Experience the magic of Namibia and the Namib Desert, world’s oldest desert. A budget camping tour promising wide open spaces in one of the least populated countries on earth.
From seaside Swakopmund, travel to the heart of the Namib Desert and camp under a breathtaking sky studded with stars. Climb the iconic Dune 45, one of the largest red-orange dunes in the dunefield of Sossusvlei. Visit curious desert sights – a forest of 200-year-old quiver trees, God’s Playground and the vast Fish River Canyon. Soak in the Ais Ais Hot Springs and chill on the banks of the Orange River, on the border with South Africa. Travel overland through sweeping South African scenery to the tip of Africa, ending in beautiful Cape Town.
During this trip, you are likely to come across activities that encourage tourists to participate in lion, elephant, or other wildlife interaction. This includes walking with lions, riding elephants and any other tourist operation putting travelers in close contact with animals that would normally live wild and separate from human contact.
We absolutely do not encourage or endorse this type of wildlife interaction operation. For more information on why this is not good for Africa's wild animals, please see our detailed blog post on the subject.
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__large.jpg "Tropic of Capricorn Crossing with Overland Tour Vehicle")
__large.jpg "Orange River Canoe")
Meet up with your guides in adventure capital of Namibia, Swakopmund, this morning. Leaving Swakopmund our budget camping Namibia Safari travels into Southern Namibia and the iconic Namib Desert, oldest desert in the world.
After settling into our desert campsite, 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 Camping 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 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 pan 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 the campsite 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 Camping 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 camp at a campsite 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 camping safari continues south across the gravel plains and rugged landscapes of 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 campsite 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 campsite 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 (Camping Overland Tour) - North, starting in Cape Town and ending in Swakopmund.
This southbound Camping Overland Tour is also available as a Lodge Overland Tour - Namibia Safari: Swakopmund to Cape Town (Lodge Overland Tour) - which follows the same itinerary and stays at comfortable lodges instead of camping.
For more details contact African Budget Safaris
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