Shop@afrika

KALAHARI-NAMAQUA 10 Days - 9 Nights HIGHLIGHTS: Pilanesberg – Kimberley – Augrabies National Park – Kalahari Gemsbok National Park – Fish River Canyon - Namaqualand

Day 1: Pilanesberg

Arrive at the Johannesburg International Airport, pick up your rental car and drive to the Pilanesberg National Park. Located inside the eroded crater of a long-extinct volcano in the North-West province, Pilanesberg is a sanctuary for various kinds of game and is the successful conclusion to one of the largest game-stocking operations in South Africa. (BB Pilanesberg National Park) approx. 190 km

Day 2: Pilanesberg

You have a full day to enjoy game viewing in the park. Situated in a Malaria Free Area in South Africa, the Pilanesbreg National Park is home to the “Big Five” (White and Black Rhino, Lion, Leopard, Buffalo & Elephant) as well as Cheetah, Brown Hyena, Hippo, Buffalo, Gemsbok and other Antelopes, Giraffe, Sable, and about 300 Bird Species are all present in the Park.

(BB Pilanesberg National Park).

Day 3: Kimberley

Depart for Kimberley. The city was founded around a big hole about 800m deep when diamond diggers and about 30000 workers excavated the diamond pipe during the late 19th century. The city boasts other firsts like the first city in the Southern Hemisphere to install electric street lighting and the first city in South Africa to switch to an automatic exchange, and it housed the country's first Stock Exchange. (BB Kimberley) approx. 520 km

Day 4: Augrabies Falls National Park

Continue to Augrabies Falls National Park. Few sights are as awesome or a sound as deafening as water thundering down the 150 deep & 56 metre wide Augrabies Waterfall when the Orange River is in a full flood. The Khoi (Bushman) people called it “Aukoerebis”, or place of Great Noise, as this powerful flow of water is unleashed from rocky surroundings characterized by the 18 km abyss of the Orange River Gorge. (BB Augrabies National Park) approx 410 km

Day 5: Kgalagadi Transfrontier National Park (Kalahari Gemsbok National Park)

Your trip continues to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier National Park (also known as Kalahari Gemsbok National Park). Red sand dunes, sparse vegetation and the dry riverbeds of the Nossob and Auob show antelope and predator species off at a premium and provide excellent photographic opportunities. Because of the sparse vegetation and concentration of animals in the dry riverbeds of the Auob and Nossob Rivers, the park offers premium mammal viewing. It is especially renowned for predator & raptor watching and for the seasonal movement of large herbivores such as blue wildebeest, springbok, eland and red hartebeest.

(BB Kalahari Gemsbok National Park) approx. 380 km

Day 6: Kgalagadi Transfrontier National Park (Kalahari Gemsbok National Park)

Ground Squirrel and Suricate are two more of the park’s more prominent species.

Honey Badger, Pangolin (Scaly Anteater) and Bat-eared Fox are some of the park specials to search for. But it is the predators that are the park’s biggest attraction. Excellent chances of seeing cheetah, leopard, brown and spotted hyena and the definitive black-maned lion exist.

(BB Kalahari Gemsbok National Park).

Day 7: Fish River Canyon

Today your journey takes you to the Fish River Canyon. The Fish River Canyon is situated in the far south of Namibia, almost on the border with South Africa. The Fish River Canyon is huge, approximately 160 km long, 500 m deep in places and 27 km across at its widest. It is the largest canyon system in Africa and the second largest in the world after the Grand Canyon in Colorado. In early times the Fish River Canyon was a haven for the local inhabitants of Namibia. The area is extremely arid with virtually no rainfall and the river provided food and water for humans and animals alike. (BB Fish River Canyon) approx. 520 km

Day 8: Namaqualand

Depart for Springbok. Springbok lies in a deep low plain between rugged mountains, about 600 km north of Cape Town. It is the commercial and cultural center of Namaqualand. Copper was discovered on the farm Melkboschkuil in 1850 and a mine was established. The mine became the first commercial mine in South Africa, but was worked out by 1888. In 1863 the town was mapped out and built around the copper mining industry.

Namaqualand is probably the worlds most awe inspiring floral kingdom in the world. It is believed that “You have not seen any flowers until you have experienced the splendour of Namaqualand in full flower”. Each year in spring, Namaqualand hosts the most spectacular show on earth. Situated in what is probably the most arid part of South Africa, the stark contrast between winter and spring can nowhere be more dramatic than in this part of the world. A multi-coloured wildflower carpet grows almost overnight, enticing thousands of people to visit the area and share in the bounty of Mother Nature (BB Sprinbok) approx. 350 km

Day 9: Namaqualand

Leave Springbok and travel south to Clanwiliam. Clanwilliam is situated at the foot of the mighty Cederberg mountain range ±230 km from Cape Town. It has lots to offer the tourists, namely the beauty of the mountains, rock art, bird-watching, historical buildings and the scenic beauty of the flowers in “Flower Season”, as well as water sports. Clanwilliam is situated in a part of the Western Cape which is the only place in the world where Rooibos is planted and cultivated. (BB Clanwilliam). Approx 345 km

Day 10: Drive to Cape Town

Depart for Cape Town. Approx. 230 km