THE ESSENTIAL NAMIBIA

 

DAY 1 - WINDHOEK

You will be met on arrival at Hosea Kutako Airport and transferred to Hotel Safari for an afternoon at leisure. Meet in the lounge at 19h00 for a briefing and dinner tonight is for your own account. B

 

DAYS 2 & 3 - SESRIEM & SOSSUSVLEI

Travel by specially customized safari vehicle to Sesriem in the central Namib Desert where we spend the next two nights camping out under ancient acacias. During our stay we will journey along the course of the dry Tsauchab River to Sossusvlei, a pan in the heart of the Namib Desert which is surrounded by the highest (and arguably the most beautiful) sand dunes in the world. We will also take time to stroll along the cool passageways of the Sesriem Canyon. Overnight camping at Sesriem. B/L/D

 

DAY 4 - SWAKOPMUND

Today we journey on via Solitaire and the Kuiseb River, across the Namib plains to Walvis Bay, stopping for a picnic lunch. We visit the lagoons that border this coastal town to view the flocks of flamingoes feeding in the shallow waters (this is dependent on the time of the year). A short drive takes us on to Swakopmund. Overnight at Pension Rapmund - dinner tonight is at a restaurant in Swakopmund , for your own account. B/L

 

DAY 5 - DAMARALAND

We travel north along the coast to Cape Cross where the Portuguese seafarer Diego Cao became the first European to set foot on Namibian soil and home to 80,000 Cape fur seals. We then head inland towards the Brandberg, the highest mountain in Namibia, and into the southern reaches of Damaraland. Ovenight camping, a community based campsite set beneath Camelthorn trees. B/L/D

 

DAY 6 - DAMARALAND

This morning we set out with a tracker, in search of desert adapted elephant and rhino. Return to camp for lunch and this afternoon, we will visit the Brandberg and its famous San rock art. B/L/D

 

DAY 7, & 8 - ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK

Early morning, we visit the San rock engravings at Twyfeifontein and explore the geological formations of the Vergrandenberg, the organ pipes and the Petrified Forest. Our journey then takes us to Etosha National Park which covers 22,270 sq km of countryside ranging from dense bush to open plains. At the heart of this "Place of dry Water" is Etosha pan - a vast, dry shallow depression. Along the southern verge of the Pan perennial springs feed waterholes which attract myriad animal and bird species, many indigenous to Namibia. Explore Etosha's riches on morning and afternoon game drives - you could sight elephant, lion, cheetah, leopard, hyena and rhino.

Our first overnight is at Okaukeujo Rest Camp where a special feature is the floodlit waterhole. Our second night is at Namutone Rest Camp the speciality of the Namutoni area is the diminutive Damara Dik-Dik. B/L/D

 

DAY 9 - CAMP SETENGHI

Our safari continues via Tsumeb and Otavi to Camp Setenghi, situated on the slopes of the Ugab Terrace with magnificent views of the nearby Paresis Mountains. Optional activities in the area include viewing game at the floodlit waterhole, horse riding, walking trails, rock climbing, bird watching or just relaxing by the swimming pool. Overnight camping under Camelthorn acacias. B/L/D

 

DAY 10 - WINDHOEK

After an early breakfast, we start making our way back to Windhoek, via Okahandja. Safari ends on arrival at Windhoek, in the mid to late afternoon. B