Great Adventure Trips

South Africa

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Cape to Namibia Self-Drive

This magnificent three week self drive holiday takes you from Cape Town, South Africa, to Windhoek, taking in the Cape Winelands, the Cedarberg, Namaqualand, the Fish River Canyon, the Namib Desert, Swakopmund, Damaraland and Etosha National Park. Comfortable to Premier accommodation.

Meals As in text below
Accommodation Mix of Comfortable and Premier Accommodation
Departure Dates On request
Transport Group B rental car with unlimited kilometres. Upgrades to larger vehicles easily arranged.
Price Includes Meals and accommodation as shown in text, Group B car rental
Price Excludes International flights, visas, items of a personal nature, meals not specified
Minimum Number 2
Climate Desert climate with hot summers and warm winters, summer afternoon rains from December to March
Best time to go Suitable all year round - ideal from April to October
Health Requirements Anti-Malarial precautions essential north of Windhoek

Day 1 : Arrive Cape Town, 3 nights, Welgelegen Guest House, Bed & Breakfast
On arrival in Cape Town you collect your rental car and drive to Welgelegen House for a 3 night stay. Welgelegen is a stylish boutique lodge set in two pretty Victorian buildings, in a quiet cul-de-sac in the Gardens area - adjacent to trendy Kloof Street with its inviting bistros, restaurants and shops. Bedrooms all have telephone, air-conditioning, TV, bar-fridges and tea and coffee tray and are decorated in an understated contemporary style. There is a courtyard garden with a plunge pool, ideal for alfresco breakfasts.

Day 4 : 1night, Franschhoek Country House, Franschhoek, Bed & Breakfast
Today you drive to Franschhoek in the Winelands of the Western Cape. Franschhoek Country House, a restored Victorian Manor House, overlooks the majestic mountains of the Franschhoek Valley and surrounding vineyards. The 14 luxury rooms and 4 suites are stylishly appointed and a number of them feature open fireplaces, underfloor heating, private verandahs and balconies. The in-house Monneaux Restaurant serves modern cuisine and votes as one of the top 10 restaurants in the country.

Day 5: 2 nights, Ndedema Lodge, Clanwilliam, Bed & Breakfast
Today you travel north to the Cedarberg region, a dramatic landscape of craggy canyons, rivers, dams and waterfalls. Ndedema Lodge is a warm and friendly guest house is in picturesque Clanwilliam, a lovely old town of white washed Cape Dutch houses surrounded by orchards and vineyards, set under the mountains. This lovely Victorian homestead oozes character, with old wooden floors and Cape antiques.

Day 7: 1 night, Mountain View Guesthouse, Springbok, Bed & Breakfast
Today you drive further North to Springbok in the Namaqualand region. The Namaqualand encompasses the narrow Sandveld coastal strip between the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Karoo to the east. Stay overnight at Mountain View Lodge in Springbok designed and decorated to please even the most discerning guest. Your visit to Mountain View Guest House will engender a feeling of nostalgia on your departure from this captivating Northern Cape Town.

Day 8: 2 nights, Canon Roadhouse, Fish River National Park, Bed & Breakfast
Travel to north to Namibia and enjoy a 2 night stay at Canyon Roadhouse. The Canon Roadhouse is situated on the Gondwana Canon Park and only 20km from the main viewpoint of the Fish River Canyon. The Roadhouse offers everything the weary traveler needs. The 8 individually decorated en-suite rooms are gathered around an inner courtyard, creating a feel of tranquil homeliness. The à la Carte restaurant is open all day and makes dining here an intimate and cozy experience.

Day 10 : 1 night, Dabis Guestfarm, Helmeringhausen, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Drive, via the castle of Duwisib, to Dabis Guest Farm in the Schwarzrand . This is a modest but friendly place at which to break your journey.

Day 11 : 2 nights, Kulala Desert Lodge or Sossusvlei Lodge, Sossusvlei, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Today you drive to Sossusvlei Lodge for a 2 night stay. This is an area of stark natural beauty, which is best enjoyed at first light. The lodge is eco-tourism at its best, a luxurious place which is in sympathy with the fragile eco-system of the desert. Enjoy sundowners on your private veranda, as you watch the sun set over the mountains.

