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Cape Town to Namibia Road Trip: South Africa + Fish River Canyon + Etosha + Windhoek

Cape Town to Namibia (self drive)

21 NIGHTS FROM:

$3,784

Per person sharing

Scheduled flights + car hire quoted separately

SCP21C

• Cape Town To Namibia Road Trip

• Cederberg Mountains

• West Coast

• Fish River Canyon

• Luderitz & Namib Desert

• Swakopmund

• Bushman Paintings

• Etosha National Park

• Windhoek

• Road Trip South Africa

This epic Cape Town to Namibia road trip travels up the West Coast of South Africa via Langebaan, the Cederberg Mountains & Springbok to the mighty Fish River Canyon, before continuing via the Succulent Karoo & Luderitz to the sand dunes of the Namib Desert, Swakopmund, the Bushman Paintings at Twyfelfontein & the wildlife of Etosha National Park, ending in Windhoek.

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Day 1

You will be met at Cape Town Airport and transferred to your hotel in this beautiful city, within sight of Table Mountain.

Check in and relax in your magnificent surroundings.

Day 2

Today enjoy a private tour of the beautiful city of Cape Town.

Weather permitting, we start by ascending Table Mountain by cable car to see one of the world's most famous views (alternatively we will drive up Signal Hill). We then drive around the city to see the key sights including the City Hall, Greenmarket Square, Houses of Parliament, Bo Kaap, Castle of Good Hope, District Six and Sea Point.

At the end of your tour you will be dropped off at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, with its many shops and restaurants, for a relaxing Harbour Cruise. Afterwards make your own way back to your hotel.

Note: Table Mountain cable car is closed for annual maintenance from late July to early August.

Day 3

This morning your hire car will be dropped off at your hotel. We recommend you spend the rest of the day exploring the beautiful Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve peninsula (pay all entrance fees locally).

Drive past the sparkling beaches of Camps Bay, Clifton and Llandudno to Hout Bay, the heart of the local crayfish industry. Here you can join an optional cruise to Seal Island to view Cape Fur seals (pay locally).

Then drive via spectacular Chapman’s Peak Drive to Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve to enjoy the rugged beauty of this spectacular coastline, with its diverse fauna and flora. Established in 1936 to preserve the indigenous flora of the Cape Peninsula, this 7,750 hectare reserve showcases the diversity in the Cape Floral Kingdom, including the protea, erica and restio families. The fauna of the reserve include eland, Burchell’s zebra, bontebok, Chacma baboon and many smaller mammals and reptiles, as well as over 250 bird species. You may even see dolphins or whales in season (July to November).

On the return journey we recommend driving through naval Simons Town to visit the resident penguin colony at Boulders Beach.

Time permitting, you can also visit the world famous Kirstenbosch Gardens, regarded as one the most beautiful botanic gardens in the world, nestled on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain (pay entrance fee locally). Bequeathed to the nation by Cecil John Rhodes, the garden was established 1913. There is an avenue of camphor trees, useful plants garden, sculpture garden and a dell garden, as well as a world class collection of indigenous South African flora - including a beautiful protea and fynbos garden. A walk in these gardens could also reward you with sightings of some fynbos endemic birds - such as the Orange-breasted sunbird, the Cape siskin and the Cape sugarbird.

Day 4

Enjoy the stunning scenery of West Coast National Park, as you drive 2-hours to Langebaan Lagoon.

Over 250 bird species have been recorded on and around this rugged lagoon, which is a RAMSAR Wetland of international significance. Thousands of seabirds roost on the nearby sheltered islands, and large concentrations of flamingos and migrants can be seen wading on the salt marshes.

When you enter the park, you immediately find yourself in coastal 'Strandveld' which hosts a profusion of bush birds. Birders can listen and keep a look out for the Long-billed crombec, Bar-throated apalis, Grey-backed cisticola, Layard's titbabbler, Karoo lark, and Cape penduline tit. The main Geelbek hides are the most popular places to observe these birds. The waders that can be seen from the hide also include the Little stint, Ringed and Kitlitz's plovers, Marsh sandpiper, Greenshank, Ruff, Whimbrel and Eurasian curlew. There are also plenty of South African shelducks around, as well as the White pelican and two species of flamingos.

On the shores of the lagoon, you can also see zebra, wildebeest, eland, red hartebeest, grysbok, caracal and rock hyrax. Migrating whales may be seen between July and November.

