Dunes to Ocean

South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique

Cape Town, Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, Etosha, Bazaruto

Duration of program: 15 Nights / 16 Days

DAY 1.                                                        ARRIVE > CAPE TOWN                                                                                                                         

Upon arrival into Cape Town International Airport, your English Speaking Guide will meet you at the arrivals hall and road transfer you to your hotel.
Rest of the day at leisure.

Belmond Mount Nelson 5* (BB)                                                     Deluxe Room

DAY 2.                                                        CAPE TOWN                                                                                                                                

Breakfast at the hotel.
08:00 Meet your ESG and enjoy a Full Day City Tour of Cape Town.
The Mother City is steeped in history, culture and scenic wonders, and offers an abundance of things to see and do. Visit the Castle of Good Hope, built between 1666 and 1679 by the Dutch East India Company. The Castle was developed as a maritime replenishment station, and from 1678 it was the center of civilian, administrative and military life at the Cape until the area grew and operations expanded elsewhere. Today, the Castle is the seat of the military in the Cape, and is open for visitors to explore and learn more about its history.
Wander through the Company Gardens, a large public park and botanical garden set in the heart of Cape Town, home to a rose garden, Japanese garden, fish pond and aviary before heading to Greenmarket square.
Head to the magnificent Table Mountain (weather permitting), or in the event of inclement weather, Signal Hill. You will ascend to the top by the revolving cable car. Here, you will see wild flowers, daisies, silver tree, and marvel at a birds-eye view of the city and its beaches. On a clear day, it is even possible to see Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned.
Descend the mountain and visit the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, wander down a shady pathway into the bowels of the valley, and you might find yourself at the spring where famed 18th century writer and artist Lady Anne Barnard is known to have bathed in the nude. Climb up into the Garden’s higher reaches, and you will tread trails that could call you on towards the breath-taking Skeleton Gorge ravine, Rhodes Memorial, and Constantia Nek.
13:30 Lunch at Cellars-Hohenort included.
After lunch enjoy a tour of the famous gardens consisting of trees dating back hundreds of years. From the fresh, epicurean smells of the Herb Garden through to the cool climate of the Fern Walk, the gardens are immaculately maintained.
Next, visit the V&A Harbour, shopping and entertainment complex with a last stop at the Cape Town Diamond Museum, situated in the bustling heart of the world-famous Clock Tower precinct at the V&A Waterfront. Discover a 3 billion year old story unfold from a diamond’s formation to the final polished stone.
Explore the origins of South Africa’s famous diamond industry, and get introduced to some of the great names in diamond history, including Cecil John Rhodes, Barney Barnato and the Oppenheimer family.

Belmond Mount Nelson 5* (BB)                                                     Deluxe Room

DAY 3.                                                        CAPE TOWN                                                                                                                                                

Breakfast at the hotel.
08:00 – Meet your ESG and depart on your full day Cape Point tour
This is an awe-inspiring tour to the towering headland known as Cape Point. Magnificent beaches, breath-taking views, historic and picturesque coastal villages are to be seen along the way. The Cape Peninsula is one of the world’s most scenic areas and stretches from the City center to Cape Point.
Travel along the Atlantic Seaboard via Sea Point Bantry Bay, Clifton, and Camps Bay, stopping at Maiden Cove look-out point for a panoramic view of the Twelve Apostles, before continuing to Hout Bay, a quaint village and fishing harbour with magnificent mountain views and beach. Take a 40 minute optional cruise (excluded) from Hout Bay harbour to Duiker Island, the Seal Colony beneath the well-known Sentinel Mountain where you can view thousands of Cape Fur Seals in their natural environment. (weather permitting)
Continue on through Chapman’s Peak, one of the world’s most breath-taking coastal drives, to Cape Point.
The Good Hope Nature Reserve, has magnificent fynbos vegetation, birdlife, endemic antelope species and zebra, historic shipwrecks and lighthouses.
You will take the Flying Dutchman funicular to the top of Cape Point for excellent viewing opportunities from the two lighthouses that adorn the point. Cape Point is perceived to be the meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
Thereafter continue to historic Simon’s Town, a village with charming Victorian architecture, a naval base and a large penguin colony at the beautiful Boulders Beach where you will get to walk alongside the penguins.
14:00 Lunch will be at Harbour House Kalk Bay restaurant included.
16:00 Return to Cape Town via the Ou Kaapse Weg with magnificent views of the Constantia Valley

Belmond Mount Nelson 5* (BB)                                                     Deluxe Room

DAY 4.                                                        CAPE TOWN > WINDHOEK     

                                                                                                            
Breakfast at the hotel.
Meet your English Speaking Guide and transfer to Cape Town International Airport where you will catch your onward flight to Windhoek.
10:00 Depart Cape Town International Airport
12:05 Arrival into Windhoek International Airport
Upon arrival into Windhoek, meet your English Speaking Driver and transfer to your hotel.
14:00 meet your English Speaking Guide and depart on your Windhoek City Tour
Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, is in a basin between the Khomas Hochland, Auas and Eros Mountains. It is 1,680m above sea level, 650km north of the Orange River and 360km from the Atlantic seaboard.  The city is situated in what is almost the country’s geographical centre.  This location has obvious benefits when it comes to governing a country the size of Namibia and makes it the ideal place to begin your Namibian holiday. Windhoek is home to approximately three hundred and fifty thousand people, an extremely small capital by global standards.  This number is growing rapidly at present mostly due to a lack of employment in rural areas.
The city centre is characterised by a proliferation of German style buildings, a lasting reminder of Namibia’s early colonial history. Early buildings such as the Alte Feste (old fort), Christuskirche and Tintenpalast (the parliament buildings) are of historical interest. Other notable buildings in Windhoek include St Mary’s Cathedral and the Turnhalle Building.
Windhoek has had several names over the years, many inspired by the hot water springs found in the area, the earliest of which were the Damara /Ais //Gams (/ indicates a click in Nama spelling) which means firewater, and the Herero Otjimuise or place of steam. Several opinions are offered for the origin of the present name; the most popular of these is that sometime before 1840 Jonker Afrikaner, a Nama leader, named the area Winterhoek, after the farm in South Africa where he was born. Windhoek, or windy corner, is a corruption of this name. During the day the city centre has a European cafe culture, German cuisine dominates, but Namibian influence can be found in the quantity and quality of meat on offer, (vegetarians be warned, Namibia is carnivorous country!) Saying that, the streets are choc-a-bloc with people of all ages and cultures, all bearing a wonderful sense of pride, hope and ambition.
Return to the hotel.

The Olive Exclusive Boutique Hotel 5* (BB)                                           Premier Suite

DAY 5.                                                        WINDHOEK > SOSSUSVLEI                                                                                    

Breakfast at the hotel.
Meet your English Speaking Driver and transfer to Windhoek Eros Airport where you will catch your shared charter flight to Kulala Dessert Lodge.
Lunch at the Lodge
Enjoy afternoon game activity at the lodge.
Dinner at the lodge.

Kulala Dessert Lodge (FI)                                                                                   Luxury Tent

DAY 6.                                                        SOSSUSVLEI                                                                                                                   

Breakfast at the Lodge, after breakfast enjoy an array of the activities the lodge has on offer (included)

ACTIVITIES – INCLUDED

• Nature drives into the desert in 05 x 08-seater closed Land Cruisers and 03 x 07-seater closed Land Cruisers. Hot water bottles and ponchos are provided.
• Excursions to Sossusvlei and Sesriem (only Wilderness Safaris have the advantage of entry into the park through this exclusive gate entrance (Kulala) — no self-drive vehicles or freelance guides driving non Wilderness vehicles are permitted to use this private gate (Kulala) and will be rerouted by Park Officials to the access point as used by the general public.
• Guided walking trails; The Tsauchab River Trail (seasonal and subject to qualified walking guide being available).
• Stargazing with a laser pointer.

