Delta & Deserts

Driving across the top edge of the Kalahari Desert we reach the town of Maun, which will be our gateway for visiting the Okavango Delta, Africa's largest freshwater wetland.

Approximate Travel Time: A full day drive

Accommodation

1 night(s) in hotels at Sedia Hotel or similar

Meals

1 Breakfast(s), 1 Lunch(es)

The Okavango Delta is a huge area of very slow flowing water fed by the Kavango River. The water fans out from the river into a labyrinth of channels, lagoons and palm-covered islands before evaporating over the sands of the Kalahari Desert.

Today we will take a day trip to the small islands in the bush. We will travel by hand-crafted mokoros (small boats with shallow drafts similar to canoes) through the delta. The canoes glide silently along the reed-fringed waterways, steered by stealthy polers who earn their living transporting travellers along the delta. We will also have walking safaris through the bush and a chance for a swim before returning to the hotel in Maun.

Included Excursions

Day trip to the Okavango Delta with walking safaris and a mokoro ride included

Accommodation

1 night(s) in hotels at Sedia Hotel or similar

Meals

1 Buffet Breakfast(s)

Departing Maun we drive through Botswana towards Namibia and cross the border through a narrow strip of land known as the Caprivi Strip. Keep your eyes peeled as we drive through Mahongo Game Reserve as you may be lucky enough to spot zebra, giraffe, gazelle and elephants among other wildlife.

Please note: A yellow fever vaccination is required if you are travelling to/from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission in Africa; this includes transiting through a yellow fever risk country. The Majority of our tours in Africa require a yellow fever certificate therefore we highly recommend that you obtain this prior to travel. Please make sure that on arrival you have a valid yellow fever certificate ready for inspection by local customs or health authorities, otherwise you could be refused entry or quarantined.

Approximate Travel Time: Six hours depending on the border

Accommodation

1 night(s) in basic huts at Rainbow River Lodge or similar

Meals

1 Buffet Breakfast(s), 1 Lunch(es)

We will spend two nights staying in or around Etosha National Park. Where possible we try to stay at the lodges inside the park for one or more nights. Etosha National Park is one of the most memorable places you will visit on this trip with huge amounts of wildlife visiting the waterholes to drink. We have a full game drive to make the most of the fantastic wildlife-spotting opportunities.

Etosha National Park is one of the best places in Africa to spot cheetah and the endangered black rhino. Keep your camera lens ready for rare antelope species, the Burchell's zebra and black-faced impalas which roam the wild savannah. You may spot the odd giraffe or two chewing through thorny acacia trees in the woodland areas. Etosha National Park is a bird watcher's paradise with some 340 species inhabiting the park at different times of the year. For a short period after seasonal rains Etosha's vast salt pan is covered by a layer of water which attracts massive flocks of pelicans, flamingoes and other wading birds. While the pan is dry it is notable for the way it dramatically changes colour during the early morning and late afternoon sun.

Included Excursions

Full day trip to Etosha National Park with a game drive in the Tucan Travel truck

Accommodation

2 night(s) in lodges

Meals

1 Local Breakfast(s), 1 Breakfast(s), 2 Lunch(es), 2 Dinner(s)

This morning we leave the Etosha area and make our way towards Outjo where we stay for the night.

Approximate Travel Time: Seven hours

Accommodation

1 night(s) in hotels at Etotongwe Lodge or similar

Meals

1 Breakfast(s), 1 Lunch(es)

Our next stop will be the charming coastal town of Swakopmund, a historic colonial German town surrounded by desert and sweeping sand dunes which meet with the Atlantic Ocean. It is Namibia's most popular holiday destination. We spend two nights here, so you can to wander around town viewing the colonial architecture or perhaps enjoy a cold locally brewed beer or two. If you would prefer to fuel your thirst for adrenaline then there is a wide range of optional excursions available. The town also has a good selection of bars and restaurants to cater for every taste. The seafood here is great!

Approximate Travel Time: Full day stopping along the way

Optional Excursions

Sunset Boat Cruise – From US$15 • Quad Bike Tour – From US$35 • Camel Ride – From US$20pp • Sandboarding – From US$30 • Tandem Skydiving- US$210

Accommodation

2 night(s) in hotels at Dunedin Star Guesthouse or similar

Meals

2 Local Breakfast(s)

From the coast we head inland again, making our way east towards Windhoek, Namibia’s capital city. At an elevation of 1650 metres, Windhoek lies in a beautiful valley and is surrounded by the Eros Mountains in the north and the Auas mountains to the south. This is the only city in Namibia and is home to a population over 250,000 inhabitants.

Like in Swakopmund there is a noticeable German influence here. German is still widely spoken and it is common to find traditional breads, sausage, and other delicacies, they even hold annual beer festivals.

No tourists visit to Windhoek is complete without paying a visit to Joe’s Beerhouse, a bar and restaurant providing a mix of warm Namibian and German hospitality. This place is full of old relics from ‘Joe’s’ travels and creates a great atmosphere for socialising and reminiscing about your journey so far. Here you can also opt to sample some delicious game meats or try out one of the many craft beers on offer.

