Desert Tracker (19 days)

Day 1 – 3
Cape Town – Western Cape – Gariep (Orange) River - Fish River Canyon
We begin our tour with a fascinating tour of Cape Town’s townships and a traditional lunch before travelling north through the citrus area of the Western Cape to semi-desert of Namaqualand and our camp on the banks of the Gariep (Orange) River. Crossing into Namibia, our first stop in the country is at the dramatic Fish River Canyon – in some places 500m deep and over 160km long, this almost rivals the Grand Canyon for its breathtaking views.

Day 4- 6
Namib Naukluft National Park - Swakopmund
Continuing north, travelling through some very barren but extremely scenic areas, we arrive at the Namib Naukluft Park. The Namib is the world’s oldest desert and home to the world’s highest sand dunes (up to 300m). We climb to the top for a panoramic view of sunrise over the vast sea of sand. We continue to the town of Swakopmund, a coastal resort town sandwiched between the desert and the ocean. Relax in one of the town’s many cafes or enjoy one of the thrilling adventure sports on offer, from deep sea fishing to skydiving and sand-boarding!

Day 7-11
Spitzkoppe – Cheetah Park – Etosha National Park - Windhoek
Turning inland, we travel into Damaraland to the eerie and spectacular Spitzkoppe. We continue onto the Otjitotongwe Cheetah Park for a night before entering Etosha National Park, a reserve of over 20,000 sq. km surrounding a central salt pan, which features 114 mammal and 340 bird species. We take morning and afternoon game drives and camp for two nights near floodlit waterholes for some exciting night viewing. We continue to Windhoek, Namibia’s pleasant capital city, before heading to Botswana

Day 12 – 15
Ghanzi - Okavango Delta - Maun
We skirt the northern reaches of the Kalahari Desert and join local Bushmen for a desert walk before continuing to Maun, gateway to the Okavango Delta. The Okavango is a natural wetland, an elaborate world of giant lily pads, labyrinthine channels and swaying grasses. We venture out into the Okavango itself to explore the oxbow lakes and flood plains on foot and by dugout canoe (mokoro). We bush camp on grassy islands in the midst of this watery world for an unforgettable wilderness experience!

Day 16 – 19
Nata - Chobe National Park - Victoria Falls
We turn towards the northern corner of Botswana, stopping near the Makgadikgadi Pans en route. Chobe National Park is home to some of the largest elephant populations anywhere in Africa as well as lion and abundant birdlife. We take an afternoon Fish Eagle Cruise in search of elephant and hippo. From Chobe, we cross into Zambia and drive to our relaxing riverside camp in Livingstone. Why not try one of the many optional activities around Victoria Falls, including white water rafting, canoeing, bungy jumping, elephant back safaris, horse riding or a scenic flight over the Falls to name but a few. We also visit the ‘Falls’ themselves.
The tour ends after breakfast on day 19.

NB For the sake of practicality, meals in the Livingstone/Victoria Falls area are restricted to breakfasts. This allows you to take on half day or full day activities (some of which include lunch) without having to be back with the group at mealtimes. The Waterfront camp restaurant overlooks the Zambezi River and offers a good selection of reasonably priced meals and snacks throughout the day (allow US$15 -$30 per meal). Relax and enjoy these few days at your own leisure. Alternatively, take a taxi into Livingstone to try local fare.