35 days – Self drive Cape-Town to Mozambique coast via Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe

Welcome in South Africa! Upon arrival you will be met by our representative and receive your 4×4 vehicle. This process will take about 2 hours. Afterwards, drive to Hermanus where you can relax after your flight and drive.

The next day we can book you a whale watching tour. If the weather is bad, visit some of their nice wine farms in the area.

Today we recommend you wake up early and head towards Cape-Town to explore the city and it’s highlights.
You will not have to camp but spend the night in a double room.

Drive north towards Namibia. You have a fairly long day ahead. Bear in mind that you cannot drive faster than 100km/h with a rooftoptent, on gravel it’s 80 km/h.

Time to camp! The next day you hive time to explore the Fish river canyon, hike and enjoy the views.

Head further north towards Aus. If you leave early you can drive via Kolmanskop, but the road is bumpy and you can’t drive fast.

Make sure you monitor your fuel. At Betta there is a filling station, in between there is not much available. Enjoy the desert views, but watch out for crossing springbok!
You will have time to visit the Sossusvlei the next day. Start with the Sossusvlei and visit the Sesriem canyon on your way back.

Note: if you want to say inside the park, please let us know and we choose a different campsite.

Drive via Solitaire (petrol station), the Kuiseb canyon towards Swakopmund. You could stop at Walvis bay to see the flamingo’s at the bay. In Swakop there are plenty of quaint little pubs and restaurants, supermarkets to buy new stock and fill up.

Time to leave the desert. You can drive via the Skeleton coast when clear and sunny weather. If overcast, you could consider driving via Spitzkoppe.

Explore Damaraland and visit some of it’s highlights.

Time for the safari! Explore the park, visit the waterholes (also after dark behind the campsite) and enjoy endless game drives.

The animals are most active during the early morning hours but behind the campsite there is a waterhole where you can sit for hours in the evening, enjoying the animals that come and go to drink.
Exploring the park is very easy. Buy a map at the entrance if you want to visit all waterholes.
Also stop for lunch at Halali, take a swim, to cool down a bit.

Again a long day ahead but it gives you time to relax at the Okavango river. In Grootfontein or Tsumeb you can do some shopping for the next couple of days.
A river cruise has been pre booked through the campsite for you.

Cross over to Botswana and enjoy Chobe National Park. Book a sunset cruise aswell, to see the elephants swim. You could also book an open game drive via the campsite or explore the park with your own vehicle.

Note: you are not allowed to take fresh food and veggies into Botswana.

Cross over into Zimbabwe. Visit the Victoria Falls, book a sunset cruise, go rafting or canoeing. Plenty to do! If you want a romantic evening out we can recommend the Makuwa Kuwa restaurant for dinner of for a sundowner.

Drive back to Botswana and head south to Nata. Watch out for crossing elephants. The road is good.

Drive into Kubu Island and enjoy the stunning scenery with baobab trees. There are no facilities so bring plenty of water etc.

To Kubu

Access to Kubu Island involves negotiating a maze of grassy islets and salty bays. Increased traffic has now made the route considerably clearer, but drivers still need a 4WD and a compass or Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment set with Tracks4Africa. The island can be difficult to reach after rains.

From the Nata–Maun highway, the track starts near Zoroga (GPS: S 20°10.029’, E 25°56.898’), about 24km west of Nata. After about 72km, the village of Thabatshukudu (GPS: S 20°42.613’, E 25°47.482’) will appear on a low ridge. This track then skirts the western edge of a salt pan for 10.3km before passing through a veterinary checkpoint. Just under 2km further south, a track (17km) heads southeast to the northern end of Kubu.

Time to drive towards Maun.
There are several tracks that lead towards Gweta. There will also be sign posts. You can drive via Sowa Pan or via Ntwetwe Pan. You will see the tracks.

Liase with the reception the pickup point for the next morning for the Okavango delta excursion.

Background: The BaYei people came to the Okavango Delta hundreds of years ago, bringing with them, their traditional mode of transport – the mokoro, a dug-out canoe made from a large straight tree such as a sausage tree or an ebony tree.

The mokoro is ideally suited as transport in the delta as in can move quietly through shallow water, being pushed by the boatman using a long pole, moving along the narrow channels or cutting through the long grasses or papyrus.

Audi Camp has a special 20-year relationship with the Morutsa Village community and in particular a man named Mr Worm (Rra Seboko). Most of our mokoro polers come from this community and the money brought in by guests is vital to their economy. Mr Worm is always very keen to show people round the village.

The safari

Departure for the delta is from Audi Camp @ approximately 7:30 a.m.

You climb on a 4 x 4 vehicle and bash around on dirt tracks for approx. one and half hours (the actual time depends on the season and conditions of the road) and you’ll be dropped at the mokoro station in the southern part of the delta.

A mokoro poler will be introduced to you – he or she will be your boatman and guide throughout the trip. Depending on the length of the trip, you can expect to spend a few hours poling on the mokoro, having lunch along the way, and doing game walks into the bush.

If you are overnighting, the poler will find a beautiful island campsite and help you collect some firewood for cooking. Remember, this is the bush and there are no facilities – it’s back to basics: no showers, no toilets.

While you are on the trip, remember to listen to your guide – he has grown up and lived in this area most of his life. He will not only show you many fascinating things, he will also keep you out of trouble while you’re in the bush. The polers do not carry firearms on the walks and you may well encounter elephant, hippo, or even lion.

Explore the delta. At the end of your tour, an Audi Camp vehicle will pick you up at a prearranged time and bring you back to base camp in Maun.

Time to leave Maun, do some shopping and drive towards the Camp. Here you will have time to explore the area.

Leave early in the morning in time to explore Khama in the afternoon.

Drive towards the border of Martins drift. Cross the border and you will camp just after the border.

A long drive ahead. Tzaneen is the economic hub of this fertile region which is both tropical and subtropical, lowveld and mountain country. The natural beauty of the area, it lush vegetation and close proximity to the lowveld game reserves all make Tzaneen a popular tourist destination.

Drive towards Kruger! It’s a wonderfull drive. You could start early and visit some of the Panorama route’s highlights before entering Kruger.

Time to explore the southern park of Kruger. This area has one of the best wildlife.

Drive to Villa Ukuthula. We recommend you get your Mozambique visa before travelling.

Please see the coordinates for the West Gate of the Maputo Special Reserve where you will enter the park, a driver will meet you at the 2nd gate and drive ahead of you to the Villa. Please phone the Villa in the morning to set an estimated arrival time: +258 84 736 9792/ +258 84 710 6370.

West Gate Maputo Special Reserve : (-26.5296843,32.7212401)
2nd Gate (where driver will meet guests): (-26.3618978,32.8955049)

We would also advise to download offline maps for the area (as you won’t have reception)

Maputo Special Reserve Costs : (the gate pass is only valid for 48hours, if the gate pass expires, guests will need to pay again to exit) Guests will only be able to pay cash at the gate.

Enjoy the next couple of days relaxing, snorkeling and diving.

Time to leave Africa. Drive back to Maputo Airport and hand in your vehicle. The driver who is taking your car is waiting for you at the airport. End of our services.