Phone: +353 (0)53 22415 Email: info@overlanders.ie Web: www.overlanders.ie

Southern Africa (Guided Tour)

“Southern Africa offers Real Adventure both on and off the bike”

Top Five:

Victoria Falls

Okavango Delta

Etosha National Park

Skeleton Coast

Cape Town & Table Mountain

Key Info Start Location: Kasane, Botswana

Finish Location: Cape Town, South Africa

Countries Visited: Botswana, Namibia and South Africa

Duaration (nights): 20

Distance: 4,750km approx

Riding Difficulty: Moderate

Unpaved Roads: 30% approx.

Dates: See guided tours calendar

Price PPS: See guided tours calendar This is a three country tour and takes in some of the best attractions Southern Africa has to offer including; From the spectacular Victoria Falls, to the vast Okavango Delta in the Kalahari, follow big game in the Etosha National Park, climb the huge red sand dunes of the Namib Desert, travel along the desolate Skeleton Coast, descend to the depths of Fish River Canyon and to finish it all off enjoy a glass of South African Wine atop Table Mountain overlooking Cape Town. We at Overlanders have travelled far and wide and having completed a recce tour in the Autumn of 2016 are now delighted to bring you on what can only be described as an Adventure of a Lifetime in Southern Africa. This tour is an assault on the senses to say the least. This is Africa…

Highlights Include:

Phone: +353 (0)53 22415 Email: info@overlanders.ie Web: www.overlanders.ie

Victoria Falls – day trip to Victoria Falls located on the Zambezi River. Described as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World- Victoria Falls presents a spectacular sight of awe-inspiring beauty and grandeur on the Zambezi River, forming the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. It was described by the Kololo tribe living in the area in the 1800’s as ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’ – ‘The Smoke that Thunders’. Columns of spray can be seen from miles away as, at the height of the rainy season, more than five hundred million cubic meters of water per minute plummet over the edge, over a width of nearly two kilometers, into a gorge over one hundred meters below.

Okavango Delta -Two nights at the Okavango Delta with a tour of the Delta on the rest day. Another great way to experience and appreciate the Delta is from the air–tours can be organised at hotel reception.The delta covers between 6 and 15 000 square kilometres of Kalahari Desert in northern Botswana and owes its existence to the Okavango (Kavango) River which flows from the Angolan highlands, across Namibia’s Caprivi Strip and into the harsh Kalahari Desert.Each year the Okavango River discharges approximately 11 cubic kilometres of water into the Okavango Delta. Most of this water is lost to transpiration by plants (60%) and by evaporation (36%) with only 2% percolating into the aquifer system with the remainder finally flowing into Lake Ngami.

Etosha National Park -Three nights at one of Southern Africa’s most popular wildlife parks - possibly Southern Africa’s finest Game reserve - with safari on one of the rest days. See lion, elephant, rhino and any number of antelope and zebra quenching their thirst at the parks many waterholes.

Skeleton Coast - The Skeleton Coast is normally associated with famous shipwrecks, and stories abound of sailors walking for hundreds of kilometres through this barren Namibian landscape in search of food and water. The name came from the bones that lined the beaches from whaling operations and seal hunts, but more than a few of the skeletons were human. The Bushmen called it The Land God Made in Anger and the Portuguese knew it as The Gates of Hell. Ever since European navigators first discovered it, ships have been wrecked on its off-shore rocks, or run aground in the blinding fog. While small boats could land, the strong surf made it impossible to launch, hence the stories of sailors walking through the murderous terrain.

Sossusvlei Dunes -Sossusvlei is possibly Namibia’s most spectacular and best-known attraction. Characterized by the large red dunes that surround it, Sossusvlei is a large, white, salt and clay pan and is a great destination all year round. The dunes in this area are some of the highest in the world, reaching almost 400 meters, and provide photographic enthusiasts with wonderful images in the beautiful morning and evening light.

Fish River Canyon –the largest canyon in Africa, as well as the second most visited tourist attraction in Namibia. It features a gigantic ravine, in total about 160 km long, up to 27 km wide and in places almost 550 meters deep.

Table Mountain -Rest day in Cape Town at the end of the trip with optional tour of Robben Island or cable car to the top of Table Mountain overlooking Cape Town.

Included in this trip:

Phone: +353 (0)53 22415 Email: info@overlanders.ie Web: www.overlanders.ie

(Please note we endeavour to provide as many inclusions as possible in an effort to make the trip easier and more transparent for the customer.)

All bed & breakfast in high quality hotels and game lodges

Evening meals on all riding days.

