24 - Day Overland Camping Safari - Cape Town to Johannesburg

Included Highlights:

6 Nights; Inn 17 Nights; Camping From the dynamic city of Cape Town, to the scorched deserts of Namibia and the wildlife sanctuaries of Botswana and Zimbabwe, this tour endeavours to show the highlights of the region. On a journey of contrasts, we will canoe the Orange River, climb giant sand dunes, game drive in some of Africa’s best-known parks, and view the mighty Victoria Falls. We cover a great deal of distance on some remote and rough roads, and clients must be prepared for this but the natural wonders that we encounter more than compensate for any discomfort - for those who truly seek adventure.

Table Mountain Orange River Canoe Trip Dune Climbing Victoria Falls National Park Chobe National Park Hwange National Park Namib Desert Etosha National Park Matobo National Park Okavango Delta Desert Night Drive 4x4 trip to Sossusvlei Rhino Tracking on Foot   Optional Activities: Game Flight Quad Biking Bungi Jumping White Water Rafting Sky Diving Elephant Back Safari Marine Wildlife Boat Trip

Day 1 - 2: Cape Town

Breakfast

We all meet at the DRIFTERS CAPE TOWN INN at 13h00 to spend the afternoon exploring and visiting the sights. We have one-and-a-half days here, in which time we will hike Table Mountain, visit Cape Point, the Waterfront, Hout Bay, the Stellenbosch winelands and numerous other sights. Our exact program will be dependent on the weather. Overnight at DRIFTERS INN on the beachfront for the two nights. (Lunches and both evening meals are for your own expense.)

Day 3: West Coast Breakfast, Dinner We leave the Mother City behind us, and after a visit to Blouberg Strand for a last view of Table Mountain from across the bay, then travel north through the "Swartland" and then along the West Coast into Namaqualand. In the early spring this usually barren area comes to life with the blooming of numerous desert adapted flower species. We camp the night.

Day 4 - 5: Orange River

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we cross the border into Namibia, then travel the short distance to our base camp on the banks of the Orange River from where we begin our canoe adventure. Once we have packed all of our gear into our two man canoes, we set off into the wilderness. The Orange River creates an awesome spectacle, a green ribbon winding its way through the desert and towering mountains of the Richtersvelt National Park. We will spend one night camping on the banks, under the desert skies, and will then return to our base camp and vehicle to camp the next night in relative comfort.

Day 6: Fish River Canyon

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we head directly to the Fish River Canyon, the second largest of its kind in the world. After visiting the viewpoints and exploring the lip of the Canyon, we set up camp at Hobas.

Day 7 - 8: Namib Desert Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Leaving the Canyon behind us, we continue north into the true Namib Desert, with its continually shifting barchan dunes and barren landscapes. The next two nights are spent at the DRIFTERS DESERT CAMP situated on our private game reserve. This camp is spectacularly situated against a rock outcrop between the stark mountains and the red dune-lands. During our stay here we will conduct guided walks and drives including a night drive within the reserve.

Day 9: Sossusvlei - Swakopmund

Breakfast, Lunch

After an early start, we travel directly to the dune fields of Sossusvlei. The last part of our journey to the dunes will be through the thick sand and for this we use an open 4x4 vehicle. After climbing the dunes for the spectacular view from the summit, we transfer by 4x4 back to our vehicle, and continue on to the seaside town of Swakopmund where we will spend two nights at the DRIFTERS SWAKOPMUND INN. Tonight we enjoy a restaurant meal (own expense)

Day 10: Swakopmund

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The DRIFTERS INN provides the ideal location for exploring the town of Swakopmund with its beaches, markets, curio shops and huge variety of adventure options that include quad biking, sky diving, horse riding, dune boarding, and many more. The nightlife of Swakopmund is also worth experiencing.

Day 11: Spitskop

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we head north up the Skeleton Coast to the seal colony of Cape Cross before venturing back inland to the impressive Spitskop where we camp wild amongst the boulders at the base of this massive rock outcrop.

Day 12: Palmwag

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Continuing through the desert, we move on to visit the Bushman rock engravings at Twyfelfontein, whereafter we cross the mountains into the wilderness to camp in the Palmwag region. We hope to see the rare desert elephants on this day. 

Day 13 - 14: Etosha

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

For an incredible wildlife experience, today we enter the Etosha National Park, and after setting up camp at Okaukuejo, enjoy an extensive afternoon game drive. We return to camp to spend the evening game viewing at the floodlit waterhole. Continuing through the reserve, we game drive to Fort Namutoni to camp the night. One night we dine at a camp restaurant (own expense).

Day 15: Caprivi

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Leaving the harsh desert landscapes behind us, we travel north to the lush Caprivi area. Tonight we will camp on the banks of the mighty Okavango River at Ngepi.

Day 16: Maun

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Crossing into Botswana today, we travel through the Kalahari to the frontier town of Maun. Relax for the afternoon at the swimming pool. Tonight we stay at the DRIFTERS MAUN CAMP.

Day 17: Okavango Delta

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we head into the heart of the Okavango, either by light aircraft or by sandy track, depending on conditions. Once in the Delta we continue by Mekoro - the traditional dugout canoe to our remote camp. This is truly nature's wonderland and a huge variety of wildlife will be witnessed in its natural state. Tonight we camp wild on a remote island - fall asleep to the sounds of the wild. Clients will have the option of a Game Flight during these days.

Day 18: Nata

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a morning mekoro trip and short transfer, we leave this unspoiled wilderness and return to the DRIFTERS MAUN CAMP to freshen up before continuing through the Makgadikgadi salt pans to the oasis like camp of Nata.

Day 19: Kasane - Victoria Falls

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Travelling north through the Chobe forest reserves, we head for the border town of Kasane from where we will venture into the renowned Chobe National Park in search of the large concentrations of animals that this area is known for. Late this afternoon we then cross the border and drive the short distance to the DRIFTERS VICTORIA FALLS INN where we spend the following nights in comfort. One night enjoy a braai and experience traditional dancing around the pool.

Day 20: Victoria Falls

Breakfast

This morning we awake to the "Adventure Capital of Africa" - Victoria Falls. We will have a full day here, giving us ample time to explore the falls and to participate in the multitude of activities on offer, white water rafting, bungi jumping, aircraft flips, etc. (An evening's meal and both lunches will be at your own expense.)

Day 21: Hwange

Breakfast, Dinner

A leisurely start today, we returning to the wilderness, we travel the short distance to the magnificent Hwange National Park where we overnight in a remote camp on the Parks boundary.

Day 22: Bulawayo - Matobo

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After an extensive open vehicle game drive in the Park searching for many animal species that occur here, we travel south, to the wide streets of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second largest city and then on to Matobo. Camp the night in our bush camp situated amongst the precariously balancing boulders that this area is known for.

Day 23: Machete

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we enjoy a tour into the National Park to view the sights and game and where on foot we will track rhino through the bush. We then continue south, crossing the border into South Africa and to our bushcamp situated on a private game reserve within the Limpopo valley.

Day 24: Johannesburg

Breakfast

This morning we conduct a short walk to view the magnificent bushman paintings surrounding our camp before making the journey to Johannesburg. We arrive at the DRIFTERS JOHANNESBURG INN in the late afternoon.