Amazing Southern Africa

Intrepid Travel Preferred
Has very high quality customer experiences and demonstrated commitment to responsible travel practices. read more
4.6 . Excellent
94%
Travel Style: Array Mixed
Physical Level: Walking or physical activity half to most of day - no carrying equipment. Easy
Lodging Level: 3 to 4 star western hotel equivalents. While not all lodging will be 'luxury' they will be quite comfortable by western standards. Comfort (4*)
22 days
From: $ 10,140 $ 461 / day
Checking price

Overview

Highlights (Bullets)

  • Devour fresh seafood with great views in Lamberts Bay at an open air restaurant
  • Canoe along the picturesque Orange River on a half-day excursion
  • Experience an eerie silence at the Sossusvlei sand dunes from atop of dune 45
  • Spend 2 nights on a houseboat as your base for exploring the Okavango Delta
  • Drive through the Elephant Highway between Nata & Kasane
  • Relax on a sunset cruise along the Chobe River spotting bird life and hippos
  • The scale of Fish River Canyon is staggering, but stunning African birdlife and a colour-changing sunset makes it so much more than one of the world's largest gorges
  • Learn more about the Kalahari from the knowledgeable San people
  • Head out on a morning game drive in open 4WDs in the Chobe National Park
  • Explore the Makgadikgadi Pans; scenery, sundowners, Baobabs and Meerkats!

Short Description

Travel to Africa and jump onboard an exhilarating journey through the magnificent nations of South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. Southern Africa is bursting with a diverse array of wildlife, culture and landscapes - all waiting to be explored and celebrated. Travel through stunning scenery and watch as lush green landscapes give way to harsh desert dunes and rocky mountain peaks. Take to the water on canoes and in a houseboat, embark on thrilling game drives, be immersed in unique ecosystems and be blown away by the sheer force of Victoria Falls. With welcoming locals and genuine experiences around every corner, this trip is full of surprises.

Style Small group tour
Spend most of the time outdoors. Common trip themes and activities include cycling, hiking, kayaking, whitewater rafting.
Itinerary Focus Active
3 to 4 star western hotel equivalents. While not all lodging will be 'luxury' they will be quite comfortable by western standards.
Lodging Level Comfort (4*)
Flight & Transport Inclusions All internal ground transport
Start City Cape Town
End City Victoria Falls

Itinerary

Day 1 Cape Town

Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm on Day 1. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask the hotel reception where it will take place. For those with time here before the trip starts, highly recommended excursions include catching the cable car up to the top of Table Mountain, taking the ferry across to Robben Island (where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years), or the day trip down to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope Peninsula.

Day 2 Lambert's Bay

Depart Cape Town and travel along the west coast to the small seaside town of Lamberts Bay (265km approximately 4-5 hours). Its white beaches, lobsters and incredible wildlife earned this place the nickname ‘diamond of west coast’. It's also simply a quaint fishing town tucked into the western Cape Province, best explored by foot. You'll visit Cape Gannet Island today. At the right time of the year, you might be lucky enough to view the spectacular flocks of gannet, which make use of the spot for breeding in August and September. For birdwatchers, the colony at Lambert's Bay is the most accessible of the six gannet colonies in South Africa and Namibia. They are a spectacular sight in their tightly packed community, and it’s an awesome experience to see them wheel, land and settle into their designated positions. Sit down to a delicious feast at a local open-air restaurant, where the amazing ocean views are sure to dazzle.

Day 3 Orange River

Farewell your coastal retreat as you cross the border into Namibia (500km approximately 7hrs). You should reach your destination on the banks of the Orange River by mid-afternoon. The border crossing and a few photo stops could delay this arrival a little. This is the longest river in South Africa, running from high up in the Drakensberg mountain range and on to the Atlantic Ocean. The river is significant for its role in transporting diamonds which in turn leaves deposits that are found along the Namibian coastline.

Day 4 Fish River Canyon

Kick things off with a half-day canoe adventure along the Orange River today. You will wind through the ancient Richtersveld Mountains. The canoe trip will be done in 2 man canoes with a local guide. It is a slow paced trip covering approximately 10km and we should be travelling down stream for most or all of the trip. After you have returned to land you'll venture to the Fish River Canyon (200km approximately 5hrs), one of the biggest canyons in the world. Along the way you will stop at various lookouts, all great opportunities to catch this beautiful and gigantic gorge on camera. Look out for some exotic birdlife while you’re here: plovers, wagtails, hammerkops and herons. You might even catch a glimpse of a baboon or an antelope at dusk if you're lucky.

