4 – 13 October 2027

Section 1 – Zastron to Mokala National Park

4–6 October 2027

The safari begins at our campsite near Zastron in the Free State, where guests arrive, meet the group, prepare vehicles and do any final shopping before departure. From Zastron the route follows the northern side of the Orange River, passing Bethulie and the Gariep Dam wall viewpoint before reaching our riverside camp on the Northern Cape side of the river near Petrusville for the second night – a simple riverside stop with a small farm shop. On day three the route continues via Colesberg and Hopetown for fuel, with a breakfast stop at Orania and a visit to the Vanderkloof Dam, before arriving at Mokala National Park for the third night. Mokala is a SANParks reserve known for rare antelope including roan, sable and tsessebe, with a small shop and hot showers at the campsite.

Section 2 – Upington to the Namaqua 4×4 Eco Trail

7–9 October 2027

Leaving Mokala the route passes through Douglas, with fuel, a Spar and a liquor store, before reaching Upington for further fuel, shopping and vehicle repairs if needed. The fourth night is spent at a riverside camp just outside Upington, one of the few stops on this tour with both a bar and a restaurant. From here the safari follows the Orange River west to Kakamas for the fifth night, where guests can enjoy wine tasting and a relaxed pub-style restaurant. A day trip from Kakamas visits Augrabies Falls National Park, with lunch at the park restaurant – park fees are included in the tour price. Continuing west, Pofadder is the last full fuel stop before a long dry stretch, so vehicles top up here, and Vioolsdrift offers the last small grocery shop for the remainder of the trip. The sixth night is spent on the Namakwa 4×4 Eco Trail itself – a recognised camping spot but with no facilities at all, offering a genuine wild-camping experience close to the river.

Section 3 – Vioolsdrift to the Richtersveld

10–12 October 2027

The seventh night is spent at a campsite in Vioolsdrift, with a hot shower and flush toilet available before heading into the wilderness of the Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park. The park is entered via the Sendelingsdrift gate, also a fuel stop, and the safari then spends two nights at a campsite deep inside the Richtersveld – one of the most remote and dramatic sections of the whole tour, with cold showers and flush toilets but no restaurant or bar. Park fees are included in the tour price. This is rugged, low-traffic 4×4 terrain among some of the oldest and most otherworldly desert landscapes in southern Africa, with the Orange River running low and close alongside the route.

Section 4 – Exit to Alexander Bay

13 October 2027

On the final day the safari exits the Richtersveld via a back road, with a fuel stop at Alexander Bay marking the end of the tour. From here guests go their own ways, having followed the Orange River from the Free State highlands all the way down to where it meets the Atlantic Ocean.

Why We Go in the Dry Season

This tour is deliberately timed for the dry, low-river season rather than the flood season most associated with the Orange River. With the water low, we’re able to camp much closer to the riverbank than would ever be possible when it’s running high, and reach stretches of riverfront that are otherwise inaccessible. It’s also a great opportunity for guests who enjoy fishing to try their luck along the way. Heading into October, the weather is warm and settled heading into the southern African summer, ideal for the exposed, arid landscapes of the Richtersveld and lower Orange River. If you’re after the Orange River in full flood, our “Oranje all the way” tour further down this page follows the same river at high water – this dry-season route is its quieter, closer-to-the-water counterpart.