Motorcycle rental option of BMW F800GSA or R1200GS including insurance

Support Vehicle

2 days Safari

Road/Border tolls

Park Fees

Not Included: All Flights

Lunch and evening meals on non-riding days

Security deposit for rental bike

Fuel

Personal Travel Insurance

Anything not listed above.

Optional: Travel as a passenger in the support vehicle. Suitable for a partner or person(s) not wishing to travel by

motorcycle.

Route Itinerary

Phone: +353 (0)53 22415 Email: info@overlanders.ie Web: www.overlanders.ie

Day 1 – First on the agenda is a day trip (without the bikes) to the magnificent Victoria Falls where the entire Zambezi River leaps wildly into a 2km black abyss. Listen to the falls hiss and roar as they rumble and crash like thunder. At twice the height of NiagaraFalls the spray created rises some 400m and can be seen up to 50km away. There are plenty of local activities available before we return to Kassane on the banks of the Chobe River for our trip departure the following morning.

Day 2 – Departing Kasane (and the famous four corners – where Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe ‘almost’ meet) we head south into the Chobe National Park before turning west into the Makgadikgadi National Park close to the salt flatsand Central Kalahari then onwards to the Oasis at Maun – a strategic location for exploring the Okavango Delta

Day 3 –Today is a rest day and an opportunity to explore the Delta by organised safari. An Okavango sunset is not to be missed and offers excellent photo opportunities.

Day 4 –Leaving Maun behind us we skirt around its western edge and head north for the Mohembo border crossing into Namibia toone of the highlights of the western Caprivi, the Popa Falls. They are actually rapids rather than waterfalls. Here the Okavango River breaks through a 4 metre high rock reef in its riverbed, which stretches over more than a kilometre in width. The reef consists of dark quartzite. The rapids are particularly impressive in the dry season at lower water levels.The camp at the eastern riverbank, managed by the local San community, is exceptionally scenic. In the evenings hippos like to visit both camps.

Day 5 –Today we head west to the Etosha National Park, one of the highlights of travelling Namibia. Our base for the next three nights is located just four minutes from the Von Lindequist Gate near the historical Namutoni Fort. Etosha, which was declared a game reserve by the German colonial administration back in 1907, covers an area of more than 22.000 sqkms. In its centre lies a vast saltpan surrounded by grasslands and thorn savannah, Mopane bush land in the west and dry forest in the north-east. About two million years ago, this area was an enormous lake, fed by the Kunene River. However, the lake slowly dried up when the river changed its course. The pan is just about always dry. However, in the southern parts there are numerous water-holes scattered throughout this area and supporting the life for countless game. Almost all African game species are represented in Etosha, including the "Big Five": elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard. Based on an animal count done by aircraft in 2005, there are about 250 lions in the park, 300 rhinos, 3000 giraffes, 12000 zebras, 4000 wildebeests, 5500 Oryx antelopes and more than 2500 elephants. The dainty springbok are especially numerous; at least 20000 of them roam the reserve. Often they can be seen in enormous herds of several hundred animals.

Day 6 – Organised Safari in the Etosha National Park

Day 7–Rest day (or you may wish to partake in another safari)

Phone: +353 (0)53 22415 Email: info@overlanders.ie Web: www.overlanders.ie

Day 8–Leaving the Etosha behind we head south and west in search of the Skeleton Coast and to our stopover for the night in Khorixas.

Day 9–After a brief visit to the Petrified Forest (280 million year old tree trunks) we finally arrive at the Atlantic Ocean and follow the Salt Road along the Skeleton coast south to the German Colonial town of Swakopmund with a visit to the Seal Colony at Cape Cross on route.

Day 10– Heading back inland we traverse vast open landscapes on gravel roads on route to the famous Namib Desert, Dune 7 and sand dunes of Sossusvlei. Situated in the largest conservation area in Africa, Sossusvlei is possibly Namibia’s most spectacular and best-known attraction. Characterized by the large red dunes that surround it, Sossusvlei is a large, white, salt and clay pan and is a great destination all year round. The dunes in this area are some of the highest in the world, reaching almost 400 meters, and provide photographic enthusiasts with wonderful images in the beautiful morning and evening light.

Sossusvlei literally translates to “dead-end marsh”, as it is the place where the dunes come together preventing the Tsauchab River to flow any further, some 60km east of the Atlantic Ocean. However, due to the dry conditions in the Namib Desert the River seldom flows this far and the pan remains bone-dry most years. During an exceptional rainy season the Tsauchab fills the pan, drawing visitors from all over the world to witness this spectacular site. Photographic enthusiasts are spoilt with a glassy “lake” holding reflections of the surrounding dunes. When the pan fills it can hold water for as long as a year.