Day 5 Solitaire

Today is a long travel day. We head to the eastern edge of the Namib Desert today (610km approximately 9hrs). This region of the world's oldest desert is known for its array of geological features. Take in the diversity and sprawling beauty of the scenery as you drive to your lodgings for the night.

Day 6 Solitaire – Sossusvlei

Today you will make an early morning visit to Sossusvlei, which lies at the end of an ancient riverbed. If you find yourself in the mood, a climb to the top of Dune 45 will reward you with unparalleled views of the region. After breakfast head to Dead Vlei. A clay pan well known for the iconic postcard like images taken here by many. The pan is surrounded by some of the highest dunes in the world, "Big Daddy" or "Crazy Dune" average about 350m. If you'd like to avoid a long walk in the sun you can opt to pay for a 4x4 transfer from the 2x2 car park out to the Dead Vlei entrance point. This will cost approximately 180ZAR per person. In the afternoon you will visit Sesriem Gorge, tranquil natural corridor you can walk through and explore. The canyon was caused by water erosion over thousands of years. The people who lived in the area used to pull buckets of water up from the depths with six knotted belts. Therefore, the canyon was named after the Afrikaans word “Sesriem” meaning “six belts”.

Day 7 Swakopmund

Depart your desert lodge and travel across the Namib Desert today (280 km, approximately 6 hours), a trip culminating in the gorgeous Atlantic Ocean coastline. The drive goes through a diverse and colourful landscape. You'll see the awesome Kuiseb Canyon along the way, before arriving at the beachside town of Swakopmund, located on the Skeleton Coast.

Day 8 Swakopmund

Enjoy some free time in this pretty coastal spot. Your accommodation is within walking distance of town. Perhaps go for a stroll along the beach, explore the open-air markets or visit the local museum. The Namibian National Marine Aquarium is also a good choice. There are plenty of options on offer at the local activity centre, which your leader will take you to.

Day 9 Damaraland

Get off the beaten track and head into the heart of Damaraland (330km approximately 6hrs). You should arrive at your lodge this afternoon. The ancient landscapes of the Kunene Region are ruggedly spectacular, awesome sunsets and night skies filled with a multitude of dazzling stars await you. This part of Namibia is also known as Damaraland, as it is the ancestral home land of the enigmatic Damara people whose exact origins remain unclear. Also home to the small population of hardy desert adapted elephant as well as a host of other unique flora and fauna.

Day 10 Damaraland

Spend the morning visiting the surrounding sights such as Twyfelfontein Heritage Site and the Petrified Forest. Twyfelfontein has one of the largest concentrations of ancient rock engraving in southern Africa and is a fascinating insight into the past. The Petrified Forest looks back into nature’s history, where 280 million-year-old fossilised tree trunks lie. We will be accompanied by local guides at both the Petrified forest and the Twyfelfontein sites. The guided walks take between 30-60mins and although not difficult there are some steep rocks and hills at the Twyfelfontein site. It can get hot at this time of day so be sure to have a hat, sunscreen and a bottle of water with you. Daytime temperatures often peak around 30°C here, so sightseeing is best completed as early as possible, before the thermometer climbs too high. Spend the remainder of the day back at the lodge, perhaps by the pool or relaxing in the shade.

Day 11 Etosha National Park

Depart our lodge this morning and head towards Etosha National Park (220km approximately 5hrs). Namibia has protected its game reserves against poaching, so there are large herds of elephants, antelope and other herbivores here. We head out on a short afternoon Game Drive in our truck on arrival.

Day 12 Etosha National Park

Enjoy a full day of game viewing in the truck. Keep your eyes peeled for black rhino, Hartmann's mountain zebra, black-faced impala, roan antelope and the tiny Damara dik-dik. Game viewing in the park is relatively easy due to the man-made waterholes and the large, sparsely vegetated pans. The bushland surrounding the pans is hard to see through, but there are enough clearings, pans and waterholes to allow for some sightings. Head back to the lodge this evening.

