Desert Tracker (25 days) (Accommodated)

Itinerary

Discover desert, waterways and wildlife in Southern Africa

Starting in Cape Town this accommodated group tour will take you to the highest sand dunes in the world in the oldest desert, calm waters of the Okavango Delta and the thundering Victoria Falls as well as game driving in Etosha, Chobe, Matobo and Kruger National Parks. Experience some of Southern Africa's best highlights on this African adventure.

This tour combines with our Southern Explorer tour ending in Cape Town

Day 1. Cape Town to Western Cape Highlights. Cederberg, South Africa. Township Tour Cape Town, South Africa. Accommodation. Highlanders Camp, Cederberg.

Our overland safari starts in the cosmopolitan city of Cape Town, one of the world's most picturesque cities. Meeting with local guides, we take a tour of one of the townships, the Cape Flats and visit some of the local South African's and community projects in the area. This township illustrates both South Africa’s tumultuous history and its hope for the future, making this an interesting place to visit.

From here, we head north through the Western Cape region to our first night's accommodation set in a tranquil setting overlooking the Cederberg Mountains. It's here you have the opportunity to sample some wine of the region 1 images Cederberg, South Africa 3 images Township Tour Cape Town, South Africa 4 images Highlanders Camp, Cederberg

Day 2. Western Cape to Gariep (Orange) River Highlights. Orange (Gariep) River, Namibia. Accommodation. Felix Unite.

Leaving the Cederberg region behind, we travel further north through interesting Namaqualand scenery and if the time is right (August to October) you may get to view a spectacle of flowers at bloom. Our accommodation is based on the Namibian side of the Gariep (Orange) River. It's here you can enjoy a swim, sunset over the river and the stunning night skies of the Richtersveld. 3 images Orange (Gariep) River, Namibia 4 images Felix Unite

Day 3. Gariep (Orange) River to Fish River Canyon, Namibia Highlights. Fish River Canyon, Namibia. Accommodation. Canon Roadhouse, Fish River Canyon.

This morning, enjoy an optional canoe trip or simply relax near the water's edge with a good book. After a relaxing morning, we make our way to Fish River Canyon. One of the natural wonders of Africa, the canyon is some 500m deep and over 161km long and often referred to as the second largest canyon in the world. There are plenty of opportunities to take pictures this afternoon where you can walk along the canyon's edge and view the infamous sharp river bend known as ‘Hells Corner’. 4 images Fish River Canyon, Namibia 5 images Canon Roadhouse, Fish River Canyon

Day 4. Fish River Canyon to Sesriem Area Highlights. Namib Naukluft Park, Namibia. Tsaris Pass, Namibia. Accommodation. Little Sossus Lodge, Namib Naukluft .

Leaving the canyon we travel via the Tsaris Pass to the Sesriem Area in the vast Namib Naukluft Park. The park contains part of the Namib Desert and Nauklaft mountain range. This park is the second largest game park in Africa and fourth largest in the world. 4 images Namib Naukluft Park, Namibia 4 images Little Sossus Lodge, Namib Naukluft

Day 5. Namib Naukluft National Park to Sossus On Foot Camp, Khomas Region Highlights. Dune 45, Namib Naukluft National Park, Namibia. Sesriem Canyon, Namibia. Sossus On Foot Camp, Khomas Region, Namibia. Sossusvlei, Namibia. Accommodation. Sossus On Foot Camp, Khomas Region, Namibia.

We enter the National Park today and trek to the top of Dune 45, A spectacular sight as you view the shifting colours of the desert as the sun climbs. After a well-deserved breakfast, we continue deeper into the park for a short shuttle ride and nature walk to ‘Deadvlei’, amidst the giant sand dunes – a real glimpse of Namibia’s unspoilt natural environment. Leaving the park, we stop off at the smaller Sesriem Canyon where the multiple layers of rock and pebbles make for an interesting insight into what lies beneath the sand. Thereafter we make our way to our desert camp on a farm for a night under the African sky. 3 images Dune 45, Namib Naukluft National Park, Namibia 1 images Sesriem Canyon, Namibia 1 images Sossus On Foot Camp, Khomas Region, Namibia 4 images Sossusvlei, Namibia

Day 6. Sossus On Foot Camp, Khomas Region to Swakopmund Accommodation. Amanpuri Lodge, Swakopmund.

Today we cross over the Tropic of Capricorn making our way to the Atlantic coast and the town of Swakopmund where we spend the next two nights. Swakopmund makes for a refreshing change with cooler Atlantic sea air, a taste of civilization and a swathe of exciting things to do and places to explore. Try some desert based adventure activities – quad biking, sand boarding, skydiving (weather permitting) and more! 6 images Amanpuri Lodge, Swakopmund

Day 7. Swakopmund Highlights. Swakopmund, Namibia. Accommodation. Amanpuri Lodge, Swakopmund.

