Starts | Victoria Falls |
---|---|
Ends | Windhoek, Namibia |
Region | Namibia |
Duration | 19 days |
Tour Operator | Intrepid Travel |
Itinerary
Day 1 - Starting: Windhoek & Finishing: Windhoek
Welcome to the Namibian capital of Windhoek! There will be a group meeting at 6:00pm at our joining hotel in Windhoek. Your leader will leave a note on the reception with the details of this important meeting. If you arrive early, the rest of the day will be free to independently explore the city's German colonial buildings or simply relax before our adventure starts! In Windhoek we will stay in a decent hotel with good facilities.
Day 2 - Starting: Sesriem & Finishing: Sesriem
Today our journey begins with a drive to the small village of Sesriem, the gateway to the awe-inspiring sand dunes and ancient lakebeds of Sossusvlei. We will have some free time to independently explore the area on arrival.In Sesriem we will stay in a basic but well equipped campsite. Estimated Drive Time - 5-7 hours (please note that all drive times given here are the approximate number of hours that the truck will be in motion only, and does not include any time taken for coffee or lunch stops, border crossings, photo stops, activities en route, comfort breaks, shopping stops, toilet stops, etc. The times given are approximate estimates only and whilst given with the best of intentions, the drive times are heavily dependent on traffic, road conditions, weather, police roadblocks, and many other factors - flexibility is essential on any overland trip!).
Day 3 - Starting: Namib Desert & Finishing: Namib Desert
Today we will have an early start to take a trip out in the truck to the incredibly photogenic and other-worldly landscapes of Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei - we will start with a climb up the famous huge sand dune known as 'Dune 45' for a breathtaking sunrise, before taking local 4x4s deeper into the deserts and exploring a little on foot. After returning to Sesriem we have a short drive into the southern Namib deserts to a remote campsite near the town of Solitaire, where we will have a fascinating tour to learn all about the ecology of the desert and the history of the area from our local guide there. In Solitaire we will stay in a well equipped campsite.
Day 4 - Starting: Swakopmund & Finishing: Swakopmund
Today we continue our journey north to the German colonial town of Swakopmund, located at the southern end of the famous and barren 'Skeleton Coast'.
Day 5 - Starting: Swakopmund Free day & Finishing: Swakopmund Free day
Today is free to explore the delights of Swakopmund and take part in many of the optional activities available here at an extra cost.
Day 6 - Starting: Spitzkoppe & Finishing: Spitzkoppe
We will start the day with a short journey up the coast to the phenomenal Cape fur seal colony at Cape Cross, where we'll witness the incredible sight (and smell) of thousands of seals in their natural habitat! We will then travel inland to the sparsely-populated centre of Namibia and the incredible and photogenic mountain of Spitzkoppe. We will wild camp in the midst of this remote region, have a chance to explore the primeval landscape of the mountain, and witness the mountan take on remarkable oranges and reds during the breathtaking sunset (and sunrise, for those who can manage to get up at 5:30am!). In Spitzkoppe we will wild camp with very basic facilities (there is a seated 'long-drop' toilet block, but no showers or electricity).
Day 7 - Starting: Brandberg & Finishing: Brandberg
Today we will journey further north and head to the stunning mountainous desert landscape of Brandberg. The Brandberg area is home to the desert-adapted elephant, and travelling through this area we will have the opportunity to search for this elusive creature. Brandberg is also home to some incredible ancient San cave paintings, the most famous being the Brandberg White Lady - we will have the chance to take a sort trek to the paintings this evening or the following morning. In Brandberg we will camp in the grounds of a lodge.
Day 8 - Starting: Etosha National Park & Finishing: Etosha National Park
Today we head north to the stunning Etosha National Park. Etosha is one of the world's most pre-eminent wildlife areas, and we have an excellent chance to spot some of Africa's most famous animals such as elephant, lion, giraffe, zebra, leopard, oryx, impala, and rhino! We will stay in the park for 2 days, giving us plenty of opportunity for game drives in our truck in search of the animals here.