Day 13 Windhoek

On arrival in Windhoek, you will be met by an Intrepid representative and transferred to your hotel. Please arrive in time for the important welcome meeting at 6pm on Day 1. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask the hotel reception where it will take place. The old German colonial town of Windhoek has been blended into a modern city. The German architecture of the older buildings lends the town a historic atmosphere. Good examples of this German architecture can be seen in a number of buildings, but the best are the Tintenpalast (Ink Palace), the Christuskirche (church), the gymnasium and the Genossenschaftshaus. This evening you may wish to join the rest of the group for an optional welcome dinner.

Day 14 Ghanzi/Central Kalahari

Cross the border into Botswana and travel to Ghanzi, known as the "Capital of the Kalahari" (560km approximately 8 hrs). Cap off your afternoon at our lodge accommodation by soaking up the Botswana sunshine, relax in the lapa with a refreshing drink or cool off in the pool.

Day 15 Okavango Delta

This morning, head to the Okavango Delta (400km approximately 7hrs), where we board speedboats that will take us to your home for the next two nights, a houseboat in the Okavango Delta Panhandle. Please note you will need to pack a small bag or backpack for this trip as we won't be taking all of our luggage with us. Your floating home for the next 2 nights is the most incredibly peaceful way to experience the delta. The houseboat has twin-share cabins with bedding, towels and mosquito nets provided (no single supplement is available on these nights). Cabins are very small and basic with shared facilities however we don't expect you'll be spending much time in there. There is also a dining area on the deck, tea/coffee making facilities and a small collection of books and board games. This evening head to the deck where your captain will serve dinner, enjoy a sundowner, and listen to the sound of the Hippos along the waters edge.

Day 16 Okavango Delta

After breakfast we take a speedboat and 4WD to a nearby poling station. From here you have the opportunity to experience the myriad waterways in traditional dugout canoes (mokoros) with a local guide. Your guide will take you on a short nature walk around one of the many Islands in the Delta Panhandle. After a picnic lunch, return to the houseboat where you're free to relax, read a book or do some fishing. This evening grab a sundowner, pull up a chair and witness the often breathtaking sunset.

Day 17 Maun

After breakfast, we leave our houseboat behind, and again board the speedboats to take us back to our truck, and then on towards Maun - the gateway of the Okavango Delta (350km approximately 6 hrs). For those wanting more adventure, there's an opportunity to fly over the delta in a small plane for a bird's-eye view - a great way to appreciate the immensity of this watery world. Your leader can give you more information on this activity and how to book. Otherwise the afternoon is free to sit by the pool, catch up on emails and laundry.

Day 18 Makgadikgadi Pans

We depart from our lodge after breakfast and head towards north-east Botswana (210km approximately 4hrs). Our next stop is the Makgadikgadi Pans; a large salt pan situation in the middle of the dry savanna is located. This pan is now all that remains of the former Lake Makgadikgadi. Our accommodation tonight is located on the edge of the pans. Sit by the pool or relax in the lounge area and take in your surroundings after a long day. Head out to the Makgadikgadi Pans for an afternoon excursion in open 4WDs to one of the largest salt flats in the world. Here you’ll sit out in the wild enjoy sundowners and snacks while observing the amazing scenery. With the aid of trackers you may have the opportunity to spend some time in the company of the local meerkat colony, and look out for elephants that meander their way down to the watering hole to quench their thirst. Soak in this incredible place while the sun sets behind the old beautiful baobab.

Day 19 Chobe National Park

This morning we make tracks after breakfast and travel towards Kasane on the edge of Chobe National Park (410km approximately 7hrs). The stretch of road between Nata and Kasane is known as the 'Elephant Highway'. With no fences elephants are free to move between Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe and Botswana. So keep your eyes peeled for roadside elephants. Botswana's first national park, Chobe, is perhaps best known for its high concentration of elephants. You will spend the next two nights in a lodge on the banks of the Chobe River.

Day 20 Chobe National Park

This morning we wake early and take a dawn game drive in Chobe National Park, where you may see elephants drinking at the waters' edge, large herds of cape buffaloes and many impala within the park. In the afternoon you’ll take a breathtaking cruise on the Chobe River, ideal for spotting bird life such as saddle-billed storks, malachite kingfishers, fish eagles and beautiful bee-eaters as well as hippos, crocodiles and large families of elephants. The boat trip will be a shared activity with other travellers. There will be an opportunity to have a sundowner drink and watch the sunset over the river.