Today is a free day at your leisure to enjoy the many optional activities or simply explore what the town has to offer: shopping, restaurants, museums, aquarium, art galleries, the quaint German-style architecture and indulge in the town’s café culture. 4 images Swakopmund, Namibia 6 images Amanpuri Lodge, Swakopmund

Day 8. Swakopmund to Spitzkoppe Highlights. Spitzkoppe, Namibia. Accommodation. Spitzkoppe Community Camp.

Leaving the cool Atlantic Ocean, we turn inland to the breathtaking Damaraland region and explore Spitzkoppe where we admire ancient bushman paintings still visible on peculiar rock formations. The giant boulder-like rock formations peak at approx 1800m above sea level and form spectacular views especially during sunrise and sunset when changing colours acquire intense red shades across the boulders.

Your evening is spent under canvas allowing you to experience the magic of this unique place.
4 images Spitzkoppe, Namibia 2 images Spitzkoppe Community Camp

Day 9. Spitzkoppe to Etosha National Park Accommodation. Etosha National Park, Namibia.

We depart the spectacular Spitzkoppe and travel further north to Etosha National Park. Home to over 114 mammal and 340 bird species. We spend two nights here, usually based near a floodlit waterhole. Observers frequently see a range of night visitors including elephant, rhino, giraffe, zebra, even lion and the elusive leopard coming in to drink.
6 images Etosha National Park, Namibia

Day 10. Etosha National Park Highlights. Etosha National Park, Namibia. Accommodation. Etosha National Park, Namibia.

Waking early, we enjoy a full day game driving in this magnificent park. This vast reserve of over 20,000 sq km is surrounded by a central salt depression or ‘pan.’ The pan is seasonally full of water but specially managed waterholes sustain most of the animals which congregate to drink. These waterholes offer an insight to animal behaviours at its best and the best photo opportunities.
7 images Etosha National Park, Namibia 6 images Etosha National Park, Namibia

Day 11. Etosha National Park to Windhoek Highlights. Windhoek, Namibia. Accommodation. Urban Camp, Windhoek.

Today we leave Etosha and head south to Namibia's capital Windhoek, a small capital city compared to global standards with approximately two hundred thousand residents . Take the opportunity to enjoy a night out at one of the local restaurants, the most popular being 'Joe's Beer House'. 6 images Urban Camp, Windhoek

Day 12. Windhoek to Ghanzi, Botswana Highlights. Kalahari Bushman Walk, Botswana. Accommodation. Ghanzi Trailblazers, Ghanzi.

Departing the capital, Windhoek we travel across the border of Botswana and the northern outskirts of the Kalahari Desert to a small town of Ghanzi. After settling into our accommodation we join the Bushman on a guided cultural bush experience to learn about traditions and how they work with nature and manage the renewable resources found in the desolate surroundings. 3 images Kalahari Bushman Walk, Botswana 5 images Ghanzi Trailblazers, Ghanzi

Day 13. Ghanzi to Maun Highlights. Maun, Botswana. Accommodation. Sitatunga Camp, Maun.

We make our way to Maun, the fifth largest town in Botswana hosting a mixture of modern buildings and native dwellings. Although officially still a village, Maun has developed rapidly as a thriving tourist town. This afternoon is yours to explore at leisure and pack for the following day's adventure into the wilderness of the Okavango Delta. 6 images Sitatunga Camp, Maun

Day 14. Maun to Okavango Delta Highlights. Okavango Delta, Botswana. Accommodation. Elephant Bush Camp, Okavango Delta.

Packed and ready, we begin our overnight excursion into the Okavango Delta by an open 4x4 truck to the mokoro station. Here we will be introduced to the local Tswana Polers that will be guiding us on our adventure. We travel by mokoro (dugout canoe) amongst the giant lily pads and labyrinthine channels in search of resident wildlife to our tented camp. We enjoy the afternoon on a walking wilderness experience and overnight listening to the sounds of the African bush - an unforgettable experience! 4 images Okavango Delta, Botswana 5 images Elephant Bush Camp, Okavango Delta

Day 15. Okavango Delta to Maun Accommodation. Sitatunga Camp, Maun.

Waking to the sounds of the wild, we enjoy our breakfast before packing up and boarding our Mokoros for a leisurly ride back to the polers station, where our 4x4 vehicle is waiting to take us back to Maun. Arriving around lunch, we have the opportunity to enjoy a scenic flight over the Delta, explore the town or simply relax in the coolness of our accommodation with a good book.

6 images Sitatunga Camp, Maun

Day 16. Maun to Elephant Sands Highlights. Elephant Sands, Nata, Botswana. Accommodation. Elephant Sands, Nata.

Today, we make our way towards Nata travelling through a wide open corridor of the Nxai and the Makgadikgadi Pans. We stop off to see one of Africa’s most iconic trees - the Baobab along the way and arrive at the Elephant Sands Lodge during the late afternoon. This amazing place has no fences so all wildlife can roam freely from one waterhole to another and if you are lucky, you may get to view this from the comforts of your accommodation. 1 images Elephant Sands, Nata, Botswana 4 images Elephant Sands, Nata

Day 17. Elephant Sands to Kasane Highlights. Chobe Fish Eagle Cruise, Botswana. Chobe National Park, Botswana. Accommodation. Thebe River Lodge.

