Cape Town - Vic Falls: Intrepid trip 1 review
*This review is my personal thoughts, feelings and recap. I booked 2 seperate trips throughout africa. Cape town to Vic Falls, and then Vic Falls to gorillas, however there are 4 smaller trips that make up these 2, and I have reviewed them separately as they were vastly different. :)
** Please see additional notes at the bottom of the page
Tour Name: Cape town to Vic Falls
Countries visited: South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe
Duration: 22 days
Cost: from $3614
Rating/5 : 5
Overall thoughts:
I LOVED this section of the trip. There was the perfect balance of wildlife, adventure, scenery and relaxation, with very little long drive days your days are instead filled with constant excitement. The campsites are all magical, with majority of them having pools to cool off in too, it really was the perfect start to the trip and I would definitely call it glamping instead of camping! I couldn’t recommend this section enough, worth all the money and the people you meet along the way are incredible. If you’re travelling through namibia yourself, this is definitley a good route to take if you want to see the best bits. I would rename this trip ‘Best of Namibia’, because we spent majority of our time here, however botswana was increidble and i’d love to see more!
Safe travels and happy reading!
Day 1 - Cape Town.
Your tour starts at 6pm, so really this day doesn’t count. Use the day to befriend anyone who might be on your tour, chat to people at the hostel intrepid book you into and rest up before a big day the following day. Your welcome meeting is where you’ll meet your new travel buddies and your intrepid crew members: Chef, Driver and Trip leader/manager. Bring all your documents for this one, including your insurance papers, and come with a list of questions ready if you have any about the trip.
Stay: We all stayed in Never @ Home Kloof Street, which is on one of the main town strips with a bunch of bars, restaurants, cafe and shops so you can get last minute bits and bobs.
Day 2 - Namaqualand, South Africa.
This is mostly a drive day, heading north from cape town towards the wineries. This campsite is the perfect place to begin your immersion into camp life with a pool overlooking the vineyards and wine tasting too, whilst you will learn the washing, cooking and tent set up processes that you’ll follow for the rest of your trip here as well. As eager as you might be to jump straight into the pool or wine tasting, use this first official day to get to know your crew, and fellow travellers really well, you’re stuck with them for the next 20 days after all!
Although South Africa is the starting point and country of this trip, you don’t get to see much of it (literally 2 nights) so if South Africa is on your to do list I recommend coming well in advance of your tour starting so you can see some sights! See my blog post Cape Town for must do’s, and how I spent my additional week in SA.
Stay: Highlanders campsite and lodge
Day 3 - Orange River, Namibia
Your first border crossing today is a little stressful but nothing to worry about… unless you get a 50 degree day like we did..then good luck to you. Border crossings are slow and soul-draining but they are worth. it for what’s on the other side. Tonights campsite is located on the beautiful orange river with kayaking an optional activity, although those that opted in came back with rather tired arms…so it’s not as relaxing it might seem!
Stay: Fenix Unite Provenance camp
Day 4 - Fish River Canyon
After kayaking down the orange river (or relaxing by it as I did) you’ll head through the desert today. Here’s where we all had to swallow our pride (and a shit load of dust)…
The Intrepid trucks aren’t air conditioned…. so you will be using the natural air con that is the wind. Most of the time this is fine, however when you’re travelling 80kph through sandy dusty gravel… it’s not fun. You’ll need your balaclava, scarf and sunnies on this day, as otherwise the thick layer of dust you’ll see caked onto your bags will also be what’s in your eyes and mouth. Other than this, the drive throught the desert plains are stunning and once again worth it, as tonight you’ll watch the african sun set over the fish river canyon, which some say is even bigger than the grand canyon.
Stay: Hobas Campsite
Day 5 - Sesrium
You’ll get up early today and head even further into the desert, your views stunning and the truck conversations deep and meaningful nearly a week into the trip. This section of Namibia was one of my favourites the entire trip. Tonight you’ll get your first glimpse of wildlife, with your campsite unfenced and the likes of wildabeasts, hyenas and Orix’s roaming free, if you’re luckilu spotting zebras and giraffes on the drive in as well.
Stay: Sesrium campsite
Day 6 - Dune 45 and Deadvlei
Today is jam packed and by the end of it, you’ll have no words but woah. Up before the sun but for good. reason, today. you’ll get to the famous red sand hills of Dune 45 as the first glimpses of sunlight hit the sand, your choice to climb the top or watch from below a hard one to make. I chose to stay and saw a magical side of the dunes, whilst those that climbed got to see the sun rising over the dunes in the distance. Deadvlei and its story is magical and here you’ll get in touch with your inner photographer, today I think we took over 1000 photos. Tonights bush camp is located on a property, the sunset tour of his land worth it and very informative, whilst setting up with a drink wathing the watering hole for any visitors the perfect end to the day.
Stay: Bushmans camp
Day 7 , 8 and 9- Swakamond
A week in everyone was itching for a hotel room and to stay put for more than one night (mostly for washing). Your. accomodation in Swakamond isn’t anything special, nor is the town itself. If I were travelling here alone I might bypass it, however the sandwhich harbour tour to see the flamingos, seals and desert meeting the sea is quite spectacular. You’ll be here for 2 full days and if I were you I would go straight for the beach and fancy resort.
Stay: Swakamund Rest Camp.
Day 10 - Spitzkoppe
Spitzkoppe is essentially a formation of rocks, but a magnificant formation of rocks it is. Your campsite tonight is your first proper bush camp, with no showers and only a drop toilet available you’ll be surrounded by nothing-ness (other than lots of rocks) as the sun sets down the african plains. The stars tonight are incredible, and the stillness of the air is mesmerising.
Stay: Spitzkoppe bush camp
Day 11 - Etosha National Park
Todays drive day will have you on the edge of your seat as you look out for your first glimpses of elephants, giraffes, lions. The pool in your first etosha stop is a glorious way to cool off and the water hole here is amazing. The night lights on the hole are a photographers dream and we were lucky enough to spot our first rhino and lions here. Tomorrow is your first safari day, so you probably won’t sleep tonight.
Stay: Okaykuejo Rest Camp, etosha national park
Day 12 - Etosha National Park Day 2
Your first safari day starts at the crack of dawn, but boy is it exciting. I hope you have a good seat on todays truck rotation as you’ll spend the whole day on the truck on an all day game drive. We spent 11 hours driving through Etosha, spotting 3 of the big 5 and an array of other wildlife, including birds i’d never heard of, a giraffe drinking from the watering hole and a hyena taking a bath. You’ll want all the cameras charged today, and I wuite possibly. couldn’t think of a better place for my first safari. You’ll be on an all day high today, and will set up camp somewhere different inside the park.
Stay: Namutoni Camp, etosha national park.
Day 13, 14 - Roys rest camp
It’s a long drive from Etosha to Roy’s place, but it will give you time to sort through your pics and your friends, and theirs too. The word of the day here is unique, Roys place has a bunch of cute quirks and a bathtub pool! Your gateway here is to the San people, who don’t live the traditonal way anymore but still show their pride of their culture to tourists and school children in their old village. You’ll be greeted by an elder, who. communicate by clicking their tongues and be guide don a journey through the bush with song, dance. and insights into the SAN life. A note here is that the San people only. where clothes to cover their penis and vaginas, however the children don’t. So put your phones away for this one and don’t worry about taking any :)
Stay: Roys rest camp
Day 15 - Bagani, okavango delta
Your drive day today is long, with many people opting for an upgrade to relax in. Your campsite here is along the okavango delta, with a pool to chilax in, bar to watch the football at and sunset cruise if you want it. This is your gateway to Botswana and the okavango! Your one night here goes fast but you’ll be back in a few days.
Stay: Rainbow River Lodge
Day 16 - Botswana, Okavango Bush Camp
You’ll cross your second border into Botswana today, but don’t worry you’ll be back tomorrow. Today you’ll leave your truck and driver behind on the mainland and head on speedboat to one of the hundreds of islands on the okavango. Watch out for hippos as you cruise along, they literally chased our boat, your makeshift campsite tonight isn’t a campsite at all and there’s not even a drop toilet… so bring toilet paper and your big girl knickers!
Stay: on an island in the Okavango delta
Day 17 - Botswana mainland
You’ll head back to the mainland today after a ride in the traditional mokoros, a beautiful cruise along the water looking out for birds, elephants on the banks and of course the hippos.. thankfully not getting too close to them this time around. You have a chilled afternoon back on the mainland tonight, your hotels balcony over the river serving the perfect place for a games night or yarn.
Stay: Swamp Stop. (don’t let the name put you off)
Day 18 - Back to Namibia
You’ll cross back over the border today, confusing immigration officialls and yourself entirely and you’ll be feet up at the bar once again as tomorrows border crossing BACK into botswana (yes, again) is further away this time. The rainbow river lodge is also a great place for a run, the village kids love you. and it’s super safe!
Stay: Rainbow river lodge (again)
Day 19, 20 - Chobe national park.
You’ll cross yet another namibia-botswana border, this time to explore Chobe national park. You’ll be at this beautoful luxury resort for 2 nights with 2 x game drive options available. Pumbas and crocs will share your campsite with you and the sunset cruise here is a must do with tonnes of hippos, elephants, crocs and buffallo spotted in and out of the water. You’ll spend your lsat official night with your crew here, as once you’re in Victoria falls they say goodbye to you (unless you are continuing on of course)
Stay: Chobe safari lodge – 2 nights
Day 21, 22
You’ve arrived across your final border for this leg, into Zimbabwe. Vic falls will home you until you continue your travels. If you’re travelling on you might leave on day 22 day, but if you’re staying onto the next part of the trip this is a rest day. Go explore the waterfall early to beat the crows..and heat. It was a joy to watch the sun rise over the falls, and beating the crowds was a great choice too. Your accomodation here is average, but there’s lots to see and do in and around it, to see what i got up to go and read: Vic Falls
Stay: Victoria Falls Rest Camp