Day 5

This morning leave Langebaan and drive 2.5-hours to the scenic Cederberg Mountains, travelling either inland through the Piekernierskloof Pass, or using the longer coastal route.

For birders we suggest taking the coastal route, as the Lower Berg River at Velddrif is a great place to spot a few waders. Where the road runs parallel to the Atlantic Ocean keep a look out for the endemic Heaviside’s dolphin just beyond the surf. The bird reserve at Rocherpan has a few bird hides. You will drive past the large wetland at Verlorenvlei and from Elands Bay you will take a dust road north along the coast, via the saltpan at Wadrif. At Lambert’s Bay you can view an endemic Cape gannet colony at close quarters, one of only six breeding colonies in the world, as well as African penguins, terns, cormorants and gulls.

Continue inland to the dramatic Cederberg Mountains, which are composed of sedimentary sandstone richly coloured by iron oxides. Over millennia these mountains have been twisted and sculpted into a remarkable range of fantastic rock formations. The area has a mix of diverse mountain fynbos and hardy succulents of the semi-arid Karoo. The Clanwilliam cedar tree, which gives the area its name, grows at an altitude of over 1,000m. It was heavily exploited by early settlers, as a result of which it is almost extinct, but there is now a concerted effort to re-plant these trees in suitable areas of the mountains.

Time permitting, at Clanwilliam you can visit the Ramskop Wildflower Garden, which boasts over 350 different species of indigenous wildflowers and wonderful views of the Cederberg Mountains (pay entrance fee locally). The best viewing is between 11am and 3pm, when the sun is at its warmest.

Afterwards check into your hotel in this region of dramatically beautiful rocky mountain scenery, renowned for its Bushmen paintings.

Day 6

At leisure to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Cederberg Mountains.

Local activities include walking trails to see ancient Bushmen Paintings, nature drives, canoeing and star gazing in amazingly clear night skies.

Fauna has in the past been extensively hunted, but there is still a small range of mammals found here including the Klipspringer, Grey rhebok, Cape mongoose, genet, African wild cat, Smith’s red rock rabbit, steenbok and baboon. Cape mountain leopard also live here but are rarely seen. Birdlife can seem to be quite scarce at first glance, but be patient and you will find a multitude of bird species that are well adapted to this environment. A few to look out for include the Cape rockjumper, Ground woodpecker, Protea canary and Fairy flycatcher.

Day 7

This morning leave Clanwilliam and drive 4-hour northwards to Springbok in the heart of Namaqualand, passing through several small towns.

Clanwilliam is the gateway to the magnificent Cederberg Mountains and Vanrhynsdorp is home to the world’s largest collection of succulent plants. Bitterfontein produces and exports green granite and Garies produces kaolin, which is an essential element in the production of paper and fine porcelain.

The mountains above Kamieskroon represent a unique floral spectacle, as the higher rainfall here has caused the normally arid succulent vegetation to be replaced on some slopes by outlying areas of fynbos, characteristic of the Cape Floral Region to the south. Namaqua National Park also has excellent spring flowers (pay entrance fee locally).

As you approach Springbok at certain times of the year you can see miles and miles of brightly coloured wildflowers that bloom here during August and September – carpeting what is normally an arid semi-desert landscape. This spectacular natural phenomenon occurs for only a few weeks, with the quality and timing of the floral displays depending upon the mid-year rainfall. Check into your hotel in the heart of the wildflower region.

Day 8

Today leave Namaqualand and cross the border into Namibia, as you drive 4-hours to the magnificent Fish River Canyon. Here the dramatic geological formations of the Nama Karoo Desert take on stupendous proportions

Check into your lodge and enjoy a sundowner walk across the boulder-studded plains, hills and rock formations of Gondwana Canyon Park.

Day 9

Today explore the magnificent Fish River Canyon, where the dramatic geological formations of the Nama Karoo Desert take on stupendous proportions.

The vegetation is characterized by dwarf shrubs and scattered grasslands. The slopes of the plateau mountains and vast plains are home to Hartmann’s mountain zebra, springbok, gemsbok, kudu and ostrich. Relax in this area of great natural beauty.

Day 10

Today leave the Fish River Canyon and drive 4-hours to Aus in the Succulent Karoo, a winter rainfall area where bizarre looking shrubs store moisture in their leaves and stems to tide them over the dry summer months.

Depending upon the timing of the rains, from mid August to mid September this desert unfolds into a carpet of flowers and an explosion of colours. It is one of the 20 most important biomes in the plant world and counts as the most species diverse desert in the world. Explore these sweeping desert plains before checking into your hotel in Aus.

