14-Day Wonders of Namibia

An early start from the Lodge to enter the Namib-Naukluft Park at sunrise, while the temperature is still mild and when the dune contrasts are at their best. You will travel in one of our all-terrain URI Gameviewer vehicles, custom-built in Namibia for the Lodge, with your own specially trained guide who will share all his knowledge of the area, animals, plant life and much more with you.

Regular stops are made on the spectacular ±60 kilometre drive through the dune corridor down to the Vlei to gain information or take in the vistas. At Dune 45, we make a stop to view the the world's most photographed dune. Further along, a gradual 2,6 kilometer round-trip guided walk up to Dead Vlei is a must for the healthy visitors. The more energetic have the opportunity to climb to the upper ridge of Big Daddy Dune, one of the highest dunes in this area! We spend time exploring Sossusvlei before returning to the Lodge approximately 5½ hours later in time for lunch.

Note that we are departing from Sossusvlei Lodge - please report to the Adventure Centre upon arrival.

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SVL_ParkExcursion13.jpg Sossusvlei Deadvlei Excursion Credit: Taleni Africa

SVL_ParkExcursion13.jpg Sossusvlei Deadvlei Excursion Credit: Taleni Africa

SVL_ParkExcursion13.jpg Sossusvlei Deadvlei Excursion Credit: Taleni Africa

SVL_ParkExcursion13.jpg Sossusvlei Deadvlei Excursion Credit: Taleni Africa

SVL_ParkExcursion13.jpg Sossusvlei Deadvlei Excursion Credit: Taleni Africa

SVL_ParkExcursion13.jpg Sossusvlei Deadvlei Excursion Credit: Taleni Africa

SVL_ParkExcursion13.jpg Sossusvlei Deadvlei Excursion Credit: Taleni Africa

The guided nature walk starts at sunrise, departing from the Lodge and takes place on and around the spectacular Elim Dune Belt.

Our knowledgeable guides focus on the small things often overlooked – nocturnal animal tracks, plant species and smaller wildlife.

Note that we are departing from Sossusvlei Lodge - please report to the Adventure Centre upon arrival.

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svl_elimdunewalk.jpg Elim Dune Nature Walk Credit: Taleni Africa

svl_elimdunewalk.jpg Elim Dune Nature Walk Credit: Taleni Africa

svl_elimdunewalk.jpg Elim Dune Nature Walk Credit: Taleni Africa

svl_elimdunewalk.jpg Elim Dune Nature Walk Credit: Taleni Africa

Experience the remarkable depths of Sesriem Canyon. Our experienced guides will share the history behind this magnificent natural canyon carved by the Tsauchab River.

Note that we are departing from Sossusvlei Lodge - please report to the Adventure Centre upon arrival.

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Sesriem Canyon Excursion Credit: Taleni Africa

Sesriem Canyon Excursion Credit: Taleni Africa

Sesriem Canyon Excursion Credit: Taleni Africa

Sesriem Canyon Excursion Credit: Shutterstock

Sesriem Canyon Excursion Credit: Shutterstock

Depart from Sossusvlei Lodge in the late afternoon on a leisurely drive on the Lodge's private reserve. Watch the shadows lengthen as your guide takes you out to a panoramic location where sundowner drinks will be served as you relax and watch the spectacular sunset. The inner tranquillity that a desert sunset imparts while you sit amongst nature is really something special...

Note that we are departing from Sossusvlei Lodge - please report to the Adventure Centre upon arrival.

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Sundowner Drive Credit: Taleni Africa

Sundowner Drive Credit: Taleni Africa

Sundowner Drive Credit: Taleni Africa

Sundowner Drive Credit: Taleni Africa

Desert Air have a well-maintained 6-seater Cessna 210 light aircraft permanently based on the Sossusvlei Lodge property along with an experienced pilot who also doubles as a trained "aerial" desert guide.

A number of routes are available on request, including:
A 40 minute trip to Sossusvlei and Sesriem Canyon will provide you with wonderful aerial photographs of the Vlei and Canyon.
A longer hour trip to the forbidden coast (Sperrgebiet) and the area known as Lange Wand, which is the coastal area of the Namib Desert, will provide you incredible views where a 'sea of desert dunes' meet the Atlantic ocean.
An hour and a half trip over the Sossusvlei area will include Conception Bay, a seal colony, shipwreaks and even old diamond miners camps.

Note that we are departing from Sossusvlei Lodge - please report to the Adventure Centre upon arrival.

