62 days – Classic Safari | Nairobi – Cape Town

After collecting at two points in Nairobi, we stop for shopping before heading out of the capital on the scenic drive to Nakuru in the beautiful Kenyan Rift Valley. We are based in Nakuru for two nights. A Departure Meeting is held to find out about our trip including further details as to life on an overland truck.

Day Two we are on safari entering Nakuru National Park for our first game drives. Nakuru is a sanctuary for both black and white rhino, and boasts lion, leopard, waterbuck, impala and buffalo, as well as the rare Rothschild’s giraffe. It is also famous for its flocks of flamingo. Depending on the season, thousands, and at times, millions of greater and lesser flamingo can be found here attracted to the algae and plankton that live in the warm alkaline waters of the lake. We have a full day of game drives here in special safari vehicles.

Distance: 162 kms
Est Drive Time: 4.5 hours
Meals: X2 Breakfasts, X2 Dinners

Included wildlife activity: Full day of game drives in Nakuru National Park.
Vehicle for game drives: 4×4 minivan with pop up roof

Naivasha is the highest freshwater lake of the central Rift Valley, and we spend a couple of nights here to relax and enjoy a hippo cruise on the lake, as well as the choice of other activities.

You can have afternoon tea on the grassy lawns at Elsamere, where the resident troop of black and white colobus monkeys are often on view. A guided walk to the jade green Crater Lake Sanctuary is another option, or hire a bike to ride through Hell’s Gate National Park through the red cliffs of Njorowa Gorge and other fascinating features in this park. This excursion is a great way to stretch your legs in the African bush amidst plain’s game such as zebra, eland, harbebeest, Thomson’s gazelle and giraffe, as well as buffalo.
The scenery in this park is stunning due to past volcanic activity 35 million years ago. It can get hot in this
park though so take plenty of water.

Distance, Day 3: 70 kms
Est. Drive Time, Day 3: 3 hours incl. stop for shopping
Meals: X2 Breakfasts, X2 Dinners

Optional excursions: Elsamere for afternoon tea, cycling in Hell’s Gate National Park, hippo cruise, guided walk to Green Crater Lake.

From Naivasha we make our way towards the Masai Mara reserve. We stop overnight at Loita Hills for a stay with the Masai, East Africa’s most reknowned ancient people who proudly retain so many of their traditional ways.

This afternoon we walk in the hills with the warriors to learn about traditional life in the bush. We will also visit a woman’s village and the local hot springs. Traditional dancing is performed, and in the evening we spend time with some of the warriors around the fire to find out more about their culture.

Distance: 154 km
Est. Drive Time: 5 hours incl. stop for shopping
Meals: X1 Breakfast, X1 Dinner

Up early we have time for some “warrior training” this morning before we say goodbye to our Maasai hosts. Then we head on to the Masai Mara, Kenya’s premier game park, for two days of game drives in special safari vehicles with a local guide.

The Masai Mara is one of the natural wonders of the world and is perhaps best known for being part of the setting for the famous wildebeest migration, a mass movement of over 2 million wildebeest, zebra and Thomson’s gazelle. The migration moves between the plains of the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania, and the Masai Mara in Kenya. On the months when the migration arrives in Kenya, any time from late June, the vast herds can be regularly found on the grassy plains, tending to stay on through to October.

Apart from the ever-watchful crocodiles found in and by the rivers, the other ever-vigilant predators, particularly lion, cheetah and hyena, closely follow the herds on their seasonal migrations as well to add to the drama. The Mara is particularly famous for its “Big Cats- its lion population, as well as cheetah and leopard.

Regardless of the season though there is always plenty to see here. Large herds of elephant and buffalo wander the plains and fat pods of hippo wallow in the mud-brown rivers. The park offers as well a wonderful chance to see impala, topi, reedbuck, eland, warthog, bat-eared foxes, jackal and giraffe as well as an immense variety of bird life with well over 550 recorded species of bird noted here. There are also a few treasured black rhino in the park.

Distance, Day 6: 60 km
Est. Drive Time, Day 6: 2 hours to the park gate, then slow transit to camp
Meals: X2 Breakfasts, X2 Dinners

Included wildlife activity: X1 morning and X2 afternoon game drives in the Masai Mara
Vehicle for game drives: 4×4 open landcruiser with pop up roof

Optional excursion: Balloon safari

The day starts with a final drive through the Masai Mara. Leaving the park, we travel to Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, stopping off at the Rift Valley lookout on the way.

The next day is a free day in Nairobi with the option to visit the Giraffe Centre and Sheldrick’s Elephant Orphanage in the morning.

That evening we can have a night out in Nairobi to try one of its many restaurants.

Distance, Day 8: 300 km
Est. Drive Time, Day 8: Short morning game drive, then 6.5 hours to Nairobi incl. lunch stop and photo stops
Meals: X2 Breakfasts, X2 Dinners (incl. contribution to night out)

Included wildlife activity: Morning game drive, Masai Mara
Vehicle for game drive: 4×4 landcruiser with pop up roof

Optional excursions: Meal out at a restaurant, Giraffe Centre, Sheldrick’s Elephant Orphanage

We head off on the drive across the Athi plains to cross the border into Tanzania at Namanga. You are sure to be tempted by Maasai selling beaded jewellery and wooden carvings at the border. Further on Mount Meru looms in the distance and on a lucky day snow-clad Kilimanjaro might come into view. At 5,895 metres it is Africa’s highest mountain.

Distance: 278 kms
Est. Drive Time: +/- 7 hours including lunch stop and depending on the border
Meals: X1 Breakfast, X1 Dinner

Optional safari into the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater

Three days are allocated to allow time for a safari into Tanzania’s world famous game parks –The Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater – which most in the group choose to do.

Day 11: Rising early, those going on safari head out with a local guide in the 4×4 vehicles that have pop up roofs. Our journey heads to the Ngorongoro Gate, and through the Conservation Area in transit to Serengeti where we have 24 hours. Across these two parks – the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater – wildlife viewing is regularly exceptional.

Once in the Serengeti we see the famous kopjes, small hills of rocks from where lions dozing in the sun nonchalantly oversee the surrounds, keeping an eye out for their next meal. Multi-coloured agama lizards can also be seen basking in the sun and golden jackal tussle over a kill in the grasses.

The Serengeti is a continuation of the same ecosystem across which the spectacular wildebeest migration travels, a mass movement driven by the rains, and the herds’ endless search for water and good grazing. To encounter one of the countless wildebeest herds in a bleating, snorting dust – kicking motion on the famous migration moving across “Siringet” the “endless plains” is an experience of a lifetime.

We spend the night camped within the Serengeti with the sounds of the African bush around us. It is quite an experience to be in a tent with just the canvas between you and any wildlife that is out there.

Day 12: Game viewing is often at its best early in the day, so we rise early again to explore more of the Serengeti.
We leave the famous Serengeti plains by mid afternoon to enter more mountainous terrain.
Our drive is also taking us through Maasai lands as well, and the traditional herdsmen can be seen throughout the region. En route we stop to visit a Maasai boma.

Tonight we camp near the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater. We are at altitude here, so wrap up warm tonight.

Day 13: This morning we are up before sunrise to visit Ngorongoro Crater. The Crater is a perfectly intact volcanic caldera and known as the ‘Noah’s ark’ of game reserves. During our morning game drives we might view the ‘big 5’, lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo, as well as plains game peacefully grazing including zebra, gazelle, impala and wildebeest. Hippopotamus can usually be found lolling in the pools and Lake Magadi can be rimmed with the pink of greater and lesser flamingo.

During our safari depending on our timing we can stop over in local markets where Maasai display their ebony carvings, spears and beadworks for those who wish to do some shopping. For those that don’t head out on this set of safaris you can relax in camp and spend time in Arusha which has busy markets, a shopping mall, coffee shops and internet. A camel safari can be arranged to visit a Maasai village as well as a visit to Shanga, a social entreprise community based bead factory. You can visit
in the extensive Maasai Cultural Centre and Museum, and visit the Snake Park which has a large collection of reptiles as well as a Maasai display.

Back in Arusha we all enjoy a group barbecue to celebrate.

Distance, Day 11: 175 kms to the Conservation Area gate
Distance, Day 13: 175 kms from the Conservation Area gate
Est. Drive Time, Day 11: 3 to 4 hours
Est. Drive Time, Day 13: 3 to 4 hours
Meals, Day 11: X1 Breakfast
Meals, Day 12: None
Meals, Day 13: X1 Dinner

Optional excursions for Days 11 to 13: Three day/two night safari with game drives in both the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater in open top 4×4 vehicles (incl. x2 dinners, x3 lunches, x2 breakfasts), Balloon safari, Maasai boma visit, Olduvai Gorge Museum

(Please note this visit is dependent on road conditions and time constraints. We also require advance notice prior to the tour departure).

We travel to Marangu today at the foot of Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain and the highest freestanding mountain in the world.

Here we spend two nights and have the opportunity to explore, including the option to take a day hike to Mandara Hut, 2,700 kms from the base of the mountain. This is a beautiful walk through tropical forest and on clear days there are special views of both the Kibo and Mawenzi peaks of the mountain. Alternatively there is the chance to do a day tour of the Marangu area to visit the village to learn more of local life, to visit a coffee plantation and a nearby waterfall.

Distance, Day 14: 120 kms
Est. Drive Time, Day 14: +/- 3 hours
Meals: X2 Breakfasts, X2 Dinners

Optional excursions: Kilimanjaro day hike, Marangu day tour

We continue our journey south, travelling through lush surroundings and the stunning Usambara mountain range, before sleeping over at a coastal campsite either in Bagamoyo or in Dar es Salaam 70 kms further south. Bagamoyo itself was one of the first landing points for the Arabian slavers.

We make final preparations for the optional excursion on Zanzibar Island. The core arrangements are made well ahead of time so we are assured our groups are comfortable in the popular beach cottages to the north of the island at Kendwa and for a night in a local lodge in the traditional capital. The time is yours to relax and do as you please. The tour leader travels over to the island with the group as well to ensure that all runs smoothly.

Distance: 485 (545 if to Dar) kms
Est. Drive Time: 9 to 10 hours incl. lunch stop (11 to 12 if to Dar es Salaam)
Meals: X1 Breakfast, X1 Dinner

Optional excursion: Note for those who want to get to Zanzibar early there is the option of flying to Zanzibar to give you an extra night at the beach, rather than staying on the truck for the drive to the coast.

Note that this needs to be pre booked as early as possible. Contact us for prices and more information.

We now have the option to take the ferry to the exotic ‘Spice Island’ of Zanzibar for four nights.

Day 17 Usually everyone chooses to head to the ferry port in Dar es Salaam from where we travel to the exotic spice island of Zanzibar today. On arrival we travel to Kendwa where you can enjoy white sand beaches, and swim and snorkel in the
crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean. Fishing trips and cruises in traditional dhows can be organized.

Scuba diving and snorkeling to nearby reefs or further afield including to Mnemba Atoll can also be arranged from the Dive Centre near our beach cottages.

There is a wide diversity of marine life off Zanzibar. The diving is some of the best in the world, with stunning coral gardens and more than 350 fish species recorded. Sightings of dolphins and turtles are quite regular occurrences, while humpback whales and whale sharks are occasionally spotted.

You can also explore Jozani Forest and see the red colobus monkeys and Prison Island with its giant tortoise. Snorkelling is also enjoyed off Prison Island.

On the last day we spend time in the traditional capital, Stone Town. Take a spice tour to find out a little about the spice trade that dominated the island’s history, as well as the slave trade. On our final night here we can explore the colorful night market.

Distance, Day 17: 60 kms Bagamoyo to Dar es Salaam
Est. Drive Time, Day 17: Up to 2 hours Bagamoyo to Dar es Salaam
Meals, Day 17: X1 Breakfast

Additional optional excursions whilst on Zanzibar: Stone Town City tour, snorkelling, scuba diving, Mnemba Island, Turtle Sanctuary visit, Prison Island with a visit to the Aldabra tortoise, Jozani Forest to view the red colobus monkeys

Arriving back in Dar es Salaam we rejoin the overland truck to head west to Morogoro to stay the night.

Distance: 194 kms
Est. Drive Time: 6 hours
Meals: X1 Dinner

We continue to travel west across Tanzania travelling through Mikumi National Park where roadside sightings of elephant, giraffe and antelope are common. Travelling the road through Baobab Valley we are surrounded by the iconic ‘upside down trees’ and past the Ruaha River to Iringa for our last night in Tanzania.

Distance: 310 kms
Est. Drive Time: 9 hours incl. lunch stop
Meals: X1 Breakfast, X1 Dinner

Moving on through the mountains of the southern Rift Valley we enter Malawi. We travel south down the third largest lake in Africa, Lake Malawi, created in the chasm provided by the Rift Valley. Known as “the warm heart of Africa” you will be struck by the warm welcome we receive, despite Malawi being one of the poorest countries en route.

Popular beaches by the Lake are ideal locations for the camps where we stay and set beside local fishing villages. We are welcomed into these villages with the chance to visit a couple of local schools as well. This is a great opportunity to immerse yourself in traditional village life. Try bartering too with local craftsmen selling beautiful carvings including the traditional Malawi chairs, and enjoy sharing in a village meal during our stay.

Lake Malawi is home to the brightly coloured and prolific mbuna cichlid fish and scuba diving or snorkelling here has been described as ‘rather like a dive into a fish tank’. Canoeing is also an option on the lake. Malawi is a spectacularly beautiful country and horse riding and trekking can be arranged too. Kande Beach particularly is a popular stop for a party. The Malawi markets are also the markets to raid for the latest in fashion attire if the group decides on an Absolute Bad Taste Party.

Distance, Day 23: 498 kms
Distance, Day 24 or 25: 235 kms
Est. Drive Time, Day 23: 12 hours Incl. lunch and fuel stop and depending on the border
Est. Drive Time, Day 24 or 25: +/- 5 hours incl. stop for shopping
Meals: X4 Breakfasts, X4 Dinners

Optional excursions: Water sports, including snorkelling, canoeing, scuba diving and pedalo hire, horse riding, village walk, wood carving lesson.

We travel to Zambia today, heading for one of the country’s treasures – South Luangwa National Park. Slightly off the beaten track, Luangwa is a stunning national park with high populations of game, including 60 different animal species and 400 different bird species.

On our full day in the park, we have time to relax by the pool and enjoy the wonderful African bush surrounds, with the chance for a game drive or walk in the morning and also in the evening. The evening drive gives you the chance to see some of Africa’s nocturnal and more elusive animals such as the leopard and genet.

Distance, Day 27: 600 kms
Est. Drive Time, Day 27: +/- 11 hours (depending on the border) and incl. stops for shopping and lunch
Meals: X2 Breakfasts, X2 Dinners

Included wildlife activity: X1 game drive in South Luangwa National Park
Vehicle for game drive: Open 4×4 safari vehicle

Optional excursions: Extra game drive or walk, South Luangwa National Park

We now make our way towards the capital. Upon reaching Lusaka on day 30, we have a chance to get to internet, the bank and also stock up on supplies in a large supermarket.

Distance over 2 days: 560 kms
Est. Drive Time, Day 29: +/- 6 hours incl. stop for lunch and shopping
Est. Drive Time, Day 30: +/- 6 hours
Meals: X2 Breakfasts, X2 Dinners

0ptional stay on Lake Kariba houseboats

From here we travel to Lake Kariba where we hire a houseboat for a couple of nights’ break from truck life. The man-made lake took 9 years to build, the dam wall being completed in 1959 when the plains began to flood; animals became stranded on submerging islands and Matusadona National Park launched a massive rescue exercise known as Operation Noah. Whilst cruising on the houseboat we can view elephant, buffalo, kudu, waterbuck and, if lucky, lion as they come down to drink by the water’s edge. Sunsets over the lake create a rich backdrop of colour for the stark silhouettes of the fossilised leadwood trees remaining in the lake.

The boats have bedrooms, a jacuzzi and the houseboat crew cook our meals, so this is a fun change from camping and life on the road.

Distance, Day 31: 208 kms
Drive Time, Day 31: 4 to 5 hours depending on the border and incl. photo stop Lake Kariba dam wall.
Meals: X2 Breakfasts, X2 Dinners

Optional excursion: Houseboat cruise on Lake Kariba

We drive via Chinoyi to the Great Zimbabwe Ruins – the remains of the ancient capital of the Shona people which was constructed between the 11th – 15th century. There are three main areas of ruins known as Dzimba dzamabwe (“stone houses”) from which modern-day Zimbabwe gained its name. These were formed using the dry stone technique, completely without mortar. The term “Great” distinguishes these rock constructs as different to smaller formations in the region and Great Zimbabwe are known to be the largest collection and most impressive ruins south of the Sahara.

Distance, Day 33: 249 kms
Est. Drive Time, Day 33: +/- 6 hours incl. shopping stop
Distance, Day 34: 440 kms
Est. Drive Time, Day 34: 9 hours incl. shopping and lunch stops
Meals: X2 Breakfasts, X2 Dinners

This morning we have a guided tour of the ruins before continuing our way to the city of Bulawayo.

Distance: 307 kms
Est. Drive Time: 3 – 4 hours
Meals: X1 Breakfast, X1 Dinner
Included Activity: Visit to Great Zimbabwe with guided tour

Here we head out for game drives and a rhino trek in Matopos National Park. The Matopos Hills have the largest concentration of raptors (birds of prey) in the world and black eagles can be seen soaring high over the dramatic ancient landscape of granite boulder stacks. The park is also home to both the endangered black and white Rhinoceros, now closely guarded in an intensive conservation program, and the magnificent sable antelope. We track rhino on foot with a professional guide, as well as look for other game. We also find out the different uses and medicinal value of the plant life in the park.

Distance: 0 kms
Est. Drive Time: 0 hours
Meals: X1 Breakfast, X1 Dinner

Included wildlife activities: Game drive and rhino trek in Matopos National Park.
Vehicle for game drive: Open 4×4 safari vehicle

Optional excursions: Extra game drives in Matopos National Park, Afternoon visit to rock paintings and Cecil Rhodes’ grave or a Ndebele Village.

Today we travel through to the mighty Victoria Falls. The roaring torrents of water and the mists from the Falls which rise meters into the air, gave rise to the local name ‘Mosi-Oa-Tunya’, ‘the smoke that thunders.”

Distance: 438 kms
Est. Drive Time: +/- 7 hours incl. stop for lunch
Meals: X1 Breakfast

At the Falls there is a large number of different adrenaline activities on offer, such as the world famous whitewater rafting on the Zambezi, the bungee jump and the gorge swing. You can take a flight over the Falls in a helicopter or microlight on a ‘Flight of the Angels’. Time can be spent in the national park overlooking the Falls. We usually meet up at night for meals in local cheap eating places.

One of our nights at The Falls is often spent together on an evening sunset cruise drifting down the Zambezi as the sun sets. Wildlife such as hippo and crocodiles can be seen in and by the water, and monkeys play in the trees by the river.

Distance: 0 kms
Drive Time: 0 hours
Meals: None

Optional excursions: Whitewater rafting, riverboard, bungee jump, gorge swing, flying fox and zip line, ‘Flight of Angels’, canoe trip, horse riding, a sundowner cruise

Today we enter Botswana and visit Chobe National Park, where we have a full day set aside for game drives and a game cruise.

On the game cruise soak up the magic atmosphere on the Chobe River as the colours of sunset break across the sky and elephant come down to drink and mess around in the river. Chobe is famous for its elephant population and is known as the world’s elephant capital! The numbers in this park are in the tens of thousands. The park also has strong lion prides, and game drives regularly provide viewing of giraffe, lechwe, kudu, impala herds, buffalo, wonderful bird life and much more. Take full advantage of this park to head out on game drives to allow you access further into the park.

Distance, Day 40: 87 kms
Est. Drive Time, Day 40: 3 hours (depending on the border)
Meals: X2 Breakfasts, X2 Dinners

Optional excursion: Chobe National Park – game drives and game cruise

We leave Chobe and travel past the Makgadikgadi Pans on our way to Maun, set on the edge of the Kalahari Desert.

Distance: 666 kms
Est. Drive Time: 9 hours incl. stop for lunch
Meals: X1 Breakfast, X1 Dinner

Optional mokoro safari in the Okavango Delta

From Maun we organise our mokoro safari into the Okavango Delta.

The Delta is an ecosystem of lush wetlands, placid lagoons and water-lily filled channels created by the arrival of waters that fell as rain on the mountains of Angola months prior. Here on a mokoro safari we gain a sense of the remoteness and beauty of the African bush. On the safari we are poled silently through the maze of waterways between reeds and water lilies in the traditional canoes and camp for two nights in the wilderness. This can be a wonderful opportunity to get up close to Africa’s wild animals.

Late afternoon and early morning game walks are on the agenda with the local professional guides, and even the chance to learn how to steer a mokoro.

We might spot buffalo, hippo, crocodile, antelope, warthog, baboon, wildebeest, elephant and lion. Bird life is prolific including kingfishers, ducks, marabou storks, sacred and glossy ibis, herons and egrets. The incessant chatter of birds can make an afternoon nap quite problematic during our bush camp!

The local boatsmen entertain with traditional singing during our time in this pristine wilderness.

Distance: 0 kms
Est. Drive Time: 0 hours
Meals: X3 Breakfasts, X3 Dinners

Optional excursions: Okavango Delta mokoro safari including X2 breakfasts and X2 dinners, flights over the Delta

Experiencing a dramatic change in scenery, we head into Namibia along the Caprivi, making our way towards Grootfontein where we arrive on day 46 for shopping in town and to make a cultural visit to the local Bushmen.

We stop over at a nearby camp before heading the following day for Namibia’s most well known National Park, Etosha. We can stop en route to see the Hoba meteorite, the world’s largest and estimated to be at least 190 million years old!

Distance over 3 days: 1,111 kms
Est. Drive Time, Day 46: +/- 13 hours (depending on the border) incl. lunch stop
Est. Drive Time, Day 47: 4 – 5 hours
Est. Drive Time, Day 48: +/- 5 hours to Etosha entrance, then afternoon game drives in Etosha
Meals: X3 Breakfasts, X3 Dinners

Optional excursions: Walk with warrior bushmen, visit women’s village, Hoba meteorite

Game drives find us out early this morning, so we can make the most of our two night stay in Etosha. The truck allows us great viewing from the large windows and as we are at height for views across the park. Optional evening drives are also available in smaller safari vehicles, following our afternoon game drives.

Etosha centres around the vast Etosha Pan, an extensive flat depression of 5,000 square metres of shimmering mirages and in the language of the local Owambo tribe Etosha means ‘place of dry water’.

A vast array of animals exist around the Pan, including elephant, lion, gemsbok, zebra, black rhino, giraffe, cheetah and leopard. The park is home to the ‘big five’ – lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino. The floodlit water holes at Okaukuejo and Halali are highlights of this park too. To savour the last of the game parks in our itinerary at night we can take our hot chocolate and sit and wait by the floodlit water holes as a multitude of animal gradually arrive to drink.

Distance: 0 kms
Est. Drive Time: Game drives through the day
Meals: X1 Breakfast, X1 Dinner

Included wildlife activity: Full day of game drives in Etosha National Park
Vehicle for game drives: Overland truck

Optional excursion: Evening game drive.

Leaving Etosha we travel via Outjo to the Africat Foundation which is a non-profit organization focusing on the conservation of Namibia’s predators, particularly cheetah, in their natural habitat. Here we can actively take part in this programme and learn more about these beautiful and amazing animals.

Distance: 182 kms
Est. Drive Time: 7 hours including short game drive and stops for shopping and lunch
Meals: X1 Breakfast, X1 Dinner

Included wildlife activities: Short game drive in Etosha. Africat Carnivore Care
Vehicle for game drive: Overland truck

We then travel through some of the most scenic regions of the tour the lower section of the Skeleton Coast that is often shrouded in mist. We spend a night at the amazing Spitzkoppe rock formations tonight, The sunset is truly amazing here with the rocks changing colours every minute. It is another night under the stars.

