21-day Cape Town to Victoria Falls Explorer

This classic camping tour is a journey through Namibia, Botswana and Zambia visiting Fish River Canyon, the wildlife in Etosha Pan National Park, the Okavango Delta, Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert and the amazing Victoria Falls!   This tour offers a little bit of everything; amazing wildlife, dramatic scenery and a chance to experience some of the unique cultures of Southern Africa.

DEPARTS:  CAPE TOWN on Thursday at 08:00am
ENDS:  VICTORIA FALLS, ZIMBABWE on Wednesday at 08:00am

Highlights
* Cape Town – Cape Point tour
* Fish River Canyon – walking
* Namib Desert – walk Sossusvlei dunes
* Swakopmund – optional adventure activities
* Brandberg – rock paintings
* Etosha NP – game viewing from camp & on drives
* Okavango Delta – mokoro excursion and bush walks
* Victoria Falls – see one of the wonders of the world & optional adventure activities

Highlights

  • Maun
  • Windhoek
  • Brandberg
  • Cederberg
  • Ghanzi
  • Nata
  • Orange River
  • Sesriem
  • Spitzkoppe
  • Cape Town
  • Fish River Canyon
  • Swakopmund
  • Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
  • Etosha National Park
  • Zimbabwe
  • South Africa
  • Botswana
  • Okavango Delta
  • Namibia

Tour Summary

Full Day by Day Itinerary

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Day 1 : Cape Town

[guest house ---]
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 not included
Day 1: Lunch own expense
Day 1: Dinner own expense

Includes:                    Entrance fees to Penguin colony & Cape Nature Point
Overnight:                 Sweetest Guesthouses – is a collection of individually decorated houses in a metropolitan area of Cape Town near the V&A Waterfront. The Sunway group may be spread amongst any of the houses, within walking distance of each other, and the group breakfasts will be taken in the same house. Rooms are twin with en-suite facilities (or similar guest house). WiFi available
Distance/time:          Full day Cape Peninsular tour is 160km which takes between 6 and 8 hours.

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Day 2 : Cederberg

The Cederberg is a massive rocky wilderness where giant sandstone boulders have been sculpted by wind and rain into bizarre and artistic shapes.  In the afternoon we explore the rugged landscape on foot.

Day 2: Breakfast provide by the guest house
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 walking permit in the Cedarberg
Overnight:                  Campsite - good ablution facilities with hot showers.
Distance/time:           250km, ± 3½ hours, excluding stops for sightseeing

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Day 3 : Orange River

[camping BLD]
We make our way into the more arid regions and upon entering Namibia, we camp at the Gariep River. Free time for swimming and relaxing or you can adventure down the river in canoes (own expense).

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
Overnight:                  Felix Unite - good ablution facilities with hot showers, restaurant & bar
Distance/time:          500kms, ± 7 hours, excluding stops for sightseeing & lunch
Optional Activities:    Half day canoe safari

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Day 4 : Fish River Canyon

[camping BLD]
We make our way to Fish River Canyon, the second larg­est canyon in the world. In the afternoon we watch as a spectacular sunset slips over the canyon’s rim.

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 Fish River Canyon, Hobas viewing point
Overnight:                  Campsite - good ablution facilities with hot showers, swimming pool, and shop
Distance/time:          300kms, ± 4 hours excluding stops for sightseeing & lunch

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Day 5 – 6 : Sesriem

[camping BLD]
Towering red sand dunes of Sossusvlei form the gateway into the Namib Desert. We will walk to Sossusvlei, explore Sesriem Canyon and watch dramatic sunsets over the world’s highest sand dunes.

Day 5, 6: Breakfast provide 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
Overnight:                  Campsite - good ablution facilities with hot showers, shop.
Distance/time:          550kms, ± 7½ hours excluding stops for sightseeing & lunch
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.  The 4WD, is an own expense (+/- N$85 each way) and is optional.

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Day 7 – 8 : Swakopmund

[guest house Bx2 Lx1 -]
Lunar landscapes surround the coastal town of Swakopmund as we approach the coast. Day free to explore the town or try dune boarding or sea kayaking (own expense). We enjoy evening restaurant meals (own expense).

Day 7: Breakfast provide 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 provide by the guest house
Day 8: Lunch is an own expense meal
Day 8: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant

Includes:                    -
Overnight:                 Dunedin Star guest house - twin share rooms with en suite facilities. Telephone & restaurant.
WiFi in main building
Distance/time:          350kms, ± 5 hours excluding stops for sightseeing
Optional Activities:    Sand boarding, Skydiving, Ocean canoe safari, Scenic flights & many more

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Day 9 : Spitzkoppe

[camping BLD]
Beautiful desert landscapes. We move north along the arid coast to the Cape Cross seal colony before heading inland to set up camp under the Spitzkoppe, huge granite domes rising out of the desert. Enjoy a magnificent sunset. We’ll take a short walk to explore the area.