Approximate Travel Time: Six hours

Accommodation

1 night(s) in hotels at Roof of Africa Hotel or similar

Meals

1 Local Breakfast(s), 1 Lunch(es)

Departing the capital we drive towards the Tropic of Capricorn where we make a stop so that you can get that obligatory picture with the sign. From here we continue on to Solitaire, a small settlement in the Khomas Region of Central Namibia, close to the Namib-Naukluft National Park. This small desert community has only a gas station, post office, bakery and general store. As you step off the truck you will feel as though you have stepped back in time onto a movie set, surrounded by cacti and old vehicle carcasses partially submerged in the sand.

We arrive in Sesriem staying just outside Sesriem Canyon park.

Approximate Travel Time: Full day with stops along the way

Included Excursions

Stop in the town of Solitaire and the Tropic of Capricorn,Sesriem Canyon

Accommodation

1 night(s) in basic huts

Meals

1 Buffet Breakfast(s), 1 Lunch(es), 1 Dinner(s)

This morning you have the option to hike to the top of Dune 45 for incredible views over the Namib Desert. We will also visit incredible Sossusvlei and Deadvlei where the dark camel thorn trees against the white floor provide fantastic photo opportunities. This place really is a photographer’s paradise.

Approximate Travel Time: Eight Hours

Included Excursions

Sossusvlei & Dead Vlei

Accommodation

1 night(s) in hotels at Seeheim Hotel or similar

Meals

1 Breakfast(s), 1 Lunch(es), 1 Dinner(s)

We continue south to Orange River, known locally in Afrikaans as Oranjerivier. This is South Africa’s longest river and runs along the border of Namibia and South Africa. En-route to Orange River we stop at Fish River Canyon which is one of the world's largest canyons and it is quite breathtaking in its immensity; it is rivalled only by the Grand Canyon in North America for sheer grandeur. We will park at the viewpoint overlooking the canyon and can take a short walk along the canyon rim, stopping along the way for photos.

The Fish River running through the bottom of the canyon is one of Namibia's few permanent rivers and while the flow is seasonal, beautiful turquoise pools can be seen in the distance during the dry season. As you walk and enjoy the colours of the strata and rugged scenery, you may be lucky enough to spot hardy mountain animals in the distance, as well as numerous bird species. Weather depending we will have lunch at the viewpoint.

Approximate Travel Time: Eight hours

Included Excursions

Fish River Canyon

Accommodation

1 night(s) in basic huts at Felix Unite Camp or similar

Meals

1 Breakfast(s), 1 Lunch(es)

As we head towards to Cape Town we make a stop in the Cederberg wilderness area with its rugged landscape crisscrossed by streams, waterfalls, cool pools and amazing natural rock formations. Here you will get to sample some of the local wines on our included wine tasting tour.

Approximate Travel Time: Six hours depending on the border

Included Excursions

Wine Tasting

Accommodation

1 night(s) in basic huts at Highlanders Lodge & Camp or similar

Meals

1 Breakfast(s), 1 Lunch(es), 1 Dinner(s)

Situated on the south western tip of Africa and set between the Atlantic Ocean and the iconic Table Mountain, Cape Town is recognised as one of the most beautiful cities on Earth.

There are dozens of amazing sightseeing opportunities to enjoy in Cape Town and in the surrounding area. You can tackle a trek up Table Mountain or take the cable car to the top for spectacular views of the city. If you have a good head for heights you can enjoy the scenery looking over Camps Bay then rather than taking the cable car, abseil 112 metres down again, but this option is not one for the faint hearted!

The V&A Waterfront is the very epitome of African chic and offers a unique shopping and entertainment environment where you can soak up the cosmopolitan vibe of the city. Be sure to sample some of South Africa's famous wines with dinner and sit back with a hot cup of rooibos herbal tea afterwards.

From Cape Town, you can visit Robben Island where former South African President and Nobel Laureate Nelson Mandela was incarcerated among other political prisoners. Once a blight on the nation's history, the island is now seen as a national symbol of triumph over adversity and has been recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. If you want to arrange this activity, it is advised that you book in advance to avoid disappointment. Excursions to the island are weather dependant.

Just 60 kilometres away from the centre of Cape Town you can visit Cape Point, which is part of the Table Mountain National Park. The peninsula is a largely unspoilt wilderness and home to several species of antelope, including the eland, as well as many beautiful plants species. There are two lighthouses on Cape Point which can be reached by a funicular known affectionately as the Flying Dutchman.

Approximate Travel Time: Three hours

Optional Excursions

Table Mountain – From US$20 • Wine Tasting Tour – From US$60 • Robben Island (Weather dependent) – US$30

Accommodation

1 night(s) in hotels at The New Tulbagh Hotel or similar

Meals

1 Breakfast(s)

Your adventure of a lifetime comes to an end today. If you have a late flight or have lengthened your stay by adding post tour accommodation you will have more time to explore the sights.

Meals

1 Buffet Breakfast(s)