Henties Bay to Kasane Expedition

DAY 01:

The group departs from Henties Bay. We hope that the water levels will allow us to take the route through the Messum Crater. This is one of Damaraland’s most remote natural attractions, which comprises of two concentric circles of hills created by a collapsed volcano in the Goboboseb Mountains. The crater measures more than 20 km in diameter, creating a vast lost world that you will have to yourself.

You will see many Welwitschia plants, on this drive today. The Welwitchia Mirabilis is endemic to the Namib Desert. It is commonly referred to just as Welwitschia but is named after the Austrian naturalist, Friedrich Welwitsch, who discovered this mirabilis (Latin for miracle) in Namibia in 1859. But the name Tree Tumboa is also used, meaning "stump" because of its short trunk. It is called Kharos or Khurub in Nama, Tweeblaarkanniedood in Afrikaans, Nyanka in Damara, and Onyanga in Herero. Informal sources commonly refer to the plant as a "living fossil". These plants are unique; there are no other living plants related to its family. They existed in Namibia 120 million years ago. The ages of some of the plants have been determined by radiocarbon dating – some of the plants are 1 000 years and older.

You will find yourself in an exceptionally beautiful moon landscape. As we drive a blip will appear on the horizon … the Brandberg … and as we proceed it will creep closer and closer. In the early afternoon we descend into the Ugab River, famous for its desert elephants. The Ugab is one of Kaokoland/Damaraland's desert rivers with beautiful nature. Late afternoon we arrive at the White Lady Lodge's beautiful campsites.

O/N Camping: Shared Campsite at White Lady Lodge (possible upgrade to rooms)
Meals included: Dinner prepared by the LTJ team (drinks excluded)

DAY 02:

From White Lady lodge we drive on a beautiful 2-track 4X4 path through the heart of Damaraland in the direction of Twyfelfontein.

If time and road conditions permit, we will visit Twyfelfontein site as well as Burnt Mountain and the Organ Pipes either today or tomorrow, your tour leaders will confirm.

The Twyfelfontein World Heritage site is small, less than 1 km², but includes some remarkable galleries of rock engravings (pteroglyphs). They were probably made over a period of 2,000 years by local San hunter-gatherers and represent an important aspect of San ritual and belief systems.

The Burnt Mountain and Organ Pipes are situated 70 km to the west of Khorixas near Twyfelfontein. The beautiful Organ Pipes are a fascinating geological formation. Strikingly rich rusty colours are portrayed in long columns resembling those of a church organ, some rising up to 5 meters. Just a short walk from the Organ Pipes is a small inselberg named the Burnt Mountain, proclaimed a national monument on 15 September 1956. The reason for its name is best evident in the early mornings and late evenings when the rays of the sun seem to set the mountain ablaze. Rich red colours mixed with shades of black and purple are quite strikingly caused by Manganese coated clay molecules. During the day, however, the inselberg is just a normal black colour as if the morning fire has burnt it to ashes.

O/N Camping: Shared Campsite at Mowani Mountain Camp
Meals included: Dinner prepared by the LTJ team (drinks excluded)

DAY 03:

Today is at leisure, but we will visit some of the sites in the area.

O/N Camping: Shared Campsite at Mowani Mountain Camp
Meals included: Dinner prepared by the LTJ team (drinks excluded)

DAY 04:

This morning you pack up camp and depart for Waterberg Plateau Park area.

Today we head East and drive along beautiful Namibian back roads in the direction of Otjiwarongo. We will refuel and stock up on supplies and food and then continue in the direction of Waterberg where we spend the night at the beautiful campsite on Hamakari Guest Farm.

O/N Camping: Shared Campsite at Hamakari Guest Farm (possible upgrade to rooms)
Meals included: Dinner, Bed and breakfast at Lodge (drinks excluded)

DAY 05:

From the Waterberg we continue through a lesser known part of Namibia - Otjinene to Tsumkwe. We will spend two nights at Tsumkwe to allow us to explore the Nxai Nxai Pans, as well as to visit the famous Dorsland Trekker tree. Overnight will be camping at Tsumkwe Lodge.

O/N Camping: Shared Campsite at Tsumkwe Country Lodge (possible upgrade to rooms)
Meals included: Dinner, Bed and breakfast at Lodge (drinks excluded)

DAY 06:

Today we will explore the Nxai Nxai pans, as well as to visit the famous Dorsland Trekker tree.

Nyae Nyae Conservancy, meaning ‘place without mountains, but rocky’ was registered in 1998 with a view to conserve and protect this fragile area. It covers a protected area of 1 million hectares of unspoiled wilderness in the far East part of Namibia that borders Botswana. Until recently this area was seldom seen, seldom visited but is gradually experiencing more development and human movement because of its untapped resources. Nyae Nyae borders on the Kaudom National Park in the North with Sikereti being the entrance at the bottom or southern part of the park. Combined with Botswana it stretches for millions more hectares of unspoiled, unfenced wilderness that remain untouched, only a handful of San hunter-gatherers still inhabit this area as they had for thousands of years.

In proximity to the Nyae Nyae Pans and Khaudom National Park, Tsumkwe Country Lodge is the only and most ideal starting point to explore the Zambezi (Caprivi) Region and Botswana via the Dobe border post. This part of the country is still revered as “off the beaten track” leading into a wilderness paradise. Magnificent Baobab trees adorn the flat landscape at which the Dorsland Trekkers took respite on their way northwards. Over in into Botswana the Aha Hills and Tsodilo Hills lure you to explore its rich history and San rock art. Excavations around these hills over the last 30 years has revealed pottery, iron, glass beads, shell beads, carved bone and stone tools dating back over 90,000 years. The Okavango Delta, a unique pulsing wetland or alluvial fan covering thousands of square kilometers of Kalahari Desert in northern Botswana remains a world wonder along this route.

