Arrive in Cape Town and journey south along the dramatic coastal roads of the Cape Peninsula to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve (Table Mountain National Park). Explore the unique coastal fynbos biome, dramatic sea cliffs, and coastal thickets where specialized endemic mammals and seabirds thrive.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

The Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve forms the southwesternmost tip of the African continent within Table Mountain National Park. Spanning over 7,700 hectares, it protects pristine coastal fynbos vegetation, coastal thickets, and sea cliffs that provide vital habitat for indigenous mammals and coastal birds.

Depart Simon's Town and travel north along the West Coast into West Coast National Park. Skirt the shores of the azure Langebaan Lagoon, exploring pristine Strandveld vegetation and coastal dunes for endemic mammals, tortoises, and migratory waders before settling into Langebaan.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Head inland from the coastal lowlands, crossing scenic mountain passes up onto the expansive, semi-arid Tankwa Karoo plateau. Spend the afternoon exploring the vast shale plains, riverbeds, and gravel flats of Tankwa Karoo National Park before heading to your reserve near Sutherland.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Tankwa Karoo National Park is an arid desert wonderland renowned for its stark moonscapes, rare plant biodiversity, and absolute isolation rather than traditional safari game viewing.

This 146,373-hectare park sits on the border of the Northern Cape and Western Cape. It offers a unique, minimalist wilderness experience where the primary attractions are stillness, dramatic topography, and highly specialized desert wildlife.

Tankwa Karoo is located within the Succulent Karoo Biome, which is globally recognized as the world's only entirely arid biodiversity hotspot. Rogge Cloof, meaning 'rye ravine,' traces its origins back to 1756 when Joachim Scholtz, the son of German and Nordic immigrants to Africa, acquired this historic land.

For over 250 years, the rugged beauty of Rogge Cloof has been shaped by the hands of various owners, each nurturing its development through challenges such as lions, droughts, snow, and harsh winds. Situated at an altitude of 1,400 to 1,700 meters in the heart of the Karoo, Rogge Cloof is part of the Roggeveld plateau, an area known for its sweeping plains and crystal-clear skies, making it an ideal dark sky reserve for stargazing.

As part of the Sutherland Dark Sky Reserve, South Africa’s largest dark sky area, it offers unparalleled stargazing experiences while helping preserve the pristine night sky. Located near the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO).

Dedicate a full day to searching Tankwa Karoo's vast plains and dry river courses. Focus on tracking elusive nocturnal and crepuscular rodents, small carnivores, and specialized endemic birds that thrive in this desolate yet life-rich desert ecosystem.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We will spend another evening at the fabulous Rogge Cloof Nature Reserve

Travel east through the historic sheep-farming towns of the Great Karoo to Jakhalsdans Karoo Safaris near Loxton. This area forms the core stronghold for the critically endangered Riverine Rabbit and an array of shy Karoo carnivores.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A historic working sheep farm and private nature reserve near Loxton, renowned for its pristine riverine thickets along the Sak River drainage. It serves as one of the most critical conservation sites for the critically endangered Riverine Rabbit and nocturnal Karoo wildlife.

Depart Loxton and journey north into the Northern Cape red sand dunes and Kalahari-Karoo transition zone near Kimberley. Arrive at Marrick Safari in time to settle in before embarking on a world-famous night drive targeting rare nocturnal mammals.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Begin at dawn with a specialized morning tour for Eastern Rock Sengis and Meerkats. Later, take a day excursion to nearby Mokala National Park to search for rare ungulates before returning to Marrick for a second nocturnal safari drive.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

1. Eastern Rock Elephant Shrew (Sengi) & Suricate (Meerkat) Morning Tour:

   • Activity Description: An early morning excursion on foot and slow vehicle targeting rocky kopjes as the sun rises. Guests observe habituated Meerkat clans emerging from subterranean burrows to sunbathe and forage, while simultaneously scanning boulder scree for active Eastern Rock Sengis.

2. Guided Open Safari Vehicle Night Drive

   • Activity Description: A second evening nocturnal drive targeting any elusive species missed on the previous night, focusing on dense acacia thickets and open pans where small carnivores hunt.

