Deserts and Gameparks in 23 days

This trip of a lifetime combines many of Africa's beautiful sights, animals and experiences to create a wonderful, unforgettable adventure

Travel overland from Victoria Falls to Cape Town and experience the adrenaline of Whitewater Rafting, Bungee Jumping, Quad Biking or Dune Sledding and see the incredible wildlife of the Okavango Delta and Etosha National Park.

This Deserts & Gameparks is the epitome of Africa adventure travel, where you'll experience the diversity that Southern Africa has to offer.

You can continue on this trip from Cape Town to Johannesburg - see Deserts & Gameparks in 40 days

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Itinerary / Highlights

On this trip we spend the first day at Victoria Falls, but if you would like to experience more of the many activities and sights in and around the Falls then we reccommend arriving a couple of days before your trip departs. We can advise on travel arrangements to Victoria Falls, pre and post tour accommodation, booking activites at Vic Falls etc.

For some, Mosi oa Tunya - The Smoke That Thunders, (Victoria Falls), is the highlight of their trip. When you arrive it is a surprise to discover the enormity of Victoria Falls. One mile wide and hurling over 5 million cubic metres of water a minute into the Zambezi Gorge this is the setting for the most awesome of grade 5 white water rafting in the world. There is something here for everyone: a day trip over the great Victoria Falls Bridge into Zambia with its excellent views of the Falls, canoe trips, the Flight of Angels over the Falls in a light aircraft, microlite or helicopter, Sunset Boat Cruises, the Gorge Swing, Abseiling and one of the highest commercial Bungee Jumps in the world!

Days 1 - 4 We spend the first day in Vic Falls township, giving you enough time to visit the Falls. We then have a short drive into Botswana, spending the night at the Chobe National Park. Here we can view game and wildlife from the deck of a boat on the Chobe River. We then organise our trip into the Okavango Delta (optional). From here most people will spend 2 days with guides poling them around in Mokoros (dug out canoes). This is the best way to explore the extensive waterways and wildlife of this unique desert oasis. You will have a number of opportunities to go on game walks with rangers. Elephant, crocodile and hippo are nearly always seen. The Okavango Delta is one of the worlds largest inland waterways and its serenity and quietness have a calming effect on those who experience it. There is also the opportunity to experience the heights of African adventure travel too: see the delta from the air during an hour-long flight.

Days 5 - 7 Travelling west we enter Namibia and continue north-west toward Etosha National Park. The semi desert is quite a contrast to the more fertile terrain we have been used to. We bush camp for a night in this expansive freedom. The night sky ablaze with shooting stars and the warm glow of our campfire makes it an unforgettable camping experience. Etosha National Park is recognised as one of Africas greatest wildlife viewing areas and is a must see on all Africa overland tours. Besides game drives we can also game watch by night at one of the floodlit water holes where we may well spot Rhino, Elephant and Giraffe among a host of other wildlife. From Etosha we visit a local Cheetah park before continuing on to the Brandenberg Mountains in Demaraland and head towards the Skeleton Coast.

Days 8 - 13 We then visit either Sptizkoppe Rock formations or the world famous Cape Cross Seal Colony where the sight of thousands of these mammals, as well as their accompanying pungent odour is remembered by all! For the next three days, our Africa overland tour will be based in Swakopmund, a gateway to a variety of activities and excursions. You can choose between a variety of Africa adventure travel activities here: spend a day deep sea fishing for shark and other game fish or head out to the desert and try quad biking and dune sledding.You can also go horse riding or take a flight over the desert and its dramatic coastline. In Swakopmund itself you can walk along miles of deserted beaches, visit the museum or relax in a cafe.

Days 14 - 18 A one day drive takes us to the Namib-Naukluft Park, a vast expanse of desert which contains some of the highest sand dunes in the world. At Sossusvlei we stop and explore the area and the dunes. Continuing south we enter the semi-desert, and wide-open countryside of cattle ranching until we arrive at one of Africas most sensational natural features, Fish River Canyon. We camp next to this massive gorge where you can go on a one-day hike and take in the awesome scenery.

Days 19 - 23 A couple of hours drive away we cross the Orange River, a rich source of diamonds, and enter South Africa. We travel south through the Cederburg Wilderness Area, a rugged area of valleys and peaks. Near Stellenbosch we visit one of the historic Cape Wineries before arriving at our final destination for this Africa adventure travel experience, the cosmopolitan city of Cape Town. Our accommodation here will be in a backpackers lodge.

Those on the 23 day trip finish here in Cape Town whilst those on the 40 day trip continue to Jo'burg.

Other Details

Accommodation Details

Camping throughout except Swakopmund where we stay in hostels