Day 9: Breakfast provide 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 to Cape Cross seal colony
Overnight:                  Campsite – basic ablution facilities.
Distance/time:          250km, ± 3½ hours, excluding stops for sightseeing

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Day 10 : Brandberg

[camping BLD]
Our next stop is the Brandberg where we camp next to the dry Ugab River, home to the rare desert elephants. We explore the mountains on foot with our local guides, who lead us through this region adorned with rock art.

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

Includes:                    Entrance to see San Rock Art and guided walk with local guide
Overnight:                  Campsite - good ablution facilities with hot showers, swimming pool.
Distance/time:          170km, ± 2½ hours, excluding stops for sightseeing

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Day 11 – 12 : Etosha National Park

[camping BLD]
Etosha National Park, “the great white place of dry water”, in the game rich northwest corner of Namibia offers a variety of wildlife. We take game drives around the huge dry pan to find the elephants, herds of antelope and lions around the waterholes before we camp at Okaukuejo with its flood-lit waterhole. (Subject to animal movements we may use any of the 3 camps in Etosha.)

Day 11, 12: Breakfast provide by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 11, 12: Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 11, 12: Dinner provided by tour leaders with the help of the group

Includes:                    Entrance fees to Etosha National Park. Morning and afternoon game drives
Overnight:                  Campsite - good ablution facilities with hot showers, swimming pool, restaurant, bar & shop
Distance/time:          400kms, ± 5½ hours excluding stops for sightseeing + 2 x 3 hour game drives per day Optional Activities:    Night game drive in National Park vehicles

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Day 13 : Windhoek

[permanent tent BL-]
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 13: Breakfast provide by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 13: Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 13: Dinner own expense

Includes:                    -
Overnight:                 Klein Windhoek Guest House – twin rooms with en-suite facilities, swimming pool, restaurant & bar.  WiFi available
Distance/time:          500kms, ± 7 hours excluding stops for sightseeing & lunch

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Day 14 : Ghanzi

[camping BLD]
Crossing into Botswana we overnight in the heart of the Kalahari. We take a walk with the local San Bushmen to learn fascinating bush skills.

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

Includes:                    Nature walk with local San bushman and translator
Overnight:                  Campsite - good ablution facilities with hot showers, swimming in old quarry
Distance/time:          550kms, ± 7½ hours excluding border formalities & stops for sightseeing & lunch

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Day 15 : Maun

[camping Bx1 Lx1]
We camp in Maun for a night in preparation before journeying deep into the Okavango Delta

Day 15: Breakfast provide by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 15: Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 15: Dinner will be own expense

Overnight:                  Maun: Campsite - good ablution facilities with hot showers, swimming pool, restaurant & bar
Distance/time:          300km, ± 4½ hours (Kalahari – Maun)

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Day 16 – 17 : Okavango Delta

[camping Bx2 Lx2 Dx2]
We journey deep into the Okavango Delta on mekoro (dugouts) - an experience not to be missed. We camp wild on remote islands for 2 nights and enjoy bush walks, swimming and the birdlife in this pristine wilderness area.

Day 16: Breakfast provide 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 provided by tour leaders with the help of the group

Day 17: Breakfast provide by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 17: Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 17: Dinner provided by tour leaders with the help of the group

Includes:                    Entrance to Okavango Delta, morning and afternoon game walks with local guides
Overnight:                2 nights Okavango Delta:  Wild camping – basic camping facilities, with bucket showers. You will need to bring your own towel.
Distance/time:          Okavango transfer in 4WD ± 2 hour each way
Optional Activities:   Scenic flight over the Okavango Delta (+/-USD95-120) pp depending on number of people in each aircraft)

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Day 18 : Nata

[camping BL-]
Feel the vastness of Africa under a big sky sunset. After the rains the pans fill with water and attract thousands of water birds and herds of zebra, wildebeest and springbok.

Day 18: Breakfast provide 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

Includes:                    Entrance fees to Makgadikgadi Pans
Overnight:                  Campsite - good ablution facilities with hot showers, swimming pool, restaurant & bar.
Distance/time:          320km, ± 4 hours, excluding stops for sightseeing

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Day 19 – 20 : Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

[lodge Bx3--]
Tour Victoria Falls, a natural wonder of the world, plunging into the Zambezi Gorge. Enjoy a sundowner river cruise on the mighty Zambezi or a spectacular “flight of angels” over the Falls (own expense).

Day 19, 20, 21: Breakfast provide by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 19, 20, 21: Lunch will be an own expense meal
Day 19, 20, 21: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant

Includes:                    Entrance fees to Vic Falls
Overnight:                  Lodge – 2-4 rooms sharing a bathroom, good ablution facilities with hot showers, swimming pool, restaurant & bar
Distance/time:          400km, ± 5 hours, excluding border formalities & stops for sightseeing
Optional Activities:    White water rafting, sunset cruises, scenic flights & many more

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Day 21 : Departure

Tour ends at 08:00am at the camp.

Included

Use of camping equipment (except sleeping bag/pillow)
Meals as per itinerary
Transport
Professional guides

Excluded

International flights
Pre / Post tour accommodation
Airport transfers
Travel insurance
Visas
Vaccinations
Gratuities
Optional activities