This southern African Camping Safari starts in Windhoek, Namibia and ends in Cape Town, South Africa.
Explore the Best of Namibia. First, our Namibia to Cape Town Overland Camping Safari takes you wildlife viewing in Etosha National Park and on to visit a Petrified Forest and ancient San rock art. Then visit coastal Swakopmund, Namibia adventure capital, and afterwards travel deep into the Namib Desert to experience the towering red-orange sand dunes of Sossusvlei, camping near Sesriem Canyon. Next, our affordable journey takes us to the second largest canyon in the world, the Fish River Canyon of Namibia and Ais Ais Hotsprings, and onwards to the Gariep River. We then drive through Namaqualand into the scenic Cederberg Mountains, before ending our super cheap South Africa and Namibia Safari in one of the world's most stunning cities - Cape Town.
On the first morning of this Namibia to South Africa Overland Camping Safari, you meet up with your safari crew in Windhoek. We board our overland safari truck and set off north from Namibia's capital city, traveling through rural Namibia to the premium wildlife safari destination, Etosha National Park.
You will be met by your tour leader at the park rest camp. After settling in and getting acquainted with your fellow travelers, we will head off into the park for an afternoon game drive. Etosha National Park is rated as one of Africa's best game viewing destinations, hosting a surprising abundance of animals and birds given the arid environment. Keep an eye out for elephants in the bushy areas, as well as rhinos and elusive leopards. Common wildlife sightings in Etosha include lions and an array of herbivores - zebras, gemsbok, impalas, springbok, and giraffes. Hosting over 340 bird species, birding enthusiasts will be rewarded with a variety of sightings, from the martial eagles and kori bustards to bee-eaters and ostriches.
We spend the first two nights of our Africa Overland Tour camping at the rest camp in Etosha, which features a floodlit watering hole offering excellent game-viewing opportunities from the comfort of camp. Make your way to the waterhole after dark to watch for nocturnal wildlife and sit back around the campfire listening to the night sounds of the African bush around us.
Day 2 will see a full day of wildlife viewing in Etosha Park. The park gets its name from the vast Etosha Pan, an oval-shaped salt pan covering approximately 480,000 hectares of the Namib Desert that can even be seen from space. We explore the fringes of Etosha Pan in our elevated safari truck visiting watering holes and scanning the dramatic landscape for wildlife and birds - Etosha offers phenomenal game-viewing due to the sparse vegetation of the pan and the life-giving waterholes attracting thirsty wildlife.
Early this morning we hop back on our overland safari truck, making one last search for wildlife and birds as we bid farewell to Etosha National Park.
Exiting Etosha we head southwest through rugged rocky landscapes snaked with dry riverbeds. Prepare to travel back in time as we make our first stop at the Petrified Forest. This national monument stands as a testament to the passage of time, dotted with fossilized tree trunks that once stood here many millennia ago. These ancient giants, washed down by rivers and trapped in alluvial sands, offer a captivating glimpse into an era long gone.
We continue our journey to the mesmerizing Twyfelfontein Rock Engravings of the Kunene Region. A knowledgeable local guide will lead us through this remarkable site, which was home to the Khoi San people for over 6,000 years. Twyfelfontein boasts one of Africa's largest concentrations of rock petroglyphs, with over 2,500 individual works of art etched into the stone.
We overnight at a campsite in the town of Khorixas nearby.
On Day 4 of our Namibia Overland Camping Safari, we continue along desert roads until we reach the coastline where the arid desert sands meet the icy Atlantic Ocean. We continue down the coast, making a stop at the famous Cape Cross Seal Colony, an impressive gathering spot of over 200,000 Cape Fur Seals, making it one of the largest colonies globally. This location is not just known for its wildlife but also holds historical importance, marking the arrival of the first European explorer on the Namibian coast in 1486. Here, Diego Cao erected a cross to honor the then king of Portugal. (Please note that there may be times when Cape Cross Colony is closed to the public, which could prevent our visit.)
Our adventure continues as we pay a visit to Lichen Fields where you will see and learn about the complex Lichen Colonies that cover the desert sand in this area. Next is a brief stop at the picturesque seaside holiday village of Wlotskasbaken - its charming houses and stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean offers splendid photo opportunities.
Our destination is the popular seaside town of Swakopmund. We will spend two nights at a comfortable guesthouse in this charming town with German colonial touches.
Day 5 is yours to enjoy Swakopmund at your leisure – relaxing, sightseeing and doing optional activities. For the adrenaline junkies amongst us, Swakopmund offers a whole range of thrilling adventure activities including sandboarding, skydiving, and quad biking.
For those less inclined to high-adventure, dolphin cruises are a popular option, or you can simply amble along the sea appreciating the refreshing sea breeze, walk around the German-influenced town and enjoy a leisurely meal. The town is small enough to explore on foot, featuring beautiful colonial-era architecture, quaint shops, and eateries serving delicious cuisine.
