Cape to Namibian Desert Accommodated Safari

From Cape Town, drive through the Cederberg region of South Africa visiting the !Kwa ttu San people along the way. Travel through Namaqualand to the Gariep/Orange River and experience the river by canoe. Travel to Ai-Ais Hot Springs and the impressive Fish River Canyon of Namibia. Visit the Kokerboom (Quiver tree) Forest.

Meet the Kung tribe and drive to the dunes of Sossusvlei. Explore the Sesriem Canyon, take a desert walk in the Namib Desert and cross the Tropic of Capricorn through the barren desert landscape. Stop in Walvis Bay to see flamingos.

In Swakopmund, go quad biking, sand boarding, and skydiving, or take a scenic flight. Meet the Himba people and enter Etosha National Park for game viewing. Go to a craft market and take a sightseeing tour through Windhoek.

Day 1: Cederberg Mountain Region – South Africa

This South Africa to Namibia Budget Safari departs from the beautiful city of Cape Town, stopping to at Table View to photograph or simply admire the panoramic views of the city and Table Mountan from afar.

We make our way north to the Cederberg Mountain region in the Western Cape visiting the !Kwa ttu people along the way. The !Kwa ttu are San descents of the first indigenous people inhabiting southern Africa and a visit to this cultural centre provides insight into the customs, past and traditional knowledge and survival skills of this interesting people. 

We enjoy a 3-hour cultural tour with a San guide and visit the museum at the centre, located just outside of Yzterfontein. Then we have lunch at the !Kwa ttu Centre’s restaurant before continuing our journey to Piketberg. In Piketberg we stop at an organic wine farm, Org de Rac Organic Wine Estate, for some wine tasting. 

After sampling some fine organic wines we head to our overnight accommodation in Clanwilliam, one of the oldest towns in South Africa. Clanwilliam is located between the rugged Cederberg Mountains, famous for dramatic rock formations, and the Olifants River. The Cederberg is named after the endangered Clanwilliam Cedar tree, endemic to this part of South Africa.

Upon arrival at the guesthouse your guides will give you a full tour briefing. We spend the night at a 3-star Guesthouse in the charming town of Clanwilliam, surrounded by fertile hills covered in vineyards, rooibos tea and citrus fruit trees. Accommodation is in twin rooms with en-suite bathrooms featuring hot showers. The guesthouse is set in a leafy garden and facilities include a swimming pool, diningroom and braai (barbecue) areas, as well as wireless internet.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities: San guided tour, organic wine-tasting

Day 2: Namaqualand and Orange/Gariep River – Namibia

We travel through the Namaqualand region, famous for its colourful and abundant indigenous wildflowers in spring and continue on to the Gariep/Orange River.

We stop in the remote town of Springbok for last minute supplies before crossing into Namibia. The night is spent getting to know one another over a hearty meal. Overnight is spent in comfortable chalets that overlook the Orange River, forming the border between South Africa and Namibia. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Orange/Gariep River to Fish River Canyon – Namibia

In the morning we have the opportunity to experience South Africa's longest river, the Gariep/Orange River by canoe, or spend some time relaxing at the guesthouse. After lunch we travel north to the Ai-Ais Hot Springs and our overnight accommodation close to the mighty Fish River Canyon, the 2nd largest canyon in the world. 

In the afternoon we take a scenic hike along the rim of the canyon in order to gain some perspective on just how large this natural phenomena is, returning to Ai-Ais to enjoy the hot springs. The camp has a restaurant and we stay in twin share rooms with en-suite bathrooms.

Included Activities: Scenic walk along the rim of Fish River Canyon.
Optional Activities: Half Day Orange River Canoe Adventure.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Fish River Canyon to Kokerboom Forest – Namibia

This morning we drive into the vast Kalahari area of Namibia stopping to visit the Kokerboom Forest. The Kokerboom, a type of aloe plant, is sometimes called the Quiver Tree as it was often used by the indigenous Khoisan people for making quivers for their arrows.

In the afternoon there is the option of some historical sightseeing on the farm that the guesthouse owns. The semi-arid Kalahari lies in Namibia, Botswana and South Africa and is a great place to experience open space and quiet solitude. 

Included Activities: Visit the Kokerboom (Quiver tree) forest
Optional Activities: Kalahari Sundowner, Historical Sightseeing on farm
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Bushman Community & Namib-Naukluft Park – Namibia

Today we visit the Namib National Park, one of Namibia’s geographic gems, said to be amongst Africa's largest game parks. The national park incorporates part of the Namib Desert, considered the world's oldest desert. There are massive sand dunes in the Sossusvlei desert area, famous for the towering red-orange sand dunes of its remarkable landscapes.

