Wildflowers, Desert Plants, Wildlife and Coastal Scenes of Namibia & South Africa

Arrive in Windhoek today and transfer to your hotel. Enjoy a Welcome Dinner this evening and meet your fellow travellers.

From Windhoek, head north to the Waterberg region. The Waterberg Plateau National Park is a fascinating geological site in northern Namibia. Named for the springs that emerge from the region’s foothills, the park abounds with rugged rock faces, 200-million-year-old dinosaur footprints, and petrified sand dunes. The park is also blessed with a plethora of plant and animal species, including leopards, rhinos, vultures, cheetahs, bush babies, ferns, various grasses and fig trees.

After breakfast, we depart the Waterberg region and travel further north to the vast wildlife reserve of Etosha National Park. Etosha is home to more than 110 animal species, including elephants, lions, rhinos, giraffes and zebras. It also features more than 300 distinct bird species. The park is well-known for its salt pan, which is so large it can be seen from space. 

We spend the next two nights at Epacha Game Lodge & Spa, which boasts its own private game reserve. This afternoon, we enjoy a game drive in the park, where we have the chance to see some of the animals that call this reserve home.

Enjoy a full day in Etosha National Park and take a guided nature walk at Epacha Reserve to see some of its botanical wonders, including mopane trees, which have distinctive butterfly shaped leaves.

Drive south, through the towns of Outjo and Khorixas, and on to the Damaraland Region. We spend time at Twyfelfontein, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is home to one of the largest and most important concentrations of rock art in Africa. The vegetation here has adapted to the region’s harsh climate and include the ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis, whose leaves extend along the ground, and the spectacular, and poisonous, cactus-like Gifboom.

Head out on an elephant safari today in open-air 4x4 vehicles. We drive along a dry riverbed in search of Namibia's desert-dwelling elephants, of which only about 600 remain. Later in the day, visit the Damara Living Museum to learn about, and experience, the traditional Damara way of life. This is a unique opportunity to witness firsthand traditions that are gradually dying out.

After leaving Twyfelfontein, we drive via the remote village of Uis to Cape Cross Seal Reserve to see Namibia’s cape fur seals. We then continue along the Skeleton Coast to Swakopmund. Here, we stop at its lichen fields, which are now recognised as a vital, and largely protected, component of Namibia’s environment. It is estimated that some of these lichen fields are hundreds, or even thousands, of years old, having survived long periods of drought.

Take a tour of Swakopmund, a former German colonial town with a unique blend of African and European influences. Explore its seaside promenades, half-timbered homes, and wind-swept beaches. Visit the town's historic lighthouse and railway station, then enjoy some free time this afternoon.

Depart early this morning for the Welwitschia Plains, a protected area in the Namib Desert known for its Welwitschia plants. These plants are centuries-old and endemic to the Namib Desert. After visiting the Welwitschia Plains, we drive on to the Kuiseb Canyon, a dramatic gorge carved by the Kuiseb River. We then stop at the remote settlement of Solitaire, occupying a small corner of the Namib Desert. From here, we head to our lodge, situated within the Namib-Naukluft Park.

Explore the iconic red sand dunes of the Namib Desert and Deadvlei, whose surreal landscape comprises a clay pan that was formerly an oasis. The acacia trees that once thrived here were left to die when the river that fed them changed course. The dry climate prevented the trees from decomposing, so they remain as desiccated, blackened sentinels on the pan's cracked surface. Surrounded by the red-pink dunes of the Namib Desert, the spectacle of Deadvlei is a photographer's dream.

We drive south today, through the NamibRand Nature Reserve to Helmeringhausen and then on to Aus. The small village of Aus is located in the Aus Mountains, above the plains of the Namib Desert. It is a great place from which to see the area's major attraction, the feral horses of the Namib Desert. We also learn about the Succulent Karoo plants which transform the desert into a sea of bright flowers after the winter rains. Visit the beautiful Gondwana Sperrgebiet Rand Park, home to the most biodiverse desert in the world, during a sunset drive.

Today, we travel to Lüderitz, a town located between the Atlantic Coast and the Namib Desert. This seaside town is a unique blend of 19th-century Bavaria and the Namib Desert. On the way, we stop at Garub, where we can see the wild horses of the Namib Desert. We also visit Kolmanskop, a ghost town that was once a thriving diamond mining town. Today, Kolmanskop is a haunting reminder of its past, and offers visitors a glimpse into a bygone era.

Today, we journey to Fish River Canyon, the second largest canyon in the world. Along the way, we stop at a lodge for lunch and to see their collection of Lithops. These plants, commonly known as living stones or pebble plants, are endemic to the arid desert environments of Namibia. In the afternoon, we arrive at Canyon Lodge. As we explore the Canyon Village, we learn about the clusters of quiver trees that are found there. The quiver tree, also known as kokerboom, or tree Aloe, is one of Namibia's national plants and is widely regarded as being a symbol of the south. These extraordinary trees have been rapidly declining, but thanks to conservation efforts in the area, these beautiful trees are being preserved.

Today, we leave Namibia and cross the border into South Africa. We spend the night in Springbok, the largest town in the Namaqualand region of the Northern Cape province. August is regarded as the best time to see the spring flowers after the winter rainfall. We look for the Namaqua daisy of white, yellow and orange colours, and Osteospermum, or African daisy, among many others. We may also see several bulbous plants, including the Babiana.

Travel to Clanwilliam, one of South Africa’s oldest towns. This picturesque town is nestled between the Cederberg Mountains and the Olifants River and is well-known for being the home of rooibos tea.

In the morning, visit the Ramskop Nature Reserve, which is home to more than 350 species of wildflower. The beautifully landscaped paths through the reserve offer stunning views of the Clanwilliam Dam and the Cederberg Mountains. In the afternoon, take a rooibos farm tour and learn about the cultivation and production of this unique tea. Enjoy a tasting of different rooibos teas and learn about their health benefits.

Today, we travel via the West Coast National Park for further wildflower viewing before arriving in Cape Town. The West Coast National Park is a popular destination for wildflower viewing, and is home to a variety of species, including Namaqua daisies, sporrie, iris and ice plants.

Discover the highlights of Cape Town today, including the spectacular Table Mountain and the world-famous Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. Nestled at the foot of Table Mountain, the garden displays all the beauty and diversity of the region’s flora, including the national floral emblem, the King Protea. Later, visit the delightful town of Simondium, where we visit Babylonstoren Garden. The recently completed Fynbos garden here displays the natural flora of the south-west area of South Africa.

Your journey concludes after breakfast this morning, when you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight.