Highlights of Southern Africa

Day 1: Cape Town

Arrive at any time, as there are no planned activities until an evening welcome meeting.

Day 2: Cape Town

Enjoy a full day in Cape Town with the option to visit Table Mountain, choose to explore Cape Point, or embark on a wine tour around Stellenbosch. In the evening, opt to join your group for meal at one of Cape Town's many great restaurants.

Day 3: Cape Town to Johannesburg

Take a short flight from Cape Town to Johannesburg. In the afternoon, travel to Soweto for a bicycle tour and learn more about its important history and significant role in bringing the issues of segregation to the forefront.

Soweto Bicycle Tour
Explore South Africa’s largest township on two wheels and under your own steam. This guided tour will take you through the vibrant streets of Soweto, giving you the opportunity to meet some of its diverse residents, see the sights, hear the music and even taste a local ‘home-brewed’ beer. Popular stops include the Hector Pieterson Memorial and Vilakazi Street, where Nelson Mandela used to live.

Day 4: Johannesburg to Greater Kruger Area

Take the Panorama Route into the Kruger National Park area.

Enjoy a cultural evening with the local community. Dive into local fare with a delicious traditional dinner, then watch a local dance performance.

Day 5: Kruger National Park

Enjoy a full day wildlife safari drive in the Kruger NP (own vehicle). Keep an eye out for elephants, lions, rhinos, leopards, and buffalo—Africa's famed Big Five.

Opt for a wildlife safari drive in an open safari vehicle (not included).

Day 6: Greater Kruger Area

Head north to the Letaba Ranch, for a guided nature walk along the Great Letaba River.

Unfenced from the Kruger National Park, Letaba Ranch is known for its large herds of giraffe, elephant and buffalo. At night, listen to the sounds of the animals as they move along the banks of the river, and through the camp.

Day 7: Greater Kruger Area to Morning Sun Nature Reserve

Opt for a morning safari drive, or soak up the atmosphere in the camp, before traveling to the next lodge, in the Morning Sun Nature Reserve. Free afternoon to relax by the pool, or opt to take one of the hikes in the surrounding Soutpansberg Mountains.

Day 8: Morning Sun National Reserve to Great Zimbabwe Monument Area

Get an earlier start and cross the border into Zimbabwe. Continue on to the Great Zimbabwe Monument.

Day 9: Great Zimbabwe Monument Area to Matobo National Park

Visit the Great Zimbabwe National Monument, the ancient ruins site the country was named for. Hike around the site learning more about the life of the people that inhabited the area and how these structures were built.

Continue on to Matobo National Park.

Day 10: Matobo National Park

Wake up early and opt to explore ancient cave paintings, visit the grave of Rhodes, hike the unique and stunning landscape, or hang out by the pool. In the afternoon, enjoy an included rhino walk, with the opportunity to get up close and personal with this endangered species.

Day 11: Matobo National Park to Hwange National Park

Travel to Hwange National Park for an opportunity to spot more wildlife.

Opt to enjoy an evening wildlife safari drive in a safari vehicle in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe's largest, and home to elephant herds, lions, and the rare African wild dog. Get your cameras ready and keep an eye out for Africa's "big five," as well as other predators, and over 300 bird species (not included).

Day 12: Hwange National Park to Victoria Falls

Continue on to Victoria Falls. Marvel at the spectacular falls from the Zimbabwean side, then enjoy free time in the afternoon to explore further.

Day 13: Victoria Falls

Spend the day exploring your beautiful surroundings. Opt to visit Victoria Falls, go whitewater rafting, or take a helicopter flight over the falls.

The town of Victoria Falls is a great base to see both natural wonders and take part in some exciting activities. Get up close (and wet from the spray) while awing at the immense Victoria Falls, raft the whitewater of the mighty Zambezi, and for the more adventurous, bungee jump with Victoria Falls in view.

Today, new travellers may join you for the rest of your adventure. You are welcome to join them at a group meeting this evening, followed by an optional dinner.

Day 14: Victoria Falls to Kasane

Cross the border into Botswana, and stay in Kasane, just outside of Chobe NP. Try to spot the elephants, crocodiles, and hippos this region is famous for during an optional sundowner cruise or photo river safari.

Drive to the border and cross from Zimbabwe into Botswana. Continue to the Kasane area, outside the gates of Chobe National Park, home to the largest elephant population in Southern Africa.

Opt to check out one of Botswana's national parks and its thousands of resident elephants, crocodiles, and hippos on a sunset boat cruise on the Chobe River.

There are options here for a casual cruise to enjoy the scenery with a cocktail or a photo safari by boat, with the opportunity to capture some great shots with instruction, a professional camera, and zoom lens. Evening is a great time to be on the river.

Day 15: Kasane to Nata

Opt to rise early for a sunrise safari on the Chobe River. Travel to Nata. Opt for a bush walk or sunset wildlife safari drive in the area. Watch elephants drink from the camp's watering hole at night.

Prebook the Morning Photo Safari on the Chobe River at sunrise for one last chance to see the "big five".

Day 16: Nata to Maun

Prepare for a 1-night/2-day journey into the delta. Opt to take a scenic flight over the delta.

Travel to Maun, the biggest town in the Okavango Delta area, pick up any supplies needed, and prepare for the journey into the Okavango Delta.

In the evening, watch a traditional dance group performance on the poolside terrace.

Day 17: Okavango Delta

Enjoy wildlife walks, traditional mokoro excursions, and birding. Learn the ways of the bush from the local polers.

The excursion begins with a drive in customized safari vehicles for about 1-2 hrs to the "dock" to board a mokoro (canoe) that takes us deep into the delta. After a 1-2 hrs in the mokoro, arrive to the basic bush camp.

