21 Days - “GRAND EXPLORER” South Africa, Namibia, Botswana & Zimbabwe

Day 1 CAPE TOWN 

Cape Town is one of the most picturesque cities in the world, with the majestic Table Mountain providing its central focus. Departing, after a tour briefing, from Cape Town at 08:00am we visit Hout Bay harbour en route to Cape Point Nature Reserve and then the African Penguin colony at Boulders Beach. We sample some of Cape Town’s culinary wonders at a local restaurant in the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront (own expense).

Distance/time: ±150km, 3h30 actual driving time, but with stops, penguins and lunch is a full day out.

Overnight: City Lodge V&A Waterfront – twin rooms with en suite facilities or similar

Day 2 CEDERBERG 

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 making our way to our overnight accommodation.

Breakfast provided by the hotel

Lunch & Dinner provided by tour leaders with the help of the group

Distance/time: ±300km, 4h30 actual driving time, but with a stop for lunch and a hike in the Cederberg, we expect a total travel day of ±8h30.

Overnight: Highlanders Lodge – twin rooms with en suite facilities or similar

Day 3 GARIEP RIVER 

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.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner provided by tour leaders with the help of the group

Distance/time: ±430km, 7h00 actual driving time, today is a stretch and with a border crossing (variable) we expect a travel day of ±9h00. 

Overnight: Felix Unite, twin share cabanas with en suite facilities or similar

Day 4 FISH RIVER CANYON 

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 meters, the Fish River Canyon is the second largest canyon in the world. We make our way to the canyon to marvel at the sheer grandeur of the enormous canyon.

Moving on, we arrive at the Quiver Tree Forest outside Keetmanshoop to enjoy the sunset over these bewitching plants.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner provided by tour leaders with the help of the group

Distance/time: ±340km, 5h00 actual driving time, our first long gravel sections and viewing of the canyon so we expect a total travel day of ±7h30.

Overnight: Quivertree Forest Rest Camp – twin share chalet with en suite facilities or similar

Day 5 NAMIB DESERT 

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)

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner provided by tour leaders with the help of the group

Distance/time: ±480km, 7h00 actual driving time, through magnificent scenery but it's long total travel day of ±8h30.

Overnight: Desert Camp – twin share permanent tents with en suite facilities or similar

Day 6 NAMIB DESERT 

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner provided by tour leaders with the help of the group

Overnight: Desert Camp – twin share permanent tents with en suite facilities or similar

Day 7 SWAKOPMUND

Swakopmund is a popular seaside resort with a slightly nostalgic atmosphere, characterised 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).

Breakfast & Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group

Distance/time: ±360km, 5h30 actual driving time, this gravel road is very rough and we expect a total travel day of ±8h00.

Overnight: Hotel Pension a la Mer - twin share standard rooms with en suite facilities or similar

Day 8 SWAKOPMUND 

Day free to explore the town or try dune boarding or sea kayaking (own expense).

Breakfast provided by the guest house

Overnight: Hotel Pension a la Mer - twin share standard rooms with en suite facilities or similar

Day 9 DAMARALAND 

Namibia is a land of great contrasts and Damaraland demonstrates this with stark plains, dry river beds and ancient valleys leading to rocky outcrops and the soaring peaks of the Brandberg Massif Mountains. On our way north we will visit the Cape Cross seal colony where thousands of Cape fur seals come ashore to rest and have their pups.

Breakfast provided by the guest house

Lunch & Dinner provided by tour leaders with the help of the group

Distance/time: ±330km, 5h00 actual driving time, starting on a "salt" road. The road is generally quite good, for a total travel day of ±6h00.

Overnight: Brandberg White Lady Lodge – twin share chalets with en-suite facilities

Day 10 ETOSHA NP 

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.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner provided by tour leaders with the help of the group

Distance/time: ±540km, 7h30 actual driving time, the road can be rough and with an afternoon game drive in Etosha we expect a total of ±9h30 in the vehicle.

