Toll Free Numbers: 1-888-414-6513 0-808-189-1052, All Other Countries - +27 21 791 0878
Namib Desert Namibia

12 Day Cape Town to Namibia Safari (Camping Overland Tour)

Tour Length12 days
Priced from pps $1580 R29950 £1241 1453 A$2409 C$2138 NZ$2597 Full pricing info
Change Currency

Summary of this Camping Overland Tour

  • Max. Group Size 20 Travellers
  • Departs from Cape Town, South Africa
  • Ends at Windhoek, Namibia
  • Accommodation Lodge & Camping Combo
  • Transport Large Overland Vehicle / 4x4 Vehicle
  • Wildlife Elephant, Leopards, Lions, Rhino & More
  •  See Departure Dates

Quick Itinerary Overview

An adventure-filled budget Cape Town to Namibia Safari at an amazing price! Camp under the stars on this affordable Africa Overland Tour that includes two nights of lodge accommodation. 

Travel from Cape Town to the rugged Cederberg Mountains, remote Namaqualand, and Orange River. Then cross into Namibia and walk along the impressive Fish River Canyon. Drive north into the vast Namib Desert to climb Dune 45, visit the famous Sossusvlei Dunes and Deadvlei pan and experience the ancient desert on a guided walk.

Explore Swakopmund and enjoy optional adventure activities, then visit the dramatic landscapes of Twyfelfontein where we see ancient San rock art and a Petrified Forest. Embark on exhilarating game drives in Etosha National Park and camp inside Namibia's top game park, before traveling to our final stop, Windhoek, Namibia's capital. 

Enquire About This
Departure Dates
Send to a Friend

Itinerary for this Tour

Day 1: Cape Town to Cederberg Mountains – South Africa

This affordable Cape Town to Namibia Safari departs from the beautiful city of Cape Town in South Africa. Leaving beautiful Cape Town, we pause on the other side of the bay to appreciate the iconic view of Table Mountain and the city from here.

From Cape Town we travel north to the picturesque Cederberg Mountains of the Western Cape, passing quaint farmstalls en route to Citrusdal, our stopover for the night. Citrusdal lies in the scenic valley of the Olifants River at the foot of the Cederberg Mountains of South Africa, famous for their dramatic rocks, scenic hiking trails and endemic rooibos plants, also known as red bush, a unique, caffeine-free herb native to South Africa's fynbos biome that has become a popular health tea all over the world.

Arriving in the Cederberg we head to our first campsite where we relax and enjoy hearty traditional dinner. After dinner, your guides will give you a full briefing on the adventure ahead.

  • Included Highlight: Traditional Dinner
  • Meals: Lunch & Dinner

Day 2: Cederberg to Namaqualand & Gariep (Orange) River – Namibia

Today we travel north through the vibrant Namaqualand region, an area renowned for the spellbinding spectacle of its native wildflowers blooming in a riot of colors each spring (particularly in August & September). As we traverse the Northern Cape, an area marked by its serene solitude, our path takes us to the majestic Gariep (Orange)River, which forms the natural border between South Africa and Namibia. On the way, we'll pause in the quaint town of Springbok to gather any last-minute essentials before we cross the border into the stunning landscapes of Namibia

The second night of our Africa Overland Tour is spent camping on the Namibia side riverbank getting to know one another over a hearty meal. Our campsite features a pool, internet, and a bar.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3: Gariep (Orange) River to Ais-Ais – Namibia

This morning you have the option to take a canoe trip on the Gariep (Orange) River to appreciate the rugged scenery and birdlife along South Africa's longest river. Alternatively, you can spend some time relaxing by the pool or watching the river flow by.

After lunch, we travel north toward the mighty Fish River Canyon, considered the second largest canyon in the world after the Grand Canyon, boasting an impressive length of about 160 kilometers, a width up to 27 kilometers, and 550 meters deep. We make our way to the Ai-Ais Hot Springs and our overnight accommodation close to the Fish River Canyon. The name "Ais-Ais" means "burning water" in the local Nama language, perfectly describing the thermal waters that bubble up from deep within the earth.

After setting up camp at our resort in Ai-Ais, you can take a soak in the hot springs, swim in the pool, and relax at the bar.

  • Included Activities: Ais-Ais Hot Springs
  • Optional Activities: Half-day Orange River Canoe Trip
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4: Fish River Canyon, Quiver Tree Forest & Giants Playground – Namibia

On day four of our Africa Overland Tour from Cape Town to Namibia, we get up early to visit the Fish River Canyon. We stroll along the rim of this massive canyon admiring the stark beauty of the landscape and a fascinating glimpse to the canyon floor below. After capturing photos of the incredible canyon and soaking up the dramatic scenery we proceed west to the town of Keetmanshoop.

