28 Day Southern Africa Tour from Cape Town to Johannesburg (Camping)

Day 1: Cape Town, South Africa

Upon your arrival in Cape Town, you will be transported to your hostel. You will spend your first night out together in Cape Town getting to know each other. The city boasts over three million residents and is the Western Cape’s capital. The nightlife on Long Street is a vibrant place to explore after a short welcome meeting or dinner out together. Following a pre-departure mee ting with your group, you should ensure that you have all necessary visas for the trip. Get to know your fellow travelers as the adventure begins by putting on your dancing shoes.

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. It is recommended that you book accommodation for an extra night prior to the tour, as this activity starts early in the morning. Due to the timing of this activity, it is possible that you may miss the welcome meeting on the first day of your tour. If this occurs, your guide will leave you a message outlining when and where you should meet on the second day.

Accommodation: Curiocity Green Point (or similar)
Optional Activities: Table Mountain Cable Car (420ZAR per person), Table Mountain Hike (720-1700 ZAR per person), Boulders Beach Visit (190ZAR per person), Two Oceans Aquarium (235ZAR per person), South African Wine Tour and Tasting

Day 2: Cape Town – Cederberg, South Africa

Today, we make our way out of the city and and enjoy the stunning scenery of the Western Cape as we travel to !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.

As the group arrives at your first campsite in the afternoon, you will have free time to relax and sip on some local wine, or enjoy the swimming pool overlooking the vineyards.

Accommodation: Highlands Campsite (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Highlight: !Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre (Yzerfontein)
Optional Activity: Wine Tasting (140ZAR per person)
Distance: 300 km
Travel Time: 5 hours

Day 3: Cederberg – Orange River, South Africa

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 it’s way to some heavy rapids.

Accommodation: Fiddlers Creek Rest Camp (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activity: Canoeing on Orange River 2-3 hours (400ZAR per person)
Distance: 350 km
Travel Time: 6½ hours

Day 4: Orange River – Fish River Canyon, Namibia

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. It’s 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. Cat fish 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.

Accommodation: Hobas Campsite (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Highlight: Fish River Canyon Sunset Visit
Distance: 180 km
Travel time: 5 hours

Day 5: Fish River Canyon – Namib Desert, Namibia

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.

Accommodation: Sossus Oasis Campsite (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: 560 km
Travel Time: 10 hours

Day 6: Namib Desert, Namibia

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

We will be visiting Sossusvlei today 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. You can take an optional guided walk around the dunes or explore the area on your own. We will then return to our campsite at lunch time and pack up camp before heading off to our next campsite within the Namib desert.

If you book the optional Sossusvlei Desert Walk you will have the chance to visit a clay pan surrounded by the world’s largest sand dunes and enclosing ancient dead trees. Opt to take a guided walk at the dunes, and enjoy some free time to explore them on your own. Arrive back at our campsite around lunch time and take down tents, pack up the Lando, and drive to the next desert campsite.

Also don’t miss out on the other optional Namib Desert dunes bush walk to learn more about the desert, dunes, and the way of the bushmen.

Accommodation: Namib Desert Camp Boesman (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Highlight: Sesriem Canyon Visit, Dune 45 climb
Optional Activities: Namib Desert Walk (350NAD per person)
Travel Time: 5 hours

Day 7: Namib Desert – Swakopmund, Namibia

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 strange prehistoric Welwitchia vegetation.

Accommodation: Amanpuri Backpackers (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Distance: 300 km
Travel Time: 7 hours

Day 8: Swakopmund, Namibia

Today is free for you to explore Swakopmund and it’s many activities on offer:

• Sandboarding in the Namib Desert 700NAD per person – Grab a board and sail down the dunes for an adrenaline kick of note
• Skydiving in Swakopmund – Take a plummet into the skies of Namibia with your trusted and skilled instructor
• Swakopmund Guided Cultural Tour 750NAD per person – Enjoy a historical guided tour of the back streets of Swakopmund and visit the home of a local ethic Herero woman. Sip on local brews at a ‘shebeen’ (pub).
• Skeleton Coast Scenic Flight 4800NAD per person – Get a bird’s eye view of the ship wrecks, Damaraland and the unusual Spitzkoppe rock formations

Accommodation: Amanpuri Backpackers (or similar)
Meals: No meals will be provided today, offering you the chance to sample the local cuisine.

Day 9: Swakopmund – Spitzkoppe, Namibia

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.

Accommodation: Spitzkoppe camp (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Route: Swakopmund – Spitzkoppe
Travel Time: 3 – 4 hours

Day 10: Spitzkoppe – Etosha National Park, Namibia

As we enter the park, we embark on a game drive through Etosha’s massive arid pan in search of elephant, hippo, 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.

Accommodation: Etosha National Park Okaukuejo Restcamp (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Highlight: Etosha National Park Wildlife Safari Drive in the Overland truck
Optional Activity: Etosha National Park Open Vehicle Wildlife Night Safari (750NAD per person)
Distance: 435 km
Travel time: 7 – 8 hours

Day 11: Etosha National Park, Namibia

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. There is again the option of joining in on an Open Vehicle Wildlife Safari Drive with a naturalist guide who will take you in search of wildlife at dusk and into the early evening to view the nocturnal wildlife.

Accommodation: Etosha National Park Okaukuejo Restcamp (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Highlight: Etosha National Park Wildlife Safari Drive in the Overland truck
Optional Activity: Etosha National Park Open Vehicle Wildlife Safari (1100NAD per person)

Day 12: Etosha National Park – Waterberg Plateau, Namibia

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.

Accommodation: Waterberg Campsite (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: 300 km (4 – 5 hours travelling time)

Day 13 :Waterberg Plateau – Windhoek, Namibia

Head south through Namibia’s countryside to Windhoek after leaving the Waterberg Plateau National Park. In addition to your included lunch, you will stop at a restaurant outside of Windhoek – the Penduka Village Restaurant & Shop

Accommodation: Urban Camp (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Included Highlight: Penduka Village Restaurant and Shop
Route: Waterberg Plateau – Windhoek
Distance: 305 km
Travel time: 4 – 5 hours

Day 14: Windhoek – D’kar, Botswana

As the group crosses the border into Botswana from Namibia, another country will be added to your bucket list. Ghanzi lies in the heart of the Kalahari. An optional bushman walk will allow you to see how the San people adapted to this challenging landscape.

Accommodation: Dqae Qare San Lodge & Camp (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Optional Activities: Walk with San People (150BWP per person)
Route: Windhoek – D’kar
Distance: 305 km
Travel time: 8 – 9 hours

Day 15: D’kar – Maun, Botswana

We say goodbye to the sands of the Kalahari and jump in the Lando towards Maun. We arrive around lunchtime. This beautiful setting makes for a great place to relax, journal, take photos, and enjoy some leisure time. You can set up camp in the evening and relax with friends while looking at shooting stars above from your sleeping bag as the night settles.

Please Note: The Okavango Delta excursion takes one night and two days, starting from Maun. Each person should bring a 5 liter water bottle into the Delta; this should provide sufficient drinking water as well as cleaning water.

Accommodation: Sedia Riverside Lodge (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Route: Ghanzi – Maun
Distance: 285 km
Travel time: 4 – 5 hours

Day 16: Maun – Okavango Delta, Botswana

It’s going to be a busy day, but one that’s going to be fun! An overnight excursion into the Okavango Delta allows you to experience the sounds and smells of the bush all around you. On the way to our basic bush camp for the evening, we will travel by mokoro (dugout canoe) and do some bird watching. Upon arrival, set up camp and get acquainted with the area.

A wildlife walk will provide you with some adventure. Seeing the animals on foot gives you a greater understanding of their movement patterns and behavior than observing them from a vehicle. Join the locals in singing songs around the campfire, or just relax with a sundowner while counting the stars.

As our camp is very basic and in the wild, there is no shower and only a dug-out bush toilet – but the stunning landscape and wildlife are all worth it!

Accommodation: Okavango Delta Camping (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Highlight: Okavango Delta Excursion
Route: Maun – Okavango Delta
Travel time: 3 – 4 hours

Day 17: Okavango Delta – Gweta, Botswana

Watch the light turn the landscape into a variety of pinks, oranges, and reds as you wake up to the sight of the sun rising. When you’re out in the middle of nowhere, you can’t help but feel completely isolated. Cherish those moments! Once you have rubbed the sleep from your eyes, grab your cameras and take another safari walk before riding in a mokoro back to Maun, where you will pack up your Land Rover and drive to the ancient baobab trees of Gweta.

Arrival at the campsite will take place mid-to-late afternoon. Enjoy a nice shower after spending the night in the bush, walk around, take pictures of the baobabs, and swim in the pool.

Accommodation: Planet Baobab (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Highlight: Mokoro
Route: Okavango Delta – Maun – Gweta
Distance: 240 km
Travel time :  6 – 7 hours

Day 18: Gweta – Kasane, Botswana

Start your day early and travel north to Kasane with your group. You have the option to do the Chobe River Sunset Cruise and spot some of the many elephants on the shores of the Chobe River.