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Scenic Flights Credit: Desert Air

Scenic Flights Credit: Desert Air

Scenic Flights Credit: Desert Air

Scenic Flights Credit: Taleni Africa

Scenic Flights Credit: Taleni Africa

"Up, up and away" as you sail silently over the reddish dune sea of the Namib. Add an exhilarating dimension to your visit to the desert.

The duration of the excursion is approximately 3½ hours. The Hot Air Balloon flight itself takes about one hour and ends with an exclusive Champagne Breakfast at the landing spot in scenic nature.

Special group rates apply for groups of min 24 pax, max 110 pax.

Due to the desert temperatures this activity is offered in the mornings only. Guests are required to depart to the Namib Sky ballooning base at least an ½ hour before sunrise with their own vehicles. The balloon rises as the sun rises. The first light hour of the day is known to be the most spectacular, especially in the desert with the rich contrast of colour and shape on the towering sand dunes of the Sossusvlei Area, on the vast desert plains and surrounding mountain ranges.

Please contact our Sossusvlei Lodge Adventure Centre for Rates and Bookings on email: adventure@sossusvleilodge.com

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Hot Air Ballooning Credit: Taleni Africa

Hot Air Ballooning Credit: Shutterstock

Hot Air Ballooning Credit: Taleni Africa

Hot Air Ballooning Credit: Taleni Africa

Hot Air Ballooning Credit: Taleni Africa

Host you special function or bush dinner in the heart of the Namib Desert!

Shortly after sunset we depart on a brief drive on our private reserve to a secret location where you will enjoy a full dinner buffet served under the Namibian star studded skies!

Sossusvlei Lodge have perfected the art of outdoor catering enthusing guests with delightful bush dinners, breakfasts at Sossusvlei, special events and even private intimate dinners.

With views of towering red sand dunes or amidst the vast desert plains, this is the most awe-inspiring venues nature has on offer.

Each function will be planned according to your requirements. You can be assured this will be a function that will be talked about and remembered for a lifetime!

Please contact our Sossusvlei Lodge Adventure Centre for Rates and Bookings on email: adventure@sossusvleilodge.com

Note that we are departing from Sossusvlei Lodge - please report to the Adventure Centre upon arrival.

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Sossusvlei Lodge Bush Dinner Credit: Taleni Africa

Sossusvlei Lodge Bush Dinner Credit: Taleni Africa

Sossusvlei Lodge Bush Dinner Credit: Taleni Africa

Sossusvlei Lodge Bush Dinner Credit: Taleni Africa

Sossusvlei Lodge Bush Dinner Credit: Taleni Africa

Host you special breakfast function in Sossusvlei with views of the towering red sand dunes under the shade of the age-old acacias.

Sossusvlei Lodge can provide a full English or Continental Breakfast complete with a table and chair setup.

Each function will be planned according to your requirements.

Note that we are departing from Sossusvlei Lodge - please report to the Adventure Centre upon arrival.

Minimum of 20 paying pax

Please contact our Sossusvlei Lodge Adventure Centre for Rates and Bookings on email: adventure@sossusvleilodge.com

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Breakfast at Sossusvlei Credit: Taleni Africa

Breakfast at Sossusvlei Credit: Taleni Africa

Breakfast at Sossusvlei Credit: Taleni Africa

Breakfast at Sossusvlei Credit: Taleni Africa

A scenic nature drive in the ephemeral Huab River and surrounding valley, including a picnic lunch, exposes visitors to unique geological formations and the possibility of sighting the elusive desert-adapted elephants and rhinos.

(Available during stays of two nights or more only)

Three open game drive cars are permanently available with guides.

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An approximate 4-hour long morning or afternoon drive into the Palmwag Concession area. Refreshments and light snacks are included.

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Credit: GondwanaCollectionNamibia

Credit: GondwanaCollectionNamibia

Credit: GondwanaCollectionNamibia

Credit: GondwanaCollectionNamibia

Explore the beauty and wildlife of Damaraland on this varied full day excursion (min. 4 persons). Refreshments and light snacks included.

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Full Day Damaraland Excursion Credit: GondwanaCollectionNamibia

Full Day Damaraland Excursion Credit: GondwanaCollectionNamibia

Full Day Damaraland Excursion Credit: GondwanaCollectionNamibia

Full Day Damaraland Excursion Credit: GondwanaCollectionNamibia

Join one of our guided morning walks and explore Damaraland on foot (approximately 1.5 hours).

