Amazing Southern Africa

Trip Type: Overland|Wildlife|
South Africa | 23 Days | 1 - 13 People
Starts From:

NZD 11,852.00 /Person

* Sale Price Available

Travel to Africa and jump onboard an exhilarating journey through the magnificent nations of South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. Southern...

Amazing Southern Africa

Travel to Africa and jump onboard an exhilarating journey through the magnificent nations of South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. Southern Africa is bursting with a diverse array of wildlife, culture and landscapes - all waiting to be explored and celebrated. Travel through stunning scenery and watch as lush green landscapes give way to harsh desert dunes and rocky mountain peaks. Take to the water on mokoros and in a houseboat, embark on thrilling game drives, be immersed in unique ecosystems and be blown away by the sheer force of Victoria Falls. With welcoming locals and genuine experiences around every corner, this trip is full of surprises.

Welkom! Welcome to Cape Town. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, it’s recommended that you catch the cable car up to the top of Table Mountain, taking the ferry across to Robben Island (where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years). Alternatively, those with more time can take a day trip down to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope Peninsula. Tonight, get to know your new travel group over an optional dinner with your local leader.

Cape Town is a dynamic city renowned for its stunning landscapes, pristine beaches, and rich cultural heritage. With a wealth of activities to choose from, you're free to craft your own adventure, guided by the expert advice of your leader and possibly some enthusiastic group members. Many experiences here are weather-dependent, such as a trip to the top of Table Mountain, which is best enjoyed on a clear day to take in the spectacular views. Rain or shine, whether it’s hiking, visiting wineries, or seeing the penguins, there's always something exciting to explore in Cape Town.

Depart Cape Town and travel along the west coast to the small seaside town of Lamberts Bay. The bay’s white beaches, lobsters and incredible wildlife earned the town its nickname ‘the diamond of the west coast’. When you arrive, enjoy a delicious feast at a local open-air restaurant, where the amazing ocean views will make for the perfect meal setting. After your seaside lunch, you'll head to Trawal to relax and soak in the views of wine farms and Cedarberg mountain range.

Say farewell to South Africa as you cross the border into Namibia. You should reach your destination on the banks of the Orange River by mid-afternoon. The border crossing and a few photo stops along the way can delay this arrival time. Orange River is the longest river in South Africa, running from high up in the Drakensberg Mountain range and into the Atlantic Ocean. The river is significant for its role in transporting diamonds, which in turn leaves deposits that are found along the Namibian coastline.

Kick things off today with a half-day canoe adventure along the Orange River. With a local guide, you’ll wind through the ancient Richtersveld Mountains in 2-man canoes. This is a slow-paced trip covering approximately 10 km and you’ll mostly be travelling downstream. After, venture to the Fish River Canyon – one of the biggest canyons in the world. You’ll stop at various lookouts along the way – all great opportunities to catch this gigantic gorge on camera. Look out for some exotic birdlife while you’re here, including plovers, wagtails, hammerkops and herons. You might even catch a glimpse of a baboon or an antelope at dusk!

Today is a long travel day, so grab a window seat if you can or play some road trip games with your fellow travellers. You’re heading to the eastern edge of the Namib Desert today – this region of the world's oldest desert is known for its array of geological features. Take in the diversity and sprawling beauty of the scenery as you drive, and when you arrive, relax at your desert lodge.

Today, you’ll make an early morning visit to Sossusvlei, which lies at the end of an ancient riverbed. If you find yourself in the mood, a climb to the top of Dune 45 will reward you with unparalleled views. After breakfast, head to Dead Vlei – a clay pan well known for the iconic postcard-like images taken here by many. The pan is surrounded by some of the highest dunes in the world, including ‘Big Daddy’ and ‘Crazy Dune’. If you'd like to avoid a long walk in the sun, you can opt to pay extra for a 4WD transfer out to the entrance point. In the afternoon, visit Sesriem Gorge – a tranquil natural corridor you can walk through and explore. The canyon was caused by water erosion over thousands of years and the people who lived in the area used to pull buckets of water up from the depths with six knotted belts. Therefore, the canyon was named after the Afrikaans word ‘sesriem’, meaning ‘six belts’.

