The Wonders of Namibia

Day 1

On arrival at the Windhoek International 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. From here you will drive to the capital city, Windhoek, and the remainder of the afternoon will be at your leisure.

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 offer 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 at WINDHOEK LUXURY SUITES or similar on a bed & breakfast basis (lunch and dinner today are for your own account).

Day 2

After breakfast depart Windhoek heading south through the Khomas Region through the town of Rehoboth towards Mariental.

Despite Mariental’s quiet success, it is not however the most exciting or interesting place in Namibia. Wind-swept and dusty in spring and autumn, ferociously hot in summer and bitterly cold in winter, Mariental is home to a large number of Nama-speaking people, descendants of the early Khoi inhabitants of Namibia. The town, however, does provide essential services in the area, including fuel stations, grocery stores and banks.

From Mariental continue in an easterly direction towards the western Kalahari Basin and Anib Lodge. In the afternoon, enjoy a scenic drive in Gondwana Kalahari Park.

Overnight accommodation will be at the KALAHARI ANIB LODGE or similar on a dinner, bed & breakfast basis. An afternoon scenic drive is also included. (Lunch today is for your own account.)

Day 3

Today you will travel in a southerly direction through the southern Karas Region via the small towns of Mariental and Keetmanshoop, one of the oldest established towns in Namibia and the capital of the south. Near Keetmanshoop you have the option of visiting the “Quiver Tree Forest”, an outcrop colonized by an Aloe tree species (Aloe dichotoma), and the basalt formations of the “Giants Play Ground”, before continuing your journey towards the Fish River Canyon.

Situated on the lower quarter of the Fish River, Fish River Canyon is the most prominent jewel in Namibia’s crown for its striking natural beauty and classic raw appeal. This charming canyon region is the most frequented getaway in Namibia and for good reason. It is reputedly the second largest canyon on earth after the Grand Canyon. It houses an enormous ravine that stretches to about a 160 km long and up to 27 km wide and in places almost 550 metres deep.

Overnight accommodation at CANYON ROADHOUSE or similar on a dinner, bed & breakfast basis. (Lunch today is for your own account.) 

Day 4

Spend the morning visiting the Fish River Canyon. This impressive geological formation had its origins some 1’800 million years ago and has had evidence of human “habitation” for over 50 000 years.  While its full length is 160km, its’ most spectacular section is the 56-km stretch between the northernmost and southernmost viewpoints.

Overnight accommodation at THE CANYON ROADHOUSE or similar on a dinner, bed & breakfast basis. (Lunch today is for your own account,)

Day 5

After breakfast depart Fish River Canyon heading west through the small town of Aus, famous for its’ Desert Horses, to the harbour town of Luederitz.

The sheer isolation of Lüderitz, the curious way in which the colonial-style buildings cling to the rocks overlooking the bay, on some days a deep iridescent blue, on others grey and stormy, the crisp fresh climate, fishing boats bobbing up and down on the Atlantic horizon, penguins and seals diving beneath the waves, give the town a curious other-worldly allure.

Lüderitz was initially referred to as Angra Pequena, meaning Little Bay, by the Portuguese, whose navigator Bartolomeu Dias erected a stone cross on Dias Point on 25 July 1488.  The Lüderitz Peninsula is characterised by numerous bays, lagoons and un-spoilt stretches of beach.

Overnight accommodation at THE NEST HOTEL or similar on a bed & breakfast basis. (Lunch & Dinner is for your own account,)

Day 6

Today we suggest a morning visit to Kolmanskop, Namibia’s most famous ghost town.

Completely abandoned and almost covered by sand, Kolmanskop is situated about 10km inland from Lüderitz.  It was named after transport driver Johnny Coleman, who lived in the tiny settlement of Aus at the turn of the century.  During a fierce sandstorm he was forced to abandon his ox wagon on the small incline from where Kolmanskop can be seen.

In 1908 the railway worker Zacharias Lewala found a sparkling stone amongst the sand he was shoveling away from the railway line near Kolmanskop.  When it was confirmed this was a diamond news spread sparking a frantic diamond rush and causing fortune hunters to converge in droves on Kolmanskop.  The town’s development reached its pinnacle in the twenties.  In spite of, or probably because of, the isolation and bleakness of the surrounding desert, Kolmanskop developed into a lively little haven of German culture.  When richer diamond deposits were discovered further south operations were moved to Oranjemund.  Today the ghost town’s crumbling ruins bear little resemblance to its former glory.

Overnight accommodation at THE NEST HOTEL or similar on a bed & breakfast basis. (Lunch & Dinner is for your own account,)

Day 7

Depart Luederitz and travel north towards the Namib Naukluft Park. On the way you may wish to include a visit to the Duwisib Castle, built in 1907 by Baron Hans Heinrich von Wolf for his American heiress wife Jayta. The fort was designed by Willi Sander, renowned for designing Windhoek’s Heinitzburg Castle. Baron von Wolf was killed in the First World War in 1916 in France. His wife never returned to Duwisib Castle.

