Please note This is an overland group adventure camping trip so clients are expected to participate in all aspects of the trip (i.e. putting their tents up and down, assisting with meal preparation and cleaning up on a rota basis). Trip activities are designed to be quite flexible, so while there are a lot of optional excursions to choose from, clients can choose how much or how little they’d like to include in their trip. This trip is adventurous in nature, and our itinerary need to remain somewhat flexible in the event that things do not run according to plan.

We will leave Johannesburg and travel to the world famous Kruger National Park. En route we will go through the scenic Panorama Route – well known for its incredible vistas. We will arrive at the Kruger Park in the late afternoon and enjoy a game drive on the way to our camp site. This evening we will relax around the camp fire under the starry African skies.

We will be exploring the amazing Kruger National Park today. This incredible landscape covers an area of 497km² - 60km wide and over 350km long. The Kruger National Park is home to 146 mammals and 500 bird species, and we will spend the day looking for the Big 5, stopping of at some amazing view points. We will end the day at one of the southern camps within the park where we will spend the night.

We start the day early as we cross over the border leaving South Africa and heading to the warm waters of the Mozambique coastline. Known as a slave trade and Ivory centre in the colonial years, and there is still a strong Portuguese influence remaining. Today Maputo is the capital of Mozambique and the centre of its trade industry.

We journey outside of Inhambane known for its breath taking beaches who many consider to have some of the most beautiful reefs in the world including the famous Manta Reef and Gallaria. There are professional scuba diving operators along the coast and dives can be booked with them to experience this beauty 1st hand. The rest of the day can be spent horse riding along the coast or shopping at the busy “Mecado Central” (central market)

We will take a leisurely drive up the coast to the Morrungulu resort. The resort offers a truly tropical island feel with many coconut and palm plantations – look out for falling coconuts! Activities to enjoy include deep sea fishing or simply walking along the beach while enjoying amazing views.

We will spend two nights at Villanculous, the stepping stone to the 3 main islands of the Bazaruto Archipelago. A boat charter is available to view the smaller islands of Magaruque on Day 7.Other activities include Dhow trips, sunset cruises, horse riding, big game fishing, whale watching (seasonal) and more.

Continuing north we will say goodbye to the tropical coastline and travel inland to Bandula. We will drive through the more rural parts of Mozambique that will give us the opportunity to see some local Mozambican villages and farmsteads. We will finish the day by setting up camp in the late afternoon on the banks of the Chicamba Dam.

We will enter Zimbabwe, a country well known for its beauty, culture and traditions. Making our way to the town of Gweru, in Zimbabwe’s Midlands we can experience beautiful scenery at the Antelope Park. Antelope Park is home to lion, elephant, giraffe and antelope as well as others.

We will be spending the day enjoying personal encounters with African wildlife. Activities will include walking with lions, riding on an elephant’s back and game driving at night.

We will depart from Gweru and travel to Bulawayo - the second largest city in Zimbabwe.  Noted for its wide streets and British Colonial character, Bulawayo has many interesting places to visit, including the Natural History Museum, National Art Gallery, City Hall and Mzilikazi Arts and Crafts Centre.

Today we will be making our way to Zimbabwe’s oldest and largest reserve – the Hwange National Park. The park is home to a variety of wildlife species including thousands of elephants and rare antelope.  We will go on a game drive to explore the reserve (either in the late afternoon or early tomorrow morning).

This morning we will depart from Hwange and travel to Victoria Falls.  The town of Victoria Falls lies on the mighty Zambezi River and surrounded by the Victoria Falls National Park.  Our campsite is very conveniently located in the centre of town, within walking distance of restaurants, stores and the adventure booking-agents.  A 20 minute walk will take you to the entry point to see the falls.  From a considerable distance upstream the Zambezi River runs over a flat plateau, winding its way towards the falls.  The waterfall is formed as the full width of the mighty Zambezi plummets in a single vertical drop into a deep chasm, carved by the water from a fracture in the earth.  Known as Mosi-oa-Tunya (the Smoke Thunders), this spectacular waterfall will take your breath away.

You can spend the afternoon relaxing at the camp’s swimming pool, viewing the Victoria Falls, or exploring the delightful town.

Spend the next two days relaxing or enjoy some of the many optional excursions available.  Optional excursions include elephant-back safaris, horse riding safaris, an exciting walk with lions, visit to the crocodile farm, a leisurely boat cruise or golf at the Elephant Hills resort.  For the more adventurous there are numerous activities to get your adrenalin pumping; bungee jump from the Victoria Falls Bridge, abseil down into the Bakota Gorge, take an exhilarating helicopter flip over the falls or enjoy a microlight flight giving you a new perspective over this incredible World Heritage Site.  You could also try white water rafting, or just a relaxing ‘float’ down the river.

After breakfast we will travel over the border into Botswana and make our way to Kasane.  You will have a chance to explore the town and we will have lunch before departing for our Chobe Overnight Mobile Excursion – an overnight safari into the wilds of the Chobe National Park.  This is one of Botswana’s best game parks, famous for its elephant population.  We will spend the afternoon searching for animals as we drive to our camp within the park.  Keep a look out for the rare Sable and Roan Antelope and swopping Lilac Breasted Rollers!  Tonight we will camp surrounding by the night time sounds of the local wildlife – a wonderful experience.

This morning we will pack up early and head back to Kasane.  When we arrive you will have some time at leisure to relax.  After lunch we will go for a boat cruise down the Chobe River, the natural border between Botswana, Namibia and Zambia and the main water source for the Chobe Park.  Many animals can be seen from the river, including elephant, hippo and many bird species.  Witness an amazing sunset on the river before we return to our camp.

This morning we will travel west through the Chobe National Park and the southern reaches of the Okavango Delta to Maun.  En route we will make routine stops at Botswana’s “meat borders” – check points set up to protect the country’s beef industry from the spread of disease.  Tonight we will prepare for our two night excursion into the Okavango Delta – we suggest that you bring a smaller day pack of the trip that can be used to carry supplies.  The tour leader will brief before departure on what is required and what to expect during your time in the Delta.

OPTIONAL.  The Okavango Delta is a vast expanse of water which comes from the highlands of Angola, spreading out to form the world’s largest inland delta.  There are many islands within the delta to explore and the area is famous for its wide variety of animal and birdlife, many of which are unique to Southern Africa.  You will have the chance to take an optional 2 night Mokoro Excursion into the Delta; we will depart from Maun and drive north for a few hours to reach the Mokoro Poler’s station.  The Mokoro is a traditional mode of transport – a dug out canoe that is manoeuvred through the waterways by local guides who ‘pole’ them through the reeds.  The region has many local villages, some of which are remote and can only be reached by Mokoro.    At the poler’s station we will meet our guides and head out into the waterways of the delta.  After a few leisurely hours spent on the water the guides will find us a campsite.  In the afternoon we will embark on a bush walk, giving you a chance to see some of the amazing wildlife found here.   Please note, the camp will be situated in the open wilderness with no ablution facilities.

For those who do not wish to explore the Delta, you can spend the time at our campsite in Maun, relaxing at the pool, playing volleyball or visiting the nearby crocodile ranch.  The driver and cook will stay behind in Maun during this time.

Today we will spend our time at leisure, relaxing and enjoying the Delta.  There are a number of activities available here, including swimming, game walks or mokoro rides.  There will be time to rest during the hotter hours of the day when you can play a game of cards, read a book, chat to the guides about the history and culture of the area, or just lie back and enjoy the sounds of the wilderness.

This morning there will be a last chance to see the amazing wildlife of the delta on a bush walk, before packing up and returning to Maun.  We will travel by Mokoro and then vehicle, arriving in Maun in the afternoon.  There will be the opportunity this afternoon to take an optional scenic flight over the Okavango Delta (weather and availability dependant) – a wonderful experience and a fitting end to this leg of the tour.

We will follow the Kavango River, entering northern Namibia and stopping at Rundu.  Here we will replenish our supplies before making our way to our campsite for tonight, located on the banks of the spectacular Kavango River.

This morning we will leave Rundu and travel to the Etosha National Park.  Etosha is known as the ‘jewel in the crown of Namibia’ and is the country’s premier safari destinations, boasting more than 114 species of mammal.  The extensive road network in Etosha National Park will allow us to access even the more remote areas within the park, increasing our chances of spotting some of the more elusive animals.  After a break for lunch, and once the heat of the day has started to subside, we will spend our time exploring the park’s northern reaches.  We will be on the look out for many animals including four of the Big 5 – there are no buffalo here, as well as the beautiful Oryx and Springbok which are endemic to desert wildlife reserves.  After dinner you can head down to the floodlit waterhole where you can see the animals enjoying their evening drink.

Today we will traverse the park, keeping an eye open for all of the 114 mammal species found here, as well as the large variety of birds.  As we drive further through the park you will notice that the vegetation begins to chance, and so to the animals that can be seen.  After a full day safari experience we will leave the park through the Anderson gate and make our way to our campsite.  If there is time you can enjoy a dip in the pool before dinner, followed by a leisurely evening in this interesting camp.

Today we will make a short stop for supplies in Outjo before heading to the Cheetah Park – a private reserve dedicated to the preservation and protection of Namibia’s cheetah.  While these animals are endangered in Africa, Namibia is home to a large population of wild, freely moving cheetah that have caused local farmers many problems as they hunt their cattle and livestock.  The Cheetah Park offers a sanctuary to cheetah that have been trapped or injured and you will have a chance to meet the cats living here, as well as have your photos taken with them.

Today we will travel to Spitzkoppe – the ‘Matterhorn of Namibia’.  This 1,728m tall rock formation is well known as being a sacred San site, and it is one of Namibia’s most recognised landmarks.  Our campsite tonight, and the area around it, is managed by the local community here.  You can enjoy an optional excursion with one of the locals on a guided walk to the San Rock Art.  Alternatively you can explore the area at your leisure, viewing the ancient art or just enjoying the incredible views.  Tonight we will camp under a blanket of stars (no ablution facilities).

This morning we will depart for Swakopmund.  This small coastal town is characterized by palm-lined streets, seaside promenades, a lovely summer climate and safe, clean beaches.  Founded by Germans in 1892, there remains a strong German influence in both the language and architecture of the town.  You can take a walk through the town, visit the museum, aquarium or art gallery, relax at a sidewalk café or take a stroll down the beach.  For the next three nights we will be staying in dormitories – an upgrade to a private room is a possibility, depending on availability.

We will spend two days relaxing and enjoying all the activities Swakopmund has to offer.  Option excursions include sky diving, quad biking or sand boarding in the dunes, scenic flights, a dolphin and seal cruise, angling/fishing trips, playing a round of golf and horse riding to name just a few.  A briefing outlining the activities will be given on our arrival in Swakopmund.

Some of our group of travellers might leave us in Swakopmund, to be replaced by new explorers who will join us for the final part out the tour.

This morning we will leave the coast behind and journey into the Namib desert.  We will reach the Namib-Naukluft Park and make our way to our base at Sesriem.  Nearby Sossusvlei is the largest conservation area in Africa (and fourth largest in the world) and it remains one of the most spectacular sights to visit in Namibia. The best time to view Sossusvlei is close to sunrise and sunset when the colours are strong and the ever changing light dances across the sand as the sun sets/rises.  You will have the opportunity this afternoon to take an optional guided excursion into the area, learning about the history, geology, flora and fauna from the local guides.  We suggest that you climb to the top of Dune 45 (one of the tallest sand dunes in the world) to watch the sunset – a truly awe-inspiring experience.

We will depart early this morning and watch the sun rise over the waking desert as we leave this beautiful, peaceful area behind and head to the Fish River Canyon.  This amazing natural wonder is the second largest canyon in the world and we will follow the eastern rim, allowing us to access many of the viewing points where we will stop to appreciate the incredible view.

Today we will continue our journey south.  After a short drive we will arrive at the Gariep River – the natural border between Namibia and South Africa.  We will cross the river and camp in a beautiful area on the river’s edge.  You will have the option of a half day canoe trip in the afternoon, giving you the chance to enjoy some bird watching or just relax as you float down the river.  Enjoy an evening at the campsite bar overlooking the river tonight.

This morning we will travel through the Richtersveld region and Springbok, a small mining town, before arriving in gorgeous Namaqualand, renowned for its incredible fields of wild flowers that carpet the landscape in brilliant colours every spring.  Tonight we will camp in a picturesque site with wine farms all around us and you will have the opportunity to go to one of the estates to enjoy some wine tasting, or perhaps take a walk to the scenic Cederberg Mountains.  Tonight we will enjoy our final evening under African skies!

We will depart from the picturesque Cederberg this morning and head south to Cape Town.  We will meander through the orchards of Citrusdal before crossing the pass at Piketberg and entering the Cape Winelands.  We continue to our final destination, cosmopolitan Cape Town, where we’ll be welcomed by the sight of iconic Table Mountain.  Our accommodation this evening will be at a dormitory in the city centre at the foot of the mountain.

This morning our journey ends and you will have a chance to exchange details with your fellow travellers, having just experienced the holiday of a lifetime!

Cape Town offers visitors a host of activities to enjoy. Optional excursions include an enlightening Township Tour, or take the ferry to Robben Island. Enjoy a sunset cruise around Table Bay, or a walk along the many hiking and walking trails on the mountain.  Day trips from Cape Town are also available and you could spend a day in Hermanus watching the whales (seasonal) and exploring the lovely seaside town, or a day in Gansbaai to see the Great White Sharks.  Or you could go on a safari adventure day trip just outside of Cape Town.

The possibilities in and around Cape Town are endless and all excursions can be organised through the Albatros Travel Excursion Desk.