Adventure truck trip: ‘You enjoy every moment’

The travel schedule as described below is based on the program including activity package (Activity Package). If you do not book an activity package, the itinerary will therefore deviate from the schedule described below. We recommend that you purchase the activity package prior to your trip (when booking) to avoid disappointment on the spot. If you book the activities in advance, you are assured of participation.

This trip you will visit the following provinces and countries: Western Cape, Northern Cape, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe.

Travel schedule

Included meals: B= breakfast, L= lunch, D= dinner

Day 1: Cape Town – Cederberg (D)
The journey starts at 7 a.m. in the center of Cape Town. Make sure you are present 30 minutes before departure. We recommend that you stay in Cape Town prior to the journey so that you can explore the sights in and around the city before the journey begins. Ask us about the possibilities with regard to accommodations, transfers and excursions.

The journey starts with a stop north of Cape Town from where you have a beautiful view of the bay and Table Mountain, here you can take some nice pictures. The truck then drives on to the Cederberg and this region is known for its citrus plantations, beautiful mountains and rooibos tea and buchu plants. Rooibos only grows in this region and is therefore an important export product for the region. You will visit a rooibos farm to learn more about this native plant. Tonight you will have dinner at the accommodation and you will get to know the rest of the tour group better,

Accommodation: Marcuskraal Campsite or similar
Route: Cape Town – Citrusdal
Activity Package: visit Rooibos tea farm

Day 2: Namibië – Gariep (Orange) Rivier (B, D)
Today you travel further through the Northern Cape province and Namaqualand where you stop in Springbok for a few purchases. If you travel in the months of July to September, you have the chance to see the beautiful sea of flowers in this area. Many tourists come here in the South African spring for this colorful spectacle of wild flowers. In the afternoon you cross the border to Namibia where you will spend the night on the Gariep River (also known as the Orange River). This river is the natural border between South Africa and Namibia and your accommodation is on the river.

Accommodation: Fiddlers Creek Campsite or similar
Route: Citrusdal – Vioolsdrift
Inclusive Activity: wildflowers (seasonal)

Day 3: Gariepriver – Ai-Ais (B, L, D)
In the morning you have the opportunity to canoe on the Gariep River (not included). The Gariep is the longest river in South Africa and has its origins in part of the Drakensberg in the kingdom of Lesotho. The river was originally named after the Dutch royal family (Orange), but nowadays the name Garieprivier is usually used. You can experience the beauty of this area by canoe. After lunch, the journey continues in a northerly direction to your next accommodation address. You cross the border to Namibia and make a short stop at the mineral hot springs.

At about 14 kilometers from Keetmanshoop are two special and photogenic places that you will visit this afternoon: Giant’s Playground and the Quiver Tree Forest. The former is also referred to as the “Garden of the Gods” and is a piece of land strewn with boulders in bizarre shapes and formations, which most of all looks like a giant playing with blocks. Quiver Tree (Kokerboom) Forest is a special natural phenomenon as these trees can normally be found lonely in the desert steppe and not with several in the same place. This tree was useful for the bushmen because of the hollow branches that they used to make the sleeves for their arrows. Tubular trees actually always grow on or against a piece of rock, the rock absorbs the warmth of the sun during the day and releases it at night so that the tubular tree can grow in a more constant temperature.

Accommodation: Maritz Country Lodge Camping or similar.
Route: Fish River Canyon – Keetmanshoop
Inclusive activities: visit Fish River Canyon, Quiver Tree Forest and Giant’s Playground.

Day 5: Namib-Naukluft Park (B, L, D)
The adventure continues to the Namib-Naukluft National Park, this is truly one of the gems of Namibia. The large sand dunes around Sossusvlei sometimes reach a height of up to 3000 meters. Beautiful pictures that radiate peace and space with colors ranging from yellow, pink, orange to red and everything in between! Today you have a long day in the truck ahead of you, but tomorrow you will be able to enjoy the sights in this area. Along the way you enjoy the fascinating landscape that changes from grasslands in the east to the red sand dunes in the west. You drive through sparsely populated areas on dusty roads where you will hardly find anyone else. You spend the night on the edge of the dune area.

Accommodation: Sesriem Campsite or similar.
Route: Keetmanshoop – Namib Naukluft National Park
Inclusive activity: visit Sesriem Canyon

Day 6: Namib-Naukluft National Park (B, L, D)
The day starts early so you can climb to the top of Dune 45 before the heat of the day makes this virtually impossible. This is the best known dune in this area and from the top you will enjoy a fantastic view and you can take the most extraordinary pictures of the red sand dunes. Especially during sunrise and sunset you can see the different colors of the dunes well. After your climb on Dune 45 you will receive a well-deserved breakfast. Then you will be taken to Sossusvlei where a 4 × 4 vehicle will take you even deeper into the desert. Sossusvlei and Deadvlei are also special areas where you can take beautiful pictures. When you return to the lodge you knock the sand off your shoes and enjoy a special day.

Accommodation: Boesman’s Camp or similar
Inclusive activities: hike to the top of Dune 45, 4 × 4 transfer to the Deadvlei / Sossusvlei

Day 7: Swakopmund (B)
Today is your last day in the desert and this morning there is another interesting excursion where a local guide tells you more about the ecosystems in the desert and the way the Bushman survived here. On the way to your next accommodation you pass the Capricorn circle where you will of course stop for a photo. Arriving at the coast of the Atlantic, make a short stop at the Walvis Bay lagoon hoping to see the many flamingos. Later in the you arrive in the “adventure town” Swakopmund where you can already look around a bit. Swakopmund was part of the German colony and you can clearly see this in buildings, street names and condiments (buy a German delicacy and cup of coffee here). You will be informed about the many optional activities that you can participate in tomorrow, such as sand boarding and quad biking in the desert. Lunch and dinner are for your own account, you can use the restaurants in Swakopmund.

Accommodation: Amanpuri Travelers lodge (double room with en-suite bathroom), or similar
Activity Package: Desert walk with guide
Inclusive Activity: stop at the Capricorn Circle and in Walvis Bay

Day 8: Swakopmund (B)
The seventh day is a day with unprecedented possibilities. You have time to walk through Swakopmund and view the buildings from the German colonial era. You can have lunch at your leisure, do some shopping or visit the beach. Do you want to do something active? Take a dolphin cruise on the ocean or go quad biking in the desert. The daredevils today have the opportunity to go sandboarding or skydiving.

Accommodation: Brandberg Rest Camp or similar
Route: Swakopmund – Brandberg
Included activity: excursion Spitzkoppe with local guide

Day 10: Brandberg White Lady (B, L, D)
The Brandberg is the highest mountain in Namibia and the name refers to the sometimes “glowing” color that the mountain has during the sunset. The famous rock drawing in this area is the “White Lady” of more than 2000 years old. This morning you take a walk / hike to these and other petroglyphs (wear sturdy footwear). You then travel further to the Kamanjab region where you will spend the night.

Accommodation: Halali Rest Camp or similar.
Route: Kamanjab – Etosha N.P.
Included activity: afternoon game drive through the park in the truck.

Day 12: Etosha National Park (B, L, D)
Even today, the focus is on spotting wildlife. Again you go on the road with the truck hoping to see game drinking at one of the pools or just along the road while you drive by. No day is ever the same in the bush and the idea that wild animals can appear everywhere makes it an exciting experience. At the end of the afternoon you drive to your next accommodation in the park.

Accommodatie: Okaukuejo Rest Camp or similar
Included activity: Full day game drive through the park in the truck

Day 13: Windhoek (B)
Again an early start to the day! Today you drive to the capital of Namibia: Windhoek. Upon arrival in Windhoek you will take a city tour on foot along the most famous buildings / sights in this city. Here too you will find German origin. Lunch and dinner are for your own account today. You spend the night at a lodge just outside the city.

Accommodation: Heja Game Lodge (double room with en-suite bathroom), or similar
Included activity: Windhoek city walk with your guide

Day 14: Botswana – Ghanzi (B, L, D)
Today you cross the border to Botswana and you are now in the Kalahari Desert. The 900,000 km² desert is the area of the San population. In the afternoon, after a long drive through the Kalahari landscape, you arrive at the lodge in Ghanzi where you can enjoy traditional dance and singing from the local San in the evening.

Accommodation: Campsite Ghanzi Trail Blazers or similar
Included activity: San Tribal dance in the evening

Day 15: Okavango Delta (B, D)
This morning you take a walk with a real San bushman where you get more information about the way of life of this people, an interesting experience. From Ghanzi you will continue to Maun, a place that is best known as the gateway to the Okavango Delta. Optionally you can make a flight over this area in the afternoon to get a good impression of this special piece of nature.

Accommodation: Sedia Riverside Lodge Campsite or similar
Route: Ghanzi – Maun
Included activity: San Guided Walk
Optional activity:sightseeing flight above the Delta

Note : if you have chosen the “Okavango Upgrade“, you will be taken to the airport and board a small airplane that will take you to the heart of the Okavango Delta. You spend two nights in the Delta and can experience the area in a more intensive way. On day 17 you will join the group again in the morning. Costs for the Okavango Upgrade: R13200 per person.

Day 16: Maun (B, L, D)
The best way to experience the waterways of the Delta is by mokoro. These traditional canoes are silently sailed through the water by a poler with a long stick. Enjoy the green surroundings, the clear water with water lilies and reeds and the tranquility in this fascinating part of Botswana today. This morning you leave early with a 4 × 4 car to the poling station where the mokoros and the polers are waiting for you, this ride takes about an hour. Make sure you protect yourself well against the sun today, because you spend the whole day outside. We moor at an island and you can take a walk with the poler. Later you will sail back to the 4 × 4 vehicles. Although this mokoro trip is not primarily meant to see wild animals, you still have to pay attention. Elephants, giraffes, kudus, impalas, zebras and many bird species live in this area.

Accommodation: Sedia Riverside Lodge Campsite or similar
Included activity: Okavango Delta excursie per mokoro

Day 17: Nata (B, L, D)
After a quiet breakfast the journey continues, you will drive along the Makgadigadi Salt Pans to Nata today. As you drive through this area, you will regularly see the striking and fascinating Baobab trees. Elephants or giraffes can also walk along the road as the wildlife parks of Botswana often have no gates. Participants in the activity package make a game drive to Nata Sanctuary in the afternoon, the breeding ground for many water birds including flamingos and pelicans.

Accommodation: Nata Lodge campsite or similar
Route: Maun – Nata
Activity package: visit Makgadikgadi Salt Pans (Nata Sanctuary)

Day 18: Chobe National park (B, D)
The tour continues towards the Chobe National Park. This National Park is located in the north of Botswana and has an area of no less than 11,700 km². The park owes its name to the always water-bearing Chobe River that borders the park on the north side. On this river where you can see buffalo, hippos and elephants, you will go on a cruise in the afternoon. After arriving at the accommodation on the river, it is time to first explore the park by 4 × 4 safari vehicle in search of the many elephants. After the relaxed boat cruise, dinner is served around a cozy campfire.

Accommodation: Thebe River Safaris campsite or similar.
Route: Nata – Kasane
Activity Package: Chobe NP Boat Cruise and Chobe NP game-drive

Day 19: Zimbabwe – Victoria Falls (B)
This morning you cross the border to Zimbabwe. Here on the border with Zambia on the Zambezi River are the impressive Victoria Falls. With a width of no less than 1708 meters and a maximum fall height of 108 meters, the rising mist can reach a height of more than 400 meters. The roaring sound of the water falling in the basalt gorges is very impressive.

Upon arrival in the village of Victoria Falls you will be explained about the many optional activities that you can book here. Then you will go to the Victoria Falls National Park where you can admire “The Smoke that Thunders,” as the locals call the waterfall. In the afternoon, adventurous travelers can opt for a flight above the waterfall, rafting on the Zambezi river, bungee jumping and many other activities (if time permits, otherwise you can book these activities for day 20). The small tourist village also offers plenty of shops and terraces for those who want to take it a bit easier.

Accommodation: Victoria Falls Rainbow Hotel (double room with en-suite bathroom), or similar.
Route: Kasane – Victoria Falls
Optional activities: visit the Vic Falls, bungee jumping, river rafting, flight above the waterfall, sunset cruise etc.

Day  20: Victoria Waterfalls (B)
Your tour ends today after breakfast. The end of a great experience! You take a transfer to the airport and fly back to the Netherlands (transfer and flight not included) or continue your holiday in southern Africa. It is also possible to spend an extra night or more in Victoria Falls so you have more time for optional activities.

This trip is written on the basis of participation in the activity package. This package consists of the following excursions: visit rooibos tea farm, desert walk with local expert guide, visit Makgadikgadi Pans (Nata Sanctuary), Chobe N.P. boat cruise, Chobe N.P. game drive. You can purchase this activity package when booking to ensure that you can participate in these activities. Ask us about the costs

Optionally you can book an Okavango Upgrade, price on request. With this upgrade you will be flown into the Okavango Delta by plane for two nights.

You can book optional activities in Victoria Falls and Swakopmund, see travel schedule.

All information is subject to change. Accommodations or routes can be changed if necessary. If you are traveling alone, sharing a room is not possible. By default, this adventure truck trip is conducted in a group of up to 20 participants led by a guide and a driver.

Prefer not to camp? This trip is also possible in a group of a maximum of 20 participants with accommodation in accommodation.

If you want to take out travel and cancellation insurance, click: travel insurance

Travel time: 20 days, 19 nights.

20% discount on the published price when you book in May before departure on 2 July 2019. 10% discount when you book in May before departure on 13 July or 27 August 2019.

Departure 2019:
August 3, 6*, 10, 13, 17*D, 20, 27*, 31
September 3D, 7*, 10, 14I, 17*, 24, 28*
October 1, 5, 8*D, 12, 15, 22, 26D, 29*
November  2, 5, 9*, 12D, 19*, 23, 26, 30*D
December  3, 7, 10*, 17D, 21*, 24, 31*