SOUTH AFRICA,

NAMIBIA,

BOTSWANA,

ZIMBABWE,

ZAMBIA,

MALAWI,

TANZANIA

ITINERARY:

Day 1 South Africa – Cederberg Mountain Region

Leaving Cape Town we make our first stop at Table View to purchase any last minute items and take photos of Table Mountain from across Table Bay. We then travel to the Cederberg region and set up camp. Later, we take a guided walk to see San paintings and learn about the local flora and fauna. Tonight, your guide will give a full briefing on the tour.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Day 2 Namaqualand – Gariep (Orange) River

An early start, then we head north via the distant town of Springbok and then to the Namibia border. We camp on the banks of the Gariep (previously named Orange) River that forms the border between South Africa and Namibia spend another night getting to know each other.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 Namibia – Gariep (Orange) River - Fish River Canyon

This morning there’s the chance to see the beautiful river valley by canoe, or you can just chill out on the riverbank with a view across to Namibia. After lunch we cross the border and travel to the 2nd largest canyon in the world, The Fish River Canyon. After a walk along the edge of the canyon we watch the sunset and enjoy a fantastic photo opportunity.
Optional Activities: Half Day Canoe Adventure.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 Namib-Naukluft National Park

Further north, the scenery transitions in to true desert. We arrive at the Namib-Nakluft National Park and set up camp, then enjoy a short hike into the Sesriem canyon. Tonight enjoy the star studded sky and enduring silence of the Namib desert.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 Sossusvlei Dunes - Namib-Naukluft National Park

Wake before sunrise and travel the short distance to Dune 45. The sand dunes here are the largest in the world, and a hike to the top is one of the ‘must do’ travel experiences in Africa. After marvelling at the sunrise over the dunes, a hearty breakfast awaits before we join a local expert on a guided hike of the unique Sossusvlei desert ecosystem. Later we journey onto Solitaire, one of Namibia’s smallest towns for another night under the stars.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6/7 Swakopmund

After crossing the Tropic of Capricorn, we travel onto Namibia’s Atlantic coast and the adventure capital, Swakopmund. Here you will be briefed on the many options available for the following day. The desert setting makes a sky dive in this region unforgettable and quadbiking much more exciting. Try some fresh seafood at a local restaurant tonight and join in with the town’s vibrant nightlife.
Optional Activities: Quadbiking, Sandboarding, Sky Diving, Dolphin Cruise, Scenic Flights, Fishing, Dinner out etc.
Meals: Breakfast x2, Lunch x1, Dinner x1

Day 8 Spitzkoppe

Leaving the coast we head to Namibia’s ‘Matterhorn’. Spitzkoppe is a huge rocky outcrop where we set up camp in the wild, beneath the mountain. This afternoon there is an included walk to view San paintings. Many people choose to sleep outside tonight to take advantage of the wonderful blanket of stars.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9 Himba Tribes

After some early morning exploration we continue north and drive towards Kamanjab. The Himba are a pastoral people and predominantly breed cattle or goats, they are easily recognisable by their unique style of dress. We spend some time with the Himba people learning about their unique way of life.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10/11 Etosha National Park

Etosha National Park is the venue for some of the most unique game viewing experiences in Africa. The sparse grasslands allow great opportunities to see animals normally hidden in denser vegetation. We will go on various game drives, and spend our evenings at the abundant water holes for some excellent game photography. We stay at two of the campsites inside the park to maximise our time game viewing.
Optional Activities: Night or Dawn Drives with NWR
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12 Windhoek

After an early morning game drive we set off towards Windhoek in the centre of Namibia. On the way we stop at a popular craft market. On arrival in Windhoek there is a short city tour. Tonight a chance to try some game meat and the local nightlife at a restaurant or bar.
Optional Activities: Dinner out.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 13 Botswana - Ghanzi

An early start, then we cross into Botswana and drive to Ghanzi. After setting up camp we meet with a local San community and experience some traditional Tribal Dancing.
Optional Activity: Guided Walk, Trance Dance (min 6 x clients advance booking), Game Drives (min 6 x clients)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 14/15/16 Maun – Okavango Delta

Our journey takes us from Ghanzi towards Maun. We spend the night here (Maun) and prepare for our 2-night bush-camping experience. Your guides will provide you with a briefing about the next few days’ activities and the community run tourism operation. From here we will enter the Delta using local transport. If the water level allows we will take a mokoro ride (traditional canoe) as well as nature walks with the local people. This is a true wilderness area where both animals and people co-exist.
Optional Activity: Scenic flight over the Delta (time allowing).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 17 Gweta

We leave the Delta behind us and travel east to Gweta, which is located halfway between Maun and Nata, near the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. You can explore the bush around our campsite and view some of oldest Baobab trees in the area.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 18 Chobe National Park

