In assocciation with Kalahari Wildlife Tours
Tour 50: 21 Day Namibia & Botswana – Desert & Wildlife Tour
This tour covers 01 Trans Frontier Park, 09 National Parks and 16 Reserves/conservation areas
THIS TOUR GOES THROUGH A MALARIA AREA!
21 Days
20 Nights
DAY 02 Fish River Canyon / Gondwana Canyon Park
DAY 03 Luderitz
DAY 04 Kolmanskop Ghost Town / Klein-Aus Vista
DAY 05 Sesriem
DAY 06 Sossusvlei / Solitaire
DAY 07 Cape Cross
DAY 08 Skeleton Coast Park / Damaraland / Twyfelfontein
DAY 09 Etosha National Park / Okaukuejo
DAY 10 Etosha National Park / Halali
DAY 11 Etosha National Park / Namutoni
DAY 12 Rundu
DAY 13 Bwabwata National Park / Mahango Core / Popa Falls
DAY 14 Bwabwata National Park / Kwando Core
DAY 15 Senyati Safari Camp (Botswana)
DAY 16 Chobe National Park / Senyati Safari Camp
DAY 17 Vic Falls (Zimbabwe) / Senyati Safari Camp
DAY 18 Nata Sanctuary
DAY 19 Grobler’s Bridge / Kwa Nokeng
DAY 20 Marakele National Park (South Africa)
DAY 21 Johannesburg – Departure
DETAILED ITINERARY
This tour covers a variety of parks and landscapes in 04 Southern African countries, varying from desert to sub-tropical climate zones. It gives guests the opportunity to experience a variety in climatic zones, wildlife and landscapes that is not to be found in many areas on this planet
DAY 01 Upington – Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park (Namibia)
Time of departure will depend on clients’ travel schedule to Upington, South Africa. Flight schedule to be finalised. (Flight not included)
Depart to Nakop Border Post. Enter Namibia. Proceed via Karasburg through the vast plains of Southern Namibia to The Ai-Ais-Richtersveld Transfrontier Park. This park spans some of the most spectacular scenery of the arid and desert environments in southern Africa. Bisected by the Orange River, which forms the border between South Africa and Namibia, it comprises the Ai-Ais Hot Springs Game Park in Namibia and the Richtersveld National Park in South Africa.
Some of the distinctive features in the area include the Ai-Ais Hot springs and the 2nd largest canyon in the world, the Fish River Canyon. This arid zone is further characterised by a unique and impressive variety of succulent plant species, which makes this park an undisputed biodiversity ‘hot spot’. Ai-Ais, which means, “burning water” in one of the local languages, refers to the sulphurous hot springs which are found in this area. One of these springs has its eye within the camp. Ai-Ais lies at the southern end of the Fish River Canyon. Relax in the warm pools and spa.
Overnight: Ai-Ais Resort
Meals: B, L & D
DAY 02 Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park
Depart to The Fish River Canyon via Gondwana Nature Park. This awe-inspiring canyon measures 160 km in length, up to 27 km in width and reaches a depth of 550 m. Visit different viewpoints overlooking the canyon. Although the Park is not known as a game park, springbok, gemsbok, red hartebeest, Hartman’s zebra, kudu, klipspringer and ostrich survive in this harsh land.
Exit the park and continue to accommodation in Gondwana Nature Park
Overnight: Canon Road House
Meals: B, L & D
DAY 03 Ai-Ais/Richtersveld – Luderitz
Depart to Luderitz on the B4 through the Namib Desert. Short excursion to Diaz Point, where there is a replica of the cross erected in July 1488 by Portuguese navigator Bartolomeu Dias on his return from the Cape of Good Hope, after navigating the first ship round the southernmost point of Africa. From the viewpoint one has a good view of Halifax Island, home to many Cape fur seals. The lagoon is home to flamingos.
Overnight: Kratzplatz Guest House or Shark Island camping
Meals: B, L & D
DAY 04 Luderitz – Aus
Visit the Diamond Ghost Town Kolmanskop on an informative guided tour. Drive back inland on the B4 to Aus. Stop at Garub near Aus to see the feral horses of the Namib. Continue to accommodation at Klein Aus Vista.
