Day 1 Cape Town South Africa Departing Cape Town, we make our way North through Namaqualand and head for the Orange/Gariep River. The Orange River forms the border between South Africa and Namibia. The evening is spent camping on the banks of the Orange River, while getting to know your fellow travellers. (D)
Day 2 Orange River Today is spent exploring the beauty of the Orange/Gariep River on a half day canoe adventure through the Richtersveld Mountains, the oldest desert mountains in the world. We enjoy an awesome African sunset over the Richtersveld at the well known yellow cliffs and spend the evening relaxing around the campfire. (BLD)
Day 3 Fish River Canyon Namibia After breakfast we make our way into the magical land of Namibia and notice a stark change in landscape. Our journey takes us through an area famous for its ‘Quiver Tree Forests’ and then onto the mighty Fish River Canyon, second only to the Grand Canyon in size. After setting up camp and exploring the area, we enjoy a magnificent sunset over the Canyon. (BLD)
Day 4 Sesriem Departing the canyon, we make our way to Sesriem, a campsite on the eastern edge of the Namib Desert. This is an amazing drive in terms of contrasting scenery and beauty with great photo opportunities. Expect to see a vast diversity of wildlife including springbuck, Oryx (gemsbok), Hartman’s zebra and ostrich roaming the vast plains of the Namib Desert. After setting up camp and a refreshing swim in the pool, we take a short drive to Elim dune to enjoy sundowners over the rolling sand dunes of the Namib Desert. We explore the famous dunes of Sossusvlei, some of which are the highest in the world. (BLD)
Day 5 Sesriem After an early rise we make our way into the heart of the Namib Desert. We have the opportunity to climb the world famous ‘Dune 45’ for an unforgettable sunrise over the desert. Breakfast will be enjoyed at the foot of ‘Dune 45’ before making our way deeper into the desert. We explore the dunes on foot and visit the world renowned Sossusvlei, a dried out Lake in the middle of the desert with scattered “Skeleton” Camel Thorn trees dating back over a thousand years. We visit the Sesriem Canyon in the afternoon for another breathtaking sunset. (BLD)
Days 6 & 7 Swakopmund Waking up to the silence of the desert, we journey through the Namib-Naukluft Park. The lunar landscape appears, as we get closer to the coast. We continue our journey to the oasis town of Swakopmund, where you can simply relax on the beach or take part in the various adrenaline activities on offer. Evenings to be spent exploring the popular nightlife that Swakopmund has offer. (B)
Day 8 Spitzkoppe After two relaxing days in Swakopmund, we travel north along the ‘Skeleton Coast’ where we visit the Cape Cross seal colony, one of the biggest seal colonies off the African coast. After visiting the seal colony, we travel to the majestic Spitzkoppe, where we will bush camp for the night. Spitzkoppe is a huge granite outcrop towering some 1950 meter above sea level. We explore the area on foot with an opportunity to view the bushman paintings that this area is famous for. (BLD)
Days 9 & 10 Kaokoland Today we make our way off the beaten track as we travel to the Koakoveld and Damaraland area. These remote areas are specifically famous for the wild desert elephants and the Nomadic Himba people. We explore the area while tracking the elusive desert elephants and have an opportunity to visit a local Himba tribe. The Koakoveld is an experience never to be forgotten. (BLD)
Days 11 & 12 Etosha We depart the magical Koakoveld and take a tour of the ‘Petrified Forest’ en-route to the Etosha National Park. Etosha is ranked as one of Africa’s great game Parks and is home to a large population of animals, the saline Etosha pan stretches for 120 km and is a sanctuary for largest population of Black rhino in the world. Our days are spent game viewing, bird watching and taking in the superb scenery of this arid region. Our evenings are spent relaxing around the campfire or spotting game at the floodlit waterholes on the edge of the camp. (BD)
Day 13 Ngepi Camp Leaving Etosha, we head Northeast through the Caprivi strip to Ngepi, our campsites on the banks of the famous Okavango River. This area lets you get back to nature and offers a chance to relax. We have the opportunity to experience the local culture. (BD)
Day 14 Tsodilo Hills Botswana An early morning visit to a local Hambakushu village and the Mahango Game Reserve is featured as part of our exploration en-route to Tsodilo Hills. The Hills are one of the more rewarding destinations in Botswana, renowned not so much for wildlife, but for the extensive collection of the San people (Bushman/Basarwa) rock art paintings. Some 3 500 paintings have been identified. After an afternoon visit to some of the more accessible paintings you relax around your campfire, learn more about the area and the people who left such a fascinating legacy. (BLD)
Day 15 Okavango Delta Base Camp After an early breakfast you set out for a walk (and some climbing) on one of the designated trails for 3 or 4 hours. This will allow you to see some of the more inaccessible and interesting paintings, whilst also allowing you to enjoy some breath taking scenery. You return to campsite for a welcome lunch. This afternoon you have a short visit to the local San village, before leaving this magical area behind as we make our way to our base-camp on the banks of the Okavango River from where we will explore the waterways of the Okavango Delta. (BLD)
Days 16 & 17 Okavango Delta From camp we transfer by speedboats to Seronga, where we will be met by our local guides. Our time is spent exploring the pristine wilderness of the Delta in mokoros (traditional dugout canoes) and exploring the area on foot. We set up camp on an island in the Delta and enjoy the tranquil African bush. (BLD)
Day 18 Ngepi We depart the Delta in the morning and make our way back to our base camp by mokoros and speed boats before travelling back to Ngepi camp on the banks of the Okavango River. (BLD)
Day 19 Chobe River We depart Ngepi camp in the morning and head for the Chobe area via the Caprivi Strip, where we camp on the banks of the Chobe River. The afternoon is spent on a sunset cruise on the Chobe River. (BD)
Days 20 & 21 Livingstone An early rise as we venture out on an open vehicle game drive into the Chobe National Park. Crossing into Zambia by ferry, we set up camp in Livingstone and head out on a sunset cruise on the mighty Zambezi. Our time is spent exploring Victoria Falls and taking part in the many optional adrenaline activities that this area is famous for. (Day 20 BD) (Day 21 B only)
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We thoroughly enjoyed our trip, and would recommend their trips, which represented excellent value for money.
