Kruger, Falls, Delta & Cape

Pretoria - Hazyview. Departing South Africa's administrative capital of Pretoria aboard our overland truck, we head through the scenic Mpumalanga region to reach Kruger National Park. Fences in the area were removed several years ago to create the Greater Kruger ecosystem, one of Africa's best wild places. We'll enjoy Shangaan tribal dancing around the campfire tonight before we head into the park tomorrow.

Please note: Please arrive in Pretoria at least one night before your tour. There will be a pre-departure meeting at 18:00 on the evening prior to departure and the tour departs at 7am on day 1. Refer to the Joining Instructions for more information. We can book an airport transfer from Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport and Pretoria pre-tour accommodation upon request.

Today we'll head into Kruger National Park on safari, making use of specialized 4X4 vehicles and a resident local guide. Kruger is home to all of the Big Five (lion, elephant, rhino, leopard, buffalo) and is an African stronghold for the white rhino and the critically endangered black rhino. Our game drive lasts all day, with a break for lunch.

Returning to our campsite, you will have the option to head back out into the park at night, when creatures such as leopards become more active.

Kruger National Park - Tshipise. Leaving the Greater Kruger area aboard our overland truck, we head north through the South African countryside to Tshipise, in the Limpopo province.

Tonight's campsite is in a picturesque resort next to a nature reserve, surrounded by thick woodland. There is free time to relax by the pool or in a nearby hot spring, and you may want to go and have a look at one of the biggest baobab trees in South Africa.

Tshipise - Bulawayo (Zimbabwe). We say farewell to South Africa today, crossing the border into Zimbabwe. Our destination is Bulawayo, a pleasant city with tree-lined avenues and lots of open spaces. We'll stop for supplies before arriving at our campsite, and the rest of today is free to relax or head into the city and explore.

Located just outside Bulawayo is Matobo National Park, one of Zimbabwe's premier wildlife reserves. We'll be joined by a resident guide for our game drive and will also enjoy a walking safari into the park, which is home to the largest concentration of rhinos in Africa. Matobo also has a huge leopard population, and we'll keep our eyes peeled in the treetops for one of these elusive cats. Our tour ends at lunchtime and the rest of today is at leisure.

Alternatively, you can book an optional extension to today's tour. Head into the Matobo Hills to see some of the ancient Bushmen paintings in the area, and visit the grave of Cecil Rhodes, an important but controversial historical figure who ruled as Prime Minister of the colonial Cape Colony from 1890 - 1896. Rhodes grew up as a diamond magnate before entering politics. As Prime Minister of Britain's colony, he was a believer in Empire, and cruelly expropriated land from black Africans, as well as barring many non-white citizens from voting. His grave remains a controversial place in modern Zimbabwe today.

Bulawayo - Victoria Falls - Livingstone (Zambia). Leaving Bulawayo, we drive via the town of Victoria Falls before crossing the border into Zambia and arriving in Livingstone on day 6. Named after the explorer David Livingstone, this is our base for visiting the Zambian side of Victoria Falls, the world's largest sheet of falling water and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Known locally as 'Mosi Oa Tunya', the 'Smoke that Thunders', we will enjoy an included visit to see the falls.

Day 7 is free to enjoy optional activities such as rafting, canoeing, abseiling or scenic flights over the cascade. See the Trip Notes for more details.

Livingstone - Chobe National Park (Botswana). Say goodbye to Zambia as we cross into Botswana today and make the short journey to Kasane, gateway to Chobe National Park.

Botswana's premier game reserve is home to all of the Big Five as well as abundant bird life, including the rare African Fish Eagle. We'll enjoy a cruise on the Chobe River, hoping to see elephants, hippos, and crocodiles. And there is also an included game drive in specialized open safari vehicles, where we hope to spot more of Chobe's land-based residents.

Chobe National Park - Nata. This morning we enjoy another included game drive in Chobe National Park before packing up camp and heading to the Nata region of Botswana. We will likely still spot species such as buffalo as we drive through this sparsely populated region. Our campsite tonight is unfenced, meaning local wildlife is free to wander through camp - our groups often enjoy some of their best wildlife experiences here.

Nata - Maun. Today sees us travelling to Maun, our base for exploring the famed Okavango Delta. If time allows, there is the opportunity for you to take a scenic flight over the delta - if we haven't got time today then this opportunity will be offered on day 30 instead.

Maun - Okavango Delta - Maun. On day 11 we enjoy our overnight excursion in specialized safari vehicles into the Okavango Delta. The delta is a natural wetland spread out over more than 1.6 million hectares, home to an incredible diversity of life. Reaching the mokoro polers station, we transfer to these traditional canoes and paddle along the waterways of the delta to our campsite, which is located in the delta itself.