This afternoon we visit a Quiver Tree Forest – this curious plant, a unique species native to Southern Africa, stands tall with rough, cork-like bark and distinctive aloe like leaves. Its name originates from the San people's practice of hollowing out the tree's branches to create quivers for their arrows. Some 250 quiver trees over 200 years old make up this forest which was declared a national monument in 1995.

Nearby, we visit Giants playground is a bizarre landscape strewn with unusual stacks of large dolerite boulders about 160 to 180 million years old.

  • Included Activities: Fish River Canyon, Quiver Tree Forest & Giants Playground
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5: Keetmanshoop to the Namib Desert - Namibia

This morning we set off on a long drive north into the ancient Namib Desert of Namibia, considered the oldest desert in the world. This is an area of vast expanses, stark gravel plains fringed by towering sand dunes and rugged mountains, all under a sky so vast it's like watching the earth breathe.

Our campsite for the night lies near the dune fields just outside the Namib-Naukluft National Park.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6: Sossusvlei Dunes in Namib-Naukluft National Park – Namibia

Day 6 of our Cape Town to Namibia Camping Safari we visit the Namib-Naukluft National Park, home to vast lunar landscapes, iconic red sand dunes and resident wildlife that has adapted to living in these harsh conditions. Our first stop is one of the sand dunes, Dune 45, where you have the chance to climb up for iconic amazing views and photo opportunities over the stark desert dunescapes. Back at the foot of the dune, we enjoy a hearty breakfast before heading deeper into the desert.

We transfer from the truck to smaller 4x4 safari vehicles to travel to Sossusvlei and Deadvlei, in the heart of the Namib-Naukluft National Park. Explore the dry salt pans on foot, absorbing the dramatic scenes of skeletal trees on the pale pan floors, surrounded by orange-hued dunes. Next, we make our way to Sesriem Canyon to appreciate the rock formations and the local fauna and flora of this deep gorge. Tonight, we soak up the stars and stillness at our desert campsite after a full day of immersing ourselves in the stark landscapes of the Namib.

  • Included Activity: Sesriem Canyon, Hike up Dune 45, Transfer to Sossusvlei & Deadvlei
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7: Namib Desert to Swakopmund – Namibia

Today, we are joined by an expert local guide for a nature walk in the unique desert habitat. Exploring on foot, our local guide will share his detailed knowledge of the ancient Namib Desert area with us. On this guided nature walk, we discover how the San (Bushmen) have long survived in the arid deserts of Southern Africa.

After our desert walk, we cross the latitudinal line of the Tropic of Capricorn, pausing to take some photos of this momentous crossing. Then it’s on to Swakopmund, seaside town and adventure capital of Namibia, where you will be briefed on the many optional activities available for the next day.

In the evening you have the option of enjoying some excellent seafood at a local restaurant, as well as the local nightlife. We stay in rooms at a comfortable guesthouse in Swakopmund featuring a bar, laundry services, and internet. Accommodation is in twin-share rooms with en-suite bathrooms that have hot showers.

  • Included Activity: Guided desert walk with a local expert, Tropic of Capricorn, Restaurant Dinner
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 8: Swakopmund – Namibia

Day eight on this Africa Overland Tour is free for you to explore the quaint town of Swakopmund, where German colonial influences can still be seen in the architecture, cuisine, and culture. Stroll along the sea, sip coffee at a sidewalk cafe, visit a market and sample the restaurants on offer.

You can also try some of the many adventure activities available in this popular coastal town, including quad biking on the dunes, sand boarding, skydiving, and cruises to see dolphins.

  • Optional Activities: Dolphin Cruise, Sky Diving, Sandboarding, Quad Biking, Dinner in Swakopmund
  • Meals: Breakfast

Day 9: Swakopmund to Khorixas – Namibia

We continue north up the coast from Swakopmund where the stark desert landscapes meet the icy Atlantic Ocean. It is the mists coming off the ocean which provides the desert fauna & flora their chance for survival. We make a stop at the small seaside hamlet of Wlotskabaken to appreciate the quaint views and then visit the nearby Lichen Fields. A local expert will teach us about this curious organism which thrives in this area. Further north we will pay a visit to the Cape Cross Seal Colony, one of the largest seal colonies on the Southern African coast. At the height of the breeding season this colony is a noisy spectacle of seals jostling for space.

