FEED YOUR SOUL
Uitkyk Holidays will tailor make itineraries to suit all personal taste and budget requirements. Below are some of our sample itineraries. Please contact us for more information.
17-day self-drive safari: Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe (Victoria Falls)
23-day 4 x 4 tour: South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe
21-day tour: South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique
8-day tour: Kruger National Park South Africa and Swaziland
22-day tour: South Africa and Mozambique tour
17-day tour: Cape Town tour
7-day safari tour South Africa
8 days safari tour South Africa
18 Days safari tour Namibia
24 Day safari tour Namibia and Botswana
17-day self-drive safari: Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe (Victoria Falls)
Day 1: Windhoek
Arrive in Windhoek, Namibia’s capital city surrounded by rolling mountains in the heart of the central highlands. Featuring a combination of modern architecture and old world atmosphere, this bustling cosmopolitan city welcomes travelers with its tree-lined streets, pavement cafes, beer gardens and restaurants, offering the perfect place to begin your holiday.
You will be transferred from Windhoek airport to the depot where your vehicle will be waiting to take you to Arrebush campsite, your place of accommodation for the evening.
Day 2 and 3: Etosha National Park
Depart Windhoek for a two-night stay amidst the flat open saltpans and incredible abundance of wildlife unique to Etosha National Park, one of Africa’s largest game parks.
Day 4: Coast of Namibia
Head towards the rugged Namibian coastline strewn with shifting sand dunes and rocky outcrops, where you can visit the Great Table Mountain, see the Palgrave Point and finally settle down for the night at Torra Bay campsite.
Day 5 and 6: Swakopmund
After breakfast, leave for a two-night stay at the Alte Brücke campsite in Swakopmund. Only a few minutes’ walk away, explore exquisite beaches and enjoy the bustling hub of Swakopmund, Namibia’s premier seaside town.
Swakopmund offers boundless activities, with sand boarding as an exhilarating way of exploring the world’s largest sand dunes. Go quad biking or visit Walvis Bay, some 30km south of Swakopmund with a lively fish industry and modern harbour, as well as expansive salt fields. Also worth a visit is the local museum in the Civic Centre, the Birdlife Information Centre and the wooden Rhenish mission church established in 1880.
Day 7: Windhoek
Return to Windhoek after a leisurely breakfast, and enjoy some more of the city’s many attractions or take your time and explore more of Swakopmund’s activities before heading back to the capital city.
Day 8: Ghanzi (Botswana)
Depart Windhoek and cross the border into Ghanzi, Botswana where you will stay at the Kalahari Arms Hotel campsite.
Known as the capital of the Kalahari, Ghanzi is an island of ethnic beauty separated from the rest the world by a sea of sand and populated by indigenous groups including Bushmen, Batawana and Afrikaaners who farm the land.
Day 9, 10 and 11: Maun
Leave Ghanzi for the Crocodile Camp in Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta.
Experience the best game viewing and outdoor adventures with countless safari and air-charter operations that have their offices here.
Day 12: Moremi National Park
After breakfast, depart from Maun and drive to the Moremi National Park where you can stay at either South Gate or Third Bridge Camp. Take the short drive to Moremi National Park, where you can enjoy the many sights of this large and diverse reserve.
Day 13 and 14: Chobe National Park
Drive through Moremi National Park towards Chobe National Park, where you will spend your first night at Savuti camp and the second at Ihaha Camp located in the Chobe National Park.
Stretching from the Chobe River at its northern-most boundary to the Savuti Marshes in the Mababe Depression and the Moremi Reserve far to the west, Chobe National Park is the second largest national park in Botswana covering 10,566m sq and featuring one of the greatest concentrations of game found on the African continent.
Day 15: Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)
Leave Chobe National Park and enjoy a scenic drive along the coastline to Kasane. Cross the border into Zimbabwe at Kazungola and then continue along to the famous Victoria Falls, where you will spend the night at Amadeus Guesthouse.
Day 16: Victoria Falls
Spend all day exploring the spectacular Victoria Falls and the grandeur of the Zambezi River. Go white water rafting, bungee jumping, river boarding, safari walking or countless other activities, then return to Amadeus Guesthouse for a good night’s rest.
Day 17:
End of tour.
Treat yourself with an optional luxury extra!
Add two nights in the Okavango Delta to this tour.
The Okavango Delta covers an area of over 17,000 km sq and is the largest inland delta in the world. Situated in the Kalahari sands, the Okavango Delta is a popular watering hole for the abundant wildlife indigenous to the area.
As it is not possible to drive along the winding waters of the Okavango Delta, you will fly over the Delta and explore the labyrinthine environment from above.
Stay for 2 nights at the luxurious Gunns Camp in the Okavango Delta and then fly back to Maun, where you will continue your tour.
The luxury option is based on the same itinerary as above; with the slight exception of only one night in Swakopmund and instead of three nights in Maun you will spend one night before your fly safari in to the Okavango Delta and one night after the fly in safari to the Okavango Delta in Maun. During your flying safari your overnight accommodation will be the luxurious Gunns Camp.
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23-day 4 x 4 tour: South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe
Day 1: Johannesburg
Arrive in the dynamic city of Johannesburg, located along one of the richest gold-bearing reefs where classic structures and glass-sheathed buildings crowd together. Spend the night at Somerset Guest House.
Day 2: Nelspruit
After breakfast, pick up your 4x4 double cab and head to Tomjachu Lodge, near Nelspruit in the fertile valley of the Crocodile River. The capital of Mpumalanga, this city lies 330km east of Johannesburg in the hot and humid Lowveld. The Malelane Gate, the southern access to the Kruger Park, lies approximately 60km to the east of Nelspruit.
Day 3: Panorama route
After breakfast, leave Nelspruit and take a leisurely 3-hour drive to the Blyde River Canyon where you can spend the afternoon gazing at God’s Window, Bourkes Luck Potholes, Three Rondavels and Pilgrim’s Rest then spend the night at Aventura Blydepoort.
Day 4: Kruger National Park
Drive through the scenic Erasmuss Pass to Satara Rest Camp in the Kruger National Park where you can spend the day exploring its extensive grounds and the evening relaxing at the Satara Rest Camp. The Kruger National Park is one of the world's best-known game reserves and South Africa's greatest wildlife destination featuring 2.2 million hectares teeming with the world's largest variety of wildlife.
Day 5: Kruger National Park
Drive from Satara Rest Camp to Shingwedzi Rest camp, where you will stay the night. Located in the Kruger National Park, the Shingwedzi Rest Camp will allow you a second day to see more of the reserve’s abundant wildlife.
Day 6: Aventura Resort Thsipise
Leave the Kruger Park and head for Aventura Resort Thsipise, where your accommodation will be arranged at the campsite.
Day 7: Selibe-Phikwe (Botswana)
Drive through South Africa to Selibe-Phikwe, a mining town located in the north-east of Botswana. Stay at the Saringa Lodge for the night.
Day 8 and: Nata
After breakfast, leave Saringa Lodge and drive via Francistown to Nata where you will stay at the Nata Lodge campsite. Spend the day exploring the Bird Sanctuary, the north side of the Makgadikgadi saltpan or the expansive Sowa pan.
Day 10 and 11: Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)
Drive via the Sibuyu, Kazuma and Kasane Forest Reserves to the spectacular Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Gaze in awe at its grandeur on the Zambezi River, then head off for some adrenalin-filled activities including white water rafting, bungee jumping, river boarding and walking safaris. Stay for 2 nights at Amadeus Guesthouse near the Victoria Falls.
Day 12 and13: Botswana
Leave the cascading water of Victoria Falls and drive back to Botswana, where you will stay for two nights at the Kubu Lodge.
Day 14 and 15: Chobe National Park
Spend two days at the expansive Chobe National Park, stretching from the Chobe River in the north to the Savuti Marshes in the Mababe Depression and the Moremi Reserve far to the west, making it the second largest national park in Botswana with one of the greatest concentrations of game found on the African continent. Spend your first night at the Ihaha Restcamp and the second at Savuti Restcamp.
Day 16 and 17: Moremi Game Reserve
Depart from the Chobe National Park and drive to the Moremi Game Reserve, a large and diverse reserve named after Chief Moremi. Stay for two nights at the Third Bridge Restcamp.
Day 18 and 19: Maun
Leave the Moremi Game Reserve via the South Gate and drive to Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta. Experience the best game viewing and outdoor adventures with countless safari and air-charter operations that have their offices here. Stay for two nights at the Crocodile Campsite.
Day 20: Makgadikgadi Pans National Park
After breakfast, leave Maun and drive to the entrance of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. Once a super lake some 30m deep, Makgadikgadi covers a massive area of 80,000 km² and features large pans as the most visible remnants of the lake which formed more than five million years ago. Stay for one night at the Khumaga Campsite.
Day 21: Khama Rhine Wildlife Sanctuary
Drive along the northern side of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve to Palapye, where countless salt pans glisten in the sun. Near Serowe is the Khama Rhino Wildlife Sanctuary, where you will stay for one night.
Day 22: Marakele National Park
Head for the Marakele National Park where you have the whole day to go on safari and drive through the Marakele National Park. You will stay at the Bontle Camp (in the Marakele National Park) for one night.
Day 23: Johannesburg
Return to Johannesburg via the Pilanesberg National Park. Leave your vehicle at the depot of Kea Campers and take a transfer to Johannesburg airport.
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21-day tour: South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique
Day 1 and 2: Johannesburg
Arrive in the dynamic city of Johannesburg, located along one of the richest gold-bearing reefs, where classic structures and glass-sheathed buildings crowd together. Take a transfer to the depot of Kea Campers. Here you will collect your 4x4 single cab and drive to Graskop where you will stay at the Aventura Blydepoort campsite. Spend the next two days exploring the awe-inspiring God’s Window, Bourkes Luck Potholes, Three Rondavels and Pilgrim’s Rest.
Day 3: Panorama Route
Depart from Graskop and drive to the Kruger National Park where you can spend the day enjoying one of the world's best-known game reserves and South Africa's greatest wildlife destination. At the end of the day, head to Satara Restcamp campsite for the night.
Day 4: Kruger National Park
The world-renowned Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa, featuring Africa’s Big 5 and many other animals. Established in 1898 to protect the wildlife of the South African Lowveld, this national park of nearly 2 million hectares, is unrivalled in the diversity of its wildlife and is a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques and policies. At the end of the day, check in at Skukuza Restcamp for the night.
Day 5: Kruger National Park
Leave Skukuza Restcamp and drive southwards along sand roads to Berg-en-Dal, spotting big game along the way. Stay at Berg-en-Dal campsite for the night.
Day 6: Maputo (Mozambique)
Take a leisurely drive through the Kruger National Park and cross the border into beautiful Mozambique continuing along to Xai Xai and spending the night at Casa Lisa, just outside Maputo. Here, you can stroll around the city, take a scenic boat trip to Inhaca Island or visit Maputo’s largest craft market for some local shopping.
Day 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11: Mozambiquan Coast
After breakfast, leave Casa Lisa and drive to Inhambane, near Guinjata Bay. Stay at Guinjata Bay Resort for 5 days while soaking up this golden African sun on pristine beaches, snorkelling, swimming and whaleshark watching, or explore more of this exquisite country on a 4x4 quad bike tour.
Day 12, 13 and 14: Vilanculos
Head to Vilanculos, where you will stay for 2 nights at the Casa Rex. Approximately 200km from Morrungulo and 700km from Maputo, Vilanculos is closest to the Bazaruto Archipelago, a chain of islands dotted along the Mozambican coast.
Day 15: Bilene
Return to Maputo, where you will depart for Praia do Sol, near Bilene and stay the night. Situated on a hill overlooking the clear waters and white sands of the Uembje Lagoon, the peaceful town of Bilene is lush with African vegetation and rolling sand dunes, while the powerful breakers of the Indian Ocean are only a boat ride away. Large numbers of flamingos and other water birds flock here in summer to pluck the spoils from the shallow fringes of the saline water. For the rest of the year, Bilene offers sailing, diving, fishing, swimming and snorkelling.
Day 16: Maputo
Leave Bilene and drive to Maputo where you will stay for one night at the Holiday Inn Maputo. Stroll around this large city, take a boat trip to Inhaca Island or visit Maputo’s largest craft market.
Day 17 and 18: Ponta Malongane
Leave Maputo and drive to Ponta do Ouro. Follow the road to Ponta Malongane where you will stay at the Ponta Malongane campsite for two nights.Ponta Malongane, meaning "Place of the Children", is located on the Southern Mozambique Coast and features a beautiful tropical coastline famous for its scuba diving. This quaint little town is just 10km from the Kosy Bay border or 115km from the capital city Maputo.
Day 19 and 20: Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary (Swaziland)
Drive through South Africa across the border near Pongola into Swaziland. Once in Swaziland,follow the signs to Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary where you will stay for two nights at the Mlilwane Campsite. Enjoy the plentiful sights of this privately operated sanctuary where zebra, giraffe, white rhino, hippo and crocodile can be viewed from horseback, while mountain biking or water rafting through the reserve.
Day 21: Johannesburg
Leave Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary and drive to the capital of Swaziland, Mbabane. Then drive to the borderline with South Africa. When you arrive in Johannesburg, bring back the vehicle and Kea will transfer you to the Johannesburg airport.
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8-day tour: Kruger National Park South Africa and SwazilandDay 1: Durban
Arrive in Durban, the playground of the Zulu Kingdom, where you spend your first night relaxing and recuperating from your journey at the Garden Court Marine Parade Hotel.
Take a moment to enjoy some of Durban’s many attractions including uShaka Marine World, Wilson’s Wharf on the Victoria Embankment or sail, swim, run, play tennis or stroll along Durban’s renowned beaches.
Day 2: iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Leave Durban in the early morning and drive up along the KwaZulu Natal Indian Ocean coast to the well-known iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Spend tonight near this amazing wetland and take part in a number of exciting activities including a lagoon cruise or a Zulu village visit.
Day 3 and 4: Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary
Leave South Africa and head for the friendly Kingdom of Swaziland. Stay at the privately-operated Mlilwane Nature Reserve campsite for the following two days. This sanctuary was the first of its kind established in Swaziland and features zebra, giraffe, white rhino, hippo and crocodile among the animals found here.
Day 5 and 6: Kruger National Park
Drive back to South Africa to the Kruger National Park for two unforgettable days of game viewing. The Kruger National Park is home to Africa’s Big 5 and many other African animals. The world-renowned Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa. Established in 1898 to protect the wildlife of the South African Lowveld, this national park of nearly 2 million hectares is unrivalled in the diversity of its wildlife and is a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques and policies.
Day 7: Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre
Leave the Kruger National Park and drive to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. Learn more about the impressive difference the employees and volunteers of this park are making to the welfare of some of the less fortunate wildlife.
Day 8 Johannesburg
Drive from the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre to Johannesburg where you can enjoy the Panorama Route, visiting Blyde River Canyon, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and God’s Window along the way before arriving at Johannesburg.
Optional
When booking a round-trip arriving at Durban (start of tour) and departing from Durban, we can arrange a budget domestic flight between Johannesburg (end of tour) and Durban.
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22-day tour: South Africa and Mozambique tour
Day 1: Johannesburg
Arrive in the dynamic city of Johannesburg, located along one of the richest gold-bearing reefs where classic structures and glass-sheathed buildings crowd together. Take a transfer from the airport to the Somerset Guesthouse where you will spend the night.
Day 2 and 3: Panorama Route
After breakfast, receive your rental car and drive to Graskop, where you will stay at the Aventura Blydepoort campsite. Take two days to visit God's Window, Bourkes Luck Potholes, Three Rondavels and Pilgrim's Rest.
Day 4: Kruger National Park
Leave Graskop and head for the Kruger National Park. Spend the day exploring one of the world's best-known game reserves and South Africa's greatest wildlife destination featuring 2.2 million hectares teeming with the world's largest variety of wildlife. The park is home to Africa’s Big 5 and other African and is unrivalled in the diversity of its wildlife.
Spend the night at the Satara Restcamp .
Day 5: Kruger National Park
Drive through the Kruger National Park and view the its abundant fauna and flora. At the end of the day, check in at Skukuza Restcamp where you will stay the night.
Day 6: Kruger National Park
Leave Skukuza Restcamp and drive southwards to Lower Sabie Rest Camp. Take the gravel roads to see more big game and head for the Lower Sabie campsite where you will stay the night.
Day 7 Maputo (Mozambique)
Take a leisurely 3-hour drive through the Kruger National Park and head for the Mozambican borderline. In Mozambique, take the road to Maputo. Previously Lourenzo Marques, Maputo is the sprawling capital of Mozambique, with a population of about two million people and a large harbour. Stay at the Casa Lisa campsite for the night.
Day 8, 9 and 10: Inhambane and Coconut Bay
Get an early start and leave for Inhambane and Coconut Bay, where you will stay at the Guinjata Bay campsite for three nights. Coconut Bay is situated on top of a large sand dune 15km outside of Inhambane and offers spectacular views of the pristine beaches. The beach is protected from sharks by a reef that runs parallel to the beach and conditions are perfect for wind surfing. Continuous gentle sea breezes make Coconut Bay a haven where mosquitoes are rare. Explore the unspoiled beaches and caves or go game fishing off the coast of Coconut Bay.
Day 11, 12, 13 and 14: Vilanculos
Head to Vilanculos, where you will stay for 4 nights at the Casa Rex. Approximately 200km from Morrungulo and 700km from Maputo, Vilanculos is closest to the Bazaruto Archipelago, a chain of islands dotted along the Mozambican coast.
