OVC02 - 14 Day Cape to Namibia Desert Camping Tour

A complete tour of Namibia with the bonus of a Cape Town start. Discover the desert of Namibia, including Fish River Canyon, awesome red sand dunes of Sossusvlei, wildlife in Etosha National Park, and adventure activities in Swakopmund!

Taking a break at the base of a sand dune in Namibia.

The Route
Cape Town - Cedarberg - Gariep River - Fish River Canyon - Namib Desert - Swakopmund - Spitzkop - Ugab Wilderness - Etosha National Park - Windhoek

Departures
Tours depart Cape Town on Wednesday at 08:00. Tour ends in Windhoek on Thursday at 08:00. Scheduled departure dates can be found below.

Guests
Minimum 4 - Maximum 12



Day 1 of the tour
Departing, after a tour briefing, from Cape Town at 08:00 we visit the African Penguin colony en route to Cape Point Nature Reserve and spend the rest of the day relaxing on Hout Bay beach. We sample some of Cape Town's culinary wonders at a local restaurant in the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront (own expense).

Distance/ Time:     Full Day Cape Peninsula Tour that takes between 6-8 hours

Overnight:     Guest House - Cape Town (Bed & Breakfast)



Day 2 of the tour
The Cedarberg is a massive rocky wilderness where giant sandstone boulders have been sculpted by wind and rain into bizarre and artistic shapes. In the afternoon we explore the rugged landscape on foot.

Distance/ Time:     250km, +/- 3½ hours, exclusing stops for sightseeing

Overnight:     Camping - Cedarberg (Lunch, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)



Day 3 of the tour
We make our way into more arid regions and entering Namibia, we camp at the Gariep River. You will have free time for swimming and relaxing or you can adventure down the river in canoes (own expense).

Distance/ Time:     500km, +/- 7 hours, excluding stops for sightseeing and lunch

Overnight:     Camping - Gariep River (Lunch, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)



Day 4 of the tour
We make our way to the Fish River Canyon, the second largest canyon in the world. In the afternoon we watch as a spectacular sunset slips over the canyon's rim.

Distance/ Time:     300km, +/- 4 hours, exclusing stops for sightseeing and lunch

Overnight:     Camping - Fish River Canyon (Lunch, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)



Days 5-6 of the tour
Towering red sand dunes of Sossusvlei form the gateway into the Namib Desert. We will walk to Sossusvlei, explore Sesriem Canyon and watch dramatic sunsets over the world's highest sand dunes.

Distance/ Time:     550km, +/- 7½ hours, excluding stops for sightseeing and lunch

Overnight:     Camping - Namib Desert (Lunch, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)



Days 7-8 of the tour
Lunar landscapes and the prehistoric Welwitchia plants surround the coastal town of Swakopmund. Day free to explore the town or try sea kayaking/ dune boarding (own expense). We enjoy evening restaurant meals (own expense) and overnight in a guest house.

Distance/ Time:     350km, +/- 5 hours, excluding stops for sightseeing 

Overnight:     Chalet - Swakopmund (2 x Bed & Breakfast, 1 x Lunch)



Day 9 of the tour
Two days of beautiful desert landscapes. We move north along the arid coast to the Cape Cross seal colony before heading inland to set up camp under the Spitzkoppe, huge granite domes rising out of the desert. Enjoy a magnificent sunset. We will take a short walk to explore the area.

Distance/ Time:     250km, +/- 3½ hours, excluding stops for sightseeing

Overnight:     Camping - Spitzkop (Lunch, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)



Day 10 of the tour
Our next stop is the Brandberg where we camp next to the dry Ugab River bed, home to the rare desert elephants. We explore the mountains on foot with our local guides, who lead us through this region adorned with rock art.

Distance/ Time:     170km, +/- 2½ hours, excluding stops for sightseeing

Overnight:     Camping - Ugab Wilderness (Lunch, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)



Days 11-12 of the tour
Etosha National Park, "the great white place of dry water", in the game rich northwest corner of Namibia offers a variety of wildlife. We take game drives around the huge dry pan to find elephants, herds of antelope and lions around the waterholes before we camp at Okaukuejo with its flood-lit waterhole. (Subject to animal movements we may use any of the 3 camps in Etosha).

Distance/ Time:     400km, +/- 5½ hours, exclusing stops for sightseeing plus 2x3 hour game drives per day

Overnight:     Camping - Etosha National Park (Lunch, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)



Day 13 of the tour
The charm of the city of Windhoek lies in its harmonious blend of African and European cultures and the friendliness of its people. We visit the cosmopolitan capital and enjoy a restaurant meal (own expense).

Distance/ Time:     500km, +/- 7 hours, excluding stops for sightseeing and lunch

Overnight:     Guest House - Windhoek (Lunch, Bed & Breakfast)



Day 14 of the tour
Tour ends in Windhoek at the guest house after breakfast. Transfers to local airports are available.

Distance/ Time:     N/A 

Please Note

• This tour is operated as a Scheduled Tour. Departure dates can be found below.
• There are only two single tents available for this tour, which attracts the single supplement charge. On the nights that the camping tours stay in Guest Houses or Chalets the single travellers will be roomed with another same sex single traveller. Should there be no single tents available single guests will pay the sharing rate and then be accommodated in a twin share tent with another traveller of the same sex.
• The accommodation specified in the itinerary is a guide only and subject to availability. Alternatives will be of a similar standard if required.
• The Euro rate is just an indication of the price at the current exchange rate, it cannot be guaranteed until a confirmed booking is made.

Scheduled Departure Dates 2012

The "Cape to Namibia Desert Camping Tour" can be combined after all "South Africa Scenic Route" departures to create a comprehensive safari in Southern Africa.