22 Day Northern Experience Safari - Fully Upgraded (JenN7)

Group Size Maximum: 10

DAY 1:

Cape Town, South Africa

Arrival in Cape Town. You have the remainder of the day at leisure.

Accommodation:

Lady Hamilton Hotel (Rooms with en-suite bathrooms)

DAY 2:

Cape Town to Cedarberg Mountains and Citrusdal Hot Springs, South Africa

An early start from the Lady Hamilton Hotel takes us to the beach on the Atlantic Ocean to have a last look at Table Mountain across the bay. After lunch we head for the Cedarberg Mountains, bypassing Citrusdal, a bustling rural village set amongst lush green citrus orchards.

Distance:

250 km

Departure:

10h00

Lunch Stop:

En route

Accommodation:

Gecko Creek Accommodation (Cabins, separate wash rooms with hot water, swimming pool)

DAY 3:

West Coast of South Africa to Orange River, South Africa

Travelling up the West Coast, we pass through some magnificent mountain ranges on our way to the Orange River. If you are travelling in spring you will see the spectacular carpets of wildflowers in the famous Namaqualand region.

Distance:

511km

Departure:

08h00

Lunch Stop:

Picnic spot on West Coast of South Africa

Accommodation:

Felix Unite River Camp on Orange River (Cabanas, wash rooms with hot water and bar).

DAY 4:

Canoeing on the Orange River, Namibia

The only travelling today is done in a canoe. Put your feet up and relax as the currents take you downstream - mind the rapids though!

Distance:

20 km (on the river)

Lunch Stop:

Banks of the Orange River

Accommodation:

Felix Unite River Camp on Orange River (Cabanas, wash rooms with hot water and bar).

DAY 5:

Fish River Canyon, Namibia

Today we head off to Canon Road House close to the Fish River Canyon. Later in the evening we take in another perfect African sunset with the magnificent views and scenery along the edge of the Canyon.

Distance:

141km

Departure:

08h00

Lunch Stop:

Picnic site en route

Accommodation:

Canon Road House (Rooms, wash rooms with hot water, swimming pool and convenience store).

DAY 6:

Sossusvlei, Namibia

Moving inland we make our way to Hammerstein Lodge, which is close to the world's highest sand dunes at Sossusvlei.

Distance:

650 km

Departure:

08h00

Lunch Stop:

Picnic site en route

Accommodation:

Hammerstein Lodge (Rooms, wash rooms with hot water, bar and swimming pool).

DAY 7:

Sesriem and Sossusvlei, Namibia

We visit the world's highest sand dunes at Sossusvlei. A drive into the dunes is also available (optional cost of R95pp transfer from 2x4 parking to Sossusvlei/Dead vlei parking area). At sunset these red sand dunes, which can reach heights of over 300 m, are absolutely spectacular and provide for a fantastic photo opportunity. With luck, there may even be water in the vlei (lake).

Distance:

120 km

Departure:

05h00

Lunch Stop:

Poolside picnic at Sesriem Camp

Accommodation:

Hammerstein Lodge (Rooms, wash rooms with hot water, bar and swimming pool).

DAY 8:

Namib Naukluft National Park & Kuiseb Canyon to Swakopmund, Namibia

The day is spent driving through the Namib Naukluft National Park and the Kuiseb Canyon on our way to Swakopmund.

Distance:

332 km

Departure:

10h00

Lunch Stop:

Namib Naukluft National Park

Accommodation:

Villa Wiese, Swakopmund (with bathroom and hot water). Restaurant, bars, laundry service and Internet cafe in town.

DAY 9:

Swakopmund, Namibia

We have the opportunity to explore this quaint German town by day and night. There are a number of activities to enjoy here; sand boarding, quad biking, skydiving and even fishing. You may even dare to brave the Atlantic sea.

Distance:

0km (day of leisure)

Lunch Stop:

Swakopmund

Accommodation:

Villa Wiese, Swakopmund (with bathroom and hot water). Restaurant, bars, laundry service and Internet cafe in town.

Optional Excursions in Swakopmund

ACTIVITY & RATE:

• Sand boarding - R 250
• Sand boarding (stand up) - R 350
• Fishing - R 850
• Quad-biking - R 500
• Sky Diving - R 1900
• Himba Visit - Scenic Flight (Full day excursion) - On request

DAY 10:

Cape Cross Seal Colony and Brandberg, Namibia

We follow the barren Namibian coastline on our way out of Swakopmund to visit Africa's largest seal colony. Leaving the cold Atlantic coastline behind we head inland across the desert planes for Brandberg, the highest mountain in Namibia.

Distance:

270 km

Departure:

08h00

Lunch Stop:

Cape Cross Seal Colony picnic site

Accommodation:

Brandberg White Lady Lodge (Rooms, wash rooms with hot water and bar).