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Rely on your experienced guide and follow the tracks of the black rhino. An open game drive vehicle brings you into the Palmwag Concession area. The rhino tracking is done on foot.

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An adventurous outing for min. 2 and max. 8 persons. A guided scenic drive takes you to a tented camp in the Palmwag Concession area, where you spend the night. Sit at the camp fire, gaze at the stars and enjoy your dinner.

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Palmwag Under Canvas Credit: GondwanaCollectionNamibia

Palmwag Under Canvas Credit: GondwanaCollectionNamibia

Palmwag Under Canvas Credit: GondwanaCollectionNamibia

Palmwag Under Canvas Credit: GondwanaCollectionNamibia

The Dream Cruiser is Onguma's newest and most unique under the stars sleep-out experience.

Arriving in time to enjoy sundowners and take a tour of your overnight accommodation, this sleep out in the wilderness of the reserve is on our custom built Land Cruiser, featuring a full bathroom on the lower deck and a bedroom with lounge area on the upper deck.

A night on the Dream Cruiser calls for al fresco picnic-style dining is delivered by our chef for you to enjoy as the evening turns to night and the stars dance in all their glory.
A ranger is on call via a two-way radio, so make the most of this time and relax in the safety and complete comfort of this unique space.

After a good night's rest, you can enjoy morning tea/coffee with homemade rusks before being collected for breakfast at the lodge.

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Onguma's fabulous new water-level hide affords guests a great opportunity to calmly sit and enjoy nature unobserved. Amateur and professional photographers alike love the angles and light from this equipped hide.

There is a small ablution facility nearby, benches from which to view the surroundings and lots of windows and vantage points for creative camera angles.

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Onguma Nature Reserve consists of 34 000 hectares of Namibian wilderness & is home to numerous plains game, more than 300 bird species ​and even 4 of the Big 5. ​The Reserve boasts over thirty different animal species. Plains game roam freely on the Reserve and predators although not always easy to spot, are nevertheless common residents of the area. Lions and Cheetahs are frequently seen and often heard. There is a healthy black rhino and leopard population and hyenas are also often seen and heard.

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Etosha is a 22 750km² wildlife sanctuary in Namibia – one of Africa’s most stable and accessible countries. Etosha, meaning ‘place of dry water’, and refers to a flat calcrete depression (or pan) of about 5 000km². The ‘Pan’ (overlooked by the Onguma Reserve) provides a great, parched, silver-white backdrop of shimmering mirages to an area of semi-arid savannah grassland and thorn scrub. The pan itself contains water only after very good rains and sometimes for only a few days each year, but is enough to stimulate the growth of a blue-green algae which lures thousands of flamingos.

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Africa takes on a new perspective when you experience it on foot as the first explorers did. A bush walk is a unique physical, mental and spiritual adventure through nature. Experience the sights, smells and sounds of the Namibian bush by conducting an early morning leisurely walk accompanied by one of our experienced armed rangers.

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​Johan, our resident therapist, is a professional massage therapist with over 15 years experience, having lived and worked at renowned Wellness Centres in Asia and Africa. His passion for and dedication to massage therapy originated in the East, where he was trained and educated by the best teachers in their respective fields. Having the opportunity to spend considerable time with monks in Thailand, has also led him to incorporate focused awareness into his massage therapies. He has also upskilled three ladies from Onguma and they too are available and receiving great reviews!

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Namibia can offer a truly memorable and interactive experience in the wilderness for families travelling with children by offering children's accommodation, specially designed game drives for children, activities and meals.

Onguma Nature Reserve welcomes children to explore and experience the uniqueness of the untamed African bush with its many wild animals both the big and small!

At Onguma Bush Camp there has always been an emphasis on family and the Lodge encourages families. The staff go out of their way to make sure the young ones have the time of their lives and the parents get their own satisfying safari experience. The bushveld of Onguma is a wild wonderland, a child's dream come true, and the Lodge delights in being able to share her secrets with the next generation.

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LEOPARD TRACKING
The Leopard ‘experience’ will take you out into the Okonjima Nature Reserve and will allow you to spend more time with our experienced guides and participate in the research data collection for our long-standing leopard project and newly introduced brown hyaena programme. Some of our adult leopards are radio collared which enables the guides to track them with a specialised telemetry device contributing to frequent viewing, giving visitors an opportunity to observe these magnificent predators in their natural habitat and experience the fascinating behaviour and interactions between these two species while they compete for food. Although this significantly increases the chance of an excellent sighting, it cannot ever be guaranteed as they are wild free-roaming predators.
Morning activities (seasonal times): Departure 06:00 / 06:30 AM; Return 09:30 / 10:00 AM.
Afternoon activities (seasonal times): Departure: 15:30 / 16:00 PM; Return 19:00 / 19:30 PM.

