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This Cape Town to Namibia Safari is a small group tour travelling overland with 12 guests at most. Embark on a unique overland adventure to famous and fascinating destinations in Namibia, from the ancient Namib Desert to coastal Swakopmund, Brandberg Mountains and game-rich Etosha National Park.
Experience a hand-picked selection of authentic and exciting activities on this small-group Lodge Overland Tour. Drive across Namibia in a custom-built 4x4 overland tour vehicle offering added comfort and luxuries on the road. Sit back in your reclining seat and enjoy the extra space and onboard amenities, including a water purification system, an onboard toilet, and individual air-conditioning, to name a few.
Stay in twin-share, en-suite rooms at carefully selected lodges and guesthouses, all meals included.
__large.jpg "Etosha lion by Yathin")
__large.jpg "Etosha oryx by Joachim Huber")
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 overnight lodge, where we relax and get acquainted over a hearty traditional dinner.
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 colours 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 Small Group Overland Tour is spent in comfortable, en-suite chalets on the Namibia side riverbank. Our accommodation offers a pool, internet, and a bar.
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 kilometres, a width up to 27 kilometres, 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.
At our resort in Ai-Ais, you can take a soak in the hot springs, swim in the pool, and relax at the bar. We stay in twin share rooms with en-suite bathrooms.
On day 4 of our Africa Small Group 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 of 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, our next overnight destination.
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, a bizarre landscape strewn with unusual stacks of large dolerite boulders about 160 to 180 million years old.
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. Today, 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 to a 4x4 vehicle 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 lodge after a full day of immersing ourselves in the stark landscapes of the Namib.
On day six of our Cape Town to Namibia Safari, 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 auspicious crossing. Then it’s on to Swakopmund, a 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 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.
Day 7 on this Africa Small Group 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, sandboarding, skydiving, and cruises to see dolphins.
Our Southern African Overland Tour departs from Swakopmund and heads north along the stunning Namibian coastline. Our first destination is the picturesque village of Wlotskabaken, where we take in the sight of cosy holiday cottages tucked between the vast desert and the shimmering sea. From there, we venture to the surreal Lichen Fields, where a local expert will guide us through the fascinating world of lichens—organisms formed from the delicate partnership of fungi and algae. These hardy plants thrive in the harsh desert by capturing moisture from the ocean mist and fog that rolls in from the Atlantic.
We then leave the coast behind and head inland to the Brandberg Mountains, the highest peaks in Namibia. This area is rich in ancient rock art, including the famous White Lady painting. Join your guide for a two-hour hike along the dry Tsisab Riverbed, where you’ll explore both the unique geology of the area and ancient rock art, some of which dates back over 2,000 years. Afterwards, we’ll head to a nearby lodge for a restful evening.
On Day 9, our Camping Safari heads northeast toward Namibia’s premier wilderness destination—Etosha National Park. Spanning an impressive 22,270 square kilometres (8,600 square miles), it ranks as one of Africa’s largest national parks. The name "Etosha," meaning "Great White Place" in the Ovambo language, refers to the expansive, shallow Etosha Pan at the park's heart. This enormous salt pan is so vast that it can be seen from space. Get ready for thrilling wildlife encounters in one of Africa’s most iconic ecosystems. We spend tonight at one of Etosha's rest camps, anticipating our exciting day in Etosha tomorrow.
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.
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 will be collected for your final transfer. Take your last drive through Etosha National Park before heading south to the capital city, Windhoek, located at the epicenter of Namibia’s central plateau. This is where our Cape Town to Namibia Safari comes to an end.
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 before and after this overland safari on request.
For more details, contact African Budget Safaris
For up-to-date and confirmed pricing info for optional items, please drop us an enquiry.
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 to 12 years of age are accepted on a request basis only.
A maximum of 2 children, aged between 13 - 15 years will be allowed per scheduled tour departure date.
Should there already be 2 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.
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