Dunes, Deltas & Falls Discoverer

from $3,636.75 USD 18 Days Tour

This 18-day journey through four African countries hits the highlights and is perfect for the adventurer who wants to discover the region’s diversity. Explore the Okavango Delta by traditional mokoro canoe, marvel at some of the highest sand dunes in the world in the Namib Desert, and meet the San Bushmen of the Kalahari. Your knowledgeable CEO will take care of the hassles and planning while you recharge in hotels, local lodges, and camps for a once-in-a-lifetime cultural experience you'll forever treasure.

Travel Style

Classic

Service Level

Standard

Physical Grading

2 - Light

What's Included

Your G for Good Moment: Dqae Qare San Lodge & Camp, Dekar
Your G for Good Moment: Penduka Village Restaurant & Shop, Windhoek
Your G for Good Moment: !Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre, Yzerfontein
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your Discover Moment: Swakopmund. Okavango Delta overnight bush camping excursion. San/Bushmen walk. Traditional dinner. Wine tasting in Lambert's Bay. Etosha National Park entrance with wildlife safari drives in the touring vehicle. Sossusvlei Dunes and Sesriem Canyon entrance. Fish River Canyon entrance. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.

What are the main highlights of this trip?

Marvel at Fish River Canyon, explore giant sand dunes and Victoria Falls, track the 'big five', take wildlife walks and traditional canoe rides.

How large will the group be?

Max 18, avg 14

What meals are included in this trip?

16 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 5 dinners

What are the modes of transportation on my trip?

Air-conditioned touring vehicle, safari vehicle, walking, mokoro.

Is there an extra cost for travelling solo?

We believe single travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and single travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.

Where will we stay during the trip?

Hotels (6 nts), lodge/chalet (4 nts), guesthouse (1 nt), serviced basic camping (1 nt), adventure tents (1 nt), serviced camping (4 nts).

Itinerary

Day 1

Victoria Falls

Arrive at any time. There are no planned activities until an evening welcome meeting.

Day 2

Victoria Falls/Kasane

Cross the border into Botswana, and stay in Kasane, just outside of Chobe NP. Try to spot the elephants, crocodiles, and hippos this region is famous for during an optional sundowner cruise. Drive to the border and cross from Zimbabwe into Botswana. Continue to the Kasane area, outside the gates of Chobe National Park, home to the largest elephant population in Southern Africa.

Opt to check out one of Botswana's national parks and its thousands of resident elephants, crocodiles, and hippos on a sunset boat cruise on the Chobe River.

Day 3

Kasane/Nata

Opt to rise early for sunrise and marvel at your surroundings as you set out on an optional safari drive in Chobe National Park. Travel to Nata and watch elephants drinking at the watering hole while you dip in the pool on the property, or grab a sundowner at the bar area.

Day 4

Nata/Maun

Prepare for a 1-night/2-day journey into the delta. Travel to Maun, the biggest town in the Okavango Delta area, pick up any supplies needed, and prepare for the journey into the Okavango Delta.

Day 5

Okavango Delta

Enjoy wildlife walks, traditional mokoro excursions, and birding. Learn the ways of the bush from the local polers. The excursion begins with a drive in customized safari vehicles for about 1-2 hrs to the "dock" to board a mokoro (canoe) that takes us deep into the delta. After a 1-2 hrs in the mokoro, arrive to the basic bush camp.

In the evening, watch a traditional dance performance.

Day 6

Maun/Ghanzi

Hop into a mokoro with your friends on the way back to Maun. Search for wildlife in the reeds along the river as you make your way back towards civilization. Zoom through the western part of Botswana to Ghanzi; the heart of the Kalahari. Catch a glimpse of how the Indigenous San Bushmen adapted to the Kalahari Desert on a bushman walk. They will teach you about wilderness survival skills in a place that seems uninhabitable.

Then while the day comes to an end, enjoy the warm hospitality of the San Bushmen as the group will be staying at the G Adventures-supported Dqae Qare San Lodge & Camp. The best part? You are making a difference in the lives of this community just by enjoying your time at camp. So sit back, allow yourself to become immersed in their history and culture, sit around the fire, and simply enjoy the moment. Enjoy the sunrise in the delta before travelling back to Maun by mokoro. Travel along the northern portions of the Kalahari Desert throughout the day – this is a severely arid and barren landscape, though very beautiful.

Arrive in the late afternoon and camp in the Ghanzi area.

Day 7

Ghanzi/Windhoek

Travel to Windhoek, the German-influenced capital city of Namibia. Today, new travellers may join you for the rest of your adventure. You are welcome to join them at a group meeting this evening, followed by an optional dinner.

Day 8

Windhoek/Etosha National Park

Visit the G Adventures supported Penduka Village Restaurant & Shop, just outside of Windhoek, to pick up a tasty packed lunch, then continue up to Etosha National Park. Enjoy an afternoon wildlife safari drive in our touring vehicle, then opt to explore more on an open vehicle night drive. Leave Windhoek and head north through the Namibian countryside to Etosha National Park and enjoy a wildlife safari drive in our touring vehicle. Keep an eye out for lions, giraffes, elephants, and antelopes. After sunset, some animals may head to the watering holes near the campground.

Day 9

Etosha National Park

Enjoy another wildlife safari drive in our touring vehicle and keep your eyes peeled for some of the famous wildlife.

Day 10

Etosha National Park/Swakopmund

Sit back and watch the stunning desert landscape go by enroute to western Namibia. Watch the beautiful desert landscape go by en route to western Namibia.

Spend two nights in the area exploring this historical town or trying some of the numerous activities available, such as sandboarding or a skydiving.

Swakopmund has bizarre lunar landscapes, unforgettable sunsets, and prehistoric Welwitchia plants.

Day 11

Swakopmund

Spend a day exploring all the area has to offer. Optional activities include sandboarding, skydiving, and a township tour.

Day 12

Swakopmund/Namib Desert

Travel into the beautiful Namib Desert, stopping at Walvis Bay on the way. Get a real feel for the Namib Desert as we spend hours crossing this empty region.

En route, take a coffee break in Solitaire, a mystical village consisting of a filling station, a general dealer/coffee shop, and a small mechanical workshop. Drive through Walvis Bay, the only town on the Namibian coastline that boasts a deep sea harbor.

Arrive in the area in the late afternoon, where the towering red sand dunes of Sossusvlei form the gateway into the Namib Desert.

Day 13

Namib Desert

Visit Sossusvlei Dunes and Sesriem Canyon, and climb the towering Dune 45. Opt to visit Deadvlei. Enjoy a visit to Sossusvlei, a clay pan enclosed by the world’s largest sand dunes, up to 300m (984 ft) high. Here, use some free time to enjoy the sand dunes on your own. Visit the Sesriem Canyon, a small canyon typical of the area.

Day 14

Namib Desert/Keetmanshoop

Continue south through the Namib Desert to Keetmanshoop, enjoying dramatic Namibian landscapes along the way. In the afternoon enjoy a visit to the rare Quiver Tree Forest.

Day 15

Keetmanshoop/Orange River

Early start and visit the geological formation: Giant's Playground. Drive South and later in the day visit the breathtaking Fish River Canyon. Then, continue on to the banks of the Orange River with time to swim or just relax. Enjoy the beautiful scenery in this part of the country.

Day 16

Orange River/Lambert's Bay

Cross the border into South Africa and continue down the coast to Lambert's Bay, stopping along the way for an included wine tasting. Then, opt to visit Bird Island or stroll through this charming town. We head towards the coast again and on to Lambert’s Bay, a picturesque town on the west coast of South Africa.

Enjoy an included wine tasting at Lambert’s Bay. Learn how to analyze your palates, listen to your taste buds, and how to pair your food with the best wine raised in the foothills of the Cederburg Mountains.

In the afternoon, opt to visit the well known Bird Island where you can find more than 25,000 blue-eyed gannets at certain times of the year. Penguins also gather on this island for breeding between August and October.

Opt to stroll through this lovely town, visiting unique artisan shops and boutiques.

Day 17

Lambert's Bay/Cape Town

Continue on the last stretch of the trip to lovely Cape Town. Stop at the G Adventures supported !Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre along the way, then get ready to explore the vibrant streets of this scenic coastal city. While travelling towards Cape Town, through Namaqualand, keep an eye out for fields of Namaqualand daisies (in season August and September).

Cape Town has many different options should you book extra time to explore after the tour.

Visit Table Mountain, explore Cape Point (Cape of Good Hope), or join a wine tour in and around Stellenbosch (45 min drive). Visit the old French Huguenot town of Franschoek and surroundings (1 hr drive). For the truly adventurous, try skydiving, abseiling, or even cage diving, for a close encounter with the great white sharks.

Opt to wander through the city centre, which has some of the oldest buildings and gardens in South Africa (Botanical Gardens and Parliament Gardens), or visit the Cultural Historical Museum, Planetarium, and numerous other small museums and theaters.

Day 18

Cape Town

Depart at any time. We highly recommend booking post-accommodation to fully enjoy this city.

Is travel insurance required for my trip?

Travel Insurance: Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your CEO, who will take note of your insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy please bear in mind that all clients must have medical coverage and that we require a minimum coverage of USD 200,000 for repatriation and emergency rescue. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. If you have credit card insurance we require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact telephone number.

Terms, conditions and restrictions apply; pricing, availability, and other details subject to change and/ or apply to US or Canadian residents. Please confirm details and booking information with your travel advisor.

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