Leaving the crisp Atlantic Ocean coastline, we head inland to the town of Khorixas where we will camp overnight.

  • Included Activity: Cape Cross Seal Colony
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 10: Khorixas to Etosha National Park – Namibia

On the morning of day 10 of our Cape Town to Namibia Camping Safari, we head out to explore the ancient nearby wonders. This area was home to the Khoi San hunter gatherers for over 6000 years and they have left the largest collection of rock art in Africa. Nearby is a field of curious rocks which are actually fossilised trees – an ancient Petrified Forest which gives a glimpse of the prehistoric forests which once stood here.

Then its back on the road headed northeast to Namibia’s premium safari destination, Etosha National Park. Meaning ‘great white place’, Etosha is dominated by a vast salt pan which sits at the heart of the park. We take our first game drive skirting the edges of the pan through woodland and savannah where an impressive array of wildlife gathers.

The next 2 nights will be spent camping at one of the Park’s rest camps. The camps boast floodlit waterholes where wild animals can be viewed at night from the safety and comfort of camp. In addition to watching for wildlife at the watering holes, you can embark on an exciting optional night game drive on either day.

  • Included Activity: Twyfelfontein Rock Art, Petrified Forest, Afternoon Game Drive
  • Optional Activity: Night Game Drive
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 11: Etosha National Park – Namibia

Time for unforgettable game viewing: we are up early to make our way into Etosha National Park for a full day of game viewing. Driving through the wild and rugged bush, we stop at various watering holes in search of the animals that come to drink at these sites while exploring as much of Etosha as possible. Our game drives are conducted in the truck, providing an elevated vantage for spotting animals and birds.

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. As well as hosting 340 bird species, 110 reptile species, 16 amphibian species and even a species of fish.

  • Included Activities: Full Day Game Drive
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 12: Windhoek – Namibia

Your final morning is spent at the rest camp. Enjoy sunrise over the Etosha landscape and watch the animals coming and going at the waterhole. After lunch, you are collected for your final transfer. Take your last drive through Etosha National Park before heading south to capital city, Windhoek, located at the epicenter of Namibia on the central plateau. This is where our Cape Town to Namibia Camping Safari comes to an end.

  • Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Overland Tour Note

We recommend arriving the day before your overland tour departs and only booking flights for the day after the safari ends. We can help arrange accommodation for before and after this overland safari on request.

More Cape Town to Namibia Safari Options

This Camping Overland Tour is also available as a Lodge Overland Tour - 12-Day Cape Town to Namibia Safari which follows the same itinerary and stays at comfortable lodges instead of camping. The same Africa Overland Tour is also available as a small group tour which travels in a luxury overland vehicle with 12 guests at most - 12-Day Small Group Cape Town to Namibia Safari.

For more details contact African Budget Safaris.

Optional Extras and Excursions

For up-to-date and confirmed pricing info for optional items, please drop us an enquiry.

South Africa Safari Activities

  • Half-Day Gariep River Canoe Trip

Namibia Safari Activities

  • Skydiving
  • Sandboarding
  • Quad Biking
  • Dolphin Cruises

Child Policy

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.

Enquire About This
Departure Dates
Send to a Friend

Browse Similar Trips

Filter Tours by Price, Length & Destinations

+Where does the tour go to?
+Optional Activities & Day Trips
For confirmed pricing on these optional items, please drop us an enquiry

South Africa Safari Activities

  • Half-Day Gariep River Canoe Trip

Namibia Safari Activities

  • Skydiving
  • Sandboarding
  • Quad Biking
  • Dolphin Cruises
+Included in the Tour Price
  • Meals as per the itinerary
  • Camping and lodge accommodation
  • Registered tour guides
  • Overland tour transport
  • Activities included on the itinerary
+Not Included in the Tour Price
  • Personal items and souvenirs
  • Drinks, snacks, souvenirs and tips
  • Optional activities
  • Sleeping Bag & Pillow
+Departure Dates

Scheduled Tour Departures
Click on a departure date to enquire

If you do not see departures listed for your dates, please do contact us for further info.

Explore the Route

Map

Unsure of where, when or what to book? Talk to a friendly human!

Our team has the destination knowledge to help you plan an unforgettable African adventure. We're based in Cape Town and ready to help.

The African Budget Safaris team

We can also plan you an affordable private group or tailor-made tour. We built our business on turning luxury travel into affordable travel.

Talk to us today