CAMPING SAFARI: From Cape Town to the adventure capital of the world, Victoria Falls, travelling through Namibia and Botswana along the way. Take in some of Southern Africa’s best game parks and reserves on this exciting 22 day adventure.
Trip Highlights
Included
Not Included
Itinerary
Cederberg
Cape Town - Cederberg. Leaving Cape Town, we head around Table Bay and travel north to a picturesque campsite, surrounded by wine farms in the Cederburg Area. This afternoon we sample some of the nectar of the gods with an optional wine tasting after taking a short walk in the surrounding vineyards to explore the exquisite views of the Cederberg Mountains.
Overnight: Cederberg | Lunch, Dinner
Gariep River
Cederberg - Gariep River. From the Cederberg we travel further north through the region known as Namaqualand and the desert area of the Richtersveld to the Gariep River, the natural land border between South Africa and Namibia, where we camp at a beautiful campsite on the South African bank of the river.
Overnight: Gariep River | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Fish River Canyon
Gariep River - Fish River Canyon (Namibia). This morning we travel to the Fish River Canyon. At 161 km long, 27 km wide and about 550 m deep, it’s the second largest canyon in the world. A road follows the eastern rim, giving us access to several viewing points from where we can take in the spectacular vistas.
Overnight: Fish River Canyon | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Sesriem
Fish River Canyon - Sesriem. An early start today, heading north we enter the Namib-Naukluft desert, one of the oldest in the world. We base ourselves at Sesriem, a good place to experience the Namib and its many moods. A short distance away is Sossusvlei, surrounded by a dramatic sea of sand dunes which are reputed to be the highest in the world.
Overnight: Sesriem | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Namib Naukluft National Park
This morning we enter the Namib-Naukluft National Park where we spend the morning exploring this amazing area. View the sunrise from the top of Dune 45 - a truly memorable experience. Following our sunrise experience we head a further 5kms into the desert and take a walk to Sossusvlei and Deadvlei and explore the surrounding area.
Overnight: Sesriem | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Swakopmund
Sesriem - Swakopmund. Our next stop is Namibia’s prime holiday resort - Swakopmund where we enjoy 2 nights of rest, relaxation and a little bit of adrenalin for those that are keen! Founded by the Germans in 1892, their colonial influence is still evident today. Swakopmund has lovely beaches, restaurants & bars as well as many arts and crafts shops selling Namibian curios. Optional excursions include sky diving, quad biking, sand boarding, scenic desert flights, dolphin cruises, fishing trips, golf, horse riding and more.
Overnight: Swakopmund | Breakfast x 2
Spitzkoppe
Swakopmund - Brandberg. Our departure from Swakopmund takes us through the ‘Matterhorn of Namibia’ - Spitzkoppe. The 1728m high rock formation, one of Namibia’s most recognized landmarks, is well known as an ancient San sacred site. Explore the surrounding area and its San rock paintings or simply enjoy the magnificent views. After our visit to Spitzkoppe we head off to our next destination – Brandberg
Overnight: Brandberg | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Etosha National Park
Brandberg - Etosha National Park area. On day 10 our drive takes us further north through the Namibian countryside to our campsite, located in the vicinity of Etosha National Park. The following day we explore Etosha National Park. Covering 22,700 km, Etosha is Namibia’s premier nature and wildlife reserve. Situated around the Etosha Pan with a large variety of animal and bird life, the extensive network of gravel roads affords us the opportunity of accessing even the most remote areas of the park. After lunch, and once it has cooled off a bit, we spend the remainder of the day exploring the park’s southern area. Keep an eye out for the striking Oryx and Springbok as these are endemic to desert National Parks! The camp tonight is situated just outside the parks boundaries, only 10kms from Anderson Gate. Perhaps a quick dip in the pool or a sun downer on the deck before dinner.
Overnight: Etosha National Park area | Breakfast x 2, Lunch x 2, Dinner x 2
Etosha National Park
Today we make our way 150 km across the park, keeping a look out for the many different mammals, reptiles, birds and insects in the various regions. After a full day of game viewing, we spend the evening relaxing at our camp in the north of the park, Namutoni. After dinner why not head to the waterhole where you can sit and observe the animals which may come to drink in the evenings.
Overnight: Etosha National Park | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Windhoek & Ghanzi
Etosha - Windhoek - Ghanzi - Maun (Botswana). From Etosha, we head to the capital Windhoek for some free time in the afternoon. Departing on day 14 we enter into Botswana and stop in Ghanzi in the middle of the Kalahari Desert - home to the famous San Bushmen.
Continuing on day 15 we head to Maun - our base for the Okavango Delta. Tonight we prepare our provisions and packs for our 1 night excursion. We suggest bringing along a smaller daypack on your trip as this can be used to pack the supplies needed for this short excursion. Your trip leader will brief you fully on what is needed, and what to expect prior to your trip to the Delta.
