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Day 1 Cape Town
Arrive to Cape Town at any time. There are no activities planned on Day 1 until a Welcome Meeting at 18:00 local time with your CEO (tour leader) and fellow travellers scheduled for the evening. There will be more information on this meeting at check-in.
Cape Town has many different options should you arrive early. Visit Robben Island, Table Mountain, explore Cape Point (Cape of Good Hope) or join a wine tour in and around Stellenbosch (45 min drive). Visit the old French Huguenot town of Franschoek and surroundings (1 hr drive). For the truly adventurous there are numerous adrenaline activities in the surrounding areas, from skydiving to abseiling to cage diving for a close encounter with the great white sharks. Opt t wander through the city centre with some of the oldest buildings and gardens in South Africa (Botanical Gardens and Parliament Gardens) or visit the Cultural Historical Museum, Planetarium and numerous other small museums and theaters.
Our joining hotel is in a neighbourhood called Gardens and is walking distance to some popular streets for cafés and shopping. There is free wi-fi in the lobby.
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Day 2 Lambert’s Bay (1B)
Travelling from Cape Town, stop along the way at a wine farm for the opportunity for one last wine tasting. Continue north towards Namaqualand where you might be able to see fields of Namaqualand daisies in season (August and September). At Clanwilliam we head towards the coast again and on to Lambert’s Bay, a picturesque town on the west coast of South Africa.
In the afternoon opt to visit the well known “Bird Island” where you can find more than 25,000 blue-eyed gannets at certain times of the year. Penguins also gather on this island for breeding between August and October. Opt to stroll through this lovely town visiting unique artisan shops and boutiques.
Our accommodation here is small guesthouse with en-suite bathrooms. There is air-con, laundry and internet access available.
Approximate distance: 350 km
Estimated travel time: 5.5 hrs (including lunch stop) -
Day 3 Gariep River (1B)
Travelling north, it’s a good day’s travel through this dry and remote part of South Africa. In the mid-afternoon, we cross Namibia into a more arid region and stop at scenic Gariep (Orange) River for the evening. After getting settled near the banks of the Gariep River, enjoy the late afternoon with swimming or relaxing at the river.
The Gariep River, sometimes known as the Orange River or the Grootrivier, is the major river of South Africa. The river was first discovered by indigenous people but only explored by Europeans in 1760 and named after the House of Orange, which was the Stadhouder of Holland between 1777 and 1779.
Accommodation here is a lodge with en-suite bathrooms, restaurant and bar, pool and internet access.
Approximate distance: 450km
Estimated travel time: 7 hrs (depending on border crossing) -
Day 4 Fish River Canyon (1B)
Continue on to Fish River Canyon, the largest canyon in Africa, and take in the majestic beauty. The canyon was formed by the Fish River, which, at 650 kilometres in length, is Namibia’s longest river. The canyon itself is situated along the lower reaches of the Fish River and is one of the most impressive natural formations of southern African. It is approximately 161 km long, 27km wide at its widest point and 550m deep. It is the oldest canyon in the world, formed about 500 million years ago.
Accommodation here is a hotel with en-suite bathrooms, a pool and bar area.
Approximate distance: 300 km
Estimated travel time: 5.5 hours (including stops) -
Day 5-6 Namib Desert (2B, 2D)
We continue north through Namaland en route to the Namib Desert. We arrive in the area in the late afternoon, where the towering red sand dunes of Sossusvlei form the gateway into the Namib Desert. Here you will really feel as though you’re in the middle of nowhere.
Day 6 is spent exploring the natural wonders of this bizarre environment. Enjoy a visit to Sossusvlei, a clay pan enclosed by the world’s largest sand dunes, up to 300m high. Here you will have some free time to enjoy the sand dunes on your own. We will also make a stop at Sesriem Canyon, a small canyon typical of the area.