Day 11

Today drive 2-hours from Aus to the ghost town of Kolmanskop, where the first diamond was found in 1908. Now standing barren and abandoned to the harsh winds and sands of the unforgiving desert, it is a great reminder of the opulence and decadence of the diamond rush days.

Continue down the great escarpment onto the wide plains below, where the scenery gives way to the shifting dunes of the Prohibited Diamond Area. Here you can visit Diaz Point where daring Portuguese sailors erected a stone cross in the 1480’s, before exploring the small diamond town of Lüderitz on the Atlantic Coast, where you may see colonies of aquatic birds, seals and penguins.

On the way back keep an eye out for the wild desert horses at Garub, a watering point where they are sometimes observed, before returning to Aus in the late afternoon.

Note: Kolmanskop is open from 09.00 to 13.00 Monday to Saturday. Tickets can be purchased at the gate and include a guided tour at either 09.30 or 11.00.

Day 12

Continue driving northwards today into the great Namib Desert, a 6-hour journey through dramatically beautiful scenery.

The Namib is the oldest desert on earth, where some of the highest sand dunes in the world tower over the white desert plains. These great mountains of sand are a monument to the extreme forces of nature, with fog supplying life giving moisture for the survival of its plants and animals.

Explore the Gondwana Namib Park before checking in to your lodge. After the unpredictable desert rains (mid November/mid December), colourful desert flowers burst forth here and provide a delightful display.

Day 13

Today rise before dawn and drive to Sossusvlei Lodge Adventure Centre for your included shared 4x4 tour into these famous sand dunes - as this is the coolest part of the day and the best for photography.

This clay pan is surrounded by some of the highest dunes in the world – an endless sea of reddish sand stretching all the way to the distant horizon. These monumental star shaped dunes, some as high as 1,000 ft (325 m), were formed by strong multi-directional winds. The warm tints of sand range in colour from apricot to orange, red and maroon - and contrast vividly with the stark white clay pans at their base. You will be astonished by surreal Deadvlei, surrounded by some of the highest dunes and Sossusvlei, where the mostly dry Tsauchab River abruptly ends. Take the opportunity to climb one of these dunes, which afford endless vistas across the desert landscape and the sea of sand.

Also visit the narrow gorge of the impressive Sesriem Canyon, with its rock pools fed by the Tsauchab River during the rainy season. The name is derived from the six “rieme” (leather thongs) that early pioneers used to draw water from these pools.

Note: If you are staying close to the gate into the park, you will visit Sossuvlei in the morning and Sesriem in the afternoon. If your lodge is further way, you will visit Sossusvlei in the morning and enjoy a sunset drive in the desert in the late afternoon.

Day 14

Today drive for 6-hours through the starkly beautiful Gaub and Kuiseb Canyons of the Namib Desert to the beach resort of Swakopmund with its old lighthouse.

Swakopmund is situated on the Atlantic Coast where the cold Benguela Current sweeps up from Antarctica, releasing no moisture into the prevailingly onshore winds – hence the very low rainfall and desert conditions. Fog is common along the coast in the early mornings and late afternoons and this is what gives life to the desert-adapted flora and fauna of the region. The cold current is also highly oxygenated, causing it to teem with marine life.

Check into your hotel and relax on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.

Day 15

This morning we recommend driving 30-minutes to Walvis Bay to arrive 45-minutes before an optional 3-hour shared Marine Cruise to Pelican Point, which has a resident school of dolphins and a large colony of Cape fur seals, with oysters and sparkling wine served on board.

Marine bird life is abundant and includes pelicans, terns and large flocks of flamingos which live in the shallow waters surrounding the harbour. You should see many Cape cormorants and hopefully some more difficult birds such as the Cape gannet, Pomarine skua and African black oyster catcher. You may also see migrating whales in season (September to October).

Your afternoon is at leisure to relax at the beach resort of Swakopmund, with its palm lined streets and seaside promenade. Established by German colonists in 1892, the town’s landmarks include the Swakopmund Lighthouse and the Mole, an old sea wall. Next to the lighthouse, the Swakopmund Museum documents Namibian history. In the town you can find the elegant Swakopmund Railway Station (now a hotel), which also dates to the colonial era. An enjoyable local pastime is Kaffee-Kuchen when you can take a mid-afternoon break for a coffee, with a slice of baked cheesecake or Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte (German Black Forest Cake).

Day 16

A full day on the road today as you drive 5-hours from Swakopmund to Twyfelfontein.

As you pass the fishing village of Hentiesbaai look out for the 'Zeila', one of the more recent shipwrecks that can be viewed along this inhospitable coastline.

We then suggest detouring 2.5-hours to Cape Cross on the barren Skeleton Coast, which is home to one of the largest colonies of Cape fur seals in the world. The Cape Cross Seal Reserve has a thriving population of over 80,000 seals, as well as a large colony of gannets and other sea birds. There is also a small lichen reserve, where a relatively large variety of these interesting, slow growing organisms are protected (pay entrance fees locally).

Afterwards head inland to timeless Damaraland - home of the Spitzkoppe and Brandberg Mountains, the highest in Namibia. Damaraland is one of the least populated and most geologically diverse areas in Africa and home to the rare desert elephant and rhino. Take time to enjoy some of the fascinating rock formations in these vast uninhabited open spaces, where magnificent semi-desert flowers can grow after good rains. You can also see the desert-adapted Welwitschia Mirabilis plant - the oldest living desert plant on earth. Check in to your lodge and in the evening enjoy the incredible night skies.

Day 17

At leisure to explore the World Heritage site at Twyfelfontein, which means "Doubtful Spring" (entrance fees for own account).

Over 6,000 years ago, San communities engraved and painted over 2,500 pictures here. These ancient Bushman Paintings have been well preserved in this dry environment and the hills are strewn with rock art - making this an open-air museum.

Close by you can explore the Burnt Mountain and Organ Pipes geological phenomena. You can also see the desert-adapted Welwitschia Mirabilis plant - the oldest living desert plant on earth.

In the afternoon you can join an optional 3-hour shared sundowner drive along one of the dry river beds in search of rare Desert Elephants (seasonal). Please note that sightings are not guaranteed.

Afterwards relax and enjoy the incredible night skies.

Day 18

Today drive 5-hours to Etosha National Park, one of the largest and greatest game parks in Africa.

Etosha owes its unique landscape to a vast shallow depression – the Etosha Pan. During the dry season it becomes an expanse of white cracked mud, shimmering with mirages and spiralling dust devils, with its open pans offering magnificent game viewing. Etosha is home to over a hundred different species of mammals including elephant, rhino, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, lion, cheetah and leopard.

Check into your rest camp situated near the southern gate (pay park entrance fee locally).

Day 19

Today is devoted to self drive game viewing in the famous Etosha National Park, which surrounds an enormous salt pan that is the size of the Netherlands.

We recommend setting off as soon as the park gates open after sunrise, to take advantage of the best game viewing conditions of the day, as the vast Etosha Pan offers magnificent game viewing opportunities - including springbok, oryx, black-faced impala, roan, cheetah and the Damara dik-dik, Namibia’s smallest antelope. A series of waterholes throughout the park guarantees rewarding game viewing, with Etosha being renowned for its vast array of plains game and its 'great cats' which are more easily seen on the open pans.

With over 100 different species of mammals and reptiles in this park, you can hope to see lion, elephant, rhino, leopard, cheetah, giraffe, kudu, sable antelope, warthogs, baboons and many other interesting animals. Etosha is also a bird watchers paradise, with hundreds of recorded bird species and many migrants during the summer months.

In the evening enjoy a beautiful African sunset and the pristine stars of the Milky Way as you have never seen them before – including the spectacular Southern Cross.

Note: All game drives are self-drive. Vehicles are not allowed to drive off-road in any national park in Namibia.

Day 20

This morning leave Etosha and drive southwards for 3-hours through central Namibia to Okonjima.

This is the home of the Africat Foundation dedicated to the preservation of Namibia’s large carnivores, but especially leopards and brown hyena. Leopards can be radio-tracked from the game viewing vehicle. Check in to your lodge before enjoying an afternoon game activity in the reserve.

Note: Ensure you arrive at your lodge in good time, as they stop serving lunch at 2 pm.

Day 21

After an early morning game activity in the Africat Reserve, drive 3.5-hours to Windhoek.

Along the way you can stop at the Kavango craft market in Okahandja. The Kavango woodcarvers ply their trade at this large open-air craft market on the outskirts of town - one of the best places in Namibia to purchase woodcarvings.

Check into your Windhoek hotel and relax under warm blue Namibian skies.

Day 22

Drive to Windhoek Airport for your flight home.

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