Hiking, swimming, sundowners, sunrises, desert walks, new friends, camping in style and epic adventure is what this tour is all about! And it’s for students only! So if you’re one of the lucky ones who will have your head buried in your books this year, ensure that you keep the “work hard, play hard” balance by joining us this Easter holiday on a round trip to Swakopmund, the adventure capital of Namibia.
This nine day camping tour will leave Cape Town on the 22nd March 2013, return to Cape Town on the 30th March 2013 and will cost R6 250 per person sharing. It includes transport in an overland safari truck, all the meals listed in the itinerary below, your camping equipment (please bring a sleeping bag and towel) and the most fun you’ll have all year!
Here’s what you’ll be getting up to on your Desert Explorer Tour!
Day 1 South Africa – Cederberg Mountain Region
Leaving Cape Town we make our first stop at Table View and take photos of Table Mountain from across Table Bay. On the way to the Cederberg we visit !Khwa ttu where we enjoy a San guided tour and museum visit (optional Activity Package). After the tour, lunch will be prepared, and then we continue to our campsite in the Cederberg region. We arrive at our camp and your guides will give you a full briefing on the tour.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Marcuskraal: www.marcuskraal.co.za
Facilities: Hot showers, swimming pool
Route: Cape Town to Citrusdal: ± 230 km
Travel time: ±5 hrs
Activity Package: !Kwa ttu San Guided tour and lunch
Day 2 Namaqualand – Orange River
After an early start, we head north via the distant town of Springbok, best known for its diamonds, copper and spring flowers. On arrival at the Orange River, we head to our camp located right beside the Namibian border. The camp is situated on the riverbank that forms the border between South Africa and Namibia.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Fiddlers Creek Campsite: www.bushwhacked.co.za
Facilities: Hot showers, water not drinkable, bar
Route: Citrusdal to Orange river: ±570 km
Travel time: ±10 hrs
Day 3 Namibia – Orange River – Fish River Canyon
This morning there’s the chance to see the beautiful river valley by canoe or just relax at camp. After lunch we cross the border and travel to the Fish River Canyon. After a scenic walk along the edge of the canyon we enjoy our dinner while watching the sunset. This is also a fantastic photo opportunity. Optional Activity: Half-Day Canoe Adventure.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camp: Hobas Campsite www.nwr.com.na/hobas.html
Facilities: Hot showers (sometimes), drinkable water, small kiosk, small swimming pool, bar
Route: Orange River to Fish River Canyon ±210 km
Travel time: ±4-5 hrs and a border crossing
Included Highlight: Hike along the rim of the Fish River Canyon
Border posts: South Africa: Vioolsdrift, Tel: +27 (27) 761 8760, Open 24 hours. Namibia: Noordoewer, Tel: +264 (0) 63 297 122, Open 24 hours.
Day 4 Namib-Naukluft National Park
We arrive at the Namib-Naukluft National Park and set up camp, then enjoy a short hike into the Sesriem Canyon. Tonight we enjoy the star-studded sky and enduring silence of the Namib Desert, only occasionally interrupted by the call of a Jackal or, a rather unique lizard, the barking gecko!
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camp: Sesriem campsite http://www.nwr.com.na/sesriem_campsite.html
Facilities: Hot showers, drinkable water, bar, swimming pool, shop
Route: Fish River Canyon to Namib-Naukluft Park ±560 km
Travel time: ±10 hr
Included Highlight: Hike into Sesriem Canyon
Day 5 Sossusvlei Dunes – Namib-Naukluft National Park
This is our earliest morning as we prepare for our hike up Dune 45 to marvel at the sunrise. After our hike, we will have the chance to visit Sossusvlei. Later we join a local expert on a guided hike and learn more about the unique desert ecosystem and how the Bushmen survived in the harsh desert conditions (optional Activity Package). Optional Activity: Transfer into Deadvlei
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camp: Desert Shelter Cha-re: No website available
Facilities: Hot showers, swimming pool, bar
Route: Sesriem to Solitaire ±100 km (excludes drive to dessert walk)
Travel time: ±3 hrs (round trip into Sesriem plus drive to Solitaire)
Activity package: Guided desert walk with local expert
Included Highlights: Sunrise hike up Dune 45
Day 6/7 Swakopmund
After a brief photo stop while crossing the Tropic of Capricorn, we travel on to Namibia’s Atlantic coast and the adventure capital of Namibia, Swakopmund. Often there are flamingos at the Walvis Bay lagoon, just before we arrive in Swakopmund. You will be briefed on the many optional activities available here and then there is time to explore the town before dinner out at one of the local restaurants. Optional Activities: Dinner out
Day 6
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Dorm Rooms: Dunedin: http://www.dunedinstar.com
Facilities: Wireless internet, drinkable water, laundry
Route: Solitaire to Swakopmund ±280 km
Travel time: ±4-5 hrs (including Walvis Bay)
Included Highlight: Stop off in Walvis Bay to view Flamingos
Day 7
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Dorm Rooms: Dunedin: http://www.dunedinstar.com
Facilities: Wireless internet, drinkable water, laundry
Swakopmund is well known for adventure sports including: skydiving, sandboarding and quadbiking. Your guides will be able to assist you in deciding on a suitable activity, alternatively, spend the day exploring the town and enjoying the various coffee shops and souvenir shops.
Day 8 Namaqualand – Orange River
Today is an early start for an all day drive to the Orange River.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Camp: Fiddlers Creek Campsite www.bushwhacked.co.za
Facilities: Water not drinkable, bar, hot showers, shared ablutions.
Route: Swakopmund to Orange River: ±1015
Travel time: ±12 hrs
Border posts: South Africa: Vioolsdrift, Tel: +27 (27) 761 8760, Open 24 hours. Namibia: Noordoewer, Tel: +264 (0) 63 297 122, Open 24 hours.
Day 9 Cape Town
Our final day on tour, we head to the Mother City, Cape Town. Travelling along the coast road, we stop at Table View for a magnificent view of Table Mountain, from the other side of the bay.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Own arrangements
Route: Orange River to Cape Town: ±800km
Travel time: +/- 11 hrs
Tour Ends
The tour ends at Nomad Adventure Tours, 39 Castle Street, (Corner Castle & Burg Streets), Cape Town. We suggest you book accommodation for this evening. Kindly pre book this through your travel agent or Nomad.
Book your seat soon as spaces are limited. We look forward to having you on the road with us. Contact us on marketing@nomadtours.co.za if you need any further information at all. Please also feel free to follow, poke, share and like our social spaces below. It would be great if you could load your pictures, videos and memories to the pages too so that you can share them with your friends and ours.
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*Standard Nomad Terms and Conditions apply
*Valid student card required to join the tour