The Cape to Namibia route offers travellers a huge variety of landscapes and experiences and is a highly enjoyable way to traverse this region. Why not take a South Africa and Namibia self-drive safari and take your time to explore Cape Town, the Cape Winelands and Stellenbosch before heading northwards through the beautiful area of Namaqualand and into Namibia. From here you can explore the Fish River Canyon. Luderitz, Namib Naukluft Park, Sossusvlei and Sesriem. If time allows you can head towards the coast and Swakopmund before continuing northwards to the magnificent Etosha National Park, finally ending your trip with a night or two in Windhoek to unwind.
Planning your next self-drive trip to Africa? Why not go for the newly established Cape Namibia Route. The route combines the Western and Northern Cape region to the south of Namibia making it an ideal point to point holiday vacation exploring two countries.
Cape Town is the ideal starting point for your holiday as the international airport provides access to all the major travel routes from America, Asia, Europe and the rest of Africa. Cape Town, also known as the 'mother city' offers a plethora of activities ranging from hiking up Table Mountain to joining a helicopter flight to Cape Point from the V&A Waterfront. Spending your first few days in Cape Town you can explore the West Coast and the Cape Winelands. Accommodation ranges from good quality Guesthouses to up market Boutique Hotels - the selection is endless.
Making your way slowly north towards Namibia you stop in Springbok, the heart of the Namaqualand. When in season (July - September) this area turns into the most spectacular flower wonderland. Various small National Parks offer visitors unique views of this arid landscape. A small detour will bring you east to the Orange River and the Augrabies Falls. The two major border posts into Namibia are at Vioolsdrift/ Noordoewer when coming from the town of Springbok and Nakop/ Ariamsvlei when having gone the detour via Upington.
The border crossing is fairly quick and after just another 2 hours drive you arrive at the second largest canyon in the world - namely the Fish River Canyon. By staying at one of the lodges in the immediate vicinity or spending the night in the nearby town of Keetmanshoop a visit to the Fish River Canyon and Hobas viewpoint makes for a nice day excursion.
Driving west one can visit the small harbor town of Luderitz with its old German colonial architecture. The long drive can be broken up by an overnight or short lunch break in the settlement of Aus which is also home to the wild Horses of the Namib Desert. At Garub there is a permanent waterhole for these desert dwellers and you are likely to see the feral horses.
The Ghost town of Kolmanskop is only 20 km east of Luderitz and well worth a visit back in time. The town was built in the 1920's during the diamond rush and was abandoned when bigger and better diamonds were found further along the coast. The area is still abandoned and the desert has encroached over the entire town, giving an eerie feeling and real meaning to the word "ghost."
Heading north to the central Namib Naukluft Park you will find the red sand dunes of Sossusvlei and the Sesriem Canyon. See the Tsauchab River disappear into these massive giants of the Namib Desert. The sediment brought down by the ephemeral river forms the pan that is known as Sossusvlei. Having experienced the many highlights this tourist route has to offer, a 4 to 5 hour drive will take you to Windhoek and an afternoon flight back to Cape Town or straight on to Europe.
You could of course drive this route in opposite direction or add on to your travel and explore northern Namibia or the rest of South Africa, the choices are endless! For your next holiday why not set a bit more time aside and enjoy the best of two countries, South Africa and Namibia.
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