Safari Quick Facts

Today you travel north via the Kuiseb Canyon to Swakopmund, a journey of about 360kms/four hours. En-route
you’ll visit the Moon Landscape, a stark and inhospitable landscape created by Damara granites pushed upwards
through the earth’s crust some 500 million years ago, and now worn down to their foundations – it’s another of
Namibia’s interesting landscapes to experience. You’ll also see the ancient desert Welwitschia plants, the oldest
in the world – some are over 2,000 years old.
Upon arrival in Swakopmund, you’ll transfer to your hotel.

Swakopmund is a quaint, characterful town full of old-world charm. Its relaxed atmosphere is enhanced by its
location, set between desert and sea. The town itself is full of traditional pastry and cake shops, rooted in the
days of German occupation, and it has a good stretch of beach and an open-air curio market. There is also a
very good museum and the Namibian National Marine Aquarium is located in Swakopmund.
Your time here is free for you to explore the town or maybe take an excursion to experience one of the many
surrounding activities. Bird lovers shouldn’t miss the opportunity to visit nearby Walvis Bay lagoon, a worldrenowned
bird sanctuary for some 160,000 birds, as well as a bi-annual feeding station for 200,000 migratory
waders and terns. For the adventurous, there are aeroplane flights over the desert, fishing trips, quad bike
excursions into the desert and over the sand dunes around Swakopmund and sand boarding trips.

Today you continue towards the Twyfelfontein area. Your journey will take you through sandstone outcrops and
basalt plains towards the central reaches of the Huab River. Upon arrival at about 4pm, you’ll visit the world
famous rock engravings and spend time interpreting the fascinating history of these treasures.

Today you continue towards the Twyfelfontein area. Your journey will take you through sandstone outcrops and
basalt plains towards the central reaches of the Huab River. Upon arrival at about 4pm, you’ll visit the world
famous rock engravings and spend time interpreting the fascinating history of these treasures.

Today you travel into the 5,000 square kilometre private concession area of Palmwag Lodge. Your journey is
180kms in distance; the time taken will depend on number of stops, wildlife viewings en-route etc.
The Palmwag area is a region of simply breathtaking landscapes - a mountainous area teeming with wildlife.
Springbok, gemsbok, kudu, ostrich, jackal, zebra, giraffe and hyena are regular visitors, as well as occasionally
lion, leopard and cheetah. With a bit of luck you’ll also encounter the endangered black rhino and the famous
desert elephant, which roam the area in absolute freedom. The opportunities for wildlife photography are fantastic
in this wilderness area.

Heading north towards the Hoanib River, you’ll continue to explore this wonderful area – having two stops in
different regions allows you to experience different aspects of the concession. Our nightstop tonight is 120kms
from your campsite on day eight.
As you travel along the river you’ll sight a great variety of wildlife, including elephant which meander up and down
the river, walking great distances every day to feed and drink from its springs. The area is good for wildlife
because it’s an eco-system in itself, which supports a lot of different species.
Upon arrival at your camp, there’s time to relax before dinner. The views across the valleys are beautiful and it is
not uncommon to see elephant moving past the camp during the night!

Today we head towards Purros, a journey of 70kms.
Purros is an Ovaherero settlement in the Hoarusib River. We’ve included this in your itinerary as it’s an area
frequented by the nomadic Himba people depending, of course, on the availability of grass and water for their
cattle and goats. You’ll also have the opportunity to visit a local school, meet the teachers and pupils and
experience a little bit of their culture.
Your overnight accommodation is also at a campsite belonging to the local community in the area, and thus
making a direct financial contribution to them. Your camp is in an area with desert elephant, which provides an
exciting experience!

Continuing your desert adventure, your destination today is the Khowarib Schlucht, a narrow gorge in the Hoanib
River. Today’s journey is approximately 120kms/eight hours. En-route you’ll visit Sesfontein. It was originally a
German police fort - more than a hundred years ago - and gets its name from the fountains found in the area.
The Khowarib Schlucht is home to Damara and Herero families, and also stunning rock faces and cliffs, so here
you’ll get a taste of both Namibia’s scenic and cultural beauty.

Your destination today is the western border of Etosha National Park – a journey of approximately 115 kms/five
hrs). You’re likely to see elephant, lion, leopard and cheetah here, which is why we thought it was worth a stop. Again,
it also allows you to see two different, unique areas of one of Africa’s most famous national parks – offering you
the best possible wildlife experiences.

It’s a journey of approximately 150kms/six to eight hours (depending on stops en-route) to the heart of Etosha
National Park for your two night stay. Etosha forms the main game viewing section of our safari and
the Okaukuejo area offers us some of the best waterholes in the park, with the best chance to see some of the larger
animals such as lion. You’ll stay in an area where you can experience wildlife viewings not only from the comfort of a
vehicle, but also around a waterhole which has been described as one of the "best game viewing opportunities in
Southern Africa" and black rhino, elephant, lion and numerous species of antelope are usually seen.
We’ve included either a morning and afternoon game drive here, or a full day game drive, depending on the wishes of the
group. Your guide/driver will take you to visit numerous waterholes in the area, hoping to catch some of Etosha's
wildlife out for an early morning drink. The game drives around the Okaukuejo area are some of the best in the
park and you will cover several different terrains, from wooded areas to open savannah and in the rainy season, wetland. Later in the day, you’ll enjoy stopping at waterholes popular with game and waiting for the animals to
come to us.
For those keen to see more wildlife, we can arrange an additional, optional game drive during your stay here.

See day 12 for Itinerary

Departing after breakfast, you’ll make the 480km/five-six hour journey to Windhoek, stopping at Okahandja on
the way, where you 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.
You’ll arrive in Windhoek in time for your afternoon flight.