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southern africa
21 days
Overland from Cape to Falls
Stand at the top of the worlds highest sand dunes, sleep under the blanket of a million stars, explore the waterways of a vast inland delta and watch the interplay of the animal kingdom amongst some of the most spectacular scenery in the world!
n CAPE TOWN n LANGA TOWNSHIP TOUR n GARIEP (ORANGE) RIVER n FISH RIVER CANYON n NAMIB-NAUKLUFT NATIONAL PARK n SESRIEM & SOSSUSVLEI n DEADVLEI BUSHMAN WALK n SWAKOPMUND & CAPE CROSS n SPITZKOPPE n ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK n OKAVANGO DELTA n CHOBE NATIONAL PARK n LIVINGSTONE (VICTORIA FALLS)
Days 1-2/Cape Town - Township Tour - Cederberg We start our trip in spectacular Cape Town, the Mother City of South Africa, with a rooftop braai (barbecue) against the incredible backdrop of Table Mountain. From here we travel into one of the first black townships created in the region, Langa township, and gain an insight into its unique urban lifestyle. We visit several projects there and enjoy lunch at a scenic picnic spot nearby, before travelling a short distance north to the Cederberg region. Days 3-/Gariep (Orange) River - Fish River Canyon Leaving the citrus-rich Cederberg region, the road takes us north through barren and rocky Namaqualand to the verdant Gariep River. This waterway cuts a green sheathe between Namibia and South Africa, and we set up our campsite on the South African side. Crossing the river we enter Namibia, where Fish River Canyon beckons. This massive gorge is indeed an awesome sight. From our camp at Hobas we explore the canyons edge and, as the sun sets, perch ourselves on the rim to experience the solitude and absorb the beauty of this remote region. Days 5-/Sesriem & Sossusvlei - Namib-Naukluft National Park The drive from Fish River Canyon to Sesriem is dazzling, but even the splendour here does not quite prepare you for the towering sand dunes that are seen throughout Namib-Naukluft National Park. We spend two nights here, so that we can really experience the many facets of this dramatic area. We also explore the vleis, the soaring dunes and Sesriem Canyon, and absorb the landscapes, wildlife and cultural history of the area with a specialist local guide in Deadvlei. Days 7-/Swakopmund Another scenic drive takes us through the Namib Desert and Kuiseb Canyon to the Atlantic Coast and the holiday town of Swakopmund. This town is surreal, with its German architecture, long expanse of beaches, outdoor cafes and an ever-present morning mist. Two nights are spent here in the town and trying out some of the many optional adrenalinepumping activities on offer.
Day 9/Cape Cross - Spitzkoppe From Swakopmund we drive north into the Skeleton Coast to Cape Cross, where 200,000 Cape fur seals live in Atlantic waters teeming with fish. Turning inland our destination is the community-run campsite set around the base of the 1784-metre-high volcanic Spitzkoppe. After the sun has set over the surrounding Namib Desert plains, the night sky lights up with the glow of millions of stars, making for a truly memorable night of camping. Days 10-12/Etosha National Park Driving through astonishing Damaraland we reach Namibias premier wildlife reserve Etosha National Park. Envisage a vast, dry, salt land punctuated by occasional springs of life-giving water that attract the animals and birds of the plains with the force of a magnet. Then imagine sitting quietly by these springs and watching the interplay between different species of wildlife, as several of them seek to quench their thirst at the same time. This is game viewing in Etosha an experience found nowhere else on the continent! Days 13-1/Rundu - Sepupa North from Etosha is Rundu, which is set on the banks of the Kavango River that separates Namibia from Angola. We have time to visit the traditional woodcarvers before continuing our drive eastward, following the Kavango River. Crossing into Botswana we set up camp at Sepupa and prepare for our Okavango Delta excursion. Days 15-17/Okavango Delta The Okavango Delta is an area of divine beauty and a veritable oasis, set amidst the harshness of the Kalahari Desert. We spend two nights in this pristine area, exploring the permanent waters of the delta region. Riding a speedboat along the winding course of the river, we look out for the ever-present hippos and crocodiles, visit a polers village and travel in mokoros (traditional dug-out canoes) to a remote island where we bush camp. We visit a local school and village before spending a final night on a houseboat, drifting along the tranquil Delta waterways. Days 1-19/Caprivi Strip - Chobe National Park We travel along Namibias fertile Caprivi Strip before re-entering Botswana. We then travel the length of Chobe National Park to reach our base at Kasane, on the banks of the Chobe River. The next day we enjoy a game drive in the park and an afternoon boat cruise. Sunsets at Chobe are truly remarkable the orange glow forming a backdrop to herds of buffaloes and elephants, as they come down to drink from the river. Days 20-21/Livingstone (Victoria Falls) Leaving Botswana we cross the Chobe River on a small ferry and reach Zambia. Our final short drive takes us along the Upper Zambezi River towards the magnificent Victoria Falls truly one of the natural wonders of the world. Our campsite is located on the banks of the Upper Zambezi River, only a couple of kilometres from the falls themselves. Here we find an area shrouded in mist rising from the falls a fitting place to end our incredible overland journey.
ANGOLA
Etosha Cape Cross NamibNaukluft Rundu Sepupa
ZAMBIA
Kasane Livingstone Chobe ZIMBABWE
Spitzkoppe Swakopmund
Okavango Delta
B O T S W A NA
NAMIBIA
Sossusvlei Fish River Canyon
Gariep River
S O U T H A F RICA
Cape Town Overland from Cape to Falls
trip info
Group size: Maximum 24. Grade: Moderate. Transport: boat, custom-built safari vehicle, ferry, mokoro, on foot, open 4WD vehicles. Accommodation: 16 nights camping, 1 night houseboat, 1 night lodge, 2 nights bungalows. Meals: 20 breakfasts, 17 lunches, 17 dinners. Other: An experienced driver, guide and a camp cook accompany us on this safari. Local guides join us in Langa Township, Deadvlei, the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park. Parks: This trip includes 1 day in Chobe National Park, 2 days in Namib-Naukluft National Park, 3 days in Etosha National Park and the Okavango Delta and half a day at Fish River Canyon. Local payment: Your tour leader will collect a US$450 local payment in Cape Town on Day 1. Want more? Link this trip with another Geckos adventure: Waterfalls & Wildlife, South Africa Explorer. Tour Code: GACF. Prices: See page 2 Further Info & Trip Notes: www.geckosadventures.co.uk/trips/gacf
Start Wed 2007 14-Nov 12-Dec Finish Tue 04-Dec 01-Jan 200 09-Jan 13-Feb 12-Mar 16-Apr 14-May 18-Jun 16-Jul 20-Aug 17-Sep 22-Oct 19-Nov 08-Jul 05-Aug 09-Sep 07-Oct 11-Nov 09-Dec 24-Dec 2009 21-Jan 25-Feb 25-Mar 29-Apr 13-Jan 10-Feb 17-Mar 14-Apr 19-May
29-Jan 04-Mar 01-Apr 06-May 03-Jun
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