Day 1: Windhoek

After landing at Windhoek’s International Hosea Kutako Airport, you are transferred to Galton House guesthouse for your first night in Namibia. Overnight Galton House.

Galton House

Galton House is Windhoek’s newest accommodation establishment. Named after the famous explorer Sir Francis Galton, it has a relaxed but efficient style which creates a very welcoming atmosphere. A mere ten minute drive from the center of town and perched on the edge of Windhoek’s northernmost affluent suburb of Eros, guests staying here will be ensured of peace and tranquility. The seven rooms are all equipped with internet connectivity, satellite television, coffee/tea station and general guest amenities. The communal areas consist of a large lounge, dining room, swimming pool and garden. There is also a delightful ‘al fresco’ dining area by the pool, serving freshly prepared and very tasty meals. There are also a number shops, restaurants and supermarkets within easy striking distance.

Day 2: Sossusvlei

Drive time Windhoek to Sossusvlei: 4-5 hours This morning your guide will pick you up at your hotel to join the rest of the group to embark on your safari. Drive southwest through the scenic Khomas Hochland highlands before you head down the Great Escarpment into the Namib Desert below. A picnic lunch will be served at a scenic location en-route. You will arrive at Hoodia Desert Lodge in the late afternoon where you will stay for two nights whilst you explore the remarkable sights of the Namib Desert with your guide. If there is still time today, your guide will take you to visit Sesriem Canyon, a nearby geological attraction, or you can relax and soak in the scenic and tranquil surroundings at the lodge. Overnight Hoodia Desert Lodge. All meals.

Hoodia Desert Lodge

The Lodge lies nestled on the banks of the Tsauchab River, overlooked by the impressive Naukluft Mountains. The lodge offers comfortable accommodation in thatched and tented bungalows equipped with a private open-air bathroom, air-conditioning, minibar, tea and coffee station and a shaded balcony. The lodge restaurant serves excellent traditional and international cuisine accompanied by a wide selection of South African wines from the underground wine cellar. A wooden walkway leads you to a refreshing swimming pool sculpted into natural rock. This wonderful lodge is a welcomed oasis from which to enjoy your memorable desert experience.

Day 3: Sossusvlei

This morning you will rise early for a magical excursion with your guide into the Namib Naukluft National Park, entering the Park gates at sunrise to capture the dunes whilst the light is soft and shadows accentuate their towering shapes and curves. This area boasts some of the highest free-standing sand dunes in the world. Sossusvlei is the biggest of four pans in the vicinity. Another, famous for its gnarled and ghostly camel thorn trees, is Deadvlei which can be reached on foot over 1 km of sand. Deadvlei’s striking camel thorn trees, dead for want of water, still stand erect as they once grew. They survived until about 900 years ago when the sand sea finally blocked the river from occasionally flooding the pan. Once you have explored to your heart’s content you can enjoy a relaxing picnic breakfast under the shade of a camel thorn tree. Return to Hoodia Desert Lodge in the early afternoon for a late lunch, stopping off to view Sesriem Canyon if you haven’t already done so the day before. The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure. Overnight Hoodia Desert Lodge. All meals.

Day 4 & 5: Swakopmund

The fascinating drive takes you northwest through awesome and ever changing desert landscapes of the Namib Naukluft National Park, including the impressive Gaub and Kuiseb canyons. You will meet the coast at the port town of Walvis Bay and then continue north to Swakopmund where you can enjoy the pleasant seaside location and cooler coastal air for your next two nights. The following day you'll head out on the Atlantic Ocean for a chance to spot dolphins, whales, seals and a myriad of marine and bird life. Your afternoons are free to explore the quaint town. Overnight at one of the charming Swakopmund guesthouses. All meals.

Day 6 & 7: Damaraland

Today continue heading north and east into the wonderful and diverse region of Damaraland. You will pass Namibia’s highest mountain, the Brandberg, which peaks at 2,573 m above sea level, and take time to view animals and absorb the vastness of the scenery along the way. Damaraland is typified by displays of color, magnificent table topped mountains, rock formations and bizarre-looking vegetation. The present day landscape has been formed by the erosion of wind, water and geological forces which have formed rolling hills, dunes, gravel plains and ancient river terraces. It is the variety and loneliness of the area as well as the scenic splendor which will reward and astound you, giving us an authentic understanding of the word 'wilderness'. You'll spend the days here in search of the rare desert-adapted elephant and visit the Twyfelfontein rock engravings (recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Burnt Mountain and the Organ Pipes. Overnights Camp Kipwe. All meals.

Camp Kipwe

Camp Kipwe lies in the heart of Damaraland, ideally located a short drive from the local attractions in the area. The Camp is nestled amongst an outcrop of giant granite boulders, a stone’s throw away from the ephemeral Aba Huab riverbed where desert adapted elephants often traverse. Each comfortable thatched bungalow is simply but tastefully furnished with en suite open-air bathroom. In the center of the camp lies a large alfresco dining area, bar, lounge and reception with an inviting fireplace nearby to relax beside in the evenings. A refreshing swimming pool and sunset lookout with lovely views also complement the Camp.

Day 8: Himba Culture & Western Etosha National Park

Today you head to Etosha National Park, traveling via the Grootberg Pass. Along the way you will visit a local Himba settlement; we may have to search for a while as the semi-nomadic Himba people tend move location with no notice! The Himba are one of the last traditional peoples of Namibia and one of the last truly nomadic tribes in Africa. They are a tall, slender and statuesque people, characterized especially by their proud yet friendly bearing. The women especially are noted for their unusual sculptural beauty, enhanced by intricate hairstyles and traditional adornments. We will learn about the customs and traditions of this very proud people, and will be given insight into their beliefs, way of life and everyday routine. Later this morning we enter the Etosha National Park through the Galton Gate on the western boundary and game drive our way on to the Dolomite Camp, arriving in the early afternoon. This previously restricted western section of Etosha was previously kept solely for research and rehabilitation of game and so it boasts some of the highest numbers of wildlife throughout the Park. Overnight Dolomite Camp. All meals.

Dolomite Camp

Nestled in the dolomite outcrops of this vast area of western Etosha National Park, Dolomite Camp offers an intimate experience of one of the most scenic areas of the Park, an area where previously endangered species like the Black Rhinoceros and Black-Faced Impala have been successfully bred. The Camp consists of a spacious reception, lounge, bar and restaurant area – offering crimson sunrise and sunset views over the surrounding savannah. From this point, a walkway leads to thatched, en suite chalets nestled amongst the rocky outcrops, providing privacy and dramatic and panoramic landscape views. The Resort’s interiors are designed to harmonize with the natural surroundings, characterized by weathered dolomite rock formations, Mopane, Moringa and savannah woodland.

Day 9 & 10: Etosha National Park

Today after breakfast you will game drive your way east across the western section of the Park to arrive at Okaukuejo Resort in the afternoon, having had lunch en route. The afternoon can be spent game viewing at the excellent floodlit waterhole where game comes and goes throughout the day and night, or possibly heading out again on another game drive with your guide. The Park boasts some 114 mammal and over 340 bird species. Wildlife that one might see includes elephant, lion, giraffe, blue wildebeest, eland, kudu, gemsbok (oryx), zebra, rhino, cheetah, leopard, hyena, honey badger and warthog, as well as the endemic black faced impala. This evenings you have the option to join a night drive after dinner, which will offer you a good chance of seeing nocturnal animals such as spring hares, aardvark, Cape and bat-eared foxes, aardwolf, genets, and possibly some of the larger cats. Overnights Okaukuejo Camp. All meals.

Okaukuejo Camp

Okaukuejo was the first tourist camp to open in Etosha. It is famous for its floodlit waterhole where visitors can observe, at close quarters, a spectacle of wildlife congregating and interacting. Facilities include accommodation in comfortable en suite chalets located a short walk from the waterhole, a buffet restaurant, bar, swimming pool, curio shop, post office and viewing tower.

Day 11: AfriCat Foundation

Today you game drive your way from Okaukuejo Resort to exit Etosha National Park at Andersson Gate, and then continue south to the AfriCat Foundation, a wildlife sanctuary which focuses on the research and rehabilitation of Africa's big cats, especially injured or captured leopard and cheetah. Close encounters with leopard and cheetah are an unforgettable highlight. Activities include leopard tracking by vehicle, a visit to the cheetah welfare project and a visit to the night hide where nocturnal animals such as porcupine, caracal, honey badger and even leopard may be seen. Visit the night hide after dinner for an unforgettable look at the nocturnal creatures here. Overnight Okonjima Bush Camp. All meals.

Okonjima Bush Camp

The delightful accommodation at Okonjima Bush Camp consists of thatched African style chalets, well-spaced out for privacy in the tranquil bush surroundings, plus a central main Lapa area in the form of a camel thorn pod where meals are taken and activities commence. Each exclusive en-suite chalet is completely private and the green canvas ‘walls’ can be rolled up to give you an 180 degree view so you can lie in bed and watch life in the bush going on around you whilst you relax in total comfort.

Day 12: Depart

You will rise early this morning for another memorable guided activity before you return to Bush Camp for a sumptuous breakfast. After freshening up you will depart for Windhoek in the late morning, via the town of Okahandja, to arrive back at roughly 2 pm. Upon your arrival into Windhoek you will be transferred to your accommodation establishment of choice, or to Windhoek International Airport to check-in for your ongoing flight. Breakfast & lunch.

Land Cost - 2012
Dates Per Person Double Single Supplement
April 1; May 13, June 17, July 15, August 12, Sept 9, Oct 7, Nov 4 $5598.00 $864.00
Minimum 2, maximam 8 participants. Please call for information and pricing for private departures and customized itineraries.

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