Cape to Victoria Falls Explorer

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 (at your own expense). Overnight hotel. NOTE - Driving distance (150 kms; 3.5 hrs); but with stops, penguins and lunch is a full day out.NB: No meals today are included and will be at your own expense.

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. Overnight lodge. NOTE - Driving distance/time (300 kms, 4.5 hrs); but with a stop for lunch and a hike in the Cederberg, we expect a total travel day of ±8.5hrs.NB: Breakfast will be provided by the hotel; Lunch & Dinner will be provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group.

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. Overnight lodge. NOTE - Driving distance/time (430 kms, 7 hrs); today is a stretch and with a border crossing (variable) & lunch we expect a travel day of ±9hrs.NB: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner will be provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group.

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 metres, the Fish River Canyon is the second largest canyon in the world. We make our way to the canyon and in the afternoon to marvel at the sheer grandeur of this enormous canyon. Overnight lodge. NOTE - Driving distance/time (340 kms, 5 hrs); our first long gravel sections and viewing of the canyon so we expect a total travel day of ±7.5hrs.NB: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner will be provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group.

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 (approx 4km), 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 each way). Overnight lodge.NOTE - Driving distance/time (480 kms, 7 hrs); through magnificent scenery but it's a long total travel day of ±8.5hrs.NB: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner will be provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group.

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 any of the optional activities such as dune boarding, sea kayaking or scenic flights (at your own risk and expense). Overnight guesthouse. NOTE - Driving distance/time: (360 kms; 5.5 hrs); this gravel road is very rough and we expect a total travel day of ±8hrs.Day 7: Breakfast & Lunch will be provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group; Dinner will be at your own expense (meal at a local restaurant).Day 8: Breakfast will be provided by the guesthouse; Lunch & Dinner will be at your own expense (meal at a local restaurant).

Namibia is a land of great contrasts and Damaraland demonstrates this with stark plains, petrified forests 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. Overnight chalet. NOTE - Driving distance/time: (330 kms, 5 hrs); starting on a "salt" road. The road is generally quite good, for a total travel day of ±6hrs.NB: Breakfast will be provided by the guesthouse; Lunch & Dinner will be provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group.

Once a vast lake fed by the Kunene River, the pan that is Etosha National Park 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. Overnight lodge.NOTE - Driving distance/time: (540 kms, 7.5 hrs); the road can be rough and with an afternoon game drive in Etosha we expect a total of ±9.5hrs in the vehicle.NB: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner will be provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group.

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 (at your own expense). Overnight guesthouse.NOTE - Driving distance/time: (410 kms, 5 hrs); good tarmac road and a stop for market shopping, we expect a total travel day of ±6hrs.NB: Breakfast & Lunch will be provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group; Dinner will be at your own expense (meal at a local restaurant).

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. Overnight chalet. NOTE - Driving distance/time: (530 kms, 6.5 hrs); an early start, good tarmac road but it's a long way and with border formalities we expect a total travel day of ±7.5hrs.NB: Breakfast will be provided by the guesthouse; Lunch & Dinner will be provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group.

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. Overnight lodge.NOTE - Driving distance/time: (400 kms, 5.5 hrs); as we skirt the Okavango the road can be very potholed, so we expect a travel day of ±6.5hrs.NB: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner will be provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group.

Making our way around the Okavango we head to Maun where we have an evening meal at a local restaurant (own expense). Overnight lodge.NOTE - Driving distance/time: (320 kms, 4.5 hrs); we make our way around the Delta on a partly potholed road, we expect a travel day of ±5.5hrs.NB: Breakfast & Lunch will be provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group; Dinner will be at your own expense (meal at a local restaurant).

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. Overnight tented lodge or chalet. NOTE - Driving distance/time: (360 kms; 5.5 hrs); we cross wide open expanses and we expect a travel day of ±6hrs.NB: Breakfast will be provided by the lodge; Lunch will be provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group; Dinner will be at your own expense (meal at the lodge).

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. Overnight chalet. NOTE - Driving distance/time: (320 kms; 4 hrs); after a leisurely start we head north for an easy transfer, we expect a travel day of ±4.5hrs.Day 18: Breakfast & Lunch will be provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group; Dinner will be at your own expense (meal at a local restaurant).Day 19: Breakfast will be provided by the lodge; Lunch will be provided by the cruise boat; Dinner will be at your own expense (meal at a local restaurant).

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, etc (at own expense & own risk). Overnight chalet. NOTE - Driving distance (100 kms; 2 hrs). It's not a long way, but the border can be busy and slow so we anticipate a total travel day of ±3hrs.NB: Breakfast will be provided by the lodge; Lunch & Dinner are not included and will be at your own expense.

Your tour ends at 8:00am at the lodge. Transfers to the airport are available on request (please ask your consultant for cost). NB: Breakfast will be provided by the lodge.