Cape Town to Johannesburg via Vic Falls (Accommodated)

Arrive in Cape Town and meet the rest of the group at the Greenfire Lodge Cape Town to start exploring one of South Africa’s most iconic cities. Hike up world-famous Table Mountain to take in panoramic views of the city, ocean and mountains below. Head south to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope, where you’ll be surrounded by a mesmerising mosaic of fynbos. Take full advantage of what the Mother City has to offer by enjoying fresh fish by the harbour in Hout Bay, browsing the boutiques in the V&A Waterfront, and sampling reds and whites in the winelands.

The second border crossing of your trip takes you into Botswana, where you will make your way to the Okavango Delta. Your journey into this massive freshwater wetland begins at the panhandle, where you glide through the papyrus-lined channels on motorboat to reach an exclusive private island. Two nights in this untouched wilderness ensures that there’s plenty of time to explore the area on foot and by mokoro (a traditional dugout canoe) – and to relax enjoy the remoteness and serenity of the area.

Leave the hustle and bustle of Cape Town behind and let the serenity of the West Coast wash over you. See the dramatic changes in scenery as you travel north through the Swartland region towards the Namaqualand, from the expansive coastal plains to dramatic rock formations of the Cederberg. If you’re visiting in early spring, you’ll see this usually barren landscape come to life as millions of flowers come into full bloom.

More dramatic landscapes and beautiful desert vistas await as you cross the border from South Africa to Namibia and travel to the Felix Unite Lodge on the banks of the Orange River. Enjoy a relaxed afternoon next to the river in preparation for your canoe excursion down South Africa’s longest river the following day.

Next it’s on to the Fish River Canyon, an iconic Namibian landmark second only in size to the mighty Grand Canyon. Spend time exploring the lip of the canyon and admiring the landscape before continuing on into the true Namib and settling into Greenfire Desert Lodge for the night.

Situated on a private nature reserve that’s home to numerous species of desert-adapted fauna and flora, the Greenfire Desert Lodge is the perfect base from which to explore this unexpectedly vibrant landscape. A morning guided walk allows you to gain more insight into the surrounding desert and an afternoon drive shows the true beauty of the desert at sunset. The vehicle will take you back to the lodge once the sun has gone down – hopefully coming across some nocturnal animal activity on the way.

An early morning wakeup and transfer gets you to Sossusvlei while the air is still crisp and cool. Scale one of the colossal dunes before climbing into an open 4x4 vehicle that will take you into the heart of Sossusvlei and Deadvlei to explore more on foot. After a day of discovery in the dunes, you travel deeper into this barren landscape to spend a night in the comfortable Agama River Lodge.

Crossing the Kuiseb Canyon and Naukluft Park takes you towards the coastal Swakopmund, where you will spend three nights at Amanpuri Lodge. Originally established as a trading and fishing port in 1892, the town has a rich history and culture, with plenty of restaurants where you can sample local fare and markets to explore. Get your adrenaline pumping by taking part in one of the many adventure activities on offer, including quad biking (ATVs), sky diving and dune boarding.

Further north still is Skeleton Coast, a stunning stretch of desolate coastline scattered with shipwrecks. You will visit Cape Cross, where Portuguese explorer Diogo Cão landed in 1486, before venturing back inland through the desert to Brandberg Mountain. The highest mountain in Namibia, Brandberg is also one of the richest rock painting sites in Africa. You’ll have the opportunity to view these ancient works of art before spending the night at the foot of the mountain in the White Lady Lodge, and hopefully see some of the rare desert elephants that call this area home.

Your arrival in Etosha National Park marks the midway point of your journey from Cape Town to Johannesburg. Game drives give you the opportunity to see the unique landscape of Etosha as well as some of the many animals that have adapted to this arid environment. Nights spent in the park mean that you will be able to observe the nocturnal behaviour of some of Etosha’s more elusive residents, including leopard and hyena.

You’ll leave Etosha after a short morning game drive. The scenic route along the Caprivi from Etosha to Ngepi Lodge on the banks of the Okavango River takes you through many villages and towns, giving you a glimpse into the daily lives of the people who call this stunningly beautiful stretch of land home.

A boat transfer takes you across the panhandle and back to the vehicle for the journey through the Kalahari to the Drifters Maun Tented Lodge. Located on the banks of the seasonal Boleti River, this tented lodge offers comfortable accommodation, a swimming pool and cosy bar, perfect for winding down after a day of travelling.

Spend the morning at the lodge enjoying the tranquillity of the area or lounging at the swimming pool before indulging in a delicious brunch. After an optional village walk, you continue your journey eastward into the spectacular Makgadikgadi. The stark salt pans are surprisingly vibrant during the rainy season (November to April), attracting a vast array of birdlife and migrating animals, and the large predators that prey on them. After the solitude of the pans, you’ll continue on to the Elephant Sands bush lodge to enjoy delicious dinner and an evening of relaxation.

Next, venture up to the mighty Chobe River, known for its huge elephant herds. The Chobe attracts many animals during the dry season (May to October) and you may be lucky enough to see them up close during a river cruise within the Chobe National Park. Off the boat and back on land, you’ll cross the border into Zimbabwe and make your way to the Greenfire Lodge Victoria Falls.

Waking up in Greenfire Lodge, you’re perfectly positioned to spend the day exploring the 'Adventure Capital' of Africa. Prepare to get a little bit wet as you admire the majesty of Mosi o Tunya, or the ‘Smoke That Thunders’, and take part in adventure activities like boat trips on the Zambezi, white-water rafting and bungee jumping. Explore the town and nearby village before settling down in the lodge with the distant roar of the falls as your soundtrack for the evening.

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast before leaving Victoria Falls for the bush as you make your way to Hwange National Park, one of Zimbabwe’s best-known national parks. An afternoon drive in an open game vehicle gives you a glimpse of a piece of this 15 000 square kilometre wildlife reserve and the opportunity to see some of its many buffalo and elephant. Spend the evening at the unfenced Ivory Lodge looking out for smaller nocturnal predators like serval, civets and bat-eared foxes as you unwind from the day’s journey.

Back on the road, you’ll head south towards Zimbabwe’s second largest city, Bulawayo, before continuing on to the Matobo National Park. Spend the afternoon viewing animals and tracking rhino on foot before retiring to Big Cave Lodge, which is nestled among the stacks of weathered balancing granite boulders that give the park its name.

Continuing south, you’ll cross the border back into Botswana. A short afternoon walk in Stevensford Game Reserve is the perfect activity to end the day off before you settle into your cosy twin-bedded unit on the reserve.

The final leg of your journey takes you through the bushveld of the Limpopo province with its rich wildlife and geology to the city scape of Johannesburg, South Africa’s City of Gold. Your tour draws to a close in the late afternoon at the Greenfire Lodge Johannesburg, where you can relax in the serenity of the Northcliff neighbourhood.