BEST OF NAMIBIA WITH SOUTHERN

Day 1 : The Elegant Guesthouse, Windhoek  (B / - / -)     

Windhoek :

Surrounded by the stubble-covered Auas Mountains and the endless Khomas Hochland, Windhoek lies in a long valley fed by ancient hot springs in the central highlands. Namibia’s capital and bustling city. More often than not, the start or end place of your Namibia safari.

In Windhoek there are many interesting historical buildings, museums, galleries and craft shops. The city has several good restaurants and modern shops and services making it an excellent base camp from which to launch your Namibian adventure.

Day Itinerary :

•    You will be met by your guide on arrival in Windhoek and handed your travel documents
•    City tour of Windhoek with your guide (if time permits)
•    The remainder of the day can be spent relaxing at your own leisure
•    For dinner tonight, you can head into town for a bite to eat at one of Windhoek's well known restaurants

Overnight : The Elegant Guesthouse
Meals : Bed and Breakfast

Day 2 : Camelthorn Kalahari Lodge, Kalahari Namibia  (B / - / D)    

Kalahari Namibia :

The Kalahari is a vast basin of semi-arid plains, dry savannah and moist woodland. Welcome to wide open spaces and ochre red sands.
In the southern Kalahari, attractions are few and very far between and that in itself is one of the major attractions of this endless land. Large camel-thorns and shepherd's trees dot the grassy plains and your field of vision may well cross a time zone with enormous skies and a chirrupy silence your only companions.

The semi-arid plains and dunes support diverse and fascinating plants, birds and animals that have adapted to life in a virtually water-free world. The gemsbok can go for months on end without water and have special blood-cooling systems at the base of their brains. The camel thorn is a large and hardy acacia tree that thrives in sandy soils thanks to a taproot that can extend to three times the tree's height.

Day Itinerary :

Windhoek - Kalahari 245km - approximately 3 to 4 hours

•    After breakfast, you can still pop into town for anything you might need and then depart heading south from Windhoek to the red sand dunes of the Kalahari
•    Spend the remainder of the day at leisure in this beautiful setting
•    Optional activities here include game and nature drives as well as a Bushman experience

Overnight : Camelthorn Kalahari Lodge
Meals : Dinner, Bed and Breakfast

Day 3 : Canyon Roadhouse, Fish River Canyon  (B / - / D)

Fish River Canyon :

The major attraction in the southern-most reaches of Namibia is the Fish River Canyon. One of the largest in the world, the canyon proper is about 60km long, up to 8km wide, and 550m at its deepest.

The ephemeral Fish River - one of a handful that rise in Namibia - began its work creating the canyon in about 170 million years ago when tectonic rumblings increased the gradient of the river. All around the canyon, the land rises and falls in gentle undulations marked by dramatic inselbergs. Hardy wildlife thrives in the unspoilt wilderness of two adjacent nature reserves: Fish River Canyon National Park and the privately-owned Gondwana Cañon Park.

Day Itinerary :

Kalahari – Fish River Canyon 440km - approximately 7 to 8 hours :

•    Head south via Mariental and Keetmanshoop to the Karas region, the Fish River Canyon area
•    Detour en-route to Giant's Playground and Quiver Tree Forest, a beautiful site where three large aloes grow between rocks
•    If time permits, visit the Fish River view point with your guide at sunset to end the day

Overnight : Canyon Roadhouse
Meals : Dinner, Bed and Breakfast

Day 4 - 6 : Alte Villa, Luderitz  (B / - / -)  

Luderitz :

Luderitz is a harbour town on the Atlantic Coast in Namibia with 25,000 inhabitants. Born out of necessity in 1487 when Bartolomeu Diaz sailed his little flotilla into the natural bay it now boasts German history, excursions to Kolmanskop Ghost Town and off-shore activities.

Visit the abandoned Kolmanskop Ghost Town. An eerie feeling as you walk through deserted houses now filled with sand. Explore the old diamond mines and restricted areas of Pamona and Bogenfels rock arch. Be on the look out for crystallised stones known as the "Desert Rose". Go to Diaz Point. See the lighthouse or go on a boat cruise of the seas to explore the harbour. Search for the desert horses of Aus. The last true herd of feral horses in Africa.

Day Itinerary :

Fish River Canyon – Luderitz      385km - approximately 5 to 6 hours

•    Enjoy a morning canyon view before heading west through harsh but beautiful terrain which changes to wide open desert plains as you make your way to the coast
•    Your drive will take you via Aus, where you may be lucky to view the wild desert horses in the area
•    1 full day is set aside to enjoy the historic town of Lüderitz and visit the amazing Kolmanskop Ghost Town with your guide
•    Lunches and dinners can be enjoyed at any of the local restaurants in town

Overnight : Alte Villa      
Meals : Bed and Breakfast

Day 6 - 8 : Desert Quiver Camp, Sossusvlei  (B / - / D)

Sossusvlei :

Star dunes with up to five crests rise 300m into the air and rank among the biggest in the world; the dune valleys are marked by vast clay pans where the Tsauchab River gave up its fight to reach the sea more than 60,000 years ago.

Besides the dunes and pans of Sossusvlei and Sesriem Canyon, a sideshow of activities and sights has developed around the region and there are plenty of game lodges that provide additional desert-adapted activities. Plants and birds are the dominant life form in this dessicated realm and they support a tiny world of mammals, reptiles and insects that, in the absence of coastal fog, seldom wander far from the rivercourse and its pans.

Day Itinerary :

Luderitz – Sossusvlei 505km - approximately 7 to 8 hours

•    After breakfast, you will depart to the "sea of sand" backtracking to Aus and then heading north via Helmeringhausen
•    Wake up early for breakfast (Day 7) and then head to the entrance to Sossusvlei, the Sesriem Gate
•    Spend the whole day in the beautiful Sossusvlei area, exploring the highlights: Sossusvlei,  Dead Vlei, Dune 45, Big Daddy, Elim Dune and the Sesriem Canyon
•    Return to the lodge for lunch or arrange a lunch pack to enjoy in the dunes and return late afternoon for a well-earned rest
•    Optional extra activities: Hot air balloon safari, Nature drives

Overnight : Desert Quiver Camp
Meals : Dinner, Bed and Breakfast

Day 8 - 10 : Swakopmund Luxury Suites, Swakopmund  (B / - / -)

Swakopmund :

Surrounded by the ancient Namib Desert and the inhospitable - but bounteous - Atlantic Ocean, Swakopmund is alive with activity and has a lot on offer for the adventure-seeker: quad-biking, sand-boarding, horse-riding, skydiving and more.

Swakopmund has many interesting German-influenced buildings from the early 1900s in a variety of styles and, for its size, Swakopmund has an astonishing array of restaurants that serve mainly seafood, steak and many German staples.

Walvis Bay :

Walvis Bay is an industrial port which lies along the Atlantic Ocean, off Namibia's Skeleton Coast. The large bay and surrounding sand dunes help make Walvis Bay a tourist mecca with loads of activities on offer to explore it. 

•    Explore the Skeleton Coast where the dunes meet the sea at Sandwich Harbour
•    Go on a dolphin boat cruise in the harbour. Enjoy champagne and oysters
•    Kayak among the seals at Pelican Point
•    Visit and climb the mighty Dune 7
•    Visit the RAMSAR wetland birding site and the Walvis Bay Lagoon. Thousands of flamingos from October to April
•    Explore the neighbouring town of Swakopmund. Activities abound and dining delights

Day Itinerary :

Sossusvlei – Swakopmund 350km - approximately 5 to 6 hours

•    Depart after breakfast and head north to Solitaire, then west crossing the Tropic of Capricorn, through the Gaub and Kuiseb Canyons via the Namib Gravel Plains to the coast
•    Either via Walvis Bay to Swakopmund, or (recommended) detour via Ganab to the Welwitschia Plains and Moon Landscape
•    The Namibian coastline is generally known as The Skeleton Coast due to the barren areas, ship wrecks and, in days gone by, whale skeletons left on the beach
•    1 full day is set aside for this lovely area where Swakopmund and Walvis Bay offer a wide range of activities such as: Dolphin cruise, Sandwich Harbour excursion (a real Skeleton Coast experience), Dune quad biking, Sand boarding, Sea kayaking, Lots more…
•    Lunches and dinners can be enjoyed at a café or restaurant overlooking the sea

Overnight : Swakopmund Luxury Suites     
Meals : Bed and Breakfast

Day 10 - 12 : Twyfelfontein Adventure Camp, Damaraland (B / - / D)   

Damaraland :

Damaraland features vast khaki plains, sheer rocky mountains and incredible desert-adapted wildlife. Track rhino and desert elephant, explore the rugged land or sit back and enjoy the dramatic and endless scenery. Damaraland's hilly savannah supports a large number of species including lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, eland, kudu, giraffe, klipspringer, steenbok, gemsbok and springbok. Birdlife is prolific with over 33 raptors recorded including cuckoo hawks, Egyptian vultures and peregrine falcons - the world's fastest animal.

Damaraland is divided into several enormous private game reserves, known as concessions, that support most species of Namibia's large game and provide some of the best birding and wildlife experiences in the country - and southern Africa for that matter.

