Epic 7 week itinerary through Southern Africa

On arrival into Johannesburg OR Tambo international airport transfer to Journey’s Inn – a guesthouse not far from the airport. The owners run a South African safari company and the guesthouse has a safari feel to it, including a campfire every night.

Pick up your vehicle and equipment in Johannesburg then head south to spend the next two nights in the Drakensberg at Champagne Castle Hotel. The hotel is nestled below the second highest peak in South Africa, Champagne Castle (3377m), part of the main escarpment within the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg mountain range. Accommodation is on a dinner, bed & breakfast basis with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains.

Continue north from the Drakensberg spending the next night at Miss Chrissie’s Country House in the Chrissiesmeer ‘lake district’. Miss Chrissie’s Country House is a sympathetically restored sandstone building dating back to the 1870’s, with lots of charm and character.

Head north to spend the next two nights at Mount Sheba situated near the famous town of Pilgrim’s Rest in Mpumalanga. Mount Sheba is conveniently situated for easy access to a number of the areas attractions including Blyde River Canyon, God’s Window and the rock formations at Bourke’s Luck Potholes.

Drive to the Kruger National Park where you spend the next 3 nights at different restcamps. Make your way from south to north through Kruger spending the first night at Tamboti Tented Camp in a safari tent.

The next night is spent camping at Tsendze Rest Camp. Tsendze is a more remote campsite with a rustic experience within the natural environment. The Tsendze River and Nshawu Creek both run through this area that is known for the large buffalo herds and many elephant bulls that occur here. At most of Kruger’s rest camps you can do night drives, offering you the chance of seeing many nocturnal animals such as leopard, hyena, porcupine and civet.

Continue north through Kruger to spend the final night is at Punda Maria in the northern section of the park.

Leave Kruger and drive as far as Mogalakwena River Lodge en route to Botswana. Accommodation is on a dinner bed and breakfast basis.

Cross into Botswana, driving as far as the Khama Rhino Sanctuary – a community run project aimed at re-introducing rhinos into the wild. KRS is actually a small game reserve and is situated around a pan. Game viewing can be very rewarding here, and many visitors consider the Khama Rhino Sanctuary to be one of the highlights of their trip. The campsites are attractively set around Manketti trees.

Continue north through Botswana travelling as far as Francistown, spending the night camping at Woodlands stop-over, just outside the town. Accommodation is on a private farm by the dry Tati River, and there is a swimming pool and a barbecue area.

Cross into Zimbabwe and drive to the Matobo Hills area where you spend the next two nights camping at Big Cave Camp. Matobo Hills is a World Heritage site and Big Cave borders the Matobo National Park. The wilderness area is a specially protected area for both white and black rhino. Matobo Hills has the last significant population of rhino in Zimbabwe, and Big Cave Camp offers tracking these animals on foot, with a professional guide. The Matobos also boasts one of the highest concentrations of rock art in the world.

Continue north through Zimbabwe spending the next three days in the Hwange National Park. Spend the first two nights at Kapula camp, a self-catered tented camp in the centre of Hwange. Accommodation is in well appointed ensuite meru tents, and you have access to a fully equipped kitchen and lounge area. Hwange National Park occupies roughly 15 000 sq km and game sighting is excellent in the dry winter months.

Spend the final night at Deteema Dam campsite – where you are guaranteed to have the site for yourselves.

Drive to Victoria Falls, where you spend the next two nights. Accommodation is at Lokuthula Lodge, 4km from the falls and next door to Victoria Falls Safari Lodge and the famous Boma restaurant. The Zimbabwean side has approximately 2/3 of the fall’s frontage and the falls are easily viewed on foot. Victoria Falls has a lot to offer the visitor and is known as Africa’s adventure capital. From high adrenalin activities like bungi jumping and white water rafting to more sedate pastimes like viewing the falls by helicopter, Victoria Falls has it all.

Cross into Botswana and drive to Kasane, where you spend the night at The Old House. In the afternoon you will do a 3 hour boat cruise on the Chobe River. This is a highlight of many a visitor’s trip to Botswana, and amazing sights such as elephant crossing the river to feed on the grassy islands are never forgotten. Birdlife is spectacular too along the river.

Travel south through the Chobe National Park, spending the next two nights at the famous Savuti campsite. Savuti is famous for its elephants, lions and hyenas, all of which visit the campsite area, making for an experience not to be forgotten! Listening to the night sounds from the safety of your rooftop tent is an unforgettable experience. Apart from being one of Africa’s prime game viewing areas, Savuti is also stunningly beautiful, with rocky outcrops, and rolling grasslands interspersed with dead trees.

The next two nights are spent in Moremi Game Reserve. Moremi is on the edge of the Okavango Delta and is one of the most spectacular wildlife destinations in Africa. Camp at Khwai (North Gate) campsite. Game is rich and varied and birdlife is prolific. Elephant, giraffe, wildebeest, impala, hippo, leopard and lion all frequently sighted.

