The Classic Namibian Birding Safari for Beginners

This drive takes about 3 hours, through the scenically beautiful lodge property, with selected stops at sites to view and learn about bushman rock art. Ai Aiba Lodge is home to over 200 different bushmen rock art sites and our guides have been professionally trained to interpret these paintings to our guests.
This drive can be done both in the morning or the afternoon and will also include a stop for bush breakfast with the morning drive, and refreshments and snacks with the afternoon drive.

Morning drive – departs at 06h30 (Summer*) and 07h00 (Winter*). Bush Breakfast served en-route.
Afternoon drive – departs 17h00 (Summer*) and 16h00 (Winter*). Snacks & 1 drink per person included.

Rates for activities available in documentation.

*Summer months = Jan, Feb, Mar, Sep, Oct, Nov and Dec.
*Winter months = Apr, May, Jun, Jul & Aug.

Walking the area surrounding the Lodge is highly encouraged and is an excellent way to experience the beauty of the Erongo Mountains. Our guides have been very well trained on the interesting Fauna and Flora of the area and are available to escort guests through the property.

Guided Morning walks:
Breakfast is available in the restaurant from 07h00.
Your guide will take juice and snacks along for en-route. Please carry your own water.
Please ensure that you wear good walking shoes and have adequate sun protection.

1)Ai Aiba Walk:
This walk is 2 – 3 hours in duration and can be of varying degrees of difficulty depending on your preference. It will include visits to certain rock art sites, and a focus on the smaller intricacies of nature.
Morning walk departs at 07h30 (Summer and Winter), from the restaurant.

2)Walk & Drive:
This activity starts from the lodge with a 10min drive to Moringa valley. From there guests hike to a number of different rock art sites, including some fantastic viewpoints along the way. Then another short drive (10-15min), followed by another hike through majestic landscape to view some more rock art sites and interesting rock formations. A short 20min drive will then take you back to the lodge. Total duration is approximately 3 hours.
Departs at 06h30 (Summer*) and 07h00 (Winter*), from the restaurant. Bush Breakfast served en-route.

3) Walk with visit to the San Living Museum:
This walk is approximately 3 hours. Our guides will walk with you to the San Living Museum, stopping at certain rock art sites en-route. Once at the Living Museum the bushman will take guests on a bushwalk, and then our guides will lead you back to the lodge again.
Morning walk departs at 07h30 (Summer and Winter), from the restaurant.

Guided sundowner walk:
Very close to the lodge, you will be guided up a granite hill where you can relax and enjoy a cold
‘sundowner’ drink while watching the sun set over spectacular views of the Erongo Mountains.
Sundowner walk departs at 18h30 (Summer*) and 17h30 (Winter*), from the restaurant
Rate: Included in the rate (excluding drinks). Note that our guide will gladly take your drinks order and carry the drinks up to the sundowner spot for you.

Rates for activities available in documentation

*Summer months = Jan, Feb, Mar, Sep, Oct, Nov and Dec.
*Winter months = Apr, May, Jun, Jul & Aug.

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It's a climb Credit: long.explorer

Well marked self-guided walking trails Credit: Crew 10

Guided Walking Activities Credit: Roger Fussell

Bushmann Painting Credit: Ai Aiba

On Top Credit: Furstonetravel

Impressive rock formations Credit: Pie Production

Endless horizon Credit: Pie Production

Why walk when you can ride? A cycling adventure that mirrors the leisurely pace of our guided sundowner walk. You leave from the lodge late afternoon, on E-bikes and cycle along jeep tracks to a tranquil sundowner spot in the bush. Enjoy a ‘sundowner’ drink and snacks with panoramic views as the sun begins to set. Return to the lodge via a fun single track in the twilight. Trip can also be done in reverse – out on the single track and back on the jeep track; please discuss with your guide. Snacks & 1 drink per person included.

Rates for activities available in documentation

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E-Bike Credit: furstonetravels

We have worked with expert trail builders to create a network of trails that let you discover this amazing landscape at your own speed. You can see the ancient Bushmen Rock Art Sites or spot some wildlife while riding on scenic trails.
Our trails well-marked and maintained, suitable for riders of all abilities.

