Extended Diverse Southern Africa Safari
Overview
We put together this itinerary for those who love to do extended trips. One way to plan a lengthy trip is to plan it during Shoulder Season – a time bordering the edges of Peak Season. Shoulder Season, or Rainy Season, allows for incredible value and experience without the Peak Season pricing and congestion.
Especially with this itinerary in particular, it’s a time of year to witness extraordinary wildlife viewing without the concern of getting rained out as we focused on sending them to dryer areas during the Rainy Season.
We’ll start you off with a couple nights in Cape Town, a great starting point for any Africa itinerary. You’ll then immediately delve into a high impact location at Sabi Sands, where there is excellent Big 5 and Big Cat viewing. We’ll complement Sabi Sands with Mashatu – known as an excellent year-round wildlife destination. It’s dryer and more open landscape is in stark comparison to the Sabi Sands area, with a fair share of predators and elephants. We throw in a change of pace with Victoria Falls, allowing some independent and leisure time. You’ll jump into the Okavango Delta afterwards, which is very wet during the Shoulder Season. This means that it is also a great time to take advantage of the multiple water-based activities the Delta offers such as boating, mokoros and great birding opportunities. The last part of the itinerary involves joining a group trip in Namibia where you’ll really got to see all the country’s highlights.
This Desert Dune Safari, which is operated by our partners at Wilderness Safaris, begins in the famous red dunes of Sossusvlei, followed by visiting the quaint town of Swakopmund, and then seeing various highlights of the Skeleton Coast, finishing at Etosha National Park. Part of the fun of traveling through Namibia is observing its scenic landscape by overland and light aircraft transfers.
With the creative itinerary we developed, you’ll get to experience a diverse range of wildlife locations over a prolonged period of time, validating Shoulder Season as THE season that travelers who enjoyed longer trips should aim for.
Itinerary in Brief
Day 1: Arrive in Cape Town, meet and greet then transfer to Hotel (7 nights)
Day 2-7: Six full days to immerse yourself into this culturally rich and vibrant city; some suggestions are Kirstenbosch, Constantia, Winelands, Company Gardens/Museums
Day 8: Flight to Skukuza, transfer to Bush Camp (3 nights)
Day 9-10: Explore the Sabi Sand Game Reserve with your guide and other guests from the lodge
Day 11: Shared charter to Mashatu, Botswana, transfer to Camp (4 nights)
Day 12-13: Discover the wonders of Mashatu on game activities from your base
Day 14: Shared charter to Johannesburg, walk over to Airport Hotel (1 night)
Day 15: Morning flight to Victoria Falls, transfer to Lodge (2 nights)
Day 16: One full day in Victoria Falls to actively explore or relax at your hotel
Day 17: Shared road transfer to Kasane then flight to Selinda Reserve, transfer to Camp (3 nights)
Day 18-19: Delve into the wilderness of the Selinda Reserve
Day 20: Fly to Windhoek via Johannesburg, meet & greet then transfer to Guest House (2 nights)
Day 21: Morning city tour of Windhoek, afternoon at leisure
Day 22: Meet guide and drive to Sossusvlei and and check in to Camp (2 nights)
Day 23: Explore the iconic dunes and surrounding environment of Sossusvlei
Day 24: Scenic flight to Swakopmund, transfer to Hotel (2 nights)
Day 25: Cruise along the coast from Walvis Bay (weather permitting) & lunch, afternoon at leisure
Day 26: Scenic drive along partly up Skeleton Coast, drive through the Ugab riverbed until you reach Damaraland, check into camp (1 night)
Day 27: Drive into the Huab riverbed before heading north to the mountainous and rocky paradise of the massive Palmwag Concession, check in to Camp (2 nights)
Day 28: One full day to explore the area and search for the desert-adapted black rhino
Day 29: Drive to Doro Nawas airstrip for light aircraft transfer to the Palmwag Concession, check in to Camp (3 nights)
Day 30-31: Two full days to explore this remote part of Namibia famed for plant and animal life that has adapted superbly to the harsh environment of mountains, vast plains, dunes and dry riverbeds
Day 32: Fly to Doro Nawas airstrip this morning before driving to Ongava Game Reserve on the boundary of Etosha National Park, transfer to Lodge (3 nights)
Day 33-34: Two full days to explore the highest density wildlife area within Namibia
Day 35: Drive 420 kilometres south to Windhoek, then connect to onward flight & the start of your journey home