Day 9 - Starting: Etosha National Park & Finishing: Etosha National Park
We will enjoy an early morning and a late afternoon game drive today. In Etosha National Park we will stay in a mixture of the campsites of Namutoni, Halali or Okaukuejo according to availability, all of which are superbly located within the National Park, have excellent facilities and are situated next to watering holes where many animals come for a drink at night.
Day 10 - Starting: Grootfontein & Finishing: Grootfontein
Today we will turn east and head to the area north of the town of Grootfontein. This region is home to many of the San people, and we will visit a village community project here - we will go on a fascinating 'bushwalk', learning all about the survival skills, crafts and traditional life from our local San guides! After this, we will head to our campsite for the evening In Grootfontein we will stay in a well equipped campsite.
Day 11 - Starting: Rundu & Finishing: Rundu
Today we will take a morning drive to the town of Rundu, where we stay in a beautiful campsite on the banks of the Okavango River. We will have a free afternoon today, where we have the option to take a walk around the nearby villages and see a slice of local life, or perhaps to take a river cruise for sunset. In Rundu we will stay in a well equipped campsite.
Day 12 - Starting: Shakawe & Finishing: Shakawe
Today we will drive through the narrow Zambezi region of Namibia (also known as the Caprivi Strip), and cross the border into northern Botswana, arriving at our campsite near the small village of Shakawe. Tonight we will prepare for our visit to the Okavango Delta. In Shakawe we will stay in a well equipped campsite.
Day 13 - Starting: Okavango Delta & Finishing: Okavango Delta
Today we have a short drive south to the village of Sepupa, where we leave our vehicle and board boats out over to Mokoba island. Here we will meet our 'mokoro' team, who will take us out into the stunningly beautiful area of the Okavango Delta. We'll board the mokoros (which are small dugout-style canoes) and get poled out into the reed beds of the delta. Each canoe takes two people and is poled through the meandering waterways by a local guide. We'll be camping out on an island in the middle of a wilderness area (at a permanent campsite with facilities). All food will be provided by our local hosts.
Day 14 - Starting: Okavango Delta & Finishing: Okavango Delta
Today we will explore the island on foot, and then take the mokoros out to a different island for more game walks, lunch, and then mokoro back to camp. Hopefully we will have the opportunity to swim in a safe area of the delta and have a try at poling the canoes ourselves! We will stay overnight at our island camp.
Day 15 - Starting: Bagani & Finishing: Bagani
Today we will return to our truck and drive back across the Namibian border to reach our campsite at Bagani, situated in the unspoiled upper reaches of the Okavango Panhandle on Namibia's Caprivi Strip. The camp is set on an island under some amazing trees with river frontage - the area is a paradise of flooded plains and swamps teeming with wildlife. If you wish to upgrade from a tent into one of the tree houses or bush huts instead, you must inform your sales agent as soon as possible as this will need to be booked well in advance - upgrades are unlikely to be available once the trip has started, however you leader can always check late availability for you. In Bagani we stay at a well equipped camp site.
Day 16 - Starting: Chobe National Park & Finishing: Chobe National Park
Today we will drive across a different border into Botswana and reach the town of Kasane, the gateway to the beautiful Chobe National Park.
Day 17 - Starting: Chobe National park & Finishing: Chobe National park
Today we will have an early start to head out on an included jeep safari in Chobe National Park, where we hope to spot plenty of the resident wildlife! In the afternoon we will visit the park again by taking an included boat trip down the Chobe river - the boat trip provides a fantastic opportunity to take some stunning wildlife photographs, getting extremely close to the animals without disturbing them. In Kasane we will stay in a well equipped campsite in the grounds of a safari lodge.
Day 18 - Starting: Victoria Falls & Finishing: Victoria Falls
Today we have a short drive across the Zimbabwean border to the Victoria Falls, Africa's largest waterfalls and one of the world's most spectacular sights! This afternoon we will have an included visit to the main viewpoints over the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls. In Victoria Falls we will stay in a well equipped campsite with opportunity to upgrade to various types of rooms.
Day 19 - Starting: Victoria Falls & Finishing: Victoria Falls
Today is the end day for passengers finishing their trip in Victoria Falls.
View Dates