Namibia Desert and Wildlife

Day 1

On arrival at the Windhoek Airport you will be welcomed by a company representative who will present you with your travel vouchers and assist you with the collection of your rental vehicle.  Proceed to Namibia’s capital city, Windhoek.

Windhoek is often described as a city with a “continental” atmosphere due to its architecture (historical buildings dating back to the German colonial rule), cuisine, culture, dress and educational institutions. Windhoek portrays the colour, sounds and tempo of a modern African city with its displays of African drums and woodcarvings on the pavements, which contrast with the elegant shops offering sophisticated Swakara garments and Namibian gemstones. Sidewalk cafes offering Namibian style breakfasts (Fruhschoppen), which can be enjoyed with a glass of sparkling wine or locally brewed draught beer. In addition to steak houses and coffee bars serving snacks, the city has a wide range of a la carte restaurants offering German, French, Taiwanese, Portuguese, Italian, African and Chinese cuisine.

Overnight accommodation will be at ELEGANT GUESTHOUSE or similar on a bed and breakfast basis.

The remainder of the afternoon will be at leisure to visit the city. (Lunch and dinner today will be for your own account.)

Day 2

Departing from Windhoek, today’s journey continues over the “Khomas Hochland” highland region in a westerly direction towards the great escarpment. Descend the escarpment via Namibia’s highest mountain pass, Spreetshoogte, to enter the central Namib Region.

Overnight accommodation will be at DESERT CAMP or similar on a dinner, bed & breakfast basis only. (Lunch today will be for your own account).

 Day 3

Conduct an early morning excursion along the path of the ancient Tsauchab River into the Namib Sand Sea including a visit to the famed Sossusvlei, Dune 45 and Dead Vlei.

Sossusvlei is a word from Nama descent, which directly translated means a place with many endings. Many visitors to Namibia say that no part of the desert is more stunning than Sossusvlei, with its monumentally high dunes, the shadows of their sinuous crests continually changing as the day waxes and wanes. Gigantic star-shaped mountains of sand, with the highest estimated at 325 m. The warm tints of the sand, ranging from pale apricot to brick orange and deep red, contrast vividly with the dazzling white surfaces of the deflationary clay pans at some of their bases.

In the afternoon you can visit Sesriem Canyon, a small yet picturesque canyon carved into the Tsauchab River over millions of years, resulting in a narrow gorge of about 1km in length. At the foot of the gorge, which plunges down 30-40 metres, are pools that become replenished after good rains.  Sesriem derives its name from the time when early pioneers tied six lengths of rawhide thongs (‘Ses Rieme’) together to draw water from these pools.

Your overnight accommodation will be at DESERT CAMP or similar on a dinner, bed & breakfast basis only.  (Lunch today will be for your own account). 

Day 4

Departing from the central Namib Region, today’s journey continues in a northerly direction along the eastern boundary of the Namib Naukluft Park passing through the small settlement of Solitaire, and onwards via the Gaub and Kuiseb Canyons. Continue across the “gravel plains” of the Namib Desert towards Namibia’s premier coastal resort town, Swakopmund. You may wish to travel to Swakopmund via the erosional feature of ‘Moon Valley’ and Namibia’s ancient plant species, the ‘Welwitshia mirabilis’.  

Swakopmund is considered as Namibia’s premier coastal resort and is a popular destination with Namibian’s as a welcome respite from the heat of the interior. The town is also noted for its Old World charm and relaxed atmosphere. Founded in 1892 during the period of German colonial rule it served as the territory’s main harbor for years. Today this quaint town nestled between desert and ocean is enhanced by lush green lawns, palm trees and carefully tended gardens. There is a good selection of restaurants and coffee shops selling traditional German cakes and pastries, while the coastline and the desert respectively offer many options for adventure or relaxation.

Overnight at ROYAL SEA STAR or similar on a bed & breakfast basis only.  (Lunch and dinner will be for your own account).

Day 5

Spend the day visiting the picturesque coastal towns of Walvis Bay and Swakopmund, or taking part in some of the interesting activities on offer.

An optional extra “Dolphin Cruise” excursion may be conducted from the Walvis Bay Harbour. Highlights of the excursion include close encounters with Cape Fur Seals and bow riding Dolphins, as well as seeing the lagoon and flamingo colonies. Additional excursions into the desert include quad biking, dune boarding, visits into the Namib Naukluft Park to the Moon Valley formation and the “Welwitschia Plains”, or a Living Desert Tour where a guide will introduce you to a variety of weird and wonderful creatures which call the desert their home.

Your overnight accommodation will be at the ROYAL SEA STAR or similar on a bed & breakfast basis only. (Lunch and dinner will be for your own account).

Day 6

Early departure from Swakopmund in a northerly direction through the National West Coast Recreational Area towards the small fishing town of Henties Bay. An optional visit to the Cape Fur Seal Colony at Cape Cross can be done today.