Overnight: Klein Aus vista
Meals: B, L & D
DAY 05 Aus – Sesriem
Depart north to Sesriem via Tiras Mountain Conservancy and the Namibrand Nature Reserve. From this road one has a beautiful view of the Namib Desert
Overnight: Sossusvlei Lodge or Sossus Oasis/Sesriem camping
Meals: B, L & D
DAY 06 Sesriem – Sossusvlei – Solitaire
Enter Namib Naukluft Park and continue to Sossusvlei. This primary attraction to Namibia is but a small section of the greater Namib Naukluft Park, which covers an area of more than 49 000 square km. The main attraction is the enormous star dunes. Raising 380 m above the dry Tsauchab River and 220 m above the surrounding sea of sand, these dunes are amongst the highest in the world.
Visit Sesriem Canyon in the course of the upper Tsauchab River. Proceed to Solitaire, where the name says it all. This remote friendly spot in the desert remains a favourite with travellers, and tourists from all over the world make a short stop here.
Overnight: Solitaire Country Lodge
Meals: B, L & D
DAY 07 Solitaire – Cape Cross
Depart via Walvis Bay to Swakopmund. The road enters the Namib Naukluft Park again and goes through the barren Kuiseb River Valley, which is one of the most hostile areas in Namibia. From the Kuiseb Valley to Namibia’s main harbour, Walvis Bay, the road crosses the gravel plains of the Namib Desert through Dorob National Park. Gemsbok, springbok, ostrich and with some luck, Hartmann’s mountain zebra can be seen in this vast desert landscape. Visit the Walvis Bay Lagoon where thousands of flamingos and water birds can be seen.
Continue via Namibia’s main holiday town, Swakopmund and along the Skeleton Coast through the Dorob National Park to the Cape Fur Seal colony at Cape Cross, passing the Lichen Fields. Neither plant, nor animal, lichen consists of algae and fungi living together in symbioses. Visit the largest breeding colony of Cape fur seals in Namibia, numbering thousands. Jackals and brown hyenas are regular visitors. At the site of the seal colony is the replica of the cross, planted in 1485 by the first European to set foot in Namibia, the Portuguese explorer Diego Cao.
Overnight: Cape Cross Lodge
Meals: B, L & D
DAY 08 Cape Cross – Twyfelfontein
Continue north through Dorob National Park. Enter the Skeleton Coast Park. Travel parallel with the coastline through this vast barren landscape. Turn inland south of Torra Bay. Beautiful specimen of the prehistoric plant welwitchia mirabilis are along this route. Some of the plants can be as old as 2 000 years. Exit the park at Springbokwasser Gate and proceed through the impressive landscape of Damaraland to Twyfelfontein, a world heritage site. The World Heritage Committee inscribed Twyfelfontein as one of five “cultural landscapes in the world”. Visit the San rock engravings (petroglyphs), where a short, guided hike is done with a local guide.
Overnight: Twyfelfontein Country Lodge (Aba Huab camping)
Meals: B, L & D
DAY 09 Twyfelfontein – Etosha National Park
Depart to Etosha National Park. En route visit to the Petrified Forest. Do a guided tour with a local guide.
Enter the Park at Anderson Gate in the south. The Park covers an area of 22 270 square km. Etosha Pan is 120 km long and 72 km at its widest. Four of the big five species, elephant, black rhino, lion and leopard, are in the Park. Except for the rare and endemic black-faced impala and Damara dik-dik, giraffe, red hartebeest, gemsbok, eland, kudu, cheetah, hyena and large herds of wildebeest, springbok and zebra are common.
After arrival, an afternoon game drive can be done to Okondeka Waterhole where the chances are good to see lion and to the nearby Newbrowni Waterhole where there is always animal activity. An alternative option is to relax and watch the wildlife activities at the waterhole at the Rest Camp.
Game watching at night at the flood-lit Okaukeujo Waterhole at own time.
Optional 3 hr night drive on an open game drive vehicle with Namibia Wildlife guide at own cost
Overnight: Okaukeujo
Meals: B, L & D
DAY 10 Etosha National Park
Depart at on a game drive to Halali Rest Camp. Take the loop route via Newbrowni, Gemsbokvlakte, Olifantsbad and Aus Waterholes. Continue via Homob, Sueda and Salvadora Waterholes to Rietfontein Waterhole, one of the most popular waterholes in Etosha and burial site of Johanna Alberts, wife of the Dorsland (Thirstland) Trek leader Gert Alberts, who died here in 1876. Proceed to Halali Rest Camp.