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

Day 8

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 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.

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

Day 9

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 SWAKOPMUND SANDS or similar on a bed & breakfast basis only.  (Lunch and dinner will be for your own account).

Day 10

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

You could participate in an optional “Dolphin Cruise” 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 SWAKOPMUND SANDS or similar on a bed & breakfast basis only. (Lunch and dinner will be for your own account).

Day 11

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).

Day 12

After a leisurely breakfast depart in a northerly direction through the town of Kamanjab towards Opuwo.

The Kunene or Kaokoland region is situated in the northwestern corner of Namibia and is bordered by Angola in the north, by Owamboland and the Etosha National Park in the east, Damaraland in the south and the Atlantic Ocean (the Skeleton Coast Park forms part of Kaokoland) to the west. The landscape is extremely contrasting and varies from dry dolomite hills in the south, to towering peaks with deep gorges and chasms in the central region. To the east, the sandy, flat plains of Owamboland reach into the Kunene Region.

Surrounded by low-lying hills, Opuwo, which means “the end” in Oshiherero, is a small and uninspiring town in the middle of the bush. The town grew into a permanent settlement and administrative centre for the region during the bush war prior to Independence. Opuwo’s name is indeed appropriate, as it is both the first and last place offering supplies, accommodation and tele-communication in the region.

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

Day 13

Today you can participate in an optional activity to the Himba, offered by the Lodge, or you can arrange your own local guide from the Opuwo Information Centre.

The area of Kaokoland is very rugged but is nonetheless one of Namibia’s most scenic regions.  It is a starkly beautiful landscape of table-top mountains, cone-shaped hills and rock-strewn plains.  Apart from the game that inhabits the region it is the home of the nomadic Himba, who migrate seasonally with their herds of livestock in search of grazing, much as they did a century ago. Kaokoland stretches from the Hoanib River northward to the Kunene. 

The Himba of north-western Namibia seldom leave their home areas and maintain, even in their dress, a tradition of their own, on which other cultures have made little impression.  They are a tall slender and statuesque people, characterised especially by their proud yet friendly bearing.  The women are noted for their unusual sculptured beauty, enhanced by intricate hairstyles and traditional adornments.   Men, women and children adorn themselves with necklaces, bracelets, anklets and belts made from iron and shell beads with unusual and striking design. 

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

Day 14

This morning you will leave Opuwo and travel south towards Kamanjab, and then on to the renowned Etosha National Park. Entrance into the Etosha National Park is via the western gate Otjivasando Gate (Galton Gate). You could arrive by midday, allowing for sufficient time in the afternoon to drive to some local waterholes to view game.

The entrance gates to the park and the rest camps are open strictly between sunrise and sunset so please plan your day’s activities accordingly and ensure that you return to the rest camp before the gates close.

Your overnight accommodation will be at the DOLOMITE RESORT or similar on a bed & breakfast basis.  Meals are available from the camps restaurant while late evenings can be spent game viewing at the adjacent floodlit waterhole.  (Lunch and dinner today are for your own account).

Day 15

Your day is free to explore the park, while slowly making your way to the Okaukuejo Resort.

Today’s Etosha National Park was proclaimed as Namibia’s first conservation area in 1907 by the then German government and is one of the largest game reserves in Africa.  Consisting of saline desert, savannah and woodlands, its definitive feature is the Etosha Pan, a vast shallow depression.  For the greater part of the year the pan is a bleak expanse of white, cracked mud which, on most days shimmers with mirages.  Seeing vast herds of game against this eerie backdrop, referred to in the local vernacular as the ‘great white place of dry water’, makes the Etosha game-viewing a unique experience.

Of the 114 mammal species found in the park, several are rare and endangered, such as black rhino, cheetah and black-faced impala.  Etosha’s current population of more than 700 black rhino represents one of the few growing populations of black rhino in the world.  About 340 bird species occur in Etosha, about one third being migratory.  For the greater part of the year (the dry season) Etosha’s animals and birds are dependent on about 30 springs and waterholes.  These provide excellent game viewing and photographic opportunities.  During the rainy season, especially the bird life at the main pan and Fischer’s Pan is worth viewing.

Overnight at OKAUKUEJO RESORT or similar on a bed & breakfast basis.  (Lunch and dinner today are for your own account). 

Day 16

After a leisurely breakfast depart Okaukuejo Resort and head south towards Outjo and Otjiwarongo in the direction of Okahandja.

Your overnight accommodation will be at OKONJIMA PLAINS CAMP or similar for overnight on a full board basis, including activities.m

Day 17

After an optional early morning activity (time permitting) depart Okonjima and return to Windhoek via the small town of Okahandja. At Okahandja, you can visit the open-air wood carving market and the Herero Graves (time permitting).

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.

Lunch today will be for your own account. 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.

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