19-day Wildlife & Deserts Camping Safari

This affordable Southern Africa Camping Safari explores top wilderness areas, game parks and travel destinations in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zambia.

Starting in Cape Town with the cultural experience of a Cape Flats township tour and travelling north to Namibia via the Orange River. This budget camping tour takes you to the Namibia's Fish River Canyon, from there you venture into the world's oldest desert in the Namib-Naukluft Park to climb the Sossusvlei dunes.

This safari adventure visits Swakopmund for adventure activities and sightseeing and then on to view Bushman rock paintings in Spitzkoppe. Next its off to Etosha National Park for game viewing, before an overnight in Namibia's capital, Windhoek.

Crossing into Botswana we experience the Kalahari Desert on a guided Bushman Walk before camping in the pristine Okavango Delta. The next stop is the game-rich Chobe National Park, before continuing to Livingstone on the Zambian side of Victoria Falls for adventure activities and sightseeing.

The 19-day budget Wildlife and Deserts Camping Safari ends at Vic Falls.

Tour Highlights:

• Cape Flats Township Tour and South Africa's Orange River
• Fish River Canyon and Sossusvlei Sand Dunes
• Namib Naukluft Park and Swakopmund adventure activities
• Visit Spitzkoppe and go Game viewing in premier Etosha Park 
• See Windhoek and take a guided Kalahari Bushman Walk
• Explore Botswana's Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park
• Victoria Falls and adventure activities in Livingstone, Zambia

DAY 1: Cape Town to Karoo – South Africa

This budget camping safari starts in Cape Town, known as the "Mother City" of South Africa.

We recommend that you arrange to spend a few days in the cosmopolitan city of Cape Town before your safari adventure. One of the most beautiful cities in the world, Cape Town has something for everyone, from outdoor activities and wineland tours to world-class shopping and a lively nightlife. 

Leaving the landmark Table Mountain and scenic city of Cape Town behind we make our way to the Cape Flats for a township tour of some of Cape Town's famous townships. 

Our Cape Flats township tour gives us a chance to experience some of the vibrant local township culture. Visit community projects and meet some of the local people in South Africa’s dynamic informal settlement areas. This exciting township excursion offers insight into the turbulent history and current state of the country, as well as the daily lives of these South Africans.

Our journey continues north through changing landscapes of South Africa's Western Cape, starting with winelands, fruit farms and green hills.

We spend our first night of camping under African stars in the northern part of the Western Cape Province en route to the Orange River. We stay near the small town of Citrusdal and on the first night you will have time to get to know your fellow travellers a little better and get into the swing of being on the road in Southern Africa.

DAY 2: Karoo to Gariep River – South Africa

Next we travel through open fields of wildflowers (in spring) to rockier and more arid terrain closer to the Namibian border.

We set up camp tonight at Gariep (Orange) River before sunset. With its source in Lesotho’s Drakensberg Mountains the Orange River is South Africa’s longest river and almost traverses the continent.

Tonight we enjoy our second night under the big African sky at our camp, providing the necessary comforts like hot showers, flush toilets, grassy campsites & bar facilities.

Your friendly Umkulu guides will brief you on the optional Orange River Canoe trip. You can also take a hike to a look out above the campsite and the Orange River is safe for swimming! At night the African skies come alive with the stars of the Richtersveld - a truly peaceful and tranquil experience.

DAY 3: Gariep River to Fish River Canyon – Namibia

Today we continue north crossing into Namibia, a land of stark contrasts, best known for its impressive desert dunes.

We drive to the Fish River Canyon, the largest canyon in Africa and the second largest in the world. This beautiful natural wonder is around 500m deep and over 160km in length. We explore this scenic area enjoying spectacular views over the sharp “Hell’s Bend” corner of the canyon. We camp overnight not far from the immense canyon in this rugged part of southern Namibia.

DAY 4 – 5: Fish River Canyon to Sossusvlei Dunes – Namibia

From the Fish River Canyon we continue our drive north heading into one of the oldest deserts in the world, the Namib. We enter the Namib Naukluft Park, one of the largest game parks in Africa and Namibia’s largest conservation area, covering 50 000 sq km of dunes, plains and estuarine terrain.

In the Namid Naukluft Park we visit some of the world’s highest sand dunes, at over 300m high, at Sossusvlei. The towering orange-red dunes at Sossusvlei are ideal for photographic opportunities, especially for sunrise or sunset desert landscape shots from the top of a dune. From the spectacular dunes and flat pans we travel deeper into the park to explore the pristine valleys and saltpans on foot.

We leave the mesmerizing sand dunes and set up camp for the evening near Sossusvlei.

DAY 6 - 7: Swakopmund – Namibia

After the silence of the Fish River Canyon and Namib Desert we carry on north to Swakopmund, located between the Namib Desert and the Atlantic Ocean.