Day 15 Bilene
Drive via Xai Xai and Macia to the coastal town of Bilene. Situated on a hill overlooking the clear waters and white sands of the Uembje Lagoon, the peaceful town of Bilene is lush with African vegetation and rolling sand dunes, while the powerful breakers of the Indian Ocean are only a boat ride away. Large numbers of flamingos and other water birds flock here in summer to pluck the spoils from the shallow fringes of the saline water. For the rest of the year, Bilene offers sailing, diving, fishing, swimming and snorkelling.
Stay for two nights at Praia do Sol.
Day 16: Maputo
Leave Bilene and drive to Maputo where you will stay for one night at the Holiday Inn Maputo. Stroll around this large city, take a boat trip to Inhaca Island or visit Maputo’s largest craft market.
Day 17 and 18: Ponta Malongane
Leave Maputo and drive to Ponta do Ouro. Follow the road to Ponta Malongane where you will stay at the Ponta Malongane campsite for two nights. Ponta Malongane, meaning "Place of the Children", is located on the Southern Mozambique Coast and features a beautiful tropical coastline famous for its scuba diving. This quaint little town is just 10km from the Kosy Bay border or 115km from the capital city Maputo.
Day 19 and day 20 KwaZulu Natal (South Africa)
Return to South Africa and drive to Mkuze (KwaZulu Natal) where you will stay at the Mkuze Game Reserve campsite. This game reserve has many beautiful birds, crocodiles, hippos, elephants and rhinos roaming its grounds.
Day 21 Pongola
Drive from Mkuze to Pongola where you will stay for one night at the Dusk to Dawn County House. Dusk to Dawn is a spacious country house in the southernmost tip of Mpumalanga - the place of the rising sun. Here you can relax and prepare for your flight back home.
Day 22 Johannesburg
Get an early start for your drive back to Johannesburg. Upon arrival, bring back the vehicle and a a transfer to the Johannesburg airport will be arranged.
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17-day tour: Cape Town tour
Day 1: Cape Town Airport
Arrive in the vibrant Mother City where a representative from Olaf’s Guesthouse will transfer you to their guesthouse for your 5-day stay.
Day 2, 3, 4 and 5: Sightseeing Cape Town
Collect your rental car and spend the next 4 days exploring the many sights and attractions of Cape Town. Take a tour of the Mother City, take the cable car up Table Mountain for a panoramic aerial view of the city, wander around the Castle of Good Hope and learn about the Cape Town Diamond Works. Delve into Cape Town's history with a trip to the City Hall where Nelson Mandela gave his liberation speech , visit the multi-cultural Green Market Square or hop on a ferry to Robben Island and see for yourself where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years.
Day 6 and day 7 Winelands
After a leisurely breakfast, leave for Franschhoek in the heart of the wine lands where you will stay at La Fontaine. Enjoy fine dining and wine tasting at many of the exquisite restaurants in this quaint little town.
Day 8 and 9: Hermanus
Drive to Hermanus, a small town near the coast, where you will stay at the Schulphoek Guesthouse. Hermanus is built along the shores of Walker Bay near the southernmost tip of Africa and features magnificent mountains and stunning sea views. Home to the Southern Right Whale, this town is a nature lover’s paradise where these magnificent creatures sport in the waters near the coast.
Day 9 and 10: Oudtshoorn
After breakfast, leave Hermanus and drive to Oudtshoorn. Stay at De Zeekoe for two nights and visit the ostrich farms, Cango Caves and the Swartberg Mountains, which are all near Oudtshoorn.
Day 12, day 13 and day 14 Knysna
Arrive in Knysna and stay for three nights at Bradach Manor. Knysna is the centre of the Garden Route and has a lot to offer with boat trips to the Knysna Heads or beautiful walks through the Featherbed Nature Reserve.
Day 14 Activity day
Go fishing, rafting, sailing, scuba diving and snorkelling. Take a ride on the “Outenique Choo-Tjoe” steam train from Knysna to George, or go abseiling, bungee jumping, or paragliding for the ultimate adrenalin fix.
Day 15 and 16: Swellendam
After breakfast, leave for Swellendam, the third oldest settlement in South Africa. Lying at the foot of the beautiful Langeberg Mountains, this place is not only famous for its youngberries, but its beautiful architecture and rich history as well. Stay in Swellendam for 2 nights at De Kloof Luxury Estate.
Day 17: Cape Town Airport.
Today is the last day of your tour. Drive to Cape Town and return your vehicle. A transfer from the depot to Cape Town Airport will be arranged.
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7-day safari tour South Africa
Day 1 Johannesburg
Today you will arrive at the airport of Johannesburg. Welcome in South Africa!
Sitting on one of the richest gold-bearing reefs, Johannesburg has grown into a 2500 square kilometers mammoth city and the financial capital of South Africa. Affectionately called ‘Jo-berg’ or ‘Jozi’ by South Africans, this dynamic city is an interesting blend of old structures and glass-sheathed buildings.
You will stay in Johannesburg for 1 night.
Day 2 and day 3 Hazyview
Today you will drive from Johannesburg to Hazyview. Here you will stay for 2 nights. Hazyview lies on the banks of the Sabie River, close to the Kruger National Park’s Paul Kruger Gate. Enjoy excursions to the Blyde River Canyon, Shangaan Village and a bird’s eye view of Graskop, God’s Window and the Sabie River from a microlight.
Day 4 and day 5 Sabi Sands
Today you will drive from Hazyview to Sabi Sands. Sabi Sand Private Reserve is situated in an area that has the greatest diversity of wildlife in Africa. With no barrier between the reserve and Kruger National Park the game viewing is spectacular. Experience this wildlife on guided walks and game drives under the guidance of an expert ranger. Some lodges will allow the opportunity to visit a local village. Most lodges also offer thrilling night game drives which enable you to spot the reserve's nocturnally active wildlife. Dining in a traditional boma around a roaring fire is one of the most enjoyable safari activities.
