28 Day Epic South African Safari: Cape Town to Johannesburg

You are free to arrive in Cape Town any time. Check in at the reception for when and where the pre-departure meeting happens with your group. You should ensure that you have all necessary visas for the trip. You will then have free time to explore the Mother City. Take a few hours to discover this cosmopolitan city rich in history and extremely diverse in culture. The city boasts over three million residents and is the Western Cape’s capital. If you arrive early, you can spend time exploring the eclectic streets and cafes of Cape Town or take a trip on the city sightseeing bus.

Today, we make our way out of the city to start our adventure with a stopover by the coast. Here, we visit a local vineyard, do some wine tasting, play some football with the local children and spend time exploring the camp surrounds in this stunning area of South Africa. There is also a swimming pool at the campsite where you can chill out.

We visit !Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre where you have the rare opportunity to interact with the young San women and men while learning about their fascinating history and cultural traditions.

The local wines of this area are also superb so why not sample a few. You can visit a wine cooperative as an optional excursion allowing you the chance to learn about these wines while sipping your favourite overlooking the surrounding winelands.

Our journey takes us northward to the South African side of the Orange (Gariep) River. Following camp setup, we indulge in some early evening swimming, unwinding and maybe even some river canoeing (optional). Or just sit by the banks and watch the water wind its way to some heavy rapids.

Today we cross the border into Namibia, so be sure to have your correct visa ready. We then travel through to the magnificent Fish River Canyon, the biggest in the continent and the second largest in the world. Take some time to explore the canyon rim and admire the dramatic sunset as it disappears behind the edge of the canyon. After snapping some amazing pics, we head back to camp for the rest of the evening.

The Fish River stretches 650 kms in length, making it Namibia’s longest river. Its source is located in the eastern Naukluft Mountains and runs southwest of Ai-Ais into the Orange River. The canyon itself is situated along the lower area of the Fish River and is one of the most remarkable natural creations of Southern Africa. It runs 550 metres deep, 27 kilometres wide and is the oldest canyon in the world, formed around 500 million years back, with some of its bottom rocks aging up to about 2,600 million years. Catfish can be found in the river and survive the arid seasons by digging into the mud and waiting for the water to return. The levels of the water are usually highest from February to April, and the highest known temperature at the Canyon’s floor is 58 degrees Celsius.

We travel further north today, passing the small and isolated towns of Bethanien and Helmeringhausen on the way to the Namib Desert. Namib comes from the Nama culture, with the name referring to a huge savannah located in the Desert. The region is extremely arid, receiving less than 100 millimetres of yearly rainfall.

After a long day driving bumpy roads, we arrive at our destination in the late afternoon. Find yourself surrounded by the red sand dunes of Sossusvlei glimmering in the light of dusk as they form the gateway to the Namib Desert. This is a truly remote area, giving you a sense of being alone with nature.

This morning, we explore Sesriem Canyon before continuing onto the desert dunes where we climb the famous Dune 45.

After the climb at Dune 45, will stop at the 4×4 parking where you can take an additional shuttle to Sossusvlei, which is a clay pan enclosed by the world’s largest sand dunes and surrounding ancient dead trees. The Tsauchab River flows through the Sesriem Canyon every 5 – 10 years, thereby creating the nearby salt and clan pan of Sossusvlei. We will continue to Solitaire for a quick stop and continue on a short drive to our campsite where you can partake in an optional guided walk around the dunes or explore the area on your own.

Today gives you the opportunity to truly explore the Namib Desert as you spend hours traversing across this barren area and cross through a couple of arid mountain passes. Prior to your arrival in the adrenaline capital of Swakopmund, you will travel past Walvis Bay – the only town on the Namibian shoreline that contains a deep-sea harbour.

We spend two evenings in this region, where you will have time to explore the town drenched in history. Swakopmund is home to spectacular lunar landscapes, vibrant sunsets and many adrenaline-fueled activities.

Today is free for you to explore Swakopmund and its many activities on offer.

In the morning, we make our way north to the granite rocks of Spitzkoppe. You can explore on foot and spend the evening relaxing while looking up at the beautiful night’s sky! We will be roughing a bit in the bush tonight with long-drop toilets and no running water.

As we enter the park, we embark on a game drive through Etosha’s massive arid pan in search of elephant, antelope herds and lions gathered around the waterholes. Be sure to look out for Himba, Herero and Damara people along the way. They will be selling local arts; we will make stops to learn more about their products.