Depart your desert lodge and travel across the Namib Desert today, ending up on the gorgeous Atlantic Ocean coastline. The drive goes through a diverse and colourful landscape, so keep your eyes on the windows and soak up the scenery. You'll see the incredible Kuiseb Canyon along the way, before arriving at the beachside town of Swakopmund, located on the Skeleton Coast.

Enjoy some free time in this gorgeous coastal oasis. Your accommodation is within walking distance of town, making optional activities easy to access. Maybe stroll along the beach, explore the open-air markets or visit the local museum. Your local leader will take you to the local activity centre if you’re not quite sure how you’d like to spend your day.

Get off the beaten track and head into the heart of Damaraland. The ancient landscapes of the Kunene Region are ruggedly spectacular – think awesome sunsets and night skies filled with a multitude of dazzling stars. This part of Namibia is also known as Damaraland, as it’s the ancestral homeland of the enigmatic Damara people (whose exact origins remain unclear). This is also home to a small population of hardy desert adapted elephants and some super unique flora and fauna.

Spend the morning visiting the surrounding sights such as Twyfelfontein Heritage Site and the Petrified Forest. Twyfelfontein has one of the largest concentrations of ancient rock engraving in southern Africa and is a fascinating insight into the past. The Petrified Forest looks back into nature’s history, where 280-million-year-old fossilised tree trunks lie. You’ll be accompanied by local guides at both sites. It can get hot at this time of day so be sure to have a hat, sunscreen and a bottle of water with you. Spend the rest of the day back at the lodge, maybe by the pool or reading a book in the shade.

Depart your lodge this morning and head towards Etosha National Park. Namibia has protected its game reserves against poaching, so there are large herds of elephants, antelope and other herbivores here. When you arrive, you’ll head out on a short afternoon game drive in your truck. Keep your eyes peeled for the resident wildlife!

Today, you'll enjoy a full-day game drive through Etosha National Park in open 4WD vehicles. Keep your eyes peeled for black rhino, Hartmann's mountain zebra, black-faced impala, roan antelope, and the tiny Damara dik-dik. Game viewing in the park is relatively easy due to the man-made waterholes and the large, sparsely vegetated pans. The bushland surrounding the pans is hard to see through, but there are enough clearings, pans, and waterholes to allow for some sightings. Head back to the lodge after and enjoy a free evening.

After you arrive in the old German town of Windhoek, you're free to do as you please. Maybe head out to explore the German architecture of the older buildings lends the town a historic atmosphere. Good examples of German architecture can be seen in a number of buildings, but the best are the Tintenpalast (Ink Palace), the Christuskirche (church), the gymnasium and the Genossenschaftshaus.This evening, you might like to join your new group members for an optional dinner.

Today is a bit of a long travel day as you cross the border into Botswana and make your way to Ghanzi – known as the ‘Capital of the Kalahari’. Take the opportunity to grab a window seat and watch the landscape pass you by or get to know your fellow travellers a little better with some road trip games. When you arrive, settle into your lodge accommodation and soak up some Botswana sunshine or cool off in the pool.

This morning, you’ll head to the Okavango Delta – known for its sprawling grassy plains that flood seasonally, making the delta a lush animal habitat. When you arrive, board speedboats and make your way to your home for the next two nights – a houseboat in the Okavango Delta Panhandle. You can chill out on the deck or grab a few friends and attempt one of the onsite board games. For dinner, your captain will serve dinner on the deck, and you can watch the sunset while you eat and listen to the sounds of the nearby hippos on the water's edge.

After breakfast, take a speedboat and a 4WD to a nearby polling station. From here, you can explore the waterways in mokoros (traditional dugout canoes) with a local guide. Your guide will take you on a short nature walk around one of the many islands in the Delta Panhandle, followed by a picnic lunch. Then, return to the houseboat where you can relax, read a book or do some fishing. This evening, grab a sundowner, pull up a chair and watch the often striking sunset.

