Botswana | Delta, Dunes & Falls
The dramatic landscape of Table Mountain, as it is towers over the great cosmopolitan city of Cape Town, is one of the most striking views you'll encounter on the continent. From this impressive introduction we travel north through the verdant hills of Cederberg and the arid, rocky panorama of the Northern Cape to Namibia.
Namibia is one of the great surprises of southern Africa, boasting some of the most spectacular and breathtaking desert scenery on earth. The great sand dunes of the Namib Desert, which rear over 300 metres above the desert floor, are a sight never to be forgotten. When one adds some of the world's most weird and wonderful vegetation, the wild Atlantic coast and the famous rock etchings of Twyfelfontein, it all results in a destination of unparalleled diversity. And as no visit to Africa is complete without viewing wildlife, the famous Etosha National Park provides the perfect opportunity to encounter a great array of animal and bird life, the equal of any in Africa.
When you combine all of this with a visit to an area containing arguably the most amazing wetlands in the world, namely the wonderful Okavango Delta in neighbouring Botswana, the result is an expedition of extraordinary diversity. The Okavango boasts delightful water-based scenery, often in total contrast to the dry and arid lands which surround it, along with some quite exceptional birding - you don't have to be an enthusiast to be soon enthralled - and the opportunity to see much of the wildlife which Africa is so justifiably famous for. To complete this magical safari we travel to Livingstone in Zambia to view the spectacular Victoria Falls or 'Mosi-oa-Tunya' as it is locally known, meaning 'The Smoke That Thunders'.
| Duration: | 19 Days |
|---|---|
| Tour Code: | ITW599 |
| Trip Style: | Moderate - 3 star |
| Departure Dates: | 25 Dec 2011, 25 Dec 2011, 01 Apr 2012, 13 May 2012, 24 Jun 2012, 22 Jul 2012, 05 Aug 2012, 02 Sep 2012, 16 Sep 2012, 18 Nov 2012, 30 Dec 2012, 10 Mar 2013, 21 Apr 2013, 02 Jun 2013 |
| Price: | From $6,175 |
| Single Supplement: | from $1010 |
| Places you'll visit: |
|
| Highlights: |
|
Ideal for Solo Travellers
You will travel with a maximum of just 15 fellow travellers. This is small enough to avoid making a negative impact on the places you go and the people you meet, but large enough to have a good time with other travellers from around the globe.
If you are willing to share a room we will find a member of the same gender for you to share with. If we are unable to find someone, then you will get a single room without having to pay any supplement. And for those wanting their own room the single supplement won't break the bank.
Trip Details
GROUP SIZE: 15 max.
Day 1: Cape Town
Today you are welcomed at Cape Town International Airport on your arrival and transferred to your accommodation - the Hotel Graeme. Each of the air-conditioned rooms are fitted with private bathroom, multi channel TV, telephone, safe and tea and coffee making facilities.
The rest of the day is at leisure. The V&A Waterfront with its restaurants and live entertainment is just a few minutes away or you choose to stay closer to home, there is a selection of cafes and restaurants literally at the doorstep of your hotel. With so much on offer in Cape Town and surrounds, it's highly recommended to book a couple of additional nights if you wish to explore the city in depth. Our tour leader will arrange a short pre-trip briefing for 6pm.
Days 2-3: Cederberg - Fish River Canyon
(Driving time: approx 4½ hours on Day 2 and approx 6 hours on Day 3)
Travelling north, our first destination is the dramatic mountains of the Cederberg range. Laden with citrus farms, Cederberg is also the highest wine-growing region in the country and here spend an afternoon sampling some of the local wines. Note, in the early days of Spring, after the desert rains have fallen, we will stay in Namaqualand where the fields are transformed by an explosion of colour as we witness the annual wildlflower season.
As the landscape becomes more barren and rugged we wind our way across a mountainous plateau to reach the Gariep River, which marks the border between Namibia and South Africa. Crossing into Namibia we reach our destination at Fish River Canyon. In a country of scenic superlatives, this canyon is perhaps the 'jewel in the crown'. Nearly 30 kilometres across and 160 kilometres in length, it is reportedly the second largest (and one of the least visited) canyon in the world. We walk along the rim and, in the late afternoon, watch the canyon walls change colour, as they are tinged with golden rays from the setting sun.
Meals included: 2 breakfasts
Days 4-5: Namib-Naukluft National Park
(Driving time: approx 6½ hours; travelling time for excursion variable)
This morning we descend into the Namib-Naukluft Valley at the southernnmost edge of the dune fields. The scenery is stunning, with the grassy savannah interspersed with free roaming wildlife such as springbok, oryx and ostrich. We reach our lodge in the late afternoon, in time to settle in and enjoy the sunset.