Day 6 Blydepoort
After breakfast you will leave Sabi Sands and drive to Blydepoort. You will stay in the area of the Blyde River Canyon. The Blyde River Canyon (recently renamed the Motlatse) is the third deepest canyon in the world (after the Grand Canyon in the western U.S. and Namibia's Fish Eagle Canyon). It ranks as one of the most spectacular sights in Africa.
Day 7 Johannesburg
Today you will leave Blydepoort behind you and drive to Johannesburg. Here you will leave your vehicle and depart from Johannesburg Airport.
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8 days safari tour South Africa
Day 1 Johannesburg
Today you will arrive at the airport of Johannesburg. Welcome in South Africa!
Sitting on one of the richest gold-bearing reefs, Johannesburg has grown into a 2500 square kilometres mammoth city and the financial capital of South Africa. Affectionately called ‘Jo-berg’ or ‘Jozi’ by South Africans, this dynamic city is an interesting blend of old structures and glass-sheathed buildings.
You will stay in Johannesburg for 1 night.
Day 2 and day 3 Kruger National Park
Today you will drive from Johannesburg to the Kruger National Park. You will drive to the Kruger National Park for two unforgettable days of game viewing. The Kruger National Park is home to Africa’s Big 5 and other African animals. The world-renowned Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa. Established in 1898 to protect the wildlife of the South African Lowveld, this national park of nearly 2 million hectares, the Kruger National Park is unrivalled in the diversity of its life forms and a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques and policies.
Day 4 and day 5 Sabi Sands
Sabi Sand Private Reserve is situated in an area that has the greatest diversity of wildlife in Africa. With no barrier between the reserve and Kruger National Park the game viewing is spectacular. Experience this wildlife on guided walks and game drives under the guidance of an expert ranger. Some lodges will allow the opportunity to visit a local village. Most lodges also offer thrilling night game drives which enable you to spot the reserve's nocturnally active wildlife. Dining in a traditional boma around a roaring fire is one of the most enjoyable safari activities.
Day 6 and day 7 Blydepoort
After breakfast you will leave Sabi Sands and drive to Blydepoort. You will stay in the area of the Blyde River Canyon. The Blyde River Canyon (recently renamed the Motlatse) is the third deepest canyon in the world (after the Grand Canyon in the western U.S. and Namibia's Fish Eagle Canyon). It ranks as one of the most spectacular sights in Africa.
Day 8 Johannesburg
Today you will leave Blydepoort behind you and drive to Johannesburg. Here you will leave your vehicle and depart from Johannesburg Airport.
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18 Days safari tour Namibia
Day 1 Windhoek
On arrival at the Windhoek Airport you will be met by a company representative who will transfer you to your guest house in Windhoek where the day will be at leisure to recover from your flight.
Windhoek is often described as a city with a “continental” atmosphere due to its architecture (historical buildings dating back to the German colonial rule), cuisine, culture, dress and educational institutions.
Windhoek portrays the color, sounds and tempo of a modern African city with its displays of African drums and woodcarvings on the pavements which contrast with the elegant shops offering sophisticated Swakara garments and Namibian gemstones. Sidewalk cafes offering Namibian style breakfasts (Fruhschoppen) which can be enjoyed with a glass of sparkling wine or locally brewed draught beer. In addition to steak houses and coffee bars serving snacks, the city has a wide range of a la carte restaurants offering German, French, Taiwanese, Portuguese, Italian, African and Chinese cuisine.
Day 2 and day 3 Kalahari Desert
You will be collected by a representative from the car rental agency will transfer you to the depot where you will take receipt of your 4x4 vehicle.
Departure from Windhoek continuing in a southerly direction towards the western Kalahari Basin. On route pass through the small settlement of Rehoboth before arriving at the western boundary of the Kalahari Desert. Rehoboth is home to the “Baster Community” a fiercely independent people who are the descendants of a group of farmers of mixed European and Khoisan blood. These people first migrated to the area from the Cape in 1870 where they established a settlement at the site of an abandoned Rhenish Mission Station.
Afternoon arrival at the Kalahari Game Lodge where the following two nights will be spent camping. Your days can be spent conducting optional extra nature drive excursions in open safari vehicles or walking trails on the 27 000ha desert paradise. Additional activities include bird watching and scenic sundowner drives.
Day 4 Fish River Canyon
Departure continuing in a southerly direction on route through the southern Karas Region via the small towns of Koes and Keetmanshoop, one of the oldest established towns in Namibia and the capital of the south. Optional excursions on route should be included to the “Quiver Tree Forest”; an outcrop colonized by an Aloe tree species (Aloe dichotoma) and the basalt formations of the “Giants Play Ground”. In the late afternoon you will arrive at the Fish River Canyon for overnight camping at the Hobas Campsite.
Day 5 Fish River Canyon
Today can be spent conducting an excursion to the Fish River Canyon, the third largest canyon in the world and the second largest in Africa. This impressive geological formation had its origins some 1’800 million years ago and has had evidence of human “habitation” for over 50 000 years. Visits should be conducted to the various viewpoints, including Hells Bend. For the more energetic a walk into the canyon, the first part of the famous Fish River Hiking Trail can be conducted. Overnight will be spent camping at the Hobas campsite.
Day 6 Namib Desert
Leaving the Fish River Canyon follow the main route in a westerly direction over the central highland plateau towards the small mountain town of Aus before descending into the Namib Desert. Aus was established as a prisoner of war camp in 1915 following the surrender of the German colonial troops to the South African forces. The site was chosen for its strategic significance, situated on the railway line between Keetmanshoop and the harbor town of Lüderitz. An excursion on route should be included to Garub, a watering point in the desert normally frequented by the “Feral Horses”. Late afternoon arrival in Lüderitz for overnight accommodation at the Zur Waterkant Guesthouse (similar) on a bed and breakfast basis only.
Day 7 Lüderitz
While in Lüderitz optional excursions should be conducted to the various attractions of this quaint Harbor town. The best way to do this is on foot and should include visits to the historical buildings of the Deutsche-Africa Bank, the Station Building, the Old Post Office, the Turnhalle Building, the German Lutheran Church and the Goerke House. Venturing further a field visit the Diaz Peninsula, where the Portuguese explorer Bartholomew Diaz erected a stone cross in 1488, Halifax Island, Griffith Bay and the Grosse Bucht. An excursion which should not be missed is a visit to the ghost town of “Kolmanskop” and provides an interesting glimpse of the former diamond boomtown, which was finally deserted in 1956. Overnight accommodation at the Zur Waterkant Guesthouse (similar) on a bed and breakfast basis only.
Day 8 Namib Naukluft Park
Departing from Lüderitz today’s route returns towards Aus before continuing in a northerly direction following the eastern boundary of the Namib Desert towards the Namib Naukluft Park. An excursion on route should be included to the Duwisib Castle before your late afternoon arrival at the Sossusvlei region. The Duwisib Castle was built in 1907 for Hansheinrich von Wolf and his American heiress wife Jayta. The fort was designed by Willi Sander, renowned for designing Windhoek’s, Heinitzburg Castle. Stone for the castle was quarried some three kilometers away while other material and furnishings were imported from Germany via Lüderitz. Overnight camping in the Namib Naukluft Park at the Sesriem campsite.
Day 9 Sossusvlei
Conduct an early morning excursion along the path of the ancient Tschaub River into the Namib Sand Sea including a visit to the famed Sossusvlei, Dune 45 and Deadvlei. Many visitors to Namibia say that no part of the desert is more stunning than Sossusvlei, with its monumentally high dunes, the shadows of their sinuous crests continually changing as the day waxes and wanes. Gigantic star-shaped mountains of sand, the highest estimated at 325 m. The warm tints of the sand, ranging from pale apricot to brick orange and deep red, contrast vividly with the dazzling white surfaces of the deflationary clay pans at some of their bases. An afternoon excursion should be conducted to the Sesriem Canyon, a small yet picturesque canyon carved over millions of years into the Tschaub River. Overnight camping at the Sesriem campsite.
Day 10 Swakopmund
Departing from the central Namib Region today’s route continues in a northerly direction along the eastern boundary of the Namib Naukluft Park passing through the small settlement of Solitaire on route to the Gaub and Kuiseb Canyons. Continue across the “gravel plains” of the Namib Desert on route towards Namibia’s premier coastal resort town, Swakopmund. Optional excursions on route can be included to the erosion feature of the “Moon Valley” and to Namibia’s ancient plant species, the “Welwitschia mirabilis”. Late afternoon arrival for overnight at the Hotel Pension Rapmund (similar) on a bed and breakfast basis.
Day 11 Swakopmund
Today can be spent at leisure to explore Namibia’s premier coastal resort town, Swakopmund. Today this quaint town nestled between desert and ocean is enhanced by lush green lawns, palm trees and carefully tended gardens. There is a good selection of restaurants and coffee shops selling traditional German cakes and pastries, while the coastline and the desert respectively offer many options for adventure or relaxation. While in Swakopmund an excursion should be conducted to Namibia’s largest commercial harbor, Walvis Bay and the Walvis Bay Lagoon, protected under the RAMSAR Convention as an important wetland. The lagoon is renowned for its seasonal abundance of both the Greater and Lesser Flamingo species. Overnight accommodation will be at the Hotel Pension Rapmund (similar) on a bed and breakfast basis.
Day 12 Twyfelfontein
Early morning departure from Swakopmund in a northerly direction on route through the National West Coast Recreational Area towards the small fishing town of Henties Bay. An excursion which should be included on route is a visit to the Cape Fur Seal Colony at Cape Cross. In 1486, the first European to set foot on the coast of Namibia, Diago Ciao, erected a cross in honor of John 1 of Portugal at a site now known as Cape Cross 115 km north of Swakopmund. In addition to being of historical interest, Cape Cross has a breeding colony of Cape Fur seals.
Leaving the coast continue in an easterly direction crossing the “gravel plains” towards the abandoned mining town of Uis, and Namibia’s highest Mountain Range. The Brandberg is 2573m at its highest point and renowned for the famous work of bushmen art, “the White Lady”.
Twyfelfontein is one of the richest areas of rock engravings and Bushmen paintings in Namibia. Guided walking excursion can be conducted to some of the engraving sites. Interesting geological features in the area include the Burnt Mountain and the dolomite columns known as the “Organ Pipes”.
Day 13, 14 and day 15 Etosha National Park
Departing from Twyfelfontein continue in an easterly direction towards the Etosha National Park.
Optional excursions on route can be conducted to the Petrified Forest, with approximately 50 examples of petrified trees dating back some 260 million years, and to the Vingerklip or “Rock Finger” formation in the Ugab River Valley. This limestone skittle was formed approximately 30 million years ago by water erosion.
Afternoon arrival at the Etosha National Park. The following three nights will be spent camping in each of the parks rest camps. Evenings can be spent game viewing at the floodlit waterholes.
The Etosha National Park has recorded over 114 mammal species, 350 bird species and 21 different vegetation types. The most common plains game species encountered include; Burchell’s Zebra, Springbok, Black-Faced Impala, Blue Wildebeest, Gemsbok / Oryx antelope, Giraffe and Red Hartebeest. The Etosha National Park also boasts healthy populations of Lion, Elephant and Black Rhino. While in the park a visit should also be included to the Etosha Pan or the “Great White Place”.
Day 16 Waterberg Plateau Park
Departing from the Etosha Region today’s journey follows the main route south through the country via the towns of Tsumeb, Otavi and Otjiwarongo. Optional extra excursions on route should be included to the large sinkhole type lake, Lake Otjikoto and the Hoba Meteorite, the world’s largest known meteorite
The town of Otjiwarongo provides a convenient stop over on route to the north or the south of the country. As with most towns in central Namibia the name Otjiwarongo originates from the Herero language, which translated means “place of the fat cattle” or “beautiful place”. Given the central role that cattle play in Herero culture, both meanings are appropriate. The town was officially founded in 1906 upon the arrival of the narrow gauge railway linking the important mining center of Tsumeb and the coastal town of Swakopmund.