The comfy sleeping mats were brilliant, and saved us having to carry separate mats, which would have been far inferior to the thick comfy ones supplied.
The campsites visited were all friendly and welcoming and overall we enjoyed a wonderful trip.
I had a great trip with from Livingstone in Zambia, through Botswana, Namibia and ending in Cape Town, South Africa.
It was three weeks and I particularly liked the variety of the trip. The game drives were great, we had river cruises, wine tasting, a couple of towns we stayed in and a combination of campgrounds, which were amazing, as far as their amenities and swimming pools, etc. and we also got to experience bush camping which was in some absolutely beautiful places. We had a lion visit our camp one night which was pretty exciting. We found out in the morning we were right next to the game park fence but in the middle of the night it seemed like the lion was right in our camp. And another night after someone had found me a perfect spot for my tent right by the river I was awakened with the sound of the hippo coming up for breath and remembered that they usually come out of the water up on the land in the night time.
Our guide was great and the cost was reasonable because we participated in the meal planning, preparation and clean up. In checking other tours I think we had the most inexpensive safari which means that I will be able to do another trip with them, hopefully soon.
My trip was simply the best vacation experience of my life!
Overlanding with them is not a spectator sport- it's a way of life. I really enjoyed meeting new people and being part of a team— from cooking, to camping, even helping change a flat tire—having such an active and participatory adventure really enhanced the quality of my travel experience.
Our guide, Nic, was extremely knowledgeable and professional, making every stage of the journey fun and exciting. This is definitely not my last trip with them!
I enjoyed my African expedition immensely and im sorry to be back home.
The trip was all the things it promised to be and more. From being invited into an African home to share their meager food, swimming in rivers so we could have a wash, bush camping around a fire every night no matter how hot or cold it was, digging the truck out of bogs, wells and deep sand and just talking with the local people in whatever language we encountered at the time and not understanding a word. All these things and more made this trip totally amazing.
You must be prepared to encounter random and unexpected circumstances along the way, sleep in the bush, parking lot or even in the middle of a waterlogged road in extreme heat and cold. Of course being woken up by elephants munching on the foliage around your tent and the sound of lions, hippos and hyenas growling and wailing not far from the camp make this an adventure that everyone should make time to fit into their lives.
Africa has everything and I am sorry to leave such a vast, beautiful and diverse continent.
7
Client:
Woodcocks and Colliars - from Cyprus
Trip:
currently unavailable
Rating:
rating 10/10
Comment:
We had a four week holiday in SA and the highlight was definitely the safari we did.
We used the operatorfor airport transfers, overnight accommodation (before and after the safari) and everything was first class.
The safari and the lodge were both excellent nothing was too much trouble for the staff and the cabins and food were brilliant. We particularly enjoyed the game drives in the private park.
Trip: The Ultimate Trans Africa - 43 weeks (Gibraltar to Istanbul)
Having never done an overland trip before I plunged into the deep end by booking a long trip, to see the majority of the African continent and spending an additional 3 weeks in the Middle East. Having read what I could expect on such a trip I am pleased to say that my expectations were greatly passed in more than one way.
The first leg which involves the West Coast of Africa brought with its many challenges that both brought the group together (digging the truck out of the sand in the Sahara) and made each person find out something new about themselves. Our driver Chris, doing his third Trans, took us on routes through countries that he has never done before and slightly off the original itinerary plan – one highlight was our border crossing from Benin to Nigeria, we were the first white people to go through this part of the border in over 20 years according to the locals.
The second leg (Cape Town to Nairobi), and shortest, took us on the safari circuit including a truly memorable visit to see the gorillas. The third leg, from Nairobi to Istanbul, goes to a couple of countries off the beaten track for many tourists – Ethiopia and Sudan, both were great places to see.
Looking back on my trip and remembering all the people, places and challenges that I encountered was very memorable and that includes Chris and the tour operator.
I wouldn’t hesitate to book another holiday with the operator in the future when coming back to Africa, no matter how small the trip is duration-wise. With other companies you may have the three meals a day etc. provided, but with the setup of buying and cooking what you want for group meals and the chance to explore an African market on your own to find what you can buy for lunch is an experience everyone should have
We had a wonderful time on the 43-week Ultimate Trans Africa trip. Both of us travelled in Africa in the 1970s, so we knew what we wanted (rough-ish truck travel with camping). The driver was knowledgeable and adventurous. We couldn't have asked for more.
As an aside, two fellow travellers were most unpleasant and very unprepared for this kind of travel. Fortunately, they were 'dematerialised' within a few months and in the nicest possible way.
Advice -- Don't do this trip unless you are prepared to be part of a community. You need to be able to depend on one another (big factor), eat most everything and push the truck when necessary. We had a blast and we are in our early 60s. Would set out again tomorrow -- or once all the laundry is done.
10
Client:
Honor Putland - from Australia
Trip:
currently unavailable
Rating:
rating 10/10
Comment:
The Safari was amazing, a life changing trip.
We saw the big 5 close up on the first day and we were provided with guided tours on foot that allowed us to have a detailed look at the 'small things' too. Our accommodation and the service we recieved was first class. The staff made every effort to ensure that we enjoyed our trip.