Leave Moremi and drive to Maun where you spend the next two nights at Crocodile Camp on the outskirts of Maun. Accommodation is on a bed & breakfast basis.

Today you will do a full day mokoro (dug-out canoe) guided trip into the Delta. Your guide will show you the fauna and flora of the delta area as you meander along the channels and waterways. The trip includes a packed lunch and you will leave your vehicle at the lodge, returning back in the late afternoon.

Head north, crossing into Namibia at the Mohembo border. Drive to the western Caprivi, spending the next two nights at River Dance Lodge 20km west of Divundu. River Dance is nestled amongst trees overlooking the river. Activities include boat trips and fishing, and the area is a birdwatchers paradise.

A visit to the Etosha National Park is one of the highlights of travelling Namibia.  Etosha covers an area of more than 22 000 sq kms – its centre being a vast saltpan surrounded by grass and thorn savannah, Mopane bushland in the west and dry forest in the north-east. The pan is just about always dry. However, in the southern parts there are have water-holes scattered throughout this area and form the basis of life for countless game. Spend the first night at Tamboti campsite in Onguma Game Reserve to the east of Etosha.

Head inside Etosha National Park driving east to west through the park to camp for the next night at Okaukuejo.

The final night is at Olifantsrus in the west of Etosha. Here you will find a high diversity of plant and animal species – including the Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra which does not occur in the eastern side of the park.

Leave Etosha and make your way north, spending the two nights at Opuwo Lodge. Opuwo is the main centre in the north of the Kaokoveld. On day 33 you will do a Himba excursion which takes you to one of the Himba villages close to Opuwa allowing you to learn and experience more about their culture and lifestyle. A local Himba guide will escort you and translate for you.

Drive to the picturesque Damaraland area, spending the next two nights at Mowani Mountain Campsite. Attractions in the area include the Twyfelfontein rock paintings, the Petrified Forest, and the Organ Pipes (angular dolorite columns up to 5m high). Twyfelfontein is famed for the thousands of rock paintings and engravings found there. These paintings and engravings depict animals, hunting and abstract images and to this day doubt exists as to the identity of the artists.

Head south to Spitzkoppe – a group of bald granite peaks rising majestically out of the surrounding landscape. Camp here at the community campsite, allowing you to be at the rock during sunset and sunrise.

Drive to Swakopmund, Namibia’s famous coastal town. Accommodation is at The Stiltz on a bed & breakfast basis. Swakopmund is a very interesting town, with old German architecture and a distinct character.

In the morning you will do the Living Desert Experience – a unique guided tour which brings the desert to life.  The coastal dune belt may seem barren and lifeless to many people, but in fact it is alive with a fascinating variety of little desert adapted animals, which are able to survive on the life-giving fog which rolls in from the ocean. You will be amazed as your guide finds small creatures in the sand, and describes in fascinating detail the desert and its fauna and flora. You will also drive in amongst the dunes, offering good photographic opportunities.

Travel to the Sossusvlei area of the Namib Naukluft Park. Your next night is spent at Sesriem campsite in the protected area. Camping at Sesriem means you will be able to get to the Sossusvlei dunes at sunrise when photography is at its best at the famous Deadvlei Pan, Sossusvlei, and Dune 45. Also worth a visit is Sesriem Canyon, and the eastern Naukluft mountain range.

Drive through spectacular scenery to the NamibRand Nature reserve where you spend two nights at Namibrand Hideout campsite – one of the most spectacular campsite locations in all of Namibia. The Namib Rand is among the largest privately owned game parks in Southern Africa. Founded to conserve the unique environment and wildlife species of the south-western Namib Desert, the park’s mix of dunes, mountains and rocky outcrops, sandy flats and gravel plains provides habitats for a diversity of mammals and truly spectacular scenery.

Continue your journey south, camping for the next night at Klein Aus Vista Desert Horse campsite.  Just east of Aus, Klein Aus Vista is nestled in the granite-gneiss hills with magnificent views of the landscape. This is the area where the Namib Desert begins to merge with golden grasses, where wild horses roam.

Head further south to the Fish River Canyon – the second largest canyon in the world. Camp at Hobas campsite – located not far from the main viewpoint of the Fish River Canyon. The Fish River Canyon is the second largest in the world. There are many optional activities that can be done from here including sunrise walks and guided drives, as well as self-driving.

Leave Namibia and cross back into South Africa, driving as far as Springbok along the N7 highway, where you spend the night at Naries Manor House on the edge of the Spektakelberg.

Continue south towards Cape Town. The journey to Clanwilliam takes you through spectacular scenery. You will spend the night at a Guest house in the town.

Continue south along the N7 highway to Cape Town where you return the vehicle. Your final two nights are spent at Cloud 9 Boutique Hotel & Spa, close to the centre of Cape Town and the main tourist attractions.