Amazing Southern Africa

Welkom! Welcome to South Africa. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight in Cape Town – the capital that’s known for its beautiful beaches, amazing hiking opportunities and rich cultural heritage. If you arrive early, there's plenty to see and do. Maybe join a Cape Malay Cooking Tour, visit Robben Island or ride an aerial cable in Table Mountain. After the welcome meeting, get to know your new travel group over an optional dinner with your local leader.

Cape Town is a dynamic city known for its diverse landscapes, beautiful beaches, and rich cultural heritage. With a wealth of activities to choose from, you're free to craft your own adventure this morning, guided by the expert advice of your leader and possibly some enthusiastic group members. This afternoon, join your group on a light hike to Signal Hill in Table Mountain National Park. At the top, take in panoramic views over Cape Town and the surrounding ocean at sunset.

Depart Cape Town this morning and travel along the west coast to the small seaside town of Lamberts Bay. The bay’s white beaches, lobsters and incredible wildlife earned the town its nickname ‘the diamond of the west coast’. When you arrive, enjoy a delicious feast at a local open-air restaurant, where the ocean views will make for the perfect lunch setting. After, you'll head to Trawal where you can relax among the wine farms and the Cedarberg Mountain Range.

Say farewell to South Africa as you cross the border into Namibia. Today is a bit of a long travel day, so it's a good idea to get stuck into a book or your favourite podcasts. Mid-afternoon, arrive on the banks of the Orange River – the longest river in South Africa, running from the Drakensberg Mountain Range into the Atlantic Ocean. This river is significant for its role in transporting diamonds, which leave deposits that are found along the coastline. When you arrive, enjoy the rest of the day exploring at your own pace.

Spend a leisurely morning unwinding by the outdoor pool or soaking in the views of the Orange River in the morning light. If relaxing isn't your style, maybe head out on a canoe adventure along the river and through the ancient Richtersveld Mountains. Later, venture to Fish River Canyon – one of the biggest canyons in the world. Along the way, stop at various lookouts to catch this gigantic gorge on camera. Look out for some exotic birdlife while you’re here, including plovers, wagtails, hamerkops and herons – you might even catch a glimpse of a baboon or an antelope at dusk!

Say goodbye to the scenic Orange River as you drive to the eastern edge of the Namib Desert – the world's oldest desert, known for its array of geological features. Today is a long travel day so enjoy the ever-changing scenery, maybe play some road trip games with your fellow travellers, and on arrival take some time to relax at your desert lodge before dinner.

After breakfast, make an early morning visit to Sossusvlei, which lies at the end of an ancient riverbed. If you find yourself in the mood, a climb to the top of Dune 45 will reward you with panoramic views. Then head to Dead Vlei – a clay pan surrounded by some of the highest dunes in the world, including ‘Big Daddy’ and ‘Crazy Dune’. When you arrive, maybe explore the area on foot or organise a 4WD transfer out to the entrance point. In the afternoon, visit Sesriem Gorge. Shaped by water erosion over thousands of years, the place got its name, Sesriem (meaning ‘six belts’ in Afrikaans), from the people who lived in the area who used six knotted belts tied together to pull up water from the deep gorge.

This morning, travel to the old German town of Windhoek. Today is a bit of a long travel day, so it's a good idea to get stuck into your book or favourite podcasts. When you arrive, the rest of the day is then free for you to explore until your second welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. In your free time, maybe visit Tintenpalast Ink Palace, see Christuskirche Church or explore the Genossenschaftshaus. After your welcome meeting, maybe get to know your new travellers over dinner at a local restaurant.

Today is a bit of a long travel day as you cross the border into Botswana and make your way to Ghanzi – known as the ‘Capital of the Kalahari’. Take the opportunity to grab a window seat and watch the landscape pass you by or get to know your fellow travellers a little better with some road trip games. When you arrive, settle into your lodge accommodation and soak up some Botswana sunshine or cool off in the pool.

This morning, you’ll head to the Okavango Delta – known for its sprawling grassy plains that flood seasonally, making the delta a lush animal habitat. When you arrive, board speedboats and make your way to your home for the next two nights – a houseboat in the Okavango Delta Panhandle. You can chill out on the deck or grab a few friends and attempt one of the onsite board games. For dinner, your captain will serve dinner on the deck, and you can watch the sunset while you eat and listen to the sounds of the nearby hippos on the water's edge.

After breakfast, take a speedboat and a 4WD to a nearby polling station. From here, you can explore the waterways in mokoros (traditional dugout canoes) with a local guide. Your guide will take you on a short nature walk around one of the many islands in the Delta Panhandle. Then, return to the houseboat where you can relax, read a book or do some fishing. This evening, grab a sundowner, pull up a chair and watch the often striking sunset.

Leave your houseboat behind and again board the speedboats that take you back to dry land. Drive on to Maun – the gateway of the Okavango Delta. For those seeking an extra adventure, there's an opportunity to fly over the delta in a helicopter for a bird's-eye view! Your leader can give you more information on this activity and how to book, so just ask them if you’re interested. Alternatively, the afternoon is free for you to sit by the pool and take a breather when you arrive in Maun.

Head to the Makgadikgadi Pans – the world’s largest prehistoric inland salt lake set in the middle of the dry savanna. This is all that remains of the former Lake Makgadikgadi. Today, you'll have an excursion in an open 4WD to spend time with a local meerkat community. Get close to them without disturbing their natural habitat and watch as they play together. Then, take a bush walk with one of southern Africa's oldest inhabitants and learn their way of life within the Kalahari Bushmen group. They will teach you how they interact with nature, keeping a well-balanced relationship with the local land. After, you'll sit back under the baobab trees for a night of dining under the stars. Known as the 'Tree of Life' or the 'Ancient Giants,' the iconic baobab tree is a defining feature of the Botswana Bushveld, particularly in the Makgadikgadi Pan where they're densely populated. Tonight's three-course barbeque will be traditionally cooked over hot coals, so you can enjoy the delicious smells of your dinner in the open air, while you stargaze under the African sky.

This morning, make tracks towards Kasane, which sits on the edge of Chobe National Park. The stretch of road between Nata and Kasane is known as the 'Elephant Highway'. With no fences, elephants are free to move between Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe and Botswana. So, this is the perfect time keep your eyes peeled for roadside elephants during your drive! When you arrive in Chobe National Park – Botswana's first national park, known for its high concentration of elephants – settle into your lodge on the banks of the Chobe River and soak in the sounds of the wildlife.