After a morning optional Tribal interaction and bush walk with the original San people we travel to the Namib and stay the night at a lodge just outside the park. We sleep in en-suite twin rooms with hot showers at this lodge featuring a swimming pool.

Optional Activities: African Tribal interaction.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Namib-Naukluft National Park – Namibia

We enter the Sossusvlei area of the Namib-Naukluft National Park exploring the unique desert ecosystem. Later we transfer to Dune 45 where you have the chance to take a relatively easy hike up the dune for an amazing view and photo opportunities. In the afternoon there’s a short walk into Sesriem Canyon, which stretches about a kilometer in length and reaches up to 30 meters deep.

The floor of Sesriem Canyon is dotted with shallow pools with the canyon being formed by the Tsauchab River flowing through sedimentary rock deposited about 20 million years ago. When we return to the lodge from our walk in the canyon you have the chance to spend some time with one of the resident big cats.

Optional Activities: Wild Cat Walk
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Swakopmund – Namibia

Today we are joined by an expert local guide for a 3-hour nature walk. Exploring on foot, this local guide will share their detailed knowledge of the ancient Namib desert area with us. Then we cross the Tropic of Capricorn on our way through the desert. Our first stop is Walvis Bay where we may see some flamingos, depending on the season. Then it’s on to Swakopmund, the adventure capital of Namibia, where you will be briefed on the many optional activities available for the next day. 

In the evening you can enjoy some excellent seafood at a local restaurant as well as the vibrant local nightlife. We stay at a comfortable guesthouse in Swakopmund featuring a dining area and bar. Accommodation is in twin share rooms with en suite bathrooms that have hot showers.

Included activities: 3hr desert walk
Optional Activities: Dinner out Quad biking, Sand boarding, Sky Diving, Scenic Flights etc.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8: Swakopmund – Namibia

This day is left free for you to explore the quaint town of Swakopmund, where German colonial influences can still be seen, or try one of the many adventure activities available at this popular coastal town. Take a quad bike over the dunes, try sand boarding, sky diving or take a cruise to see dolphins.

Optional Activities: quad biking, sky diving, sand boarding, scenic flights and more.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 9: Kamanjab & Himba Tribe – Namibia

Heading inland, we drive north towards Kamanjab village in the Kunene Region of Namibia where we meet the semi-nomadic local people from this area in the afternoon. The Himba are a pastoral people that have a distinct culture, visible in their unique style of dress and striking appearance, particularly their hairstyles and elaborate jewelry. The Himba still speak a dialect of the old Herero language and traditionally breed cattle or goats. Encountering a totally different way of life can be a moving experience for many people.

We spend the night at a guesthouse in Kamanjab, sleeping in twin share rooms with en-suite bathrooms. The guesthouse, located near the Himba village, has a swimming pool, braai (barbecue) facilities and an open deck area for relaxing under the stars at night.

Included activity: Guided visit to the Himba tribe.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10-11: Etosha National Park – Namibia

After our cultural experience with the traditional Himba people we make our way to Etosha National Park for some superb game viewing. We will visit water-holes in search of the wild animals that come to drink at these sites, as well as exploring as much as we can of the Etosha.

The 22 000 km² Etosha Park is dominated by the salt pan after which the park is named. The word Etosha means ‘Great White Place of Dry Water’ in the local Ovambo language. Etosha Park is home to a variety of animal, plant and bird life and is known as a top safari destination for sighting endangered black rhinos and the elusive cheetah. Etosha hosts some rare and endangered species, including unusual desert species. We will have plenty to see on our game drives in this vast park inhabited by 144 mammal species such as elephant, giraffe, blue wildebeest, eland, damara dik-dik, lion, cheetah, leopard, wildcat, hyena, and jackal. 

We will stay in bungalows inside the park, at Okaukuejo and/or Halali camp, both of which boast floodlit night waterholes where wild animals congregate to drink. We stay two per en-suite room at the overnight camps, each featuring a bar, swimming pool and shop. 

Included Activities: Afternoon game drive in truck (day 10) and full day game drive in truck (day11)
Optional Activities: Night drive and morning game drive with Game Ranger.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12: Windhoek – Namibia

On our way to Namibia's capital city we stop at an arts and crafts market so you can purchase some authentic African creations. Windhoek is situated at almost the exact centre of Namibia.

Upon arrival in Windhoek we take a short driving tour of the city and spend some time exploring the city centre. After the city tour the scenic, cultural and wildlife adventure of this Cape to Namibia Budget Safari comes to an end.

Included Activities: Craft market en-route; short city tour
Optional Activities: Dinner at a local restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast