Below, the program days have been numbered as they are in the Djoser, Netherlands literature so that participants are working from the same schedule. The extra day travel day from the United States is indicated as +1. You will fly with Northwest/KLM.
Cape Town
+1 Day Depart USA for Cape Town
Day 1 Via Amsterdam – Arrival Cape Town
Day 2 Cape Town
Upon arrival in Cape Town you will have an afternoon to explore the city and find a number of historical locations. The Grand Parade, the parade ground of the Dutch in the seventeenth century, is now an animated square with market booths that sell you snacks of the Cape-Malaysian cuisine. This is also where the big anti-apartheid demonstrations were held, and where Mandela addressed the crowd after his release from prison. Not far from Grand Parade are the “Compagniestuinen” (Gardens of the East Indies Company), and Castle “De Goede Hoop” (The Good Hope), remainders from the Dutch period. In the harbor you will find a choice of restaurants, jazz cafes and other places of entertainment, most of which are located in colorfully restored Victorian homes. From the old harbor, named Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, you may go by boat to “Robbeneiland”, the island where Mandela was imprisoned for a long time. The well-known “Tafelberg” (Table Mountain) and the lesser known “Duivelspiek” and “Leeuwekop” define the appearance of Cape Town. From every direction one can see the enormously steep rising mountainsides of the Tafelberg. Often a thin layer of mist or clouds covers the mountain like a tablecloth. The athletically inclined among us may walk up and enjoy the beautiful views. If you want to take the easy way up, you may use the cable-lift.
Cape’s Peninsula
Day 3 Cape’s Peninsula
Day 4 Cape Town - Lambert’s Bay
The next day we will take an excursion to “Kaap De Goede Hoop”. On the way we visit some picturesque towns such as Houtbaai (Wood-Bay) and Simon’s Town. The latter is famous for the presence of a penguin colony. We will take a peek at “Boulder Beach” and end up at “Kaap De Goede Hoop”, Africa’s most southern point. “Kaap De Goede Hoop” (Cape of Good Hope) is a nature reserve with many animals and overgrowth, called “fynbos” (fine-bush), which is typical for this region. At the utmost south west point of Africa you can see the Indian Ocean in the west and the Atlantic in the east. Do bring your binoculars, because at certain times of the year you may be able to watch whales near the shore here. In the evening we return to Cape Town.
The next morning we leave for Lambert’s Bay. Just outside of Cape Town we will take a moment to have a look back at Tafelberg (Table Mountain) from Blouberg Beach. We leave the N7 at Clan William. In the afternoon you have the option, weather permitting, to take a boat tour to Bird Island, the habitat of a noisy colony of beautifully colored “jan-van-gent”-birds. The island is also a breeding ground for penguins between August and October.
Orange River, Fish River Canyon
Day 5 Lambert’s Bay – Orange River (Namibia)
Day 6 Orange River – Fish River Canyon
On the way to “Oranjerivier” (Orange River) the landscape becomes more and sparser as we approach bordering Namaqualand. Along the way we pass small ghost towns. The landscape turns somewhat greener when we arrive in the area of the wide Orange River that borders South Africa and Namibia. Various plants such as cotton are grown on the banks. We cross the border at Vioolsdrift and spend the night in the Karas Valley in South Namibia. In the afternoon or the next morning you will have the option to rent a bike or a canoe to explore the river and the surroundings. The lodge also organizes trips to visit the neighboring canyons.
We continue our trip in Namibia. Our destination today is the second largest canyon in the world: Fish River Canyon. For thousands of years, the Fish River has carved an impressive 17-mile wide gap. The canyon itself is 100 miles long. With some luck this is where we will see our first wildlife, such as springboks and klipspringers and the unusual “kokerbomen” (trees). Unfortunately descending into the canyon is no longer permitted.
Sossusvlei
Day 7 Fish River Canyon – Sossusvlei
Day 8 Sossusvlei
The more north we go, the more desolate the landscape becomes. Today we will leave behind the paved roads. The end of today’s strenuous and dusty journey is the impressive Sossusvlei, a huge dip on the edge of the Namib-Naukluft Park. The next morning at sunrise we will drive to the Sossusvlei. This dip is surrounded by the world’s highest sand dunes. The view of this sea of sand is overwhelming, especially at night or in the early morning. It seems that the sea of sand at your feet glows in the red light. It takes a lot of effort to climb the 650-foot high dunes, but the view of the surrealistic moonlike landscape is worth the trouble. You will have the opportunity to take a walk in this bizarre environment and to observe how hardy plants bravely withstand the trying circumstances of the desert. In the afternoon you will have the opportunity to walk to the Sesriem Canyon. Over thousands of years the Tsauchab River has carved a 98-foot deep and one .62 mile long gap in the rock. During the winter months the canyon is dry and safe to descend. Other times of the year you may find a small stream here or a puddle.
Swakopmund
Day 9 Sossusvlei – Swakopmund
Day 10 Swakopmund
Through the rugged nature of the Namib-Naukluft Park we drive to Swakopmund at the shore. Although the white inhabitants of Namibia consider this town a shore town, the seawater stays freezing cold. Strolling along the wide Arnold Shad Promenade you will more likely see sea lions than swimmers. Swakopmund is a bizarre remainder from the German colonial period. German street names, German beer halls, and particularly the many inhabitants of German heritage give this town its special character. The former train station in the center of town is an example of the colonial architecture to be admired. In the evening you may eat in restaurants where the menu not only offers excellent game, but also “bratwurst” (German sausage). The next day you will have time to explore Swakopmund on your own or to participate in optional activities such as quad biking through the sand dunes or the spectacular sand boarding.
Cape Cross and Twijfelfontijn
Day 11 Swakopmund – Twijfelfontijn - Khorixas
Day 12 Khorixas – Etosha National Park
We will leave Swakopmund the next day by a straight road. North of the city are salt mines. Up to that point we will still see some traffic, but then we will leave civilization and paved roads behind and drive along one of the most inhospitable shores of Africa: the Skeleton Coast. This 25-mile wide coastline forms a buffer between the Kaokoland and the Damara behind it, and the sea. The landscape here is completely barren. The only landmarks are the milestones that mark the distance from Swakopmund. In this coastal region we will find gravel- and sand fields with no more than an inch and a half of precipitation per year. We will stop at Cape Cross, where the Portuguese seaman Diego Cao was the first European to set foot on the Namibian coast. We will take a look at the cross that he placed here in honor of the Portuguese king Joao the First. Aside from its historical significance, Cape Cross is also known for its large colony of seals. We continue inland to the area of Twijfelfontijn, where more than 2,000 rock engravings by the Bushmen were discovered. We will go there by foot with a local guide. Pictures of giraffes, elephants and other wildlife are silent proof of a time when this region was more fertile. We will also stop to see some geological curiosities such as the “Burned Mountain” and the “Organ Pipes”. At the organ pipes you will find pillars shaped by erosion in 150 million year old volcanic rock.
Etosha National Park
Day 13 Etosha National Park
Day 14 Etosha National Park
Today’s destination is the famous Etosha National Park. Etosha is no doubt one of the best wild parks in southern Africa. For two days we will have game drives. Literally the name Etosha means “large white spot of dry water” and refers to the major part of the park, which is a vast, blinding saltpan. For only a few days a year you will find a small layer of water here, which attracts flamingoes and other water birds. Most of the larger wildlife stays in the neighboring grasslands and mopane bushes. There we will find herds of zebras and gnus. It will be more of a challenge to track down some of the rare black rhinoceros and the black head impala. Near Okaukuejo you may station yourself at a watering hole. From far you will see herds of elephants approach to quench their thirst.
Rundu
Day 15 Etosha National Park – Rundu
Day 16 Rundu – Okavango Delta
From Etosha we will drive by Grootfontijn to Rundu. Further north we leave the dry desert behind to reach the rich Caprivi region. On the way we will pass several Owambo villages. In the Rundu area we will get our first view of the Okavango River. The town itself is not very big. Angolans who escaped the war in their country mainly inhabit the extensive outskirts of town. We will spend the night in the Okavango River Lodge at the Okavango River. In the afternoon you may take an optional boat trip on the river. By the way, Rundu is an excellent location to purchase woodcarvings or neat utensils from the San, the Bushmen. The next day it won’t take us long to drive to the location from where we will visit the Okavango Delta and where we will park our truck in order to continue by boat on the Okavango River.
Okavango Delta
Day 17 Okavango Delta
Day 18 Okavango Delta - Ngepi
The Okavango River rises in the highlands of Angola and creates a water rich delta in the Kalahari Desert. We will explore this unique area of natural beauty by boat and from canoes made of hollow tree trunks. These so called “mokoros” offer excellent access to this maze of waterways. Locally hired fishermen will do the paddling. Skillfully they guide you through the streams overgrown with lilies and papyrus and point out the many hippos. The Okavango is also a true bird paradise and you are sure to hear the intruding call of the many ospreys. We will take a walk around the island and return to our boat in our “mokoros”. The afternoon may be spent relaxing or fishing for a Botswana Tiger. After our return from the Delta we stay the night in Ngepi in chalets on the banks of the river. Linens are provided.
Chobe National Park
Day 19 Ngepi – Tsodillo Hills – Chobe National Park
Day 20 Chobe National Park, Boat Tour in Afternoon
Today we visit the Tsodillo Hills in the early morning. For this we leave the green delta and enter a desolate desert. The Tsodillo Hills are considered holy by the San Bushmen and can be seen from far away. More than 3,500 paintings are found on these rocks, some of which date back to the year 800. This place is surrounded by mystery and spirituality. The San believe this is where the original Creation took place.
We drive on to Kasane, where we turn in the direction of Chobe National Park. This park is especially known for the famous nature films that were made here commissioned by the National Geographic Society. Namely the film “Eternal Enemies”, a story about the infinite battle between lions and hyenas, enjoys international fame. The park has extremely varied wildlife and is best known for the enormous elephant population. Specifically in fall and winter many elephants stay near the Chobe River. In Chobe National Park we will make a beautiful boat tour on the river, which allows you to observe and photograph the wildlife on the banks.
Victoria Falls
Day 21 Chobe National Park
Day 22 Chobe NP - Victoria Falls (Zambia)
Day 23 Flight Livingstone – Depart Johannesburg
Day 24 Arrival USA
It will take an hour to drive from Chobe National Park to the border town of Kazungula. A ferry will take us across the Zambezi to enter the neighboring country of Zambia. This border region is swarming with elephants judging by the many brown spots on the road. The rising fine mist from the impressive Victoria Falls is already visible from our quarters at the Zambezi. Here we spend the night in tents on beds. That afternoon you will already be able to literally follow in the footsteps of David Livingstone and take a look at the largest falls of the African continent. The noise of the falling water is ear shattering. The falls are locally named Mosi-oa-Tunya, “the smoke that thunders,” for a good reason. You may choose for a dip in the Zambezi and go rafting, or, if that is too wild for you, you may take a canoe. To get yet another impression of the falls, you may want to take a flight around on the “Flight of the Angels”. If you want to fly on your own, you may do so as well! You may try the world’s second highest bungee jump off the Zambezi Bridge!
On day 23 we drive to the airport near Livingstone, Zambia, in order to catch the flight to Johannesburg. We will arrive in Johannesburg in the early evening and KLM will fly us back to the U.S.
If you would like to spend a few extra days in Johannesburg or Capetown (recommended for those who like to explore cities), Djoser can help you to extend your trip at either end.
