19 Day Desert Tracker Adventure

Overview

Desert Tracker Adventure

Discover the secrets of Southern Africa on this 19-day Desert Tracker overland camping Adventure safari which will take you through the diverse landscapes of Southern Africa. From the barren Namibian desert to the cold Atlantic coastline at Swakopmund and on to vibrant Cape Town. Then to the thriving game parks of Etosha National Park in Namibia, the Okavango Delta and Chobe national Park in Botswana as well as the wild savannah and the roaring Victoria Falls in Zambia. Join us for an unforgettable African adventure! This safari is also available in reverse if you wish to start in Livingstone and end in Cape Town. Group size: Maximum 24 Average 12, Ages: 18-39’ish.

Desert Tracker Adventure Included Highlights

Cape Town Township Tour*
Sesriem Canyon
Sossusvlei 4×4 Shuttle*
Dune 45
Spitzkoppe, Bushman Paintings
Etosha NP, Game Drives
Kalahari Bushman Walk
Okavango Delta Wilderness Excursion, Mokoro/Walking Safari*
Chobe NP, Fish Eagle Boat Cruise*
Chobe NP Open Vehicle Game Drive with resident guide*
Mosi Oa Tunya NP, Victoria Falls Visit

*Highlight is part of the Adventure Pass

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

• All tour highlights
• 2-person dome tents
• Fully equipped safari vehicles
• Camping and cooking equipment
• Mattresses
• Service of two crew
• All road and vehicle taxes
• All ground transportation
• Meals as indicated

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED:

• Adventure Pass activities
• Visas
• Travel insurance
• Flight departure taxes
• Airport transfers
• Optional activities
• Tips
• Drinks
• Sleeping bag and items of personal nature
• NB: Dinner in Windhoek and lunches and dinners in Swakopmund are not included in the tour price.

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Price is quote per person sharing. Price excludes single supplement, any additional meals or activities not set out in the itinerary. Prices are subject to change

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Cape Town – Western Cape, South Africa
Distance travelled: +/- 260 Km
Approx driving time: 4.5 Hours

Our adventure tour begins in cosmopolitan Cape Town, overlooked by Table Mountain and bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, one of the world’s most picturesque cities. Before we leave the city, we take a tour of the Cape Flats, at one of Cape Town’s intriguing townships, visiting some of the local people and community projects in the area. The townships illustrate both South Africa’s tumultuous history and its hope for the future which makes for a fascinating visit. From here we head north through South Africa’s Western Cape and through the fruit growing regions of Citrusdal. Our campsite is located near the Olifants River overlooking the stunning Cederberg Mountains. After setting up camp there is an option to sample some of the local wines of the region, properly meet the rest of the group and enjoy our first night under the African sky.

Western Cape – Gariep (Orange) River
Distance travelled: +/- 400 Km
Approx driving time: 8 Hours

Continuing north, the landscape gradually turns drier and rockier as we head towards the Namibian border crossing at Vioolsdrift. We set up camp tonight on the Namibian side of the Gariep (Orange) River, a stunning backdrop. Our camp provides you with the necessary comforts like hot showers, flush toilets, grassy campsites, swimming pool, bar facilities and the Orange River is safe for swimming! You will be briefed on an optional Orange River canoe safari for later this afternoon or the following morning. The camp by night is showered with stars of the Richtersveld – a truly peaceful and tranquil experience.

Gariep (Orange) River – Fish River Canyon, Namibia
Distance travelled: +/- 180 Km
Approx driving time: 3.5 Hours

This morning we have the opportunity to partake in an optional canoe safari on the river, or simply relax on the water’s edge before making our way to the majestic Fish River Canyon. One of the natural wonders of Africa, the canyon is some 500m deep and over 160km long and often referred to as the second largest canyon in the world. There are plenty of opportunities for keen photographers this afternoon especially at the canyons infamous sharp river bend known as ‘Hells Corner’. A great opportunity to find a quiet spot and marvel at the sheer beauty of the Fish River Canyon.

Fish River Canyon – Sesriem Area
Distance travelled: +/- 550 Km
Approx driving time: 10 Hours

After a night near the canyon we continue north to the Sesriem Area, the gateway to the Namib Naukluft National Park, containing the world’s oldest desert and highest sand dunes. The Namib-Naukluft National Park contains part of the Namib Desert and the Naukluft mountain range. With an overall area of 49,768 km2 it’s larger than Switzerland and is the second largest game park in Africa and the fourth largest in the world. Here we set up camp for the evening under the starry Namibian sky.

Namib Naukluft National Park – Sossus On Foot Camp
Distance travelled: +/- 200 Km
Approx driving time: 5 Hours

This morning we enter the National Park to trek to the top of famous Dune 45. A spectacular sight but be warned, it’s not an easy feat to reach the top as some dunes are over 300m high! After a well-deserved breakfast we continue deeper into the park for a short shuttle ride and nature walk to ‘Dead Vlei’, amidst the giant sand dunes – a real glimpse of Namibia’s untainted natural environment. Bring your camera – the shifting colours of the desert as the sun climbs throughout the mid/late morning offer some brilliant photographic opportunities. Departing from the dunes, we stop off at the smaller Sesriem Canyon where the multiple layers of rock and pebbles make for an interesting insight to what lies beneath the mountains of sand. Thereafter we make our way via Namibia’s smallest town, Solitaire to our camp for the night.

