This is the Master of tours, starting at the southern point of Africa in Cape Town, 'The Mother City, it offers iconic landmarks and beauty. Progressing up the west coast we travel into the wide open vistas of Namibia, through some of the biggest sand dunes on the planet, and upwards to the true wilderness of the Okavango Delta. We continue onto the isolation of the Makgadikgadi salt pans before going Northwards through Kasane to reach the mighty Victoria Falls. Coming down we visit Hwange with its vast elephant herds and track Rhino in Matobo. Finally crossing back to Botswana the tour ends in the city of Gold - Johannesburg.
This is the Master of tours, starting at the southern point of Africa in Cape Town, 'The Mother City, it offers iconic landmarks and beauty. Progressing up the west coast we travel into the wide open vistas of Namibia, through some of the biggest sand dunes on the planet, and upwards to the true wilderness of the Okavango Delta. We continue onto the isolation of the Makgadikgadi salt pans before going Northwards through Kasane to reach the mighty Victoria Falls.
Coming down we visit Hwange with its vast elephant herds and track Rhino in Matobo. Finally crossing back to Botswana the tour ends in the city of Gold – Johannesburg.
We cover a great deal of distance on some remote and rough roads, but for those who truly seek adventure, the natural wonders that we encounter more than compensate for any discomfort.
The 24 Day Accommodated tours are limited to a maximum of 12 guests per vehicle.
We spend both our nights at the GREENFIRE LODGE. Located in Sea Point the lodge is conveniently situated close to shops, restaurants and the ocean promenade.
Today we travel north to cross the border into Namibia, known for its dramatic landscapes and beautiful desert vistas. Once through the border, we travel the short distance to our base on the banks of the Orange River. We enjoy a relaxed afternoon along the banks of the river and prepare for our canoe excursion the following day. We spend two nights in comfortable accommodation.
The Orange River is the longest river in South Africa and creates a natural border to Namibia. Seen from above, the river forms a green ribbon winding its way through the desert and towering mountains of the Richtersveld National Park. After breakfast on the second morning our canoe trip will follow the river at a relaxed pace, allowing guests to enjoy the tranquillity of the surrounding views.
In the late afternoon we will return to our accommodation to relax and enjoy the surrounding beauty.
Today we head directly to the iconic Fish River Canyon, second only in size to the mighty Grand Canyon. An iconic landmark in Namibia, it is a destination not to be missed and we will spend some time admiring the canyon and surrounding landscape. After exploring the lip of the canyon, we continue into the true Namib to our final destination for the next two nights at our private desert game reserve. On arrival in the late afternoon, we settle in at the GREENFIRE DESERT LODGE.
The GREENFIRE DESERT LODGE is situated on our private nature reserve and is home to numerous species of desert adapted fauna and flora. The lodge is spectacularly built against a rock outcrop between the stark mountains and the red dune-fields. The reserve offers guests a private and secluded desert experience, a day for learning that the desert is not a dead barren wasteland, but a vibrant living thing.
During our stay here we conduct a guided walk with our guide to gain more insight on the surrounding desert. During the heat of the day guests have time to relax at the lodge or to explore the surrounding area on foot should they wish to. In the afternoon we depart on a desert drive. During the drive we stop at a suitable place to enjoy the sunset and a traditional sundowner drink. Once it is dark we slowly drive back to the Lodge and hope to encounter some nocturnal animals adapted to living in the desert.
An early start, we travel directly to the dune fields of Sossusvlei where we find some of the biggest dunes on earth. We take you to climb the dunes in the morning while the air is still fresh and cool. The last part of our journey to the dunes will be through the thick sand and for this we use an open 4×4 vehicle which will take is into the heart of Sossusvlei and Deadvlei to explore it further on foot. The varied colours of the ever silent dunes at various times of the day, with the utter starkness of the area create a unique experience.
After our extensive dune experience, we continue into the desert where we spend the night in comfortable accommodation.
A short journey today, we cross the Kuiseb Canyon and the Naukluft Park toward the seaside town of Swakopmund where we spend two nights in the coastal town of Swakopmund. Established in 1892, the town is rich with history, culture and adventure. Originally built as a trading and fishing port it was later found that the nearby Walvis Bay was a more suitable location. Today the town is a visitor's paradise with various local restaurants, shops and a multitude of activities available. We have a full day here for exploring the town and partaking in some adventure activities.