Day 12 sees us enjoying another mokoro ride back out of the delta before returning to Maun, where there is time for the optional scenic flight if we didn't have time for this on day 10.

Maun - Gobabis (Namibia). Boarding our overland truck, we travel to the Namibian border via Ghanzi, skirting the edge of the barren Kalahari Desert. Having crossed the border, we reach our campsite, and there is an included bush walk with the local San Bushmen, during which we can learn about the way of life for this ancient tribe and discover how they work with, rather than against nature - something we can all learn from! Please note this activity may take place on day 8 instead, depending on our arrival time.

Gobabis - Windhoek. Today we arrive in Namibia's charming capital. Windhoek is a tiny capital by global standards, with a population of just 470,000 people. It has lots of German architecture, a reminder of Namibia's early colonial past. Our camp is located on the edge of the city, and it is easy to head in to grab a bite to eat and have a wander around if you wish. We recommend a drink at Joe's Beerhouse, perhaps the most famous restaurant in Namibia. Please note that some group members may be starting their tour in Windhoek.

Windhoek - Etosha National Park. The next two days will be spent exploring Namibia's iconic Etosha National Park. This 20,000 square kilometre reserve is dominated by a salt pan, which floods seasonally but is also home to a select few watering holes all year round. Wildlife is easy to spot as the animals tend to gather around these scarce water sources.

We spend two nights in the park, and our itinerary is flexible depending on the conditions and the location of wildlife. We'll generally enjoy a short game drive on day 9 before spending our first night at a camp with a floodlit watering hole. Here you may be lucky enough to spot elephants, giraffe, hyenas and even lions.

Day 10 is spent on a full day's game drive across the park, stopping whenever we see anything of interest. We will either return to our first campsite, or perhaps a different one, depending on your tour leader's decision.

Etosha National Park - Spitzkoppe. Leaving Etosha, we head into the Damaraland region and our destination - Spitzkoppe. At this mountain peak, you can see incredibly well-preserved bushmen paintings and spectacular rock formations reaching 1800 metres above sea level. As the sun moves across the sky, the rocks change colour, a sight that is particularly beautiful at sunrise and sunset. We'll be staying at a campsite at the base of the mountain, so you can enjoy this sunset with a refreshing drink.

Spitzkoppe - Swakopmund. On day 18 we drive to Swakopmund, a German colonial town located on Namibia's famous Skeleton Coast. We'll be staying in simple dormitory accommodation in Swakopmund, rather than camping.

The rest of day 18 and the following day are free for you to explore Swakopmund as you see fit. Wander around the town and indulge in the relaxed cafe culture and German colonial architecture. There are also lots of optional activities available including quad-biking, sand boarding, skydiving, and dolphin-watching cruises. See the Trip Notes for further details.

Swakopmund - Namib-Naukluft National Park. Heading south, we journey through Namib-Naukluft National Park, which protects large swathes of the Namib Desert. We'll stop for a photo at the Tropic of Capricorn before arriving at our desert campsite in the Khomas region.

This morning we head back into Namib-Naukluft National Park, arriving at the desert's most famous landmark - Dune 45. This towering sand dune is more than 300 metres high - you are welcome to try to climb the dune if you are up to it!

Journeying deeper into the park, we arrive at Deadvlei, a white clay pan surrounded by the rolling golden dunes and home to eerie petrified trees. You'll want to remember your camera as the area changes colour with the movement of the sun across the sky. En route to our camp for the night, we also make a stop at Sesriem Canyon.

Namib-Naukluft National Park - Fish River Canyon. If you thought Sesriem Canyon was impressive, you're in for a treat today! It's a long drive south through desert scenery to reach Fish River Canyon, second only in size to the Grand Canyon in the USA. More than 500 metres deep and scarring the land for 160km, it's a jaw-dropping sight to behold. We'll stop at a couple of viewpoints and visit the canyon's famously sharp bend, known as 'Hell's Corner'.

Fish River Canyon - Orange River. Travelling south we reach the Orange River, also known as the Gariep. For much of its length, the Orange River marks the border between Namibia and South Africa. Our campsite is located on the Namibian side, and there is an optional canoe safari for those who want to see some of the surrounding scenery.

Orange River - Cederberg (South Africa). Crossing the border this morning we enter the seventh and final country of our adventure: South Africa. Driving south through the Namaqualand region, we will be treated to the sight of beautiful wildflowers if travelling in spring (August - September). Arriving at our riverside campsite, there is optional wine tasting for those who wish to try some of the Cederberg region's fine wines.

Cederberg - Cape Town. Today we complete our journey to Cape Town, South Africa's 'Mother City', where our tour comes to an end.

Home to Table Mountain, the V&A Waterfront, and some of the world's most spectacular scenery, we strongly recommend booking post-tour accommodation to further explore this iconic city. We can arrange this accommodation for you.