Please note, whilst in the Delta you will be camping. Camping equipment, a mattress and bedding are provided but if you would like to bring your own sleeping bag, you can.

Day 18: Maun to D'Kar Region

Enjoy the sunrise in the delta before travelling back to Maun by mokoro. Travel along the northern portions of the Kalahari Desert throughout the day – this is a severely arid and barren landscape, though very beautiful.

Arrive in the late afternoon and camp close to Ghanzi. Opt for a “bushman walk” and dance. Enjoy a traditional local meal before settling in for the night.

Day 19: D'Kar to Windhoek

Travel to Windhoek, the German-influenced capital city of Namibia.

Today, new travellers may join you for the rest of your adventure. You are welcome to join them at a group meeting this evening, followed by an optional dinner.

Day 20: Windhoek to Etosha National Park

Leave Windhoek and head north through the Namibian countryside to Etosha National Park.

Visit Etosha National Park on a wildlife safari drive in our touring vehicle. Keep an eye out for lions, giraffes, elephants, rhinos, and antelopes.

After sunset, some animals may head to the watering holes near the campground.

Opt to head out for more wildlife safari drives in an open safari vehicle to make the most of your time here.

Please note, tonight will be spent at a campground.

Day 21: Etosha National Park

Enjoy another wildlife safari drive in our touring vehicle and keep your eyes peeled for some of the famous wildlife. Set off into the wilds of Etosha National Park in the touring vehicle for a wildlife safari drive. Over 100 species of mammals call Etosha home, including elephants, giraffes, lions, rhinos, and hyenas.

Tonight will also be spent at a campground.

Day 22: Etosha National Park to Swakopmund

Watch the beautiful desert landscape go by en route to western Namibia.

Spend two nights in the area exploring this historical town or trying some of the numerous activities available, such as sandboarding or a skydiving.

Swakopmund has bizarre lunar landscapes, unforgettable sunsets, and prehistoric Welwitchia plants.

Day 23: Swakopmund

Spend a day exploring all the area has to offer. Optional activities include sandboarding, skydiving, and a township tour.

Day 24: Swakopmund to Namib Desert

Get a real feel for the Namib Desert as we spend hours crossing this empty region.

En route, take a coffee break in Solitaire, a mystical village consisting of a filling station, a general dealer/coffee shop, and a small mechanical workshop. Drive through Walvis Bay, the only town on the Namibian coastline that boasts a deep sea harbor.

Arrive in the area in the late afternoon, where the towering red sand dunes of Sossusvlei form the gateway into the Namib Desert.

Please note, tonight will be spent at a campground.

Day 25: Namib Desert

Enjoy a visit to Sossusvlei, a clay pan enclosed by the world’s largest sand dunes, up to 300m (984 ft) high. Here, use some free time to enjoy the sand dunes on your own. Visit the Sesriem Canyon, a small canyon typical of the area.

Tonight will also be spent at a campground.

Day 26: Namib Desert to Fish River Canyon

Continue south through the Namib Desert to the Fish River Canyon, the largest canyon in Africa and, arguably, the second largest in the world. We will only have access to the rim, but the views are spectacular. Enjoy the beautiful view from the canyon lookout point, before finishing the day at the Ai-Ais. Ai-Ais, which means 'scalding hot' or 'burning water' in one of the local Nama dialects, is a sulphur rich mineral spring at the southern end of the Fish River Canyon. Ai-Ais is also a part of the Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, covering a large piece of land in northern South Africa, and southern Namibia.

The hot springs resort is a popular gateway to Namibia from the south, and the end point of the gruelling five-day Fish River Canyon hike. The spring water is piped to a number of indoor and outdoor pools and jacuzzis.

Spend the evening relaxing in the healing waters.

Day 27: Ai-Ais to Orange River

After a relaxing morning in the hot springs, continue on to the banks of the Orange River with time to swim or just relax. Enjoy the beautiful scenery in this part of the country.

Day 28: Orange River to Lambert's Bay

We head towards the coast again and on to Lambert’s Bay, a picturesque town on the west coast of South Africa.

In the afternoon, opt to visit the well known Bird Island where you can find more than 25,000 blue-eyed gannets at certain times of the year. Penguins also gather on this island for breeding between August and October.

Opt to stroll through this lovely town, visiting unique artisan shops and boutiques.

Day 29: Lambert's Bay to Cape Town

While travelling towards Cape Town, through Namaqualand, keep an eye out for fields of Namaqualand daisies (in season August and September).

Cape Town has many different options should you book extra time to explore after the tour.

Visit Table Mountain, explore Cape Point (Cape of Good Hope), or join a wine tour in and around Stellenbosch (45 min drive). Visit the old French Huguenot town of Franschoek and surroundings (1 hr drive). For the truly adventurous, try skydiving, abseiling, or even cage diving, for a close encounter with the great white sharks.

Opt to wander through the city centre, which has some of the oldest buildings and gardens in South Africa (Botanical Gardens and Parliament Gardens), or visit the Cultural Historical Museum, Planetarium, and numerous other small museums and theaters.

Day 30: Cape Town

Depart at any time.

We highly recommend booking post-accommodation to fully enjoy this city.

• Accommodation:
  • 14 nights at hotel / guesthouse
  • 8 nights at lodge / chalet
  • 2 nights in adventure tents
  • 1 night basic camping in the Delta (participative, bring your sleeping bag and towel). No shower, dug-out toilet.
  • 4 nights camping in Etosha and Solitaire Area (participative, bring your sleeping bag and towel). Shared ablutions
• Meals - 24 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 9 dinners
• Transport

• Optional activities as specified in the itinerary
• Visas
• International Flights
• Travel Insurance
• Any item not mentioned as included

Maximum group size: 18