Duration: 22 days
Priced From: EUR 1995 / USD 2795
Experience an African Safari which will take you from Cape Town to Victoria Falls, this camping safari is one of our most popular Safari tours.
The Northern Experience is a camping safari through four countries: South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zambia. Just to mention a few of the highlights that are waiting for you: Cape Town, Cedarberg, Orange River, Fish River Canyon, Sossusvlei, Sesriem, Swakopmund, Etosha, Okavango Delta, Western Caiprivi, Chobe National Park, Victoria Falls.
This is our most popular safari, and the best way to see the most spectacular features of Southern Africa. Enjoy the scenery, wildlife, culture and natural beauty that cannot be compared. This entire region is magical, and unlike any other part of the world!
Highlights: Cape Town, Cedarberg, Orange River, Fish River Canyon, Sossusvlei, Sesriem, Swakopmund, Himba experience, Etosha National Park, Okavango Delta, Eastern Caprivi, Mudumo National Park, Chobe National Park, Victoria Falls.
Group Size: Maximum 10 people
Type of Safari: Semi-participation camping safari
Accommodation: During 17 nights of your safari, you will be staying on designated campsites either within a National Park, on the banks of a river, or other places of interest. All campsites have shared ablution facilities with showers, flushing toilets and running water (unless otherwise specified in the detailed itinerary). Jenman African Safaris tries to avoid crowded campsites and brings you to secluded spots, often supported by the local community. We make use of spacious 3-person dome tents, allowing two per tent. In addition, we provide 5 cm thick sleeping mattresses. 4 nights of your safari will be spent in mid-range fixed accommodation.
Tour Fare 2012*
EUR 1995 / USD 2795 plus a local payment of ZAR 2500
Single Supplement: EUR 115 / USD 160
*Tour fare to be paid in currency applicable to country of origin
From EUR 340 / USD 480 you can upgrade this safari and enjoy more nights accommodated!
Included in the price: 17 nights camping & 4 nights in fixed accommodation. All transport in fully equipped vehicle, use of camping equipment, game drives as mentioned, meals as per itinerary (prepared by the guide) and activities as mentioned in itinerary, park entrance fees, experienced local guide.
Not included in the price: Travel insurance, flights, pre and post tour accommodation, optional activities, all drinks, tips and curios, all personal expenses.
Tailor-Made Travel:
This safari runs on scheduled dates throughout the year. We can tailor-make a private safari to meet your departure date, time period, group size and budget. Contact the office for further information.
Departure Dates & Availability:
Please click here regularly as availability is updated every 2 weeks.

Day 1: Cape Town, South Africa.
Arrival in Cape Town. You have the remainder of the day at leisure.
Accommodation: Lady Hamilton Hotel or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, restaurant, bar & swimming pool)

Day 2: Cape Town to Cedarberg Mountains, South Africa
An early start from the Lady Hamilton Hotel takes us to the beach on the Atlantic Ocean to have a last look at Table Mountain across the bay. After lunch we head for the Cedarberg Mountains, bypassing Citrusdal, a rural village set amongst lush green citrus orchards. [BLD]
Accommodation: Gecko Creek or similar (tents, wash rooms with hot water)

Day 3: West Coast of South Africa to Orange River, South Africa
Travelling up the West Coast, we pass through some magnificent mountain ranges on our way to the Orange River. If you are travelling in spring you will see the spectacular carpets of wildflowers in the famous Namaqualand region. Later in the afternoon we will reach the Orange River, the natural border between South Africa and Namibia. [BLD]
Accommodation: Felix Unite River Camp on Orange River or similar (tents, wash rooms with hot water and bar).
Day 4: Canoeing on the Orange River, Namibia
The only travelling today is done in a canoe. Put your feet up and relax as the currents take you downstream the Orange River – mind the rapids though! [BLD]
Accommodation: Felix Unite River Camp on Orange River or similar (tents, wash rooms with hot water and bar).

Day 5: Ai-Ais and Fish River Canyon, Namibia
Today we head off for Ai-Ais, where we stop for lunch. Here thermal water rich in sulphates and fluorides and with a temperature of approx 60°C, gushes forth from the springs.. In the Nama language, "Ai-Ais" means "burning water". We then head onto Canon Road House close to the Fish River Canyon. Later in the evening we take in another perfect African sunset with the magnificent views and scenery along the edge of the Canyon. [BLD]
Accommodation: Canon Road House Campsite or similar (tents, wash rooms with hot water, swimming pool and convenience store).

Day 6: Sossusvlei, Namibia
Moving inland we make our way to our camp, which is close to the world’s highest sand dunes at Sossusvlei. [BLD]
Accommodation: Hammerstein LodgeHammerstein Lodge Campsite or similar (tents, wash rooms with hot water, bar and swimming pool).

Day 7: Sesriem and Sossusvlei, Namibia
We visit the world’s highest sand dunes at Sossusvlei, an area characterised by massive red sand dunes; these dunes are believed to be the highest and the oldest in the world (over 5 million years old)! A drive into the dunes is also available (optional cost of R120 pp transfer from 2x4 parking to Sossusvlei/Dead vlei parking area). At sunset these red sand dunes, which can reach heights of over 300 m, are absolutely spectacular and provide for a fantastic photo opportunity. With luck, there may even be water in the vlei (lake). [BLD]
Accommodation: Hammerstein Lodge Campsite or similar (tents, wash rooms with hot water, bar and swimming pool).

Day 8: Namib Naukluft National Park & Kuiseb Canyon to Swakopmund, Namibia
The day is spent driving through the Namib Naukluft National Park and the Kuiseb Canyon on our way to Swakopmund. Namib-Naukluft Desert is an ancient land with an ageless spirit. It is home to some of the rarest plant and animal species in the world; sightings of this flora and fauna on a Namibian safari are a must. The animals of this harsh landscape include the Oryx, springbok and Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra. One can also see the Welwitschia mirabilis which is an odd-looking desert shrub and one of these ‘shrubs’ is a large, protected specimen estimated at over 1 500 years old. [BL]
Accommodation: A la Mer or similar (rooms with en-suite bathroom and hot water; restaurants, bars, laundry service and Internet cafe in town)

Day 9: Swakopmund, Namibia
We have the opportunity to explore this quaint German town by day and night. There are a number of activities to enjoy here; sand boarding, quad biking, skydiving and even fishing. You may even dare to brave the Atlantic sea. [B]
Accommodation: A la Mer or similar (rooms with en-suite bathroom and hot water; restaurants, bars, laundry service and Internet cafe in town)

Day 10: Cape Cross Seal Colony and Brandberg, Namibia
We follow the barren Atlantic Coast line on our way out of Swakopmund to visit Africa’s largest seal colony after lunch. The seal colony at Cape Cross is the breeding place of the Cape fur seals, which are actually a species of sea lion. Along the Namibian and South African coast there are 24 colonies with a seal population of about 650 000 animals. At Cape Cross live about 80 000 to 100 000 seals. Leaving the cold Atlantic coastline behind we the head inland across the desert plains for Brandberg, the highest mountain in Namibia. Either this afternoon or the next morning we walk up a valley on Brandberg and visit the famous ‘White Lady’ rock painting. [BLD]
Accommodation: Brandberg White Lady Lodge Campsite or similar (tents, wash rooms with hot water and bar).

Day 11: Twyfelfontein, Petrified Forest and Himba Village, Namibia
An early morning start takes us from Brandberg to our first stops at Twyfelfontein and Petrified Forest. Our final destination for the day will be Kamanjab. Depending on the time of arrival we go and explore a traditional Himba Village that afternoon or the next morning. This will be a journey of culture exchange and learning and understanding of our last traditional tribe in Namibia, the Ova-Himba. [BLD]
Accommodation: Porcupine Camp or similar (Permanent Tents, separate wash rooms with hot water).

Day 12: From Kamanjab to Etosha National Park, Namibia
After our cultural experience in Kamanjab, we head to the land of the big five – Etosha National Park. Lunch is eaten close to the small German town of Outjo where we relax and have the opportunity to visit an Internet cafe. Our final destination for the day is Etosha. As the sun sets and late into the night, the group has the opportunity to watch animals drink at floodlit waterholes. [BLD]
Accommodation: Okaukuejo Resort or similar (Chalets with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool and convenience store)

Days 13 & 14: Etosha National Park, Namibia
We fill the next 2 days with game drives, including evening game viewing at floodlit waterholes. In the mornings we have the opportunity to take game drive at sunrise. At all three camps, Namutoni, Okaukuejo and Halali you can take a swim in the swimming pool or as the sun sets, and late into the night, the group can watch animals drink at the floodlit waterhole. [BLD, BLD]
Accommodation: Camping at Namutoni or similar (tents, communal ablutions with hot water, swimming pool, bar & restaurant)

Days 15 & 16: Etosha to Kavango River, Namibia
Leaving Etosha we head to Rundu and onto n’Kwazi River Camp, which is on the banks of the Kavango River over looking Angola. A sunset cruise, horse riding, traditional dancing in the evening as well as visiting a local village are optional or you can just put your feet up and relax on the banks of the river as the sun sets. [BL, BL]
Accommodation: N’Kwazi River Camp or similar (Rooms with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool and laundry service available)

Days 17 & 18: Kavango River to Okavango Delta, Botswana
We leave Namibia for Etsha 13, on the western border of the Okavango Delta in Botswana. We will be transferred to our camp in the Delta. The next day is spent exploring the network of water pathways through thick vegetation in mokoros (traditional dugout canoes). The Delta is a well-preserved gem of Africa with a vast oasis of crystal clear lakelets, lagoons and palm-fringed islands. [BLD, BLD]
Accommodation: Guma Lagoon Camp or similar (Permanent Tents with en-suite bathrooms, bar).

Day 19: Eastern Caprivi, Namibia
Leaving Botswana, we drive up the Western border of the Okavango Delta before crossing over into Namibia and driving through the Caprivi to our camp on the banks of the Kwando River. In the afternoon you will go on a game drive to the Mudumo National Park. In contrast to the rest of Namibia, the area is lush with riverine forest, marshes, dense savannah and mopane woodland. [BLD]
Accommodation: Camp Kwando or similar (Chalets with en-suite open-air bathrooms, bar and swimming pool).

Day 20: Chobe National Park, Botswana
The next morning we depart from Camp Kwando, head along the Caprivi and cross the border back into Botswana to drive through Chobe National Park to our camp on the Chobe River. In the afternoon you will go on a sunset cruise along the banks on the Chobe National Park. We spend the night camping on the banks of the Chobe River listening to the calls of Africa. [BL]
Accommodation: Chobe Safari Lodge or similar (Rooms with en-suite bathrooms, bar and swimming pool).

Day 21: Chobe National Park to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
A mid morning departure takes you from Chobe to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. In the afternoon we explore the Victoria Falls on a guided tour. [B]
Accommodation: Lokuthula Lodges or similar (Chalets with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool, restaurant and bar)

Day 22: End of tour
Your journey ends after breakfast this morning. We can arrange an airport transfer on request (own expense). We hope to welcome you on one of our African adventures soon. [B]
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