Cape Town to Victoria Falls - Camping

Those on the group flights will be taken to the hotel in Cape Town upon
arrival. If you're not on the group flights we suggest you aim to arrive at
the lodge in Cape Town by mid-afternoon. If the weather is good this
afternoon there may be the opportunity for an optional excursion up Table
Mountain via cable car. Table Mountain is often the first image that springs
to mind whenever one thinks of Cape Town – the views across the city on a
clear day are incredible. If the weather is not good enough this will be a
free afternoon, with the opportunity to explore the famous V & A Waterfront.

We generally begin today’s tour with a drive along the spectacular
Chapman's Peak drive (please note, occasionally this drive is closed and we
will have to go around it), via Houtbay. Continuing to the Cape Point Nature
reserve, we have time to walk to the lighthouse and then along the boardwalk
to the Cape of Good Hope. We then take a short visit to the Boulders Beach
penguin colony and enjoy some lunch. In the late afternoon we visit a local
wine farm – the area surrounding Cape Town is renowned for its wine and we
will get a chance to sample some of the local produce.

The order of activities in Cape Town is flexible as everything hinges around
going up Table Mountain when the weather is best. Evening meals can be
enjoyed at various restaurants on the beaches along the coast – Cape Town
is a food and drink lover's paradise!

We leave Cape Town and travel through farmlands of citrus, maize, cattle and
sheep as we start the journey towards Namibia. Our first stop is in the
fertile Olifants River Valley, giving us a glimpse into the agricultural
lifestyle of the Western Cape. (about 5hrs drive)

Today we drive to Orange River (5 hours + 1 hour border crossing), where
Namibia's southern border meets South Africa. There is free time to relax
this afternoon. Our camp for the night will be in a picturesque location on
the riverbank. (450km, 6-7hrs)

In the morning we enjoy a canoe trip on the Orange River. It is not tough on
the water and the trip gives us the chance to see the flora and fauna of the
region as we drift by. We then take a short drive (3 hours) to the second
largest canyon on earth – Fish River Canyon. The views from the canyon
rim are spectacular and there is time for a short walk along it in the
afternoon for superb sunset views. We spend the night nearby at Hobas.
(180km, 2.5-3hrs plus 1hr border crossing)

A day's travel along the edge of the Namib-Naukluft Park to Sesriem where we
camp for the night. (550km, 8.5-9krs)

We will spend the morning at the Sossusvlei dunes, one of the great sights of
Africa. It's worth getting up before sunrise to watch the early morning light
creep over the dunes before we climb some of the highest sand dunes in the
world. Alternatively, just enjoy the changing colours on the towering dunes
from lower down as the sun rises. If we're lucky we may see gemsbok, ostrich
or even black-backed jackals among the dunes, an irresistibly photogenic
scene! In the afternoon we visit Sesriem Canyon before returning to our camp.
*Sesriem Camp Site or similar*

A long, spectacular drive through Namib-Naukluft Park to Swakopmund via
Walvis Bay to see, in season (summer), flamingoes in their thousands. This
national park, one of the largest in the world, is home to one of the driest
and oldest deserts on earth. It contains some of the finest desert scenery in
Africa, if not in the world, with towering jagged rock formations and
incredible lunar landscapes. (300km, 4-5hrs)

Swakopmund has invented itself as Namibia's adventure sports capital, and
we have a full day in Swakopmund to enjoy some of the optional adventure
activities on offer; go on a dolphin cruise or township tour or take a flight
over the desert! Alternatively, explore the German-style town and visit some
of the excellent cake shops for which Swakopmund is famous.
*Dunedin Star Hotel or similar*

We depart for Namibia’s highest mountain, Brandberg. We will enjoy a walk
through valley 45 for approximately 2 hours to the famous ‘White Lady’
rock painting which, along with a number of other small paintings and
engravings, are thought to have been left by Bushmen at least 2000 years ago.
(250km, 4hrs)

We drive north to Etosha National Park where some of the world's best
wildlife viewing can be found. We should arrive at Etosha, which means the
'Great White Place of Dry Water' in time to do a late afternoon game drive
before reaching our rest camp where there will be a waterhole for game
viewing at night. (400km, 5-6hrs)

We have two days to really enjoy this fabulous park with its mixed forest and
grassland centred around a large salt pan. Etosha is home to a great variety
and number of game, which is easy to find as the animals congregate at
different times around the waterholes. There are waterholes next to the
excellent campsites, and it is not uncommon for us to spend all night
watching a gala performance of animals: wildebeest, zebra, impala, springbok,
kudu, elephant, giraffe, lion and even rhino are all common sights here. Take
plenty of patience and you will be rewarded by one of the greatest game
spectacles in Southern Africa. Etosha is also a good place for birds, with
plenty of waterbirds on the lakes and weaverbirds and hornbills in the trees.
While in Etosha we move our camps (between Okaukuejo, Halali or Namutoni) but
the itinerary is kept flexible depending on where the game is.

Long drive to the Okavango River - the main watercourse supplying the
Okavango Delta. (650km, 8hrs)

We take a mokoro (traditional dug-out canoe) ride from our camp on the
Okavango River. Please note that in March/April, the river may be flooded and
we may have to substitute our mokoros for a boat ride. The birdlife is
prolific and, at certain times of the year, so is the game. Gliding through
the waterways by mokoro is the ideal way to absorb the sheer peace and
tranquillity of the place. We also have the option of a village tour to meet
the local community. 

Drive through the Caprivi Strip and into Botswana to Chobe National Park,
home to huge numbers of elephant and hippo. (400km, 5.5-6hrs, border crossing
1hr)

Today we have an early morning game drive in Chobe National Park and an
afternoon boat ride on the Chobe River where it is possible to view huge
herds of elephant coming down to drink as well as many other types of game.
For bird lovers, the river provides a home for the majestic African Fish
Eagle and a number of species of brightly coloured bee-eaters. The area
surrounding the Chobe River typically has the highest concentration of
wildlife within the park as animals congregate here, particularly in the dry
season (April to October).
*Thebe Safari Camp Site or similar*

After a leisurely breakfast we drive to Victoria Falls, a small town on the
Zimbabwean side of the glorious Victoria Falls (entrance own expense US$ 30).
The waterfall itself is majestic, the activities enthralling and the scenery
of the Upper Zambezi beautiful. (100km, 1.5-2hrs plus border crossing 1-2hrs)

Today you have a free day to enjoy the numerous activities on offer such as
flights over the falls, white-water rafting, game viewing, or crossing into
Zambia to see the falls from a different side (you will need a Zambian visa
if you decide to cross over to see the falls on the other side).

The trip ends today, those on the group flights will be taken to the airport.