OVERVIEW

Day 1

West Coast National Park, Elands Bay on the West Coast

This morning you leave Cape Town heading northwards along the Atlantic coast to the West Coast National Park, along the turquoise waters of the Langebaan Lagoon. In spring the dunes and wetlands explode into fields of wildflowers of many colors. The migratory bird and various species of animals can be seen all year round.
Then visit the famous West Coast Fossil Park which is known to paleontologists worldwide (time permitting).
The exceptionally well-preserved fossil fauna remains, bears, elephants, giant giraffes, and lions that date to circa 5.2 million years, are displayed.

Continuing 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!

Distance: 225km
Time: 2h29m.

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

Day 2

Nieuwoudtville, Wild flowers, Canyons & Waterfalls

After leaving Eland’s Bay stop at Lambert’s Bay, the seafood hot spot of the West Coast! Bird Island lies about 100 m off the shore of Lambert’s Bay on the Cape’s West Coast. It offers visitors 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 ever-entertaining seals at the internationally acclaimed Bird Island where tens of thousands of seabirds create a deafening cacophony, not forgetting the lush stretches of wild field flowers that are most beautiful during spring.
In the afternoon you travel Van Ryne Pass which is mesmerizing with its steep gradient and double backs. The view is breathtaking!
You reach Nieuwoudtville, the bulb capital of the world. This town lies on the Bokkeveld escarpment.

Distance: 160km
Time: 2h00.

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

Day 3

Bushmanland to Augrabies Falls National Park

This day you’ll discover amazing landscapes, canyons, the beautiful Nieuwoudtville, waterfalls, quiver tree forests, glacial pavements, and local homesteads of sandstone. Visit an authentic Nama 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 drive through “Bushman Land”.
You then drive through the “Tankwa Karoo National Park” 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.

Distance: 389km
Time: 4h37m.

Main Destination:

• Augrabies Falls National Park (South Africa)
• Best Time to Visit
• April to September (Not too hot)
• High Season
• Never ( Only busy during school holidays)
• Best Weather
• May to September (Less hot during the day)
• Wildlife in Augrabies Falls NP

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

Day 4

Augrabies Falls + canyon hike + safari

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

The giraffes found in Augrabies are lighter in color 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 antelope 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.

Distance: 364km
Time: 3h44m.

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

Day 5

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in the Kalahari desert.

This morning you follow the Orange River, driving through Upington, founded in 1873, the gateway to the Kalahari.
You 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 till before the gates close.

Tonight you are accommodated just outside the park.

Distance: 364km
Time: 3h44m.

Main Destination:

• Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (South Africa)
• Best Time to Visit
• March to May (The riverbeds attract animals)
• High Season
• Never (The park never gets very crowded)
• Best Weather
• May to Seotember (Less hot during the day)
• Wildlife in Kgalagadi TP

Accommodation:

• Kgalagadi Lodge
• Mid-range chalet located just outside Kgalagadi TP

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Day 6

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Early morning departure to see the big cats, leopards, cheetahs including the unique black-maned lions. Admire the Oryx which are the pride of the Kalahari Desert. Various antelope and other species are seen in this amazing National Park.
Breakfast in the desert.

You spend the rest of the day on a self-drive safari in the Kalahari desert.

Main Destination:

• Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (South Africa)

Accommodation:

• Kgalagadi Lodge
• Mid-range chalet located just outside Kgalagadi TP

Meals & Drinks:

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

Day 7

Twee Rivieren Rest Camp

This morning self-drive to Mata Mata, have lunch there, and continue back to Twee Rivieren at your leisure.

This route is well known for spotting 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.

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:

• Twee Rivieren Rest Camp
• Mid-range cottage located inside Kgalagadi TP

Meals & Drinks:

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

Day 8

Ais Ais camp & hot springs

Early morning self-drive safari before leaving for Namibia.

From the Namibian border, you 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 you relax and enjoy a swim in the hot springs of Ai-Ais known to have healing properties for rheumatism and skin problems.

Main Destination:

• |Ai-|Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park (South Africa)
• Best Time to Visit
• August to September (Spring flowers)
• High Season
• July to November (The park is rarely crowded)
• Best Weather
• May to September (Less hot during the day)
• Wildlife in |Ai-|Ais Richtersveld TP

Accommodation:

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

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Day 9

Great Fish River Canyon

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 (160 km) long, up to 27 km 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 70 km north of Ai-Ais. This part of the canyon is part of the Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park. The other 90 km of this canyon are privately owned.

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

Day 10

Mighty Orange River – Richtersveld National Park

This morning drive through the southern part of Richtersveld Transfrontier Park to the Orange River.
The Richtersveld is a UNESCO World Heritage site for its cultural heritage and botanical diversity. It is 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 canoe lazily down the mighty Orange River, or enjoy a trek along its bank, see how many semi-precious stones you find, like rose quartz and other crystals.

Enjoy your meal and appreciate how expansive everything is.

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

Day 11

Orange River day trip

Orange River half-day trips on the great Orange River in Southern Namibia are more than just a river trip! You will get to experience a morning of paddling down the majestic Orange River with beautiful scenery and wildlife. In contrast to the starkly barren Richtersveld surroundings. Under the guidance of experienced and qualified staff, you will enjoy 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

Day 12

Namaqualand to Cederberg Wilderness Area

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

Later in the day, you 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.

Main Destination:

• Cederberg Wilderness Area (Mountain Range, South Africa)

Accommodation:

• Clanwilliam Lodge
• Mid-range lodge located in or near Cederberg

Meals & Drinks:

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

Day 13

Cederberg, Bushman paintings & spectacular Rock formations

After breakfast, you hike into the beautiful Cederberg mountains and visit the caves and the magnificent cave paintings 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 will be at Bloubergstrand and enjoy a postcard view of the city of Cape Town and the famous Table Mountain.
Arrival in Cape Town late afternoon.

NB: Most optional activities can be offered to you at our preferential rates, discounted from 12%. Optional activities include helicopter trips, hot air ballooning, shark cage diving, whale cruises, 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