In 1486, the first European to set foot on the coast of Namibia, Diago Ciao, erected a cross in honor of John 1 of Portugal at a site now known as Cape Cross, 115 km north of Swakopmund. In addition to being of historical interest, Cape Cross has a breeding colony of Cape Fur seals.

Shortly after Henties Bay continue in an easterly direction, crossing the “Gravel Plains” onwards to the abandoned mining town of Uis. Continue heading north towards the Damaraland Region. This route passes Namibia’s highest Mountain Range : The Brandberg is 2573m at its highest point and renowned for the famous work of bushmen art, “the White Lady”.

While in the Twyfelfontein area optional excursions can be done to the Twyfelfontein Rock Engravings, one of the richest areas of rock engravings and Bushmen paintings in Namibia, and the geological formations of the “Burnt Mountain” and the dolomite columns known as the “Organ Pipes”.

Your overnight accommodation will be at the TWYFELFONTEIN COUNTRY LODGE or similar on a dinner, bed & breakfast basis only. (Lunch today will be for your own account).

 The Twyfelfontein area, a vulnerable and delicate ecosystem, is renowned for some of the best examples of San Rock Paintings and Engravings in Southern Africa.  Interesting rock formations and the remainder of prehistoric volcanic action can be seen in the Organ Pipes, Burnt Mountain, Doros Crater and the Petrified Forest. The flora and fauna of Damaraland include plants such as Welwitschia, Moringa and a variety of Commiphora species, and animals such as the Desert Elephant, Giraffe, Springbok , Oryx and Ostrich living in total harmony with the community and the communal farming activities of the Uibasen Twyfelfontein Conservancy.  Participate in a guidedafternoon nature drive (optional) in the dry Aba Huab riverbed, marvel at the rich vegetation and possibly see the desert adapted elephant.  The Lodge is situated in the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 7

Departing from Twyfelfontein continue towards the small town of Khorixas. An excursion on route can be conducted to the Petrified Forest, with approximately 50 examples of petrified trees dating back some 260 million years. From Khorixas continue towards the small town of Outjo. On the way you can visit the Vingerklip or “Rock Finger” formation in the Ugab River Valley, which was formed approximately 30 million years ago by water erosion. From Outjo continue in a northerly direction for a late afternoon arrival in the Etosha National Park. Conduct your own game viewing drive to the numerous waterholes in the Okaukuejo area.

Overnight accommodation will be at OKAUKEUJO RESORT or similar on a bed & breakfast basis only. (Lunch and dinner are for your own account.) Late evening can be spent game viewing at the floodlit waterhole.

Day 8

Spend the day exploring the Etosha National Park, visiting the numerous waterholes and the edge of the majestic Etosha Pan. Each resort office has an “animal sightings” book. This should be consulted to determine the current movement of the game in the area and to optimize your game viewing experience.

Detailed maps of the park are also available at each resort curio shop or filling station.

In the heart of the park is the Etosha Pan, meaning “place of dry water”, an extensive, flat depression of about 5 000 sq km. This great, white expanse is a place of shimmering mirages, and seeing large herds of game in this setting makes Etosha a unique experience in Africa.

The Etosha National Park has over 114 mammal species, 350 bird species and 21 types of vegetation. The most common plains game species encountered include Burchell’s Zebra, Springbok, Black– Faced Impala, Blue Wildebeest, Gemsbok / Oryx antelope, Giraffe and Red Hartebeest. The Etosha National Park also boasts healthy populations of Lion, Elephant and Black Rhino.

Your overnight accommodation will be at the OKAUKUEJO RESORT or similar on a bed & breakfast basis only.  (Lunches and dinners are for your own account).

Day 9

Today you will leave Etosha National Park and head south via the towns of Outjo and Otjiwarongo.

Arrival at Okonjima Main Camp / similar in time to participate in an afternoon activity. Afternoon activities include an introduction to work conducted by the AfriCat Foundation.  This unique program will enable you to learn more about Namibia’s most beautiful cats and is also renowned for the excellent opportunities for viewing and photographing both leopard and cheetah. An evening activity to the local viewing hide provides the ideal opportunity to view some of the more elusive Namibian nocturnal mammals.

Overnight accommodation will be at OKONJIMA MAIN CAMP or similar including dinner, bed & breakfast and 1 activity. 

Day 10

After an optional early morning activity depart Okonjima Lodge and return to Windhoek via the small town of Okahandja.  Okahandja is one of Namibia’s oldest established settlements and is the administrative centre of the Herero-speaking people. Many of the former Herero leaders are buried here and an annual procession through the town to the Herero graves commemorate those who died during the wars against the Nama and Germans. At Okahandja, you can visit the open-air wood carving market and the Herero Graves.

Continue on to the Windhoek International Airport for your departure flight. Please note that check-in time is at least two hours prior to flight departure.

At Okahandja you could visit the local wood carving market. Proceed to the Windhoek International Airport for your departure flight. (Lunch will be for your own account.)