Victoria Falls to Cape Town  

  Duration20 Days

Please note: This itinerary is flexible and can be changed without notice. A detailed, up-to-date dossier itinerary is available to download.

Day 1 – Victoria Falls

Today is your arrival day in the town of Victoria Falls, home to the spectacular Victoria Falls.  The bustling adventure town of Victoria Falls also offers a range of optional activities for those wanting a dose of adrenaline.  If you wish to participate in the various activities available, please visit the offices of Shearwater, our preferred supplier (https://www.shearwatervictoriafalls.com/experience/, to book your activities. For the more relaxed traveller there are craft markets to explore and a delicious high tea is on offer at the Victoria Falls Hotel.   You will meet your crew in the reception area of Shearwater at 17:00pm                      

Day 2 – Victoria Falls – Kasane – Chobe National Park

This morning you will have the opportunity to participate in the many optional activities on offer in the town of Victoria Falls.  After lunch, we travel the short distance to the Botswana border, crossing into Botswana and will arrive at our accommodation in the late afternoon, to set up camp on the banks of the Chobe River.

Day 3 – Kasane to Nata

We leave the banks of the Chobe River, and head south into the Kalahari Desert. You’ll notice the ‘bushveld’ change as you get closer to Nata, our overnight stop close to Botswana’s famous salt pans. This afternoon, after our arrival in Nata, we enjoy a guided drive to the Nata pans, which forms the breeding ground for a host of water birds including pelicans and flamingo in their thousands (birds dependant on seasonal migratory patterns).

Day 4 – Khwai Conservation Area

You will be separated from your Nomad truck for the next 2 nights and it is therefore important that you pack/gather your personal belongings which you may need, before we depart camp today.  Please pack lightly and only take what you need for the following two nights.   Today we make our way towards the Okavango Delta. Upon arrival in Maun, you will have the opportunity to go on an optional scenic flight over the Delta (time and weather permitting). After your optional flight, you will be collected from Maun and will be transferred to the Khwai Conservation area in smaller 4×4 safari type vehicles.  Our guide will prepare us on what to expect for our afternoon mokoro excursion into the Okavango Delta. (Please note:  It is possible that the mokoro activity could take place the following morning, depending on the season).

Day 5 – Moremi Game Reserve
Today is a full day game drive as we spend most of our day on safari in the Moremi Game Reserve in search of the species that roam the plains.  Expect some bumpy roads as we traverse this wilderness area in our 4×4 vehicles.  Offering habitats from wetland, open water to the grasslands and Savannah woodland, we hope to see as many species of fauna and flora possible.  This evening we arrive back at Khwai to share and compare all the amazing sightings while on safari.

Day 6 – Khwai to Maun

We will depart early this morning in our 4×4 vehicles and make our way back to Maun, where we will overnight, before heading for our next adventure in Namibia.                                                  

Day 7 – Maun to Divundu

We start early this morning as we continue north-west and cross the border into Namibia, venturing towards the Kavango River for our overnight stop in Divundu. We will stay at our lodge and enjoy a leisurely boat cruise on the beautiful Kavango River.

Day 8 – Divundu to Etosha

This morning we depart for the gates of Etosha National Park. With vast salt pans, savanna and woodland, Etosha is one of Africa’s finest game parks. At 18 000 sq km, it is one of the biggest Parks in Southern Africa. Etosha means “great white area”, which refers to the large dried pan in the middle of the Park. We enter the park and travel the to our overnight rest camp for the night.

Day 9 – Etosha National Park

We will head out of camp this morning to explore the surrounding plains in search of the many animal species that call Etosha home.  After enjoying our lunch back at camp, you will have the afternoon at leisure. 

Day 10 – Etosha National Park

Our third day in Etosha allows for a full day of exploration of the park. No day on safari is ever the same and the suspense before that special sighting is the motivation that keeps our eyes wide open.  We explore the edges of the Etosha Pan in search of the abundant wildlife that occur in the park. 

Day 11 – Etosha to Brandberg

This morning, we set off from Etosha National Park.  After a final morning of exploration as we exit the park, we’ll leave the park and head towards Brandberg.