ACTIVITIES – OPTIONAL AT AN ADDITIONAL COST

• Electronic powered Fat Bikes (nine guests plus guide, 10 bikes in total), are a fun and easy way to explore the Kulala concession.
• Hot air ballooning, at an additional cost (weather permitting and not available 15 January to 15 February, 25 December and 01 January).

Dinner at the lodge

Kulala Dessert Lodge (FI)                                                                                   Luxury Tent

DAY 7.                                                        SOSSUSVLEI > SWAKOPMUND                                                                            

Breakfast at the lodge
Meet your lodge safari guide and transfer to Sossusvlei Airstrip for your scenic flight to Swakopmund
Sossusvlei – born out of the efforts of the Tsauchab River trying to reach the sea. Looking east & see the desert’s fingers trying to strangle the river valley. Look west – nothing but sand. After leaving Sossusvlei we route north-west towards the coast & interrupt the solitude of what used to be known as ‘the diamond picking fields’. All that remains nowadays are these 3 ‘diamond’ camps. In the early 1900‟s German explorers walked these plains picking up diamonds glinting in the sunlight! Here sits the infamous ‘Eduard Bohlen’ coaster, stranded in 1909. She carried supplies together with passengers from Germany to the Cape of Good Hope. Abandoned after running aground in thick fog, she now sits perched up on the beach.
The Kuiseb River one can clearly see the influence the river has on the desert. It seems to hold back the ever growing sand. Upstream are canyons 10’s of meters deep scoured out of the earth thousands of years ago by flood water gushing down from the mountains to the east. Heading across the Namib we pass Tsondapvlei. This vlei, or pan, is much like Sossusvlei in that the
Tsondap River (visible to the south-east) is unable to flow any further because of the enormous build-up of sand.
Namib Desert – said to be the oldest desert on earth. Like waves on an endless ocean, beautiful in its desolation. Heading northbound, low-level & coastwise we follow the undulations of the coast & pass the small ‘Shaunee’ Shipwreck. This trawler lost its engine & was wrecked in 1976. The ‘Long Wall of Sand’ ( Langewand) – this impressive mass of sand forms a barrier between land & sea. This is one of the most dramatic stretches along the Namibian coastline. A fiery hot land next to a chilling cold sea … a perfect recipe for dense, damp, dangerous fog! Sandwich Bay — this lagoon was used in the late 1800’s — early 1900’s as a whaling anchorage. This bay was never developed as Walvis Bay was a better location for a port. Today the lagoon is a protected bird sanctuary & wetland area. The industrial port of Walvis Bay — a strategic port on the west coast of Southern Africa where Portuguese explorers anchored in 1487. Before we fly past the town look out for a vast area used for the processing of salt. This is one of the largest solar evaporation salt refineries in Africa. Swakopmund – our Scenic Flight is almost at an end. Spot the red & white lighthouse nestled in amongst the palm trees on the edge of the town.
Arrival into Swakopmund Airport and meet your ESD and transfer to the hotel
Rest of the day is at leisure

Strand Hotel (BB) 4*                                                                                        Luxury Room

Swakopmund Hotel 5* (BB)                                                                          Luxury Room

DAY 8.                                                        SWAKOPMUND                                                                                                            

Breakfast at the hotel
Meet your English Speaking Guide and enjoy a Living Desert tour.
This desert tour concentrates on exploring the local dune belt between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund, taking care not to damage the gravel plains and cause unnecessary harm to the dune eco-system. The gravel plains are protected and home to the nesting Damara Terns, which are endemic to this area. Conservation, geological structure and the reason why we have a Desert will be discussed in detail en route. Plenty of time is available for frequent stops to take photos of the dunes and the surrounding environment. We will stop continuously to look for animal tracks on the dunes (known locally as reading the bushman paper), to determine which animals were active the previous night and wherever possible try to catch some of them to show you. We take great care to share our knowledge with you on each desert animal and plant, including emphasis on special adaptations and perfect design used for survival in the desert. Time and care is taken to ensure each animal is returned safely to its home. Geckos, rolling spiders, scorpions, lizards, snakes, chameleons, skinks and a variety of beetles and insects are some creatures to be found on this tour. Don’t miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the desert alive and close up!