The next day we visit the Cape Cross Seal Colony, a breeding colony of 200,000 Cape fur seals, before arriving at the seaside resort town of Swakopmund, nestled between the desert and the sea where we check into a local lodge.

Distance over 2 days: 452 kms
Est. Drive Time, Day 51: 5 hours
Est. Drive Time, Day 52: +/- 4.5 hours
Meals: x2 Breakfasts, X1 Dinner

Included wildlife activity: Cape Cross Seal Colony

Swakopmund is the place for action and adventure sports – quad-biking, dune buggies, sandboarding, gokarting, horse riding, open – water fishing and tandem sky diving. There are flights over the Namib Desert and the Skeleton Coast. A township tour provides insight into day to day local life. Many enjoy a meal out to sample the fresh seafood.

Distance: 0 kms
Est. Drive Time: 0 hours
Meals: None

Optional excursions: Quad-biking, sandboarding, skydiving, go-karting, desert tours, open-sea fishing, seal and dolphin cruise, sea kayaking, township tours, horse riding.

We drive through to Sossusvlei in the Namib Naukluft National Park. We are now in the vast arid regions of southern Namibia. Here we can visit the Sesriem Gorge in the afternoon.

Distance: 344 kms
Est. Drive Time: 8.5 hours, Incl. lunch stop
Meals: X1 Dinner

In the morning we are up before sunrise to climb the famous Dune 45 for sunrise views. After this there is the option to go to Sossusvlei by 4×4 to visit the Dead vlei pan and see more of this harsh but beautiful landscape.

Fish River Canyon is our next highlight. It is the second largest canyon in the world, second only to the Grand Canyon in America, created by the rushing waters of the Fish River. We then head to our camp at Ai Ais and enjoy a soak in the hot springs in the lower reaches of the Canyon.

Distance over 2 days: 613 kms
Est. Drive Time, Day 56: +/- 5 hours
Est. Drive Time, Day 57: +/- 9 hours Incl stop at the Canyon
Meals: X2 Breakfasts, X2 Dinners

Included activities: Visit to Dune 45, visit to Fish River Canyon.

Optional excursion: Visit to Sossusvlei

We stop over by the Orange River, which is fed by the Fish River. Here we can canoe or raft through some of the most rugged terrain in Southern Africa.

Distance: 179 kms
Est. Drive Time: 3 hours Incl. Shopping
Meals: X1 Breakfast, X1 Dinner

Optional excursion: Orange River canoeing

We travel down the South African west coast and into the wine lands of the Cape Province. We spend two nights in the historic town of Stellenbosch, where we can enjoy a wine tour and the other culinary delights of this culturally rich area.

Distance: 678 kms
Est. Drive Time, day 59: +/- 10 hours incl. shopping and lunch stop (depending on the border)
Est. Drive Time, day 60: 6 hours
Meals: X2 Breakfasts, X1 Dinner

Optional excursion: Wine tour

Our last day’s drive is from Stellenbosch into Cape Town. We have our last meal together and spend the night in the comfort of the Ashanti Lodge, which is nestled at the base of Table Mountain.

Cape Town is a wonderful place to relax with plenty of attractions, shopping and cocktail bars. The Travel Shop at Ashanti can assist you with all you wish to do – including white shark diving, a visit to Robben Island where Mandela was imprisoned during the apartheid era and a visit to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. If you want to explore further safaris in Kruger National Park can be arranged. Or consider continuing on the Garden Route or explore other parts of South Africa. Contact us for more options and tours

Distance: 53 kms
Est. Drive Time: 2 – 3 hours
Meals: X1 Dinner (contribution to the final restaurant meal)

Optional excursion: Meal out at a restaurant

Please note this itinerary is given as a guide only. A safari is a journey and true journeys unfold. They are of an adventurous nature. The unexpected can arise, so do allow for this. Feel free to give us a call about your overland safari plans. We look forward to your further enquiries.