Chobe National Park is our next destination near Kasane. This afternoon we take an included sunset boat cruise, as the animals are best spotted from the Chobe River. Our campsite has a lively atmosphere where you can meet other travellers. The next morning there is the option to go on early game drive.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 19 Zimbabwe - Victoria Falls

On arrival in Victoria Falls we have time to plan the next day’s adventure activities before we visit the spectacular Victoria Falls National Park and experience the thundering of the mighty Zambezi. The popular optional sunset cruise includes dinner and drinks.
Optional Activities: Chobe morning game drive, Sunset Cruise / Dinner out.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 20/21 Victoria Falls

These 2 days are shared between relaxing and getting mundane things like laundry out of the way and taking part in some of the amazing adventure activities on offer here. The Zambezi White Water Rafting still boasts the most grade-5 white water to be commercially tackled and this is a serious must-do activity for most people. If braving the white water, or bungy, is not for you then the lion walk or elephant encounter are both amazing options, it’s a totally different experience to meet one of these creatures up close!
Optional Activities: White Water Rafting, Bungy Jump, Elephant Excursion, Walking with Lions, Horse Riding, Micro-light, Flight of the Angels, Skydiving etc.
Meals: Breakfast

Day 22 Zambia - Lusaka

There is an early morning transfer from Victoria Falls, across the border and in to Zambia. We journey towards the bustling Zambian capital of Lusaka where we see locals going about their daily business. You will notice the vegetation becoming sub-tropical and the roads a little rougher.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 23 Chipata

Today is a long drive through lush country, crossing rivers enroute to Chipata, the gateway to the South Luangwa National Park. Zambia is truly African and an adjustment from the more western ways of Southern Africa. There are many rural villages and farming communities.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 24/25 South Luangwa National Park

Early in the morning we drive from Chipata to the border of the South Luangwa NP where we spend two nights at our campsite right on the bank of the Luangwa River. You can often see Hippo and other animals from the campsite bar. The park is known for its high concentration of leopards and hippos. The next day we visit the community run tribal textile project and a local village. Later this afternoon we enjoy a guided afternoon game drive. On occasion, in the rainy season it is impossible or inadvisable to attempt to reach South Luangwa NP, if this happens an alternative itinerary will be chosen.
Optional Activities: Morning Game Drive and Game Walk in South Luangwa NP
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 26/27 Malawi - Luwawa Forest

We depart from South Luangwa early and cross the border in to Malawi where we begin climbing in to the mountains that border the Malawian shores of Lake Malawi. In these higher areas there is a lot of commercial forestry and the cooler climate can be a very pleasant change from the more humid temperatures below. Luwawa Forest camp are winners of the 2008 'Community Development Work and Sustainable Tourism Award’. Take a hike to the viewpoint to see the Lake form above, or rent a Mountain Bike for some exciting riding.
Optional Activities – Mountian Biking, Abseiling, Rock Climbing, Fishing, Canoeing Sailing…
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 28/29 Central Lake Malawi

The road down the mountain from Luwawa to the lake shore is scenic and quite exciting. We take a break from travelling with a couple of relaxing days at Kande Beach Village on Lake Malawi. There is lovely white sand and lots of water sport and leisure activities available. We will also visit a local village for some cultural interaction here.
Optional Activities: Scuba diving, parasailing, windsurfing, fishing, canoeing, horse riding, craft shopping, hiking and more.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 30/31 Northern Lake Malawi

Leaving Kande Beach we travel north to Chitimba, a small village by the lake with more white sandy beaches. Livingstonia Mission is at the top of the nearby mountains. You can hike up to the village, but be warned, this is not a relaxing stroll… there is a beautiful waterfall and interesting permaculture project on the way and it is possible to spend the night up there. Alternatively spend another 2 relaxing days on the beach.
Optional Activities: Hike to Livingstonia Mission, Abseiling, Water sports etc.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 32 Tanzania – Iringa

Today we leave Malawi and enter Tanzania. We ascend out of the Great Rift Valley through some spectacular mountain passes, passing vast tea plantations in the highlands before arriving at our camp outside Iringa.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 33 Dar Es Salaam

Today we transit through Mikumi National Park, the 4th largest National Park in Tanzania, to the historical port city of Dar es Salaam, gateway to Zanzibar. The city is one of the oldest settled cities in East Africa and, although not the capital, is the chief commercial centre of Tanzania. On arrival in Dar es Salaam your tour is officially over, however, if you wish to continue your travels by joining the rest of the group and visit Zanzibar then this can be arranged. We can also assist you with accommodation bookings Dar es Salaam.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch