Monday, January 4, 2010

Southern Africa 2009 - The Tour

The best way to cover this route is to hire your own 4WD and take your time but if, like me, you don't drive, have limited time and hate camping, this trip or something similar is a good compromise. It was in an overland truck, as they all are (except for the most expensive) but accommodated rather than the usual camping.
I was away for 6 weeks in total with the first spent in Cape Town and the last two with a friend in Nairobi. The tour part of my travels was the Transkalahari, a three week overlander from Cape Town to Johannesburg through north west South Africa, Namibia, the Zambian side of Victoria Falls, Chobe in Botswana and a very quick sprint back to Johannesburg. The itinerary now being offered has been changed to finish in Livingstone and allow extra time elsewhere.
The operator is a South African company called Kiboko Adventures which I would recommend unreservedly. They target an age range of 45 and up, although there were a couple of people on my tour who were younger. Most of us were in our 50s and this particular group were from Australia, USA, Canada and Spain with a Zimbabwean guide/driver.
The accommodation was advertised as 2 to 3 star but most exceeded this. For someone who normally backpacks and stays in dorms or now that I am older, in cheap hotels, it was quite different to what I am used to. Here are a few of my favourites.
Die Dorphuis in Calvinia, South Africa


Transkalahari Tented Camp in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park on the border of South Africa and Botswana

 
Weltervrede Guest Farm outside Solitaire in Namibia


Okakuejo Rest Camp, Etosha National Park, Namibia - one of the best
Finally, my favourite of them all - Ngepi Camp on the Okavango River in Namibia's Caprivi strip.



 

Southern Africa 2009 - South Africa


Cape Town - Table Mountain at dawn

Cape Town - Bo Kaap District

Cape Town - Table Mountain



Cape Town - Waterfront


Augrabies Falls

Augrabies Falls

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

For much, much more please visit the Slideshow or South Africa Album.

Southern Africa 2009 - Namibia

Fish River Canyon
Dawn near Sossusvlei
Sossusvlei
Sossusvlei
Dead Vlei
Herero Woman
Twyfelfontein
Himba Girl

Etosha
Etosha
Etosha
Etosha
Etosha
Dawn, Ngepi Camp
Ngepi Camp
Ngepi Camp
Sunset, Ngepi Camp

For lots, lots more sand, rock, people and elephants visit the Slideshow or Namibia Album.

Southern Africa 2009 - Zambia


Victoria Falls

Lion Walk

Lion Walk

For more information on the lion walk, conservation projects and volunteering please visit the African Lion & Environmental Research Trust (ALERT) website.

Sunset, Zambezi River

For lots more visit the Slideshow or Zambia Album.