Rising early, we make our way to the northern corner of Botswana to Kasane, the gateway to the Chobe National Park. Chobe National Park is the countries third largest park is a major watering spot for large breeding herds of elephants, as well as families of giraffe, sable, lions and cape buffalo. We explore the diverse wildlife and the prolific birdlife on an afternoon cruise on the River. 7 images Chobe Fish Eagle Cruise, Botswana 4 images Chobe National Park, Botswana 7 images Thebe River Lodge

Day 18. Kasane to Livingstone, Zambia Highlights. Chobe National Park Game Drive, Botswana. Victoria Falls - Mosi oa Tunya National Park, Zambia. Accommodation. The Zambezi Waterfront, Livingstone.

This morning, rising early we head out to explore the Chobe National Park on an open vehicle game drive with a resident guide where we have the opportunity to spot not the only elephant that are so prolific in the park, but also lion and different antelope species. After our game drive, we leave Botswana making the short ferry crossing into Zambia and the town of Livingstone, home to the amazing Victoria Falls. Take in the immensity of one of the Natural Wonders of the World on our visit to the falls. At various times of the year, the spray from the falls can be seen from up to 20 or 30 kilometres away, hence the local name ‘Mosi Oa Tunya’ – the ‘smoke that thunders’.

Our accommodation is at the Waterfront based on the banks of the Zambezi River, just a few kilometres from the Victoria Falls and the small town of Livingstone. On arrival, will receive a full briefing on the various optional activities available in the area (typically these include rafting, canoeing, bungee, abseiling, gorge swinging, horse riding, scenic flights and river cruises), allowing you to plan your time accordingly whilst here.

5 images Chobe National Park Game Drive, Botswana 4 images Victoria Falls - Mosi oa Tunya National Park, Zambia 8 images The Zambezi Waterfront, Livingstone

Day 19. Livingstone Highlights. Livingstone Activities, Zambia. Accommodation. The Zambezi Waterfront, Livingstone.

Today is a free day at leisure to explore the Victoria Falls area to the fullest. Apart from the adventure activities mentioned, check out the markets, local restaurants or simply relax by the swimming pool overlooking the Zambezi River at the beautiful Waterfront. 5 images Livingstone Activities, Zambia 8 images The Zambezi Waterfront, Livingstone

Day 20. Livingstone to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Highlights. Bulawayo. Accommodation. Burkes Paradise.

Leaving Livingstone, we cross the border into neighbouring Zimbabwe passing through the town of Victoria Falls to the city of Bulawayo, a pleasant city with broad tree-lined avenues and wide open spaces. Our accommodation in located a short distance from the city centre on the outskirts of town. 2 images Burkes Paradise

Day 21. Matobo National Park Highlights. Matobo National Park, Zimbabwe. Accommodation. Burkes Paradise.

Matobo National Park is located a short distance outside Bulawayo and knowledgeable guides will take us to this very impressive area.

The reserve has the largest concentration of Black and White Rhino in Africa and, provided conditions are right, our guides will lead us on foot in search of these magnificent animals. The park also has the densest population of leopard and black eagle in the world and we keep our eyes peeled high and low for these creatures.
4 images Matobo National Park, Zimbabwe 2 images Burkes Paradise

Day 22. Bulawayo to Tshipise, South Africa Highlights. Tshipise, South Africa. Accommodation. Forever Resorts, Tshipise.

Our journey takes us further south and to the border at Beitbridge where we cross into South Africa and over the Limpopo River. We travel to the town of Tshipise in the northern Limpopo Province and our accommodation opposite the Honnet Nature Reserve. There is hot springs in the area which are surrounded by dense woodland comprising of Mopani, Red Bushwillow, Jakkalsbessie trees – and the third largest Baobab tree in South Africa. 3 images Tshipise, South Africa 4 images Forever Resorts, Tshipise

Day 23. Tshipise to Hazyview Highlights. Shangaan tribal dancing . Accommodation. Hotel Numbi.

Today we make our way to Hazyview, a quaint town close to the Kruger National Park where we spend the next two nights. Fences between the National Park and surrounding private reserves were removed several years ago to form the Greater Kruger, an area of some 24,000 sq km.

We enjoy Shangaan tribal dancing and singing on our first night and take a full day game drive in the National Park itself to spot as many animals as possible the next day!
2 images Shangaan tribal dancing 3 images Hotel Numbi

Day 24. Kruger National Park Highlights. Kruger National Park, South Africa. Accommodation. Hotel Numbi.

Waking early, we board our open 4x4 safari vehicles with our eagle-eyed driver at the wheel ready for our full day game drive. Kruger is home to over 505 species of birds, 148 species of mammals and many reptiles which we enthusiastically search for during the morning and afternoon, pausing for lunch at one of the local camps.

In the late afternoon we game drive out of the park and back to our accommodation for the last night.

6 images Kruger National Park, South Africa 3 images Hotel Numbi

Day 25. Hazyview to Johannesburg

After our final breakfast, we board our Overland Truck and take our last journey to Johannesburg where our tour ends.

Show more...