Tour 30: 5 Days Caracal – Diamond Coast 4×4 Trails

This tour covers 1 Trans Frontier Park, 1 National Park & 5 conservation areas

DAY 01 Upington – Vioolsdrift

Depart from Upington to Vioolsdrift via Springbok. (Self drive clients can meet at Fiddler’s Creek, 15 km west of Vioolsdrift on the Kotzeshoop road.)

Overnight: Fiddler’s Creek
Meals: B & D
Distance: 510 km
Travel time: 5 hrs

DAY 02 Fiddlers Creek – Ai-Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park

Depart on the Namakwa-2 4×4 Trail passing through the barren Helskloof and Nababiep Nature Reserve in the Nababiep Mountains and the remote villages Eksteenfontein and Khubus. Continue past the Richtersveld Conservancy to the Ai-Ais – Richtersveld Trans Frontier Park.

The Richtersveld Mountain Desert is regarded as the only true desert and one of the last wilderness areas in South Africa and was recently declared a world heritage site. The rainfall in some areas is less than 50 mm per annum. The Park nestles in a 100 km loop of the Lower Orange River, which forms the border with Namibia.

The Richtersveld is regarded as one of the world’s most prolific and richest succulent areas, nurturing 30% of South Africa’s succulent species, including 3 Quiver tree species and the very rare legendary “halfmens”. Although game is not the main attraction of Richtersveld Park, there is species such as the very rare Hartman’s Zebra, Grey Reebok, Klipspringer, Duiker, Steenbok, Leopard, Caracal, Black backed jackal, Baboons and Vervet monkeys. The park harbours a small number of indigenous people, who live their lives as goatherds, unchanged from the time when their hardy ancestors lived.

Overnight: One of the camps in the Park
Meals: B & D
Distance: 170 km
Travel time: 5 hrs

DAY 03 Ai-Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park

Explore the Richtersveld by 4×4 Trail and on foot. Return to camp.
Overnight: One of the camps in the Park
Meals: B & D
Distance: 100 km
Travel time: 7 hrs

DAY 04 Richtersveld – Diamond Coast

Visit the estuary at the Orange River mouth near Alexander Bay. This previous restricted diamond area is now open to public. The Orange River Wetland is declared as a RAMSAR site and is home to more than 60 bird species including pelicans and many flamingos. After a drive to the mouth we continue to the Lichen Hill. The Richtersveld vegetation has unique species with awesome adoptions to survive in its semi desert climate. One km outside Alexander Bay, a hill of 5 hectares is covered with lichen – the only one of its kind in South Africa. Lichen is neither plant nor animal, consisting of algae and fungi living together in symbioses. We visit this hill with a botanist as our guide.

Continue along the coastline via the small harbour town Port Nolloth. Visit the harbour with its diamond dredgers. Continue on the dirt road to Kleinzee on the West Coast. We enter the secretive, previously restricted diamond area owned by The Beers. Time at leisure for a coastline walk. Whales are very often seen close to the shoreline.

Overnight: Diamond Divers’ camp at Noup or Koingnaas Caravan Park camping
Meals: B & D
Distance: 340 km
Travel time: 5 hrs

DAY 05 Diamond Coast

Explore the Diamond Coast on the 37km Shipwreck 4×4 Route. Throughout the years the stormy Atlantic has prevented many ships to reach their destination. They found their final resting place at the coastline between Koingnaas and Kleinzee. The trail goes past three of these wrecks, the Piratiny, Arosa and Border, untouched beaches and other interesting sights.

Minimum of 8 persons are required for departure on these 4×4 trails. If less, clients have to pay the balance of R150 per person per trail.

Overnight: Diamond Divers’ camp at Noup or Koingnaas Caravan Park camping
Meals: B & D
Distance: 60 km
Travel time: 6 hrs

DAY 06 Diamond Coast – Hondeklip Bay

Explore the Strandveld 4×4 Route. This route goes through 1000ha of white sand dunes in a game reserve and crosses some challenging dunes.

Minimum of 8 persons are required for departure on these 4×4 trails. If less, clients have to pay the balance of R150 per person per trail.

Continue to Hondeklip Bay, which relies for its survival on a small crayfish industry and a few diamond boats operating from its harbour. This small remote seaside village has an unpretentious rural charm. Overnight: Hondeklip Bay

Meals: B & D
Distance: 60 km
Travel time: 6 hrs

DAY 07 Diamond Coast – Namaqua 4×4 Trail – Groenrivier

Visit the wreck of the Jahleel in the bay and the Aristea. Continue south on the Coastal 4×4 Trail to Groenriviermond. The trail runs through impressive West Coast landscapes with excellent photographic and bird watching opportunities, the including rare black oystercatcher. Stop at the Spoegrivier Caves and at the estuary where the Spoegrivier mouths in the cold Atlantic Ocean. Afternoon at leisure in Groenriviermond.

Overnight: Groenrivier
Meals: B & D
Distance: 90 km
Travel time: 5 hrs

DAY 08 Groenriviermond – Upington

Depart on dirt road to Garies on the N7. (Self drive clients continue to their destinations). Continue to Upington via Springbok. End of the tour.

Distance: 590 km
Travel time: 6 hrs

Rates on request:
E-mail: dantes@kalahari-tours.co.za or click on CONTACT US.