DAY 11:

Twyfelfontein, Petrified Forest and Himba Village, Namibia

An early morning start takes us from Brandberg to our first stops at Twyfelfontein and Petrified Forest. Our final destination for the day will be Kamanjab. Depending on the time of arrival we go and explore a traditional Himba Village that afternoon or the next morning. This will be a journey of culture exchange and learning and understanding of our last traditional tribe in Namibia, the Ova-Himba.

Distance:

310 km

Departure:

08h00

Lunch Stop:

picnic spot enroute

Accommodation:

Porcupine Camp (Permanent Tents, wash rooms with hot water, bar and swimming pool).

DAY 12:

Kamanjab to Etosha National Park, Namibia

After our cultural experience in Kamanjab, we head to the land of the big five - Etosha National Park. Lunch is eaten close to the small German town of Outjo where we relax and have the opportunity to visit an Internet cafe. Our final destination for the day is Etosha. As the sun sets and late into the night, the group has the opportunity to watch animals drink at floodlit waterholes.

Distance:

270 km

Departure:

08h00

Lunch Stop:

Picnic spot en route

Accommodation:

Okaukuejo (Chalets, wash rooms with hot water, swimming pool and convenience stores)

DAYS 13 & 14:

Etosha National Park, Namibia

We fill the next 2 days with game drives, including evening game viewing at floodlit waterholes. In the mornings we have the opportunity to take game drive at sunrise. At all three camps, Namutoni, Okaukuejo and Halali you can take a swim in the swimming pool or as the sun sets, and late into the night, the group can watch animals drink at the floodlit waterhole.

Distance:

Approx. 150 km of game drives

Departure:

10h00

Lunch stop:

At one of the camps

Accommodation:

Namutoni, Okaukuejo, Halali (Chalets, washrooms with hot water, swimming pool and convenience store).

DAY 15 & 16:

Etosha to Kavango River, Namibia

Leaving Etosha we head to Rundu and onto n'Kwazi River Camp, which is on the banks of the Kavango River over looking Angola. A sunset cruise, horse riding, traditional dancing in the evening as well as visiting a local village are optional or you can just put your feet up and relax on the banks of the river as the sunsets.

Distance:

362 km

Departure:

08h00

Lunch stop:

A picnic site en route to n'Kwazi

Accommodation:

n'Kwazi River Camp (Chalets, wash rooms with hot water, swimming pool and laundry service available)

DAY 17 & 18:

Kavango River to Okavango Delta, Botswana

We leave Namibia for Etsha, on the western border of the Okavango Delta in Botswana. The next day is spent exploring the network of water pathways through thick vegetation in mokoros (traditional dugout canoes). The Delta is a well-preserved gem of Africa with a vast oasis ofcrystal clear lakelets, lagoons and palm-fringed islands. On our last evening in the Delta we feast with a braai (barbeque).

Day 17:

Distance:

360 km (20km in 4x4)

Departure:

09h00

Lunch stop:

Etosha 13 or at the Camp

Accommodation:

Guma Lagoon Camp or similar (Camping, wash rooms with hot water and bar).

Day 18:

Distance:

20 km by motorized boat, 6 km by Mokoro / about 5 km walk in Delta

Departure:

08h00

Lunch stop:

On Fly Camp (an island in the Delta)

Accommodation:

Guma Lagoon Camp or similar (Camping, wash rooms with hot water and bar).

DAY 19:

Western Caprivi, Namibia

Leaving Botswana, we drive up the Western border of the Okavango Delta before crossing over into Namibia and driving through the Caprivi to our camp on the banks of the Kwando River. In the afternoon you will go on a game drive in the famous Mudumo National Park. In contrast to the rest of Namibia, the area is lush with riverine forest, marshes, dense savannah and mopane woodland.

Distance:

325 km

Departure:

08h00

Lunch stop:

At a picnic spot en route.

Accommodation:

Camp Kwando (Chalets, wash rooms with hot water, bar and swimming pool).

DAY 20:

Chobe National Park, Botswana

The next morning we depart Camp Kwando, head along the Caprivi and cross the border back into Botswana to drive through Chobe National Park to our camp on the Chobe River. In the afternoon you will go on a sunset cruise along the banks on the Chobe National Park. We spend the night camping on the banks of the Chobe River listening to the calls of Africa.

Distance:

260 km

Departure:

10h00

Lunch stop:

A picnic spot en route

Accommodation:

Toro Lodge (Chalets, wash rooms with hot water, bar and swimming pool).

DAY 21:

Chobe National Park to Victoria Falls, Zambia

A mid morning departure takes you from Chobe to Livingstone in Zambia by ferry across the Zambezi. The tour finishes here where your guide will bid you farewell. The Victoria Falls can be seen from Livingstone in Zambia.

Distance:

110 km

Departure:

08h00

Accommodation:

Zambezi Waterfront (Chalets with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, restaurant and bar)

DAY 22:

End of tour

The tour ends after breakfast this morning. We can arrange an airport transfer on request (own expense). We hope to welcome you on one of our African adventures soon.