Cape Town - West Coast- Kalahari - With Guide Tour

Package Overview

This seasonal private tour from Cape Town visits the spectacular wild flowers of Namaqualand, which flower from mid August to mid September each year (although exact timing depends upon the spring rains). Also whale watching off the West Coast; scenery & night skies of remote Richtersveld & Karoo; and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in the Kalahari. Less 10% for 4+ pax.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Table Mountain • Cape Point • West Coast National Park • Paternoster
• Whale Watching • Cederberg Mountains • Vanrhynsdorp Succulent Nursery • Namaqualand Wild Flowers
• Richtersveld • Kgalagadi Safari

Day wise Itinerary

• Day 1 : Arrival

  You will be met at Cape Town Airport and transferred to your hotel in this beautiful city, within sight of Table Mountain.
  
  Check in and relax in your magnificent surroundings.
• Day 2 : Cape Town

  Today enjoy a full day private tour of the highlights of Cape Town.
  
  We start with a short City Tour - driving past Greenmarket Square, the Houses of Parliament and District Six. Weather permitting, we continue to Table Mountain which we ascend by cable car to enjoy one of the world’s most famous views.
  
  We continue to beautiful Kirstenbosch Gardens, nestled on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain and regarded as one the most beautiful botanic gardens in the world. Bequeathed to the nation by Cecil John Rhodes, the garden was established 1913. There is an avenue of camphor trees, a beautiful protea and fynbos garden, useful plants garden, sculpture garden and a dell garden as well as a world class collection of indigenous South African flora. Don’t miss the magnificent steel and timber Centenary Tree Canopy Walkway (fondly known as the 'Boomslang' - or tree snake) that winds around the mountainside. Wonderful summer sunset concerts are held in the gardens on Sunday evenings from December to March.
• Day 3 : Seal Island

  Today enjoy a full day private tour to the beautiful Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve peninsula.
  
  We start with a short boat trip from Hout Bay to view Cape Fur seals at Seal Island and continue via Chapman’s Peak Drive to spectacular Cape Point where you may see baboons, ostrich and perhaps even dolphins or whales in season (July/November).
  
  On the return journey we pass through naval Simons Town and visit the resident penguin colony at Boulders Beach, before returning to your hotel in the late afternoon.
• Day 4 : Cape Town

  Today you will be introduced to the stunning scenery of the West Coast, as we travel for 2-hours from Cape Town to Paternoster.
  
  Along the way we visit Langebaan Lagoon - a Ramsar Wetland of international importance. In this area, depending upon the rainfall, from mid August to mid September you may see spectacular fields of wild flowers in Postberg Nature Reserve in West Coast National Park that surrounds the lagoon. Whale watching is possible from August to November and you can see antelope in the park all year round (pay entrance fee locally).
  
  As thousands of seabirds roost here, we stop at the Geelbek Hide for some bird watching before continuing to Cape Columbine Nature Reserve and Paternoster - a peaceful fishing village that has sustained a local community for many decades.
• Day 5 : Cederberg Mountains

  This morning we leave Paternoster and travel 3-hours throught the Piekernierskloof Pass to the scenic Cederberg Mountains.
  
  At Clanwilliam we visit the Ramskop Wild Flower Garden, which boasts over 350 different species of indigenous wild flowers and wonderful views of the Cederberg Mountains. The best viewing is between 11am and 3pm, when the sun is at its warmest.
  
  Check into your hotel in this region of dramatically beautiful rocky mountain scenery, renowned for its Bushmen paintings.
• Day 6 : Namaqualand

  This morning we leave Clanwilliam and travel 4-hour northwards into the heart of Namaqualand, passing through several small towns (picnic lunch included).
  
  Vanrhynsdorp is home to the world’s largest collection of succulent plants; Bitterfontein produces and exports green granite and Garies produces kaolin, which is an essential element in the production of paper and fine porcelain.
  
  As we approach Springbok, you can expect to see miles and miles of brightly coloured wildflowers that bloom here each year during August and September – carpeting what is normally an arid semi-desert landscape. This spectacular natural phenomenon occurs for only a few weeks, with the quality and timing of the floral displays depending upon the mid-year rainfall. Check into your hotel in the heart of the wildflower region
• Day 7 : Day at Leisure

  During wildflower season we visit Goegap Nature Reserve, as well as more remote regions such as Kamieskroon depending upon where the wildflowers are at their best, with picnic lunch included. Enjoy photographing these colourful blooms, which are a truly remarkable sight.
  