Day 12 – Brandberg to Swakopmund

Today we enjoy a nature walk with your Nomad guide to see the San rock art. The Brandberg (Burning Mountains) are regarded as the highest in Namibia and home to the famous White Lady, one of more than 45,000 rock paintings in the area.  This morning we will make the ±2-hour return hike to visit the painting that is said to be around 2,000 years old. We then depart and arrive in the beautiful coastal city of Swakopmund.

Day 13 –Swakopmund

While for many it is the adrenaline fuelled adventures that will grab their attention, Swakopmund offers all that and more. Take the opportunity today to explore the town at your leisure, as there are a number of attractions for every taste. Not to be missed is the selection of famed coffee shops and bakeries that offer a delightful range of German inspired treats.  Swakopmund offers all the conveniences of a small city and is the perfect launching pad for the journey through the northern reaches of the land.

Day 14 – Swakopmund to Sesriem

Leaving behind the charms of Swakopmund we continue our journey to Southern Namibia and the Namib Desert. While bidding a reluctant farewell to the ocean, we make a stop to commemorate our crossing of the Tropic of Capricorn this morning before turning east towards the heart of the

desert. This afternoon, we have the privilege of joining a local expert for an enlightening desert excursion. Our local guide will introduce us to the wonders of the desert environment – an amazing introduction to the Namib that is sure to get all your senses ready for the next few days. An early night is advisable as tomorrow will see us up as the dawn breaks, but tonight we spend the night under the magnificent desert stars, knowing that the next day holds more adventures among the red sand dunes.

Day 15 – Sossusvlei Dunes – Namib-Naukluft National Park

Today we will rise early for our drive to the Namib-Naukluft National Park.  We will enter the park just after sunrise and travel through to the famous Dune 45. A brisk climb up Dune 45 offers us the perfect vantage point to marvel at the changing colours of the desert. Once satisfied we descend this famous dune and enjoy a hearty breakfast before catching a 4×4 transfer into Sossusvlei, here we will spend time on foot visiting the pans at Sossusvlei and Deadvlei. Tonight we camp on the doorstep of the dune fields, we’ll empty the red sand from our shoes and fall asleep to the unique calls of the elusive Barking Gecko.

Day 16 – Namib-Naukluft National Park Area

Today is put aside for you to relax and recharge while taking in the landscapes of the desert.  Optional activities such as self-guided walks from camp are available. 

Day 17 – Keetmanshoop

This morning we pack up and turn east and head for Keetmanshoop.  Every overland journey has some long travelling days and today is one of those as we spend most of the day driving onto our next destination.  Our exploration of the desert concludes this afternoon with a visit to the Quiver Tree Forest and Giants Playgrounds, named for the way in which the massive dolerite boulders have been placed on each other- creating rock formations and a series of mazes. Contrary to belief, the quiver tree is not really a tree, but a plant that can grow to between 200 – 300 years old. 

Day 18 – Fish River Canyon – Orange River

The Fish River Canyon is the longest river in Namibia and the largest Canyon in Africa.  We will drive to the rim of the Fish River Canyon and have an opportunity to stretch our legs with a gentle walk along the rim of the canyon, before we head further south and make our way to the Orange River, our final stop in Namibia.   Our last night in Namibia is spent on the banks of the Orange River and the best way to experience the Orange River is by canoe. This afternoon you will have the opportunity to partake in an optional canoe trip on the river.

Day 19 – Orange River – Cederberg

A final border crossing sees us enter South Africa this morning as we travel through the desert landscapes of Namaqualand on our way to the Cederberg region. If you are fortunate enough to be travelling in the spring months (July to September) you may encounter the wild flowers that have made this region famous. No matter the time of year though, the strange desert vistas offer a unique backdrop to this day’s travel.  Tonight we enjoy a traditional meal and celebrate the many memories we have made.

Day 20 – Cederberg – Cape Town

The Cederberg region not only boasts spectacular mountains and orange farms, but it is also the home of the Rooibos bush. Indigenous to the mountain slopes of the Cedarberg, this herbal beverage has earned an international reputation as a healthy and refreshing alternative to regular tea.  The Cederberg region is known for its mountain fynbos and spectacular views of the rugged Cedarberg Mountains. Nearing Cape Town, you will notice Table Mountain appear in the distance and we will stop to look at Table Mountain from across Table Bay.  Your tour ends upon arrival in Cape Town city centre.