Amazing Southern Africa

Welkom! Welcome to Cape Town. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, there's plenty to see and do. You will have a free day to explore Cape Town with the help of your leader and fellow travel companions, so we recommend checking the weather forcaste and planning your activities in Cape Town accordingly. After the welcome meeting, 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.

Spend a leisurely morning getting some extra rest, or unwind by the outdoor pool, soaking in the stunning views of the Orange River in morning light. If relaxing isn't your style, then head out on an optional 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. Later on, venture to 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 exploring the surrounding sights, including the Twyfelfontein Heritage Site, which boasts one of the largest concentrations of ancient rock engravings in southern Africa, and the Petrified Forest, home to 280-million-year-old fossilized tree trunks. You’ll be guided by locals at both sites, gaining fascinating insights into the area’s history. Visit the Living Museum of the Damara to experience traditional Damara culture, a rare opportunity to connect with one of Namibia's oldest communities. Stop at Burnt Mountain, a 200-meter-high hill at the base of a barren volcanic ridge. It was formed 80 million years ago by a lava flow that dramatically transformed the now desolate landscape. It can get hot, so bring a hat, sunscreen, and water. Spend the rest of the day back at the lodge, relaxing by the pool or enjoying 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. 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.

Head to the Makgadikgadi Pans – the world’s largest prehistoric inland salt lake, in the middle of the dry savanna and now all that remains of the former Lake Makgadikgadi. Today you'll have an excursion in open 4WDs to spend time with a local meerkat community. Get close to them without disturbing their natural habitat and watch as they play together. 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. After, you'll head under the baobab trees for a night of dining under the stars. Known as the 'Tree of Life' or the 'Ancient Giants,' the iconic baobab tree is a defining feature of the Botswana Bushveld, particularly in the Makgadikgadi basin where they're densely populated. Tonight's three-course barbeque will be traditionally cooked over hot coals, so you can enjoy the delicious smells of your dinner in the open air, while you stargaze under the African sky.

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.