Day 21 Victoria Falls

Travel on to Victoria Falls, crossing the border into Zimbabwe in time to have lunch on the banks of the Zambezi (100km approximately 2hrs depending on border formalities). These falls are one of the natural wonders of the world and, when in full flow, form the largest sheet of falling water. Your leader will take you to a local activity centre where a range of activities will be on offer. We have not risk assessed all activities and only those listed in our trip notes are recommended. It is against company policy for leaders to facilitate the booking of any activities that have not been risk assessed or do not adhere to our company’s Responsible Travel policy and ethos. This includes organising transport to and from these activities in our vehicles. An included local brewery tour and a tasting paddle is a great way wash down the thrill of witnessing the magnificent falls.

Day 22 Victoria Falls

Your adventure will come to an end after breakfast this morning. No accommodation is included for tonight, but can be requested at your own expense.

Availability

Checking price
Price From $ 10,140
Price Per Day: $ 461 per day
Checking price
Start DateFinish DateBase PriceAvailability 
Apr-29-2023May-20-2023$ 10,630Sold Out Reserve
May-06-2023May-27-2023$ 11,0602 spots left Reserve
May-20-2023Jun-10-2023$ 11,060Sold Out Reserve
Jun-03-2023Jun-24-2023$ 10,8554 spots left Reserve
Jun-17-2023Jul-08-2023$ 11,8001 spots left Reserve
Jul-01-2023Jul-22-2023$ 11,800Sold Out Reserve
Jul-08-2023Jul-29-2023$ 12,0101 spots left Reserve
Jul-22-2023Aug-12-2023$ 10,95011 spots left Reserve
Aug-05-2023Aug-26-2023$ 11,1605 spots left Reserve
Aug-12-2023Sep-02-2023$ 11,0555 spots left Reserve
Aug-26-2023Sep-16-2023$ 10,7505 spots left Reserve
Sep-09-2023Sep-30-2023$ 11,5701 spots left Reserve
Sep-23-2023Oct-14-2023$ 10,54510 spots left Reserve
Oct-07-2023Oct-28-2023$ 10,2406 spots left Reserve
Oct-28-2023Nov-18-2023$ 10,14011 spots left Reserve
Nov-04-2023Nov-25-2023$ 10,14012 spots left Reserve
Jan-27-2024Feb-17-2024$ 10,33513 spots left Reserve
Mar-16-2024Apr-06-2024$ 10,33513 spots left Reserve
Apr-13-2024May-04-2024$ 10,33513 spots left Reserve
May-04-2024May-25-2024$ 10,33513 spots left Reserve
May-11-2024Jun-01-2024$ 10,33513 spots left Reserve
May-11-2024Jun-01-2024$ 10,33513 spots left Reserve
May-18-2024Jun-08-2024$ 10,33513 spots left Reserve
Jun-01-2024Jun-22-2024$ 10,33511 spots left Reserve
Jun-15-2024Jul-06-2024$ 10,33513 spots left Reserve
Jun-29-2024Jul-20-2024$ 10,33513 spots left Reserve
Jul-06-2024Jul-27-2024$ 10,33513 spots left Reserve
Jul-13-2024Aug-03-2024$ 10,33513 spots left Reserve
Jul-20-2024Aug-10-2024$ 10,33513 spots left Reserve
Aug-03-2024Aug-24-2024$ 10,33513 spots left Reserve
Aug-10-2024Aug-31-2024$ 10,33513 spots left Reserve
Aug-24-2024Sep-14-2024$ 10,33513 spots left Reserve
Sep-07-2024Sep-28-2024$ 10,33513 spots left Reserve
Sep-14-2024Oct-05-2024$ 10,33513 spots left Reserve
Sep-21-2024Oct-12-2024$ 10,33513 spots left Reserve
Oct-05-2024Oct-26-2024$ 10,33513 spots left Reserve
Oct-26-2024Nov-16-2024$ 10,33513 spots left Reserve
Nov-02-2024Nov-23-2024$ 10,33513 spots left Reserve
Dec-14-2024Jan-04-2025$ 10,3359 spots left Reserve
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Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

4,235 Intrepid Travel Travel Reviews & Ratings

94%
4.6 out of 5 (100+ reviews)
Excellent 3,193
Great 675
Average 134
Disappointing 68
Terrible 165
Value
4.6
Guide
4.6
Activities
4.6
Lodging
4.6
Transportation
4.6
Meals
4.6

