Southern Experience

Day 1: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
On arrival in Victoria Falls, please make your way to Lokuthula Lodges.  You have the remainder of the day at leisure.  This evening you will meet your guide and the rest of the group.

Accommodation: Lokuthula Lodges or similar (Chalets with shared bathrooms, bar and swimming pool)

Day 2: Victoria Falls to Chobe National Park, Botswana
This morning your guide will take you on a tour of the might Victoria Falls, known by the local Kololo tribe as Mosi oa Tunya- “the Smoke that thunders.  A mid morning departure takes you from Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe on to Botswana. In the afternoon we go on a cruise on the Chobe River, a truly unforgettable experience and one of the best ways to view the wildlife and the spectacular sunset. Chobe, which is the second largest national park in Botswana and covers 10,566 square km, has one of the greatest concentrations of elephant found on the African continent. [BLD]

Accommodation: Camping at Chobe Safari Lodge or similar (tents, communal ablutions with hot water, swimming pool, bar & restaurant).

Day 3: Eastern Caprivi, Namibia
Leaving Botswana, we drive through Chobe National Park 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 to 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. [BLD]

Accommodation: Camping at Camp Kwando or similar (tents, communal ablutions with hot water, swimming pool, bar & restaurant).

Days 4 & 5: Caprivi to Okavango Delta, Botswana  
We leave our camp on the Caprivi for Etsha13, on the western border of the Okavango Delta in Botswana. Unlike other deltas, it flows into the Kalahari Desert without reaching the coast, which makes it unique.  The next day is spent exploring the network of water pathways through thick vegetation in mokoros (traditional dugout canoes), discovering a variety of birds and wildlife and will stop at a secluded island to take a 1½ hour guided walk hoping to spot elephants, waterbuck or other animals living in this water filled paradise. [BLD,BLD]

Accommodation: Camping at Guma Lagoon Camp or similar (tents, communal ablutions with hot water, bar area).

Days 6 & 7: Okavango Delta to Kavango River, Namibia
Leaving Botswana we make our way into Namibia and head along the Caprivi to Rundu. We make our way to N’Kwazi Lodge and spend a relaxing afternoon at our lodge on the banks of the Kavango River.  Optional activities such as horse riding or a sunset cruise are available; alternatively just relax by the pool with a sundowner listening to the sounds of Mother Nature.  [BL,BL]

Accommodation: Camping at N’Kwazi Lodge or similar (tents, communal ablutions with hot water, swimming bar & restaurant).

Days 8, 9 & 10: Etosha National Park, Namibia 
The following morning we head off to Etosha National Park. We fill the next 3 days with game drives in the hopes of spotting some of the big five as well as cheetah, giraffe, zebra and the numerous different types of antelope the park has to offer. Our nights are spent at the flood lit waterholes encountering the parks various nocturnal animals as they come to drink. Etosha Game park was declared a National Park in 1907, it is home to approx. 114 mammal species, 340 bird species, 110 reptile species, 16 amphibian species and, surprisingly, one species of fish. [BLD,BLD,BLD]

Accommodation: Camping at Namutoni, Halali and Okaukuejo or similar  (tents, communal ablutions with hot water, swimming pool, bar & restaurant).

Day 11: Kamanjab – Himba Experience, Namibia
We leave the wild animals behind at Etosha and move onto the spectacular scenery of Twyfelfontein. On our way we visit the small German town of Outjo where we relax for a coffee break.
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. [BLD]

Accommodation: Camping at Porcupine Camp or similar (tent, communal ablutions with hot water, bar & restaurant).

Day 12: Twyfelfontein, Petrified Forest and Brandberg, Namibia
On our journey today we will stop to see ancient Bushmen paintings at Twyfelfontein as well as the Petrified Forest, the trees of which are estimated to be 250 million years old. Twyfelfontein was named a World Heritage site in 2007, the first in the country. We continue to Brandberg, the highest mountain in Namibia. Either this afternoon or the next morning we take a walk to visit the “White Lady” one of the most famous rock paintings in the area.  The footpath to the site offers spectacular views over the plains of Damaraland. [BLD]

Accommodation: Camping at Brandberg White Lady Lodge or similar (tent, communal ablutions with hot water, swimming pool, bar & restaurant).

Days 13 & 14: Cape Cross Seal Colony and Swakopmund, Namibia 
We move westwards across the flat desert plains to reach the cold Atlantic coastline. As we follow the Skeleton Coast on our way to Swakopmund we visit Cape Cross - the largest breeding place of the Cape Fur Seals.  We arrive into the charming coastal town of Swakopmund, where you will have the opportunity to partake in a few of the many optional activities that are offered over the next two days. Alternatively just soak up the atmosphere of this little quaint German town and enjoy its beauty and beaches. [BL]

Accommodation: Hotel A La Mer or similar (standard rooms with en-suite bathrooms).

Days 15 & 16: Namib Naukluft National Park and Sossusvlei, Namibia
The day is spent driving through the Namib Naukluft National Park on our way to Sossusvlei.  The Namib-Naukluft Desert is an ancient land with an ageless spirit. It is home to some of the rarest plant and animal species in the world; sightings of this flora and fauna on a Namibian safari are a must. The animals of this harsh landscape include the Oryx, springbok and Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra. One can also see the Welwitschia mirabilis which is an odd-looking desert shrub and one of these ‘shrubs’ is a large, protected specimen estimated at over 1 500 years old.  .  This evening we embark on a wild cat walk at the lodge.  The next morning we need to wake up early to visit the world’s highest sand dunes at Sossusvlei and Deadvlei. At sunrise and sunset these 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).  We also stop to view the Sesriem Canyon, which was carved millions of years ago by the Tsauchab River. [BLD,BL]

Accommodation: Hammerstein Lodge or similar (tents, communal ablutions with hot water, swimming pool, bar & restaurant).

Day 17: Fish River Canyon, Namibia 
Today we head to Ai-Ais, here thermal water rich in sulphates and fluorides and with a temperature of approx. 60°C gushes forth from the springs. In the Nama language, "Ai-Ais" means "burning water". We then proceed to our accommodation which is situated close to the Fish River Canyon, the second largest canyon on earth.  Later in the evening we take in another perfect African sunset with the magnificent views and scenery along the edge of the canyon. [BL]

Accommodation: Canon Roadhouse or similar (tents, communal ablutions with hot water, swimming pool, bar & restaurant).

Days 18 & 19: The Orange River, Namibia
We leave this morning for our camp on the banks of the Orange River, the natural border between South Africa and Namibia.  The next day the only travelling is done in a canoe. Put your feet up and relax as the currents take you downstream the Orange River – mind the rapids though!  [BLD,BLD]

Accommodation: Felix Unite Camp Provenance or similar (tents, communal ablutions with hot water, swimming pool, bar).

Day 20: Orange River to The Cedarberg, South Africa
We cross the border into South Africa and make our way down the coast. If you are travelling in spring you will see the spectacular carpets of wildflowers in the famous Namaqualand region. We arrive in the late afternoon at Gecko Creek, in the Cedarberg Mountains. [BLD]

Accommodation: Gecko Creek or similar (tents, communal ablutions with hot water, swimming pool)

Day 21: Cedarberg Mountains / Cape Town, South Africa
A day drive through the mountains takes us to our final destination, Cape Town; we stop at the beach on the Atlantic Ocean to view Table Mountain across the Bay. [BL]

Accommodation: Lady Hamilton Hotel or similar (Rooms with en-suite bathrooms, restaurant and swimming pool)

Day 22: End of Tour 
Our safari ends after breakfast. We hope to welcome you again one day on another of our African adventures. [B]