19 Day Southern African Safari Adventure

This 19 day Southern African Safari Adventure starts in Cape Town, South Africa, travelling north through Namibia and Botswana, before ending at Victoria Falls in Zambia.

Highlights on this budget African Safari range from game viewing and cultural excursions to sightseeing and adventure activities. On this affordable African camping trip you go to:

• Cape Town in South Africa
• Fish River Canyon, Sossusvlei & Namib Desert
• Swakopmund, Twyfelfontein & Himba Village 
• Etosha National Park, Okavango & Kwando Rivers
• Chobe River in Botswana
• Victoria Falls in Livingstone, Zambia

Most nights on this affordable safari are spent camping, with three nights in hotel and guesthouse accommodation in Cape Town and Swakopmund.

An excellent safari trip to experience the best that these top Southern African countries have to offer.

Tour Highlights:

• Cape Town, Table Mountain (own expense) & the Cape of Good Hope.
• Fish River Canyon.
• Walking in the Sossusvlei Dunes and the Namib Desert.
• Optional activities in Swakopmund.
• Visit a traditional Himba village.
• Game drives & night observation of animals at waterholes in Etosha National Park.
• Optional activities along the Okavango River.
• 2 nights in Livingstone.
• Game viewing cruise on the Chobe River.

DAY 1: CAPE TOWN – SOUTH AFRICA

This 19 Day Southern African Safari Adventure starts in the beautiful South African city of Cape Town. 

Known for the landmark Table Mountain, Cape Town, offers visitors a variety of attractions from scenic wonders and a vibrant nightlife to historic and cultural sightseeing highlights.

We set off on a Cape Peninsula tour at 08h00 from a selected lodge in Cape Town on day one.

Driving along the scenic Atlantic Coastline we travel to Hout Bay and on to the dramatic Chapmans Peak.

We will visit Table Mountain National Park at Cape Point, returning to our hotel via the Indian Ocean coastline.

In the morning or afternoon we recommend taking an optional cable car ride up Table Mountain (own expense). Enjoy dinner at the bustling V&A Waterfront in the evening (own expense).

We overnight at a well situated Waterfront hotel, Breakwater Lodge (or similar accommodation).

(Accommodated - Lunch & dinner own expense)

DAY 2: NAMAQUALAND – SOUTH AFRICA

On day two we depart from Cape Town after breakfast, making our way up the West Coast of South Africa.

We drive north and set up camp in the heart of the Namaqualand region, known for its spectacular wildflower blooms in spring.

(Camping - B, L, D)

DAY 3: FISH RIVER CANYON – NAMIBIA

We continue travelling north from Namaqualand into neighbouring Namibia. Crossing into Namibia we stop for lunch before driving on to the Fish River Canyon.

Namibia's Fish River Canyon is the second largest canyon in the world - an awesome sight!

We set up camp and take a walk along the rim of the impressive Fish River Canyon admiring the changing colours of the sunset over this deep canyon.

(Camping - B, L, D)

DAY 4 - 5: SESRIEM/ SOSSUSVLEI – NAMIBIA

We keep driving north, passing through the changing landscapes of Namibia as we head to our safari camp, on the edge of the Namib Desert.

At the camp there is time to take a sunset walk in the dunes of the area.

An early start on day five sees us travelling to the Sossusvlei Dunes area of the Namib Desert, one of the oldest deserts in the world.

These towering red-orange sand dunes are considered some of the tallest sand dunes in the world.

We stop in the dune belt of this desert area to watch the colours of the sand dunes changing with the light.

Then we embark on a 5km desert walk to Sossusvlei and Deadvlei, in this fascinating part of the world. Later in the afternoon we set off on a short hike into the renowned Sesriem Canyon of Namibia.

(Camping - B, L, D)

DAY 6 - 7: SWAKOPMUND – NAMIBIA

Travelling further north we visit Walvis Bay on the coast of Namibia. Here we enjoy lunch and view large flocks of flamingos feeding.

We arrive in Swakopmund, Namibia's prime beach destination.

The afternoon and following day are free for you to explore this quaint town with its German colonial influence and participate in some of the numerous optional activities (own expense).

Optional activities in and around Swakopmund, include sandboarding, skydiving, kayaking, hot air ballooning or scenic flights over the vast Namib Desert.

Enjoy dinner on day 6 and lunch and dinner on day 7 at local restaurants (own expense). Accommodation is in a guesthouse in Swakopmund.