Depart on an afternoon game drive to Goas Waterhole. Return to Halali.
Game watching at the flood-lit Moringa Waterhole at Halali at own time.
Overnight: Halali
Meals: B, L & D
DAY 11 Etosha National Park
Depart on a game drive to Namutoni Rest Camp along the pan road via the Pan Look-out. Continue via Springbokfontein, Kalkheuwel, Chudop, Koinagas and Klein Namutoni Waterholes, where there is always game coming and going. Proceed to Namutoni Rest Camp at noon.
Do on an afternoon game drive to Klein Okevi, Groot Okevi Waterholes. Re-visit the nearby Klein Namutoni and Chudop Waterholes, where the chances are good to see predator activities.
Game watching at the flood-lit Namutoni waterhole at own time.
Overnight: Namutoni
Meals: B, L & D
DAY 12 Etosha National Park – Rundu
Game drive to Van Lindequist Gate near Namutoni. Damara Dik-Dik is seen very often on this road. Exit the park.
Proceed to Lake Otjikoto. It is a sinkhole lake, which was created by a collapsing karst cave. The diameter of the lake is 102 meters; its depth is undetermined and estimated to be in access of 142 meters. Tilapia guinasana, a mouth-breeding species of fish lives in Lake Otjikoto. The lake was a dumping ground for German Schutztruppe during World War I; in June 1915 German troops dumped war materials in the lake before surrendering to stop the South African and British troops from using them. Most of the larger pieces have been recovered and are displayed in Tsumeb Museum.
Depart to Tsumeb. Visit Tsumeb Museum. Except for the recovered German weapons it houses displays of local tribes, the Tsumed Mine, which produced the most number of minerals of any mine in the world and local history.
Continue to the Hoba Meteorite that lies on the farm “Hoba West”, not far from Grootfontein. It has been uncovered but, because of its large mass, has never been moved from where it fell. The main mass is estimated at more than 60 tons, making it the largest known meteorite (as a single piece) and the most massive naturally occurring piece of iron known at the Earth’s surface
The Hoba meteorite is thought to have fallen more recently than 80,000 years ago. It is inferred that the Earth’s atmosphere slowed the object to the point that it fell to the surface at terminal velocity, thereby remaining intact and causing little excavation. Assuming a drag coefficient of about 1.3, the meteor would have been slowed to a mere 320 meters per second (1,000 ft/s) (contrast this with typical orbital speeds of several km/s). The meteorite is unusual in that it is flat on both major surfaces, possibly causing it to have skipped across the top of the atmosphere in the way a flat stone skips on water.
Depart to Grootfontein. Continue to Rundu. This route goes through typical rural Africa landscapes with scattered reed huts and small Mahango (sorghum) fields. Rundu is the administrative centre of the Kavango Region and is situated on the Okavango River, which is the border with Angola.
Proceed to lodge 16 km from Rundu on the bank of the Okavango River. Afternoon at leisure at the lodge.
Optional afternoon boat cruise on the Okavango River.
Overnight: Hakusembe River Lodge near Rundu
Meals: B, L & D
DAY 13 Rundu – Popa Falls
Depart to Divundu. Continue to Bwabwata National Park (Mahango Core Area). The small but picturesque Mahango Game Park is situated in the north-east of Namibia on the Botswana border. Mahango covers an area of about 30,000 hectares and is bordering on the Okavango River floodplain.
Wildlife includes elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog, hippo, red lechwe, sitatunga, buffalo, sable, and roan and other antelopes. Mahango is known for its rich bird life and it is one of the best places to see the endangered wattled crane. Huge baobab trees are to be seen in the park.
Do a circular game drive. Depart to Popa Falls. Time at leisure. Visit the falls, which is not much more than a big rapid. Enjoy sundowners on the riverside bar deck.
Optional sunset boat cruise on the Okavango River
Overnight: Popa Falls
Meals: B, L & D
DAY 14 Popa Falls – Namushasha Lodge / Bwabwata National Park (Kwando Core Area)
Travel through Bwabwata National Park, previously known as Caprivi Game Park to Kongola. The 32km-wide Bwabwata National Park of 5 715km² extends for about 180 km from the Okavango River to the Kwando River. Bwabwata forms a crucial trans-boundary link for wildlife migration between Angola, Botswana, Namibia and Zambia and for seasonal dispersal to and from rivers. The riverine forests along these rivers attract large numbers of mammals and numerous species of aquatic birds. Bwabwata National Park is home to buffalo, elephant, lion, leopard, hippo and roan antelope as well as various other antelope species.
Proceed to Namushasha Lodge on the banks of the Kwando River.
Afternoon boat cruise to the opposite side of the Kwando River to the Bwabwata National Park (Kwando Core Area). Do a game drive on an open game drive vehicle. The trail runs on the western side of the Kwando River, with its floodplains, associated grasslands and riparian forests. The park is home to large concentrations of elephant and buffalo, also sable and roan antelope, tsessebe, waterbuck, impala, kudu, giraffe and wildebeest. Common reedbuck, red lechwe, the rarely seen sitatunga and hippo are seen along the river. Main predators are lion, leopard, cheetah and hyena. This area is one of the last refugees for wild dog in Namibia. The area is rich in bird life, nearly 600 species, due to a variety of vegetation types.
Return by boat to Namushasha
Overnight: Namushasha Lodge
Meals: B, L & D
DAY 15 Namushasha – Senyati Safari Camp / Kasane Area (Botswana)
Depart to Kongola. Stop at the Community Hand Craft Shop. Guest can view and purchase a wide a variety of quality African craft.
Continue via Katima Mulilo to Ngoma Border Post. Enter Botswana. Proceed to Kasane. Replenish supplies for catering at Senyati.
Continue to Senyati Safari Camp 10 km south of Kazangula. Senyati is situated on the border of the Kasane Forest Reserve. The chalets and bar-deck overlook a flood-lit waterhole where herds of elephant, numbering in total up to hundreds a day, come to drink from mid-afternoon until late at night. Spotted hyena, sable antelope, buffalo, kudu, giraffe and impala are regular visitors too. Leopard, lion and wild dog are sporadic visitors.
Relax in the afternoon at accommodation or on the bar deck overlooking the floodlit waterhole. Overnight: Senyati Safari Camp
Meals: B, L & D
DAY 16 Senyati Safari Camp / Chobe National Park
Depart early morning to Chobe National Park. This is elephant country. Chobe National Park is very famous for its abundance of elephant. This Park has the highest concentration of elephant anywhere in Africa, an estimated 70 000!! Chobe is also famous for its huge herds of buffalo and predators including lion, leopard and spotted hyena. Sable – and roan antelope, giraffe, kudu, waterbuck, tsessebe, impala, red lechwe, the endemic puku, Chobe bushbuck, herds of zebra, warthogs, pods of hippo and crocodiles are some of the species to be seen
The Chobe Riverfront is one of the best birding areas in Southern Africa and various species of raptors, including great sightings of fish-eagles, flocks of vultures, various aquatic species, colourful bee-eaters and rollers can be encountered on a game drive.
Game drive until noon. Return to Kasane.
Depart at 15:00/03:00 p.m. on a 03-hour afternoon boat trip on the Chobe River. Good wildlife sightings are common on the boat trips. Pick-up clients after the boat trip at 06:00 p.m. Transfer to Senyati.
Relax at Senyati, overlooking the flood-lit waterhole.
Overnight: Senyati Safari Camp
Meals: B, L & D
DAY 17 Senyati Safari Camp / Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)
Depart early morning on a day-tour to Vic Falls in Zimbabwe, with a Botswana Tour Operator. Kalahari Tours and Travel guide stays in Botswana.
Visas if, applicable, to be obtained in country of residence or at border post at own cost. Google Zimbabwe Visa Requirements.
The tour goes through the Zambezi National Park to Vic Falls. The Victoria Falls & Zambezi National Parks is a world Heritage Site and the falls is one of the ‘Seven wonders of the world’ and one of the largest and most spectacular water falls on earth. The falls are 1,7 km wide and nearly 550 million litres of water cascade 70 to 108 meters into the chasm below – every minute – during the Zambezi River’s peak flow. Victoria Falls is made of five different “falls”. Four of these are in Zimbabwe: The Devil’s Cataract, Main Falls, Rainbow Falls and Horseshoe Falls – and one, The Eastern Cataract, is in the bordering country of Zambia.