Day 11 – Day off to explore the local attractions such as Sesriem Canyon, Dune 45, Hiddenvlei, Big Daddy and Deadvlei.

Day 12 – Heading further south we visit Duwisib Castle on route to Aus. After the German surrender to South African troops in World War I, Aus became an internment camp for German military officers. As many as 1,550 prisoners were held at Aus, and the town’s population was further boosted by around 600 South African guards. One of the major attractions of the area around Aus is the Namib Feral Horses. They are the world's only wild desert-dwelling horses

Day 13 -Our destination today is theFish River Canyon, the largest canyon in Africa. Located on the Orange River it is the second most visited tourist attraction in Namibia. It features a gigantic ravine, in total about 160 km long, up to 27 km wide and in places almost 550 meters deep. Day 14–Leaving the National Park behind we cross the border into South Africa and head for Springbok. Town of Diamonds, Copper and spring flowers. Springbok is a town of historical importance in the Northern Cape. It is peaceful and a colourful town enfolded in a vast expanse of space and silence. Springbok lies in a deep low plain between rugged mountains, about 600 km north of Cape Town. It is the commercial and cultural centre of Namaqualand, located directly on the N7 which connects the Cape and the Namibian capital Windhoek. Springbok is a prosperous town with 15,000 inhabitants. The main income is generated from tourism, mining activities, commerce and farming.

Phone: +353 (0)53 22415 Email: info@overlanders.ie Web: www.overlanders.ie

Day 15 – Leaving the Northern Cape behind us head ever south into Western Cape with the cooler air of the Atlantic a welcome relief from the heat of Namibia. Day 16 – Todays sees us travel through the beautiful Cederberg Mountains and overthe Bains Kloof Pass on route to South Africa’s famous wine region, Stellen-bosch. Day 17 – It’s the end of the world today, well the end of the African continent at least as we arrive in Cape Agulhas where two great oceans meet – the Indian and Atlantic. Historically, the cape has been known to sailors as particularly hazardous - notorious for winter storms and huge rogue waves that can reach a spectacular height of 30 meters. Sailors also experienced navigational issues in the area due to true and magnetic north aligning on compass needles and hence why the Portuguese named is Cabo Das Agulhas (Cape of Needles) Day 18 – It’s the final leg as we approach Cape Town via the Cape of Good Hope also known as Cape Point. Named the ‘Cape of Storms’ by Bartolomeu Dias in 1488; the ‘Point’ was treated with respect by sailors for centuries. By day, it was a navigational landmark and by night, and in fog, it was a menace beset by violent storms and dangerous rocks that over the centuries littered shipwrecks around the coastline. Cape Town. After nearly three weeks on the road and with man and machine white with dust from our time in Namibia there is no better place to end the tour than in Cape Town, in the shadows of Table Mountain with Devils’s Peak and Lion’s Head on either side and surrounded by famous places such as Robben Island, False Bay and the Cape Peninsula to the south. Our Hotel in Cape Town on the coast road is ideally located between the V&A Waterfront and Sea Point and offers excellent views over the surrounding area. In 2014 Cape Town was named the best place in the world to visit by both the American New York Times and the British Daily Telegraph. It is one of the most multi-cultural cities in the world and worth spending a few extra days in at the end of your trip.

FAQ: 1. What riding gear: We suggest bringing full summer type/ventilated protective motorcycle riding gear with

removal inner/outer waterproof layer. Average temp SHOULD be in the mid to high thirties and even low forties. However in the mountains and along the Atlantic coast line temperature can drop to mid or low teens. We would also suggest hydration backpacks and a roll bag for strapping onto the bike. Travel Light!

2. Vaccinations: Contact your GP for further info. 3. Travel Insurance: ESSENTIAL - Travel Insurance including medical repatriation (make sure and check that

you’re covered for a motorbike trip – a lot of policies have fine print stating you’re not covered over a certain cc).

4. Navigation: If you so wish to have your own form of navigation there are some very good phone app’s such as Co-Pilot which we have tried and tested. No data fees.

5. Currency: We suggest ordering some from your bank in advance however money can easily be exchanged/withdrawn locally.

Phone: +353 (0)53 22415 Email: info@overlanders.ie Web: www.overlanders.ie

Checklist of the more important things: Vaccinations

Travel Insurance (with large cc motorbike cover)

Any medication plus pain killers, headache tablets, anti-histamine, motillium, Imodium, rehydration salts, sun cream etc.

Mosquito repellent – with a good deet content

Passport valid for over six months

Drivers Licence

We will be providing a more detailed itinerary on arrival to include hotel info and GPS co-ordinates. Please note that this is an outline route and maybe subject to change

EXPLORE DREAM DISCOVER

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did ” Mark Twain