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Leopard Tracking Credit: Crew 10

AfriCat Credit: AfriCat - Karen Codling

Leopard Tracking Credit: Crew 10

Leopard Tracking Credit: Pie Production

RHINO TRACKING on foot: (Specialized Activity) - subject to weather and availability.
On this trail, no telemetry device is used to track the rhino, the guide and guests are joined by our dedicated Okonjima anti-poaching team who have spent many hours, getting to know each individual, dedicating their time towards the fight for the conservation of the rhino in the Okonjima Nature Reserve. This activity can only be booked directly at the Lodge.

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Rhino Tracking Credit: Crew 10

Rhino Tracking Credit: Crew 10

Rhino Tracking Credit: Jandre Germishuizen

Rhino Tracking Credit: Crew 10

BROWN HYAENA TRACKING
This Hyaena ‘experience’ offers more time to appreciate and understand the Okonjima Nature Reserve as a balanced ecosystem, with a focus on the ‘secretly social’ and rare brown hyaena. Since the private nature reserve was primarily established for the conservation of some of our more vulnerable mammal species, it offers an improved opportunity to encounter these relatively rare animals.

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Brown Hyaena Tracking Credit: Freda Bauer

Brown Hyaena Tracking Credit: Freda Bauer

Brown Hyaena Tracking Credit: Freda Bauer

Brown Hyaena Tracking Credit: Crew 10

PANGOLIN TRACKING on foot: (Specialized Activity) – exclusive for guests staying 2 nights
The choice of going with the researcher or guide, will be determined by circumstances, weather and operations. Sightings are not guaranteed, as this complex, vulnerable species needs a gentle and respectful approach. Tracking on foot will be done in silence and maintaining a discreet distance. The Pangolin tracking is a specialized night/day (seasonal) activity. During the summer months this activity tends to take place between 10pm and 6am and during the winter months from 5pm to 11pm. As this would be the most active period of the day for these mostly nocturnal animals. You will join a guide and tracker on a walking trail in the dark within the 20 000ha Okonjima Nature Reserve. We limit participation to a max of 6 people per pangolin tracking. This gives the client insight into this secret life of the very endangered Ground Pangolin. A flashlight and walking shoes are compulsory.
This activity is reserved for guests that are staying for a minimum of 2 nights with us.

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Pangolin Tracking Credit: Crew 10

Pangolin Tracking Credit: Freda Bauer

Pangolin Tracking Credit: Crew 10

GAME DRIVE
Experienced guides will entertain you with their knowledge, sharing interesting and enlightening information about the history of the Okonjima Nature Reserve and the research gathered over the past 30 years of conservation on Okonjima. On this trail, no telemetry device is used to track any of the carnivores researched by the AfriCat Foundation. Wildlife is the focus of the drive. Visitors are offered insight as our guides attempt to foster a general appreciation of the natural habitat of the Nature Reserve.
Morning activities (seasonal times): Departure 06:00 / 06:30 AM; Return 09:30 / 10:00 AM.
Afternoon activities (seasonal times): Departure: 15:30 / 16:00 PM; Return 19:00 / 19:30 PM.

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Okonjima Game & Nature Drive Credit: Crew 10

Okonjima Game & Nature Drive Credit: Crew 10

Okonjima Game & Nature Drive Credit: Pie Production

Into AfriCat – behind the Science will present the current research and conservation work of the AfriCat Foundation. This experience will complement all existing Okonjima activities, offering guests a deeper understanding of the purpose, methods, and importance of AfriCat’s conservation research within the Okonjima Nature Reserve.

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Into Africat Credit: Crew 10

Into Africat Credit: Okonjima

Into Africat Credit: Freda Bauer

Into Africat Credit: Okonjima

Self-guided walking trails for those guests who want to spend some time alone in the solitude of the Okonjima 2000ha wilderness area. Maps available at reception desk.

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Nature Trails Credit: Okonjima

Nature Trails Credit: Freda Bauer

Nature Trails Credit: Pie Production

Nature Trails Credit: Pie Production