Cape Town to Vic Falls
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Overview
Things you'll want to ask your local guide:
- How a lion kills a wildebeest
- Whether or not you can outrun a cheetah
- If you can ride a zebra like a horse
- The outcome of a fight between a honey badger and absolutely anything.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Cape Town
Do yourself a favour and consider arriving a couple of days early. You should devote at least one of them entirely to food. You're going to be camping for a while, so you need to stock up.
- The trip starts today, so arrive at any time
- For those arriving early, optional activities include abseiling, the Bo-Kaap Museum, a harbour cruise, scuba diving, cycling or hiking
Day 2-4 - Western Cape - Fish River Canyon
Fish River Canyon is home to a yearly ultra-marathon. We're not entirely certain what the "ultra" prefix alludes to, but we're pretty sure it means it's really, really hard. Luckily for you, participating in the ultra-marathon is not an included activity.
Days 2-3
- Pitch the tents on the scenic banks of the Gariep (Orange) River. Traditionally known as the Gariep River - the longest in South Africa
Day 4
- Explore Fish River Canyon
- Perhaps set off on a canoe trip down the river
Day 5-6 - Sesriem
Getting down the sand dunes is way more fun than getting up them. Be warned, you'll have red sand in your nether regions for weeks.
- Head towards Sesriem - the base for exploring the Namib Desert region
- Scramble to the top of the dunes for a dramatic view of the sunrise
- Jump in the back of a pickup truck for a trip to Sossusvlei and learn about the hidden mysteries of the area
Day 7-9 - Swakopmund
Shake things up with skydiving, surfing, quad biking or sand boarding. This place is often described as more German than Germany, so have your beer and schnitzel stomachs ready.
- Wander around the town and admire the beauty of the Germanic architecture and take advantage of some excellent souvenir shopping
- Perhaps go dune-bashing by quad bike, sand boarding or even skydiving over the town and surrounding desert
- Why not spend an evening in one of the many lively restaurants and fun bars
Day 10 - Spitzkoppe
It's worth dragging yourself out of bed for sunrise over these massive rocks. We don't laugh at your Hello Kitty pyjamas. Promise.
- Experience the sight, sound and smell of thousands of olive-coloured seals on the shores of Cape Cross
- Visit one of the most stunning areas of Namibia, the wild lands around the mountain of Spitzkoppe - 'the Matterhorn of Namibia'
- Perhaps set off on one of the excellent hikes and guided walks throughout the area, rich in plant life and with some amazing bush paintings
- Get away from it all and to appreciate the beauty of this sparsely populated country
- Bush camp for the night in the midst of this remote region and have the chance to witness the breathtaking sunsets and sunrises
Day 11-12 - Etosha National Park
Etosha is a huge salt pan which makes for some nice pics and a handy addition to any meal.
- Travel to Etosha National Park - home to a wide range of Southern Africa's wildlife, including all the big carnivores and five rare or endangered species: black rhino, Hartmann's mountain zebra, black-faced impala, roan antelope and the tiny Damara dik-dik
- Set off on game drives in the park
- Enjoy relatively easy game viewing in the park due to the man-made waterholes and the large sparsely vegetated pans
- Stay at two different campsites in the park - Namutoni and Okaukuejo
Day 13 - Grootfontein
You know the main guy in God Must Be Crazy? He's a San Bushman. You'll meet members of that tribe here, and spend the next few weeks trying to master the art of their clicking language... probably without success.
- Spend the night near a Bushmen homestead
- Take the opportunity to go out tracking and gathering with the San Bushmen
- Spend some time with the bushmen and listen to their fascinating stories and songs of these fascinating people
Day 14-15 - Rundu - Bagani Community Camp
Rundu's on the border with Angola and it's as good a place as any to break up the long drive. Head to the Khemo open market for Kavango wood carvings.
- Set off on a full day's drive to Rundu - the capital of the Kavango region
- A great place to explore - Rundu is the centre of activity for Namibia's growing Angolan community
- Why not check out the Khemo open market, and it's many Kavango woodcarvings
- Perhaps take a sunset cruise, watch traditional dancing or soak up the local vibe in a restaurant
Day 16-17 - Okavango Delta
Hippo alert. Our ride in the mokoros (traditional dugout canoes) is relaxing until you realise you're surrounded by hippos. We think it helps to imagine them in tutus doing ballet. Suddenly they don't seem so tough.
- Head south along the Okavango Panhandle (the narrowest part of the delta) to Seronga
- Boarding boats out into the Okavango swamps, travel to Gao Island to meet the mokoro (dugout canoe) team
- Begin exploring the Okavango Delta on a two-person mokoro, poled along by a local tribesman
- Take bush walks through the expansive, wildilfe-rich delta
- Spend a night camping on an island away from civilisation
- Return to Gao Island before heading to the relative civilisation of Umvuvu Camp
Day 18 - Bangani Community Camp
After a long day on the road you'll probably just want to relax with a cold Tafel lager. Warning: Namibians believe they have the best beer in the world, so don't argue with them.
- Take time to relax from the rigours of the road
- Perhaps enjoy some of the various activities including, boat trips, fishing, hiking, or even playing soccer with the locals
Day 19-20 - Chobe National Park
This place is famous for elephants - we get pretty close to them on a boat trip down the river.
- Travel to Chobe National Park, Botswana's first national park - known for its high concentration of elephants
- Set off on a cruise down the Chobe River - one of the best ways to enjoy the park's animals
- Take an early morning game drive and get up close to the wildlife, hopefully spotting lions, buffaloes, birds and elephants
Day 21-22 - Victoria Falls
Make sure you take your daggy waterproof jacket to see the falls. You'll look like a berk in photos, but better safe than soaked, right?
- Arrive at Victoria Falls and perhaps go whitewater rafting, canoeing, horse riding, abseiling or gorge swinging
- Visit the magnificent Victoria Falls
- Camp in a central location in the township
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What to Know
What's Included
An experienced safari guide, a professional driver and a camp cook whilst on safari; local specialist guides in the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park; park fees; transport in custom-built safari vehicles during safaris, 4WD vehicles, mokoro, boat and ferry.
Not Included
- International flights, local payment, arrival and departure transfers, airport/departure taxes, visas, pre-tour or post-tour accommodation, all other meals, drinks, sleeping bag, pillow, all optional additional tours or activities during free time, transfers outside of the tour program, travel insurance, tips and items of a personal nature, laundry and flights (unless specified).
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Map
Map Itinerary
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Dates
Trip Dates and Prices
Start Date – End Date Trip Status Price Kitty Payment Total Price 20 Jun 2013 - 11 Jul 2013 7+ Closed US $2,090 US $755 US $2,845 Closed 18 Jul 2013 - 08 Aug 2013 7+ Request US $2,190On Sale Sale: US $1,862 US $755 US $2,617 Book Now 01 Aug 2013 - 22 Aug 2013 7 Request US $2,190 US $755 US $2,945 Book Now 15 Aug 2013 - 05 Sep 2013 7+ Available US $2,190 US $755 US $2,945 Book Now 05 Sep 2013 - 26 Sep 2013 7+ Available US $2,190 US $755 US $2,945 Book Now 19 Sep 2013 - 10 Oct 2013 7+ Available US $2,190 US $755 US $2,945 Book Now 31 Oct 2013 - 21 Nov 2013 7+ Available US $2,090 US $755 US $2,845 Book Now 14 Nov 2013 - 05 Dec 2013 7+ Available US $2,090 US $755 US $2,845 Book Now 28 Nov 2013 - 19 Dec 2013 7+ Available US $1,990 US $755 US $2,745 Book Now 19 Dec 2013 - 09 Jan 2014 7+ Available US $2,090 US $755 US $2,845 Book Now 02 Jan 2014 - 23 Jan 2014 7+ Available US $2,190 US $755 US $2,945 Book Now 16 Jan 2014 - 06 Feb 2014 7+ Available US $2,090 US $755 US $2,845 Book Now 13 Feb 2014 - 06 Mar 2014 7+ Available US $1,990 US $755 US $2,745 Book Now 27 Feb 2014 - 20 Mar 2014 7+ Available US $1,990 US $755 US $2,745 Book Now 13 Mar 2014 - 03 Apr 2014 7+ Available US $1,990 US $755 US $2,745 Book Now 27 Mar 2014 - 17 Apr 2014 7+ Available US $1,990 US $755 US $2,745 Book Now 03 Apr 2014 - 24 Apr 2014 7+ Available US $1,990 US $755 US $2,745 Book Now 17 Apr 2014 - 08 May 2014 7+ Available US $2,090 US $755 US $2,845 Book Now 01 May 2014 - 22 May 2014 7+ Available US $1,990 US $755 US $2,745 Book Now 29 May 2014 - 19 Jun 2014 7+ Available US $1,990 US $755 US $2,745 Book Now 12 Jun 2014 - 03 Jul 2014 7+ Available US $2,090 US $755 US $2,845 Book Now 26 Jun 2014 - 17 Jul 2014 7+ Available US $2,090 US $755 US $2,845 Book Now 10 Jul 2014 - 31 Jul 2014 7+ Available US $2,190 US $755 US $2,945 Book Now 17 Jul 2014 - 07 Aug 2014 7+ Available US $2,190 US $755 US $2,945 Book Now Kitty payment is required in cash. It needs to be paid before the end of your trip, in the local stated above. It is generally paid on Day 1, and covers most on-ground expenses. Kitty payments calculated using exchange rates valid on 1 Jan 2012.
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