Cape to Victoria Falls Grand Explorer Safari

Cape Town is one of the most picturesque cities in the world, with the majestic Table Mountain providing its central focus. After a tour briefing at 8:00am, we visit the African Penguin colony en route to Cape Point Nature Reserve, and spend the rest of the day relaxing on Hout Bay beach. We sample some of Cape Town’s culinary wonders at a local restaurant at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront (own expense).

Includes: Entrance fees to Penguin colony & Cape Nature Point. Day 1: Breakfast is not included. Day 1: Lunch is an own expense meal. Day 1: Dinner is an own expense meal.
Overnight: Sweetest Guesthouses – is a collection of individually decorated houses in a metropolitan area of Cape Town near the V&A Waterfront. The group may be spread amongst any of the houses, within walking distance of each other, and the group breakfasts will be taken in the same house. Rooms are twin with en-suite facilities (or similar guest house). WiFi available.
Distance / Time: Full day Cape Peninsular tour is 160km which takes between 6 and 8 hours.

The Cederberg is a massive rock wilderness with giant sandstone boulders that have been sculpted by wind and rain into bizarre and artistic shapes. We head north to the Cederberg and explore the rugged landscape on foot before relaxing in chalets for the evening.

We make our way into the more arid regions and upon entering Namibia, we stay at a lodge on the Gariep River. Namibia’s southern border river flows quietly and peacefully and the river valley is hardly affected by tourism. The riverbed is sandy, the water clean and clear. Time free for swimming and relaxing or you can venture down the river in canoes (own expense).

Includes: Day 3: Breakfast provided by tour leaders with the help of the group. Day 3: Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group. Day 3: Dinner provided by tour leaders with the help of the group.
Overnight: Gariep River, twin share cabanas with en suite facilities. Bar, restaurant, telephone. Internet cafe available.
Distance / Time: 500kms, ± 7 hours, excluding stops for sightseeing & lunch.
Optional Activities: Half-day canoe safari.

The Fish River Canyon, situated along the lower reaches of the Fish River, is one of the most impressive natural beauties in the southern part of Namibia. With its depth of up to 550 metres, the Fish River Canyon is the second largest canyon in the world. We make our way to the canyon and in the afternoon watch a spectacular sunset as the sun slips over the canyon’s rim.

The parched Namib Desert has endless orange dunes blown into sharp ridges by the sand-shifting wind and at Sossusvlei they form a gateway into the Namib Desert. We will walk to Sossusvlei, explore Sesriem Canyon and from the comfort of our lodge outside the national park watch dramatic sunsets over the world’s highest sand dunes. (If you prefer not to do the 4km walk to Sossusvlei there is an optional own expense 4WD transfer).

Swakopmund is a popular seaside resort with a slightly nostalgic atmosphere, characterized by numerous colonial buildings. In terms of flora, both the Welwitschia Mirabilis and the Kokerboom grow on the stony plains of the Namib and many beautiful specimens surround this coastal town. Swakopmund is also the adventure activity capital of Namibia. Day free to explore the town or try dune boarding or sea kayaking (own expense).

Namibia is a land of great contrasts and Damaraland demonstrates this with stark plains, petrified forests and ancient valleys leading to rocky outcrops and the soaring peaks of the Brandberg Massif Mountains.

Once a vast lake fed by the Kunene River, the pan that is Etosha NP dried up thousands of years ago when the river waters chose a new course. Etosha is big game country. We take game drives around the huge pan to find the elephants, herds of antelope and lions around the waterholes. We stay at a lodge on the outskirts of the national park.

This pretty town, beautifully situated in a valley, combines the architecture of a modern city with numerous buildings in the style of the German colonial era. The charm of the city of Windhoek lies in its harmonious blend of African and European cultures and the friendliness of its people. We visit the cosmopolitan capital and enjoy a restaurant meal (own expense).

13-Day Cape to Namibia option
The optional 14-day version of this safari ends here in Windhoek at 08:00am the morning of day 13.  See Pricing above.

Crossing into Botswana we overnight in rustic, grass huts in the heart of the Kalahari. We take a walk with the local Bushmen to learn fascinating bush skills.

13-Day Namibia only Option
The optional 13-day version of this safari ends in Windhoek at 08:00am today.  See Pricing above.

Cape to Namibia tour ends at +/-08:00am on morning of day 13.

The Okavango Delta is the only inland delta in the world. Instead of flowing into the sea, the annual flood of fresh water, spreads over 15,000sq km of the Kalahari sand in a maze of lagoons and channels. We journey deep into the Okavango Delta on mekoro (dugouts). We have 2 nights at our tented camp and enjoy game walks, swimming, the birdlife and game in this pristine wilderness area.

The shimmering saltpans of Makgadikgadi are the size of Switzerland and most of the time appear as a glaring, white, endless plain. When the rain comes a dramatic change takes place as the pans come to life with frantically feeding water birds and great herds of zebra, wildebeest and springbok.

Chobe National Park is famous for large herds of elephant and buffalo. Our afternoon is spent on an exciting wildlife boat cruise in the Chobe NP.

Magnificent Victoria Falls is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. David Livingstone ‘discovered’ the falls in 1885 and named them after his Queen. The scene he encountered was a mile-wide (1.6 km) sheer basalt fault line over which the mighty Zambezi tumbled to a depth of 100m, creating a cloud of spray. The falls are also the centre of a wide range of activities, including white water rafting on the mighty Zambezi, scenic flights or a 111m bungi jump (own expense).

Tour ends at 08:00am at the hotel.