13 days tour

Cape & Dunes Northbound: Wildlife & Starry Night Skies

$ 1,844 .10 USD

Total price per person

Reserve with $1,844.10

Cape & Dunes Northbound: Wildlife & Starry Night Skies

This tour includes:

Hygieneprotocol

As of October 1, 2021 G Adventuresโ€™ Vaccinated Tours Policy applies:  All travelers must meet the G Adventures requirements for joining their tours.  The majority of tours require travelers to be fully vaccinated and the full/final COVID-19 vaccination must be at least 14 days before the first day of the tour.  There are some tours and departures that are only โ€˜Travel-Readyโ€™ which means all travelers must be fully vaccinated or have a negative COVID-19 test within 96 hours before the first day of the tour.  Please, double check with the G Adventures Support Team about the requirements of your tour and departure date. ** Updated Vaccine Mandate Changes as of 16 December 2022 below** Travel with Confidence & Vaccinated Tours As we continue to see vaccine mandates shifting and countries evolving COVID-19 policies, we have continued to monitor and adjust our policies in line. Based on this, we will be making some adjustments to our Vaccinated Tours and Travel with Confidence policy in 2023. Tours departing on or after March 31, 2023 we will no longer be requiring all travellers to be vaccinated to travel with G Adventures. However, we still strongly recommend that all travellers are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 prior to travelling. As per our existing policy, it is the travellers responsibility to ensure they are aware of and adhere to the regulations of the country they are visiting. Please remember to ensure that your travellers have adequate travel insurance to protect them should their travel plans change, this should include trip disruption and COVID-19 coverage. Our National Geographic Journeys, National Geographic Family Journeys and G Expedition will remain fully vaccinated for all departures . You can read more about these policies here: https://www.gadventures.com/travel-with-confidence/  Leading up to March 31, 2023 our tours will continue to be Vaccinated Tours and you can look for the Vaccinated Tours icon to indicate which departures are vaccinated and which will not require a vaccination as we move forward with this change. You can find more information on our Travel with Confidence landing page https://www.gadventures.com/travel-with-confidence/  or as well as on Sherpa.  Thank you for your continued support as we navigate these updates. ** Updated Vaccine Mandate Changes as of 16 December 2022 above**

Meals

11 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 9 dinners

Transport

Lando (Overland Adventure Vehicle), walking.

Accommodation

Hostel (3 nts, multi-share), participation camping (9 nts)

Guide

2 CEOs (Chief Experience Officers) throughout as head guide/cook and driver, local guides.

Others

Your G for Good Moment: !Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre, Yzerfontein Your G for Good Moment: Penduka Village Restaurant & Shop, Windhoek Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group Your First Night Out Moment: Connect With New Friends. Fish River Canyon, Park fees for Dune 45, Sesriem Canyon, and Spitzkoppe entrance fees. Etosha NP entrance with wildlife safari drives. Waterberg Plateau visit. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.

Not included:

Optional

Other activities and services are not included

Flights

Flights not included

Insurance

Insurance is not included. Travel insurance is required for this tour. Please make sure you are adequately covered. If you require travel insurance, TourRadar has partnered up with World Nomads to provide a hassle-free experience. More information can be found here ( https://www.tourradar.com/travel-insurance ).

Others

โ€ข Please note that this tour combines with other G Adventures tours. As such, the staff and some travel companions on your tour may have previously been traveling together with G Adventures, prior to Day 1 of your tour. Likewise, some staff and travel companions may be continuing together on another G Adventures tour, after your trip concludes. โ€ข An essential part of your overland safari is participation. The group is usually divided into small groups and given different tasks which change on a day to day basis, from kitchen duty group (helping in prepare meals and clean up afterwards), the packing group (sets up all tables and chairs outside) and the cleaning group (which cleans the truck by emptying the rubbish bin and brooming). it is all part of your adventure and when everyone puts in a little effort the trip will run smoothly. Your CEOs will lead the meal preparation, but we do ask the clients to help with some prep and cleaning. Team spirit is part of the fun! All camping equipment (with the exception of your sleeping bag and pillow) is supplied. Water-wise tips when visiting Cape Town: Cape Town is currently experiencing one of the worst droughts it has seen in over 100 years, and while we want you to have the best time possible while there, here are some tips to help reduce your water usage: - Bring a reusable water bottle, that you can fill with Cape Townโ€™s tasty tap water. - Reuse your towels in the hotel, for at least two days, before getting new ones. - Keep your laundry until you have a full load to do, rather than just doing a handful of items. - Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth, or shaving. - Keep your showers to two minutes or less, and donโ€™t use the bath. - Use hand sanitizer, instead of washing hands. โ€ข The use of drones in national parks in Southern Africa is prohibited.Cape Town - South African Wine Tour and Tasting - Two Oceans Aquarium (235ZAR per person) Simonโ€™s Town - Boulders Beach Visit (190ZAR per person) Table Mountain - Table Mountain Hike (720-1700ZAR per person) - Table Mountain Cable Car (420ZAR per person) Cederberg - Wine Tasting Orange River - Canoeing on Orange River (400ZAR per person) Namib Desert - Namib Desert Walk (350NAD per person) Swakopmund - Sandboarding in the Namib Desert (700NAD per person) - Skeleton Coast Scenic Flight (4800NAD per person) - Swakopmund Skydiving - Swakopmund Guided Cultural Tour (750NAD per person) Etosha National Park - Etosha Open Vehicle Wildlife Safari Night Drive (750NAD per person) - Etosha Open Vehicle Wildlife Safari Drive (1100NAD per person)

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Cape & Dunes Northbound: Wildlife & Starry Night Skies

  • Day 1 Day 1: Cape Town
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 1: Cape Town

      Arrive at any time.

      Tonight, get to know your group on your first night out together in Cape Town. After a brief welcome meeting and optional dinner out together, head to the clubs on Long Street to explore the vibrant nightlife. Put those dancing shoes on and get to know your fellow travel buddies as the adventure begins!
      Get the most out of your time in Cape Town by pre-booking the South African Wine Tour and Tasting extra. If you do, we recommend booking accommodation for an extra night pre-tour as this activity has an early start time. Please note, due to the timings of this activity, there is a possibility you may miss the welcome meeting on day 1 of your tour - in this case, your CEO will leave you a message detailing what time and where you should meet the next morning.

      Included Activities:
      - Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
      - Connect With New Friends

      Optional Extras to chose from:
      - South African Wine Tour and Tasting

      Additional Notes: Please make sure you have all of the necessary visas for this tour by the time of the welcome meeting. It is very important to read the visa section in our trip details to make sure which visas you will need, if any.โ€จPlease also note that no visa can be obtained at the border to Namibia. โ€จ

      If you book any optional activities on day 1 please contact your sales agent to see if booking a pre-night is necessary to participate in the activity.
  • Day 2 Day 2: Cape Town/Cederberg (1B, 1L, 1D)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 2: Cape Town/Cederberg (1B, 1L, 1D)

      Hit the road in style in the Lando and view the stunning Western Cape scenery as the group travels to the G Adventures-supported !Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre. Here you will learn about the history and culture of the ancient San people and be able to directly help this centre preserve that heritage.

      In the afternoon the group will arrive at your first campsite where you can enjoy free time to sip on some local wine, or simply chill out by the campsiteโ€™s swimming pool overlooking the vineyards.


      Meals Included:
      - Breakfast
      - Lunch
      - Dinner

      Transport:
      - Lando: Cape Town to Cederberg 05:00 Hr(s)

      Included Activities:
      - !Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre

      Additional Notes: The !Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre is closed on Christmas Day and New Years Day.
  • Day 3 Day 3: Cederberg/Orange River (1B, 1L, 1D)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 3: Cederberg/Orange River (1B, 1L, 1D)

      Travel further north past large plantations of rooibos tea. You will be camping at the scenic Orange River for the night where you can kick back, relax, reflect, and enjoy a late afternoon swim in the river. If you are still in need of some activity choose to book a canoe excursion on the river. Other than that your only job today is to enjoy yourself and have a relaxing time.


      Meals Included:
      - Breakfast
      - Lunch
      - Dinner

      Transport:
      - Lando: Cederberg to Orange River 06:30 Hr(s)
  • Day 4 Day 4: Orange River/Fish River Canyon (1B, 1L, 1D)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 4: Orange River/Fish River Canyon (1B, 1L, 1D)

      Yes, we know you could stay at the oasis of Orange River for much longer than one night, but this group has things to do and places to see so get a move on and cross another country off those travel lists as the group heads over the border into Namibia.

      The next stop is Fish River Canyon, the largest canyon in Africa, and arguably the second largest in the world. Hop off the Lando, do some stretches, take in the majestic beauty of the canyon and together watch as the vibrant sunset slips over the canyonโ€™s rim. Then itโ€™s on to camp to enjoy each otherโ€™s company around the campfire as the stars begin to rise.


      Meals Included:
      - Breakfast
      - Lunch
      - Dinner

      Transport:
      - Lando: Orange River to Fish River Canyon 05:00 Hr(s)

      Included Activities:
      - Border Crossing (South Africa - Namibia)
      - Fish River Canyon Visit at Sunset
  • Day 5 Day 5: Fish River Canyon/Namib Desert (1B, 1L, 1D)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 5: Fish River Canyon/Namib Desert (1B, 1L, 1D)

      While the group has a lot of ground to cover today donโ€™t let that daunt you. You have been so on the go lately you wonโ€™t mind the rest of a long drive (besides, by now you probably have loads to talk about with everyone).

      Pass by the small and desolate towns of Bethanien and Helmeringhausen and continue north along long and bumpy roads, en route to the Namib Desert. Then, embrace the bizarreness of this environment by really taking the time to enjoy it. The group will arrive in the area in the late afternoon, where the towering red sand dunes of Sossusvlei make you really feel as though youโ€™re in the middle of nowhere.

      Set up camp and get some rest for the fun days ahead!


      Meals Included:
      - Breakfast
      - Lunch
      - Dinner

      Transport:
      - Lando: Fish River Canyon to Namib Desert 10:00 Hr(s)
  • Day 6 Day 6: Namib Desert (1B, 1L, 1D)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 6: Namib Desert (1B, 1L, 1D)

      Delve into the heart of Namibiaโ€™s desert landscapes and begin the day at dawn. Absorb the serene beauty of sunrise from atop the iconic Dune 45. As the golden light washes over the desert, you will climb the dune for breathtaking views before the day heats up. Next, venture to the surreal Deadvlei for an optional excursion to this mesmerising clay pan, framed by some of the worldโ€™s tallest sand dunes; a photographerโ€™s paradise.

      After soaking in the desertโ€™s raw beauty, retreat to the cooler confines of Sesriem Canyon. Wander through this natural wonder in the afternoon when the shade provides a respite from the sun. Learn about the canyonโ€™s formation and discover hidden pools that sustain wildlife in this arid region.
      Conclude your day with a scenic drive, if time allows, stopping at the quaint town of Solitaire, before settling in at the campsite. Here, you may opt for an evening activity: "Namib Desert Walk." This activity is an educational experience about bushmenโ€™s survival in the desert, the geology of sand dunes, and local wildlife, and ends with a beautiful desert sunset.

      Meals Included:
      - Breakfast
      - Lunch
      - Dinner

      Transport:
      - Lando: Namib Desert 05:00 Hr(s)

      Included Activities:
      - Dune 45 Visit
      - Sesriem Canyon Visit

      Additional Notes: *Please note, while park fees for Dune 45 and Sesriem Canyon are included, the shuttle to Deadvlei is an additional cost.
  • Day 7 Day 7: Namib Desert/Swakopmund (1B, 1L)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 7: Namib Desert/Swakopmund (1B, 1L)

      Bid farewell to your lovely campsite and zoom off further north in the Lando. Get a real feel for the Namib Desert as the group spends hours crossing this empty region over dry mountain passes to get to the adrenaline capital of Swakopmund.

      Sandwiched between the Atlantic Ocean and the mighty Namib Desert, this coastal city has strong German heritage which is reflected in the architecture around town. The group will spend two nights in Swakopmund so fear not, you have time for all of the fun activities you want to try.


      Meals Included:
      - Breakfast
      - Lunch

      Transport:
      - Lando: Namib Desert to Swakopmund 07:00 Hr(s)
  • Day 8 Day 8: Swakopmund
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 8: Swakopmund

      The day is yours! Grab some friends or set off alone and conquer this outdoor lovers paradise. From skydiving to sandboarding thereโ€™s no shortage of activities to try. Flip a coin to see which will be your fate or even better try them all (we have our eyes feasted on the Skeleton Coast scenic flight).
      You can pre-book your sky dive on the checkout page, or through your Global Connection Officer or travel agent.

      Optional Extras to chose from:
      - Swakopmund Skydiving

      Additional Notes: Meals are not included while we are in Swakopmund in order to give our travellers the freedom to try out the many restaurants and bars in town.
  • Day 9 Day 9: Swakopmund/Spitzkoppe (1B, 1L, 1D)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 9: Swakopmund/Spitzkoppe (1B, 1L, 1D)

      Bid farewell to lovely Swakopmund and hop on the Lando as you travel through the coastal region of Namibia toward the granite peaks of Spitzkoppe.

      What is Spitzkoppe you ask? Great question! Itโ€™s been dubbed the Matterhorn of Namibia. But basically, if you are the type of person who loves epic climbing, hiking, camping, stargazing, sunrises, and sunsets then Spitzkoppe will have a very special place in your heart.

      Upon arrival, the rest of the day is yours to explore as you wish. This mountaineering paradise will have you breaking out of your comfort zones in no time. Scramble up rock faces to get that perfect view, take selfies under the natural rock arch, and get some artsy photos as the sun sets. Then after cooking up some grub around the campfire, get ready to see the milky way light up the night sky.
      Explore on your own by foot, and be sure to check out the night skyโ€”itโ€™s great for star-gazing!

      Meals Included:
      - Breakfast
      - Lunch
      - Dinner

      Transport:
      - Lando: Swakopmund to Spitzkoppe 03:00 - 04:00 Hr(s)

      Additional Notes: Our basic bush camp will have long-drop toilets and no running water.
  • Day 10 Day 10: Spitzkoppe/Etosha National Park (1B, 1L, 1D)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 10: Spitzkoppe/Etosha National Park (1B, 1L, 1D)

      Wake up and feel like you crash landed on Mars. Gaze in wonder at this wild landscape and let peace wash over you (trust us youโ€™re going to need it) before the group travels to Etosha National Park for some prime wildlife viewing. As the group enters the park you will enjoy a short safari drive in the Lando on the way to your camp.

      As you drive look out over the beautiful landscape as far as the eye can see. After sunset, watch animals at the watering holes near the camping area, which is safe, being well lit with flood lights. Free time this evening allows for the option of a night safari in an open vehicle.
      Look out over beautiful desert landscapes as far as the eye can see. There are Himba, Herero, and Damara people along the way selling local arts, and weโ€™ll be sure to make a few stops to find out more about their offerings.โ€จ

      After sunset, watch animals at the watering holes near the camping area, which is safe, being well lit with flood lights. Free time at night allows for the option of a night safari in an open vehicle.

      Meals Included:
      - Breakfast
      - Lunch
      - Dinner

      Transport:
      - Lando 07:00 - 08:00 Hr(s)

      Included Activities:
      - Etosha National Park Wildlife Safari Drive (Lando)
  • Day 11 Day 11: Etosha National Park (1B, 1L, 1D)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 11: Etosha National Park (1B, 1L, 1D)

      Itโ€™s time to adventure in 3โ€ฆ 2โ€ฆ 1!

      Today, your group will embark on a full-day wildlife safari drive in Etosha NP. Itโ€™s crazy the amount of animal species that occupy this smaller protected area (more than 100 different mammals call Etosha home). Try not let your attention wander as you move further and further into the wild lands of Etosha. Play some eye-spy with your travel buddies and go crazy with those cameras because we canโ€™t wait to see what you experience!

      The coolest thing about this national park is that, because of its size and the large amount of animals within, itโ€™s almost as if the wildlife comes directly to you; especially during the dry season (May through October) when the animals all gather around the waterholes creating some of the densest wildlife viewing opportunities in the world.


      Meals Included:
      - Breakfast
      - Lunch
      - Dinner

      Transport:
      - Lando: Etosha National Park

      Included Activities:
      - Etosha National Park Wildlife Safari Drive (Lando)
  • Day 12 Day 12: Etosha National Park/Waterberg Plateau (1B, 1L, 1D)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 12: Etosha National Park/Waterberg Plateau (1B, 1L, 1D)

      โ€œLions and elephants, and springboksโ€ฆ oh my!โ€ By now you will most likely have seen some wildlife and thatโ€™s a good thing because itโ€™s time to move on from Etosha further south to the Waterberg Plateau.

      Once the Lando pulls to a stop youโ€™ll be itching to stretch those legs so hit the trails in this gorgeous national park searching for secret plunge pools and wildlife such as buffalo and giraffe along the way. Or if you are looking to relax, chill out at camp, write in your travel journal, or take a dip in the pool of the group campsite.


      Meals Included:
      - Breakfast
      - Lunch
      - Dinner

      Transport:
      - Lando 04:00 - 05:00 Hr(s)
  • Day 13 Day 13: Waterberg Plateau/Windhoek (1B, 1L)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 13: Waterberg Plateau/Windhoek (1B, 1L)

      Itโ€™s the groupโ€™s last travel day so letโ€™s have some fun! Leave the Waterberg Plateau National Park behind and head south through the Namibian countryside to Windhoek. Along the way you will stop at the G Adventures supported Penduka Village Restaurant & Shop, just outside of Windhoek. There you will enjoy a delicious included lunch before the tour ends.

      If you arenโ€™t ready to go home thatโ€™s totally fine, just yet talk with your CEO about extending your adventure and get to know more of Namibia or beyond!
      Leave the Waterberg Plateau National Park and head south through the Namibian countryside to Windhoek.

      Meals Included:
      - Breakfast
      - Lunch

      Transport:
      - Lando 04:00 - 05:00 Hr(s)

      Included Activities:
      - Penduka Village Restaurant & Shop
      - Departure Day
+10
Experience Style

Experience Style

Mixed

There will be challenging activities such as hiking, biking, canyoning and trekking, but youโ€™re also going to have other means of transportation and relaxed moments to just chill.

Accomodation level

Accomodation level

Medium

This accommodation includes essential services like a hot shower, electricity, and a nice and comfy bed.

Experience Type

Experience Type

Small Group

Youโ€™ll be accompanied by a small group of travelers just like you.

Physical Rating

Physical Rating

Average

There are several physical activities that last from 2 to 6 hours in easy terrains, low altitude flats, or water experiences. Please ask if youโ€™re not sure this applies to you.

Age range

Age range

Min: 18 / Max: 39

This experience is only available for adults within this age range.

Select a country to define if the visa is required