Leave your houseboat behind and again board the speedboats that take you back to dry land. Drive on to Maun – the gateway of the Okavango Delta. For those seeking an extra adventure, there's an opportunity to fly over the delta in a helicopter for a bird's-eye view! Your leader can give you more information on this activity and how to book, so just ask them if you’re interested. Alternatively, the afternoon is free for you to sit by the pool and take a breather when you arrive in Maun.

Leave your lodge after breakfast and head towards north-east Botswana. The next stop is the Makgadikgadi Pans – a large salt pan in the middle of the dry savanna. This pan is now all that remains of the former Lake Makgadikgadi. Head out to the Makgadikgadi Pans for an afternoon excursion in open 4WDs to one of the largest salt flats in the world, spending some time with a local meerkat community along the way. This visit to the local colony of meerkats will allow you to get close to them without disturbing their natural habitat. Then, take a bush walk with one of southern Africa's oldest inhabitants and learn their way of life within the Kalahari Bushman group. They will teach you how they interact with nature, keeping a well-balanced relationship with the local land. Tonight, sip on a couple of sundowners and enjoy some snacks as you watch the sun fall behind the old baobab trees.

This morning, make tracks towards Kasane, which sits on the edge of Chobe National Park. The stretch of road between Nata and Kasane is known as the 'Elephant Highway'. With no fences, elephants are free to move between Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe and Botswana. So, this is the perfect time keep your eyes peeled for roadside elephants during your drive! When you arrive in Chobe National Park – Botswana's first national park, known for its high concentration of elephants – settle into your lodge on the banks of the Chobe River and soak in the sounds of the wildlife.

Wake up nice and early this morning to take a dawn game drive in Chobe National Park. In the park, you might see the resident elephants drinking at the waters' edge, large herds of cape buffalo or one of the many impalas that call this place home. In the afternoon, you’ll take a scenic cruise on the Chobe River – ideal for spotting local bird life such as saddle-billed storks, malachite kingfishers, fish eagles and beautiful bee-eaters. As well as birds, look out for hippos, crocodiles and large families of elephants. There will also be an opportunity to enjoy a drink and watch the sunset over the river after the boat cruise.

Travel on to Victoria Falls, crossing the border into Zimbabwe. Arrive in time to have lunch on the banks of the Zambezi River. Victoria Falls is one of the world's natural wonders, and when in full flow, it forms the largest sheet of falling water on Earth. Your leader will take you to a local activity centre where various activities will be on offer to fill up your afternoon here. This evening, take a local brewery tour with your group and enjoy a tasting paddle to sample the brewery’s finest. After, maybe keep the night going and celebrate a trip well-travelled with your group.

With no further activities planned, your adventure comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you’d like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.

Meals
21 Breakfast(s), 16 Lunch(s), 16 Dinner(s)

Transport
Overland vehicle , Mokoro , Open Safari Vehicle , Boat

Accommodation
Lodge (10nights), Hotel (8 nights), Desert Camp (2 nights), Houseboat (2 nights)