“I bless the rains down in Africaaaaa” ahh we can just hear it now… people must be playing this song between Gweta and Kasane while driving through the verdant lands. The rains in Africa are no joke, so Toto knew what they meant. When the rain falls, the pans come to life with dormant fish and aquatic shrimps emerging from the mud. Many predators are attracted to the surrounding grasslands, which also teem with life. As you camp under the stars, reward yourself with a group toast as you watch the world pass by.

 Chobe National Park is where you’ll see the largest elephant population in Southern Africa. An optional sunset boat cruise on the Chobe River will provide the best opportunity to observe the area’s thousands of elephants, crocodiles, and hippos.

The Chobe River Sunset Cruise can be pre-booked on the checkout page or through your travel agent.

Accommodation: Thebe River Safaris Camping (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Route: Gweta – Kasane
Distance: 420 km

Day 19: Kasane – Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Accommodation: Explorers Village Camping (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Included Highlights: Lusumpuko Women’s Club Lunch
Optional Activities: Victoria Falls Visit (50USD per person), Victoria Falls Helicopter Ride – 15min (150USD per person), Chobe National Park Safari Drive
Route: Kasane – Kazungula – Victoria Falls
Distance: 85 km

Day 20: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Accommodation: Explorers Village Camping (or similar)
Optional Activities: Victoria Falls Visit (50USD per person), Victoria Falls Whitewater Rafting (120 USD per person) – excluding 10USD park entry fees, Zambezi Bungee Jump (168USD per person), Princess Laundry Service (20USD per person)

Day 21: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Accommodation: Explorers Village Camping (or similar)
Optional Activities: Zambezi Bridge Swing (186USD per person), Zambezi Zipline (50USD per person)

Day 22: Victoria Falls – Matobo National Park, Zimbabwe

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, get to know your group better, and consider what you hope to gain from the excursion.

Accommodation: African Wanderer Campsite (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Route: Victoria Falls – Matobo National Park
Distance: 475 km, 6 hours

Day 23: Matobo National Park, Zimbabwe

Today we explore this small park from the seat of an open wildlife safari vehicle and see the stunning wildlife, which calls this small park home, as the vehicle bumps along.

Matobo National Park in Zimbabwe offers huge granite masses, land that has been walked on for forty thousand years, and peaceful silence that will make you question why you would ever want to return to the modern world.

Accommodation: African Wanderer Campsite (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Highlights: Guided Rhino Walk, Matobo National Park Open Vehicle Wildlife Safari Drive
Route: Matobo National Park – Bulawayo

Day 24: Matobo National Park – Tshipise, South Africa

A new day brings a new slice of adventure! Take advantage of the day to get to know the people in your group. Take backseat selfies, share travel stories, and enjoy the African scenery as you cross the border into South Africa. During the evening, relax in the mineral pool at our campsite, tip your head toward the sky, and bask in the warm water.

Accommodation: Tshipise Forever Resort (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities: Hot Springs Soak
Route: Matobo National Park – Tshipise
Distance: 600 km

Day 25: Tshipise – Kruger National Park, South Africa

You have arrived in wildlife country. 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 baobab, fever 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.

Accommodation: Satara Campsite (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Highlights: Kruger Wildlife Safari Drive
Route: Tshipise – Kruger National Park

Day 26: Kruger National Park – Greater Kruger Area, South Africa

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. An upgraded 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.

Accommodation: Aan De Vliet Holiday Resort (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Highlights: Kruger Wildlife Safari Drive, Traditional Dinner and Local Dancing
Optional Activities: Kruger National Park Open Vehicle Wildlife Safari Drive – Full day (860 ZAR per person)
Route: Kruger National Park – Hazyview
Distance: 200km

Day 27: Greater Kruger Area – Johannesburg, South Africa

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, South Africa’s most important economic center.

Accommodation: Hotel Sky Sandton (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Route: Hazyview – Johannesburg
Distance: 407 km, 8 hours

Day 28: Johannesburg, South Africa

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 neighbourhoods such as Melville for food, music, and art and allow yourself to unwind and relax before returning home.

Meals: Breakfast

Onward Travel Plans

Due to circumstances beyond our control while on tour (such as border crossings, traffic, breakdowns and delays, etc), the end time on the last day cannot be guaranteed. Therefore we strongly recommend you stay the night and fly out the next day. Please consult with your booking consultant.