The quaint colonial town of Swakopmund is Namibia’s premier seaside resort, featuring palm-lined avenues and beachside promenades.

Take a sightseeing stroll though the unique town and relax at one of the street-side cafes or get your adrenaline pumping on one of the adventure activities. There are plenty of adventure activities to choose from at Swakopmund including kayaking, quad biking, sand boarding and skydiving as well as scenic flights and guided desert walks.

DAY 8: Swakopmund to Spitzkoppe – Namibia

Departing from Swakopmund our Wildlife & Deserts Camping Safari takes us inland to the Damaraland region of Namibia making our way to Spitzkoppe, also called the "Matterhorn of Namibia".

The Spitzkoppe area is scattered with exposed granite formations that we explore to see the ancient rock paintings of Bushman tribes. The most impressive of these rock paintings is called “Bushman Paradise”.

The peculiar rock formations reach up to 1728m above sea level, offering spectacular views. Explore this dramatic area of Namibia, soaking up its stillness. Witness the ever changing colours of the rock formations, especially at sunrise and sunset, when they take on intense red shades. 

Our Spitzkoppe Camp, located at the base of the rocky mountain, is owned and maintained by the local community. All proceeds from our stay contribute to a better future for the local community at Spitzkoppe.

DAY 9 - 10: Etosha National Park – Namibia

Our next destination on this safari adventure is Etosha National Park, the "Great White Place" dominated by a vast saltpan.

We stay in Etosha Park for the next two nights, camping near one of the park’s watering holes, all of which are floodlit at night offering exciting nocturnal game viewing. This opportunity to watch wildlife at the watering holes in the night is the game viewing highlight of a trip to Namibia! Commonly sighted wild animals include elephant, giraffe and zebra, as well as sometimes lion and hyena.

The 20 000 sq km Etosha Park is home to thousands of wild animals and is considered one of the most important game reserves in Southern Africa.

This vast game park is inhabited by around 340 bird species and over 100 mammal species, notably the endangered cheetah and black rhino, as well as black-faced impala, tsessebe, roan antelope and gemsbok. In the rainy season shallow lakes form on the pan, with the watering holes supporting Etosha’s wildlife all year-round.

DAY 11: Etosha National Park to Windhoek – Namibia

Next we drive south to Windhoek, Namibia’s capital city, for a night in the town.

In Windhoek we get to enjoy some nightlife after our days spent out in the untamed wilderness areas of Southern Africa. Explore Windhoek, located in the center of Namibia, discovering its colonial German heritage and architecture.

The city of Windhoek is located in a basin between the Khomas Highland, Auas and Eros Mountains of Namibia and lies at 1,680m above sea level.

DAY 12: Windhoek to Ghanzi – Botswana

On day 12 we depart from Windhoek heading west into Botswana and the town of Ghanzi, called the "The capital of the Kalahari".

At Ghanzi, situated “in the middle of nowhere”, we explore the Kalahari Desert's arid landscapes on foot. This vast and flat terrain is remarkable for its beautiful sunsets and open skies, a stargazer’s paradise at night.

On our guided Kalahari Bushman Walk we have the opportunity to learn a bit about the nomadic Bushmen tribes that were once the only inhabitants in this desolate area. Get a genuine glimpse of this fast disappearing ancient culture, supporting an ecotourism venture that gives the San/Bushman a sustainable income and helps keep their unique culture alive.

Around the campfire at night, you can experience the ancient dance rituals of the San/Bushman. On special occasions a healing or trance dance is performed, which can last through the night - an intense spiritual experience for both local participants and visitors alike. We camp overnight in the Kalahari Desert area under huge African skies.

DAY 13: Ghanzi to Maun – Botswana

In the morning we continue to Maun from where we enter the Okavango Delta, the jewel in Botswana’s crown.

Maun is a lively tourism hub situated along the wide banks of the Thamalakane River where red lechwe can be seen grazing side by side with local donkeys, goats and cattle. This town, founded in 1915, is known as a hard-living 'Wild West' town and today features an eclectic mixture of modern buildings and native huts.

Maun is infamous for its roaming donkeys and goats, that stand around town where the local farmers gather in countless taxis to sell their goods on the roadside. 

The Okavango Delta is the world's largest inland delta, covering 1.6 million hectares of natural waterways and pristine wilderness. The delta, with its source in Angola, spreads out in an intricate web of channels on the flat plains of Botswana emptying into the Kalahari Desert.

DAY 14: Okavango Delta – Botswana

We spend a night camping in the Okavango Delta, experiencing this unique wilderness area and its wildlife up close. Knowledgeable and experienced guides will accompany you in this extensive wetland system “poling” you through the labyrinth of winding channels and lagoons in traditional dugout canoes, called mokoros.

You will also have the opportunity to explore the delta on a thrilling bush walk. Exploring the narrow channels of the delta we look out for wildlife including hippo, crocodile and an array of birds amongst the giant lily pads and tall grasses of the reed-fringed islands.

Our overnight camp is set on one of the secluded islands in the middle of the watery Okavango Delta. At night you can hear the sounds of the African bush surrounding you for miles as you sleep under starry skies in this remote wilderness – the wildlife experience of a lifetime!

DAY 15: Okavango Delta to Maun – Botswana

From the Okavango Delta we return to our camp in Maun, where we spend the afternoon relaxing.

This afternoon you have the chance to take an optional scenic flight over the Okavango Delta. 

The scenic flight gives you a birds eye view over the delta, allowing you to fully appreciate the vastness of this beautiful Botswana wilderness area. The views over this vast and pristine wildlife haven will take your breath away!

The best times for scenic flights are mornings and late afternoons, when weather conditions are calmer. Look out for hippos, elephant and buffalo in the waterways and bush and see the watery channels meandering their way through the Delta in the intricate web of this changing wetland system.

DAY 16 – 17: Kasane & Chobe Park – Botswana

Today on our Wildlife & Deserts Camping Safari we drive into the game-rich Chobe National Park in northwest Botswana.

Chobe boasts one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Africa, covering 12 000 sq km’s of unspoiled wilderness. Famous for its large elephant population, estimated at around 40000 strong, Chobe Park is an excellent place for sighting elephants among other wildlife.

Chobe is home to lion, zebra, buffalo and a variety of antelope species, as well as an abundance of birdlife, including the African fish-eagle.

We venture out on an early morning game drive in Chobe Park in search of some of the diverse wild animals found in this top Botswana game park.

During the hottest part of the day we return to camp for lunch and a rest, before embarking on a Chobe River boat cruise in the late afternoon. As the sun starts setting we keep an eye out for hippo, buffalo, elephant and even lion, as well as an abundance of birds, that can be spotted along the river's edge.

The Chobe River flows along the Northeast border of the game park and serves as a major watering hole for large herds of breeding elephants, as well as families of giraffe, sable and cape buffalo (especially in the dry season from May to October).

The Chobe flood plains are the only place in Botswana where the puku antelope can be sighted, along with numerous carmine bee eaters in season. During flood times spoonbills, ibis, various stork species, duck and other waterbirds flock to the river area of Chobe.

DAY 18 - 19: Livingstone and Victoria Falls (Zambian side)

After exploring the wildlife haven of Chobe Park we cover the short distance to our next stop at Livingstone, on the Zambian side of Victoria Falls.

We cross the Zambezi River by ferry and drive to nearby Livingstone town, where we set up camp on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River. Livingstone lies a few kilometers from Vic Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, is considered the largest sheet of falling water in the world, at 1 708 m’s wide and 108m’s high.

During our stay at Victoria Falls there are plenty of exciting activities to choose from, including white water rafting, scenic flights, bungee jumping, canoeing, game viewing, elephant back safaris, Zambezi river cruises and more. The reception at the riverside campsite provides guests with information and advice about participating in the wide array of adventure activities on offer here.

A visit to view the Falls is not to be missed! When you witness the impressive spray rising from the Zambezi as it plummets over 100 m’s at Vic Falls, you will understand why it is called the “Smoke that Thunders” or “Mosi oa Tunya”, as Vic Falls is called locally. When the Zambezi is flowing strongly the spray at Vic Falls can be seen from as far as 20 km’s away.

Your days in the Vic Falls area are free for you to explore Livingstone town or participate in the variety of adventure activities. Relax beside the Zambezi River, keeping an eye out for hippos and crocodiles or take a day trip into Zimbabwe if you feel like exploring. For Zimbabwe day trips your tour guide will be able to give you useful advice about visa requirements.

Our overnight camp near Livingstone features a reasonably priced restaurant overlooking the Zambezi River or you could choose to eat at one of the local spots in Livingstone. During our stay at Livingstone breakfast is included in the tour price, allowing for flexibility with your other meals while you are on the move. A budget of between US$15 and $30 per day is recommended for your other meals.

The action-packed Wildlife & Deserts Camping Safari ends after breakfast on day 19.

Tour Transport

Transport on this tour is in a 24-seater, custom-built safari truck. The self-contained truck is fitted with onboard tables, individual lockers (70-litre) and a freezer, as well as safety features. The safari truck also features plug sockets, a library and an i-pod jack.

Meals on this Tour

The following meals are included: 

• Breakfast (B) x 18
• Lunch (L) x 15
• Dinner (D) x 14

The group prepares these meals in camp and help with preparation is invited. Most dietary requirements can be catered for on the road, upon request at the time of booking.

Game Park Visits

Some of our National Park visits and game viewing drives are conducted using local services, to ensure the best quality game driving and to comply with local authority rulings. Using local African guides and service providers also adds to our safari experience and allows us to contribute to the local communities. These local services are included in the Local Payment of the tour.