OVERVIEW

Please note that we will meet you before your departure at either the airport or your hotel. I will go through your itinerary in detail, handing over information, vouchers and detailed maps. We are available 24/7.

You’ll depart Cape Town along the Atlantic Coast to the West Coast National Park, with the turquoise waters of the Langebaan Lagoon. In spring the dunes & wetlands explode into fields of wildflowers of many colors. The migratory bird and various species of animals can be seen all year round.

Visit the West Coast Fossil Park which is known to paleontologists worldwide. The exceptionally well-preserved fossils display the remains of bears, elephants, giant giraffes, and lions that date to circa 5.2 million years.

Continue along the coast from St Helena Bay to Elands Bay, the latter famous for surfing, cray fishing, San paintings, and archaeological discoveries. Welcome to your hotel on the beach. Crayfish for dinner perhaps!

Cape town to Elands bay – 2hr 18m (221km).

Main Destination:

West Coast National Park (South Africa)

Accommodation:

Eland’s Bay Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located in or near Elands

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

After leaving Eland’s Bay, stop at Lambert’s Bay, the seafood hot spot of the West Coast! Bird Island lies about 100m off the shore of Lambert’s Bay on the Cape’s West Coast. It offers a rare opportunity to see the blue-eyed Cape gannet up close.
Lambert’s Bay is known as the diamond of the West Coast and the crayfish mecca of South Africa. Alluvial diamonds are brought up from the ocean floor, thanks to those crazy, leathery local divers.

Delightful views of dolphins, whales and the entertaining seals are seen at the internationally acclaimed Bird Island where tens of thousands of seabirds create a deafening cacophony. Also, there’re lush stretches of wild field flowers that are most beautiful during spring. In the afternoon, head to Van Ryne Pass which is mesmerizing with its steep gradient and double backs. The view is breathtaking!
You’ll reach Nieuwoudtville, the bulb capital of the world, which lies on the Bokkeveld escarpment.

Elands bay to Nieuwoudtville- 1 hr 58 min (159km).

Main Destination:

Nieuwoudtville (Town, South Africa)

Accommodation:

Papkuilsfontein

• Mid-range guest house located in or near the park

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

On this day you will view amazing landscapes, canyons, the beautiful Nieuwoudtville, waterfalls, quiver tree forests, glacial pavements, and local homesteads of sandstone. If time permits, visit an authentic Nama (of Bushman origin) village where the folk harvest “Rooibos” tea as has been done for generations. This unique health-enhancing Rooibos plant is only found in this area.

Leaving Nieuwoudtville, you will drive through “Bushman Land”. You’ll then drive through the Tankwa Karoo towards the Augrabies Falls National Park. This waterfall is among the highest and most powerful in the world, the name is derived from the Khoi word meaning “place of great noise”.
What makes it so unique is that it feels surreal to encounter such a wonder of nature in this harsh arid environment.

Nieuwoudtville to Augrabies Falls – 4 hr 51 min (489 km) via R27.

Main Destination:

Augrabies Falls National Park (South Africa)

Accommodation:

Augrabies Falls National Park Rest Camp

• Mid-range chalet located inside Augrabies Falls NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

Various activities like hikes, canyoning, safari self-drive are available inside the park.

The giraffes found in Augrabies are lighter in colour than those found in the regions of the east, as a countermeasure for the extreme heat. One of the most often seen antelope is the klipspringer, which is often seen in pairs. Other antelopes found in the park are steenbok, springbok, gemsbok, kudu, and eland.
Predators in Augrabies Falls National Park come in the form of leopard, black-backed jackals, caracal, the bat-eared fox, and the African wild cat.

Main Destination:

Augrabies Falls National Park (South Africa)

Accommodation:

Augrabies Falls National Park Rest Camp

• Mid-range chalet located inside Augrabies Falls NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

This morning you will follow the Orange River, drive through Upington. Founded in 1873, is the gateway to the Kalahari.
You will arrive at the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park which was created in 1999 by merging the Kalahari National Park in Botswana and the Gemsbok National Park. This is the first Transfrontier Park in Africa.
Enter the park and self-safari into the sunset.

Augrabies falls to Tweeriverien camp – Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: 3 hr 49 min (370 km) via R360.

Main Destination:

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (South Africa)

Accommodation:

Twee Rivieren Rest Camp

• Mid-range cottage located inside Kgalagadi TP

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Today you head to the Northwestern part of the park, on the border with Namibia. Your new camp, Mata Mata is fun and well positioned for predator viewing. Leopard, cheetah and the unique black-maned lions inhabit the area. Admire the oryx which are the pride of the Kalahari Desert. Various antelope and other species are seen in this amazing national park.
Your breakfast will be in the desert.
Enjoy the day on a self-drive safari in the Kalahari Desert.

Twee Rivieren Rest Camp to Mata Mata: 121km ( 2 hrs 56 min).

Main Destination:

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (South Africa)

Accommodation:

Mata Mata Rest Camp

• Mid-range chalet located inside Kgalagadi TP

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

This morning you’ll have a self-drive safari along the Dry Nossob Riverbed. This route is well known for cheetah, leopard, black-maned lion, and many other mammals. Don’t forget the incredible acacia trees (camelthorn).
The Kgalagadi has an impressive bird checklist of just over 310 species, but only 132 of those are residents. The park is renowned for its birds of prey, with 49 species recorded.

