An affordable Namibia Safari from Swakopmund to Cape Town in South Africa. Experience the natural beauty of Namibia and South Africa on this wild Africa Overland Tour with lodge accommodation.
Setting off from Swakopmund, the Adventure Capital of Namibia, we head south into the Namib Desert. Here, we explore the incredible orange hued desert landscapes of the Namib-Naukluft National Park - climb Dune 45 at dawn and marvel at surreal Deadvlei. From there we travel to the spectacular Fish River Canyon and Ais-Ais hot springs, and then to the Orange River where you can go canoeing. Crossing into South Africa, we visit the scenic Cederberg Mountains via Namaqualand, before driving down to cosmopolitan Cape Town.
Explore Southern Africa's vast, open landscapes and enjoy not only the destinations but the journey itself.
Meet up with your guides in Swakopmund, the Adventure Capital of Namibia, this morning. Leaving Swakopmund our budget Namibia Safari travels into Southern Namibia and the iconic Namib Desert, oldest desert in the world.
After settling into our desert lodge, we are met by a local expert who will take us on a guided afternoon desert walk. Hear more about this unique ecosystem and the survival skills of the khoi san people who have survived in this arid desert for aeons. Plants and animals have also adapted to living in this dry place.
Dinner will be enjoyed around the campfire with just the night sounds of the African desert as accompaniment. An early night is recommended in preparation for the early start tomorrow.
Waking before dawn, our Swakopmund to Cape Town Tour heads to Sesriem, a significant geological feature shaped by the Tsauchab River over millions of years and gateway to the Sossusvlei area, home to some of the world's tallest sand dunes. We head into the Namib-Naukluft National Park, watching sunrise over the red-orange hued desert landscapes.
Our first stop is Dune 45, named for its location 45 kilometers from the Sesriem gate. Dune 45 stands over 170 meters (550 feet) and is composed of 5-million-year-old sand! We hike up Dune 45 to see the changing colors of the dune fields in the morning light and take in the breathtaking view of the dune fields from the top.
We enjoy a hearty breakfast once we are down, and then a 4x4 vehicle collects us to drive to the striking Deadvlei, where the high red-orange dunes surround a salt and clay pan. It is a surreal sight to see the crusty pale pans with gnarled dead trees dotting the perimeter, standing in sharp contrast to the orange-red dunes beyond. After our Namib-Naukluft National Park adventure we return to our desert lodge and spend another evening marvelling at the star-studded night sky above this remote area. It is breathtaking.
After a leisurely start on Day 3 of our Africa Overland Tour, we drive east through the heart of Southern Namibia to the town of Keetmanshoop. This is a long drive through rocky desert terrain and wide-open spaces. As you continue south, the landscape gradually transitions to savannah plains and rugged mountains. We overnight at a guesthouse in Keetmanshoop with good Wifi connectivity and a swimming pool.
Our first stop this morning is the Quivertree Dolorite Park, a forest of over 500 specimens of quirky aloe type trees that grow amid magnificent dolorite hills, named 'quiver' trees because the San traditionally made arrows out of their branches. Some of these trees are over 600 years old.
Next stop is Giant’s Playground nearby, so-named due to the rounded chunks of greyish-black dolerite rocks stacked on top of each other as if giants have been playing with them. Wander through the rock piles getting some spectacular photographs.
Next, our lodge safari continues south across the gravel plains and rugged landscapes of arid Southern Namibia to the Fish River Canyon, one of the world’s greatest canyons, a 550-metre (1,800 feet) deep chasm that twists for 160 kilometers (100 miles). We end our day with an easy walk along the rim of the canyon, taking in the spectacular views across the canyon (approximately 27 kilometers (16.7 miles) at its widest point). Enjoy the play of light as the sun sets over this geological marvel.
We overnight at Ais-Ais, not far from the canyon. Ai-Ais translates to "burning water" in the local Nama language, referring to the hot spring located here believed to have curative properties. This evening we get to soak in the hot springs that Ais-Ais is famous for, washing away the dust under star-studded skies.
On Day 5 of our budget Namibia Safari, we are up early for the journey south to our last destination in Namibia - the Orange River. This iconic river forms the border between Namibia and South Africa, having flowed across the full breadth of South Africa.
This afternoon you have the chance to set off on an optional canoe trip along the well-known Orange River, now called the Gariep. Canoeing along the river is a fantastic way to enjoy the rugged scenery and spot birds. This is an easy paddle with a few small rapids.
Tonight, we stay at a lodge on the banks of the Orange River, enjoying the natural setting and starry skies.
On the morning of Day 6, our Swakopmund to Cape Town Tour crosses the Orange River and the border into South Africa. We head south, travelling through the stark semi-desert region of Namaqualand, famous for its burst of colorful wildflowers that carpet the dry landscape in the springtime.
Eventually the wide-open flats are behind us as we make our way into the mountains of the Western Cape province of South Africa. Admire the dramatic beauty of the Cederberg Mountains, characterized by rugged peaks, deep valleys, and striking sandstone formations that have been sculpted by wind and water over millions of years. The Cederberg is known for its rich biodiversity, with a wealth of plant species including many types of fynbos, a unique and globally significant type of vegetation. Rooibos tea, also known as red bush tea, is native to the Cederberg Mountains of South Africa. The plant, scientifically known as Aspalathus linearis, grows in the wild here and is prised as a herbal tea.
We spend the last night of our Swakopmund to Cape Town Safari at a lodge just outside the scenic town of Citrusdal, where we enjoy a hearty South African dinner together.
As we hit the road for Cape Town, we pass many citrus orchards and the ubiquitous padstal (farmstall) dotted along the road, selling local goods. Nearing Cape Town we pause in Table Bay, on the outskirts of the city, to appreciate the iconic view of Table Mountain with the city and the ocean beneath it, and a glimpse of Robben Island.
Arriving in Cape Town, our affordable Namibia Safari comes to a close and we sadly say goodbye.
To get the most out of your Africa Overland Tour, we recommend arriving the day before this Swakopmund to Cape Town Safari departs and only booking flights for the day after the safari ends. We can help arrange accommodation for before and after this Namibia Safari on request.
This southbound Namibia Tour is also available in the opposite direction as the 7 Day Cape Town to Namibia Safari (Lodge Africa Overland Tour) - North, starting in Cape Town and ending in Swakopmund.
This southbound Lodge Overland Tour is also available as a Camping Overland Tour which follows the same itinerary and stays at budget friendly campsites instead of lodges.
For more details contact African Budget Safaris
For up-to-date and confirmed pricing info for optional items, please drop us an enquiry.
This tour does take children.
There is a minimum age limit of 8 years of age, for travellers on scheduled departures, however, children aged 8 and 9 years of age are accepted on a request basis only.
A maximum of 4 children, aged between 10 - 15 years will be allowed per scheduled tour departure date.
Should there already be 4 children confirmed on a tour, any further children requests will be dealt with on a request basis only.
Age restrictions may apply to certain items listed in the respective tour activities and it is important that you are aware of these restrictions prior to confirming children on tour.
Please contact African Budget Safaris for further information.
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