SOUTH AFRICA: KALAHARI SAFARI + AUGRABIES + CAPE TOWN in South Africa

Facilities available

Wheel in shower

Visual aids

Wheelchair access

Wheelchair ramps

Hearing facilities

Grab rails

Facilities available for hire

Hoists available

Facilities unavailable

Electric bed

Description

12 NIGHTS

(From £3795.00 per person sharing, flights quoted separately)

This disabled safari will take you to the red sands of the Kalahari in South Africa. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is know for its desert adapted wildlife - including meerkats, springbok, oryx & magnificent black maned lions. Also visit the Augrabies Falls & the seasonal Namaqualand wildflowers (Aug & Sept). Then fly to beautiful Cape Town. Wheelchair accessible hotels & transfers, game drives & specified sightseeing included.

Highlights

• Disabled Safari, Kalahari
• Augrabies Falls
• Table Mountain
• Wheelchair accessible
• Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
• Namaqualand Wildflowers
• Cape Point & Penguins
• Kalahari, South Africa
• Cape Town
• Stellenbosch Winelands

Day 1

You will be met at Upington Airport and transferred to your guest farm near this small town that acts as the gateway to the vast Kalahari.

Check in and relax under warm blue South African skies.

Note: Heavy power chairs are not accepted on this flight, but we can arrange an overland transfer for your power chair from Johannesburg for an extra fee.

Day 2

This morning we travel 4-hours through the vast and arid Kalahari, one of the world’s last unspoilt ecosystems and one of Africa’s greatest wilderness areas. In this land of far horizons, marvel at the gigantic nests of the sociable weaver birds set high in camel thorn trees and stop to examine some of the amazing succulent desert plants which have adapted to survive in such harsh conditions.

The malaria-free Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is a visionary 3.7-million hectare joint venture between South African and Botswana. There are several self-catering rest camps, with accommodation in simple but comfortable air-conditioned chalets and tents. Your guide has an allowance to purchase provisions for breakfast, lunch & dinner each day.

Day 3

Today is devoted to game viewing in the vast Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park with your own driver/guide, travelling in his closed air-conditioned vehicle. You can discuss preferred routings and travelling times with him each day, but we recommend setting off early each morning as the camp gates open (05h30 to 06h00 depending on the season), to take advantage of the best game viewing conditions of the day.

Wildlife is plentiful in the red sand dunes and semi-desert of this vast game sanctuary, which is twice the size of the Kruger National Park. Of the many species of mammals and reptiles that have successfully adapted to the harsh desert conditions, the most famous is the black-maned Kalahari lion. Kgalagadi is also renowned for the magnificent oryx and its cheetah and leopards - which are more easily seen in the sparse vegetation. You will see some of Africa’s most unusual animals in the Kalahari and many of the “great cats” – lion, cheetah and leopard – but the vegetation does not support elephants, rhino or buffalo.

We hope to see some big cats before returning to camp at around 09h00 for breakfast. The rest of the morning can be spent relaxing at camp, reading or bird watching, before setting out again at the time of your choice (usually the late afternoon) for another game drive.

We should see large herds of antelope including springbok, eland and blue wildebeest. We also hope to see the brown and spotted hyena, black-backed jackals, curious meerkats, yellow mongoose, porcupines, honey badgers, bat-eared foxes, Cape foxes, African wild cats and many other interesting animals. Bird life is also prolific with over 260 species, including 20 different raptors.

Note: Vehicles are not allowed to drive off-road in any national park in South Africa. If you are tall and remain in your chair for your game drives, please be aware there will be some restrictions on your viewing due to the height of the windows in the accessible vehicle. There are no restrictions if you transfer into one of the regular seats.

Day 4

A full day on the road today as we leave Kgalagadi and travel 5-hours through Bushmanland to Augrabies.

Along the way we enjoy an included picnic lunch and stop at a Bushman craft stall to give you the opportunity of supporting the local community by buying one of their hand-made products. Please be aware that Bushmen will expect a small tip for photographs taken of them.

On arrival we check in to our hotel in the small town of Augrabies in the North West Cape and relax in our warm surroundings.

Day 5

This morning we visit Augrabies Falls - "The Place of Great Noise”.

Here the mighty Orange River dramatically crashes over the rim of a granite canyon during the summer flood, to plunge 270 ft into the gorge below, forming South Africa’s largest waterfall and the sixth largest in the world.

Afterwards enjoy a short drive in the park, where you may see giraffe, eland, and other smaller antelope. We then return to our hotel, stopping at a Wine Farm along the way.

Day 6

This morning we leave Augrabies Falls and drive 3.5-hours to the small town of Springbok in the heart of Namaqualand.

As we approach Springbok at certain times of the year you can see miles and miles of brightly coloured wildflowers that bloom here during August and September – carpeting what is normally an arid semi-desert landscape. This spectacular natural phenomenon occurs for only a few weeks, with the quality and timing of the floral displays depending upon the mid-year rainfall. Check into your hotel in the heart of the wildflower region.

Day 7

During wildflower season we visit Goegap Nature Reserve, as well as regions such as Kamieskroon or Nababeep depending upon where the wildflowers are at their best, with picnic lunch included.

On one day we can take a full day excursion to Namaqua National Park and surrounding area. Enjoy photographing these colourful blooms, which are a truly remarkable sight.

At other times of the year there is much to photograph in these quaint rural towns in this far-flung part of South Africa, where the Bushmen once roamed. You can learn more about their culture by adapting your itinerary to explore areas such as Riemvasmaak Canyon, the mountainous Richtersveld or the beautiful coastline at Port Nolloth instead.

Each evening marvel at the glorious night skies overhead, offering some of the best star gazing opportunities in the world.

Note: The wildflower areas only open at 11am.

Day 8

Today we leave Namaqualand and travel 4.5-hour to Upington.

Check in to your hotel and relax under warm blue South African skies.

Day 9

Transfer to Upington Airport for your onward flight.

Note: Heavy power chairs are not accepted on this flight, but we can arrange an overland transfer for your power chair from Johannesburg for an extra fee.

You will be met at Cape Town Airport and transferred to your hotel in this beautiful city, within sight of Table Mountain.

Check in and relax in your magnificent surroundings.

Day 10

Today enjoy a full day private tour of the beautiful city of Cape Town.

Weather permitting, we start by ascending Table Mountain by cable car to see one of the world's most famous views (alternatively we will drive up Signal Hill). We then drive around the city to see the key sights including the City Hall, Greenmarket Square, Houses of Parliament, Bo Kaap, Castle of Good Hope, District Six and Sea Point.

After lunch (own account) we spend the afternoon exploring the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, with its many shops and restaurants.

Day 11

Today your guide will collect you for a full day tour to the beautiful Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve.

Enjoy wonderful ocean views as we drive around the Cape Peninsula to naval Simonstown, where we visit the resident penguin colony at Boulders Beach.

We continue to Cape Point where we hope to see baboons, ostrich and perhaps even dolphins or whales in season (July to November). We take an accessible funicular ride up to the Old Lighthouse, before returning via spectacular Chapman’s Peak Drive to Hout Bay and Cape Town.

Day 12

Enjoy a full day tour through the renowned Stellenbosch Winelands, travelling through the scenic Franschhoek Valley where a handful of French Huguenot refugees started South Africa’s now famous wine industry.

We visit the historic university town of Stellenbosch and several different wine estates – sampling as we go.

After lunch at a good restaurant or wine estate (own account), enjoy some final wine tasting before we return to Cape Town.

Day 13

Transfer to Cape Town Airport for your flight home.

Information last updated: 06/12/2023 15:05:38