21-day Cape Town to Victoria Falls Grand Explorer

[hotel – – -]
Cape Town is one of the most picturesque cities in the world, with the majestic Table Mountain providing its central focus. Departing, after a tour briefing, from Cape Town at 08:00am we visit Hout Bay harbour en route to Cape Point Nature Reserve and then the African Penguin colony at Boulders Beach. We sample some of Cape Town’s culinary wonders at a local restaurant in the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront (own expense).

Day 1: Breakfast is not included
Day 1: Lunch is an own expense meal
Day 1: Dinner is an own expense meal

Includes:     Entrance fees to Penguin colony & Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. 
Distance/time:    ±150km, 3h30 actual driving time, but with stops, penguins and lunch is a full day out.
Overnight:    City Lodge V&A Waterfront – twin rooms with en suite facilities. Restaurant, bar, gym and swimming pool. Wifi available.

The Cederberg is a massive rock wilderness with giant sandstone boulders that have been sculpted by wind and rain into bizarre and artistic shapes. We head north to the Cederberg and explore the rugged landscape on foot before making our way to our overnight accommodation. 

Day 2: Breakfast provided by the hotel
Day 2: Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 2: Dinner provided by tour leaders with the help of the group

Includes:     Entrance fees, and walk in the Cederberg.
Distance/time:    ±300km, 4h30 actual driving time, but with a stop for lunch and a hike in the Cederberg, we expect a total travel day of ±8h30.
Overnight:    Highlanders Lodge – twin rooms with en suite facilities. Bar and swimming pool. Wifi available.
 

We make our way into the more arid regions and upon entering Namibia, we stay at a lodge on the Gariep River. Namibia’s southern border river flows quietly and peacefully and the river valley is hardly affected by tourism. The riverbed is sandy, the water clean and clear. Time free for swimming and relaxing.

Day 3: Breakfast provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 3: Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 3: Dinner provided by tour leaders with the help of the group

Includes:     N/A
Distance/time:    ±430km, 7h00 actual driving time, today is a stretch and with a border crossing (variable) we expect a travel day of ±9h00.
Overnight:  Felix Unite, twin share cabanas with en suite facilities. Bar, restaurant, telephone. Wifi available with data limit.

The Fish River Canyon, situated along the lower reaches of the Fish River, is one of the most impressive natural beauties in the southern part of Namibia. With its depth of up to 550 meters, the Fish River Canyon is the second largest canyon in the world. We make our way to the canyon to marvel at the sheer grandeur of the enormous canyon.
Moving on, we arrive at the Quiver Tree Forest outside Keetmanshoop to enjoy the sunset over these bewitching plants.

Day 4: Breakfast provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 4: Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 4: Dinner provided by tour leaders with the help of the group

Includes:     Entrance fees to look out point at Fish River Canyon & Quivertree forest.
Distance/time:    ±340km, 5h00 actual driving time, our first long gravel sections and viewing of the canyon so we expect a total travel day of ±7h30.
Overnight:    Quivertree Forest Rest Camp – twin share chalet with ensuite facilities. 

The parched Namib Desert has endless orange dunes blown into sharp ridges by the sand-shifting wind and at Sossusvlei, they form a gateway into the Namib Desert. We will walk to Sossusvlei, explore Sesriem Canyon and from the comfort of our lodge outside the national park watch dramatic sunsets over the world’s highest sand dunes. (If you prefer not to do the 4km walk to Sossusvlei there is an optional own expense 4WD transfer)

Day 5, 6: Breakfast provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 5, 6: Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 5, 6: Dinner provided by tour leaders with the help of the group

Includes:     Entrance fees to Sesriem Canyon and Naukluft National Park.
Distance/time:    ±480km, 7h00 actual driving time, through magnificent scenery but it’s long total travel day of ±8h30.
Optional Activities:    On arrival at Sossusvlei the guide will walk with the group into Sossusvlei (+/- 3.5km).  For those clients who do not want to walk, there are 4WD vehicles that can drive you in (own expense).
Overnight:    Desert Camp – twin share permanent tents with en suite facilities. Restaurant, swimming pool & bar. Wifi available in main area only.

Swakopmund is a popular seaside resort with a slightly nostalgic atmosphere, characterised by numerous colonial buildings. In terms of flora, both the Welwitschia Mirabilis and the Kokerboom grow on the stony plains of the Namib and many beautiful specimens surround this coastal town. Swakopmund is also the adventure activity capital of Namibia. Day free to explore the town or try dune boarding or sea kayaking (own expense).

Day 7: Breakfast provided by tour leaders with the help of the group 
Day 7: Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 7: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant

Day 8: Breakfast provided by the guest house
Day 8: Lunch will be an own expense meal
Day 8: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant

Includes:     N/A
Distance/time:    ±360km, 5h30 actual driving time, this gravel road is very rough and we expect a total travel day of ±8h00.
Optional Activities:    Sand boarding, Skydiving, Ocean canoe safari, Scenic flights & many more.
Overnight:    Hotel Pension a la Mer – twin share standard rooms with en suite facilities. Telephone & restaurant. Wifi available.

Namibia is a land of great contrasts and Damaraland demonstrates this with stark plains, dry river beds and ancient valleys leading to rocky outcrops and the soaring peaks of the Brandberg Massif Mountains. On our way north we will visit the Cape Cross seal colony where thousands of Cape fur seals come ashore to rest and have their pups.

Day 9: Breakfast provided by the guest house
Day 9: Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 9: Dinner provided by tour leaders with the help of the group

Includes:         Entrance fees to Cape Cross Seal colony and San Rock Art.
Distance/time:    ±330km, 5h00 actual driving time, starting on a “salt” road. The road is generally quite good, for a total travel day of ±6h00.
Overnight:    Brandberg White Lady Lodge – twin share chalets with ensuite facilities, bar, restaurant & swimming pool. Wifi available with data limit.

Once a vast lake fed by the Kunene River, the pan that is Etosha NP dried up thousands of years ago when the river waters chose a new course. Etosha is big game country. We take game drives around the huge pan to find the elephants, herds of antelope and lions around the waterholes. We stay at a lodge on the outskirts of the national park.

Day 10, 11: Breakfast provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 10, 11: Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 10, 11: Dinner provided by tour leaders with the help of the group

Includes:     Entrance fees to Etosha National Park, full day game drive in Etosha NP.
Distance/time:    ±540km, 7h30 actual driving time, the road can be rough and with an afternoon game drive in Etosha we expect a total of ±9h30 in the vehicle.
Overnight:    Tarentaal Guest Farm – private working farm outside Etosha National Park. Twin rooms with en-suite facilities. Swimming pool, bar & telephone. (35km/25min from Anderson Gate to Etosha). Wifi available in main area only.

This pretty town, beautifully situated in a valley, combines the architecture of a modern city with numerous buildings in the style of the German colonial era. The charm of the city of Windhoek lies in its harmonious blend of African and European cultures and the friendliness of its people. We visit the cosmopolitan capital and enjoy a restaurant meal (own expense).

Day 12: Breakfast provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 12: Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 12: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant

Includes:     N/A
Distance/time:    ±410km, 5h00 actual driving time, good tarmac road and a stop for market shopping, we expect a total travel day of ±6h00.
Overnight:    Terra Africa Guesthouse – twin rooms with en-suite facilities, swimming pool, restaurant & bar. Wifi available

Crossing into Botswana we overnight in huts in the heart of the Kalahari. We take a walk with the local Bushmen to learn fascinating bush skills. 

Day 13: Breakfast provided by the guest house
Day 13: Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 13: Dinner provided by tour leaders with the help of the group

Includes:     Nature walk with local San bushman.
Distance/time:    ±530km, 6h30 actual driving time, an early start, good tarmac road but it’s a long way and with border formalities we expect a total travel day of ±7h30.
Overnight:    Ghanzi Trail Blazers – en-suite rooms. No wifi but there is mobile network.

The Okavango Delta is the only inland delta in the world: the annual flood of freshwater spreads over 15000sq km of the Kalahari sand in a maze of lagoons and channels. We journey to the western floodplains of the Okavango Delta to our lodge overlooking a permanent lagoon, where we enjoy a game walk, a mokoro excursion and the amazing birdlife in this pristine wilderness area.