Strand Hotel (BB) 4*                                                                                   Luxury Room

Swakopmund Hotel 5* (BB)                                                                     Luxury Room

DAY 9.                                                        SWAKOPMUND > ONGAVA GAME RESERVE                                               

Breakfast at the hotel
Meet your ESD and transfer by road (490km – 4.5Hours) to Etosha National Park, Ongava Lodge
You also have the option to take a charter flight to Etosha
 Enjoy afternoon game drive with the lodge.
Dinner is at the lodge

Ongava Lodge (FI) 5*                                                                        Luxury Tent

DAY 10.                                                        ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK                                                                                     

Breakfast at the lodge
Enjoy Morning and Afternoon game drives
Dinner at the lodge

Ongava Lodge (FI) 5*                                                                        Luxury Tent

DAY 11.                                                        ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK > JOHANNEBSURG                                           

Breakfast at the lodge
Meet your English Speaking Driver and transfer to Windhoek International Airport (450km – 4.30 Hours) where you will board your onward flight to Johannesburg
You also have the option to take a charter flight from Etosha to Windhoek Airport
17:30 Depart: Windhoek International Airport
19:15 Arrive: OR Tambo International Airport
Upon arrival into OR Tambo International Airport, meet your ITravel Representative who will assist you with customs and immigrations and then walk you over to your hotel.

Intercontinental OR Tambo (BB) 5*                                                                          Deluxe Room

DAY 12.                                                        JOAHNNESBURG > MOZAMBIQUE                                                                    

Breakfast at the hotel
After breakfast, take a short walk back into the Airport and check in for your onward flight to Mozambique.
11:30 Depart OR Tambo International
13:10 Arrive Vilanculos
Upon arrival in Vilanculos, you will be met by the lodge representative, and shown to your boat transfer which will transfer you to the lodge.
Late lunch at the lodge
Dinner at the Lodge

Anantara Bazaruto Island (FI) 5*                                                                                 Deluxe Sea View Pool Villa

DAY 13-15.                                                        BAZARUTO ISLAND                                                                                                   

Breakfast at the lodge.
Day at leisure to enjoy the lodge activity and the island.
Dinner at the Lodge

Anantara Bazaruto Island (FI) 5*                                      Deluxe Sea View Pool Villa

DAY 16.                                                        BAZARUTO ISLAND > DEPART                                                                           

Breakfast at the lodge.
After breakfast, meet your lodge driver and transfer by boat back to Vilanculos and connect for your flight back to OR Tambo International Airport
13:45 Depart Vilanculos
15:30 Arrive OR Tambo International Airport

INCLUDES

•   Accommodation as per program
•   Transport as per program
•   English Speaking Driver/Guide
•   Meals as per program
•   Activities as per program (with entrance fees)
•   Bottled water on the vehicle.

EXCLUDES

•   International Flights
•   Visa Fees, if applicable
•   Medical & Travel Insurance
•   Gratuities & Tips
•   Optional Activities
•   All expenses of personal nature
•   Early Check In & Late Check Out

NOTES

• Please check and re-confirm all services on this itinerary with your Agent prior to final booking, failure to do so may result in incorrectly scheduled services for which Itravel will not be held responsible in any way whatsoever.
• All ITRAVELAFRICA standard terms and conditions apply to this quote — available on request
• All quotes are subject to availability and change due to: airfare increases, hotel rate increases, currency exchange fluctuations and any other unforeseen circumstances, without prior notice.
• This quote is valid for 4 days only and after the 4 days, a new quotation will be issued on request
• Itinerary / journey times are close approximations and are subject to change, without prior notice.

ESD – English speaking driver | ESG – English speaking guide | ITR – Itravel Representative

RO – Room Only | BB – Breakfast only (Bed & Breakfast) | HB – Breakfast & Dinner (Half Board) | FB – Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner (Full Board) FB+ – All meals + activities | FI / AI – All meals, drinks + activities (Fully inclusive / All Inclusive)