You will spend another evening at the fantastic Marrick Safari Chalet

Travel south into the Upper Karoo region near Hanover to the Khoisan Karoo Conservancy. Settle into New Holme Nature Lodge and enjoy a late afternoon open vehicle game drive followed by a night safari across the floodplains and rocky inselbergs.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Guided Open Safari Vehicle Sunset Drive:

  • Activity Description: Depart in an open 4x4 safari vehicle in the late afternoon to explore Seekoei River floodplains and Karoo scrub, viewing herds of Black Wildebeest and Springbok while watching the sunset over the horizon.

• Guided Open Safari Vehicle Night Drive:

  • Activity Description: Conducted after dark using spotlights, this night drive traverses river flats and alluvial plains specifically searching for Aardvark, Aardwolf, Black-footed Cat, Zorilla, and Porcupine.

Experience a full day of specialized mammal tracking. Start at dawn with a Meerkat and Sengi tour, followed by a daytime safari drive across the conservancy, and culminate with a second guided night drive for nocturnal species.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

1. Eastern Rock Elephant Shrew (Sengi) & Suricate (Meerkat) Morning Tour:

   • Activity Description: Early morning field excursion to a habituated suricate colony to observe wild meerkats at sun-up, followed by guided searches along rocky dolerite kopjes for active Eastern Rock Sengis.

2. Guided Open Safari Vehicle Morning Drive:

   • Activity Description: A morning safari drive through riverine areas to locate daytime wildlife, water birds, and early morning mammal activity.

3. Guided Open Safari Vehicle Night Drive:

   • Activity Description: A second spotlighting night safari focusing on nocturnal carnivores, hedgehogs, and foraging aardvarks across the conservancy plains.

We spend a final night at the wonderful New Holme Nature Lodge

Journey south from Hanover to Beaufort West and enter Karoo National Park. Ascend the dramatic Klipspringer Pass up onto the Nuweveld Plateau, exploring rugged gorges and grassy plains before embarking on a guided night drive.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Spend the full day exploring the diverse habitats of Karoo National Park, traversing the upper plateau and lower plains for Mountain Zebra, Red Hartebeest, raptors, and endemic Karoo passerines.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We will spend a second night at the fantastic Karoo National Park Main Camp

Depart Beaufort West, crossing the Swartberg mountains down to the lush coastal thickets of the Garden Route near Mossel Bay. Arrive at Hartenbos Game Reserve for an afternoon game drive in an open 4x4 safari vehicle.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

1. Guided Open Safari Sunset Safari

• Activity Description: An afternoon 4x4 open vehicle safari through the reserve's thicket and valley habitats to view rhino

Enjoy a full day dedicated to wildlife viewing across Hartenbos Game Reserve with two open safari vehicle drives. Search for large game, black and white rhinos, secretive carnivores, and thicket birds.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

1. Guided Open Safari Vehicle Morning Drive:

   • Activity Description: Early morning 4x4 drive targeting active wildlife, birdlife, and grazing megafauna during cool dawn hours.

2. Guided Open Safari Vehicle Sunset Drive:

   • Activity Description: Late afternoon game drive traversing high ridge trails for scenic vistas and tracking crepuscular species returning to feed.

We will spend another afternoon at the fantastic Hartenbos Private Game Lodge

Complete a final morning game drive at Hartenbos before driving west along the Garden Route to Bontebok National Park near Swellendam. Explore the Breede River bank and Renosterveld fynbos for Bontebok and small mammals.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Guided Open Safari Vehicle Morning Drive:

• Activity Description: A final early morning 4x4 drive at Hartenbos before departure, maximizing chances for sightings of rhinos, thicket endemic birds, and small mammals.

Travel a short distance south from Swellendam to the coastal sanctuary of De Hoop Nature Reserve. Spend the day exploring coastal fynbos, white sand dunes, and the De Hoop Vlei wetland for rare ungulates and coastal birds.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Enjoy a final morning of game and bird viewing in De Hoop Nature Reserve before departing westwards through the scenic Overberg region and Agulhas Plains, arriving back at Cape Town International Airport where the tour concludes.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch