why overland
We primarily chose to overland after reading about traveling through Namibia and the lack of public transportation. We realized that many things we wanted to see and do in Namibia included some off roading which we weren’t as comfortable with. We had read some blogs of people stranded for hours in the middle of nowhere. After doing some research I found this overland tour through Absolute Africa that seemed perfect!
the tour
We decided to do the Namibia Nomad tour which is a 23 day tour that starts at Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwe side and travels through Botswana, Namibia and south to Cape Town in South Africa. We had already traveled through Uganda, Tanzania and then to Zambia to Livingstone. We joined the tour in Zimbabwe!
tour itinerary
before the tour
The tour started from Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Officially, the first day of the tour starts with heading from Victoria Falls to Botswana. You have to check in with the tour the night before it leaves. We added an extra day on and camped with the group the day before heading out. We also arrived several days before to explore Victoria Falls from both the Zambia and Zimbabwe sides of the waterfall. I would strongly encourage this! Victoria Falls is one of the world’s most impressive waterfalls. If you go in dry season, you should check out Devil’s Pool on the Zambian side!
Day 1-2 Victoria Falls to Chobe National Park
We left from Victoria Falls heading to Kasane and finally arrived at Chobe National Park. Once we arrived here, we did an afternoon game drive and saw enormous herds of elephants. After the game drive we took a sunset river cruise on the Chobe River. We were able to spot tons of animals on the shoreline as well as in the water. Some of the top were elephants, water buffalo, crocodiles and hippopotamus.
Day 3 Kasane to Maun
From Kasane we traveled to Maun. In Maun, we hit up the grocery store to get food and drinks for the next several days as we would need it for our safari to the Okavango Delta. Since this was the main city we would stop in Botswana and wanted to mail postcards in each country we scrambled to the post office. They had no postcards so we wrote a letter on paper and sent it in a hurry. We called it the ransom letter. This day was about 9 hours of driving.
Day 4-6 Okavango Delta
The Okavango Delta was a highlight of this tour and in Botswana. First we took a mokoro, traditional dugout canoe through the delta with Frank, our poleman. We arrived at a desolate island and set up camp. We did a walking tour with Frank and spotted a hyena, water buffalo, giraffes, elephants and more. Over the course of these days we traveled through the delta and watched sunset, swam in the waters and saw a bunch of hippopotamuses. After the safari we returned for one final night in Maun. There we got postcards and were able to mail them (they were good but not as good as the ransom letter).
Day 4-6 Maun, Botswana to Etosha National Park, Namibia
On the way to Etosha National Park our tour stopped at the Hoba Meteorite. This is the world’s largest meteorite and estimated to be around 190 million years old. We also stopped near Grootfontein to visit some traditional Bushman. We then spent the afternoon on safari in our overland vehicle in Etosha National Park. We did the optional night drive in Etosha. You typically see cats but it was a big disappointment. We saw more animals at the watering hole just outside of camp.
Day 11 Etosha National Park to Africat, Otjiwarongo
We did a morning game drive in Etosha and then headed to Africat. The Africat Foundation allows up close encounters with conservation animals in particular the cheetah. They take in cheetahs that are injured, tamed or otherwise would have been killed. We were able to have close experience with these beautiful animals and do a game drive. They offer day visits, camping and lodging and game drives.
day 12 Spitzkoppe
We traveled overland to the beautiful Spitzkoppe. These granite rock formations are beautiful. They stand out amongst the relatively flat plains around it. It is a popular destination for camping, hiking, rock climbing, photography, and stargazing. We had time to hike, take pictures, watch the sunset and enjoy ourselves. It is supposed to be one of the best places for stargazing. We were a little unfortunate, because it was hot to 115 degrees Fahrenheit and cloudy so no stars and extreme heat.
Day 13 Cape Cross and Swakopmund
Today we traveled to Cape Cross Seal Colony. This extra smelly experience was incredible. Once you get past the stench you can really bask in the fun of hundreds of thousands of seals. You will smell them before you see them. Some people couldn’t handle it and never got off the bus. We then proceeded to Swakopmund where we would stay for the next several days.
Day 14 and 15 Swakopmund
Swakopmund is a coastal city in Namibia was established by German colonists in 1892. In Swakopmund, we were able to stay in a hostel and relax for a few days. Here there were tons of optional excursions from quad biking, sand boarding, skydiving, go-karting, kayaking, seal and dolphin cruises, horseback riding, open-sea fishing and more. We opted to do quad biking and sand boarding. They were incredible. This town has beautiful German colonial architecture and a variety of bars and restaurants.
Day 16 Swakopmund to Sesriem
This was primarily a driving day from Swakopmund to Sesriem. We stopped at Solitaire and at the Tropic of Capricorn. Tonight we went to bed early as the next day was going to be an early riser day for sunrise at Dune 45.
Day 17 Sossusvlei
Today we rose before sunrise and headed to Dune 45 for an epic sunrise. Read more about our adventure: here. An optional excursion was to go to Sossusvlei and Deadvlei. This is well worth it. It involved a 4×4 shuttle to these landmarks. The landscapes are unreal.
Day 18 Fish River Canyon to Ai Ais Camp
Today we traveled to visit the largest canyon in Africa and second largest canyon in the world behind the Grand Canyon in the United States. It is approximately 160 kilometers long, 27 kilometers wide and 550 meters deep covering an area of 2,278 miles squared. It is the second most visited tourist attraction in Namibia and for good reason. Be prepared to have your breath taken away. We camped at Ai Ais and enjoyed the springs at the camp.
Day 19 Ai Ais to Orange River
We headed to the Orange River which is the border between Namibia and South Africa. Here you can do an optional excursion to canoe on the river. We opted to relax at the pool overlooking the river and walk around it. In the evening we did a wine tasting.
Day 20-22 Namibia to South Africa & Stellenbosch
Today we headed into South Africa and then down to Stellenbosch region. Stellenbosh is a wine region and hosts numerous wineries and historic center town. An optional but highly recommended excursion was the winery tour. We were able to go around to several different wineries and taste this region’s prize. The scenery was stunning and the day was wonderful.
Day 23 Cape town South Africa
We arrive at our final destination on the tour. Cape Town is a beautiful town in South Africa. Some of the highlights of Cape Town include Table Mountain and Robben Island. In the evening, we have our last meal together with our new friends. The tour ends today but several people extend their holiday to explore Cape Town. Some other continue on the Garden Route to Johannesburg. Some great day trips from Cape Town include great white shark diving and the Cape of Good Hope tours with stops to the penguins on Boulders Beach. There is a variety of bars and restaurants. You will love your time in Cape Town.
Overlanding through Africa is such a unique experience and a fantastic way to really experience the off the beaten path things. You will make great friends and share incredible stories. I would highly recommend considering this if you are traveling through some more remote areas. I definitely plan to do another overland tour in my lifetime- and hopefully soon!