Included Activities
  • Complimentary Arrival Transfer
  • Fish River Canyon - Canyon entrance
  • Sesriem - Sesriem Canyon Visit
  • Sossusvlei - Dune 45
  • Damaraland - Petrified Forest
  • Damaraland - Twyfelfontein Bushman Paintings
  • Damaraland - Burnt Mountain
  • Damaraland - Living Museum
  • Etosha National Park - Overland Vehicle Game drives
  • Etosha National Park - 4x4 Vehicle Game Drive
  • Okavango Delta - Speedboat Cruise
  • Okavango Delta - Speedboat Cruise
  • Okavango Delta - Mokoro safari
  • Okavango Delta - Nature Walk
  • Okavango Delta - Speedboat Cruise
  • Makgadikgadi Pans - Meerkat & Kalahari Bushman Experience
  • Chobe National Park - River Safari Cruise
  • Chobe National Park - Open Safari Vehicle Game Drive
  • Victoria Falls - Entrance & Visit
  • Victoria Falls - Brewery Tour and Tasting
  • Venture out on an exhilarating morning game drive in open 4WDs through Chobe National Park, home to an impressive concentration of African wildlife. You may encounter elephants, buffalo, giraffes, antelope, and many other fascinating animals that thrive here.
  • The summit of Dune 45 offers a breathtaking view of the vibrant orange sand dunes of Sossusvlei, set against a backdrop of azure sky.
  • Discover the vast expanse of Makgadikgadi Pans, one of the world's largest salt flats, with Southern Africa's oldest inhabitants, the Kalahari Bushman. Be enchanted by the adorable meerkats and majestic elephants, then watch the sunset over the magnificent baobab trees while enjoying some refreshments amidst the wild.
  • Explore the captivating wilderness of Etosha National Park and witness an abundance of wildlife on two exhilarating game drives.
  • Experience the breathtaking Okavango wilderness by spending two nights on a houseboat, where you can enjoy the enchanting melodies of African wildlife at sunset and nightfall.
  • This is an overland trip. That means you’ll be travelling with a group in a purpose-built vehicle, visiting remote communities, and getting the best possible views of Africa's iconic wildlife. While the trucks don’t have air conditioning, they do have sliding windows that let in the breeze and make it even easier to take spectacular snaps of the local wildlife. The drive days can be long, but it’s as much about the journey as the destination, and half the fun is the camaraderie. For more info on this style of travel, see our Africa overland page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/au/africa/overland Namibia summer ( Nov-Mar ) can be very hot and humid with maximum temperatures around 30-35°C and peaks of over 40°C in the desert. This itinerary includes two nights on a houseboat at the Okavango Delta Panhandle. Cabins are very small and basic, with shared facilities. Botswana temperatures rise in the hot dry period of September and October before the rains hit and temperatures can get as high as 34 to 38°C. Not all accommodation will have air-conditioning. This is quite common across Africa, particularly in remote locations where lodges or camps operate on solar power or generators. Botswana is a very seasonal destination. What you see and experience can differ quite dramatically depending on the time of year you visit. Please consider this before you choose your departure date. See the 'Climate and seasonal information' section of the Essential Trip Information for more details. There will be many early starts either to make use of the better safari time or to beat the morning traffic on long travel days.

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NZD 15,010.00 NZD 12,008.00

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NZD 15,010.00 NZD 12,008.00

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NZD 15,610.00 NZD 12,488.00

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NZD 15,610.00 NZD 12,488.00

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NZD 16,210.00 NZD 12,968.00

Price:
NZD 16,210.00 NZD 12,968.00

Price:
NZD 15,610.00 NZD 12,488.00

Price:
NZD 15,610.00 NZD 12,488.00

Price:
NZD 15,010.00 NZD 12,008.00

Price:
NZD 15,010.00 NZD 12,008.00

Price: NZD 15,010.00

Price: NZD 15,010.00

Price:
NZD 15,610.00 NZD 12,488.00

Price:
NZD 16,210.00 NZD 12,968.00

Price:
NZD 16,210.00 NZD 12,968.00

Price:
NZD 15,610.00 NZD 12,488.00

Price:
NZD 15,010.00 NZD 12,008.00

Price:
NZD 15,610.00 NZD 12,488.00

Price:
NZD 16,210.00 NZD 12,968.00

Price:
NZD 14,815.00 NZD 11,852.00

Price:
NZD 15,010.00 NZD 12,008.00

Price:
NZD 15,010.00 NZD 12,008.00

Price:
NZD 16,210.00 NZD 12,968.00

Price:
NZD 16,210.00 NZD 12,968.00
Provided by
Intrepid Travel
Reference Code:
UBKEC
Trip Location
Trip Starts:
Cape Town, South Africa
Trip Finishes:
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Countries Visited:
Botswana
Namibia
South Africa
Zimbabwe
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Destination Details
South Africa | 23 Days | 1 - 13 People

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