Cape Town Desert Safari (Southbound)

Tour Code: SCDS11

Experience Africa's enormous skies and wild remote landscapes on a journey through some of the continent's most striking scenery.
Encounter deep canyons and towering dunes, diverse wildlife and fascinating tribal culture on this exciting tour through Namibia and the Cape, mixed with a host of adrenaline activities along the way.

Cape Town Township Tour Spectacular views at Fish River Canyon Giant sand dunes of the Namib Desert Swakopmund, Namibia's adrenaline capital! Spitzkoppe Bushman Paintings Night waterhole viewing at Etosha National Park

+44 (0) 207 706 4700

Itinerary / Highlights

DAY 1 – 2 Etosha National Park

We begin our journey from Namibia’s capital, Windhoek, where the colonial German influence can be seen in the architecture of the city. Leaving the capital we make our way north to Etosha National Park, a vast reserve of over 20,000 square kilometres in area surrounding a central salt depression or ‘pan.’ The pan is seasonally full of water but specially managed year-round waterholes sustain some 114 mammal and 340 bird species. We spend two nights here and camp near a floodlit waterhole. This provides exciting night time game viewing for those who choose to stay up to watch. Observers frequently see a range of night visitors from elephant, giraffe and zebra to lion and hyena at close quarters around the holes, making it one of the most memorable wildlife encounters in Namibia.

DAY 3 – 5 Spitzkoppe - Cape Cross Seal Colony - Swakopmund

We now head into the beautiful Damaraland region and stop at Spitzkoppe to admire ancient bushman paintings still visible on the area’s peculiar rock formations. Reaching the Atlantic ocean, we then travel along some of the desolate coastline that continues south from the Skeleton Coast. We stop at Cape Cross, the place where in 1486, the Portuguese mariner Diego Cão first set foot on the coast of southwest Africa. It is also, infamously home to some 80,000 seals, the largest of a number of seal colonies along this stretch of coast.

The Cape Cross Seal Colony is impressive, if not just for its size, then for the immense noise and smell it produces! It also provides great photographic opportunities. We arrive at the colonial town of Swakopmund, Namibia’s main seaside resort. Sandwiched neatly between the desert and the ocean, this delightful coastal oasis has developed into something of an adventure centre. Try ‘quad biking, sand boarding, or skydiving (weather permitting) or for those preferring a slower pace, take a coastal walk or indulge in Swakopmund’s café culture at your own leisure.

DAY 6 - 8 Namib Naukluft Park – Fish River Canyon

Continuing south through the barren desert we reach the Namib Naukluft Park. The world’s oldest desert and containing some of the highest sand dunes in the world – some of Sesriem and Sossusvlei’s dunes are over 300m high – this is an ideal spot to clamber to the top of one and see the sun rise over the empty desert. We continue deeper into the park for a nature walk across the saltpans and flat valley floors. Don’t forget your camera - the changing colours of the sand as the sun rises and sets throughout the day offer brilliant photographic opportunities.

Continuing to the very south of Namibia we admire the awesome beauty of the Fish River Canyon. One of the natural wonders of Africa, some 500m deep and over 160km long, this is the second largest canyon in the world after America’s Grand Canyon. Again, there are plenty of opportunities for keen photographers as we spend time around this area and visit the canyon’s infamous sharp river bend known as ‘Hell’s Corner.

DAY 9 - 11 Gariep River – Cape Town

On our final leg of the journey we leave Namibia and enter South Africa stopping en route for a night next to the desolate but striking Gariep (Orange) River.

We continue south and notice the desert slowly give way to the increasingly fertile Cape Province. On the edge of Cape Town itself lie the Cape Flats, home to Cape Town’s townships. We visit some of the local people and community projects in the area. The townships illustrate both South Africa’s tumultuous history and its hope for the future. Finally we continue to cosmopolitan Cape Town, without doubt one of the world’s most beautiful cities. If time allows we recommend you spend a few days exploring the city and surrounds. Take advantage of the variety of activities normally available here – from abseiling Table Mountain and shopping at the V&A Waterfront, to wine tasting in the nearby winelands of Paarl and Stellenbosch.

Other Details

Accommodation Details

Camping ( 2 Person Dome Tent)

Departure Dates, Options & Prices

Start: Windhoek, Namibia
Finish: Cape Town, South Africa

+44 (0) 207 706 4700