Day 13 : 2 nights Swakopmund, Bed & Breakfast
Drive to Swakopmund. Reaching the sea again after the boulder-strewn landscape is quite a joy to the senses. Swakopmund has a distinctive continental atmosphere and many picturesque reminders of the German colonial era, deliciously incongruous in the midst of the Namib Desert! The town provides a welcome resting place where you can stroll along the beach, enjoy superb seafood or admire the High German architecture. There's plenty to do and see such as the Seal Colony at Cape Cross, the flamingos at Walvis Bay or the Welwitschia "forest". Visit the surreal landscape of the "Moon Mountains", an area of deep chasms and interesting geological features, or perhaps try some sand-boarding, quad-biking or riding a camel into the desert.

The Hansa Hotel was built in 1905 in Swakopmund's unique Namibia-German architectural style. This consistently award-winning four star hotel is famous for its hospitality and friendly service. Pleasantly decorated suites and rooms offer underfloor heating and satellite TV. The restaurant has a reputation for fine food especially fresh fish and traditional game dishes. (5 hours, 330km) Bed & Breakfast Accommodation: Hansa Hotel

Day 15 2 nights Omaruru
Your next stop is an appealing wilderness retreat, Erongo Lodge

Erongo lies in the Erongo Mountains two hours north of Windhoek where the desert, mountain and bushveld eco-systems meet. This is one of Namibia's most rewarding wilderness environments and the lodge is perfectly sited. Luxurious tented chalets under thatch are built on stilts and set among the granite boulders. Guided walks, nature drives, rock art sites, bird-watching and guaranteed relaxation are all on offer. (3 hours, 220km) Dinner, Bed & Breakfast. Accommodation: Erongo Wilderness Lodge

Day 17 2 nights Etosha National Park
Continue to Etosha Aoba Lodge on the eastern side of the Etosha National Park for your two night stay.

Etosha Aoba Lodge is a friendly, charming thatched lodge amidst shady Tamboti trees with ten pleasant cottages each with a ceiling fan, mosquito net, tea/coffee facilities and veranda. It's only 20 minutes from Etosha gate and has its own small private game reserve. An appealing aspect is the unique opportunity to actually walk upon the Fisher salt pan as part of a sundowner game drive. (3-4 hours, 270km)

Etosha is one of the finest game parks in Southern Africa. It encloses a vast saltpan that becomes an immense, shallow lake in rainy periods, attracting great numbers of flamingos and other water birds. The open plains are home to tens of thousands of animals with large herds of springbok, gemsbok, zebra, wildebeest, elephant and, of course, the predators - particularly cheetah and lion. The diminutive Damara dik-dik is one of the rarer but delightful sightings. Room Only. Accommodation: Etosha Aoba Lodge

Day 19 - 1 night Central Namibia
Drive south and into the Omboroko Mountains to stay overnight at Okonjima Bush camp. This comfortable lodge in the Omboroko Mountains is home to the AfriCat non-profit project to preserve and rehabilitate large cats. Visitors can view and learn about them at close range in their natural habitat - perhaps track leopards in the rehabilitation area, radio-track cheetah on foot or visit the cheetah project. After dinner you can visit the hide to spot night creatures like caracal, porcupine or honey-badgers. The fascinating Bushman walking trail is also highly recommended.

Okonjima Bush Camp offers 8 spacious, attractively decorated en suite chalets, with a cosy seating area with day bed and mini-bar, a bedroom with views over the grasslands and dressing area. The secluded pool with shaded terrace is ideal for relaxing. (4 hours, 340km)
Full Board & Activities Accommodation: Okonjima Bush Camp

Day 20 - Return rental car to Windhoek
Today you drive to the Windhoek airport to drop off your rental car in time for your onward flight. (3 hours, 270km)

Price per person sharing: 01 Nov 2008 - 30 Apr 2009 = US$3129, 01 May 2009 - 31 May 2009= US$3020, 01 Jun 2009 - 30 Jun 2009 = US$3176, 01 Jul 2009 - 31 Aug 2009 = US$3321, 01 Sep 2009 - 31 Dec 2009 = US$3453.00