From Otjiwarongo continue south towards the Waterberg Plateau Park. The Park is approximately 40549 ha and was established as a sanctuary for rare and endangered species from around Namibia. Afternoon arrival and overnight will be spent camping at Bernabe De la Bat Rest Camp. During the late afternoon participate in optional extra hiking trails to the summit of the Waterberg Plateau or guided game drive excursions. Game drives can be booked at the camp reception office
Day 17 Windhoek
After an optional extra early morning excursions departure returning to Windhoek via the small town of Okahandja. Include an excursion to the local wood carvers market before arriving in Windhoek.
On your arrival in Windhoek drop off your 4x4 vehicle at the depot after which one of the representatives will transfer you to your accommodation in Windhoek.
Day 18 End of tour
A company representative will collect you from your guest house and transfer you to the Windhoek Airport for your flight.
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24 Day safari tour Namibia and Botswana
Day 1 Windhoek
On arrival at the Windhoek Airport you will be met by a company representative who will transfer to your guest house in Windhoek where the day will be at leisure to recover from your flight.
Windhoek is often described as a city with a “continental” atmosphere due to its architecture (historical buildings dating back to the German colonial rule), cuisine, culture, dress and educational institutions.
Windhoek portrays the color, sounds and tempo of a modern African city with its displays of African drums and woodcarvings on the pavements which contrast with the elegant shops offering sophisticated Swakara garments and Namibian gemstones. Sidewalk cafes offering Namibian style breakfasts (Fruhschoppen) which can be enjoyed with a glass of sparkling wine or locally brewed draught beer. In addition to steak houses and coffee bars serving snacks, the city has a wide range of a la carte restaurants offering German, French, Taiwanese, Portuguese, Italian, African and Chinese cuisine.
Day 2 and day 3 Kalahari Desert
You will be collected by a representative from the car rental agency will transfer you to the depot where you will take receipt of your 4x4 vehicle.
Departure from Windhoek continuing in a southerly direction towards the western Kalahari Basin. On route pass through the small settlement of Rehoboth before arriving at the western boundary of the Kalahari Desert. Rehoboth is home to the “Baster Community” a fiercely independent people who are the descendants of a group of farmers of mixed European and Khoisan blood. These people first migrated to the area from the Cape in 1870 where they established a settlement at the site of an abandoned Rhenish Mission Station.
Your days can be spent conducting optional extra nature drive excursions in open safari vehicles or walking trails on the 27 000ha desert paradise. Additional activities include bird watching and scenic sundowner drives.
Day 4 Fish River Canyon
Departure continuing in a southerly direction on route through the southern Karas Region via the small towns of Mariental and Keetmanshoop, one of the oldest established towns in Namibia and the capital of the south. Optional excursions on route should be included to the “Quiver Tree Forest”; an outcrop colonized by an Aloe tree species and the basalt formations of the “Giants Play Ground”.
Day 5 Fish River Canyon
Today can be spent conducting an excursion to the Fish River Canyon, the third largest canyon in the world and the second largest in Africa. This impressive geological formation had its origins some 1’800 million years ago and has had evidence of human “habitation” for over 50 000 years. Visits should be conducted to the various viewpoints, including Hells Bend. For the more energetic a walk into the canyon, the first part of the famous Fish River Hiking Trail can be conducted.
Day 6 Namib Desert
Leaving the Fish River Canyon follow the main route in a westerly direction over the central highland plateau towards the small mountain town of Aus before descending into the Namib Desert. Aus was established as a prisoner of war camp in 1915 following the surrender of the German colonial troops to the South African forces.
The site was chosen for its strategic significance, situated on the railway line between Keetmanshoop and the harbor town of Lüderitz. An excursion on route should be included to Garub, a watering point in the desert normally frequented by the “Feral Horses”.
Day 7 Lüderitz
While in Lüderitz optional excursions should be conducted to the various attractions of this quaint Harbor town. This excursion should include visits to the historical buildings of the Deutsche-Africa Bank, the Station Building, the Old Post Office, the Turnhalle Building, the German Lutheran Church and the Goerke House. Venturing further afield visit the Diaz Peninsula, where the Portuguese explorer Bartholomew Diaz erected a stone cross in 1488, Halifax Island, Griffith Bay and the Grosse Bucht. An excursion which should not be missed is a visit to the ghost town of “Kolmanskop” and provides an interesting glimpse of the former diamond boomtown, which was finally deserted in 1956.
Day 8 Namib Naukluft Park
Departing from Lüderitz today’s route returns towards Aus before continuing in a northerly direction following the eastern boundary of the Namib Desert towards the Namib Naukluft Park. An excursion on route should be included to the Duwisib Castle before a late afternoon arrival at the Sossusvlei region. The Duwisib Castle was built in 1907 for Hansheinrich von Wolf and his American heiress wife Jayta. The fort was designed by Willi Sander, renowned for designing Windhoek’s, Heinitzburg Castle. Stone for the castle was quarried some three kilometers away while other material and furnishings were imported from Germany via Luderitz. Overnight camping in the Namib Naukluft Park at the Sesriem campsite.
Day 9 Sossusvlei
Conduct an early morning excursion along the path of the ancient Tschaub River into the Namib Sand Sea including a visit to the famed Sossusvlei, Dune 45 and Deadvlei. Many visitors to Namibia say that no part of the desert is more stunning than Sossusvlei, with its monumentally high dunes, the shadows of their sinuous crests continually changing as the day waxes and wanes. Gigantic star-shaped mountains of sand, the highest estimated at 325 m. The warm tints of the sand, ranging from pale apricot to brick orange and deep red, contrast vividly with the dazzling white surfaces of the deflationary clay pans at some of their bases. An afternoon excursion should be conducted to the Sesriem Canyon, a small yet picturesque canyon carved over millions of years into the Tschaub River.