Once the sun has set, spend some time observing wildlife at the watering holes, located close to the secure camping space that is floodlit. Daytime game drive will be in the overland truck, with an optional open vehicle night game drive on offer with a naturalist guide.

Today is a full day of driving in the park in search of wildlife such as lions, rhinos, elephants, giraffes, blue wildebeest, springbok, zebra, and hyenas You get to see the expanse of the Etosha Pan as it stretches as far as the eye can see. Keep your camera ready today. We will return to our camp in the afternoon where you will get the opportunity to sit and relax at the floodlit waterhole for the evening.

We head south and make our way to the Waterberg Plateau. Here you have the afternoon to spend at your leisure. The Waterberg Plateau offers scenic hiking trails so feel free to spend the afternoon hiking, alternatively spend your afternoon unwinding next by the pool.

We stop for lunch at Penduka Village Restaurant and Shop, just outside Windhoek, where you can stretch your legs and enjoy refreshments. After lunch at the restaurant, we make our way to Windhoek via the Namibian countryside. Windhoek is Namibia’s capital city, with a population of around 230,000 and an altitude of 1,654 metres. During WW1, Windhoek was taken over by South African troops and was converted into a British dominion. Until Namibia’s independence in 1990, Windhoek was known as the capital of Southwest Africa.

As this is a combo tour, new travellers may be joining the group.

Leaving Windhoek this morning, we travel through the eastern regions of Namibia and cross into Botswana. We head into the heart of the Kalahari and arrive at camp in the early evening in time for an optional Bushman Walk. Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to gain insight into the fascinating lifestyle of the San as they share their survival skills and in-depth knowledge of the Kalahari wilderness they call home.

You will also have the option to engage with the Bushmen around the campfire at night and experience their dance rituals, forming an intense spiritual experience. Their celebration of life and intriguing traditions will have you in awe.

We will leave Kalahari in the morning and drive across Botswana towards Maun arriving in the afternoon. For those of you who want to have a different view of the Okavango Delta you can take a 1-hour scenic flight over the vast wilderness and waterways with hippos below. Alternatively, you can spend the afternoon at your own leisure or simply unwind at the campsite.

Upon our arrival in Maun, we pack and prepare for our one night/two-day excursion into the Okavango Delta. We encourage all tavellers to bring along a 5 litre bottle of water to take on the excursion – This should be plenty water for both drinking and cleaning purposes.

Maun is the gateway to the Okavango Delta and enjoys the reputation of being the premier town of Botswana. It was initially founded in 1915 by the Batawana, with the name ‘Maun’ meaning ‘Place of Reeds’. Though officially still a village, Maun is the fifth biggest town in Botswana. It is a diverse combination of contemporary structures and traditional huts. Maun is renowned as the tourism capital of Botswana and the administrative hub of the Ngamiland district. The town has swiftly grown from a rural town, stretching along the Thamalakane River. However, it still manages to maintain a rural atmosphere and local tribesmen continue to lead their cattle to the town to sell.

Today we embark on our thrilling adventure into the Delta as we travel in safari vehicles. We then board our mokoros (traditional dugout canoes) that carry us into the depths of the Delta. A few hours later we arrive at our bush camp for lunch and set up our tents. In the afternoon we will set off on a guided walk to spot wildlife in the bush while in the evening we will be joined by the locals for some singing and dancing around the campfire.

Our basic camp has a bush toilet with no shower, but you are surrounded by the beauty of nature, so it is well worth it.

The water rushing into the delta is extremely pure, mostly because of the lack of agriculture and industry along the Okavango River. It runs through the sand aquifers of the various delta islands and evaporates, leaving massive amounts of salt remaining. The Okavango Delta experiences seasonal flooding, which starts every mid-summer in the north and six months later in the south. During the peal floods, the islands of the Delta can be completely hidden beneath the water, making an appearance again at the end of the season.

Admire one final sunrise as you take part in a wildlife walk in the Delta before returning back to Maun. Take the trip back in your mokoro, followed by the safari drive before arriving around lunchtime. We hop back on the Overland Vehicle and head to  Gweta where we are treated to the unique experience of camping beneath beautiful old Baobab trees.

On arrival at our campsite, you can take a walk around and relish a nice shower or swim in the pool after a night in the bush.

The town of Gweta is located between the bigger towns of Nata and Maun, on the Makgadikgadi Pan’s rim.

