Cape to Kalahari Self-drive

Cape Town * Cape Winelands * Cederberg * Augrabies Falls * Kalahari Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

This distinctive 13-night Cape to Kalahari self-drive journey contrasts the colour and culture of Cape Town with the remote, sun-baked beauty of the Kalahari Desert. It combines city, winelands, mountain scenery, spring flower country, the mighty Augrabies Falls and rewarding desert game-viewing in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

Cape to Kalahari self-drive at a Glance (13 nights)

• Cape Town – 3 nights, The Vineyard Hotel, near to Kirstenbosch BB
• Winelands – 1 night, Avondrood Guesthouse, Franschhoek BB
• Cederberg Mtns – 2 nights, Cederberg Ridge Lodge, DBB
• Nieuwoudtville – 1 night, Linda se Dop, Nieuwoudtville BB
• Near Augrabies – 1 night, Dundi Lodge, near Augrabies waterfall
• Kgalagadi Park – 2 nights, Twee Rivieren Restcamp, Trans Kalagadi National Park, Room Only
• Kgalagadi Park – 1 night, Xaus! Full Board & Activities
• Kgalagadi Park – 2 nights, Mata Mata or Nossob Restcamp, Room Only
• Return to Upington for your onward flight.

Begin in Cape Town, one of the world’s most dramatically situated cities. Cradled between Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean, it offers a compelling mix of history, natural beauty, excellent dining and a rich cultural character shaped by African, European and Asian influences.

After a few days in the city, you head  to the Cape Winelands for a night in the Franschhoek valley before continuing north to the rugged Cederberg Mountains. This is a landscape of sculpted sandstone formations, San rock art sites and superb walking trails.

From here, you travel through Namaqualand, famous for its spring wildflowers, before reaching Augrabies Falls National Park. Here the Orange River crashes through a dramatic gorge before plunging into a deep, rock-enclosed pool below.

The trip builds to a memorable finale in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, one of Southern Africa’s great wilderness areas. This is a land of red dunes, dry riverbeds, sweeping horizons and immense skies.

Wildlife is uniquely adapted to the arid conditions, with the chance to see black-maned Kalahari lions, cheetah, leopard and hyena, along with springbok, gemsbok, red hartebeest, wildebeest and eland. The dry riverbeds are especially rewarding for cheetah sightings.

Tailor This Safari

This Cape to Kalahari self-drive can be adjusted to suit your time and preferred style of accommodation. You may like to add an extra night in the Cape, or include an additional night near Upington at the end for easier flight connections.

There is also an upgraded version of this safari adventure, using better room categories for the first part of the trip and private concession camps in the Kgalagadi region. This option is considerably more expensive, as some of the private camps are on the Botswana side of the park and are priced in US dollars.

A possible upgraded Kalahari section could include:

• Near Augrabies: 2 nights, Tutwa Desert Lodge, with access to the Orange River
• Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: 2 nights, Ta Shebube Rooiputs Game Lodge, Full Board & Activities
• Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: 1 night, !Xaus Lodge, Full Board & Activities
• Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: 2 nights, Kalahari Tented Camp, Room Only

Good to Know

The Kgalagadi section shown is an example routing. Final camp choices may vary depending on availability, seasonal conditions and flight logistics.