In the heat of the day, cool off at the camps pristine swimming pool.

Enjoy a stunning sunset safari through the dunes on a 4×4 with a professional ranger (included).

Main Destination:

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (South Africa)

Accommodation:

Mata Mata Rest Camp

• Mid-range chalet located inside Kgalagadi TP

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

You’ll have an early morning self-drive safari before leaving for Namibia.
From the Namibian border, you’ll drive through salt marshes, vast desert plains, and arid mountains.
By mid-afternoon, you will arrive at our Ai-Ais, which means “boiling” in Nama. This oasis forms the southern part of the Fish River Canyon. The rest of the day relax and enjoy a swim in the hot springs of Ai-Ais, known to have healing properties for rheumatism and skin problems.

Please note that this is a longer day on the road.
Mata Mata (Kalagadi National Park) to Ais Ais camp ( Fish River Canyon): 480km (6 hrs 50 min)

If this does not suit you, we can make alternative arrangements.

Main Destination:

|Ai-|Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park (South Africa)

Accommodation:

Ai Ais Resort

• Mid-range lodge located inside |Ai-|Ais Richtersveld TP

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Today you spend time exploring the largest canyon in Africa, as well as the second most visited tourist attraction in Namibia. It features a gigantic ravine, in total about 100 miles (160km) long, up to 27km wide, and in places almost 550 meters deep.

The Fish River is the longest interior river in Namibia. It cuts deep into the plateau which is today dry, stony, and sparsely covered with hardy drought-resistant plants. The river flows intermittently, usually flooding in late summer; the rest of the year it becomes a chain of long narrow pools. At the lower end of the Fish River Canyon, the hot springs resort of Ai-Ais is situated.
Public viewpoints are near Hobas, a campsite 7 km north of Ai-Ais. This part of the canyon is part of the Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park. The other 90km of this canyon are privately owned.

Ai-Ais Hotsprings Spa Campsite to Fish River Canyon:18km.

Main Destination:

Fish River Canyon (|Ai-|Ais Richtersveld TP, Namibia)

Accommodation:

Ai Ais Resort

• Mid-range lodge located inside |Ai-|Ais Richtersveld TP

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

This morning depart Ai Ais and traverse the Richtersveld Transfrontier Park to the Orange River.
The Richtersveld is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, because it sustains the semi-nomadic pastoral livelihood of the Nama people, reflecting seasonal patterns that may have persisted for as much as two millennia in southern Africa (Transhumance).

Much of its flora and fauna are endemic to the region. Truly a unique mountain desert wilderness of great beauty with the mighty Orange river running through it all the way to the Atlantic ocean.

On arrival, this afternoon, decide if you would like to relax, enjoy a trek along the river bank and see how many semi-precious stones you’ll find such as rose quartz and other crystals. If the time permits you can canoe lazily down the mighty Orange River.

Enjoy your dinner and appreciate how expansive this region is.

Ais camp to Provenance Camp Orange River: 1 hr 35 min (112 km) via C37/D207 and C13.

Main Destination:

Orange River (River, South Africa)

Accommodation:

Provenance Camp

• Mid-range chalet located in or near Orange River

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Speak to the reception and decide on whether you would like a half or full-day guided Orange River canoe trip. The Orange River in Southern Namibia is more than just a river trip! You get to experience a morning/full day of paddling down the majestic Orange River with beautiful scenery and wildlife. In contrast to the starkly barren surrounding Richtersveld. You are under the guidance of experienced and qualified staff. Enjoy the adventure not easily matched (optional).

Main Destination:

|Ai-|Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park (South Africa)

Accommodation:

Provenance Camp

• Mid-range chalet located outside |Ai-|Ais Richtersveld TP

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

This morning after a paddle or hike along the Orange River, you will leave and head south to your next exciting destination.
You will pass the towns of Springbok and Karies which are in the heart of the Namaqualand. From August to October (early spring) this arid land blooms with carpets of multi-coloured flowers.

Later in the day, you will arrive in Clanwilliam. Enjoy walking the streets of this historic town and admire the Dutch Reform Church which has been a scheduled National Monument since 1969.

This region has the most amazing rock formations. You can walk to the caves to admire some of the most outstanding rock art sites in existence and gain insight into the deep and rich spiritual culture of the Bushman who lived for millennia here in the Cederberg Mountains.

Provenance Camp – Orange river to Clanwilliam: 4 hr 42 min (471km) via N7.

Main Destination:

Cederberg Wilderness Area (Mountain Range, South Africa)

Accommodation:

Clanwilliam Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located in or near Cederberg

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

After breakfast, there is a 25 min drive to the Cederberg wilderness. Hike into the beautiful Cederberg Mountains and visit the caves. These magnificent cave paintings were left by the “Bushmen”. I will advise on what hikes would be appropriate for you. Some of the best African rock art is found here!

Your last stop can be at Bloubergstrand where you will enjoy a postcard view of the city of Cape Town and the famous Table Mountain. Arrival in Cape Town will be late in the afternoon.

Clanwilliam to Cape Town: 2 hr 21 min (231.5 km) via N7 and N7

NB: We are happy to offer you our discounted rates on activities, like helicopter flips, shark cage diving, ballooning, whale cruise, surfing lesson, seal snorkelling, paragliding, hiking and more.

Main Destination:

Cederberg Wilderness Area (Mountain Range, South Africa)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included