Southern Africa Explorer

With Table Mountain as its landmark, Cape Town is one of the most impressive cities in the world. The day begins early with a briefing on your round trip through South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. Afterwards you set off at around 8 am via Hout Bay to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. Together with your guide you explore the nature reserve and can enjoy the magnificent views. With a detour to the penguin colony at Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town, you return to Cape Town. In the evening you can sample culinary delights at a restaurant on the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront (at your own expense). Overnight stay at City Lodge V&A Waterfront.

North of Cape Town lies the Cederberg mountain range. It is characterised by massive sandstone formations shaped by wind and weather, which resemble bizarre figures. In the afternoon you go on a hike in the Cederberg Wilderness Area and explore the impressive surroundings on foot. You spend the night in tents.

Your round trip continues into the drier regions of Southern Africa and across the border into Namibia. Tonight you stay right on the Orange River, the border river between Namibia and South Africa. Like a lifeline, it winds through the beautiful landscape. Relax in the afternoon or go for a swim in the river; the water is clear and clean. You can also take an optional canoe trip, as the river offers ideal conditions. You spend the night in tents.

With a depth of up to 550 metres, Fish River Canyon is the second-largest canyon in the world and without doubt one of the most impressive natural highlights in the south of Namibia. Enjoy stunning panoramic views and admire a fantastic sunset over the canyon. Overnight stay in a tent.

The Namib Desert appears like an endless sea of orange dunes, shaped by the constantly changing winds. The next day an excursion into the Namib-Naukluft Park is on your programme. Together with your guide you hike into Sossusvlei and explore Sesriem Canyon. In the evening you can experience spectacular sunsets over the highest dunes in the world. Both nights in tents.

Swakopmund, on the Atlantic Ocean, is a popular little coastal town with enchanting charm and old buildings from the colonial era. Here you have a whole day at leisure. Use the time to explore the town or take part in optional activities. Adventurers and active travellers get their money's worth especially with sandboarding, quad biking or kayaking on the Walvis Bay lagoon. In the evening you go for dinner with your travel group at one of the restaurants in Swakopmund (at your own expense). You spend two nights at Dunedin Star Guest House.

After your visit to Swakopmund, vast and beautiful desert landscapes await you over the next few days. Your destination is the Spitzkoppe, which can be seen from afar. On a walk in the afternoon you can explore the huge granite rocks and enjoy beautiful views. Look forward to an incomparable sunset against this magnificent backdrop. Overnight stay in a tent.

The Brandberg is the next destination on your round trip. On the edge of the dry Ugab riverbed you pitch your camp for the coming night. Accompanied by a local guide, in the afternoon you go on a hike into the mountain region, where many rock paintings such as the famous White Lady can be found. You spend the night in tents.

Etosha National Park, the “great white place” in the wildlife-rich north-west of Namibia, offers an incredible diversity of animals. Over these two days you go on game drives in the park and explore the areas and waterholes around the great salt pan, always in search of elephants, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, lions and other wildlife. You pitch your tents at the Okaukuejo campsite (or one of the other camps in the National Park). At the floodlit waterhole you can continue your wildlife viewing even after dark.

Today the long drive to Windhoek is on the programme. The friendliness of Windhoek's residents and the harmonious mix of different cultures make up the charm of the Namibian capital. In the evening you can treat yourself to tasty delicacies at one of the many restaurants in Windhoek (at your own expense). Overnight stay at Capbon Guest House.

Today you cross the border into Botswana and travel into the Kalahari. Typical of the landscape of this semi-desert are the long, stretched-out dunes and valleys. In the afternoon you accompany the San on a walk and learn about their practical skills needed for life in the bush. You spend the night in tents.

Driving distance day 16: approx. 50 km; pure driving time approx. 2 hours

Your round trip continues to Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta. If you wish, you can get an impression of the scale of one of the largest inland deltas in the world on an optional scenic flight in a light aircraft. You spend one night at a campsite in Maun before your Okavango Delta adventure begins the next morning. With four-wheel-drive vehicles and mokoros you travel deep into the delta, a fascinating labyrinth of waterways, lagoons and small islands. For the next two nights you camp in the midst of nature on an island. During the day you take mokoro trips, watch the diverse birdlife and go on walking safaris.

By the same route you took into the delta, you return to Maun. You transfer your luggage to your tour vehicle and head east. In the Makgadikgadi Pans you can literally feel it: the vastness of Africa. The salt pans usually appear as endless, white, glistening plains, but as soon as the rains set in, the landscape changes dramatically and comes to life. The water and a sea of fresh grass attract a whole range of birds and animals. You spend the night in tents.

The final destination of your impressive round trip is the famous Victoria Falls. Here the mighty Zambezi plunges spectacularly over 100 metres across a width of 1.7 kilometres – a truly impressive natural spectacle. A wide range of activities is offered in Victoria Falls, such as sunset boat trips on the Zambezi, scenic flights over the falls by helicopter or microlight, white-water rafting and much more (all optional). You spend two nights at a campsite in the town of Victoria Falls.

After breakfast your round trip through South Africa, Namibia and Botswana comes to an end. We would be happy to arrange a transfer to Victoria Falls airport on request (for an extra charge) or organise an extension programme for you.