Overnight: Tarentaal Guest Farm – private working farm outside Etosha National Park. Twin rooms with en-suite facilities to similar

Day 11 ETOSHA NP 

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner provided by tour leaders with the help of the group

Overnight: Tarentaal Guest Farm – private working farm outside Etosha National Park. Twin rooms with en-suite facilities or similar

Day 12 WINDHOEK 

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).

Breakfast & Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group

Distance/time: ±410km, 5h00 actual driving time, good tarmac road and a stop for market shopping, we expect a total travel day of ±6h00.

Overnight: Terra Africa Guesthouse – twin rooms with en-suite facilities or similar

Day 13 KALAHARI 

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

Breakfast provided by the guest house

Lunch & Dinner provided by tour leaders with the help of the group

Distance/time: ±530km, 6h30 actual driving time, an early start, good tarmac road but it's a long way and with border formalities we expect a total travel day of ±7h30.

Overnight: Ghanzi Trail Blazers – en-suite rooms or similar

Day 14 OKAVANGO DELTA 

The Okavango Delta is the only inland delta in the world: the annual flood of fresh water spreads over 15000sq km of the Kalahari sand in a maze of lagoons and channels. We journey to the western floodplains of the Okavango Delta to our lodge overlooking a permanent lagoon, where we enjoy a game walk, a mokoro excursion and the amazing birdlife in this pristine wilderness area.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner provided by tour leaders with the help of the group

Distance/time: ±400km, 5h30 actual driving time, as we skirt the Okavango the road can be very potholed, so we expect a travel day of ±6h30.

Overnight: 2 nights Okavango Delta, Guma Lagoon – twin en-suite canvas chalets or similar

Day 15 OKAVANGO DELTA 

The Okavango Delta is the only inland delta in the world: the annual flood of fresh water spreads over 15000sq km of the Kalahari sand in a maze of lagoons and channels. We journey to the western floodplains of the Okavango Delta to our lodge overlooking a permanent lagoon, where we enjoy a game walk, a mokoro excursion and the amazing birdlife in this pristine wilderness area.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner provided by tour leaders with the help of the group

Overnight: 2 nights Okavango Delta, Guma Lagoon – twin en-suite canvas chalets or similar

Day 16 MAUN 

Making our way around the Okavango we head to Maun where we have an evening meal at a local restaurant (own expense).

Breakfast & Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group

Distance/time: ±320km, 4h30 actual driving time, we make our way around the Delta on a partly potholed road, we expect a travel day of ±5h30.

.Overnight: Sedia Hotel – standard twin rooms with en suite facilities or similar

Day 17 MAKGADIKGADI PANS 

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.

Breakfast will be provided by the lodge

Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group

Distance/time: ±360km, 5h30 actual driving time, we cross wide open expanses and we expect a travel day of ±6h00.

Overnight: Nata Lodge – twin share luxury tents with en suite facilities or similar

Day 18  CHOBE NATIONAL PARK 

Chobe National Park is famous for large herds of elephant and buffalo. We explore the national park on a morning game drive and spend the rest of the day on the river, enjoying lunch on our cruise boat with spectacular wildlife viewing.

Breakfast & Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group

Distance/time: ±320km, 4h00 actual driving time, after a leisurely start we head north for an easy transfer, we expect a travel day of ±4h30.

Overnight: Thebe River Safaris – twin chalets with en-suite facilities or similar

Day 19 CHOBE NATIONAL PARK 

We explore the national park on a morning game drive and spend the rest of the day on the river, enjoying lunch on our cruise boat with spectacular wildlife viewing.

Breakfast will be provided by the lodge

Lunch will be provided by the cruise

 Overnight: Thebe River – twin chalets with en-suite facilities or similar

Day 20 -ZIMBABWE/ VICTORIA FALLS 

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 bungee jump (own expense). Tour ends at 08:00am at the hotel.

Distance/time: ±100km, 2h00 actual driving time. It's not a long way, but the border can be busy and slow so we anticipate a total travel day of ±3h00.

Overnight: Shearwater Explorers Village, twin rooms with en-suite facilities or similar

DAY 21 VICTORIA FALLS 

Breakfast will be provided by the lodge

END OF ITINERAY