Today guests have the full day for exploring the town of Swakopmund with its beaches, markets, curio shops and huge variety of adventure options that include quad biking, sky diving, dune boarding, and much more. On both nights here we enjoy restaurant meals getting the most out of town and all it has to offer (own expense).
We venture back inland and travel through the desert to the iconic Brandberg Mountain, the highest mountain in Namibia to visit the Bushmen rock paintings. We spend the night at the foot of the mountain and hope to see the rare desert elephants on this day.
Beginning our Wildlife Adventure, we enter into The Etosha National Park, the home to a myriad of animals that have adapted and thrive in this arid environment. Upon arrival, we check into our accommodation in the park rest camp and then depart on an extensive afternoon Game Drive. We return to the rest camp to enjoy a sundowner or two at the flood lit water hole, watching nocturnal drinking habits and pecking orders of the thirsty animals, only to retire after a satisfying day.
Continuing through the reserve on a full day game drive within the park, we continue to our next overnight stop in the park. Our guide will take time to explain more about the sights and sounds that surround us. We use the accommodation in the rest camps of the park on both nights.
After a short game drive, we leave the harshness of the area, and head for the lush lands of the Caprivi. The Caprivi got its name from the German Chancellor Leo von Caprivi who negotiated the land acquisition from the UK in order to gain access to the Zambezi River.
From the park we cover some distance today and will travel through many villages and towns, giving us a glimpse into the daily lives of the local people. Tonight we stay on the banks of the mighty Okavango River in relative comfort.
We begin our journey into the delta near the panhandle, gliding through the papyrus lined channels by motorboat to our exclusive wild island. We spend two nights here in true wilderness, exploring the area on foot and by mokoro. (A hand chiselled canoe made out of a tree trunk).
This morning we enjoy a boat transfer across the panhandle and back to our vehicle. Traveling through the Kalahari, we make our way to Maun and on to the DRIFTERS MAUN TENTED LODGE where we will have time to relax after our day of traveling. Located on the banks of the seasonal Boteti River this tented lodge offers guests comfortable accommodation, swimming pool and cosy bar.
We enjoy a relaxed morning at the lodge, spending time along the river bank enjoying the tranquillity of the area or lounging at the swimming pool. After brunch and an optional village walk, we continue and venture eastward into the spectacular Makgadikgadi Salt Pans area. Besides the stark scenery, the pans are known for their prolific birdlife and the other desert adapted animals. Without disturbing the surface, we take in the isolation and serenity of this expanse.
After exploring the pans, we continue to our accommodation for the night and enjoy a relaxed evening in comfort.
During our stay various other attractions can be visited like the tribal village or curio market. Vic Falls is also home to a multitude of adventure activities such as an aircraft flip over the falls or a boat trip on the Zambezi River, white water rafting or bungee jumping, but allowance must be made for the extra expense.
We enjoy a relaxed breakfast at the lodge before we leave Victoria Falls behind us and make our way back to the bush. We travel the short distance to the renowned Hwange, well known as one of Africa's best conservation areas and our base for the night.
After an afternoon open vehicle game drive/walk, we spend the night at our accommodation enjoying the sounds of the surrounding bush. Being unfenced to the national park allows the animals to freely wonder to and from the property.
Today we travel south to the wide streets of Bulawayo – Zimbabwe's second largest city. We then continue to the Matobo area where, in the afternoon, we enjoy a tour into the national park to view animals and track rhino through the bush on foot. Tonight our accommodation is situated amongst the balancing boulders of the Matobo Hills which, of course is where the local Matabele tribe helped bury the remains of Cecil John Rhodes, from whom Rhodesia originally derived its name.
Continuing south today, we cross the border back into Botswana and to our accommodation situated on a private game reserve within the Limpopo valley. On arrival in the afternoon there will be time for a short walk in the surrounding bush on the property.
This morning we continue our journey and make our way to Johannesburg; the city of gold. We enjoy the scenic drive as we make our way to the end of the tour. The tour ends on arrival in the late afternoon at the GREENFIRE LODGE JOHANNESBURG.
The day by day descriptions published are intended as a rough guideline only. Adventure travel by nature is unpredictable, weather patterns, game migrations, road conditions and a multitude of other factors may necessitate itinerary changes that ultimately are for the client's benefit. It is essential that clients are flexible and open minded in this regard. Due to the nature of the tours and industry, these accommodation options are subject to change/ vary at any time. Drifters will always try our utmost best to stick to the information provided as far as possible and would find similar accommodation in the area if needs be. Please do understand if changes have to be made on tour.
Please ensure that you are in possession of valid travel documents for all the countries, (Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa) that you will visit. If you have any queries in this regard, please do not hesitate to contact us. Please ensure that you have proof of further travel arrangements if you do not have a South African passport, permanent residency permit, work permit or study permit. Although we will endeavor to assist, we do not accept any liability or obligation for your travel documents.
On Tour – Please be advised that our guides will inform and show you the best places to exchange any Major World Currency with the best possible exchange rates either before your tour starts or during the course of the tour. Our guides will brief you exactly on where to exchange and roughly how much you will need to exchange after discussing possible optional activities, own expense meals or possible curio stops. Drifters trucks have safe-keeping facilities for extra cash/flight tickets/passport.
The only necessary prophylaxis for Southern Africa is against Malaria (Botswana and Zimbabwe). Adequate chemo-prophylaxis are essential. Prevention is better than cure, so we do advise to also use insect repellent on exposed areas after sunset. Please consult with your general practitioner regarding this.All Drifters guides have first aid boxes for use in emergencies, however we recommend that you bring along your own basic supply of medication, headache tablets etc.
** Luggage should be limited to a maximum of 15kg's. Each Drifters Traveler have their own locker on our trucks which is accessible even while driving. Backpacks, Barrelbags or Soft Suitcases are strongly advisable as your standard Hard Suitcases sometimes don't fit into the lockers. Each locker could be locked with your personal lock (which you can also purchase from the Greenfire Johannesburg Inn upon arrival.
PRE and POST night accommodation can be arranged at the Greenfire Lodge Cape Town and in Johannesburg. It is advisable to overnight at the Greenfire Lodge if you have not already made alternative arrangements. Accommodation at the Greenfire Lodge can be arranged through Drifters or your travel representative. The Greenfire Cape Town Lodge is on the corner of Graham and Arthur road in Seapoint.
The Greenfire Lodge Johannesburg is located in the Northern suburbs of Johannesburg – a safe residential area. The Greenfire Lodge JHB has a lovely swimming pool, restaurant, bar & shop. The Lodge is within walking distance of various shopping centers and banks. The Drifters Office is located on the same premises should you have any queries regarding your tour. Please note that we strongly advise against flying out on the day that the tour ends. Drifters will not be held responsible for missed flights on this day. We generally travel long distances and late arrivals are common.
This trip is an accommodated tour and linen will be supplied on all nights. PLEASE NOTE: Although we still use dome tents on Day 18, Drifters will provide linen and a serviced safari experience.
This tour covers vast distances and is not for the faint-hearted. A valid passport is required. Seasonal malaria precautions are advised and are locally obtainable. During winter the temperature can drop very low at night, clients should be prepared for this. Our price includes transport, food, (no food kitty), coffee, tea, fruit juice at breakfast, a professional guide, group equipment, accommodation, permits and park entry fees, Vic Falls entry. The price does not include alcohol, bottled water and soft drinks, tips, curios and optional extras. Before departure clients will be required to enter into an agreement pertaining to our booking conditions and general information. Clients are required to have their own comprehensive personal travel insurance.
• Batteries can be charged from a 220 volt source pre tour departure in Cape Town, on most nights at the lodges and every day on the truck while the truck is driving from a 12 V inverter.
• Currency exchange opportunities: Arrival at Cape Town Airport.
R 320 excluding taxi to and from Ferry departure point.
Includes Scenic Ride from Swakopmund down to Walvis Bay, Lunch, safety gear, transfres..
From R590 per person for 3 hoursYou can also do a cycle tour of Soweto – pricing depends on the time you cycle for.