22 Day Northern Experience Safari - Upgraded (JenB3)

Cape Town, Cedarberg, Orange River, Fish River Canyon, Sossusvlei, Sesriem, Swakopmund, Himba Experience, Etosha National Park, Okavango Delta, Western Caprivi, Mudumo National Park, Chobe National Park, Victoria Falls.

DAY 1: Cape Town, South Africa
Arrival in Cape Town. On request, airport transfers ca be arranged. You have the remainder of the day at leisure.

Accommodation: Lady Hamilton Hotel (Rooms with en-suite bathrooms).

DAY 2: Cape Town to Cedarberg Mountains and Citrusdal Hot Springs, South Africa
An early start from the Lady Hamilton Hotel takes us to the beach on the Atlantic Ocean to have a last look at Table Mountain across the bay. After lunch we head for the Cedarberg Mountains, bypassing Citrusdal, a bustling rural village set amongst lush green citrus orchards.

Distance: 250 km
Departure: 10h00
Lunch Stop: En route
Accommodation: Gecko Creek Accommodation (Cabins, separate wash rooms with hot water, swimming pool).

Lunch & Dinner Included.

DAY 3: West Coast of South Africa to Orange River, South Africa
Travelling up the West Coast, we pass through some magnificent mountain ranges on our way to the Orange River. If you are travelling in spring you will see the spectacular carpets of wildflowers in the famous Namaqualand region.

Distance: 511km
Departure: 08h00
Lunch Stop: Picnic spot on West Coast of South Africa
Accommodation: Felix Unite River Camp on Orange River (Cabanas, wash rooms with hot water and bar).

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.

DAY 4: Canoeing on the Orange River, Namibia
The only travelling today is done in a canoe. Put your feet up and relax as the currents take you downstream - mind the rapids though!

Distance: 20 km (on the river)
Lunch Stop: Banks of the Orange River
Accommodation: Felix Unite River Camp on Orange River (Cabanas, wash rooms with hot water and bar).

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.

DAY 5: Fish River Canyon, Namibia
Today we head off to Canon Road House close to the Fish River Canyon. Later in the evening we take in another perfect African sunset with the magnificent views and scenery along the edge of the Canyon.

Distance: 141km
Departure: 08h00
Lunch Stop: Picnic site en route.
Accommodation: Canon Road House Campsite (tents, wash rooms with hot water, swimming pool and convenience store).

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.

DAY 6: Sossusvlei, Namibia
Moving inland we make our way to Hammerstein Lodge, which is close to the world's highest sand dunes at Sossusvlei.

Distance: 650 km
Departure: 08h00
Lunch Stop: Picnic site en route to Sesriem.
Accommodation: Hammerstein Lodge Campsite (tents, wash rooms with hot water, bar and swimming pool).

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.

DAY 7: Sesriem and Sossusvlei, Namibia
We visit the world's highest sand dunes at Sossusvlei. A drive into the dunes is also available (optional cost of R95pp transfer from 2x4 parking to Sossusvlei/Dead vlei parking area). At sunset these red sand dunes, which can reach heights of over 300 m, are absolutely spectacular and provide for a fantastic photo opportunity. With luck, there may even be water in the vlei (lake).

Distance: 120 km
Departure: 05h00
Lunch Stop: Poolside picnic at Sesriem Camp
Accommodation: Hammerstein Lodge Campsite (tents, wash rooms with hot water, bar and swimming pool).

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.

DAY 8: Namib Naukluft National Park & Kuiseb Canyon to Swakopmund, Namibia
The day is spent driving through the Namib Naukluft National Park and the Kuiseb Canyon on our way to Swakopmund.

Distance: 332 km
Departure: 10h00
Lunch Stop: Namib Naukluft National Park.
Accommodation: Villa Wiese, Swakopmund (with bathroom and hot water). Restaurant, bars, laundry service and Internet cafe in town.

Breakfast & Lunch Included.

DAY 9: Swakopmund, Namibia
We have the opportunity to explore this quaint German town by day and night. There are a number of activities to enjoy here; sand boarding, quad biking, skydiving and even fishing. You may even dare to brave the Atlantic sea.

Distance: 0km (day of leisure).
Lunch Stop: Swakopmund
Accommodation: Villa Wiese, Swakopmund (with bathroom and hot water). Restaurant, bars, laundry service and Internet cafe in town.

Breakfast & Lunch Included.

Optional Excursions in Swakopmund

Sand boarding
Sand boarding (stand up)
Fishing
Quad-biking
Sky Diving
Himba Visit - Scenic Flight (Full day excursion).

DAY 10: Cape Cross Seal Colony and Brandberg, Namibia
We follow the barren Namibian coastline on our way out of Swakopmund to visit Africa's largest seal colony. Leaving the cold Atlantic coastline behind we head inland across the desert planes for Brandberg, the highest mountain in Namibia.

Distance: 270 km
Departure: 08h00
Lunch Stop: Cape Cross Seal Colony picnic site.
Accommodation: Brandberg White Lady Lodge (camping, wash rooms with hot water and bar).

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.

DAY 11: Twyfelfontein, Petrified Forest and Himba Village, Namibia
An early morning start takes us from Brandberg to our first stops at Twyfelfontein and Petrified Forest. Our final destination for the day will be Kamanjab. Depending on the time of arrival we go and explore a traditional Himba Village that afternoon or the next morning. This will be a journey of culture exchange and learning and understanding of our last traditional tribe in Namibia, the Ova-Himba.

Distance: 310 km
Departure: 08h00
Lunch Stop: picnic spot enroute.
Accommodation: Porcupine Camp (camping, wash rooms with hot water, bar and swimming pool).

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.

DAY 12: Kamanjab to Etosha National Park, Namibia
After our cultural experience in Kamanjab, we head to the land of the big five - Etosha National Park. Lunch is eaten close to the small German town of Outjo where we relax and have the opportunity to visit an Internet cafe. Our final destination for the day is Etosha. As the sun sets and late into the night, the group has the opportunity to watch animals drink at floodlit waterholes.

Distance: 270 km
Departure: 08h00
Lunch Stop: Picnic spot en route.
Accommodation: Okaukuejo (Camping, wash rooms with hot water, swimming pool and convenience stores).

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.

DAYS 13 & 14: Etosha National Park, Namibia
We fill the next 2 days with game drives, including evening game viewing at floodlit waterholes. In the mornings we have the opportunity to take game drive at sunrise. At all three camps, Namutoni, Okaukuejo and Halali you can take a swim in the swimming pool or as the sun sets, and late into the night, the group can watch animals drink at the floodlit waterhole.

Distance: Approx. 150 km of game drives
Departure: 10h00
Lunch stop: At one of the camps.
Accommodation: Namutoni, Okaukuejo, Halali (Camping, washrooms with hot water, swimming pool and convenience store).

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.

DAY 15 & 16: Etosha to Kavango River, Namibia
Leaving Etosha we head to Rundu and onto n'Kwazi River Camp, which is on the banks of the Kavango River over looking Angola. A sunset cruise, horse riding, traditional dancing in the evening as well as visiting a local village are optional or you can just put your feet up and relax on the banks of the river as the sunsets.

Distance: 362 km
Departure: 08h00
Lunch Stop: A picnic site en route to n'Kwazi.
Accommodation: n'Kwazi River Camp (Chalets, wash rooms with hot water, swimming pool and laundry service available).

Day 15 & 16: Breakfast & Lunch Included.

DAY 17 & 18: Kavango River to Okavango Delta, Botswana
We leave Namibia for Etsha, on the western border of the Okavango Delta in Botswana. The next day is spent exploring the network of water pathways through thick vegetation in mokoros (traditional dugout canoes). The Delta is a well-preserved gem of Africa with a vast oasis of crystal clear lakelets, lagoons and palm-fringed islands. On our last evening in the Delta we feast with a braai (barbeque).

Day 17:
Distance: 360 km (20km in 4x4)
Departure: 09h00
Lunch Stop: Etosha 13 or at the Camp.
Accommodation: Guma Lagoon Camp or similar (Camping, wash rooms with hot water and bar).

Day 18:
Distance: 20 km by motorized boat.
Departure: 08h00 6 km by Mokoro / about 5 km walk in Delta.
Lunch Stop: On Fly Camp (an island in the Delta).
Accommodation: Guma Lagoon Camp or similar (Camping, wash rooms with hot water and bar).

Day 17 & 18: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.

DAY 19: Western Caprivi, Namibia
Leaving Botswana, we drive up the Western border of the Okavango Delta before crossing over into Namibia and driving through the Caprivi to our camp on the banks of the Kwando River. In the afternoon you will go on a game drive in the famous Mudumo National Park. In contrast to the rest of Namibia, the area is lush with riverine forest, marshes, dense savannah and mopane woodland.

Distance: 325 km
Departure: 08h00
Lunch Stop: At a picnic spot en route.
Accommodation: Camp Kwando (Chalets, wash rooms with hot water, bar and swimming pool).

