DAY 1: JOHANNESBURG – AUGRABIES NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast and a warm welcome from your tour leader we leave Johannesburg and head west with the pleasant feeling of the morning sun on our backs. Today will be a long drive, so we will try to limit the stops. Arriving at Augrabies one can see why they call it one of the great natural wonders of South Africa with its majestic 56m high main fall that plunges into an 18km long gorge. There are numerous hiking trails from short scenic walks to 3 day hiking trails, so the afternoon can be spent exploring this beautiful area. The reserve is home to a number of antelope species as well as the endangered Black Rhino in the north of the park.

DAY 2&3: AUGRABIES NP – FISHRIVER CANYON

Today we enter Namibia, so an early morning start to negotiate the border crossing, and then keep the direction west towards Ai-Ais. Some 65km north of Ai-Ais lies the spectacular Fish River Canyon, 2nd largest canyon in the World, with a depth of up to 549m, and a width of up to 27km, it is surpassed in size only by the Grand Canyon. There are fantastic panoramic photo opportunities from the viewpoints and also scenic walks to the points. We overnight at Ai-Ais, which has a natural hot spring that feeds an outside swimming pool with mineral rich water. The resort also has a modern indoor spa, restaurant, bar and a shop with most necessities. Here we have a day at leisure and can be spent hiking up the nearby mountain, or just relax in the spa or outside hot pool.

DAY 4&5:  – FISHRIVER CANYON – SOSUSVLEI

We head in a northerly direction today and pass through the most arid, but beautiful part of Namibia. We cross through the Namib Naukluft Park, which forms part of the Namib Desert, and the chances of seeing game here are very real. Animals that can be spotted here include springbok, gemsbok (Oryx), ostrich, and a variety of smaller game. As we enter further into the Namib Naukluft Park you can see the change in colour as the reddish contrasts of the Sosusvlei dunes breaks through the landscape. The dunes of Sosusvlei is constantly moving because of the wind, and in rainy season this desert area is transformed into a green paradise, even the dunes turn green. Early next morning we drive into Sosusvlei to observe the sunrise, which brings these dunes to life. We go on a guided tour with a local guide into the dunes and learn more about this area’s wildlife and how they survive out here in the desert. There is an option to go Hot Air Ballooning, or take a scenic flight over Sosusvlei as well. 

DAY 6, 7&8: SOSUSVLEI – SWAKOPMUND

Today we depart in a northerly direction towards the town of Swakopmund where we will spend the next couple of days. This is a much laid back town, and has got a constant flow of tourists. There is a lot to do activity wise in Swakopmund, so on arrival we go straight to the booking office and book your activities for the next couple of days. Activities such as quad biking, skydiving, sand boarding, township tours, and dolphin charters ect run on a daily basis. This couple of days can be spent at own leisure on activities or just relaxing on the beach. There is a wide variety of restaurants and pubs in Swakopmund and most of them do decent to excellent food, and the vibe is very laid back in the pubs. At night Swakopmund’s nightlife starts and there is a couple of clubs that play some nice music and the people are friendly. Everybody will meet on the 8th night for dinner and a get together to discuss the next couple of days ahead.

DAY 9: SWAKOPMUND – TWYFELFONTEIN

Early morning departure takes us to Cape Cross, north of Swakopmund,via Hentiesbaai. Cape Cross is an area with a huge concentration of seals, with good feeding grounds and where they come to mate. We spend some time here until we can’t stand the smell anymore. From here we head north towards twyfelfontein where we’ll stop at one of the Herero roadside shops to look and buy some curios from the Herero woman dressed in their traditional big dresses and oversize hats. On the way you can keep an eye out for desert Elephant that dwells in these areas, they are a rare sighting. At Twyfelfontein we go on a guided walk in the mountain amongst thousands of rock engravings, which were made by the Bushmen people thousands of years ago. Here we get the opportunity to experience this piece of history hands on. After the walk we visit the Burnt Mountains, and the Organ Pipes. The campsite is situated on the banks of the Aba Huab River, which only runs during rainy season. There is a bar that serves cold beverages and has some entertainment by means of cultural dances and such at night. 

DAY 10, 11&12: TWYFELFONTEIN – ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK

Early morning departure takes us in a westerly direction, we first stop at the Petrified Forest, which were caused by an ancient flood that brought these trees down to where it presently lies petrified today. A guided walk takes you over an area of about 2,5ha in approximately 30-45min with a well informed guide. After that we carry on straight and after reaching Outjo we turn into a northerly direction and after about 80km we reach the gate of Etosha National Park. Tonight we overnight in Okaukeujo, a beautiful camp situated in the south west of the park. The waterhole is lit up at night by big spraylights, and the seats around the waterhole have got an amphitheatre look and feel to it, almost like watching National Geographic live. Plenty of animals come to drink water here during the evening, and the sighting success is very good and rewarding. Etosha has got all big mammals except for Buffalo. The 2nd and 3rd night will be spent in the park, just at different camps, trips between camps will be game drives.

DAY 13: ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK – KEETMANSHOOP

We depart at sunrise and drive about 20km before we exit the park, and then head South with a huge distance ahead of us. From here it is all the way tar back to Johannesburg, and we are going to cover half of it today. We stop over in Keetmanshoop tonight where we will stay at the Central Lodge. It will be a late arrival today, so breakfast and lunch will be done en route and dinner will be at the lodge. The lodge has got a restaurant/bar and a swimming pool. The rooms are all air-conditioned with TV and on suite bathroom facilities. This is a beautiful little lodge, and a wonderful overnight spot to get a good, well deserved rest.

DAY 14: KEETMANSHOOP - VRYBURG

Today will be a overnight over night stop only, in a beautiful little lodge about 20km outside Vryburg. They have comfortable air-conditioned rooms, a restaurant/bar, pool table and outside swimming pool.

DAY 15: VRYBURG – JOHANNESBURG

Today is the end of yet another fabulous trip. We greet the day-break and with the sun and fresh breeze in our faces we head for the City Of Gold, Johannesburg. We hope the tour was successful for you and that you’ve learned and hopefully take something back with you, we met as strangers and part as friends. Safe journey home.