Safari Tour Details
Day 1
We leave Windhoek and straight away join the small desert roads that
connect the whole of rural Namibia. Windhoek is in a mountain valley and
we have to climb out, first over the Eros Mountains and then the Khomas
Hochland Range. The mountain passes are spectacular, we pass by several
desert homesteads and we often see wild game along the road. As we come
through the mountains we drop down from the central plateau by way of
the impressive Remhoogte Pass and emerge to find grassy desert savanna.
We stop at Solitaire, Namibia's second
smallest town, for afternoon tea before driving on to our accommodation
near the sand dune sea.
Dinner tonight will be in the
restaurant at the lodge.
Driving time: approx. 5 hrs (350 km)
Overnight: Namib Desert Camp.
Guest farm accommodation/en-suite facilities. Lunch and Dinner.
Day 2
A pre dawn start is essential
this morning as we want to catch the soft light of the sunrise on the
desert. We drive the short distance to Sesriem, the entrance to the
Namib Naukluft National Park and gateway to the world's highest dunes.
From here we drive another 60 km to
Sossusvlei itself, transferring to special desert vehicles for the last
5 km through the dunes. The drive is like nothing else, in the cool of
the morning, with soft sunlight just beginning to play over the dunes
creating a sharp light and shadow contrast across the whole desert.
Ancient mineral pans, stunted camel-thorn trees and the chance of seeing
a gemsbok or maybe an ostrich make the photo opportunities perfect.
We spend the morning in and around Sossusvlei, also visiting "dune
45", and as the day wears on we return to Sesriem for lunch and to
escape the heat of the afternoon. As the day cools off in the late
afternoon we will take a short excursion to the Sesriem Canyon.
Dinner tonight will be in the
restaurant at the lodge.
Driving time: approx. 3 hrs (260 km)
Overnight: Namib Desert .Guest
farm accommodation/en-suite facilities. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 3
An early start today, we are heading
north-west to the seaside town of Swakopmund located on the Skeleton
Coast. Leaving the dune fields far behind us we are soon back into the
mountain desert. We cross the Tropic of Capricorn and traverse both the
Gaub and the Kuiseb pass, driving down to the dry river bed at the
bottom of the canyon before climbing up the other side, watching the
spectacular desert landscape unfold before us.
From the mountains we cross the
desolate "Namib gravel plains" before reaching the coastal
sand dunes at the port town of Walvis Bay. We will stop for a picnic
lunch beside the ocean and there will be time to see the flamingos and
other bird life in the Walvis Bay lagoon before continuing the now short
drive into Swakopmund.
Driving time: approx. 6 hrs (280 km)
Overnight: Swakopmund Hotel or
pension/en-suite facilities. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 4
Today is a free day. The idea is to allow time for everybody to do
their own thing. Swakopmund is a very pleasant seaside town with lots of
shops, a good stretch of beach (although the Atlantic here is quite
cold) and an open-air curio market. There is also a very good museum and
the Namibian National Marine Aquarium is located in Swakopmund.
Alternatively, there are various
optional activities that can be arranged. These include airplane and
microlight flights over the desert, scenic drives, fishing trips (both
from the beach or in a boat), four-wheel motorcycle (quad bike) trips
into the desert and over the sand dunes around Swakopmund, sand boarding
trips (also in the dunes), skydiving, surfing, bird-watching and many
other activities are available. Your tour guide will discuss all the
possible options with you before you reach Swakopmund and will offer to
make bookings in advance of your arrival.
In addition to this, if you have
decided not to join any of the optional afternoon activities, your guide
will take you on an excursion into the Swakopmund River Valley.
Traveling through the ancient, long dried up Swakopmund Delta, we first
stop at the "Moon Landscape" an unusual example of water
erosion in the desert.
From here we continue to the Swakopmund
Valley itself to hunt the giant Welwitchia Mirabilis plants. This plant
is in fact a species of tree and is one of the rarest fauna species in
the world. We will see examples that are reported to be in excess of
1500 years old.
(N.B. All extra activities and
excursions in Swakopmund are subject to availability and are made at the
clients' own risk and expense).
Dinner tonight is for the clients own
account in a local restaurant.
Overnight: Swakopmund Hotel or pension/en-suite facilities.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 5
A long drive today, leaving
early and heading north along the coast, we will first visit the seal
colony at Cape Cross where it is possible to see thousands of Cape Fur
Seals in the water and on the surrounding rocks and beaches.
From here we will turn east, back into the desert and the beautiful area
known as Damaraland and the next stop will be at the small town of Uis,
located in the remote desert. Uis is an old mining town and one of the
best places to buy semi-precious stones for which Namibia is famous.
Here, rough Amethyst, Tourmaline etc can be found at bargain prices.
We will pass the Namibia's highest
mountain, The Brandberg, (2573 m) as we travel deeper into Damaraland
and our accommodation will be at a desert lodge in the vicinity of
Twyfelfontien.
Dinner tonight will be in the
restaurant at the lodge.
Driving time: approx. 6 hrs (300 km)
Overnight: Twyfelfontein Lodge
accommodation/en-suite facilities. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 6
We leave early to visit the ancient site of Twyfelfontein. Here is
an impressive collection of rock engravings created by the talented
artisans of ancient peoples. Twyfelfontien is one of the most important
archeological sites in southern Africa and we will have a local guide to
take us around and introduce us to the petroglyphs.
From here we drive to the small town of
Kamanjab where we will make a short stop here before continuing on to
find the Himba Tribesmen at Oase.
Oase is the only traditionally
functioning Himba community outside the far north Kaokoland region of
Namibia These tribes-people have migrated here, lifestyle and customs
intact, and are following their traditional way-of-life in their village
on a farm. Oase Village is located about 15 to 20 km outside Kamanjab,
the exact location of the site varies as the Himba occasionally roam to
a new location.
During the afternoon we will be invited
into Oase Village and will meet with the locals. We will have a
specialist guide for the time we are there, who will be able to
translate for us and will introduce us to this "alternative
lifestyle". We will learn about marriage customs, traditional food
and the mysteries of the local religion, "Holy Fire".
Dinner tonight will be in the restaurant at the guest-house.
Dinner is at the lodge. Driving time: approx. 6 hrs (440 km)
Overnight:
Kaokoland. Lodge
accommodation/en-suite facilities. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 7
Heading further north, the
Damaraland scenery stays with us today. We follow the western border of
Etosha National Park for some way, heading into the far northern regions
of Namibia, turning off to our destination on a small game reserve.
We aim to arrive in the early
afternoon. There are some self guided bush walks available for those who
are feeling energetic, but otherwise the rest of the day is designed to
allow you to relax by the pool and re-charge you energy.
Dinner tonight will be in the
restaurant at the lodge.
Overnight:
Kaokoland. Lodge
accommodation/en-suite facilities. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 8
Traveling with special permission through the western side of Etosha
National Park, we transit through this restricted area that is set aside
for research and breeding. We have the chance to see some species not
normally seen in the main tourist areas of the park.
As we drive into the Okaukuejo region
of Etosha where our main game drive really begins, and we travel slowly
down to Etosha's main camp, Okaukuejo where we aim to arrive in time for
a late lunch.
Time to relax in the afternoon and then
sundowners at Okaukuejo's floodlit waterhole. Situated on the boundary
of the camp and easily reachable on foot from your bungalow, the
Okaukuejo waterhole is famous One of the "best game viewing
opportunities in Southern Africa". Perfectly placed for sunset,
black rhino, elephant, lion and numerous species of antelope are often
seen.
Dinner tonight is prepared by your
guide over an open fire.
Travel and game driving: approx. 5 hrs (200 km)
Overnight: Okaukuejo Rest
Camp. Two-roomed chalets with shared facilities. Breakfast, Lunch and
Dinner.
Day 9
We go straight out on an early morning game drive. We visit some of
the numerous waterholes in the area hoping to catch some of Etosha's big
game out for an early morning drink. The game drives around the
Okaukuejo area are some of the best in the park. We cover several
different terrains this morning, from wooded areas to open savannah and
in the rainy season, wetland. Back to Okaukuejo in the late morning and
after lunch there is time once again to relax during the heat of the
day. The pool area here is great, shaded by palm trees and close to the
waterhole.
We take a shorter game drive in the
late afternoon, often driving out to one of the waterholes popular with
game and waiting for the animals to come to us.
Dinner tonight will be in the
restaurant at the Okaukuejo.
Overnight: Okaukuejo Rest Camp. Two-roomed chalets with shared
facilities. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 10
A full day's game driving and we leave early to enjoy the cool
morning air. We game drive our way through Etosha to Halali camp,
situated in the middle of the park. Along the way we visit several
waterholes and are afforded splendid views of the massive Etosha Pan.
The game viewing is usually excellent and we have the chance to tick off
a few new species that are usually only seen on the eastern side of the
park.
We stop at Halali for a rest and a
leisurely lunch and there is also time to visit the Halali waterhole and
to make use of the swimming pool and bar facilities before continuing on
our way and game driving down to Namutoni. A short stop here to check
the camp waterhole for game and then we leave the park, checking into a
lodge located on the eastern boundary of Etosha.
Dinner tonight will be in the
restaurant at the lodge.
Overnight: Onguma Game Ranch. Lodge accommodation/ en-suite
facilities. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 11
First stop this morning will be to visit a local community of
Bushman or San people. Before Namibian independence in 1990, the
Namibian people were engaged in a liberation struggle with South Africa.
During this time Namibia had a large
South African military presence and the South African army incorporated
local Bushmen into their ranks because of their natural talent for
tracking.
The Ombili village is located on the
site of an old South African military base where, during the war years,
many Bushmen had been in uniform. When the South African army withdrew,
the local Bushmen trackers remained behind and were in danger of
becoming displaced people, being so long away from their own villages.
The local farming community in the Ombili area invited the Bushmen to
stay and make their homes. Over the last 15 years or so a thriving
bushman community has developed.
The Bushmen at Ombili are not living the traditional hunter gatherer
lifestyle, that harsh but romanticized way of life has disappeared for
ever, but the language and many of the customs remain alive. We make a
stop at Ombili and we have the chance to meet the local inhabitants and
learn something of their ancient and modern culture.
From Ombili, we are heading
predominantly south. We pass through the Otavi mountains and our
accommodation for the night is in the foothills of this small but
picturesque range.
Dinner tonight will be in the
restaurant at the lodge.
Driving time: approx. 3hrs (300 km)
Overnight: Otavi
Mountains. Lodge
accommodation/ en-suite facilities. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 12
Our last day on the road, the drive down to Windhoek is on a good
road and we have time to stop in Okahandja, home to Namibia's largest
woodcarving market. The stalls are operated on a co-operative basis by
the local community and the market is a perfect place to do last minute
shopping for truly Namibian souvenirs.
We aim to arrive back in the Capital in
the middle afternoon and you will be dropped off at your accommodation.
Driving time: approx. 4 hrs (350 km)
Overnight: Breakfast and Lunch.
