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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.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 UniteDay 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 CanyonDay 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 NaukluftDay 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, NamibiaDay 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, SwakopmundDay 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, SwakopmundDay 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.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.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.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, WindhoekDay 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, GhanziDay 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, MaunDay 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 DeltaDay 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.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, NataDay 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 LodgeDay 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’.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, LivingstoneDay 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 ParadiseDay 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.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, TshipiseDay 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.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.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...Please note: As from 1st May 2018, we will change our accommodation from Ashanti Lodge in Greenpoint to Ashanti Lodge in Gardens. Please check your tour voucher to confirm that your tour starting and ending point is correct before departing. Situated at the foot of Table Mountain and in walking distances to the city centre, Ashanti Lodge Backpackers in Gardens is your gateway to Cape Town. This gorgeous Victorian Mansion offers backpacker dormitories to single, double and twin rooms with shared bathroom facilities. Chill next to the stunning pool, join the party in the legendary Kumasi Café/Bar with its cool cocktails, tasty food and fabulous mountain views or go explore the city's highlights close by.
* Suggested pre and post tour accommodation can be booked together with your tour. Please enquire at the time of booking.
Suggested Post-Tour Accommodation. Saba Lodge, JohannesburgSaba Lodge is selectively chosen as it boasts of quality and comfort as well as being conveniently located. Within 15 minutes drive of O.R Tambo Airport, this establishment offers clients a taste of what their African adventure will entail. Set on 8000 square metres of land, with a tranquil rustic theme, a large deck and swimming pool, free uncapped fibre optic wifi, guests are sure to enjoy their stay. Rooms - single, dorm, family and twin/double en-suite rooms available. Breakfast and airport transfer available.
* Suggested pre and post tour accommodation can be booked together with your tour. Please enquire at the time of booking.
Additional Info
This tour departs Cape Town early on day 1; we strongly recommend therefore that you plan to arrive the day before departure to overcome any jet-lag and to acclimatise to Africa. We would be happy to book pre-tour accommodation for you – please call or email us (or speak to your agent) with your arrival details and accommodation requirements. However please book early to avoid disappointment and the risk of having to find more expensive (or less convenient) lodgings.
If time allows, we also suggest planning a night or two extra (after your tour) to make the most of this part of Africa. Accommodation is usually available locally on arrival but you can also pre-book this with Acacia. There is a variety of activities and excursions in the Johannesburg area you can arrange locally or with your Tour Leader.
ACTIVITIE & EXCURSIONS:
These are optional activities that are booked during your holiday and paid directly to the provider while on tour. These options offer a variety of experiences and allow you the freedom to decide what activities you would like to do.
ACCOMMODATION:
Twin share accommodation with facilities (22 nights) twin share tents with sleeping bag, pillow and mattress (2 night) some accommodation may have a bar or swimming pool.
TRANSPORT:
24-seater, self contained, custom-built safari truck with onboard tables, plug sockets, freezer, water tank, library, i-pod jack, safety features and 70-litre individual lockers, mokoro (dugout canoe), 4x4 safari vehicle and river boat.
GAME PARK VISITS:
In order to maximise the quality of game driving and to comply with local authority rulings, some of our National Park visits and game viewing is carried out using services provided by local African ground handlers. As well as enhancing our experience using local guides and smaller vehicles it also allows us to contribute at a ‘grassroots’ level to local economies from which local people benefit.
TOUR STYLE:
This is a participation tour and your help will be needed in assisting with the various day to day duties, such as shopping, cooking and keeping the truck tidy (usually on a rota basis). But don’t worry it’s not all hard work and it’s a great way to meet the local people and get to know your fellow travellers. Your contribution benefits the success of the tour - most people find the greater their involvement, the greater their enjoyment of the whole trip.
Meals
24 Breakfasts, 20 Lunches, 19 Dinners
Accommodation
21 nights twin share accommodation, 1 night pre-erected en suite tented camp (Delta); 2 night bush camping at Khomas Region and Spitzkoppe (equipment supplied).