Safari Tour Details
Day 1
We start our long
journey south on the main B1 highway, travelling through the thin strip
of Kalahari Desert that protrudes onto the eastern side of Namibia.
Stopping at small towns along the way including Rehoboth, traditional
home of the Baster people, we aim to arrive at the Quiver Tree Forest in
the middle afternoon. Located just north of the southern centre of
Keetmanshoop, (officially the sunniest town in the world), we make camp
and have time to explore the area on foot.
Quiver trees are not in
fact trees, they are a type of aloe, (Aloe Dichotoma), so called because
the branches fork "dictomously". These weird looking plants
dot the landscape in this part of the world and are locally common,
however they are one of the world's rarest flora species.
Driving time: approx. 6.5hrs (500 km)
Overnight: Quiver Tree forest.Communal ablutions / camping.Lunch
and Dinner.
Day 2
Before leaving the
Keetmanshoop area we visit another local site of interest this morning,
the Giants Playground", an area filled with massively eroded
dolorite rocks that are precariously balanced in tottering towers. After
a short stop in Keetmanshoop itself we continue south, leaving the main
road far behind us and join the extensive network of gravel roads that
unite rural Namibia.
Arriving at Fish River
Canyon, the second largest canyon in the world, in the early afternoon,
we drive to the main look out where the views of need to be seen to be
believed. We can see the river sparkling in the sunlight far below us,
and can barely imagine how many millennia it took for the forces of
erosion to carve such a magnificent vista.
Driving still further south, we travel all the way to the southern
border with South Africa, the mighty Orange River. Coming from the arid
desert regions that have formed the landscape for most of our journey,
it is an amazing sight to see green vegetation and bright ribbon of
flowing water appear out of seemingly no-where.
Driving time: approx. 4,5hrs (400 km)
Overnight: Orange
River. Rustic ablutions / camping. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day
3
An easy drive this morning so
we have a leisurely start. There is time for a dip in the cool waters of
the Orange, (very cold waters in the winter time). Our road follows the
scenic course of the river for the first part of the day's journey
before heading back into the desert and the beautiful landscapes that
Namibian has to offer.
Our route takes us past
the zinc mines of Rosh Pinah where we will take a short break before
arriving at our destination, the tiny town of Aus in the middle to late
afternoon. We sleep tonight at Kline Aus Vista, a private reserve,
beautifully located in the Aus Mountain Range, (Huib-Hoch-Plateau
region).
There is time to explore
this stunning area on foot and to find a lofty perch in the mountains to
watch the sun slip over the western horizon.
Driving time: approx. 3.5hrs (200 km).
Overnight: Klein
Aus. Communal ablutions / camping Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 4
We are up with the dawn
this morning for the short drive to Luderitz, we travel on the main road
and keep a sharp look out for the unique Namib wild horses. These horses
are the only feral horses in Namibia and have, very unusually, become
adapted to an existence with very limited water. Where they originated
from is un-clear, some people think they are the descendants of the
horses used by the German cavalry during the First World War. Another
theory is that they originally came from a horse farm that used to be
run by a German Barron, (von Wolff), in the very early colonial days.
We arrive in Luderitz in
time to join an optional extra excursion, a trip on an old wooden
sailing ship, "The Sedina". We take a cruise around Luderitz
bay and, weather permitting, to Halifax Island to see the Jackass
Penguins. If the weather conditions are suitable we turn off the engines
come back to Luderitz under sail.
Straight after the
Sedina trip we drive out to Kolmanskop, a desert ghost town about 20 km
out of Luderitz. It was built in the 1920's during the diamond rush and
was abandoned when bigger and better diamonds were found further along
the coast. The area is still abandoned and the desert has encroached
over the entire town, giving an eerie feeling and real meaning to the
word "ghost".
Lunch today is not
included in the programm, this is to allow everybody as much flexibility
with their time as possible and to give us the opportunity to sample
some of the excellent local cafes.
During the middle of the
day there is time to explore Luderitz Town with its traditional German
architecture and later we will take a drive out to Diaz Point to see the
bird life, hopefully a few seals and the stone cross replica, originally
erected by the Portuguese mariner Bartholomew Diaz.
Returning to Klein Aus
Vista in the late afternoon, the road takes us through the
"forbidden Zone" so named because in years gone by, the
alluvial diamonds found in Namibia were simply scattered across the
desert and we again have time to enjoy sunset over the mountains.
N.B: The
"Sedina" excursion is subject to availability and, if
undertaken, will be for the clients own risk and expense.
Driving time: approx. 3hrs (240 km).
Overnight: Klein
Aus.Communal ablutions / camping. Breakfast and Dinner. (Lunch in
Luderitz or Kolmanskop at own expense.)
Day
5
Turning north, we once
again head deep into the ancient southern Namib, travelling on small
gravel roads and passing some tiny rural communities along the way. The
scenery is harsh, and sometimes forbidding. The process of erosion in
these areas is well advanced and we pass time rounded
"koppies" arid terrain and outcrops of tortured rock.
Traversing this bleak
yet beautiful landscape, the terrain begins to change and we cross some
open grass savannah and farmlands before the terrain begins to give way
to the immense Naukluft Mountains of the Namib. We aim to arrive at our
camp during the late afternoon and watch the colours glow and change on
distant mountains to the east.
Driving time: approx. 5hrs. (350 km).
Overnight: Namib
Desert. Communal ablutions / camping. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 6
A pre dawn start is
essential this morning as we want to catch the soft light of the sunrise
on the desert as we drive in.
To reach Sossusvlei
itself we walk for the last 5 km through the dunes. The walk 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
horn 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.
Driving time: approx. 2hrs (150 km).
Overnight: Namib
Desert - Sossusvlei - Namib Desert. Communal ablutions /camping.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 7
After breakfast we begin our journey, over the mountains and along
scenic roads, back to Windhoek. We will travel over the Naukluft
Mountains and also the Khomas Hochland Range, through beautiful mountain
passes on our way back to civilization.
We are due back into the
city around 16:00 and you will be dropped off at your accommodation on
our return.
Driving time: approx. 5,5hrs (350 km)
Overnight:
Breakfast and Lunch.
The seven day Southern
Namibia Safari has been designed to give you a short but comprehensive
safari around the main highlights of Southern Namibia. You will visit
the weird Quiver Trees, the mighty Fish River Canyon and the vital water
artery of the Orange River. 