From the charming town of Swakopmund, our Namibia to South Africa Overland Camping Safari travels south into the ancient Namib Desert. Leaving the Atlantic Ocean, we proceed inland once more, headed to the iconic red-orange sea of dunes in the ancient Namib Desert. On the drive we cross the Tropic of Capricorn and will make a stop to capture a photograph of this auspicious crossing.
After settling in at our desert campsite, we are taken on a guided afternoon walk through this starkly beautiful ecosystem. Our guide tells us more about the flora and fauna of the Namib Desert and the incredible survival techniques of the traditional San as we walk. We get an early night tonight, but before you turn in don't forget to look up and marvel at the star-studded desert sky.
Waking before dawn, we drive into the Namib Desert and hike up Dune 45 to catch the vivid colors of sunrise over the desert. The changing hues and shifting shadows of the dunes at sunrise will leave you awe-struck!
After admiring the sweeping desert views from the top of Dune 45 we have a hearty breakfast. We then transfer to a smaller 4x4 vehicle to drive to the Sossusvlei area of the Namib-Nauklft National Park. We explore the strange landscapes of the stark Sossusvlei and Deadvlei salt pan on foot to admire this unusual and surreal spectacle: gnarled dead trees dotted across the cracked clay pans, encircled by ochre dunes.
Leaving the tall Sossusvlei Dunes and surreal-looking clay pans behind we drive to Sesriem Canyon. Here we enjoy a short walk through the incredible passages of Sesriem Canyon, carved into the rock over millions of years by the Tsauchab River. After admiring the deep canyon, we return to our desert campsite for another night under starry desert skies.
On day 8 of our Africa Camping Overland Tour, we have a leisurely start. Then it’s a long day of driving as we travel east to Keetmanshoop, the main town of southern Namibia.
Day 9 of our Namibia Overland Tour begins with a visit to the fascinating Quiver Tree Forest near Keetmanshoop. Some 250 quiver trees, with their distinctive silhouettes, constitute this forest that was declared a national monument in 1995. The quiver tree forest includes specimens between 200 and 300 years old making it an important ecological site. From here we move on to the Giants Playground, a bizarre landscape where the flat earth is strewn with unusual stacks of large round dolerite boulders about 160 to 180 million years old.
From the rock formations of Giant's Playground, we continue south across the open gravel plains of southern Namibia. This afternoon we visit the impressive Fish River Canyon, one of the largest canyons on the planet, 27 kilometers (17 miles) wide in places. Walking along the rim of this massive canyon in the late afternoon we get to watch the shifting shadows and colors of sunset over this natural wonder.
Our next overnight stop is camping at the comfortable resort at the Ais-Ais hot springs nearby. Here you can wash off the desert dust taking a soothing soak in the hot mineral pools.
This morning we travel further south to the Gariep River, commonly known by its former name - the Orange River. This great river is the lifeblood of the desert landscape and forms the border between Namibia and South Africa. We will spend our final night in Namibia at a campsite situated on the banks of the Gariep (Orange) River.
This afternoon you have the chance to take an optional canoeing trip on the Gariep (Orange) River. Paddling along the river in a canoe is the ideal way to appreciate the rugged scenery and spot birds and even small animals. Alternatively, you can explore on foot, cool off in the river, and laze on the riverbanks.
Our Africa Overland Tour departs Namibia today. We cross the Orange River to the South Africa border post. Once border formalities are complete, our drive takes us through the semi-desert Namaqualand region of the arid Northern Cape Province. This part of South Africa is famous for its spectacular wildflower displays that pop out of the desert landscape in spring each year (around August/September) so you may be lucky to see the rolling hills covered in multi-colored flowers depending on the time of your travel.
Continuing south we head to the rugged Cederberg Mountain region of the Western Cape. The Cederberg is known for its stunning rock formations, San rock art, and fantastic hiking trails. On our last night, we camp just outside the town of Citrusdal, gateway to the Cederberg. We tuck into a hearty traditional South African meal as we reminisce about the adventures we have had.
The fertile Cederberg is well known for citrus farming and the indigenous rooibos plant, which is used for making healthy tea that is extremely popular both in South Africa and internationally. As we hit the road for Cape Town we pass many citrus orchards, the ubiquitous padstal (farmstall) selling local goods, overlooked by the towering Cederberg Mountains. Nearing the city, we pause in Tableview on the outskirts to get the iconic view of Table Mountain from across the bay. This provides for the perfect photo opportunity.
Our Namibia to South Africa Safar ends in the picturesque city of Cape Town, where we sadly say goodbye.
To get the most out of your overland tour, we recommend arriving the day before departure of this Windhoek to Cape Town Overland Camping Safari, and only booking flights for the day after the safari ends. We can help arrange accommodation for before and after the safari on request.
Similar versions of this Namibia Overland Camping Safari from Windhoek to Cape Town are also available in the opposite direction as the 12 Day Cape Town to Namibia Overland Camping Safari.
For more details about the various overland tour options and versions, contact us.
For up-to-date and confirmed pricing info for optional items, please drop us an enquiry.
This tour does not take children.
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