Yomps, Adventure Travel Experiences

Capetown via Vic Falls to Jo'burg Overland Tour
Full Itinerary

Explore Southern Africa overland seeing the spectacular sights of South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. Visit the world-famous Table Mountain in Cape Town, explore Namibia’s Fish River Canyon, journey through the lush Okavango Delta, marvel at the spectacular Victoria Falls, track wildlife and see a variety of breathtaking game in stunning wildlife reserves, and do much much more on this fantastic 24-day overland tour!

South Africa & Namibia

Days 1 to 6 - Explore Cape Town, including Table Mountain and the Stellenbosch winelands, travel along the West Coast, cross into Namibia, have a canoe adventure on the Orange River, and visit Fish River Canyon

Days 1 and 2 – This 24 day overland adventure will begin in Cape Town, where you will spend one and a half days exploring what is arguably one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Here in Cape Town you will have time to hike to the summit of the world famous Table Mountain, visit Cape Point, the Waterfront, Hout Bay, the Stellenbosch winelands and a variety of other sights (but please note our exact program will be dependent on the weather). You will stay overnight at Drifters Inn for two nights, which sits in a stunning location on the beachfront – from where you can explore the vibrant city, which contains a host of nightlife and restaurants to keep you entertained in the evenings.

Day 3 - Leaving the Mother City behind, you will journey to the Blouberg Strand (so called because the mountain looks blue from the beach) for a last view of Table Mountain from across the bay. You will then start to travel north in the overland vehicles through the ‘Swartland’ and along the West Coast into Namaqualand. If you are doing this tour in early spring, the usually barren area comes to life with the blooming of numerous desert adapted flower species. As the evening draws in you will stop and camp the night in tents, having dinner around a fire, where you can chat, tell jokes and fall to sleep under the stars.

Days 4 and 5 - After helping to pack up the camp, you will have some breakfast before journeying in the overland vehicle across the border into Namibia. You will then travel the short distance to the base camp on the banks of the Orange River to begin your canoe adventure! Once you have packed all your gear into the two-man canoes, you will set off into the wilderness. The Orange River is an awesome spectacle, being like a green ribbon that winds its way through the desert and towering mountains of the Richtersvelt National Park. You will spend one night camping on the banks of the river, under the desert skies, and will then return to the base camp and vehicle to camp the next night in relative comfort.

Day 6 – Today you will head directly to the Fish River Canyon – the second largest canyon of its kind in the world (after the Grand Canyon in America) at up to 550 metres deep, which formed approximately 500 million years ago. After visiting the viewpoints and exploring the lip of the Canyon, you will set up camp approximately 10km from the northern side of the canyon at Hobas to have some dinner and well earned rest in preparation for your next adventure.

Namibia

Days 7 to 14 - Drive through the desert of Namibia seeing amazing sand dunes, have the opportunity to go on a quad bike tour, visit local towns, visit Cape Cross, see bushman rock art, dune board, and visit the world-famous Etosha National Park to see amazing wildlife

Days 7 and 8 - Leaving the canyon behind, you continue north into the continually shifting barchan dunes and barren landscapes of the Namib Desert. The next two nights are spent at the Drifters desert camp, situated spectacularly in a private game reserve against a rock outcrop between stark mountains and red dune-lands. During your two day stay here you will conduct guided walks and game drives within the reserve, including a night drive to see the nocturnal wildlife of the reserve.

Days 9 and 10 – Today after an early start you travel directly to the dune-fields of Sossusvlei. The last part of your journey in the dunes will take you through the thick sand using an open 4 x 4 vehicle. After climbing the dunes for the spectacular view from the summit, you return to the vehicle and continue onto the seaside town of Swakopmund. Here you will spend two nights at the Drifters Swakopmund Inn to relax in some well earned luxury and enjoy a restaurant meal (at own expense). The inn is in the ideal location to explore the beaches, markets and curio shops of Swakopmund, as well as enjoy the huge variety of adventure options that are available, which include quad biking, sky diving, horse riding, and dune boarding amongst others. The nightlife of Swakopmund is also worth sampling, as is the local drinks!

Day 11 - After two days in Swakopmund you rejoin your vehicle and head north up the Skeleton Coast to the seal colony of Cape Cross, marvelling at the spectacular scenery and beautiful wildlife. Venturing back inland to the impressive Spitskop, you will camp the night amongst the boulders at the base of the massive rock outcrop.

Day 12 - Waking in the morning nice and early, you will have some breakfast and some coffee before continuing through the desert. After visiting the Bushman rock engravings at Twyfelfontein, you cross the mountains into the wilderness to camp in the Palmwag region, where you will hopefully see rare desert elephants.