Sossus On Foot Camp – Swakopmund
Distance travelled: +/- 260 Km
Approx driving time: 4.5 Hours

Leaving our desert camp, we head for the Atlantic coast for the next two nights, crossing over the Tropic of Capricorn, and stopping for a photo opportunity en route. Swakopmund makes for a refreshing change with cooler Atlantic sea air, a taste of civilization and a swathe of exciting things to do and places to explore Be daring and try some desert-based adventure activities – quad biking, sand boarding, skydiving (weather permitting) and more! For those not seeking adventure enjoy what the town has to offer: shopping, restaurants, museums, aquarium, art galleries – or else simply walk along the promenade admiring the ocean, the quaint German-style architecture and indulge in the town’s café culture.

Today is a free day to enjoy all this quaint seaside town has to offer – from the many optional activities to the German patisseries, cafés and restaurants.

Swakopmund to Spitzkoppe
Distance travelled: +/- 150 Km
Approx driving time: 3 Hours

Leaving the coast, we turn inland to the beautiful Damaraland region and explore Spitzkoppe where we admire ancient bushman paintings still visible on peculiar rock formations. The giant boulder-like rock formations peak at approx 1800m above sea level and form a spectacular view. Take your time to explore the area and its delightful calmness. Keep an eye on the ever-changing colour of the rock, especially during sunrise and sunset, when they acquire intense red shades. The most impressive rock painting is “Bushman Paradise” and the natural rock bridge is a favourite viewpoint. The Spitzkoppe Rest camp lies at the base of the mountain and is owned and maintained by the local community. All proceeds from our visit go directly to this community.

Spitzkoppe to Etosha
Distance travelled: +/- 420 km
Approx driving time: 6 Hours

From Spitzkoppe we turn north again making our way to Etosha National Park, a vast reserve of over 20,000 sq km surrounding a central salt depression or ‘pan.’ The pan is seasonally full of water, but specially managed waterholes sustain some 114 mammal and 340 bird species. We spend two nights here, usually making camp near a floodlit waterhole. Observers frequently see a range of night visitors including elephant, giraffe, zebra, even lion and hyena, making it one of the most memorable wildlife encounters in Namibia – a truly African experience and a highlight of any trip to Namibia. We have a short afternoon game drive on entering the park and heading to the camp.

Distance travelled: +/- 250 Km

Today, we enjoy a full day game driving in this magnificent animal kingdom – taking in the park’s main characteristic, the salt pan which can be seen from space – in search of elephant, rhino, zebra, giraffes and the numerous grazing animals frequently spotted around the water holes. Despite the dry nature of the terrain, the park sustains a wide variety of bird species including the large Kori Bustard, Secretary Bird and many other seed & insect eaters, as well as birds of prey.

After a full day game driving we return to camp, or onto the next camp and enjoy our last evening around the floodlit watering holes, observing natural animal behaviour at its best.

Etosha to Windhoek
Distance travelled: +/- 420 Km
Approx driving time: 8.5 Hours

Heading south, we arrive in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, which is located in a basin between the Khomas Highland, Auas and Eros Mountains. Windhoek (Windy-corner in English) is home to approximately two hundred thousand people, an extremely small capital by global standards. The city centre is characterized by a proliferation of German style buildings, a lasting reminder of Namibia’s early colonial history and atmosphere. Take the opportunity to enjoy a night out at one of the local restaurants.

Windhoek – Omaheke Region, near Gobabis, Namibia
Distance travelled: +/- 520 Km
Approx driving time: 9 Hours

Leaving Windhoek, we travel east into the Kalahari region and cross into Botswana. Our first stop is at the town of Ghanzi. Here, in this midst of seemingly) barren terrain we meet the San/Bushman and have a guided bush walk for a cultural experience and insight into these ancient people’s way of life. We learn how they work with nature and manage the renewable resources found in their natural
surroundings without damaging the fragile balance found in this ecosystem. Something we can all learn from. Your support of this ecotourism venture gives the San/Bushman a sustainable income and helps keep their culture alive. Around the campfire at night, you can experience the ancient dance rituals of the San/Bushman. On special occasions this could be a healing or trance dance, which can continue all
night, and is an intense spiritual experience for both participants and visitors alike.

