Classic Namibia Safari
Safari Quick Facts |
| Safari Price:N$ 9,500 |
Email: Bookings & Enquiries Email |
| Safari Starts:
Windhoek |
Safari Ends: Windhoek
|
Number of Days:
10 |
| Countries visited: Namibia |
| Click here for Departure
Dates |
Vehicles, Guides & Equipment |
Booking Code: WDCN1 |
Safari Price
Includes:
All transport
3 Meals a day (unless differently specified)
Tap drinking water
Tea & coffee in camp
All camping equipment
Park entrance fees
Camping fees
Professional guide
Pick up & drop off from accommodation in Windhoek
|
Safari Price
Excludes:
Sleeping bag (can be hired)
Personal travel insurance
Alcoholic beverages
Soft drinks
Visas |
|
Travelling north, south & west you will visit the Africat Foundation
at Okonjima to meet and learn about Africa’s Big Cats. Then
on to Etosha National Park for some concentrated Big Game viewing.
The Himba village at Oase brings us in touch with some of Namibia’s
ancient traditions before travelling into the desert proper to spend
the night at The Brandberg, Namibia’s highest mountain and
an ancient Bushman spiritual site. Swakopmund on the Skeleton Coast
offers time to relax or time for some adventure sport adrenaline
and the trip closes with two nights with the awesome sand dunes
at Sesriem & Sossusvlei, the world’s tallest dunes in
the world’s oldest desert.
Classic Namibia Safari Detailed Itinerary
| Day 1: |
Namib Desert |
Camping |
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
We travel out over the Eros Mountains and along
scenic roads, on our way south-west to the desert. We also
pass over part of the Naukluft Mountains the Khomas Hochland
range on our journey today and head down from Namibia’s
central plateau by way of the beautiful Remhoogte Pass. Coming
out of the mountains we reach open plains and from here it
is only a short distance to our next stop, the tiny town of
Solitaire. We will stop here for some refreshments before
continuing on through desert scenery
We cross some open grass savannah and farmlands before the
terrain begins to give way to the immense red sand dune desert
of the Namib.
We aim to arrive at our camp during the late afternoon and
watch the colours glow and change on distant mountains to
the east.
|
| Day 2: |
Sossusvlei - Namib Desert |
Camping |
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
A pre dawn start is essential this morning
as we want to catch the soft light of the sunrise on the desert
as we drive in. We will arrive at the entrance to the dunes
on sunrise and then travel through the dune field as the sun
is coming up. The light casts strong contrasts of colour on
the edges of the dunes and offers stunning views from the
dry river bed you travel through.
We reach Sossusvlei itself by walking the last 5 km through
the dunes. The walk is like nothing else, enjoying the changing
light and coolness of the morning. Ancient mineral pans, stunted
camel thorn trees and the chance of seeing a gemsbok or maybe
an ostrich make the photo opportunities perfect.
We spend the morning in and around Sossusvlei, also visiting
“dune 45”, and as the day wears on we return to
Sesriem for lunch and to escape the heat of the afternoon.
As the day cools off in the late afternoon we will take a
short excursion to the Sesriem Canyon.
|
| Day 3: |
Windhoek |
Accommodated |
Breakfast, Lunch |
After breakfast we begin our journey, over
the mountains and along scenic roads, back to Windhoek. We
will travel back by different roads, this time climbing up
to Windhoek and travelling by way of the massive Gamsberg
Pass in the Khomas Hochland Mountain Range on our way back
to civilization.
We are due back into the city around 16:00 and you will be
dropped off at your accommodation on our return. This night’s
accommodation is included in the price of the safari but dinner
tonight will be for the client’s own account in a local
restaurant.
|
| Day 4: |
Okonjima |
Camping |
Lunch, Dinner |
You will be collected from your accommodation
between 08:30 & 09:00. We will travel north, stopping
at small towns along the way including Okahandja, where we
have time to visit Namibia’s largest wood carving market.
The market is operated on a local co-operative basis and is
one of the best places to shop for truly Namibian souvenirs.
Continuing north, passing through farmland, we aim to arrive
at Okonjima during the middle afternoon, giving us time to
set up our camp and to relax in the shade for a while before
heading out on to the property to take part in the afternoon’s
activities.
Okonjima is the home of the Africat Foundation, a specialist
conservation concern that centres its operations around the
African Big Cats, particularly cheetah. This afternoon you
will be taken on a tour during which you will be able to meet,
close-up-and-personal, some of the cheetah that are going
through the Africat rehabilitation programme.
Most of the animals currently living at Okonjima have been
rescued from various desperate situations, being orphaned
or caught in a trap, and the aim of rehabilitation process
is to attempt to re-introduce them into the wild.
After our educational tour we will return our accommodation
and prepare for dinner under the African stars.
|
| Day 5: |
Namutoni, Etosha National Park |
Camping |
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
An early start and continuing north we pass
through some small towns, making short stops for fresh supplies
and fuel. Our first main port of call today is the mysterious
Lake Otjikoto.
Otjikoto is in fact Namibia's largest permanent natural lake
and we take time here to rest a little and learn something
about the history of this unusual landmark.
Continuing on to Namutoni camp in Etosha National Park we
again aim to arrive in time for lunch, giving us time to relax
before heading out into the park during the cool of the late
afternoon for our first game drive.
After your evening meal there are still more chances to see
Etosha's big game at Namutoni's floodlit waterhole. Situated
on the boundary of Namutoni and easily reachable on foot,
elephants are regular visitors here and there is a good chance
of seeing other species of game as well.
|
| Day 6: |
Okaukuejo, Etosha National Park |
Camping |
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
A full day's game driving. We again leave early
to enjoy the cool morning air as we game drive our way through
Etosha to Halali camp, situated in the middle of the park.
Along the way we visit several waterholes and are afforded
splendid views of the massive Etosha Pan. The game viewing
is usually excellent and we have the chance to tick off a
few new species that are not normally seen on the Namutoni
side of the park.
We stop at Halali for a rest and a leisurely lunch. There
is time to visit the Halali waterhole and to make use of the
swimming pool and bar facilities before continuing on our
way and game driving down to Okaukuejo.
Okaukuejo is famous for its waterhole, which has been described
as one of the "best game viewing opportunities in Southern
Africa". Situated on the doorstep of our accommodation,
black rhino, elephant, lion and numerous species of antelope
are usually seen.
|
| Day 7: |
Oase Himba Village, Kamanjab |
Camping |
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Leaving Etosha we begin our journey south with
a relatively short drive to the small town of Kamanjab where
we will make a short stop here before continuing on to find
the Himba Tribesmen.
This is the only traditionally functioning Himba community
outside the far north Kaokoland region of Namibia These tribes-people
have migrated here, lifestyle and customs intact, and are
following their traditional way-of-life in their village on
a farm. Oase Village is located about 15 to 20 km outside
Kamanjab, the exact location of the site varies as the Himba
occasionally roam to a new location.
During the afternoon we will be invited into Oase Village
and will meet with the locals. We will have a specialist guide
for the time we are there, who will be able to translate for
us and will introduce us to this “alternative lifestyle”.
We will learn about marriage customs, traditional food and
the mysteries of the local religion, “Holy Fire”.
|
| Day 8: |
Brandberg Mountain |
Camping |
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Today we head into one of the most beautiful
desert regions in Namibia, Damaraland. We drive south to the
capital of this region, the small town of Khorixas, and then
take a detour to the west, travelling via the Petrified Forest
geological site, to visit the ancient Bushman rock engravings
at Twyfelfontien. At both these locations we will have local
guides to conduct us on a short guided tour.
From here we head deeper into the desert to Namibia’s
highest mountain, The Brandberg, (2573 m). Brandberg Mountain
is an ancient Bushman spiritual site and tonight we will sleep
under the shadow of this giant granite monolith.
|
| Day 9: |
Swakopmund, Skeleton Coast |
Camping |
Breakfast, Lunch |
Starting early to enjoy the cool of the morning
we will hike, “into” the mountain with our guide
to see the world famous “White Lady” rock painting.
Attributed to the Bushman artists, the white lady panel is
believed by some to be in excess of 20 000 years old.
Back on the road for more beautiful Damaraland scenery. We
make our first stop in the small town of Uis, an old mining
town, and one of the best places to buy semi-precious stones,
for which Namibia is famous. Here, rough Amethyst, Tourmaline
etc can be found at bargain prices.
From here we turn directly west and cross the “gravel
plains” on our way to the Atlantic Ocean and the Skeleton
Coast. Meeting the ocean at Henties Bay, we first head north
along the coast to visit the seal colony at Cape Cross. Here
at certain times of the year there can be as many as 100,000
Cape Fur seals in attendance. The next destination is Swakopmund,
following the Skeleton Coast into Namibia's premier seaside
town. We aim to arrive in the late afternoon giving us time
to explore the town on foot before sunset.
Tonight we take the chance to sample one of the excellent
restaurants. The seafood in Swakopmund is superb. Your guide
will offer to organise a group meal in a local restaurant
for this evening. Participation is recommended but by no means
required.
Dinner this evening in not included in the price of the safari
and will be for the client’s own account |
| Day 10: |
Windhoek |
|
Breakfast, Lunch |
The drive back to Windhoek today will take
about 4 and a half hours. We will only depart after lunch,
giving us time to spend the morning relaxing in Swakopmund.
Swakopmund is a very pleasant seaside town with lots of shops,
a good stretch of beach (although the Atlantic here is quite
cold) and an open-air curio market. There is also a very good
museum and the Namibian National Marine Aquarium is located
in Swakopmund.
Alternatively, there are various optional activities that
can be arranged. These include aeroplane and microlight flights
over the desert, scenic drives, fishing trips (both from the
beach or in a boat), four-wheel motorcycle (quad bike) trips
into the desert and over the sand dunes around Swakopmund,
sand boarding trips (also in the dunes), skydiving, surfing,
bird-watching and many other activities are available. Your
tour guide will discuss all the possible options with you
before you reach Swakopmund and will offer to make bookings
in advance of your arrival. (N.B. All extra activities and
excursions in Swakopmund are subject to availability and are
made at the clients’ own risk and expense).
We are due back into the city around 16:00 and you will be
dropped off at your accommodation on our return. Tonight the
accommodation is not included in the price of the safari.
|
Email: Bookings & Enquiries Email
Classic Namibia Safari Departure Dates
2010 Safari Departures
Departure: Every Tuesday
Email: Bookings & Enquiries Email
|