19-day Victoria Falls to Cape Town (Camping)

Moving on from Livingstone, we travel a short distance to the Botswana border and on to the town of Kasane – the gateway to Chobe National Park. We take a Fish Eagle cruise on the Chobe River – a great opportunity to see hippo, elephant, waterbucks and buffalo come to the river to bathe and drink. As the sun sets, you may get to view one of the most spectacular sunsets in Africa.

Rising early, we board open 4×4 safari vehicles and head out to explore the Chobe National Park. We meander the terrain, focussing along the water’s edge in the search for the many animals of the area. Home to over 15,000 elephants, this national park is renowned for the highest concentration in the world. We continue on to Nata where our camp for the night has no fences and animals roam freely. Many groups report seeing elephant and antelope at proximity from the campsite – a very relaxing way to view wildlife!

We leave Elephant Sands and make our way to Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta. This is an area where red lechwe antelope can still be seen grazing alongside local donkeys, goats and cattle. If time allows, we have the opportunity to take an optional scenic flight over the Delta in the afternoon.

Leaving the campsite in Maun we begin our excursion into the Okavango Delta in an open 4×4 safari vehicle to the mokoro station. Here we will be introduced to the local Tswana Polers who will be our guides for our overnight expedition. We travel by mokoro (dugout canoe) amongst the giant lily pads, tall grasses and labyrinthine channels in search of resident wildlife. We spend our night at a tented camp close proximity to the water’s edge.

This morning we take an easy-paced mokoro ride out of the Okavango Delta back to the polers station, from where we will drive back to Maun. We aim to get back to camp around lunchtime to allow for the opportunity to enjoy an optional scenic flight over this spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Site. Alternatively, the afternoon can be spent at leisure at the camp’s pool.

We leave Maun and skirt the Kalahari Desert and cross the border into Namibia for our first night in this amazing country. Our camp is a stone throw across the border. Here, in this midst of (seemingly) barren terrain – we meet the San/Bushman and have a guided bush walk for a cultural experience and insight into these ancient people’s way of life.

Our next stop is Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. Take the opportunity to enjoy a night out at one of the local restaurants or visit the famous ‘Joe’s Beer House’

We are off to Etosha National Park today! At 20,000 sq km, this vast reserve is home to over 114 different species of wildlife. Entering the gates, we game drive to our camp. Keep your eyes peeled for the numerous antelope species, lions, elephants and the elusive leopard that come down to drink at the local watering holes. Once settled into our camp, head to the camp’s floodlit waterhole – game watching in style!

Today, we enjoy a full day game driving in this magnificent animal kingdom – taking in the park’s main characteristic, the salt pan. After a full day of game driving we return to camp, or onto the next camp and enjoy our last evening around the floodlit watering holes, observing natural animal behavior at its best.

We game drive out of Etosha National Park, and turn south, making our way to the beautiful Damaraland region where we explore the eerie Spitzkoppe where ancient bushman paintings are still visible. Take your time to explore the area and its delightful calmness. Keep an eye on the ever-changing color of the rock, especially during sunrise and sunset, when they acquire intense red shades.

Departing the granite infused Spitzkoppe, we make our way to the Atlantic coast and to Swakopmund. Swakopmund makes for a refreshing change with cooler Atlantic sea air, a taste of civilisation and a swathe of exciting things to do and places to explore.

Today is a free day to enjoy all this quaint seaside town has to offer. Try some adventure desert based activities like quad biking, sand boarding, skydiving (weather permitting). For those seeking a quieter life, enjoy the other side of Swakopmund: shops, restaurants, museums, the aquarium, art galleries or simply walk along the promenade admiring the ocean, the quaint German-style architecture and indulge in the town’s café culture

Continuing south, we cross over the Tropic of Capricorn, stopping for a photo opportunity en route to our bush camp for the evening.

This morning we leave the Khomas region early and enter the National Park to trek to the top of the famous Dune 45. After a well-earned breakfast we continue deeper into the park for a short shuttle ride and nature walk to ‘Dead Vlei’, amidst the giant sand dunes. Departing from the dunes, we stop off at the smaller Sesriem Canyon en-route to our camp for the night, nestled between the rocky granite outcrops of the Nubib and Tsaris mountains.

Today we drive south through barren and rocky landscapes, dotted with quiver trees, to the world’s second-largest canyon – Fish River Canyon. There are plenty of opportunities for keen photographers as we spend time around this area and visit the canyon’s infamous sharp river bend known as ‘Hell’s Corner.

Leaving the mighty Fish River Canyon we travel south to the border of Namibia/South Africa to the Gariep (Orange) river. Our campsite lies on the banks of the river on the Namibian side. On arrival we have the opportunity to partake in an optional canoe safari on the river to see the striking Richtersveld scenery, or simply relax on the water’s edge at camp.

We continue south, passing through Namaqualand, well known for its prolific display of wildflowers that occur in spring (best seen between August – September). We camp at a picturesque campsite nestled near the Olifants River. Here we have the opportunity to sample some of the beautiful wines of the region.