Meerkat self-drive safari
This self-drive trip begins in South Africa with a 5-night safari in the stunning Kgalagadi Transfronteir Park before it crosses into Namibia for 3 nights to explore the Fish River Canyon; the trip then re-enters South Africa, and gently meanders down to stay in the vibrant and beautiful city of Cape Town for its final 3 nights.
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Depart London Heathrow on your scheduled overnight South African Airways flight to Cape Town. |
Arriving early, you connect with an internal flight to Upington and there collect your hire car. Stop in town for lunch, then drive north for about 3 hours to the Kgalagadi Transfronteir Park - where your base for the next 2 nights is… |
| Twee Rivieren Rest Camp (accommodation only) |
| Beside the banks of the dry Nossob riverbed, this is the Kgalagadi's main restcamp – with its own shop, restaurant and pool. Explore the transfrontier park from here in your own 2WD vehicle; it's also possible to arrange guided walks and night drives with park rangers from here. |
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The Kgalagadi covers roughly 38,000km² between Namibia and Botswana of Kalahari dunes veined by a few fossil river valleys. This environment is particularly well suited for cheetah – and perhaps Africa's best park for meerkats. Drive north-west for about 2 hours through the park before spending 2 nights at… |
| Bitterpan Wilderness Camp (accommodation only) |
| This small, remote camp feels has four tents overlooking a pan, ideal for close-range photo opportunities of visiting game. |
Dawn is a magical time in the African bush as many animals are at their most active, especially the predators, so leave camp early for your best chances of good game sightings at one of the water holes. Black-maned lion, cheetah, leopard and hyena are all common here, so look out for them as you drive through the park for 1 night at... |
| Kalahari Tented Camp (accommodation only) |
| This tented camp is located on top of the red Kalahari dunes overlooking a small waterhole and even has a swimming pool. |
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Leave the park early as you have a long drive to Keetmanshoop (roughly 6-7 hours). The scenery changes as you drive west on good gravel roads across the Namibian border. You pass Karakul sheep farms, quiver trees and drive through the red, undulating dunes of the Kalahari. Stay 1 night at… |
| Central Lodge (bed & breakfast) |
| If you have time, drive out to see the sunset from the unique, weird rock formations of the Giant's Playground, or the Quiver Tree Forest – a bizarre forest of tree-aloes set amongst enormous boulders. |
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From Keetmanshoop, drive south-west over an almost lunar landscape. In about 2 hours you are beside the amazing Fish River Canyon. Up to 550m deep and 27km wide, this was formed about 500 million years ago and is (arguably) the second largest canyon in the world. Stay for 2 nights a short drive from the edge at… |
| Canyon Lodge (bed & breakfast) |
| Whilst here you can explore on your own, or with a professional guide. Wander along the canyon's edge, hike through the desert, ride across it on horseback or even take a scenic flight over the canyon. |
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Leave the Fish River to cross back into South Africa. After about 2 hours' drive, you to reach the outpost town of Springbok: the main town of this region of Namaqualand. It's an area famed for its amazing displays of wild flowers, which bloom here around August-September. Stay for 1 night at… |
| Mountain View Guest House (bed & breakfast) |
| This short stop enables you to visit Namaqualand's famous flower reserves –Goegap and Skilpad – and perhaps the Nababeep Museum, which tells of the area's copper mining history. |
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After a leisurely breakfast, leave Springbok to drive south-west past for about 4½ hours to the Atlantic coast. Here the smallish town of Langebaan stands beside a nature reserve on the edge of an immense lagoon. This offers some superb seafood, and spectacularly good windsurfing too! Stay 2 nights at… |
| Farmhouse Hotel (bed & breakfast) |
| Explore the reserve for the day with a slow drive. See flocks of sea-birds in their thousands, and colonies of squawking gannets, gulls and cormorants on the nearby Schaapen Island. |
It's an hour's leisurely drive to the cosmopolitan city of Cape Town - where there are endless things to do! Explore the city, take a boat out to Robben Island, ride the revolving cable-car to the top of Table Mountain, shop 'til you drop at the V&A Waterfront, meander through Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens or simply relax around the hotel pool. Stay 3 nights at – |
| Vineyard Hotel and Spa (bed & breakfast) |
| This charming hotel is in a quiet and leafy area in the heart of the cape peninsula. It's a short drive from the city centre, the vineyards of Constantia, the stylish beachfront at Camp's Bay – and only 45-minutes from the wine region around Stellenbosch. In short, it's an ideal base! |
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After a full leisurely day in Cape Town, drive to the airport in the late afternoon where you will leave your hire car in good time to check in for your scheduled overnight flight back to the UK with South African Airways. |
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After a fantastic trip you arrive back at London Heathrow early in the morning with ample time to continue your journey home. |
| From |
To |
Cost |
| 1-Jan-2008 |
29-Feb-2008 |
£1,747 |
| 1-Mar-2008 |
20-Mar-2008 |
£1,824 |
| 21-Mar-2008 |
30-Apr-2008 |
£1,747 |
| 1-May-2008 |
18-Jul-2008 |
£1,743 |
| 19-Jul-2008 |
18-Aug-2008 |
£1,958 |
| 19-Aug-2008 |
30-Sep-2008 |
£1,907 |
| 1-Oct-2008 |
30-Nov-2008 |
£1,870 |
Notes:
• The prices shown are per person sharing; call us for single person supplements. |
This itinerary includes:• Economy flights as above, to and from London, plus UK and South African airport departure taxes. • All meals and activities as specified. • A Group J car for the duration of your trip, to be picked up at Upington Airport and dropped off at Cape Town Airport. This includes unlimited mileage. • Our unique full 100% LDW insurance cover. Please note that this is only valid for drivers who are aged over 25 and under 75 years and who are resident in the EEC. (Alternative insurance arrangements are possible for others, although this alters the price of the itinerary slightly.) • A comprehensive pack of maps and information covering the places that you'll be visiting. This itinerary excludes:• Petrol for your hire car. • One way drop-off fee between Upington and Cape Town which must be paid for locally. • Tips and gratuities (which are optional) • All meals and activities which are not specified.
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