Australians, when they come to Africa, like to make the most of their time and get to see as much as they can. It’s a long way from down under to get to Africa! By far, the most astounding safari we put together this year, was for an Australian couple. Let’s call them Andrew and Helen.
Cape Town, South Africa © Waterfront Village
They started their six-week odyssey by flying into Cape Town, South Africa. What a perfectly sensible place to spend a few days unwinding from a long flight and experiencing some of the spectacular scenery the fairest Cape has to offer – from the Cape Peninsular and Cape Point to the world-famous winelands of Stellenbosch and Franschoek. We put them in their own one-bedroom apartment on Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront so that between tours, they could wander The Waterfront at leisure.
Erongo Mountains, Namibia © Erongo Wilderness Lodge
They next flew up to Namibia’s capital, Windhoek (there are several daily flights a day connecting the two capitals) and after a night’s stay in the city, we gave them a car, a pre-planned itinerary for a self-drive and off they set, stopping first in an idyllic spot where desert, mountain and bushveld systems combine, framed by the Erongo Mountains. It’s a perfect spot to walk with a guide through granite masses and the Erongo bush.
Aba Huab valley, Namibia © Camp Kipwe
Their next stop was in the magical area near Twyfelfontein at a luxury resort built into the rock system with sweeping views of the Aba Huab valley in north-western Namibia. It’s the place of petrified forests, desert-adapted elephants and extraordinary rock formations, such as Burnt Mountain and the Organ Pipes. Their foray into Namibia ended on a wildlife high note in the Ongava Private Game Reserve; an area Liquid Giraffe knows well for wall-to-wall game sightings.
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe © Batonka Guest Lodge
Then, after a brief overnight in Windhoek, they flew direct to Victoria Falls to experience the famous ‘Smoke That Thunders’ or Mosi-oa-Tunya, as it is known locally. Rather than stay the whole time in Victoria Falls town, they opted to spend some time on the quieter stretches upriver on the Zambezi in Zambia.
Okavango Delta, Botswana © Ker & Downey
Botswana was next and is an easy hop by road from Victoria Falls. Andrew and Helen had the most memorable time exploring Chobe National Park, the watery byways of the Okavango Delta and the star-studded skies of the Kalahari. The game, guided walks and entrancing bushmen were all experiences they will treasure.
Zanzibar © Elewana Collection
After leaving Botswana from Maun, they made good use of a short stopover in Johannesburg to visit the Apartheid Museum, before flying up to Nairobi in Kenya to meet up with friends for a few days. From there, they few over to Zanzibar to unwind on the pristine white beaches and warm Indian Ocean of the continent’s east coast before flying back to Johannesburg for their flight back home.
If this unique itinerary of incredibly diverse and exciting safari experiences has inspired you to plan your own, contact us and we will design one that speaks to your interests, time and budget expectations.
Feature image courtesy of Ker & Downey at Kanana Camp.
