14 Day Great Western Trek

Arrival / Upington

Flights

• Johannesburg - Upington (1 hr 30 min)

Transfers

• Upington Airport to River Place Manor (15 min)

Once you've arrived in Johannesburg and have cleared customs and immigration, you'll find a representative from African Sky waiting for you as you enter the arrival's hall. First, we'll take care of a few formalities. You'll be handed a complete tour folder containing all necessary documentation for your upcoming holiday, including e-tickets for the included flight, accommodation, transfer vouchers, a detailed itinerary, and our emergency contact details.

As an experienced guide, our representative will gladly answer any questions. Once formalities are completed, you'll be escorted to the appropriate departure terminal, where you'll board a local flight to Upington in South Africa's Northern Cape Province. There, you'll be met and transferred to your overnight accommodations. The remainder of your first day in South Africa is enjoyed at leisure on the banks of the Orange River.

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Itinerary

Sunrise to 9 am and 3:30 pm to After Sunset

!Xaus, meaning 'heart' in the Nama language, was established in May 2002 after an agreement was reached with the South African government. The agreement restored a large tract of land to those who once roamed or farmed the area. Named the !Ae!Hai Kalahari Heritage Park Agreement resulted in the transfer of ownership of 50,000 hectares of land within the boundaries of Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park to the Khomani San and Mier communities, helping them improve the quality of their lives. The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is an immense desert with grass-covered dunes. At over 3.5 million hectares, it's almost twice the size of the Kruger National Park and about the same size as the Netherlands. It is jointly managed by the South African and Botswana wildlife authorities.

A constant high-pressure cell forms a 'lid' over the interior. Consequently, the long-term annual rainfall average is just 213mm, classifying the Kgalagadi as a true desert. Unusually, desert grasses are abundant, giving the landscape the appearance of a semidesert. The park is home to an abundance of wildlife, including large, black-maned Kalahari lions, cheetahs, brown and spotted hyenas, a handful of desert-adapted leopards, and large numbers of gemsbok, springbok, and wildebeest. The park is well-known for its huge eland population, which is probably the largest herd in the world. While at !Xaus, your activities include game and after-dinner drives, guided dune walks, a visit to a bushman craft village, and star gazing, made possible by clean air and zero light pollution.

Upington / Witsand Kalahari

Distance

155 km (96 mi)

Itinerary

8 am to 4 pm

Our destination today is one of the most unusual places in South Africa - Witsand Kalahari, approximately 160km from Upington. Witsand - literally 'white sand' - refers to a five-and-a-half mile-long white dune, standing out in stark contrast to the typical red dunes of the Kalahari. Known as the 'roaring dune', a distinctive roaring may be heard as the wind blows. The sound is alternatively described as a bass, organ-like sound. Walking on the dunes produces a muted groan. Witsand is also home to various animals, including gemsbok, red hartebeest, duiker, steenbok, and kudu.

The entire reserve is open to hikers, with no restrictions on where visitors can go. Dune boards and bicycles are available for rental, and a guided nature walk can also be booked. We'll spend one night here in the southern Kalahari under starry night skies.

Augrabies / Namaqualand

Distance

294 km (182 mi)

Itinerary

8 am to 4 pm

After saying goodbye to our hosts, we'll depart this desert environment and return to civilization - at least for a moment, anyway! After rejoining the paved N14, we'll travel to Springbok, and later to one of South Africa's most remote regions. Namaqualand is an arid environment along Southern Africa's West Coast, covering an area of approximately 440,000 square kilometers. Here, you'll find the semidesert Succulent Karoo biome, a biodiversity hotspot with the largest concentration of succulent plants in the world - more than 5,000 species - more than a third of the world's total. At least 40% are endemic. The region is arid in summer, and temperatures often rise above 40°C. At the onset of the rainy season, thousands of wildflowers bloom spectacularly, and the otherwise drab environment is transformed into an extraordinary display of purple, yellow, orange, and white. We'll spend three nights exploring the Namaqualand environment.

As its name implies, the luxury mobile Namaqua Flowers Beach Camp is located on the beach, with impressive views in every direction. Every dome tent offers full-size beds with soft, comfortable duvets, hot blankets, electric lights, the convenience of a hot shower, a spacious dressing room, and a chemical flush toilet. Breakfast and dinner are included daily. The Daisy Diner is available for lunch, as are lunch baskets (pre-order required), both at an additional cost. Our primary activity here is to experience the Namaqua wilderness in all its glory. Hiking is the primary activity and is permitted throughout the reserve, offering guests the opportunity to explore this unique biome at leisure and in all its glory. If available, a guided tour to a seal colony and local caves can also be booked.

Naries Namakwa Retreat is located approximately thirty minutes from Springbok under the Spektakelberg mountain and will serve as a luxury base as you explore the barren Namaqua plains of the Northern Cape. Your stay includes breakfast and dinner daily, and lunch is available at an additional cost in the Manor House dining room. Activities include day tours to the Richtersveld, dedicated flower tours, and a diamond and shipwreck tour.

Note

Some activities are seasonal and might not be available during your visit. Activities must be pre-booked. Any activities not included in the accommodation cost come at an additional expense. Please ask for details.

Olifants River Valley / Riebeek Kasteel

Distance

251 km (156 mi)

Itinerary

8 am to 4 pm

The Riebeek Valley is one of the oldest settled European districts in Southern Africa after Cape Town. The valley was discovered in 1661 by Pieter Cruythoff, who, under the instruction of his Commander in the Cape, Jan van Riebeek, conducted an expedition of discovery into the interior. Finding this fertile valley after crossing isolated mountains, he named it Riebeek Kasteel in honor of his Commander. On arrival, Cruythoff reported seeing thirteen horses (probably quagga, a now extinct subspecies of common zebra), five rhinos, thousands of hartebeest, and lions. Nowadays, no lions exist here, of course, but you will find a valley of great scenic beauty filled with vineyards and olive groves.

After Cruythoff's discovery, farmers moved into the district, and finally, in 1900, a town was laid out around an existing church and the already-established Royal Hotel, the oldest hotel in South Africa. Today, Riebeek Kasteel is popular for its beauty and rural atmosphere. Worthwhile visits include De Oude Kerk (the Old Church), the Olive Boutique, The Gallery (representing mostly local artists), and Le Petit Chocolat. The town and district have many interesting shops and attractions, and your guide will be at your disposal as you explore at leisure.

Note

Any activities not included in the accommodation cost come at an additional expense. Please ask for details.