From Cape to Zimbabwe

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  The Journey

• day 2

  Cap

  Arrival in Cape Town and departure for a first discovery of the city, the southernmost on the African continent. Many possibilities are available to you: the Castle of Good Hope, Cape Town City Hall, the Company's Garden, the Bo-Kaap district with its colorful houses, the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, not to mention the ascent of Table Mountain which offers a magnificent panorama over the Cape Bay. At the end of the day, head to Long Street, an avenue overflowing with bars, cafés, restaurants, and legendary bookstores. Dinner at your leisure and overnight in a guesthouse.

• day 3

  Cap

  Set off today to discover the famous Cape Peninsula, taking the magnificent road that runs along the coastline. Pass through Hout Bay, a picturesque village renowned for its small fishing port, then along the famous Chapman’s Peak scenic route. You will then cross the Cape of Good Hope reserve before arriving at Cape Point, at the southernmost tip of the peninsula, a legendary place for explorers. Continue your day with a visit to the town of Simon’s Town and Boulder’s Beach, famous for its penguin colony. On the way back to Cape Town, visit the Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, which stretches over the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. Dinner at leisure and overnight in a guesthouse.

• day 4

  Cap

  Continue your journey along the famous wine route and its prestigious vineyards, with visits to Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, the most well-known in the region. These villages are full of historical monuments and sublime properties with Dutch architecture. The Stellenbosch valley is made up of more than 300 vineyards and is considered the wine capital of South Africa. Franschhoek, for its part, has preserved its traditions and the French know-how of the Huguenots who settled in the valley in the 17th century. Gastronomy is also well represented and you will find some of the best restaurants in the country there. Dinner at leisure and overnight in a guesthouse.

• day 5

  Cape - Strandfontein

  Breakfast and meeting with our team, then drive to the town of Lambert Bay, a small town known for its fishermen and shrimp farms. Visit of Lambert Bay, famous for its concentration of Cape gannets. Free lunch in a restaurant to taste the country's specialties (fish), then continue to our campsite by the sea in Strandfontein. First night camping. Dinner and overnight in Strandfontein (camping).

• day 6

  South Africa - Namibia

  Breakfast and passage through the small town of Lutzville. Crossing the northern part of the Cape, in this Namaqua region. Part of the Garden Route will allow you to discover the enchanting landscapes of the Karoo and these mountainous northern regions. Be aware, the authenticity is just beginning! You will also have the opportunity to see wine cellars and wild gardens, whose flowers change according to the seasons and regions. Rooibos tea, very renowned and known for its Karoo region. Crossing the South African border and entering Namibia. Dinner and overnight at Félix United (Camping).

• day 7

  Orange River - Fish River Canyon

  Breakfast and departure for a canoe excursion on the Orange River. Enjoy the magnificent landscapes passing before you and observe the life of the river. In the afternoon, departure for the Fish River Canyon. Dinner and overnight at Hobas Fish River (camping).

• day 8

  Fish River

  You will admire the panorama offered by the largest canyon in Africa from different viewpoints. In the morning, walk along the canyon, then in the afternoon, round trip to the extreme south to discover wild nature and breathtaking landscapes. Return after sunset for a second night in Hobas.

• day 9

  Fish River - Aus

  After breakfast, you will get back on the track towards Aus, a former German fort that was the scene of a battle during the First World War. Visit the Garub waterhole to observe the wild horses of the Namibian desert that come to drink at dusk. Dinner and overnight at Klein Aus Vista in a hotel (in single rooms).

• day 10

  Aus - Sesreim

  You will take the track, often considered the most beautiful in Namibia (the 707), to reach Sesriem, the gateway to the Naukluft park. You will probably have time to stroll in the Sesriem canyon before going to watch the sunset on a small dune, a 40-minute walk from the camp. Return to the campsite by car. Dinner and overnight at Sesriem Campsite (NWR).

• day 11

  Sesriem - Sossusvlei

  This day will probably be the most iconic of your stay. Wake up an hour and a half before sunrise in order to reach Sossusvlei and its majestic dunes as quickly as possible. The worldwide reputation of these dunes is due to their beauty, their colors, their size (the highest on the planet), but also to these surprising "Vlei", kinds of salt pans, former ponds dried up and whitened by salt. Three good hours of walking, to climb, for the bravest, the highest dune, then return to the camp. Pool... At the end of the day, after the intense heat, you will probably go to watch the sunset on Elim dune. Dinner and night at Sesriem Campsite.

• day 12

  Sesriem - Swakopmund

  Departure to Solitaire. There, you will have coffee and an apple pie, the most delicious in the country. You will continue to Walvis Bay where you will sleep in a very comfortable guesthouse. Please note that, depending on how the day progresses, your guide may make a detour to Dune 7. Again, among the activities your guide will offer, depending on your arrival time, there will be the discovery of Walvis Bay, which is just a stone's throw from the hotel. Thousands of flamingos, accessible within less than 10 m (probably the best spot in the world for flamingo watching). Dinner at your leisure and overnight at Horus Guesthouse.

• day 13

  Walvis Bay

  Morning dedicated to discovering this famous bay populated by flamingos and several colonies of fur seals. At this time of year, with many births, it is essential to approach them in the best way: by sea, in a kayak. This way, you don't scare them and you can get very close (they swim and play around the kayaks). This excursion is accessible to all levels, even if you have never kayaked before and cannot swim! In fact, the supervision is excellent, the equipment is high quality, life jackets are provided, and above all, there are neither currents nor waves because you are inside the lagoon. At noon, you will have free time to visit Swakopmund and have lunch wherever you like. The afternoon is free. You can take advantage of this time to do an optional excursion (at your own expense): a scenic flight over the coast (breathtaking landscapes) or a 4x4 tour to Sandwich Harbour. You can also simply stroll around Swakopmund (remarkable mineral museum) or along the banks of the lagoon, from the Walvis hotel (flamingos, etc.). We will take care of the logistics for this "à la carte" afternoon. (Moon Landscape is an excursion that will probably have been done the day before, and can also be done the next day when heading towards Spitzkoppe, but if no one is interested in the flight or 4x4 excursion, it can also be done this afternoon. This will be at your guide's discretion.)

• day 14

  Walvis Bay - Spitzkoppe

  Short transfer (100 km) in the morning to Spitzkoppe, where you can take a long walk inside this small reserve with its phantasmagorical mineral formations. Prodigious sunset in this extraordinary mineral universe. Note: no showers near the campsite, but they are located at the entrance of this park managed by a local community. It is possible to take a shower the next morning before leaving, when you get closer to the park exit, or in the evening.

• day 15

  Spitzkoppe - Himba Village - Etosha

  Departure for the town of Kamanjab, where you will discover the fascinating Himba ethnic group, who still live according to their ancestral customs. A few hours of an exceptional encounter! You will be asked not to take photos during the first hour in order to encourage sharing and exchanges. You can then immortalize these memorable moments. Afternoon safari in Etosha Park, which has a superb waterhole as well as waterholes lit at night, allowing for great sightings. You will have a good part of the afternoon to enjoy a safari. The Okaukuejo campsite is just a stone's throw from the waterhole, which is lit all night. Dinner and overnight at Okaukuejo (NWR) (Camping).

• day 16

  Okaukuejo - Namutoni

  Your safari continues from west to east. A beautiful, almost exclusive safari day, as very few tourists take this route reserved for tour operators. Heading towards Okaukuejo, barely 170 km away. But it's a "game drive" with mandatory stops at all the waterholes to observe the richness of the wildlife. Dinner and overnight at the Namutoni campsite.

• day 17

  Namutoni - Tsumkwe

  You will leave Etosha Park and head towards a San (Bushmen) community near Grasshook. Various activities with the San people will be offered: traditional dances, village visit, and walk in which you can participate. Dinner and overnight at Tsunkwe TUSCIN in a room.

• day 18

  Tsumkwe - Botswana - Guma Lagoon Camp

  Breakfast prepared by the guide and crossing of the Kalahari Desert, located between Botswana and Namibia; you will be surprised by the contrast of the lively life in these very varied landscapes. Crossing the Kalahari to reach the Namibian and Botswana border. Drive towards Nokaneng then Etsha, located southwest of the Okavango Delta. Picnic lunch. Transfer from Etsha to reach the Guma camp, located on the lagoon of the delta. As you approach Guma camp, the water of the Okavango River allows the large African trees to thrive; the flora and fauna become more abundant. Setting up camp.

• day 19

  Guma - Okavango Delta - Guma

  Wake up to the sound of the bush. Breakfast prepared by the guide. A boat transfer through the delta channel, meeting with the team of polers. The mokoro, a traditional canoe, is the best way to discover the meanders of the delta. Mokoro ride and walk on the many islets to discover this jewel of Africa. Transfer by mokoro, then by boat to reach the Guma Lagoon. Dinner and overnight at the Guma Lagoon Camp campsite.

• day 20

  Guma - Tsodilo Hill - Shakawe

  Breakfast prepared by the guide. Transfer to reach the small village of Etsha and drive to Tsodilo. Tsodilo is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is known for its rock paintings. For the San people, Tsodilo is a mountain of the Gods and a sacred place. Visit this site known for its rock paintings in these mountains that the San respect and appreciate as the mountain of the Gods. Lunch, then head towards the small town of Shakawe. Dinner and overnight at Drotsky Cabin campsite.

• day 21

  Shakawe - Bagani - Kongola

  Early morning safaris in Mahango Park, located on the border between Namibia and Botswana. Picnic lunch and drive to Kongola crossing the Bwabwata Park, where you may encounter elephants crossing the road. Kwando is a river with multiple branches winding between termite mounds. The Kwando, later called Linyanti, and Chobe form a mini delta in this part of the Namibian savannah. This region, now called the Linyanti marshes, is without a doubt one of the most beautiful wildlife reserves in Africa. Its inaccessibility has helped preserve its wild and untouched character. Dinner and overnight at Camp Kwando in a room.

• day 22

  Kwando - Kasane

  Breakfast prepared by the guide. Drive to Katima Mulilo, located at the borders of Botswana and Zambia. Drive to Botswana and cross the border at Ngoma, a lovely border post overlooking the Linyanti River in Namibia, which becomes the Chobe River in Botswana. Continue towards Chobe by crossing the national park. Picnic lunch. Boat safari along the Chobe River to spot aquatic wildlife at sunset. You will see hippos and crocodiles basking on the bank or bursting out of the water, antelopes coming to drink, and a large number of birds, including the famous fish eagle. You will end this experience with a sunset aperitif. (+/- 3h) Dinner and overnight at the Kubu Lodge campsite.

• day 23

  Kasane - Victoria Falls

  Early departure for a safari in Chobe National Park. A 3-hour safari in this magnificent park to observe a diverse range of wildlife, including elephants, buffalo, and other animals. In the afternoon, transfer from Kazungula, the border post with Zimbabwe, to Victoria Falls. Free dinner. Overnight at Shearwater. Discovery of the village.

• day 24

  Victoria Falls

  Breakfast and visit to the falls on the Zimbabwe side. A curtain of water 1.7 km long flows from a cliff 108 meters high at its highest point. Discovered by Livingstone in 1855 (known by indigenous populations for much longer), its many viewpoints are among the most exceptional on the planet. A spectacle that justifies crossing the continent! Suggestion: During your stay at the falls, many activities are possible and will allow you to further discover this magnificent site: helicopter flight, rafting, walking with lions, elephant-back walk, bungee jumping, etc. Our team on site will help you make your choice. Dinner at your leisure and overnight at Shearwater - Discovery of the village.

• day 25

  Back

  

  Breakfast. Transfer to the airport for your return flight. NB: The itinerary may be done in reverse order on certain dates.