We make our way to Chobe National Park, home to the biggest population of elephants in Southern Africa. In the afternoon, feel free to embark on an optional game drive through the park, or better yet, an optional Chobe River Sunset Boat Cruise. Either way relish the incredible wildlife inland or along the river’s banks.

Chobe National Park is one of the world’s last remaining large wilderness regions. In terms of size, the Chobe NP is the third biggest reserve in the country, sporting the most diverse and fantastic fauna and flora. The reserve has the biggest elephant population in the continent with the majority forming part of the largest surviving elephant concentrations in the world.

We will cross the border today as we venture into Zimbabwe at the Kazangula border post to see the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls. Please ensure you have the correct visa ready at the border. The Zambezi River has eroded a passage over time which has deepened into an exit gorge forming Victoria Falls. On arrival we sit down to enjoy a traditional meal courtesy of the Lusumpuko Women’s Club. Enjoy a farm-to-table style meal with local seasonal produce while supporting the local community.

You have the option of going on a Zambezi River Sunset Cruise to enjoy a picture-perfect sunset while sipping on cold drinks with a festive atmosphere – the perfect way to end a day. Or take a Helicopter flip to see Victoria Falls in all its beauty from above as the river makes its way to the gorge and plummets to the depth below. You will possibly also be able to spot giraffes and elephants in the surrounding area.

As this is a combination trip, some travellers journey will come to an end while others may just be joining the adventure.

You can spend another day viewing Victoria Falls or take part in the optional activities. Go Whitewater Rafting on the raging rapids of the Zambezi for some thrilling excitement as you navigate your way through grade 5 rapids. Lunch and transfers are included in this activity cost.

Today is our third day in Victoria Falls where you can take part in any other adventures you have not experienced yet such as Ziplining, a Bridge Swing over the Zambezi or a Sunset Cruise.

As this is a combo tour, you may be saying goodbye to some friends made and hello to other new travel partners today. For this reason, there is also a welcome meeting today to brief you on the next leg of your travels.

Early in the morning, wake up to the sound of Victoria Falls thundering in the distance before departing on the long, but scenic drive to Matobo National Park. Consider taking this time to enjoy the scenery, it will be a full travel day.

Embark on an exhilarating open-vehicle wildlife safari through Zimbabwe’s captivating Matobo National Park, where adventure and history intertwine. Discover ancient Khoisan cave paintings, unlocking stories etched in time, and delve into the fascinating world of indigenous edible plants. Gain firsthand insight into vital wildlife conservation initiatives, witnessing the dedicated efforts to protect this remarkable ecosystem.

A new day brings a new slice of adventure! Take advantage of a scenic overland journey, traversing the diverse landscapes en-route to South Africa. As the day unfolds, anticipate crossing the border and settling into our comfortable campsite. In the evening, unwind and rejuvenate with a refreshing dip in the nearby mineral pool, a perfect end to an adventurous day.

You have arrived in a wildlife oasis! There is something special about Kruger National Park that will make you want to return to it over and over again. Approximately 5 million acres make this park one of the best places in Africa to view wild animals, so prepare for an exciting adventure. Grab your camera and make your ultimate African safari fantasy a reality. On a full-day wildlife safari drive, you will be able to see lions, elephants, and many other animals. Word of advice? Don’t forget that the animals are not the only thing that matters. Besides giant baobabs, fever trees, and marula trees, this sanctuary is home to many other species of plants. Enjoy prime viewing locations such as Hippo Pool, Kruger Tablets, and Red Rocks as you enjoy the natural surroundings.

There is no way to describe in words the beauty of the National Parks of South Africa which was only glimpsed yesterday. Today you will be taking another wildlife safari drive in Kruger National Park. Upgrades available: A 4×4 safari vehicle is available as an alternative. Take a look at the sky today and try to locate everything that you did not have time to locate yesterday. As the night settles around you, fill your tummies with a traditional dinner together. Following dinner, grab a partner and work up a sweat with some local dancing.

You may be leaving the bush behind today, but the memories will last a lifetime. Therefore, don’t despair, rather look forward with excitement as you return to Johannesburg, enjoying the scenery en-route in an overland vehicle.

Your tour comes to an end today. It is time to return home, but not before paying some attention to “Jozi”! You may wish to extend your stay in this vibrant, up-and-coming South African city for a few days. Discover the history of Johannesburg by exploring museums such as the Apartheid Museum and historic properties such as the Mandela House. Take advantage of the city’s trendy neighborhoods such as Melville for food, music, and art and allow yourself to unwind and relax before returning home.