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.

DAY 20: Chobe National Park, Botswana
The next morning we depart Camp Kwando, head along the Caprivi and cross the border back into Botswana to drive through Chobe National Park to our camp on the Chobe River. In the afternoon you will go on a sunset cruise along the banks on the Chobe National Park. We spend the night camping on the banks of the Chobe River listening to the calls of Africa.

Distance: 260 km
Departure: 10h00
Lunch Stop: A picnic spot en route.
Accommodation: Toro Lodge (Chalets, wash rooms with hot water, bar and swimming pool).

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.

DAY 21: Chobe National Park to Victoria Falls, Zambia
A mid morning departure takes you from Chobe to Livingstone in Zambia by ferry across the Zambezi. The tour finishes here where you will be dropped off at your lodge of choice. The Victoria Falls can be seen from Livingstone in Zambia.

Distance: 110 km
Departure: 08h00
Accommodation: Zambezi Waterfront (Chalets with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, restaurant and bar).

Breakfast Included.

DAY 22: End of tour
The tour ends after breakfast this morning. We can arrange an airport transfer on request (own expense). We hope to welcome you on one of our African adventures soon.

Breakfast Included.

Included
Use of full camping equipment (except sleeping bags), 21 breakfasts, 19 lunches, 15 dinners (meals are prepared by the guide at the campsites), coffee/tea with the meals, transport on the tour, 11 nights in chalets, of which 10 have en-suite facilities (nights of which depend on availability and subject to change to below itinerary) and 10 nights camping, activities as per itinerary, game drives as per itinerary.

Departure:

The Upgraded Northern Experience Safari departs from Cape Town Lady Hamilton Hotel. Please be punctual! 10h00 departure. Please note that the daily departure times are subject to change due to seasonal changes, as well as unforeseen circumstances. Your guide will confirm daily departure times the evening before. The pre-departure meeting will be the night before our tour starts at 18h00 at the Lady Hamilton Hotel.

Transport:

Our Safaris uses fully equipped Toyota Quantums or Toyota Landcruisers or appropriate vehicles with comfortable seating, windows for game viewing and a music system. An off-road trailer is fitted with a field kitchen. All luggage is carried on the vehicle or trailer roof racks to ensure maximum comfort in the vehicle.

Accommodation:

Accommodation on our camping safaris is 2 guests per 3-man dome tent, fitted with mosquito nets. We provide sleeping mattresses. Chalet, Lodge or tented camp accommodation is provided on 9 nights during the safari depending on availability at the various accommodation establishments where we can upgrade to bedded accommodation. Please note that the accommodation mentioned above are only a guideline.

Spending money:

Clients are advised to bring enough money to cover the purchase of curios, and additional entertainment. US Dollars, Pound Sterling and South African Rand (ZAR) are the most practical and convenient currencies. There are automatic teller machines (ATM's) available in Botswana, Namibia and South Africa to draw money. Foreign exchange into the local currency is possible in most large cities through which we pass. International credit cards and travelers cheques are widely accepted.

Meals:

All meals are organized by the guide and are prepared by him/her with the help of the group (This is on participation safaris). Meals are nutritious and filling, drawing on fresh local produce where possible. We buy groceries along the way, so our clients have a say in what type of meals are eaten. Please advise us of any special dietary requirements in advance.

First Aid:

Our guides are trained in basic first aid and the vehicle is equipped with a comprehensive medical aid kit. Preventative Malaria medication should be taken before the trip and throughout its duration, although it is advisable to consult a doctor prior to departure.

Luggage:

Maximum baggage allowance: 12 kg. We stipulate this luggage allowance, as an overloaded vehicle is a danger to both the clients and the guide. This does not include photographic equipment and a small daypack. Please bring a backpack or soft barrel bag, not a suitcase. Don't bring too much clothing, as there are washing opportunities along the way. Please adhere to the allowance specified as space for luggage is limited.

Insurance:

It is compulsory for all travelers to have insurance covering their personal requirements, medical expenses and personal possessions. This is to be arranged before leaving home country. Our Safaris has comprehensive public liability insurance.

Participation:

The Upgraded Northern Experience Tour is a semi-participating camping and lodge safari. This means, that the participants will be responsible for performing and helping with certain tasks as i.e. setting up the overnight camps (tents, chairs, tables), cooking meals and cleaning dishes afterwards, tidying up the campsite before leaving and packing and un-packing of the van.

Visas:

The onus is on the client to organize all visas required for clients to visit Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa prior to departure.