  At other times of the year there is much to photograph in these quaint rural towns in this far-flung part of South Africa, where the Bushmen once roamed. Learn more about their culture or adapt your itinerary to explore areas such as Riemvasmaak Canyon, the mountainous Richtersveld or the beautiful coastline at Port Nolloth instead.
  
  In the evening marvel at the glorious night skies overhead, offering some of the best star gazing opportunities in the world.
  
  Note: The wildflower areas only open at 11am.
• Day 8 : Richtersveld Transfrontier Park.

  This morning we leave Namaqualand and travel for 5-hours through the Northern Cape, via Port Nolloth, to the Richtersveld - a mountainous desert landscape through which the mighty Orange River winds, marking the border between South Africa and Namibia.
  
  Check into your rustic self-catering rest camp situated amongst the rugged kloofs and high mountains of the Richtersveld Transfrontier Park. Your guide has an allowance to cover breakfast & dinner for each day you are in the park.
• Day 9 : Richtersveld

  At leisure to enjoy the rugged wilderness environment of the Richtersveld, where the scenery varies from flat sandy plains to craggy mountains of volcanic rock and the lushness of the Orange River.
  
  Water is extremely scarce in this harsh Martian landscape, where only the hardiest of lifeforms survive, but notwithstanding this the Richtersveld is regarded as the only arid biodiversity hotspot on earth, with an astonishing variety of plant, bird and animal life.
• Day 10 : Kalahari

  Today we leave the Richtersveld and cross the Orange River into Namibia, travelling through the vast and arid Kalahari, one of the world’s last unspoilt ecosystems and one of Africa’s greatest wilderness areas.
  
  In this land of far horizons, marvel at the gigantic nests of the sociable weaverbirds set high in camelthorn trees and stop to examine some of the amazing succulent desert plants which have adapted to survive in such harsh conditions, before checking into your guest house.
• Day 11 : Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park,

  We leave Namibia today and cross the border into South Africa as we enter the malaria-free Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, a visionary 3.7-million hectare joint venture between South African and Botswana.
  
  The malaria-free Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is a visionary 3.7-million hectare joint venture between South African and Botswana. There are several self-catering rest camps, with accommodation in simple but comfortable air-conditioned chalets and tents. Your guide has an allowance to purchase provisions for breakfast, lunch & dinner each day.
• Day 12 : Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

  Today is devoted to game viewing in the vast Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park with your own driver/guide, travelling in his closed air-conditioned vehicle. You can discuss preferred routings and travelling times with him each day, but we recommend setting off early each morning as the camp gates open (05h30 to 06h00 depending on the season), to take advantage of the best game viewing conditions of the day.
  
  Wildlife is plentiful in the red sand dunes and semi-desert of this vast game sanctuary, which is twice the size of the Kruger National Park. Of the many species of mammals and reptiles that have successfully adapted to the harsh desert conditions, the most famous is the black-maned Kalahari lion. Kgalagadi is also renowned for the magnificent oryx, cheetah and leopards - which are more easily seen in the sparse vegetation. You will see some of Africa’s most unusual animals in the Kalahari and many of the “great cats” – lion, cheetah and leopard – but the vegetation does not support elephants, rhino or buffalo.
  
  We should see large herds of antelope including springbok, eland and blue wildebeest. We also hope to see the brown and spotted hyena, black-backed jackals, curious meerkats, yellow mongoose, porcupines, honey badgers, bat-eared foxes, Cape foxes, African wild cats and many other interesting animals. Bird life is also prolific, with over 260 species, including 20 different raptors.
  
  You can spend the full day on the road, or return to your rest camp for breakfast and some relaxation, before setting out again at the time of your choice (usually the late afternoon) for another game drive.
  
  Note: Vehicles are not allowed to drive off-road in any national park in South Africa.
• Day 13 : Departure

  Enjoy some final game viewing in Kgalagadi before your 4-hour transfer to Upington Airport for your flight home.

Inclusions

• Hotel
• Sightseeing

Price & Rates

Package Start From

• Cape Town, South Africa, Africa

Terms & Conditions

This Tour is Offered by

• Ancient Olympia Ilias, 270 65, OlympiaGreece
• XXXXXX9527 View Contact
• XXXXXXXXXX@gmail.com View Mail ID

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