Day 10 Swakopmund
Departing from the central Namib Region today’s route continues in a northerly direction along the eastern boundary of the Namib Naukluft Park passing through the small settlement of Solitaire on route to the Gaub and Kuiseb Canyons. Continue across the “gravel plains” of the Namib Desert on route towards Namibia’s premier coastal resort town, Swakopmund. Optional excursions on route can be included to the erosional feature of the “Moon Valley” and to Namibia’s ancient plant species, the “Welwitshia mirabilis”. Late afternoon arrival for overnight at the Hotel Pension Rapmund (similar) on a bed and breakfast basis.
Day 11 Swakopmund
Today can be spent at leisure to explore Namibia’s premier coastal resort town, Swakopmund. Today this quaint town nestled between desert and ocean is enhanced by lush green lawns, palm trees and carefully tended gardens. There is a good selection of restaurants and coffee shops selling traditional German cakes and pastries, while the coastline and the desert respectively offer many options for adventure or relaxation. While in Swakopmund an excursion should be conducted to Namibia’s largest commercial harbor, Walvis Bay and the Walvis Bay Lagoon.
The lagoon is renowned for its seasonal abundance of both the Greater and Lesser Flamingo species.
Day 12 Twyfelfontein
Early morning departure from Swakopmund in a northerly direction on route through the National West Coast Recreational Area towards the small fishing town of Henties Bay. An excursion which should be included on route is a visit to the Cape Fur Seal Colony at Cape Cross. In 1486, the first European to set foot on the coast of Namibia, Diago Ciao, erected a cross in honor of John 1 of Portugal at a site now known as Cape Cross 115 km north of Swakopmund. In addition to being of historical interest, Cape Cross has a breeding colony of Cape Fur seals.
Leaving the coast continue in an easterly direction crossing the “gravel plains” towards the abandoned mining town of Uis, and Namibia’s highest Mountain Range. The Brandberg is 2573m at its highest point and renowned for the famous work of bushmen art, “the White Lady”.
Twyfelfontein is one of the richest areas of rock engravings and Bushmen paintings in Namibia. Guided walking excursion can be conducted to some of the engraving sites. Interesting geological features in the area include the Burnt Mountain and the dolomite columns known as the “Organ Pipes”.
Day 13, 14 and day 15 Etosha National Park
Departing from Twyfelfontein continue in an easterly direction towards the Etosha National Park.
Optional excursions on route can be conducted to the Petrified Forest, with approximately 50 examples of petrified trees dating back some 260 million years, and to the Vingerklip or “Rock Finger” formation in the Ugab River Valley. This limestone skittle was formed approximately 30 million years ago by water erosion.
Afternoon arrival at the Etosha National Park. The following three nights will be spent camping.
The Etosha National Park has recorded over 114 mammal species, 350 bird species and 21 different vegetation types. The most common plains game species encountered include; Burchell’s Zebra, Springbok, Black-Faced Impala, Blue Wildebeest, Gemsbok / Oryx antelope, Giraffe and Red Hartebeest. The Etosha National Park also boasts healthy populations of Lion, Elephant and Black Rhino. While in the park a visit should also be included to the Etosha Pan or the “Great White Place”.
Day 16 Waterberg Plateau Park
Departing from the Etosha Region today’s journey follows the main route south through the country via the towns of Tsumeb, Otavi and Otjiwarongo. Optional extra excursions on route should be included to the large sinkhole type lake, Lake Otjikoto and the Hoba Meteorite, the world’s largest known meteorite.
The town of Otjiwarongo provides a convenient stop over on route to the north or the south of the country. As with most towns in central Namibia the name Otjiwarongo originates from the Herero language, which translated means “place of the fat cattle” or “beautiful place”. Given the central role that cattle play in Herero culture, both meanings are appropriate. The town was officially founded in 1906 upon the arrival of the narrow gauge railway linking the important mining center of Tsumeb and the coastal town of Swakopmund.
From Otjiwarongo continue south towards the Waterberg Plateau Park. The Park is approximately 40549 ha and was established as a sanctuary for rare and endangered species from around Namibia.
Day 17 Windhoek
After an optional extra early morning excursions departure returning to Windhoek via the small town of Okahandja. Include an excursion to the local wood carvers market before arriving in Windhoek. The remainder of the afternoon will be at leisure to do any last minute shopping in Windhoek before your departure.
Day 18 Kalahari Bushbreaks
Departure from Windhoek continuing in an easterly direction via the small settlements of Seeis and Witvlei to Gobabis. Overnight will be spent camping at Kalahari Bushbreaks (simiar) located 90km east of Gobabis and only 30km from the border post.
Day 19 Botswana
After breakfast departure continuing towards the Buitepos / Mamuno border post before entering into Botswana. When you arrive at Ghanzi you will stay on the campsite of the Kalahari Arms Hotel.
Day 20 and day 21 Maun
Today you will leave Ghanzi and drive to Maun. For the coming two nights you will stay at the campsite of Crocodile Camp (self catering). From Maun you have the opportunity to visit the famous Okavango Delta. The Okavango Delta covers an area of over 17,000 square km and is the largest inland delta in the world. The Okavango Delta is situated in the Kalahari sands and that makes it a magnet for the wildlife that depends on the permanent waters of this unique feature.
Day 22 Khama Rhino Wildlife Sanctuary
After an early morning breakfast you will depart from Maun, travelling along the northern side of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve to Serowe / Palapye. You will get an impression of the large pans with the surface glistening with salt. Khama Rhino Wildlife Sanctuary is near Serowe and you will stay here for one night at the campsite (self catering).
Day 23 Marakele National Park
Today you leave Botswana via the border crossing of Martins Drift. You drive via Elisras to the Marakele National Park. Just outside Thabazimbi there is a gate to the Marakele National Park. The entrance fee is R60, 00 per person per night. You will stay at the campsite of Bontle Camp (self catering) for one night.
Day 24 Johannesburg
After one last safari in the Marakele National Park it is time to go home. You drive via Pilanesberg National Park on the R510 to Pretoria and Johannesburg on the R27. Continue to Johannesburg Airport to return your rental vehicle before your scheduled departure.
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