VICTORIA FALLS, WINDHOEK TO CAPETOWN (20 DAYS)

Your tour begins today in the town of Victoria falls, home to the spectacular Victoria Falls. The bustling adventure town of Victoria Falls also offers a range of optional activities for those wanting a dose of adrenaline. For the more relaxed traveller there are craft markets to explore and a delicious high tea is on offer at the Victoria Falls Hotel.

This morning you will have the opportunity to participate in the many optional activities on offer in the town of Victoria Falls. After lunch, we travel the short distance to the Botswana border, crossing into Botswana and will arrive at our accommodation in the late afternoon, to set up camp on the banks of the Chobe River.

For those that opt to participate in the optional game drive in Chobe National Park, you will be collected early from camp and will venture out in open 4×4 safari type vehicles. You will return to camp in time for lunch and a quick siesta before we head out in the afternoon to explore the Chobe National Park from the river, enjoying a leisurely boat cruise which allows us an up close and personal experience with the many elephants that frequent the river in the afternoons.

The Savuti Game Reserve is a unique area bordered by the Okavango Delta to west and Chobe National Park to the east. Today is a long day as we spend most of our day travelling via the various sectors including the Savuti Game Reserve in search of the species that roam the plains. Expect some bumpy roads as we traverse this wilderness area in our 4×4 vehicles. Offering habitats from wetland, open water to the grasslands and Savannah woodland, we hope to see as many species of fauna and flora possible. This afternoon we will arrive at our camp in the Khwai Conservation area.

Heading out early, we transfer by safari vehicle, to the poling station, where we will meet the polers who will be escorting us into the Delta. The polers will steer us through the serene area of narrow, reed lined channels which open out onto beautiful lagoons. Reaching one of the many islands, a nature walk may be taken with your pole and after the walk, we return by mokoro through the channels back to the poling station. While the mokoro trail is not primarily a game viewing activity, a variety of game may be spotted in this pristine wilderness area, including elephant, giraffe, kudu, impala and zebra. After lunch, we will return to the Khwai Conservation Area for our afternoon game drive which will be conducted in open 4×4 safari vehicles. The game viewing routes chosen during the afternoon by the professional guide may vary especially when high floods are experienced as certain roads may be closed or impassable.

We will depart early this morning in our 4×4 vehicles and make our way to Maun, where upon arrival you will have the opportunity to go on an optional scenic flight over the Okavango Delta (time and weather permitting). In Maun, we will re-unite with our Nomad truck and will continue our journey towards the Ghanzi district in the central Kalahari. Tonight we get a first-hand experience of the San culture, well known for its rich traditions of song, dance and story-telling. The nomadic San are hunter-gatherers that have passed down a rich knowledge of the plants and animals that play such an important part in their lifestyle.

We start early this morning as we continue west and cross the border into Namibia, travelling onwards to the capital city of Windhoek. (Our accommodation for the night is situated halfway between the city and the airport).

Before taking aim for Etosha National Park, we will take a short walk through the city centre and have the opportunity to view some its better known landmarks. After our city walk, we have a full day of driving ahead of us and will reach the gates of Etosha National Park in the late afternoon. We begin with our first game drive as we enter the park and travel the short distance to our overnight rest camp for the night.

Etosha is the venue for some of the most unique game viewing experiences in Africa. Today we have a full-day to explore the edges of the Etosha Pan in search of the abundant wildlife that occurs in the park. Our truck offers us an elevated platform and we will spend some time at the many waterholes dotted throughout the park.

We will rise early and enjoy our last game drive through Etosha as we make our way to the gates and exit the park. Sit back and enjoy the scenery of rugged mountains and dry river beds.

The Brandberg (Burning Mountains) are regarded as the highest in Namibia and home to the famous White Lady, one of more than 45,000 rock paintings in the area. After reaching our destination for the day, we will make the ±2-hour return hike to visit the painting that is said to be around 2,000 years old. (Please be advised that the hike does traverse rough terrain along the gorge of the normally dry Tsisab River).

The massive granite formations of Spitzkoppe tower 700 metres above the desert plains below and the presence of rock art indicates their significance to the San people who lived here many years ago. We will enjoy a walk and have the opportunity to view some examples of the San’s rock art before setting off for the seaside town of Swakopmund. Swakopmund is well known for its many adventure activities, coffee shops and rich German influence. This evening you will have the opportunity to book some of the many exciting activities on offer.

Today is a free day to enjoy adventure, explore Swakopmund or simply enjoy a great bake at a local coffee shop. Swakopmund offers all the conveniences of a little city and there is something to keep everyone busy. This welcome brush with civilization is the perfect launching pad as we venture to the Namib Desert tomorrow morning.

Leaving behind the charms of Swakopmund we continue our journey to Southern Namibia and the Namib Desert. We make a short stop in Walvis Bay this morning before turning east towards the heart of the desert. Our afternoon will be spent with a local guide who will introduce us to the wonders of the desert environment. An early night is advisable as tomorrow will see us up as the dawn breaks.

Rising at first light we travel to Sesriem, the gateway to the Sossusvlei dune fields. We enter the park early and make a stop to climb the famous Dune 45. Having stretched our legs we continue deeper into the Dune fields and take a 4×4 transfer to the marvels of Sossusvlei. We take time to visit both Sossusvlei and Deadvlei, before bidding the dune field farewell. Our final stop before continuing to our camp is the interesting Sesriem Canyon, a remnant of much wetter times in this dry region.

We will have a leisurely morning before we pack up and turn east and head for Keetmanshoop. Today we spend most of the day driving onto our next destination.

Contrary to belief, the quiver tree is not really a tree, but a plant that can grow to between 200 – 300 years old. Our exploration continues this morning with a visit to the Quiver Tree Forest and Giants Playgrounds, named for the way in which the massive dolerite boulders have been placed on each other- creating rock formations and a series of mazes. We board the truck and travel south on the gravel byways of Southern Namibia on route to Ais-Ais. Famed for its hot springs the resort and its hot pools are the perfect tonic to ease away the dust of the Namib. The Fish River Canyon is one of the largest in the world and this afternoon we take a walk along the rim of the canyon and end our day with a memorable sunset on the canyon edge.

As dawn breaks we head out making our way to the Orange River and our final stop in Namibia. Our last night in Namibia is spent on the banks of the Orange River and the best way to experience the Orange River is by canoe. This afternoon you will have the opportunity to partake in an optional canoe trip on the river.

A final border crossing sees us enter South Africa this morning as we travel through the desert landscapes of Namaqualand on our way to the Cederberg region. If you are fortunate enough to be travelling in the spring months (July to September) you may encounter the wild flowers that have made this region famous. No matter the time of year though, the strange desert vistas offer a unique backdrop to this day’s travel. Tonight we enjoy a traditional meal and celebrate the many memories we have made.

The Cederberg region not only boasts spectacular mountains and orange farms, but it is also the home of the Rooibos bush. Indigenous to the mountain slopes of the Cedarberg, this herbal beverage has earned an international reputation as a healthy and refreshing alternative to regular tea. The Cederberg region is known for its mountain fynbos and spectacular views of the rugged Cedarberg Mountains. Nearing Cape Town, you will notice Table Mountain appear in the distance and we will stop to look at Table Mountain from across Table Bay. Your tour ends upon arrival in Cape Town city centre.