Day 14, 15: Breakfast provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 14, 15: Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 14, 15: Dinner provided by tour leaders with the help of the group

Includes:     Entrance to Okavango Delta, game walk and Mokoro excursion.
Distance/time:    ±400km, 5h30 actual driving time, as we skirt the Okavango the road can be very potholed, so we expect a travel day of ±6h30.
Overnight:    2 nights Okavango Delta, Guma Lagoon – twin en-suite canvas chalets. Swimming pool, bar, restaurant. Wifi available.

Making our way around the Okavango we head to Maun where we have an evening meal at a local restaurant (own expense). 

Day 16: Breakfast provided by tour leaders with the help of the group 
Day 16: Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 16: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant    

Includes:     N/A
Distance/time:    ±320km, 4h30 actual driving time, we make our way around the Delta on a partly potholed road, we expect a travel day of ±5h30.
Optional Activities:    Scenic flight over the Okavango Delta.
Overnight:    Sedia Hotel – standard twin rooms with en suite facilities.  Swimming pool, bar, restaurant, telephone. Wifi available in public areas only.

The shimmering saltpans of Makgadikgadi are the size of Switzerland and most of the time appear as a glaring, white, endless plain. When the rain comes a dramatic change takes place as the pans come to life with frantically feeding water birds and great herds of zebra, wildebeest and springbok. 

Day 17: Breakfast will be provided by the lodge
Day 17: Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 17: Dinner will be an own expense meal

Includes:     Entrance fees to Makgadikgadi Pans.
Distance/time:    ±360km, 5h30 actual driving time, we cross wide open expanses and we expect a travel day of ±6h00.
Overnight:    Nata Lodge – twin share luxury tents with en suite facilities, swimming pool, restaurant & bar. Wifi available at restaurant. (or Pelican Lodge,– twin share rooms with en suite facilities. Swimming pool, bar, restaurant, telephone). 

Chobe National Park is famous for large herds of elephant and buffalo. We explore the national park on a morning game drive and spend the rest of the day on the river, enjoying lunch on our cruise boat with spectacular wildlife viewing.

Day 18: Breakfast provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 18: Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 18: Dinner will be an own expense meal

Day 19: Breakfast will be provided by the lodge
Day 19: Lunch will be provided by the cruise
Day 19: Dinner will be an own expense meal

Includes:     Chobe NP entrance fee, 3 hour morning game drive + a full day river cruise in Chobe NP.
Distance/time:    ±320km, 4h00 actual driving time, after a leisurely start we head north for an easy transfer, we expect a travel day of ±4h30.
Overnight:    Thebe River Safaris – twin chalets with en-suite facilities. Swimming pool, bar, restaurant, telephone. Wifi available in main area only.

Magnificent Victoria Falls is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. David Livingstone ‘discovered’ the falls in 1885 and named them after his Queen. The scene he encountered was a mile-wide (1.6 km) sheer basalt fault line over which the mighty Zambezi tumbled to a depth of 100m, creating a cloud of spray. The falls are also the centre of a wide range of activities, including white water rafting on the mighty Zambezi, scenic flights or a 111m bungee jump (own expense). Tour ends at 08:00am at the hotel.

Day 20: Breakfast will be provided by the lodge
Day 20: Lunch will be an own expense meal
Day 20: Dinner will be an own expense meal

Day 21: Breakfast will be provided by the lodge
Day 21: N/A
Day 21: N/A

Includes:     Entrance fees to Vic Falls.
Distance/time:    ±100km, 2h00 actual driving time. It’s not a long way, but the border can be busy and slow so we anticipate a total travel day of ±3h00.
Optional Activities    White water rafting, sunset cruises, scenic flights & many more.
Overnight:    Shearwater Explorers Village, twin rooms with en-suite facilities. Swimming pool, restaurant, bar and telephone. Wifi available.

Tour ends at 08:00 am at the hotel.

Day 21: Breakfast will be provided by the lodge
Day 21: N/A
Day 21: N/A