All Southern Africa 12-Day Tours and Trips
Page 2 of The Best 12-day Trips in Southern Africa with 134 Reviews
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Namibia Lodge Safari - 12 days
4.9
Highlights -
Stunning landscapes, especially around the Namib desert/Sossusvlei, Brandberg area and Walvis Bay/Swakopmund.
Wildlife viewing was excellent - plenty of time to view and observe and search both mammals and birds throughout the trip. You will get some amazing photos and memories!
A knowledgeable guide who sorted everything that needed doing and had a great understanding of the wildlife/country.
A couple of the lodges were above expectations (NB the app stated that there might be changes and there were).
Things that surprised me:
One of the lodges was disappointing but we were only there for one night (Brandberg White Lady Lodge - no proper AC and nowhere to charge anything plus very basic room and the food was also below par).
There wasn't much time to decompress and just enjoy the areas without being on the move - ideally this should be a 14 or 15 day trip with Toshari or Makuti and Swapokmund stays being extended by a further day.
Water is not provided at many of the lodges or at the inclusive meals so you end up buying plastic bottles of water (more costly than a beer!) that you then can't keep chilled as the rooms often did not have a fridge.
One of the recommended excursions in Walvis Bay was a waste of time and very expensive. The Shifting Sands excursion to Sandwich Harbour was vastly more costly (x3) than the Desert Discovery trip (both 3 hours) and yet covered much the same but at a much lower standard. The Desert Discovery Trip had much better guides, much more to see and a far superior dune driving experience. The Sandwich Harbour trip just gave the "dunes meeting the sea" and a fraction of the elements covered in the other trip but for the time/cost and drive it would have been better to have stayed in Walvis Bay and appreciate all the birdlife and coast there. Avoid that if offered.
What I needed on the trip:
The following items were really useful:
A sarong - to sit on a very hot seat or use as a sunshield in various locations; a water bottle flask that kept my water chilled all day;
A broad brimmed hat - in summer a baseball cap did not cut it at Sossusvlei;
Binoculars - even a basic pair;
A power bank for your phone as some days you are on the road for 12 hours and with all the photos you'll need an extra power source.;
A usb adaptor for your phone charger as a few lodges had these in the socket spaces;
Washing powder as you may end up hand washing a lot;
A basic set of general medications..... you never know!
Additionally I would recommend going at least one day earlier so you have time to take in a township and Windhoek tour. The on-cost of the hotel was minimal (arranged directly) but it meant we had no stress of being late and we had a chance to acclimatise, plus had a good look around prior to meeting the rest of the group and the guide. The Mercure has full access to the sister Movenpick which has a great pool area, other restaurants and spa/gym for use by all residents.
If you fly through Germany and direct on to Windhoek, you travel overnight and arrive morning time giving you a whole afternoon plus a whole day before you meet the group at 6pm. Plus your return flight is early evening so you get the departure day too if you extend your room at the Mercure. Well worth it!
Overall a truly great and varied trip even if you have done safaris before.
Active and outdoor
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Family South Africa’s Garden Route and Safari - 12 days
5
Great trip with good mixture of activities and wildlife. The weather was perfect for an August trip - warm during day, cooler at night, and fortunately only 10 minutes of rain in 2 weeks. Well looked after by our guide Bianca. Food was very good value. Expect some flexibility in the itinerary - we couldn’t sea kayak due to choppy sea but alternative hike was great. Highlights were climbing Table Mountain (2-3h strenuous hike), surfing lesson, optional Whale Watching boat trip, Addo Elephant National Park and optional Schotia Private Game Reserve drive on the morning of departure.
Active and outdoorExplorer
Etosha Okavango Delta Express Camping - 12 days
Ready for a whirlwind journey through Namibia’s most spectacular sights? The 12-day Etosha Okavango Delta Express Camping tour starts in Swakopmund and ends in Livingstone, covering Etosha National Park, Windhoek, Kasane, and six other key destinations. This guided small group tour, ideal for families, includes accommodation, transport, and meals, making logistics a breeze. The tour package’s unique selling point is its efficient route, allowing families to experience major wildlife reserves and scenic wonders of Namibia in less than two weeks.
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MARRAKECH to MARRAKECH () Souks, Sand Dunes - 12 days
The sights, sounds and smells make Morocco a fantastic family destination. Explore the ancient labyrinthine medina of Marrakech, astonishing landscape of the Atlas Mountain, extraordinary Sahara Desert and the beaches on the Atlantic Coast. The twelve day trip also allows for time by the beach in Essaouira. This tour has been planned to be suitable for the younger members of your family. It includes shorter drive times, and opportunities to both explore or relax by the pool!
After arriving into Marrakech you'll have a little free time to settle in, before our Moroccan family adventure begins. As we leave behind Marrakech, we begin our journey, heading to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ain Benhaddou. Our route to Ait Behaddou will take us through the Valley of the Roses and through the beautiful Atlas Mountains. Once we reach Ait Benhaddou we'll have a guided tour of one of the oldest fortified towns in the south of Morocco, which has also been featured in numerous movies and TV series including Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia and even Game of Thrones.
Our route towards the Sahara continues through the N'Kob Berber Oasis where we'll have a chance to learn about the Ait Atta Nomads and their way of life. During the day we'll have a walking tour of the palmerie and have the option of partaking in a cooking class. Our journey from N'Kob continues, passing through the Anti-Atlas and Draa Valley, making a stop to try some local dates. Our destination today will be the Erg Chebbi Sand Dunes where we'll take a camel ride through the desert and spend the night at a traditional berber camp.
As we begin our journey back towards Marrakech, we'll make a stop to visit the Todra Gorge, the Grand Canyon of Morocco, and the movie studios of Ouarzazate. Once we reach Marrakech you'll have time to explore the Medina and have the option of joining our Marrakech city tour.
This extended tour ends with some time in the coastal town of Essaouira, famous for its surfing and architecture. For those passengers looking to for a shorter adventure, we also offer a version of this tour which excludes the days in Essaouira - Souks & Sand Dunes Tour.
This tour has been arranged specifically for those travelling with children aged from 5 to 16 years (minimum age 5) - child discounts are available.
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South Africa Youth Adventure - 12 days
GROUP TOUR (FOR AGES 18 - 49): Explore South Africa and Eswatini on this 12-day tour, starting with an immersive exploration of Johannesburg and the historic Soweto. Journey through the Panorama Route to Kruger National Park, where the incredible wildlife of the Big Five awaits, followed by a unique cultural experience in Eswatini’s Hlane Royal National Park. Continue south through Zululand to experience local Zulu traditions, then relax along the coast at Blythedale before flying to Cape Town. Discover the vibrant Bo-Kaap, iconic landmarks like the Houses of Parliament and Cape Town Stadium, and scenic beauty at Table Mountain and the Cape Peninsula, including Boulders Beach’s penguin colony. The tour concludes with a deeper appreciation of South Africa’s diverse landscapes, rich culture, and wildlife.
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