•Guided Mountain Bike Tour, including one of our E-Bikes:
Ride with a professional guide who can show you the best spots to enjoy the scenery and the thrill.

Duration: Max. 4 hours
Minimum age requirement: 8 years.
Children 8 and over: quoted adult rate

Rates for activities available in documentation

Mountain Bike Routes:
Light Green Route: A lovely introduction to the trails on Ai Aiba. Generally easy-going, predominantly jeep track riding.

Dark Green Route: Although this is only 30km, this ride is not to be underestimated. There are a lot of new single tracks on this route and even though it is not very technical, it is slow going and requires constant concentration and effort.

Blue Route: This route is a bit shorter than the Dark Green Route but also allows you to ride some of the best single tracks on the farm.

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Scenic mountain bike routes Credit: Roger Fussell

Dark Green Mountain Bike Route Credit: Roger Fussell

Ai Aiba Lodges guided scenic mountain bike tours Credit: Roger Fussell

Various tours are available, and can all be booked directly at the lodge. Times are flexible, and bookings can usually be made according to your requirement. Please ask at Reception for more information.

•Bushwalk – approx. 2hours. Learn about hunting, snaring, tracking, lighting fire and collecting bush food.
•Live in the village – approx. 2hours. Learn about singing and dancing, lighting a fire, making ropes and jewelry.
•Combination (Action day) – approx. 4hours. A combination of the bushwalk and the “live in the village” tour.

*Rates on request

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San Living Museum Credit: Ai Aiba Lodge

San Living Museum Credit: Ole Becker

Guests set out early in the morning with a guide and tracker to the neighbouring farms in search of the elephants which roam freely in the conservancy. Sightings cannot be guaranteed. These elephants are known to migrate up to 200 km in search of water, but herds can often be spotted along the dry riverbeds. They are not a separate species of African elephant but due to their frugal diet can appear leaner and taller than their cousins in habitats with more abundant vegetation, and they have bigger feet.

A picnic lunch is served in the cooling shade of a shepherd tree.?You can expect to return to the lodge early in the afternoon, enriched by the unique beauty of Damaraland and possibly the privilege of having spotted one of Namibia’s Big Five.

Departure: Early morning, varies according to sunrise. Please enquire at reception for applicable departure time. | Duration: half-day | Return around 15h00 | Minimum 2 guests per excursion – maximum 9 per vehicle | 50% discount for children under 12 years.

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Once listed as critically endangered, black rhino populations in Namibia have increased dramatically thanks to a conservation partnership between local communities and eco-tourism efforts. Our Grootberg Conservancy has been recognised by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism as a rhino custodian, and huge endeavours to protect this highly poached species continue.

This excursion is a combination of walking and driving amidst the cliffs and the volcanic basalt ridges of the Damaraland Region. At lunchtime we stop near the springs and enjoy refreshments. This almost full-day activity of driving on bumpy roads and walking in rocky terrain is not for the faint-hearted. Rhino sightings are not guaranteed.?

Departure: Early morning, varies according to sunrise. Please enquire at reception for applicable departure time. | Duration: ¾ day | Minimum 2 guests per excursion – maximum 8 per vehicle | Not for children under the age of 16.

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Mammals such as zebra, antelope, jackal and occasionally also leopard, lion and hyena inhabit the plains. Springbok, kudu and oryx are a permanent fixture, and even the shy and skittish klipspringers are sometimes seen leaping from ledge to ledge on the steep cliffs of the mountain. Brandberg, Namibia’s highest mountain, can be seen in the distance on particularly clear days.

Departure: 18h00 in summer and 17h00 in winter | Minimum 2 guests per excursion – maximum 9 per vehicle | 50% discount for children under 12 years.

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The guided walk can be arranged either in the morning after a scrumptious breakfast on the veranda of the restaurant, or in the afternoon after enjoying our delicious cakes with tea or coffee. Highlights of the walk include an introduction to the local flora and the medicinal use of specific plants while admiring the amazing rock formations of the Etendeka Mountains, which were formed 180 million years ago when the supercontinent of Gondwana broke up.

Departure: Between 08h30 and 09h00 for the morning walk | Afternoon walk at 16h30 in summer and 15h30 in winter after tea | Duration: about 2 hours | Minimum 2 guests – maximum 9 guests per guide | Not for children under the age of 12.

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Guests will be guided through conservancy farms in the surroundings, visiting several authentic Damara homesteads. This tour is an exclusive opportunity to spend time with their hosts and gain insight into their origins, cultures, traditions and their approach to human-wildlife conflict as part of farming in harsh desert conditions.

The tour also includes a visit to the #Khoadi //Hoas Conservancy office to meet the staff and to understand the role of the conservancy in preserving the natural resources of the area, as well as the positive impacts and benefits that the conservancy enjoys as a direct result of owning Grootberg Lodge.

The Cultural Tour starts after an early breakfast.

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With more than 13.000 ha this reserve is one of the biggest Private Wildlife Reserves in Namibia. To explore the Epacha. Enjoy a morning, afternoon or night drive and discover the many different species on the reserve, including some rare species like the Black-faced Impala and the Bat-eared fox. Guests are guided by professional Bush Rangers. Together with your ranger as guide you also enjoy a stunning sunset in the middle of the Reserve.

Night Drive
A daytime safari is so much more different compared to a Night Game Drive! When you are on a game drive at night as you see the animal species which you can’t see in the day time. The rangers work together with a tracker who sits on the front of the vehicle and tries to spot the rare sights like Bat-Eared Fox, Aardwolf, Vulture, Hyena, Black Rhino.

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This is a half day drive that departs from Epacha Game Lodge at sunset and returns to Epacha early to mid afternoon depending on the guests. The drive includes soft drinks, water and a light picnic lunch. Experience the thrill of game viewing in one of the largest national parks in the world where you will see more than 340 different species of birds as well as various game species such elephant, giraffe, eland, kudu, oryx, springbok and many more.

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If you have seen the wildlife and enjoyed the Spa at Epacha Game Lodge, you might be interested in trying something completely different but also exciting. Clay Pigeon Shooting is the art of shooting at special flying targets (Clay Pigeons) with a shotgun or firearm. We transfer you by vehicle to where the activity takes place. We provide the clay pigeons and rifle. A guide will be present to show and guide you.

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The Epacha Game Lodge and Spa was the first in Namibia to combine the African safari experience with wellness when it first opened its doors in 2001. Many other lodges have since followed suit.

The Spa at Epacha is fully equipped with a Jacuzzi, Sauna, Steam Room and 2 treatment rooms. The most popular attraction at the spa is the open-air duo-treatment room, where it is possible to enjoy one of the many treatments together with your partner.

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Experience this cultural exchange, where visitors learn about the rich heritage of one of Namibia’s most distinctive nomadic tribes. The Himba continue to lead remarkably similar lives to their ancestors, forging an existence in the harsh environment of Kunene (formerly called Kaokoland).

On your visit, you will experience the men, women and children rubbing dark red paste called otjize (a mixture of cattle fat, ash and ochre) into their skin to protect them from the sun. The Himba wear clothes made from goat skin, and the women have long braided hair coated with otjize and jewellery made from iron, copper and shells.

The visit to the local Himba Village is a must for anyone interested in culture. A visit usually lasts a couple of hours and our guide will drive you to the village located on the farm Vierling in one of the game drive vehicles. At the village you will be led by a local guide that will explain to you their day-to-day lives, traditions, beliefs and customs.

Located just 9 km from the Mushara Collection, Etosha National Park is a magnificent game reserve in the northern part of Namibia, covering a vast area of 22,270 km². If you're a wildlife enthusiast, this park is a must-visit destination as it is home to dozens of mammal and reptile species, several amphibian species, and over 300 bird species.

It's the perfect place to witness Namibia's greatest daily wildlife dramas unfold. Joining a game drive with Mushara's experienced and enthusiastic guides, you can learn about the Etosha pan, the flora and fauna, and the diverse animal species that roam the park. The game viewing vehicles are designed to withstand any weather condition, providing a spacious and comfortable ride with 360-degree unobstructed views from elevated seats. Thanks to the guides' up-to-date information on game movements, they have a high success rate for spotting game, ensuring your visit is a truly memorable experience.

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