11 Day West Coast & Kalahari Expedition

While the Garden Route remains one of South Africa’s most famous attractions, the West Coast’s windswept isolation and tranquillity appeal to visitors seeking a break from the hustle and bustle that often accompanies popular tourist towns. The sparsely populated West Coast offers wide open spaces, unspoilt beaches, rugged terrain, and azure seas. Visitors can look forward to exploring quaint country towns and whitewashed fishing villages, hiking through the spectacular Cederberg and the West Coast National Park as well as sampling fresh seafood at the seaside towns of Langebaan and Paternoster. Other popular activities include bird watching, kayaking, swimming, stand-up paddleboarding, and kitesurfing.

The Cederberg is a region of wild, dramatic valleys situated just 2.5 hours' drive from Cape Town, between Citrusdal and Clanwilliam. Lined with citrus orchards and surrounded by magnificent mountains, the jaw-dropping scenes here become even more spectacular at sunset when they are bathed in an array of vivid colours, and in springtime when flowers completely take over (this is the heart of the biodiverse Cape Floral Kingdom). Travellers can also swim in turquoise rock pools, visit intriguing ancient rock art sites, take advantage of superb beaches with excellent surfing conditions, or learn about the clear night skies at the Cederberg Astronomical Observatory. Some other activity options include hiking, bouldering, tubing, sundowner cruises, and rock climbing - as well as dining at top-notch wineries and restaurants.

Stretching for over 1000 kilometres along South Africa’s scenic West Coast, the Namaqualand is known for its stark, arid beauty. Once a year in early Spring, the Namaqualand landscape explodes into a kaleidoscope of colour. The dusty plains are transformed into a blanket of thousands of flowering wildflowers. International and local visitors flock here to see this seasonal natural splendour. Aside from the endless photogenic landscapes, visitors can look forward to viewing a wide variety of wildlife and exploring the quaint seaside towns dotting the coast as well as the various historic towns scattered in the hinterland.

Located in South Africa’s Northern Cape Province, the Augrabies Falls National Park encircles the mighty Augrabies Falls. The Orange River plunges down 60 metres in absolute splendour, through the 18-kilometre ravine of the Orange River Gorge. The landscapes are characterised by rocky outcrops, scrub-dotted plains, and clusters of 'kokerboom', also known as quiver trees. This sanctuary provides a home for an array of animals including springbok, gemsbok, klipspringer, various bird species and the endangered black rhino. Other commonly spotted species include giraffe, steenbok, kudu, eland, leopard, African wild cat, jackal, and caracal.

Combining the former Kalahari Gemsbok National Park of South Africa and the Gemsbok National Park in Botswana, the enthralling Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is a wonderland of bright orange dunes, spectacular wildlife and fascinating flora. This hauntingly beautiful desert land is part of Africa’s first transfrontier park, ensuring that conservation is the top priority for this vast ecosystem and its inhabitants - it also supports and protects the indigenous people here, the ‡Khomani San and Mier communities. Visitors can look forward to spotting lions, leopards, hyenas, cheetahs, blue wildebeest, springbok, eland, and more than 200 bird species, including migrating flamingos and pelicans, and numerous raptors. Some of the activities on offer include game drives, 4x4 excursions, hiking, swimming, eco trails, star-spotting and nature photography.

Impeccably preserved Victorian and Edwardian buildings mark the idyllic landscape of the delightful town of Calvinia is embraced by the Hantam Mountains to the north and the Rebunieberg and Keiskeiberge to the south. Hantam House, a restored 1854 edifice, now extends a warm invitation as a refined bed and breakfast. The Neo-Gothic elegance of Calvinia NG Kerk, consecrated in 1899, adds a timeless allure. Notably, this town boasts the world's largest post box, a remarkable conversion of a former water tower, standing at a stature of 6.17 metres. The museum, housed within a meticulously restored Jewish Synagogue, offers a rich tapestry of historical and cultural exhibits. For nature enthusiasts, the Akkerendam Nature Reserve unveils exclusive flower trails, while the annual Hamtam Meat Festival in August further elevates the town's charm.

Set on the southern boundary of South Africa’s Northern Cape, the vast, untouched plains of the Tankwa Karoo National Park provide a true escape. With no restaurants, shops, or ATMs, this wild and remote area is the perfect place to immerse oneself in nature. Lunar-like scenes, kaleidoscopic rocks and jaw-dropping sunsets inspire visitors to paint, sketch and photograph. Lying within the Succulent Karoo Biome, the park is dotted with a fantastic diversity of plant life, including several endemic species, which spring to colourful swathes of life after rainfall. Mongoose, tortoise, gemsbok, bat-eared fox, and Cape mountain zebra are just some of the animals that call this oasis home, and visitors enjoying guided night drives may even spot the elusive aardvark. Activities on offer include bird watching, star-gazing, hiking, climbing, and four-wheel drive excursions.