The effort required getting up and departing before dawn (Day 5) should be well and truly worth it! As we drive in towards Sossusvlei the stars fade and, as pre-dawn light brushes the dunes, the full impact of this incredible scene begins to hit you. When dawn arrives, the scene becomes breathtaking. The colours of some of the greatest dunes blaze orange, as the sun first strikes their slopes. The sheer size of it all, together with the impact of light and shade on the ridgelines, leaves most people speechless.
Later in the morning we walk into Sossusvlei, which is the end of an ancient riverbed. Usually it is devoid of water, but in recent years some unseasonal and heavy rains on occasions have turned it into a lake, surrounded by mountains of sand. There is the opportunity to climb some of the dunes - small or large, depending on how energetic you feel. It can be quite hard work as your feet seem to slip and slide away from beneath you, but the rewarding views make it all worthwhile.
This afternoon we visit nearby Sesriem Gorge - a small, but fascinating area where the desert strata has been cut away by the force of occasional floodwaters over thousands of years. A trip out to Elim Dune is the perfect way to end our experiences in Namib-Naukluft National Park.
Our lodge is set in an area of tranquillity, silence and solitude, perfectly suited to its surroundings of awe-inspiring plains and magnificent mountains. The rooms of the lodge, built with the flat rocks characteristic of the nearby mountains, have wonderful views over the vast plains of the Namib Desert, with its contrasts of rock, grass, mountains and sand. This is sure to whet our appetite for the even more impressive sights to come tomorrow and is a perfect way to end the day. On both evenings here, we get to enjoy an excellent farmhouse style meal in the dining area.
Meals included: 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners
Days 6-7: Swakopmund
(Driving time: approx 4½ hours)
We travel through the Namib Desert and head northwest towards the Atlantic Ocean coastline of Namibia. The landscapes are again wonderfully varied, colourful and impressive. We leave the dune fields behind and experience more mountain desert vistas, particularly spectacular as we traverse the Kuiseb Canyon. We then re-enter the stark flatness of the Namib Desert, as we travel directly towards the Skeleton Coast and seaside holiday town of Swakopmund. Along the way we stop at Walvis Bay to look at the bird life that is attracted to the large lagoon. Flamingos can often be found here in large numbers.
Our base for the next two nights in Swakopmund is a centrally located lodge, walking distance to the town's many attractions. Your time in Swakopmund will be free to explore the many options available in this beautiful coastal place. You may decide to wander through the numerous (and often eclectic) shops, stroll along the stretches of beach, barter for souvenirs in the open-air curio market, enjoy a coffee at one of the cosy cafes, explore the excellent local museum or get nautical at the Namibian National Marine Aquarium.
Alternatively, there are various optional activities that can be arranged (at additional cost). These include such adventures as scenic drives to Sandwich Harbour, fishing trips (both from the beach or in a boat), quad biking (4 wheel motorbikes) or sandboarding trips in the nearby dunes, amongst others.
Meals included: 2 breakfasts
Day 8: Cape Cross - Twyfelfontein
(Driving time: approx 7 hours)
We bid Swakopmund farewell and continue north to Cape Cross, on the southern end of the Skeleton Coast. Cape Cross is a huge breeding site for Cape fur seals, with numbers reaching up to 100,000. With so many seals concentrated in a small area we are greeted with an incredible sight and sometimes an incredible smell, especially if the winds are blowing the wrong way! The site also contains a large cross and an informative plaque about the person whom left the cross there - Diego Cao, who in 1485 was the first European person to land on Namibian soil.
Leaving Cape Cross we turn inland across the gravel plains of the Namib Desert, head north and continue deeper into Damaraland, an incredibly picturesque region where prehistoric water courses merged with open plains, grasslands, massive granite koppies and distant mountains to carve out a unique landscape. The area is also home to several free roaming species including desert elephant, black rhinoceros, ostrich and springbok.
We spend the day exploring, by travelling through impressive and sometimes breathtaking semi-desert scenery, distinguished by amazing shapes and colours and sometimes weird vegetation. This is literally a land of vast open spaces and far horizons.
On arrival at the great rock amphitheatre of Twyfelfontein, we stop to view some of the hundreds of rock engravings and imagine what life must have been like here thousands of years ago. Some of these etchings actually date back to the early Stone Age and are now UNESCO World Heritage listed. Unbelievably, some 2000 figures are engraved here into the rocks and serve as key artefacts which help archaeologists to uncover more information about the traditions, rituals and beliefs of local tribes. It is a bit of a scramble to reach some of the best etchings, but well worth the effort.
We then continue a short distance to Khorixas, the capital of the region. Our lodge is equipped with a swimming pool, an a-la-carte restaurant and comfortable chalets.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Day 9: Himba Village - Otjitotongwe - Gelbingen
(Driving time: approx 5 hours)
Leaving Twyfelfontein we continue north to visit the Himba people in their village. Descendants of Herero herders, they are semi-nomadic people and are unique in that they have rejected modern ways in favour of traditional beliefs and methods. The women have elaborately plaited hair and incredibly smooth skins, due to an ointment that they make purely from natural products. The struggle for the Himbas will be retain their identity in the face of a modern world that is fast encroaching, bringing with it the inevitable changes. We spend the night in Gelbingen Lodge, located situated in a mountainous valley in the middle of a savannah that is full of mopane trees.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Day 10-12: Etosha National Park
(Driving time: approx 4 hours; game drive times variable)
In the morning, we can make a optional visit to Kamanjab and visit the Otjitotongwe Cheetah Park. Many cheetahs are being persecuted in Namibia by farmers because they pose a threat to livestock, so this centre helps to protect them and provide them with a home. A drive in a truck around the large enclosed areas out the back enables us to meet several cheetahs. We may also get a very close-up encounter with lodge's tame cheetah near the house, and also perhaps even get to hold a meerkat!
We then continue to Etosha, Namibia's largest and best known national park and the third largest wildlife sanctuary in the world. The Etosha Pan (the word 'pan' meaning either a wet or dry waterhole) that forms about a third of the park is a vast shallow depression 139 kilometres long and 50 kilometres wide, and is the all that remains of a once great inland sea. Most of it is dry for much of the year, resulting in a shimmering sea of white salt. However, a number of permanent springs are located along its southern shores and these sometimes hold water left by the rainy season, which provides sustenance for the large quantities of wildlife. Many wild animals are attracted to these springs and, during the course of our stay, we hope to see wildebeest, zebra, springbok, kudu, giraffe, jackal, elephant and, with a little luck, lion, leopard, hyena or perhaps even a cheetah.
Upon arrival into the park, we check into our bungalow accommodation before taking a short game drive before sunset. We spend three outstanding nights in Etosha National Park and explore the varied regions of the park by staying in the park's rest camps. Each of the camps have floodlit waterholes, ensuring that our game viewing opportunities are continuous. Included breakfasts are taken at the restaurants, whilst lunches and dinners are at your own expense. For these other meals, you can choose to either eat in the restaurants or make use of the braai (barbecue) area. There are small local shops that sell groceries at each of the camps.
The usual routine involves waking up a little before dawn to start our morning game drive when the sun comes up, as this is often one of the most productive times of the day when most animals tends to be more active. After what is hopefully an exciting morning's drive (every game drive is different and, as you are not in a zoo, there are no guarantees!), we return to camp for brunch and to relax during the heat of the day. Alternatively you may wish to take a swim or spend some time at the waterhole, before the next drive. We set off again in the afternoon and expect to return to a little before sunset. It is always a treat to watch the sunset before enjoying supper and then going out to view the star-filled night sky.
Meals included: 3 breakfast
Day 13: Divundu
(Driving time: approx 8 hours)
Today we leave Etosha and drive to the town of Rundu in the northernmost region of Namibia. On this journey we cross the Red Line that is in reality a veterinary disease checkpoint, but in effect also represents a divide between the developed southern part of the country that utilises first world farming methods and the northern third world and more traditional village way of life, which is nonetheless self-sufficient. Along the way we pass small villages, stopping at some of them to see the local woodcarvers in action, as well as pick up a few souvenirs.
We arrive at our accommodation on the banks of the Okavango River and in the late afternoon and have time to explore the area on foot and enjoy a sundowner in this unusual desert wetland. Overlooking the river, our lodge's trimmed grass and the shady indigenous trees create a cool and relaxing ambience, which is enhanced by an inviting pool and a friendly bar. The comfortable and attractive bungalows have hot water, electricity and good mosquito protection, whilst the restaurant offers excellent food and a comprehensive wine list.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Day 14-15: Okavango Delta Houseboat
(Driving time: approx 4 hours not including time at border)
Today we drive through Kavango Region to the border at Muhembo, where we enter Botswana. After completing immigration formalities we continue southward along the edge of the Okavango Delta to Sepupa, where we turn off the main road and on to the sandy river paths that take us to the edge of the Okavango River. The contrast between the fairly arid country that we have been travelling through over the past day and a half and the lush and green riverine setting is quite remarkable.
At Sepupa we transfer to motorboats to travel along the upper reaches of the Okavango Delta system to our home for the next two nights, which is a houseboat in the middle of the Okavango Delta. From our floating home we have the chance to experience the intricacies of the waterways using basic, traditional dugout canoes, known as mokoros. Normally it's a case of two passengers and one poler per mokoro, with the passengers sitting down whilst the poler stands at the back and navigates the way through the myriad waterways, passing palm islands and travelling through lagoons sometimes covered in water lilies or boasting wonderful reflections in the more open areas.
Travelling in this manner allows us to delve further afield into the delta in a manner that seems entirely appropriate to our surroundings - a fine way to enjoy the tranquil waterways in this unspoiled part of Africa. The silence may only be broken by the quiet 'whoosh' of your canoe moving on the water or the calls of the many species of birds that live in the area. In the afternoon we return to our houseboat to take a motorboat ride out to witness the often breathtaking sunset.
Meals included: 2 breakfast 2 lunch 2 dinner
Day 16: Kwando River - Mudumu National Park Region
(Driving time: approx 7 hours)
This morning we make our way back from the houseboat to our vehicle that has been waiting for us on the riverbanks. Back on solid ground we retrace our path to the Muhembo border, where we exit Botswana and re-enter Namibia. We then travel east along the Caprivi Strip, a 500 kilometre narrow finger of land that connects Namibia with the Zambezi River.
Midway along this strip we stop to spend a night at a lodge on the banks of the Kwando River just outside the Mudumu National Park. This afternoon we have the option to partake in several activities offered by the lodge. These range from a boating, fishing, birdwatching (over 400 species recorded here) or joining a guided game drive or a game walk.
In this subtropical region we get a chance to photograph animals that are rare to other areas of Namibia, such as hippo, sable antelope, lechwe, tsessebe and buffalo, to name but a few. In the evening we have the option to experience the wild African night on a spotlight boat ride or game drive, where we may see active crocodiles and other nocturnal animals at close quarters.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Day 17: Chobe National Park
(Driving time: approx 3½ hours)
This morning we leave Namibia behind and head for Chobe National Park in Botswana. Once we've reached the lodge and settled in our rooms we spend the rest of the afternoon enjoying a cruise on the Chobe River, taking in the sunset. Along the way we look out for elephants and lions without having to reach for our binoculars. We may even get close enough to the wildlife for close-up photography.
The bird life on the water is often spectacular and we are sure to be enthralled by sightings of saddle-billed storks, malachite kingfishers, fish eagles, goliath herons and beautiful bee-eaters, to name but a few. There are good numbers of hippopotamuses in the river and from time to time we may see crocodiles on the river banks, although they are surprisingly shy, or perhaps a large monitor lizard seeking to make a meal of crocodile eggs.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Day 18-19: Chobe National Park - Livingstone
(Driving time: approx 2 hours; game drive times variable)
We enjoy an early morning game drive in Chobe National Park, where we may see elephants drinking at the waters' edge. The park also boasts large herds of cape buffaloes. Please note that a visit to Chobe National Park itself is not a complete wilderness experience, as we are sure to see other people, boats and vehicles when inside the park. However, we are also sure to see wildlife that can be the equal of anything anywhere in Africa.
We also spend one night in a mobile camp inside Chobe National Park itself and get to experience this African nature wonderland at night, long after all the day-trippers have left. We then cross the border into Zambia and continue to the town of Livingstone - our final destination. After completing the passport formalities we drive to the main centre of Livingstone and check into our hotel.
In the afternoon we visit magnificent Victoria Falls, which was named by the famous Dr David Livingstone. In Zambia the falls are more commonly referred to by their Kololo name, 'Mosi-oa-Tunya' meaning 'The Smoke That Thunders'. These magnificent falls are considered one of the natural wonders of the world and, when in full flow, form the largest sheet of falling water.
Our adventure comes to an end after breakfast on Day 19. Additional nights' accommodation can be booked in advance in order to spend more time in this exquisite area and this is recommended. Our local guide can help you to organise any of myriad of optional activities available.
PLEASE NOTE: Sometimes the going on this trip is quite tough, the distances covered fairly large and some of the roads and tracks are not exactly smooth, or free from dust, but the rewards are exceptional. We endeavour to make things as comfortable as possible, by travelling in a custom-built safari vehicle with large windows for exceptional game viewing and staying in local guesthouses, lodges and hotels.
Some departures operate in reverse.
Inclusions
- 17 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 6 Dinners
- An experienced English-speaking local leader
- Specialist local guides
- Arrival transfer
- Transport
- Game activities
- Wildlife fees
- Entrance fees
Accommodation
- 8 nights Private lodge
- 4 nights Comfortable hotel
- 3 nights National park rondavel
- 2 nights Houseboat
- 1 night Mobile tented camp
What's Not Included
- Departure transfer
- Tips
Terms & Conditions
Click here for our Terms & Conditions
For more information, availability and pricing and options, please contact our expert travel specialists at Inspired Travel Worldwide on (02) 9449 8598 or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.
:: Click to enlarge