Accommodation here is a campsite. The nights of Days 5 and 6 will be spent in pitched dome tents with shared ablution (bathrooms). All camping equipment (with the exception of your sleeping bag and pillow) is supplied. Assembly and disassembly of the tents takes only 5 minutes (your CEO will show you how to erect your tent). Mattresses are also available and are warm and comfortable. Your CEOs will do all the meal preparation but we do ask our travellers to help with the preparation and washing up. Team spirit is part of the fun!
At the campgrounds there are sites with their own shared ablution block including toilets, sinks, hot and cold showers, barbecues, kitchen facilities and electricity. There’s a shaded vernada and swimming pool to relax in. There is an internet café adjacent to the campgrounds.
Approximate distance: 400 km
Estimated travel time: 5.5 hrs -
Day 7-8 Swakopmund (1B)
Today you will really get a feeling for the Namib Desert as we spend hours crossing this void region along with a few dry mountain passes. En route to the Namibian coast, we’ll take a coffee break in Solitaire, a mystical village consisting of a filling station, general dealer/coffee shop and small mechanical workshop. Before arriving to Swakopmund, we drive through Walvis Bay, the only town on the Namibian coastline that hosts a deep-sea harbor.
We spend two nights in the area, where you can explore this historical town or try some of the numerous activities available, such as dune boarding or embarking on a dolphin cruise. Swakopmund has bizarre lunar landscapes, unforgettable sunsets and prehistoric Welwitchia plants.
Accommodation here is a lodge with en-suite bathrooms. It’s in walking distance to shops, restaurants, beaches and dunes. The lodge offers laundry serves, wifi and a restaurant/bar.
Approximate distance: 260 km
Estimated travel time: 4.5 hrs -
Day 9-10 Etosha National Park
Looking out over the beautiful desert landscapes we begin moving east into the interior of Namibia. On this route we pass through a moon landscape and see the imposing Spitzkoppe, also known as the “Matterhorn” of Namibia in the distance.
Etosha in waMbo means “the great white place of dry water”. As one of Africa’s highlights, the Etosha National Park offers a variety of wildlife and phenomenal natural beauty. Explore the pans and the park on game drives, with excellent opportunities to spot lion, giraffe, elephant, rhino, and antelope. Depending on our arrival time to the park, we continue on a game drive around the huge dry pan to find the elephants, herds of antelope and lions around the waterholes. After sunset you can watch some animals at the watering holes near the camping area, which is safe, being well lit with flood lights. Game drives are done in our air-conditioned touring vehicle. Night/Day game drives can be done in open vehicles (optional, at extra cost). The following day, enjoy another game drive in the park.Accommodation here is camping in Etosha National Park. It will be similar to the camping on Days 5 and 6 though no meals will be provided. The campground offers a restaurant and shop which are great places to grab a meal. The CEO will provide options for campfires and barbecues (braais) under the stars with the whole group, splitting the cost of food between everyone. This campsite also offers a swimming pool to relax in after your days exploring the area.
Approximate distance: 610 km
Estimated travel time: 7.5 hrs -
Day 11 Windhoek
Leave Etosha National Park and head south through the Namibian countryside to Windhoek. The capital of Namibia has a population of 230,000, an altitude of 1654m and heavy German influence. Windhoek was originally the centre of a Nama leader, Jan Jonker Afrikaner, who defeated the Herero inhabitants of the region in the mid-19th century. Windhoek became the seat of colonial rule in 1892, as the capital of the colony of South-West Africa (Deutsch-Südwestafrika). They built a fort that eventually spanned a town that grew under its protection. During World War I, Windhoek was captured by South African troops and became a British dominion. Until the independence of Namibia was inaugurated in 1990, Windhoek was recognized as the capital of South West Africa as administered by the South African government.
Accommodation here is a hotel with en-suite bathrooms. The hotel offers air-con, swimming pool, internet access and a restaurant.
Approximate distance: 450 km
Estimated travel time: 5.5 hrs -
Day 12 Windhoek (1B)
Depart Windhoek at any time.
from $1999.00