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The Great Western Trek is an epic off-the-beaten-track private overland adventure that explores the remote corners of South Africa's Northern Cape and Western Cape provinces.
This tour visits some unique and exciting destinations that are not customarily visited but offers an enriching experience to those looking for something unique. Part of the tour is spent at private lodges. An experienced African Sky guide privately guides most of the itinerary.
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TransfersOnce 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 arrivals hall. First, we'll take care of a few formalities. 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.
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TransfersAfter an early breakfast, you'll be met and transferred to the remote !Xaus Lodge in a private concession of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. On arrival at the lodge, you'll be warmly welcomed and assisted with settling in. The purpose of visiting !Xaus is to escape the world, to place yourself in a location so remote that nothing of the outside world remains or impacts your day-to-day activities. Later in the day, you'll enjoy your first exciting activity in the Kgalagadi wilderness. The activity starts in the late afternoon, pauses at a remote location for sundowners, and continues into the evening, lasting three to four hours to maximize your experience.
Itinerary!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 the area. The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is an immense desert with grass-covered dunes. The park is home to abundant 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 and eland. 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.
Distance Itinerary TransfersAfter breakfast, you'll be met and returned to Upington. On arrival at your accommodations, you'll meet up with your African Sky guide, who'll remain with you for the remainder of the tour. The afternoon spent is at leisure.
Distance ItineraryOur 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. Witsand is home to various animals including gemsbok, red hartebeest, duiker, steenbok, and a small herd of kudu. You will enjoy a short hike in this unique wilderness in the afternoon.
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Itinerary We depart this remote 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 other 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 semi-desert 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. The otherwise drab environment is transformed into Activities, including day tours to the Richtersveld, dedicated flower tours, and a diamond and shipwreck tour.
Distance ItineraryWe depart this remote 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 other 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 semi-desert 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. The otherwise drab environment is transformed. Activities, including day tours to the Richtersveld, dedicated flower tours, and a diamond and shipwreck tour.
Distance Itinerary After an early breakfast, we'll head off in a southerly direction. As we travel, you'll experience several small settlements and villages typical of South Africa's dry western region. Our destination is Melkboomsdrift, a working wine farm located along the banks of the Olifants River. Melkboomsdrift offers great country cooking and warm hospitality and is the perfect farm-style retreat for weary travelers. Aside from wine tasting at their large cellar at Lutzville, other activities include hiking or simply strolling through the vineyards, bird watching along the river, or a visit to the ocean at Strandfontein or Doringbaai.
Distance ItineraryThe Riebeek Valley is one of the oldest settled European districts in Southern Africa after Cape Town. 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.
Distance Itinerary Today, we'll visit the Cape Winelands before ending the tour in Cape Town. Franschhoek, literally 'French Corner', owes its existence to a small group of French Huguenots who settled here in the latter half of the 17th century and began working the Drakenstein Valley. We'll visit several fine wine estates in the Stellenbosch and Franschhoek districts throughout the day. The region is renowned internationally for the exceptional quality of wines its fertile soils produce. Most noble cultivars and classic styles are represented here, from superb whites such as Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Semillon, and Chenin Blanc, to rich reds such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Pinot Noir, and Merlot. During the late afternoon, you'll be delivered to a location of your choice in Cape Town, bringing to an end a tour of some of South Africa's less-traveled regions.
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