Overnight: Windhoek (1), Ghanzi (1) Maun (1) | Breakfast x 3, Lunch x 3, Dinner x 2
Okavango Delta
Maun - Okavango Delta. The Delta is a huge expanse of water, which has travelled from the Angolan highlands, spreading out to form the largest inland delta in the world. Studded with exotic islands, The Delta is renowned for its incredible variety of bird life and animals and is unique to Southern Africa.
Here we take an overnight excursion into the Delta. After an early rise, we pack our expedition vehicle and from Maun we drive north for a couple of hours to reach the mokoro poler’s station. The Delta region is studded with local villages where many families live in a traditional way. Some of the villages are very remote and can only be reached by the traditional mode of transport – the Mokoro. Mokoros are dugout canoes maneuverd through the waterways by local guides who “pole” them through the reeds. At the Mokoro station, we meet our ‘Polers’ and pack our supplies before heading out into the waterways. After a couple of hours, we arrive at our bush camp situated in the heart of the Okavango Delta.
Overnight: Okavango Delta | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Okavango Delta
Okovango Delta – Maun. After our Mokoro ride and vehicle transfer, we arrive back around lunch time and have the chance to complete our picture of the Okavango Delta by taking an optional scenic flight over the Delta (dependent on weather conditions & availability).
Overnight: Maun | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Nata Region
Maun - Nata Region. We leave this beautiful part of Botswana behind us this morning and transfer to the lush campsite called Elephant Sands. The drive will take you through a sparse landscape where donkeys roam freely. On arrival, there's an optional game drive or bushwalk.
Overnight: Nata Region | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Chobe National Park
Nata Region - Chobe. We travel north to the town of Kasane where we set up camp on the banks of the Chobe River. The river forms a border between Botswana, Namibia and Zambia and is the main water source to Chobe National Park. The next morning we have a chance to sleep in or explore the town of Kasane.
Once we are packed and prepared on day 20, we leave for our Chobe National Park overnight mobile excursion – an experience in the wilds of the Chobe National Park. Chobe is one of Botswana’s premier game parks, renowned for its large elephant herds. Spend the afternoon in search of wildlife while we game drive to our camp within the park. Look out for the rare Sable and Roan Antelope on your game drive, with their majestic backward slanting horns, or try to keep a count of the Lilac Breasted Rollers that swoop by. Spend the evening surrounded by the night-time noises of the local wildlife.
Overnight: Kasane (1), Chobe (1) | Breakfast x 2, Lunch x 2, Dinner x 2
Victoria Falls
Chobe - Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe). After our night in the bush, we head out early to continue our search for wildlife, before packing up the camp and heading back to Kasane. We travel onwards to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Named after the famous World Heritage site and Water Falls, the town of Victoria Falls is situated on the Zambezi River and surrounded by the Victoria Falls National Park. A 20 minute walk down the main road takes you to the entry point to view the falls, which are situated between Zimbabwe and Zambia. The afternoon is spent relaxing at the campsite’s swimming pool, viewing the Victoria Falls, or exploring the many sights and delights of this town.
Overnight: Victoria Falls | Breakfast
Victoria Falls
Saturday. Our African adventure ends after breakfast today. We suggest extending your stay to take advantage of the exciting optional excursions available at Victoria Falls, which include horseback safaris, a visit to the crocodile ranch, flights over the falls and more.
Breakfast
Prices & Dates
Departure dates are guaranteed with a minimum of 6 persons. Prices are per person when there are 2 people sharing a tent/room. Solo travellers will be matched up and share a tent/room with another solo traveller of the same gender.
Read MoreLocal payment - $820pp paid in USD
Please note that this is payable locally on day 1 of your trip in the currency specified.
Hotels
The hotels listed below are ones which we frequently use on this tour. We reserve the right to substitute these hotels to ones of a similar standard.
Highlanders Campsite, Cederberg
Nestled among the wine farms at the foot of the Cederberg mountains, this campsite is a perfect stopover in the Namaqualand region. Highlanders is set on 3 levels, giving campers plenty of space between each of the 5 individual camp areas, and a 12-room ensuite lodge has recently been added to the site. Each camp has a 'braai' pit, sink unit & power. There are stunning mountain views from the solar-powered hot showers, and a locally-sourced wine bar by the scenic swimming pool.
Sossus Oasis Campsite, Sesriem
This luxury campsite at the gates of Sossusvlei features 12 individually shaded camps, each with its own bathroom facilities, kitchen basin, barbecue, and electricity points. The campsite has a sparkling pool, and is within walking distance of a fully stocked shop, Internet café, and service station. The adjacent Sossusvlei Lodge offers a restaurant and Adventure Centre, where exciting desert activities such as quad biking, sunset drives, and scenic flights over the dunes can be arranged.
Urban Camp (campsite), Windhoek
Centrally located in Windhoek (a short walk from the legendary Joe's Beerhouse restaurant), Urban Camp is a comfortable campground combining city convenience with a quiet getaway. Free Wi-Fi, and a sparkling pool contribute to an oasis of calm in campsites housing up to 18 people with shared bathroom facilities. Nearby is a small shopping centre for amenities, and for sightseers looking to explore the history and architecture of Windhoek, the city centre is less than 2km away.
Shearwater Explorers Village, Victoria Falls
Situated in the bohemian town of Victoria Falls, and 400m from the Falls themselves, the affordable accommodation at the Shearwater Explorers Village consists of 5 campsites with modern bathroom facilities, and 16 chalets with en-suite showers and A/C. Shearwater operates a range of activities at the Falls, from bungee jumping to river rafting - and when the day is over, guests can wind down with Wi-Fi in the lounge areas, a drink by the pool, or even a back rub in the massage tent.
Excellent Tour. Accommodation and food were above expectation.
Mishak was amazing, he was very informative and helpful.
Bottled water should be provided by the tour company instead of participants having to purchase along the way. ”
The trip was awesome. From the airport pick up to our guides escorting some of us to the border so we could leave early (corona :( )
We saw so many things and a great variety. We were safe and very well fed. Moonya? kept us happy and healthy with delicious mushroom sauce and yummy peanut cabbage. There was always a vegetarian option.
Becky keep us safe on the road and was an excellent driver and helped me with my tent.
Gift keep us organized and informed with a great sense of humour. His love of Africa always shone through. I did find some parts a bit slow. I did not really enjoy so many idle afternoons but some in the group did.The truck should have curtains and some small repairs to the seats but was pretty comfortable for the most part. A source of power in the back would make life much easier.
Campsites were almost all excellent. I was in a great group and the three weeks flew by.
I cannot say enough good things about our crew. A great trip.”
I joined a 3 week camping tour from Cape Town to Victoria Falls. The guide, driver, and cook assigned to my tour were great. The campsites all had running water and electricity. And almost all of them had pools. Even in the middle of the desert!”
As this was a budget tour the accommodation was good.
The tour took us to places that I didn't even envisage existing the group was great and we did get a true feel for the country. ”
Great tour and tour guide was the best. Great communication and organisation skills and knowledge. ”
This tour was very well organised with the tour leader Tabi, Driver Laban and Cook Ben. All fantastic guys. There was a good routine which we adhered to and this made everything flow smoothly. The driving was great, very careful and safe. The food was superb. Early mornings resulted in us being at camp early afternoon and making the most of the facilities. The campsites were all good and nearly all had swimming pools and a bar/restaurant. The tents were easy to put up and take down with plenty of room for mattresses and backpacks. A really enjoyable holiday. Tabi was a bit lacking in giving us important information at the evening briefing but Laban made up for this. ”
Tour went extremely well. I’d recommend it to anyone.
Only thought that I expressed to Tabby is that he would be more expressive and clear about what to expect at each stop. I realize things can vary a lot, but we are new to the area and would benefit by more explanation. May have been some language issue, which is expected. However I mentioned to Tabby that he may benefit from some sort of “public speaking” training. Otherwise he was a very personable and helpful guide, especially on a on-on-one interest in us. He was definitely likable and made the tour feel like a personal experience.”
This was an excellent tour. We saw a variety of environments, saw many animals, had a variety of activities and really had very little difficulties (one tire issue for a couple of hours one day). I liked the variety, and even though we had many days of long, dusty driving, it was worth it to see as many things as we did. The 22 guests all got along well and the 3 staff were excellent. The guide, driver, and cook were friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and kept us all on track time wise. I would go with them again!
A suggestion: at Elephant Sands I suggest there be an automatic upgrade to a tented cabin. Myself and 2 other girls stayed in the regular tents with a number of others who were tenting. It was a fabulous night watching the elephants from our tent door, but at one point 2 elephants were shoving each other and when one elephant hurried off its back foot caught the edge of my tent and twirled it around. I straightened my tent up, and slept the rest of the night just fine. I loved the experience and wouldn't have traded it for the world, but in the interest of safety, I suggest an automatic upgrade at this site, just add the additional cost onto the overall cost of the tour.”
An incredible adventure. Knox introduced us to Africa, giving us just enough information to keep us safe and interested. He was quick to respond whenever there were concerns on board the truck or with external influences such as vehicle break downs and border issues. At all times we felt safe.
The tour itself was tougher than we anticipated with very early mornings and long hot days on rough roads. But then, that is what helped make it so memorable.”
I can't fault anything on the tour, our guide was amazing, the cook incredible and our driver wonderful! Great value for money and I had such a fantastic time! ”
At a Glance
Extra Tour Info
Excellent Tour. Accommodation and food were above expectation.
Mishak was amazing, he was very informative and helpful.
Bottled water should be provided by the tour company instead of participants having to purchase along the way. ”