Amazing Southern Africa

Excellent trip

5.0
Details
Value5.0
Guide5.0
Activities5.0
Lodging5.0
Transportation5.0
Meals5.0
Excellent trip

Company Reviews

intrepid charges more than 50% than the local companies for extras

1.0
Details
Value1.0
Guide1.0
Activities1.0
Lodging1.0
Transportation1.0
Meals1.0
This review is for the company Intrepid. first, don't pay for extra on your trip, they charge more than double of what the local cost, example, we paid 85 USdollars each for a hotel room, when we arrived the hotel was a 2 star hotel,with the cost for 40 USD, for more than 50% higher, no chance of getting that cost down. we paid for airport pickup, they forgot us, we called the contact and were hung up on. we were charged 250 usd more then if we had paid the actual company for a balloon ride, all in all we paid almost 600 usd more because we booked through intrepid travel. All hotel/camping grounds are subpar. Suggest that you not choose Intripid/ I'll not do this company in the future.
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Premium Vietnam

4.0
Details
Value4.0
Guide4.0
Activities4.0
Lodging4.0
Transportation4.0
Meals4.0
Fantastic! Would have been 5 star, but last hotel was mediocre (Ramada encore). All other hotels were great, everything well organised. Without doubt our guide Binh was the best thing of all. He never stopped working and nothing was too much trouble. He had a great knowledge and a good sense of humour.
Will definitely be booking with intrepid again.
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Cancelled tour, deception and poor customer service

1.0
Details
Value1.0
Guide1.0
Activities1.0
Lodging1.0
Transportation1.0
Meals1.0
Booked a 'trip of a lifetime' with Intrepid to NZ, having worked throughout Covid in a public facing role.
The booking was made a year in advance - during which we received information about the trip and Intrepid took our money.
Three weeks before the trip we were informed our trip had been cancelled. The explanation given by Intrepid was the NZ local operator (Haka tours) had failed to include us on their attendance list and the tour was now full. The blame was squarely placed with Haka tours.

We managed, with the assistance of our excellent travel agent, to book a self drive holiday. However the whole experience was extremely stressful.

When we arrived in NZ it soon became known to us that Intrepid actually own Haka tours - so the reason given for cancellation was a deliberate attempt to deceive us. Intrepid have done nothing of any use to assist us and I would strongly advise that you do NOT book with them. They are not to be trusted and clearly do not value their customers.
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total confidence

5.0
Details
Value5.0
Guide5.0
Activities5.0
Lodging5.0
Transportation5.0
Meals5.0
PREMIUM INDIA

great tour leader, excellent hotels and a varied itinerary. This all adds up to a wonderful experience where all we had to doing was sit back and enjoy the trip. Very confident in the planning and organisation...well done again intrepid
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Although Intrepid did not rectify the…

4.0
Details
Value4.0
Guide4.0
Activities4.0
Lodging4.0
Transportation4.0
Meals4.0
Although Intrepid did not rectify the problem during the trip, customer service was proactive and continued to communicate until the matter was resolved. I appreciated that.
Read more

Details

Flight & Transport Inclusions

All internal ground transport Overland vehicle,Canoe,Mokoro,Open Safari Vehicle,Boat

Group Size

Small Group - 24 max

Maximum Number of People in Group: 13

Accommodations

Lodge (10 nights),Guesthouse (2 nights),Hotel (7 nights),Houseboat (2 nights)

Guides

On this trip you will be accompanied by two crew members, a Group Leader and a Driver. Your Intrepid Group Leader’s role involves organizing the overall operation and smooth-running of the trip, managing trip logistics and providing the group with information. Your Group Leader will work towards making the trip as safe and enjoyable as possible for all travellers. Intrepid trips are built around the co–operation and participation of all the group members under the supervision of the group leader. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting, especially when tracking and identifying game - we think it's the best of both worlds. Our Group Leaders are chosen for their leadership skills and are wonderful ambassadors for our company and our beautiful continent and its people. Your Driver’s main responsibility is to get you to your destination safely; they are also responsible for the maintenance of the vehicles along the way. We endeavour to provide the services of an experienced leader and driver; however, situations may arise where your leader is new to a particular region or training other group leaders.

Age Notes :

Min. Age: 15

Max Age: 99

Additional Information

Finish point

  • Sprayview Hotel
  • Livingstone Way
  • Victoria Falls
  • ZIMBABWE

Trip ID#:

intrepid-UBKEC

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