Day Itinerary :

Swakopmund – Damaraland 445km - approximately 7 to 8 hours

•    Head north along the Skeleton Coast, via Henties Bay to visit the Cape Cross seal colony. Along the way, stop at the Lichen Fields as well as the ship wreck between the colourful small town of Wlotskasbaken and Henties Bay
•    Backtrack to Henties Bay and head inland through wide open plains to Uis, then north to the Twyfelfontein area
•    Visit to Namibia's Open Air Museum, the Twyfelfontein Rock Engravings as well as the interesting Organ Pipes rock formations and Burnt Mountain
•    Take a drive with your guide, west (4x4 needed) to the Huab River to look for desert adapted elephants and other game such as oryx, springbok, ostrich (recommended with  lodge guide)
•    Visit the Damara Living Museum for a hint of culture

Overnight : Twyfelfontein Adventure Camp
Meals : Dinner, Bed and Breakfast

Day 12 : Etosha Village, Etosha South  (B / - / D)

Etosha South :

Located just south of the boundary of Etosha National Park in northwestern Namibia, Etosha South makes up the southern region of this wild paradise. The area is comprised of a collection of world class private game reserves. The national park can be accessed via the southern entrance at Andersson’s Gate. Visitors can catch a glimpse of a variety of wildlife including: lion, giraffe, elephant, white and black rhino, and a multitude of plains game. Popular activities include: enjoying an open 4x4 safari with an expert guide, half day or full day drives with the option of a picnic lunch with wine on the full day game drive.

Day Itinerary :

Damaraland – Etosha (south) 325km - approximately 4 to 5 hours

•    After breakfast, drive east towards Khorixas stopping at the Petrified Forest en-route
•    From Khorixas head further east along the tar road to Outjo and then north to your lodge which is situated very close to the southern entrance of Etosha, the Anderson Gate
•    If time permits, enter Etosha for an afternoon game drive. Depending on how often you stop today, you should arrive at your lodge in time for lunch (optional extra)
•    On entering the park, the first stop would be Okaukuejo where you pay your entry fee (included) and I suggest you pop in at the local shop to purchase some drinks and snacks and most importantly, a map of Etosha which will show you all the waterholes along the way
•    Etosha is one of Africa's great game parks. With 114 species of mammal and 340 species of birds you are sure to see a great variety of wildlife on your safari

Overnight : Etosha Village
Meals : Dinner, Bed and Breakfast

Day 13 - 15 : Onguma Bush Camp, Etosha East  (B / - / D)

Etosha East :

On the eastern edge of Etosha National Park, the park itself is bordered by numerous private reserves and access into the park is via the Von Lindequist Gate, named after Dr. Friedrich von Lindequist who proclaimed it a game reserve in March 1907. This side of the park is characterised by flat endless plains, tree-savanna type of vegetation and fantastic waterholes, where you could easily spot any of the prolific wildlife Etosha is known for. There's an abundance of wildlife here.

Day Itinerary :

Etosha (south) – Etosha (east)   a full day's game drive through the park

•    From one side to the other side of the park is a full day game drive as you head slowly east stopping at numerous waterholes along the way
•    Take a slow drive in the morning and then enjoy a packed lunch (optional extra) overlooking one of the waterholes before continuing on through the park to the eastern side
•    1 full day is set aside for game viewing, either all day or alternate with morning and afternoon guided drives

Overnight : Onguma Bush Camp
Meals : Dinner, Bed and Breakfast

Day 15 : Otjiwa Safari Lodge, Waterberg Region (B / - / D)

Waterberg Region :

Namibia's Waterberg region is a wildlife haven en route to Etosha National Park.  Several excellent game farms have developed over the years and offer exceptional private safaris with luxury accommodation and good numbers of Africa's big game. The Cheetah Conservation Fund is several amalgamated game farms with private lodges on the western side of the Waterberg Plateau Park. The AfriCat Foundation is on the private Okonjima Nature Reserve, where they rehabilitate animals such as cheetah to be re-released into the wild.

The Waterberg plateau rises 200m above the surrounding plains and creates a diversity of habitats. The Waterberg Plateau Park and surrounding game farms are the base for numerous conservation-related research projects.

Day Itinerary :

Etosha (east) – Otjiwa 330km - approximately 4 to 5 hours

•    Head south via Otavi and Otjiwarongo to Otjiwa, which is the oldest private game farm in Namibia, and offers about 25 different game species, this includes the White Rhino, Sable and Roan. 
•    Enjoy many of the optional activities like sundowner drive, game walks, rhino tracking and night drives

Overnight : Otjiwa Safari Lodge
Meals : Dinner, Bed and Breakfast

Day 16 : End of Itinerary (B / - / -)

Day Itinerary

Otjiwa– Windhoek 225km - approximately 3 to 4 hours

•    Early morning rise for a quick snack before joining an optional morning activity
•    Back to the lodge for a hearty Namibian breakfast before departure
•    Head back to Windhoek, where your guide will drop you at the airport in time for your departure flight (Keep in mind that you need to be at the airport 2 hours prior and the airport is still a 45 minute to 1 hour drive from town)

Bed and Breakfast
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