Desert Safari-Kalahari Safari

14 days—Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Luderitz, Ai-Ais, Richtersveld National Park, Springbok, Augrabies Falls National Park

$3700-3800 USD

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Safari summary

SHORTENED PROGRAM:
- DAY 1 Upington – Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
- DAY 2 & 3 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
- DAY 4 Keetmanshoop (Namibia)
- DAY 5 Keetmanshoop – Luderitz
- DAY 6 Luderitz
- DAY 7 Luderitz - Richtersveld Transfrontier Park
- DAY 8 Richtersveld Transfrontier Park
- DAY 9 Ai- Ais
- DAY 10 Fish River Canyon
- DAY 11/12 - Springbok
- DAY 13 - Augrabies Falls National Park
- DAY 14 - Back Upington

About this tour

	Tour type	Custom, tailor-made, private
	Main focus	Game drives
	Activity level	Strenuous activity
	Best months	All months
	Countries	Namibia South Africa
	Parks	Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Kgalagadi Namib-Naukluft

Fine details

Safari highlights

Photography safari—with professional guide
Hiking | trekking
Bushman | tribal visits

What’s included?

Accommodation
Meals
Private vehicle and driver

What’s not included?

Alcoholic beverages
All drinks
Park fees

Itinerary

Day 1 - Twee Rivieren

Kgalagadi

We leave Upington at 8H30 from your guesthouse to drive to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. Stop en route at the Norokei Salt Pans (natural salt mine) and the Khomani San Bushmen to view their art. Arrival at Twee Rivieren (12H30) Move into our lodge for a short rest. We depart on a game drive (speed limit 50km/h) in this 38 000 square km park until the gates close.

Chalet/Lodge

Day 2 - Nossob

Kgalagadi

Wake up one hour before gates open and game drive direction North. We visit the various waterholes along this route. We learn from the animal tracks in the sand roads what happened in the night. It is a good idea to wait at a waterhole to view the incredible animal and birdlife. We do various game drives according to game reports/sightings.

Chalet/Lodge

Day 3 - Mata Mata

Kgalagadi

Wake up an hour before gates open. Pack up and game drive towards Mata Mata, using the 70km long Dune Road to cross from Botswana to Namibia. Today we search for the famous Kalahari Lion, as well as the smaller inhabitants of the desert, like the Meerkat. Afternoon arrival at Mata Mata. Check in and short rest before we depart on another game drive to explore this area. Special feature Mata Mata: Game hide with spotlight, sunset drive with Rangers after gates closed.

Chalet/Lodge

Day 4 - Keetmanshoop

Namib-Naukluft

We enter Namibia at the Mata Mata Border Post and drive through the endless savanna of Southern Namibia to Ai Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park. We visit the Giant’s Playground, Quiver Tree Forest, close to Keetmanshoop.

Guesthouse/chalet/Lodge

Day 5 - Luderitz

Namib-Naukluft

We drive to Luderitz. Proceed through the southern border of the Namib Naukluft Park. The Namib is the oldest desert on earth and one of the most hostile areas on planet. We do a short tour to DIAZ POINT where there is a replica of the cross erected in July 1488 by Portuguese navigator Bartolomeu Dias on his return from the Cape of Good Hope, after navigating the first ship around the most southern point of Africa. Viewpoint has a good view of Halifax Island, home to many Cape fur seals.

Guesthouse/chalet/Lodge

Day 6 - Luderitz

Namib-Naukluft

Kolmanskop is the best-known of several former diamond settlements – that today lie abandoned and disintegrating in the restless sands of the Sperrgebiet, the remote area set aside for mining and prospecting in German colonial times. The name Kolmanskop can be traced back to a transport driver named Johnny Coleman. At the turn of the century Coleman was a citizen of Aus. Before the railway was built, he transported goods from Keetmanshoop to Lüderitz by ox wagon.

Guesthouse/chalet/lodge

Day 7 - Sendelingsdrift

Ai-Ais/Richtersveld

Today we drive to Sendelingsdrift through the plains of southern Namibia. The road runs parallel with the Orange River through Southern Namibia. The Richtersveld Mountain Desert is known as the only true desert and one of the last wilderness areas in South Africa and was declared a world Heritage site. Richtersveld is very rich in succulent plant life, containing 30% of South Africa’s succulent species, (3 Quiver tree species and the rare “halfmens”).

Chalet/Lodge

Day 8 - Sendelingsdrift

Ai-Ais/Richtersveld

Game species such as the extremely rare Hartman’s Zebra, Grey Reebok, Klipspringer, Duiker, Steenbok, Leopard, Caracal, Black backed jackal, Baboons and Vervet monkeys can be seen. A small number of indigenous people, making a living as goatherds, live here like their ancestors did for thousands of years.

Chalet/Lodge

Day 9 - Ai-Ais Hotsprings

Ai-Ais/Richtersveld

Some of the distinctive features in the area include the Ai-Ais Hot springs and the 2nd largest canyon in the world, the Fish River Canyon. This awe-inspiring canyon measures 160 km in length, up to 27 km in width and reaches a depth of 550 m. Ai-Ais is situated at the southern end of the Fish River Canyon. Enjoy the warm pools and spa. One of these springs has its eye within the camp.

Chalet/Lodge

Day 10 - Fish River Canyon

Ai-Ais/Richtersveld

Visit the Fish River Canyon, with different viewpoints overlooking the canyon. Although the Park is not known as a game park, springbok, gemsbok, red hartebeest, Hartman’s zebra, kudu, klipspringer and ostrich survive in this harsh land. Ai-Ais, which means, “burning water” in one of the local languages, refers to the sulphureous hot springs which are found in this area. One of these springs has its eye within the camp.

Chalet/Lodge

Day 11 - Springbok

Ai-Ais/Richtersveld

We drive on to Springbok in the world-famous Namaqualand. Noordoewer is a settlement in the Karas Region of southern Namibia. The village lies opposite the South African town of Vioolsdrif, to which it is connected by the road bridge which forms the northern end of the South African N7 and the southern end of the Namibian B1. Noordoewer is known for grape production and canoeing and is an important border post on a crucial transport route between the two countries.

Guesthouse/Chalet

Day 12 - Springbok

Ai-Ais/Richtersveld

Depart to Goegap Nature Reserve and Hester Malan Flower Garden. Goegap Nature Reserve is 1500 ha and supports close to 600 indigenous flower species, 45 mammal species and 94 bird species. We spend the day in this large reserve, enjoying one of the most beautiful wonders that Nature has to offer us. We do various game drives. Lunch made the traditional way can be taken at the Reserve. Late afternoon drive back to Springbok.

Guesthouse/Lodge

Day 13 - Augrabies Falls

Depart to Augrabies Falls while travelling through vast empty stretches of Bushmanland. Visit the Augrabies Falls (6th highest Falls in the world) comes from the Khoi San Bushmen meaning ‘place of great noise'.

Chalet/Lodge

Day 14 - Upington

We do several game drives to visit viewpoints such as Ararat, Oranjekom on the Orange River Gorge, Moon Rock, Echo corner and the Black hills. Game such as giraffe, springbok, gemsbok, eland, kudu, red hartebeest, Hartman’s zebra and klipspringer survive in the desert ecosystem. After doing the 5 km Dassie Trail (only for the fit) we do game drives and visit the viewpoints. At 14h00 we depart to Upington. Stop at Bezalel Wine farm for wine tasting. Late afternoon arrival Upington. End of tour.

End of tour

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