Jewel of the desert Cape Town - Namibia

Departure from Switzerland in the evening.

You will arrive in Cape Town in the morning, where you will be greeted by your tour guide at the airport and accompanied to your hotel. The afternoon is at your leisure before you get to know your fellow travelers at the welcome dinner in the evening. (A)

After a city tour, it's time to board the train at Cape Town station! Make yourself comfortable in your compartment and enjoy the view of the passing landscape. After your train has passed through the tunnels of the Hexriver Mountains, the scenery changes to the fascinating mountain world of the Great Karoo and you pass the Victorian town of Matjiesfontein. After dinner in the on-board restaurant, you can round off the evening with a glass of South African red wine or a beer in the bar car. (FMA)

You leave the train in Upington and travel by bus to Augrabies National Park (approx. 120 km). The nature reserve stretches along the Orange River and is known for the 56-metre-high Augrabies waterfalls. Various game species such as klipspringers, antelopes and black rhinos can be found in the park. Afterwards you will return to your train. (FMA)

At Holoog station, actually just a stop in the middle of solitude, you change to the waiting buses and drive through untouched semi-desert landscape to the Fish River Canyon. If you wish, you can take a short hike along the edge of the canyon and enjoy magnificent views of the 500 m deep and 160 km long gorge. If time permits, the excursion continues by bus to the Kokerboom Forest. (FMA)

In the morning, your train arrives in Mariental, situated on the edge of the Kalahari in southern Namibia. You disembark with small luggage and travel by bus for approx. four hours (295 km) to your lodge, where you immerse yourself in the tranquillity of the Namib Desert for two days. (FA)

The early morning hours are the best time to experience the glowing giant dunes. We travel in off-road vehicles to the main gate of Sossusvlei, which is about 60 km away and has been part of the Namib Sand Sea UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013. The climb up a dune is rewarded with sweeping views of a sea of sand. At sunset, you can enjoy a drive through the desert landscape. (FA)

Today's program takes you to Walvis Bay. Here you set off on a relaxed catamaran cruise with brunch on board. With a bit of luck, you will see sea lions, pelicans, seals and flamingos. Back on land, you have free time in Swakopmund before going back to the train for dinner. (FBA)

After breakfast, take the bus to your lodge in Etosha National Park (approx. 150 km). Enjoy the comforts of your accommodation before going on game drive in open safari vehicles (at an extra charge). A unique safari awaits you: you can observe elephants, wildebeest, numerous birds and other wild animals up close, especially at the waterholes. With a bit of luck, you may also spot lions or the rare leopards. The herds of animals in Etosha Park are dependent on the waterholes almost all year round, which is why the park, which covers more than 22,000 km², offers ideal conditions for game viewing. Before dinner, you will have the opportunity to experience a traditional boma. (FLA)

The morning is free for a game drive in open safari vehicles. You will then travel back to your special train by bus, where the crew will be waiting for you and spoil you with a farewell dinner on board in the evening. (FMA)

In the morning, your train finally rolls into Windhoek station, where you say goodbye to the train crew. During a city tour of Windhoek, you will see the Christ Church and the so-called Ink Palace, today the seat of the Namibian parliament. With just under 300'000 inhabitants, tranquil Windhoek is the largest city in the country. Windhoek fascinates with its mixture of African and European ways of life. Here you will encounter Herero women in their Victorian costumes and young girls with artfully braided hairstyles as well as young people and farmers from the provinces. You can then take some time to relax by your hotel’s pool. A farewell dinner awaits you in the evening. (FA)

In the morning, you will have time to explore the city on your own or go on a shopping spree. At midday, it's time to say goodbye to your tour guide before your flight home. (B)

You arrive in Switzerland in the morning.