Assisted camping, participation
limited to helping with tents only.
Price
per person: 01st
April 2012 – 31st March 2013 - N$ 8,300.00 -
No single supplement
Departure
Dates 2012/2013: Guaranteed
departures on every Friday of the year
Number
of people - minimum:
01 April 2012 - 30 June 2012: 4
01 July 2012 - 31 October 2012: 2
01 November 2012 - 31 March 2013: 4
Safari Tour Details
Day 1
We will travel north, stopping at small towns along the way
including Okahandja, where we have time to visit Namibia's largest
wood carving market. The market is operated on a local co-operative
basis and is one of the best places to shop for truly Namibian
souvenirs.
Continuing north, passing through
farmland, we aim to arrive at Okonjima during the middle afternoon,
giving us time to set up our camp and to relax in the shade for a
while before heading out on to the property to take part in the
afternoon's activities.
Okonjima is the home of the Africat
Foundation, a specialist conservation concern that centers its
operations around the African Big Cats, particularly cheetah. This
afternoon you will be taken on a tour during which you will be able
to meet, close-up-and-personal, some of the cheetah that are going
through the Africat rehabilitation programm. Most of the animals
currently living at Okonjima have been rescued from various
desperate situations, being orphaned or caught in a trap, and the
aim of rehabilitation process is to attempt to re-introduce them
into the wild.
After our educational tour we will
return our accommodation and prepare for dinner under the African
stars.
Driving time: approx. 3.5hrs (300 km) Overnight:
Okonjima. Communal ablutions / camping. Lunch and Dinner.
Day 2
An early start and continuing north we pass through some small
towns, making short stops for fresh supplies and fuel. Our first
main port of call today is the mysterious Lake Otjikoto.
Otjikoto is in fact Namibia's largest
permanent natural lake and we take time here to rest a little and
learn something about the history of this unusual landmark.
Continuing on to Namutoni camp in
Etosha National Park we again aim to arrive in time for lunch,
giving us time to relax before heading out into the park during the
cool of the late afternoon for our first game drive.
After your evening meal there are
still more chances to see Etosha big game at Namutoni floodlit
waterhole. Situated on the boundary of Namutoni and easily reachable
on foot, elephants are regular visitors here and there is a good
chance of seeing other species of game as well.
Driving time: approx. 4hrs (300 km) Overnight: Etosha National
Park - Namutoni. Communal ablutions / camping. Breakfast, Lunch and
Dinner.
Day 3
A full day's game driving. We again leave early to enjoy the
cool morning air as 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 not normally seen on
the Namutoni side of the park.
We stop at Halali for a rest and a
leisurely lunch. There is 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 Okaukuejo.
Okaukuejo is famous for its
waterhole, which has been described as one of the "best game
viewing opportunities in Southern Africa". Situated on the
doorstep of our accommodation, black rhino, elephant, lion and
numerous species of antelope are usually seen.
Overnight: Etosha National Park - Okaukuejo, Communal
ablutions /camping. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 4
This 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".
Driving time: approx. 6 hrs (300 km)
Overnight: Oase-Himba Village camp, communal ablutions /camping.
Breakfast,
Lunch and Dinner.
Day 5
Today we head into one of the most beautiful desert regions in
Namibia, Damaraland. We drive south to the capital of this region, the
small town of Khorixas, and then take a detour to the west, traveling
via the Petrified Forest geological site, to visit the ancient Bushman
rock engravings at Twyfelfontien. At both these locations we will have
local guides to conduct us on a short guided tour.
From here we head deeper into the
desert to Namibia's highest mountain, The Brandberg, (2573 m).
Brandberg Mountain is an ancient Bushman spiritual site and tonight we
will sleep under the shadow of this giant granite monolith.
Driving time: approx. 5hrs (400 km) Overnight: Brandberg Mountain.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 6
Starting
early to enjoy the cool of the morning we will hike, "into"
the mountain with our guide to see the world famous "White
Lady" rock painting. Attributed to the Bushman artists, the white
lady panel is believed by some to be in excess of 20 000 years old.
Back on the road for more beautiful
Damaraland scenery. We make our first stop in the small town of Uis,
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.
From here we turn directly west and
cross the "gravel plains" on our way to the Atlantic Ocean
and the Skeleton Coast. Meeting the ocean at Henties Bay, we first
head north along the coast to visit the seal colony at Cape Cross.
Here at certain times of the year there can be as many as 100,000 Cape
Fur seals in attendance. The next destination is Swakopmund, following
the Skeleton Coast into Namibia's premier seaside town. We aim to
arrive in the late afternoon giving us time to explore the town on
foot before sunset.
Tonight we take the chance to sample
one of the excellent restaurants. The seafood in Swakopmund is superb.
Your guide will offer to organize a group meal in a local restaurant
for this evening. Participation is recommended but by no means
required.
Dinner this evening in not included in
the price of the safari and will be for the client's own account.
Driving time: approx. 4hrs (250 km)
Overnight: Swakopmund. Chalet
Accommodation/communal ablutions. Breakfast and Lunch. (Dinner at own
expense.)
Day 7
The drive back to Windhoek today will take about 4 and a half
hours.
We will only depart after lunch,
giving us time to spend the morning relaxing in Swakopmund. 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 aeroplane 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. (N.B. All extra
activities and excursions in Swakopmund are subject to availability
and are made at the clients' own risk and expense).
This is the last day of our trip and
after lunch we will transfer back to the capital city where you will
be dropped off at your accommodation.
Driving time: approx. 4.5hrs (350 km) Overnight: Breakfast and Lunch.