10-day Diverse Namibia

Day notes

You will be met at Windhoek Airport by your Explorations guide and begin your journey by driving 340km (211 miles) through the Khomas Hochland mountains and down into the iconic Sossusvlei region, a driving time of approximately five hours.

The first two nights are spent at Kulala Adventurer Camp on the private Kulala Wilderness Reserve, a 37 000-hectare (91430 acres) tract of land near the spectacular sights of Sossusvlei, bordering the expansive Namib Naukluft Park. The camp, comprising dome tents under the shade, is perfect for taking in the Reserve’s expansive vistas and stark beauty and enjoys views into the Namib Naukluft National Park. Dining under the star-filled Namibian skies and watching a blood red sunset punctuated by the cacophony of barking geckos are a few highlights, as is spending unrushed quality time at the towering dunes of Sossusvlei, known for their red colouring in the early morning sunlight, accessed through our private gate which is closer to the dunes than the main park entry gate. Desert-adapted wildlife such as ostrich, springbok and gemsbok can be seen on the reserve, as well as smaller creatures like bat-eared fox, black-backed jackal and Cape fox.

Other activities include day and night scenic drives and walks.

Day notes

You will depart from camp early, driving through the snaking roads of the Kuiseb Canyon and out onto the expansive gravel plains before arriving in Walvis Bay and then finally driving up the skeleton coast into the quaint town of Swakopmund, a drive of about 5 -6 hours (approximately 370 km – 230 miles).

On Day 4, you will explore the ice-blue Atlantic coast, from the port town of Swakopmund to its incredible marine mammals. A “Dolphin and Seal” catamaran cruise from Walvis Bay (weather permitting) provides a wonderful opportunity to explore this beautiful bay and coastline. The cruise takes in the Oyster Platforms, where you will learn about the oysters cultivated here – including tasting the delicacies – before moving on to Pelican Point to see the lighthouse, and an area in which three species of dolphins may be encountered, namely the rare endemic Heaviside’s dolphin, dusky and Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. Aside from spotting diverse pelagic (oceangoing) birdlife, pelicans and flamingo, and Cape fur seals, the massive sunfish, leatherback turtles, southern right and humpback whales can be seen in season. 

Accommodation is at the Hansa Hotel, an iconic place that forms part of Swakopmund's architectural culture and is said to be one of the oldest buildings in the town. It is ideally situated in the centre of Swakopmund within easy walking distance of town and the beach. The luxury of the hotel, its excellent cuisine and friendly service are well known locally and internationally. We will have an opportunity to appreciate this hotel as well as other restaurants and sights in Swakopmund over the two days. 

Day notes

You will continue your journey by road 320km (200 miles) (approximately 8-hour drive) to Damaraland, west of the Brandberg Mountain (the second largest monolith in the world after Ayre’s Rock, Australia), stopping for lunch at Ugab Save the Rhino Trust Camp.

The Save the Rhino Trust (SRT) has been involved with rhino conservation in this area since the early eighties, and has been singly responsible for helping these rare animals survive and thrive, so that today this area boasts the largest concentration of black rhino anywhere on the planet outside of a national park.

Community game scouts employed by the Trust as monitors are the trackers and guides. Once in the area around Damaraland, you are in the heart of the rocky desert, an ancient glacial landscape. Damaraland boasts a varied and breathtaking assortment of desert-adapted species including one of the highest concentrations of desert elephant and black rhino, and a surprisingly high diversity of wildlife including Hartmann's mountain zebra, kudu, giraffe, gemsbok, and springbok, with occasional cheetah sightings. The activities range from nature walks, viewing the rock engravings at Twyfelfontein (a World Heritage Site) to day and night nature drives, exploring the mountains, hills and ephemeral river beds and springs.

Damaraland Adventurer Camp is located in a special place in the heart of the rocky desert of Damaraland, an ancient, starkly beautiful landscape. Looking south from camp toward the imposing Brandberg Mountains, Damaraland offers you endless vistas and one of the best wilderness areas in Namibia. Early morning mists, generated by the clash between the icy Atlantic Ocean and the warm desert air of the Skeleton Coast, drift inland along the river valley, providing sustenance to the flora and fauna of the region, hence the high density of wildlife in the area.

Accommodation is in 5 “maxi” dome tents pitched on timber platforms that allow for a small viewing deck where you can sit for hours and contemplate the surrounding beauty. Tucked away in and amongst the sandstone hills, each tent is surprisingly spacious with wooden beds with mattresses and cotton linen. En-suite bathrooms with toilet and shower are located at the back of each tent.

Day notes

We drive approximately 330km (205 miles) (approximately 5 hours’ drive time) to Ongava Game Reserve on the boundary of Etosha National Park, to experience big game viewing and this iconic salt pan.

Etosha remains the highest density wildlife area within Namibia, its’ fame justly acknowledged. The salt pan (largest salt pan in the world) is speculated to be a remnant of an ancient glacial lake - today being maintained by scouring winds across its surface and sporadic ephemeral flooding. Springs along the edge of the pan attract and quench the thirst of a dense and varied conglomeration of wildlife, mixing savanna and desert species like impala and springbuck.

On day 9 you will embark on a full day game drive into Etosha, exploring the southern roads of Etosha Pan from Okakeujo through to Halali (where we stop for lunch and relax in the cool shade watching the game coming in to drink at the waterhole), meandering our way from waterhole to spring and enjoying the endless vistas and mirages of the pan itself.

On the southern boundary of Etosha National Park and forming a buffer to the Park lies Ongava Game Reserve, a prolific 30 000ha (74130 acre) private concession. It is a haven to large concentrations of wildlife: notably lion, cheetah, black rhino, white rhino, springbok, gemsbok, wildebeest, Burchell's zebra, Hartmann's mountain zebra, waterbuck, red hartebeest, giraffe, eland and the largest population of the endemic black-faced impala outside of Etosha.

Andersson’s Camp makes for a comfortable modern day, eco-friendly exploration of the Etosha landscape. Its resurrected farmstead fronts onto a waterhole and the 20 tented guest units, each with en suite bathroom, are raised on decks for an enhanced view.

To further enhance our Etosha experience and while accommodated on the private Ongava Reserve, you can enjoy night game drives and walks, while evening game viewing is enhanced with a floodlit waterhole out the front of the main area.

Day notes

Driving south, you will return to Windhoek at 13h00 (approximate distance – 420km) (260 miles) where the adventure ends