Zambezi National Park together with Victoria Falls National Park covers an area of 56,000 hectares. The northern border of the Park is formed by the great Zambezi River which also forms the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia for much of its length. A wide variety of larger mammals may be found within the Zambezi National Park including The Big Five: elephant, lion, buffalo, leopard and white rhinoceros. In addition, sable antelope, eland, zebra, giraffe, kudu, waterbuck and impala as well as many of the smaller species of game are in the park too.
Visit Vic Falls. Entrance Fees at own cost @ USD30 pp (USD25 pp for SADEC Citizens)
Optional activities at Vic Falls at own cost include bungee jumping and a helicopter flight over the falls. The helicopter flight is highly recommended.
Departure time back to Botswana will depend on the duration of the optional activities. Return to Botswana in the afternoon. Continue to Senyati.
Relax at Senyati, overlooking the flood-lit waterhole.
Overnight: Chalet at Senyati Safari Camp
Meals: B, L & D
DAY 18 Senyati Safari Camp – Nata
Have a leisurely start. Depart to Nata via the Kasane -, Kazuma -, and Sibuyu Forest Reserves. Check in at accommodation 10 km south of Nata
Afternoon visit to Nata Sanctuary. The Nata Sanctuary at Sowa Pan, which is part of the Makgadikgadi Pans, is a community project and one of Botswana’s premier birding destinations. Nata Sanctuary is home to 165 bird species including flamingos and pelicans. After good rains, hundreds of thousands of globally threatened Lesser Flamingos, along with Greater Flamingos, Chestnut-banded Plovers, Great White and Pink-backed Pelicans, and a host of other waterbirds converge on the nutrient-rich waters of the pans. After good summer rains with the right level of water on the pan, the Sanctuary hosts the largest congregation of Lesser Flamingos in Southern Africa.
Return to accommodation
Overnight: Nata Lodge
Meals: B, L & D
DAY 19 Nata – Grobler’s Bridge
Day in transit. Travel south via Francistown and Palapye to Grobler’s Bridge Border Post. Accommodation is near the border post on the bank of the Limpopo River, which is the border with South Africa.
Overnight: Kwanokeng Lodge
Meals: B, L & D
DAY 20 Grobler’s Bridge – Marekele National Park (South Africa)
Exit Botswana and enter South Africa. Proceed to Lephalale. Replenish supplies for catering at Marekele.
Continue to Marekele National Park. The Marakele National Park in the heart of the Waterberg Mountains, the transitional zone between the dry western and moister eastern regions of South Africa. Contrasting majestic mountain landscapes, grass-clad hills and deep valleys characterize the park. Rare finds of yellowwood and cedar trees, five meter high cycads and tree ferns, are some of the plant species found here.
All the large game species from elephant and rhino to lion, leopard, cheetah, brown and spotted hyena, antelope species such as reedbuck, mountain reedbuck, eland and tsessebe as well as an amazing variety of birds including what’s probably the largest colony of endangered Cape vultures (more than 800 breeding pairs) in the world, have settled here. The western section of the park is one of the best places in South Africa to see white rhino.
Enter the park and do a game drive through the western section. Continue to accommodation in the eastern section of the park. Accommodation overlooks a dam frequently visited by a variety of wildlife species. (The Camping area is in the western section and rhinos are regular visitors at night.)
Overnight: Marekele
Meals: B, L & D
DAY 21 Marekele – Johannesburg
Depart on a morning scenic game drive up the Waterberg Mountain. If the wind direction is favorable, one gets excellent photo opportunities from the view point at the top of the mountain of Cape vultures gliding low overhead. Game drive to the gate.
Continue on a game drive to the exit gate. Depart to Johannesburg. Drop off at OR Tambo International Airport or at accommodation. (Accommodation not included)
Flight schedule to be finalised. (Flight not included)
Meals: L
It is expected from clients on camping tours to assist with pitching and packing up camp and with general camping duties on request
Accommodation can vary from the itinerary depending on availability
Rates on request:
E-mail: dantes@kalahari-tours.co.za or click on CONTACT US.
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KALAHARI SAFARI
TOURS & TRAVEL
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TEL/FAX: + 27 (0) 54 3380375
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