Omaheke Region, near Gobabis, Namibia – Maun, Botswana
Distance travelled: +/- 520 Km
Approx driving time: 9 Hours

Leaving the Omaheke Region, we travel a short distance to the border into Botswana. Maun is the fifth largest town in Botswana and is an eclectic mix of modern buildings and native dwellings. Although officially still a village, Maun has developed rapidly from a rural frontier town to a community that has distributed along the wide banks of the Thamalakane River where red lechwe antelope can still be seen grazing next to local donkeys, goats and cattle. Since Maun’s founding in 1915 it has had a reputation as a hard-living ‘Wild West’ town helping the local cattle ranching and hunting operations. Maun today is a thriving tourist town famous for its donkey population and to a lesser extent, goats. These animals can be seen standing around town as they are used by local traders and farmers alike to transport their wares to sell on the curb side.

NB: If time allows, we have the opportunity to take an optional scenic flight over the Okavango Delta, either this afternoon or on Day 15 on our return from the Delta excursion

Maun – Okavango Delta
Distance travelled: +/- 50 Km
Approx driving time: transfer 2 hours

Leaving the campsite in Maun we begin our excursion into the Okavango Delta by an open 4×4 truck to the mokoro station. Here we will be introduced to the local Tswana Polers that will be guiding us on this expedition. We travel by mokoro (dugout canoe) amongst the giant lily pads, tall grasses and
labyrinthine channels in search of resident wildlife and a variety of birds, to our tented camp from which we can explore the area on a walking safari. The Okavango is a natural wetland spreading over some 1,600,000ha of northern Botswana that offers a perfect habitat for the many species of wildlife that roam here freely. The Okavango River rises in Angola (farther to the north) and flows south dividing
repeatedly after crossing into Botswana to form an intricate floodplain of channels and which spreads out into a broad flat inland delta – the only one of its kind in the world.
We enjoy the afternoon wilderness experience and overnight listening to the sounds of the African night – an unforgettable experience!

Okavango Delta – Maun
Distance travelled: +/- 50 Km
Approx driving time: transfer 2 hours

This morning we take an easy paced mokoro ride out of the Okavango Delta back to the polers station from where we will drive back to Maun, our overnight stop. We aim to get back to camp around lunch time to allow for the opportunity to enjoy an optional scenic flight over this spectacular UNESCO world heritage site.
Alternatively, the afternoon can be spent at leisure at the camp’s pool.

Maun – Elephant Sands, Nata
Distance travelled: +/- 380 Km
Approx driving time: 5 Hours

Today, we make our way towards Nata travelling through a wide-open wildlife corridor between the Nxai and the Makgadikgadi Pans. We stop off to see one of Africa’s most iconic trees – the Baobab along the way and arrive at the Elephant Sands Lodge during the late afternoon. The camp has no fences, so all wildlife can roam freely from one waterhole to another and one can expect to see a variety of antelope and other wildlife during your stay at Elephant Sands. It is one of the most unique and amazing experiences to watch wild elephants and their behavior at such close proximity.

Elephant Sands, Nata – Kasane
Distance travelled: +/- 270 Km
Approx driving time: 5 Hours

We make our way to the northern corner of Botswana to Kasane, the gateway to Chobe National Park. By size, it is the third largest park in the country and is the most diverse; home to elephant, lion, buffalo, hippo and abundant birdlife, including the famous African fish eagle. We take a ‘Fish Eagle’ cruise on the Chobe River – a great opportunity to see hippo and perhaps elephant or buffalo coming to the river to bathe and drink.

The Chobe River is a major watering spot for large breeding herds of elephants, as well as families of giraffe, sable and cape buffalo. The flood plains are the only place in Botswana where the puku antelope can be seen. Birding is also excellent here. When in flood spoonbills, ibis, various species of stork and other waterfowl flock to the area.

Kasane – Livingstone, Victoria Falls, Zambia
Distance travelled +/- 80 Km
Approx driving time: 1.5 Hours

This morning we head out to explore the Chobe National Park on an open vehicle game drive where we have the opportunity to spot not only elephant that are so prolific in the park, but also lion, and different antelope species. Moving on from Kasane we take the ferry across the confluence of the Chobe and Zambezi Rivers into Zambia. Zambia, formerly known as Northern Rhodesia took its name from the Zambezi River at independence in 1964. The Zambezi River is the fourth longest in Africa (after the Nile, Congo and Niger) and the largest flowing into the Indian Ocean. Home to one of the world’s largest waterfalls, we visit Victoria Falls and try to take in the immensity of one of nature’s Wonders of the World. At various times of year, the spray from the Falls can be seen from up to 20 or 30 kilometers away, hence the local name ‘Mosi oa Tunya’ – the ‘Smoke that Thunders’.
We set up camp at the Waterfront campsite on the banks of the Zambezi, just a few kilometers from the Victoria Falls and the small town of Livingstone. We will give a full briefing on the various optional activities available in the area (typically these include rafting, canoeing, bungee, abseiling, gorge
swinging, scenic flights and river cruises), allowing you to plan your time accordingly.

Our tour ends after breakfast but we highly recommend staying a few more days in the area in order to explore the Victoria Falls area to the full. Apart from the adventure activities already mentioned check out the markets, volunteer a day in some worthwhile local projects, or simply relax at the beautiful waterfront and watch the Zambezi River flow quickly past on its way to Victoria Falls.