This afternoon we will visit the Dorsland Trekker Tree.

Make sure you all fill up on fuel at the small fuel station in Tsumkwe, for those with smaller fuel tanks, make sure you take an extra jerry can or two with petrol/diesel as we will only get our next fuel station in Shakawe. We will be driving a good +/- 300km to Tsodilo Hills and another 100km to Shakawe. Total estimated at 400km, but you will be using much more fuel than normal if driving in these extreme 2-lane wilderness roads, so you need to prepare for a 600km range.

O/N Camping: Shared Campsite at Tsumkwe Country Lodge (possible upgrade to rooms)
Meals included: Dinner, Bed and breakfast at Lodge (drinks excluded)

DAY 07:

Depart Tsumkwe driving in an eastern direction entering Botswana at the Dobe border post. According to indications, this is by far the border post between Botswana and Namibia that is the least used. Don't be surprised if only a customs tent will greet you.

Make sure you have all your personal and vehicle documentation ready for the border crossing and you Pulas in cash for the cross-border fees.

The route from Dobe Border Post to our wild camping spot is very special seeing that it is not used at all.

You might feel that you are one of the first overlanders driving this 2-track spoor. You will get the feeling that you are off the grid, and that you are really in WILD AFRICA now. We will take some backroads towards Tsodilo Hills. The road is not serviced and will be overgrown with trees, branches and even fallen trees due to the elephants roaming. You might want to have your pruning shears ready for this portion of the trip.

The overnight stop will be “wild camping” enroute, depending on the road conditions and how far we can travel before it gets too late. You must be fully self-sufficient for the 1-night wild camping, as we have no campsite/no facilities, everyone must set up his own camp and arrange his own shower and bush toilet if needed.

O/N Camping: Wild camping in the bush with no facilities.
Meals included: Dinner prepared by the LTJ team (drinks excluded)

DAY 08:

After a steaming cup of coffee, we pack up and drive towards Shakawe where we will overnight for 2 nights at a lodge campsite. In the North-Western corner of Botswana, situated on the banks of the Okavango River, in the panhandle of the Delta, you will find the lush green lawns and tall, shady indigenous trees, a paradise called Drotsky’s Cabins. Thirty years ago, Jan and Eileen Drotsky put their roots down here, and today still own and manage the cabins, one of the first lodges in Botswana. The area is a birding and fishing paradise.

O/N Camping: Shared Campsite at Drotsky's Cabins (possible upgrade to rooms)
Meals included: Dinner, Bed and breakfast at Lodge (drinks excluded)

DAY 09:

Today is at leisure for you to enjoy the lodge and the surroundings.

Those who have brought fishing gear can enjoy some fishing, you can hire a boat (for your own account) and cruise up the channel.

O/N Camping: Shared Campsite at Drotsky's Cabins (possible upgrade to rooms)
Meals included: Dinner, Bed and breakfast at Lodge (drinks excluded)

DAY 10:

Those who need to refuel we will travel via Shakawe again, so refuelling is possible. Also to stock up on food and drinks as well as water for washing while wild camping.

Today we will start our journey to discover a part of Botswana and the Okavango Swamps that is totally undiscovered and off-the-beaten track. We drive via Shakawe and then over the Kavango River on the beautiful Mohembo bridge towards Serongo. This will be something very special. We sleep near Gundingwa on the northern side of the Kavango for the night. Tonight, will be another “wild camping” experience, we have no campsite/no facilities, everyone must set up his own camp and arrange his own shower and bush toilet if needed. Gundingwa is also the last little settlement, and from now on you will see no more people. We obtained special permission to drive the 2-track spoor in an easterly direction.

O/N Camping: Wild camping in the bush, close to Bakara pan with no facilities.
Meals included: Dinner prepared by the LTJ team (drinks excluded)

DAY 11:

We pack up and drive east. The next two days promises to be a real expedition.

We will travel on the government gazetted Gudikwa – Khwai road. This route is subject to the water levels in the Delta area.

O/N Camping: Wild camping in the bush with no facilities.
Meals included: Dinner prepared by the LTJ team (drinks excluded)

DAY 12:

Today is another day of our expedition to get to Linyanti. After a steaming cup of coffee, we pack up and drive north up the cutline through Chobe national park to Linyanti.

Linyanti Campsites offer an unparalleled opportunity to experience the breathtaking beauty of Chobe National Park. Renowned as the most stunning part of the park, Linyanti captivates visitors with its picturesque landscapes and abundant wildlife.

Our campsites are designed with your comfort in mind, featuring ablution blocks with showers, providing modern conveniences amid nature’s majesty.

O/N Camping: Shared Campsite at Linyanti SKL Camp
Meals included: Dinner prepared by the LTJ team (drinks excluded)

DAY 13:

Today is at leisure. Enjoy the area and game viewing in your own vehicle.

O/N Camping: Shared Campsite at Linyanti SKL Camp
Meals included: Dinner prepared by the LTJ team (drinks excluded)

DAY 14:

Today we proceed to Kasane, this is an estimated 5-hour drive and set up camp for the night at the Lodge and to be in time for our afternoon sunset cruise.

Set on the banks of the elephant-rich Chobe River and neighbouring the world-famous Chobe National Park, Chobe Safari Lodge occupies the best riverfront position in Kasane. Enjoy a sundowner cruise for the last evening with your tour group. The spacious double-decker boats will treat you to some of Africa's best and most up-close game viewing.

O/N Camping: Shared Campsite at Chobe Safari Lodge (possible upgrade to rooms)
Meals included: Dinner at Lodge (drinks excluded)

DAY 15:

Sadly our expedition has come to an end.

Clients are under own arrangements for their homebound journeys.

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