(Accommodated - DAY 6 - B, L, DAY 7 - B)

DAY 8: SPITZKOPPE – NAMIBIA

Saying goodbye to the lively coastal town of Swakopmund, we drive to the Spitzkoppe Mountains, where we set up camp among the giant boulders.

In the afternoon we explore the Spitzkoppe area on foot, The evening is spent relaxing at our remote bushcamp and enjoying this magnificent wild setting.

(Camping - B, L, D)

DAY 9: DAMARALAND – NAMIBIA

On day 9 of our affordable safari we travel into the rugged Damaraland region of Namibia.

This striking semi-desert region consists of a combination of vast open plains and rugged mountains. The dramatic terrain ranges from gravel-covered flat areas to arid valleys and sandy riverbeds scattered with vegetation.

In the afternoon we enjoy a unique cultural experience in northern Namibia. We visit a Himba Tribe to see how these proud traditional people live. The Himba are semi-nomadic pastoralists that live in villages scattered throughought the Kunene region.

This ethnic group is known for its distinct appearance and unusual looking yet beautiful women. Meeting these friendly and dignified local people is an interesting highlight of our Southern African Safari.

We spend a few hours admiring the intricate hairstyles and traditional dress-style of the Himba Tribe, learning more about them, before continuing our journey north.

(Camping - B, L, D)

DAY 10 - 12: ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK – NAMIBIA

Next we drive to Etosha National Park, Namibia's top game park and one of Africa's finest wilderness areas.

In the 'Great White Place', as Etosha Park is known, we embark on rewarding morning and afternoon game drives. In the evenings we relax at our camps' floodlight waterholes, looking out for the variety of wildlife drawn to the water.

Etosha Park is dominated by a vast salt pan, a terrain that lends itself to spotting wildlife in the dancing mirages of the African heat.

Etosha Park is one of the most important reserves and game sanctuaries in Africa. Etosha National Park is home to thousands of wild animals such as blue wildebeest, springbok, zebra, kudu, giraffe, cheetah, leopard, lion and elephant.

(Camping - B, L, D)

DAY 13 - 14: OKAVANGO RIVER – NAMIBIA

Next we travel east into the narrow part of Namibia lying between Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Angola. We drive along the uncharacteristically fertile Caprivi Strip of Namibia, spending the night in a lush setting overlooking the Okavango River.

At our overnight camp you can enjoy a lovely sunset from the deck or take a refreshing swim in the well-known "river pool".

Day 14 on our Southern African Safari Adventure is free for you to participate in some exciting optional excursions (own account). Choose from bird walks, game drives and mokoro outings in the Caprivi area.

(Camping - B, L, D)

DAY 15 - 16: CHOBE RIVER – BOTSWANA

Continuing through the Caprivi we cross into Botswana where we set up camp on the banks of the Chobe River. Chobe is famous for its beautiful scenery, magnificent sunsets and abundance of wildlife and birdlife.

The following day we relax on a game viewing cruise on the Chobe River. A morning game drive in Chobe National Park is optional (own expense).

(Camping - B, L, D)

DAY 17 - 18: LIVINGSTONE/ VICTORIA FALLS – ZAMBIA

Crossing into Zambia we head to our final safari stop, Livingstone.

Livingstone is located on the Zambian side of the famous Victoria Falls - undoubtedly one of the most unforgettable sights in Africa.

Visit the largest sheet of falling water in the world to see why the impressive Vic Falls waterfall is called the 'Smoke that Thunders".

Spend the last few days on safari, exploring Livingstone and browsing the local markets, as well as experiencing some of the exhilarating adventure activities on offer here.

Optional activities available at Vic Falls, the adrenalin capital of Africa, include white water rafting on the Zambezi, bungi jumping, microlighting, airplane or helicopter flights over Victoria Falls, rhino walks and elephant back safaris (own expense).

(Camping - All meals excluding 1 lunch & 1 dinner on day 18)

DAY 19: LIVINGSTONE – ZAMBIA

This diverse Southern African Safari Adventure ends after breakfast in Livingstone, Zambia.

(B)

Please Note:

This Cape Town to Livingstone Southern African Safari Adventure is also available in the reverse order - starting in Livingstone and ending in Cape Town. For details please contact African Budget Safaris.

Pre-tour accommodation in Cape Town and return airport transfers can be pre-booked through African Budget Safaris.

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