Days 13 and 14 – Entering the Etosha National Park, you will set up camp at Okaukuejo in preparation for two days of incredible wildlife experiences, which begin with an afternoon game drive. Returning to camp, you will spend the evening game viewing at a floodlit waterhole, before continuing through the reserve on a game drive to Fort Namutoni, where you will camp the night. One of the nights you will dine at a camp restaurant (at own expense).

Namibia, Botswana & Zimbabwe

Days 15 - 21 - Camp on the mighty Okavango River, drive through the Kalahari desert, visit Maun, canoe down the Okavango Delta, see the world-famous Chobe National Park, witness Victoria Falls in all its splendour and have an opportunity to enjoy a number of adventure activities including bungee jumping!

Day 15 – At the start of your third week you leave the harsh desert landscapes behind, as you travel north into the lush Caprivi area. Tonight you will camp on the banks of the mighty Okavango River at Ngepi and have dinner under the stars listening to the sounds of the African animals.

Day 16 – After packing up camp, you make your way to the border, crossing over into Botswana and through the world famous Kalahari to the frontier town of Maun. You get the chance to relax by the swimming pool for the afternoon and have a proper bed for the night in the Drifters Maun camp.

Day 17 – Departing early in the morning, you head into the heart of the Okavango Delta by light aircraft or sandy track (depending on conditions). Once in the delta you continue by mekoro (a traditional dugout canoe) to the remote camp, which is set in a natural wonderland teeming with a huge variety of wildlife. You will camp wild on a remote island– falling asleep to the sounds of the wild. Clients have the option of going on a game flight (at additional cost).

Day 18 - You will go on a morning mekoro trip and short transfer to leave this unspoiled wilderness and return to the Drifters Maun camp. Here you can freshen up before continuing through the Makgadikgadi salt pans to the oasis-like camp of Nata.

Day 19 - Travelling north through the Chobe forest reserves, you head to the border town of Kasane from where you will venture into the renowned Chobe National Park in search of the large concentrations of animals that this area is known for. Late in the afternoon you then cross the border into Zimbabwe and drive the short distance to the Drifters Victoria Falls Inn where you will spend the following two nights in comfort. One of the nights you will enjoy a braai (South African barbeque) and experience some traditional dancing around the pool!

Day 20 - You awake in the ‘Adventure Capital of Africa’ - Victoria Falls! Here you will spend a full day, having ample time to explore the falls and participate in the multitude of activities on offer, which include white water rafting, bungee jumping, aircraft flips and a variety of other adventure activities that are bound to get the adrenaline going! (An evening meal and both lunches will be at your own expense).

Day 21 - After some free time in the town, you venture back into the wilderness, travelling the short distance to Hwange National Park that is known as one of Africa’s best reserves. After an extensive open vehicle drive in the park, you exit to camp at a remote spot on the park’s boundary.

Zimbabwe & South Africa

Days 22 to 24 - Visit Zimbabwe’s second largest city, tour a national park, camp amongst balancing boulders, visit a private game reserve in South Africa, see bushman paintings and return to Johannesburg

Day 22 - Today you travel south and to the wide streets of Bulawayo - Zimbabwe’s second largest city. Continuing to the Matobo area, the afternoon will be spent enjoying a tour of the National Park, viewing animals and tracking rhino through the bush on foot. Tonight your camp is situated amongst the balancing boulders that this area is renowned for.

Day 23 - Continuing south today, you cross the border back into South Africa and to the bushcamp situated on a private game reserve within the Limpopo valley.

Day 24 - This morning you will conduct a short walk to view the magnificent bushman paintings surrounding the camp, before making the journey into Johannesburg, arriving at the Drifter’s Johannesburg Inn in the late afternoon.

Meals Included - The following meals are included in the price during the tour

• Day 1 None
• Day 2 Brunch
• Day 3 Breakfast and dinner
• Days 4 - 8 Breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Day 9 Breakfast and Lunch
• Days 10 – 19 Breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Day 20 Breakfast and dinner
• Days 21 - 23 Breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Day 24 Breakfast

Optional Activities (at own expense) -

• Game Flight
• Quad Biking
• Bunji Jumping
• White Water Rafting
• Sky Diving
• Elephant Back Safari
• Marine Wildlife Boat Trip

Important Information -

• Should it be necessary to avoid Zimbabwe for whatever reason, we will simply deviate to Botswana for this portion of the tour.
• This tour covers vast distance and is not for the faint-hearted. A valid passport is required.
• Seasonal Malaria precautions are advised and are locally obtainable.
• All countries on this tour accept the Rand.
• 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 restaurant meals, tips, curios, visas, optional excursions and alcohol and soft drinks.

- Malaria Awareness

Travelling to long-haul destinations can be a wonderful and exciting experience. Before you go, make sure you take the right travel advice about visiting Malaria risk countries. At Yomps we are committed to stopping traveller deaths from malaria which is why we support the campaign being run by Malariahotspots.com. Click here to download our free guide about Malaria Awareness (opens in a new window).