunity to take game drive at sunrise. At all three camps, Namutoni, Okaukuejo and Halali you can take a swim in the swimming pool or as the sunsets and late into the night the group can watch animals drink at the floodlit waterhole. [BLD, BLD, BLD]
Day 10 Etosha Kamanjab - Himba Experience, Namibia. We leave the wild animals behind at Etosha and move onto the spectacular scenery of Twyfelfontein. On our way we visit the small German town of Outjo where we relax for a coffee break. Our final destination for the day will be Kamanjab. Depending on the time of arrival we go and explore a traditional Himba Village that afternoon or the next morning. This will be a journey of culture exchange and learning and understanding of our last traditional tribe in Namibia, the Ova-Himba. [BLD]
Day 11 Twyfelfontein, Petrified Forest Petrified Forest and Brandberg (White Lady), Namibia. The Petrified Forest is next on the itinerary before reaching Twyfelfontein where we walk to visit the ancient bushman's artwork carved and painted into the surrounding Mountains. After doing this walk we head to our camp at the foot of the Brandberg Mountains. Later the same day we walk and visit the famous 'White Lady' rock painting in Brandberg. If the time doesn't allow that we'll postpone this walk until the next morning. [BLD]
Day 12 Cape Cross Seal Colony and Swakopmund, Namibia. We move westwards across the flat desert plains to reach the cold Atlantic coastline. As we follow the Skeleton Coast on our way to Swakopmund we visit Africa's largest seal colony at Cape Cross where zoom lenses and binoculars will definitely not be needed. [BL]
Day 13 Skeleton Coast Swakopmund, Namibia. We have the opportunity to explore this quaint German town by day and night. There are a number of activities to enjoy here: sand boarding, quad biking, skydiving and even fishing. You may even dare to brave the icy sea. [BL]
Day 14 Swakopmund Namib Naukluft National Park and Kuiseb Canyon to Sesriem, Namibia. Today is spent exploring the barren, arid, and sometimes rocky landscape of the Namib Naukluft National park. Once we reach Sesriem we camp in wide-open space under the countless stars. [BLD]
Day 15 Sesriem, Namib Naukluft Park Sesriem & Sossusvlei, Namibia. We visit the world's highest sand dunes at Sossusvlei. There is an option of taking the shuttle into the dunes (own expense). At sunrise these red sand dunes, which can reach heights of more than 300 m, are absolutely spectacular and provide for a fantastic photo opportunity. With luck there may even be water in the vlei (lake). [BLD]
Day 16 Sossusvlei, Sesriem Fish River Canyon and Hobas, Namibia. After a long drive we arrive at the Fish River Canyon and set up camp at Hobas. Later in the evening we take in another perfect African sunset with the magnificent views and scenery along the edge of the Canyon. [BLD]
Day 17 Fish River Canyon The Orange River, Namibia. We leave Hobas in the morning for Ai-Ais hot springs where we go for a swim and have lunch before departing for our camp on the banks of the Orange River, which makes up the South African - Namibian boundary. Here you can relax in the water that has supplied the region with its famous diamonds. [BLD]
Day 18 Orange River Canoeing on the Orange River, Namibia. The only traveling today is done in a canoe. Put your feet up and relax as the currents take you downstream - mind the rapids though! [BLD]
Day 19 Orange River West Coast of South Africa and the Namaqualand Flowers, South Africa. We cross the border into South Africa and make our way down the coast. If you are traveling in spring you will see the spectacular carpets of wildflowers of the famous Namaqualand region. Before you know it we reach the Cedarberg Mountains, where we?ll spend our last night. [BLD]
Day 20 West Coast Cedarberg Mountains / Cape Town, South Africa. A day drive through the mountains takes us to our final destination, Cape Town; we stop at the beach on the Atlantic Ocean to view Table Mountain across the Bay. [BL]
End: Cape Town Scheduled flights: Cape Town International Airport
Deluxe option: This itinerary can also be done as 9 nights chalet accommodation and 10 nights camping. Please enquire for the cost.
Rate includes Use of full camping equipment (except sleeping bags), 19 breakfasts, 20 lunches, 15 dinners, coffee/tea with the meals, transport on the tour, 2 nights in chalets and 17 nights camping, activities as per itinerary, game drives as per itinerary.
Rate excludes Meals not mentioned in the itinerary, all personal expenses, insurance for luggage, tips, drinks, laundry.
