12 DAY NAMIBIAN IDEAL

This safari has a fully accommodated itinerary using a selection of bungalows, guest-houses and lodges throughout Namibia.  There are guaranteed departure nearly every Saturday of the year, with a minimum of 2 people.  Collection time is between 09:00 & 09:30 from anywhere within the Windhoek city limits.

Windhoek – Namib Desert (350 km) (lodge) (LD)

You will be collected between 09:00 & 09:30.

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.

Lodge – Sesriem – Sossusvlei – Lodge (250 km) (lodge) (BLD)

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 camelthorn 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.

Sand dune desert – Swakopmund, Skeleton Coast (300 km) (hotel) (BLD)

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.

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 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.

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.

Swakopmund – Brandberg Mountain (300 km) (BLD) (lodge)

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, inland and back into the desert, travelling on to the small town of Uis, an old mining town, located more or less in the middle of no-where.   Uis is 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 Uis it is now only a short drive to Namibia’s highest mountain, The Brandberg, (2573 m).  Brandberg Mountain is an ancient Bushman spiritual site and in the cool of the late afternoon 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.

Tonight we will sleep at the quaint White Lady Lodge under the shadow of this giant granite monolith.

Brandberg – Damaraland Desert (350 km) (BLD) (lodge)

Our next main stop will be 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.

We continue on, deeper into the beautiful Damaraland region to our accommodation in a stunning desert setting.  There is time this afternoon to join an optional activity, game or nature drives are available for those who want to explore the area, but the views across the desert from the lodge are truly awe inspiring for those who would like to relax at the lodge.

Damaraland (200 km) (BLD) (lodge)

With an easy drive we are pushing further north today into the even more remote areas of Namibia, travelling up as far the western boundaries of Etosha National Park.

Today’s theme is take it easy in a beautiful region, arriving at our lodge in the early afternoon where again there will be the chance to complete optional activities, nature / game drives or self guided walking trails.

Otherwise the rest of the day is designed to allow you to relax by the pool and re-charge your energy.

Northern Damaraland – Okaukuejo, Etosha National Park (200 km) (BLD) (bungalow)

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.

Okaukuejo, Etosha (BLD) (bungalow)

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.

Okaukuejo camp – Namutoni Etosha (BLD) (bungalow)

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.

Etosha – Okonjima, Home of the AfriCat Foundation (400 km) (BLD) (lodge)

Time for one more morning game drive before we leave Etosha, but it’s not the end of our game viewing.  We will aim to arrive at Okonjima during the middle of the afternoon, giving us time to check into our rooms and to relax in the shade or plunge into the pool.

Okonjima is the home of the Africat Foundation, a specialist conservation concern that centers its operations around; the African Big Cats, particularly cheetah.

Dinner tonight will be in the restaurant at the lodge.

Okonjima – Windhoek  (300km) (BL)

This morning you will be taken on a tour during which, you will be able to meet, close-up-and-personal, some of the cheetah or leopard that is going through the Africat rehabilitation programme.

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 to the lodge and prepare our return journey to Windhoek.

We are due back into the city around 15:00 and you will be dropped off at your accommodation on our return.