Ostrich Out - Your trip in Namibia

A relaxing walk with the Bushman (San), sharing with you their ancient survival skills and secrets from their forefathers.

Arriving at the traditional Bushman village, you will meet the family who will present you with how they used to store water in ostrich eggs , plants for medicinal use, setting up traps, the making of ostrich and bead jewellery, etc. This is really an experience, always to remember.

The guide will do the necessary translation in English, as the Bushman will be speaking in their language.

A game drive in the reserve with a variety of game such as giraffe, kudu, zebra, oryx, blue-wildebeest, eland and much more. The reserve has some of the highest dunes in this region, with views over the pans, characteristic to the Kalahari. Between the dunes, which are called streets, are the beautiful acacia trees. The Kalahari has more than 150 species of birds. The well-known suricate (meerkat) is also to be seen, although they are very scarce.

As the day draws to an end, a sundowner on the dune will await you, with refreshments and a Namibian snack, while enjoying a breath taking sunset in the Kalahari.

This activity allows one the opportunity to come up close to the cheetah, great for taking photos. The guides will provide interesting facts about this incredible cat and the history of the cheetahs in their care

In association with CCF(cheetah conservation fund), bagatelle are the custodians of the cheetahs, which are kept in a 12 hectare enclosure. Unable to fend for themselves, the three orphans namely, Ralf, Etosha, and Tuano are fed and cared lovingly by them here at bagatelle.

After this, a sundowner on the dune will await you, with refreshments and a Namibian snack, while enjoying a breath taking sunset in the Kalahari.

Bagatelle has a variety of horses suitable for children, beginners, intermediate and advanced riders.
Experience the Kalahari in silence with only the sounds of nature, on well trained quarter horses (cowboy horses) accompanied with a guide.

Enjoy refreshing drink in an ostrich egg shell on the dune, before heading back to the ranch.

After dinner, this drive offers the adventures one, the opportunity to look out with the aid of a strong spotlight, for various nocturnal animals such as aardvark, bat-eared foxes, porcupines, springhare, aardwolf, wild cats, birds, such as owls and so much more. This will be accompanied with hot gluwein/sherry in winter or something refreshing in summer.

A game drive, cheetah experience & sundowner on the dune

A game drive in the reserve with a variety of game such as giraffe, kudu, zebra, oryx, blue-wildebeest, eland and much more. The reserve has some of the highest dunes in this region, with views over the pans, characteristic to the Kalahari. Between the dunes, which are called streets, are the beautiful acacia trees. The Kalahari has more than 150 species of birds. The well-known suricate (meerkat) is also to be seen, although they are very scarce.

Cheetah experience allows one the opportunity to come up close to the cheetah, great for taking photos. The guides will provide interesting facts about this incredible cat and the history of the cheetahs in their care.

After this, a sundowner on the dune will await you, with refreshments and a Namibian snack, while enjoying a breath taking sunset in the Kalahari.

The 37 000-hectare (91 429-acre) private Kulala Wilderness Reserve offers visitors exclusive wildlife-viewing opportunities which include the likes of gemsbok (oryx), bat-eared fox, brown hyena and birdlife. Sundowner stops in scenic parts of the reserve are a highlight.

World-famous Sossusvlei is the name of an enormous clay pan, flanked by a field of famous towering sand dunes that flush red in the early morning sun. Close to the Sossusvlei pan is Dead Vlei, another pan where water once flowed. However, all that remains now are the skeletons of camelthorn trees that reach up out of the cracked earth. An exclusive-use gate provides direct access at sunrise to the renowned dunes of Sossusvlei and the evocative panoramas of Dead Vlei.

Credit: Wilderness

Credit: Wilderness

Credit: Wilderness

Credit: Wilderness

Credit: Wilderness

Credit: Wilderness

Set out in the late afternoon for a nature drive and complete your excursion in a remote and dramatic spot on the reserve sipping a gin and tonic while watching the sunset.

This fascinating geographical formation is well worth a visit. The result of millions of years where water carved its way across the topography. At three kilometres long, the views from the top of Sesriem Canyon are breathtaking while walks through the canyon gorge reveal distinct geographical layers which were laid down over aeons.

Walking trails focus on becoming immersed in this remote area, as well as its scenic beauty and the fascinating, and surprisingly, diverse array of insects, reptiles and rodents which make this dry and harsh region their home. The Tsauchab River Trail provides a revealing stroll along a productive dry riverbed.

After dark, another realm of the Namib awakes. Walks reveal some of these captivating critters such as dancing white lady spiders and numerous scorpion species which fluoresce under UV light.

Delight in a sleep-out experience under the starry starry skies of the Namib and be lulled to sleep by the sounds of Africa on the bottom deck of your accommodation.

The Namib is known for its clear night skies, and with no light pollution it is the ideal spot from which to learn about the incredible formations of the stars and planets. Our guides are also known to dabble in astronomy and will guide you through the constellations.

The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) certifies as a Dark Sky Reserve “a public or private land, possessing an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights and nocturnal environment that is specifically protected for its scientific, natural, educational, cultural, heritage and public enjoyment.” NamibRand was accorded Gold Tier International Dark Sky Reserve status in 2012, after it expanded its conservation role to include preserving the star-filled night-time skies that shine above its dunes and mountains. Lauded as one of the darkest locations ever designated by the IDA , the reserve is described as one of the nighttime environments that have little to no impact from light pollution and artificial light.

The hot air balloon safari on the Kulala Wilderness Reserve offers a truly unique bird's-eve view experience of the remote wilderness below. Soar above the magnificent sand dunes and roaring desert, with a champagne breakfast being served upon landing.

* Optional activity at extra cost, and weather permitting.
* Unavailable for the periods 15 January to 15 February (inclusive), and 25 December and 01 January.

Credit: Wilderness

Credit: Wilderness

Credit: Wilderness

Credit: Wilderness

Credit: Wilderness

Explore further into the private Kulala Wilderness Reserve, while enjoying the thrill of riding a quad bike. A guide leads these eco-sensitive excursions, allowing you to take in the incredible views and to catch a glimpse of the denizens of the desert, including the likes of oryx, springbok and bat-eared fox, as well as fascinating avian desert specials such as the endemic dune lark.

Explore the natural wonders of Namibia and take in the majestic landscapes riding electric powered fat-wheeled bikes. An exciting way to explore the stunning open plains with your guide.

Access to various activities and their routes in and around Wilderness Little Kulala taking in the scenic beauty of the stunning panoramic landscape of Kulala Wilderness Reserve – includes both Guided or Self-Guided trails for hiking, running and cycling. Spectacularly scenic viewpoints offer a chance to stop and take it all in.

With over 6 km of sandbank waiting to be explored, there is plenty to see at close quarters. Stroll

2.5 km to the end of the peninsula and discover intriguing small desert dwellers, the huge flocks of playful seals, chanting seagulls and curious jackals sniffing around. A shorter walk leads to the old rusty jetty for a different slant on the seals and birds, and perhaps a picnic lunch. And at the end of the day, watch the dying sun drop ever more rapidly below the horizon in a blaze of glory. Take the opportunity of a lifetime and broaden your understanding and appreciation of the natural world

around us.

Walk to the old Jetty to observe seals and the birdlife and to photograph their activities, or to witness the changes in the scenery of the Bay and the distant dunes as the day progresses.

Explore this ancient and arid landscape with your guide on the Nature Drive. Departing early in the morning, the guide will show you that this harsh, dry environment is alive with desert-adapted flora and fauna, and perhaps, if lucky, discover the desert-adapted elephant.

Usually departs at 06h30 and will go out for +/- 4 – 6 hours.
Drinks & snacks are included.

Departing mid-afternoon your guide will take you to explore this diverse landscape of ancient Damaraland, filled with geological wonders and other surprises.

Learn about the fascinating geological formations of Burnt Mountain and the Organ Pipes, and discover Namibia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, Twyfelfontein - known for being one of the largest and oldest collections of San rock art engravings in the world!

Usually departs at 15h00 and will last for +/-2 hours. along with seeing Burnt Mountain and the Organ Pipes.

Explore the local area around Mowani Mountain Camp by taking one of the short walking trails around the lodge. There are information points with short paragraphs explaining the nature along these trails, including flora and geological formations.

Should guests want to explore further afield on a longer walk, they are welcome to ask the guides or management - this is dependent on availability.

Sit atop a large rock.

Make yourself comfortable.

Order your drink of choice, or choose from one of the best cocktails or mocktails in Namibia.

Enjoy tasty snacks.

Relax and watch one of the most spectacular and memorable sunsets ever!

Game drives are taken in our Etosha Heights Private Reserve. We track the elusive black and white rhino while staying on the lookout for the big cats of the Reserve. There is plentiful plains game and excellent birding. Night drives on the Reserve afford the chance to spot many of the nocturnal inhabitants of the area.

After an early dinner and depending on the weather we also offer night drives on the reserve. Different from day game drives by that you stand a chance to see some of the nocturnal species that roam our reserve. We look for all of them, from bugs to birds and maybe something bigger.

Guided walks are offered to the more adventurous. A short drive out, and then the fun starts as you experience a whole new way of finding and viewing animals. Be sure to follow every instruction your guide gives you and you will have a great time. Children aged 12 years and over may take part in a walking safari.

Credit: NS

Enjoy a lovely meal away from the lodge in the bush or hide. Weather permitting.

If you are in need of some serious time out, then one of our spa treatments is your perfect escape. Our professional therapist will put you in seventh heaven.

The Okonjima Nature Reserve sprawls over 200 square kilometres of undulating plains, mountainous outcrops, and riverine thickets, and it is here that leopard (Panthera pardus), the most adaptable of all the wild cats, thrive. Read more about our Leopard Research.

These intelligent, solitary predators occur in high density in the expanse of Okonjima Nature Reserve’s multi-faceted topography. The Reserve’s predator research programme has spanned three decades, and its findings have provided great insight to leopard behavioral patterns as well as offered an upbeat prognosis for a sustainable future for the species in today’s Africa.

A two-day Okonjima stay offers the best chance to view wild leopard in Namibia, as well as those collared for research purposes, in their natural habitats.

The Okonjima Nature Reserve, a huge protected area set amongst the rugged commercial farmlands of central Namibia, comprises a diversified ecosystem representative of both the larger and small mammals of Namibia, as well as most of the country’s endemic birds.

Game drives and guided bush walks offer visitors an intimate, up-close perspective of Namibia’s wildlife and, especially, its most protected species.

The Okonjima Nature Reserve is home to, and runs extensive research projects on rare and endangered species, big and small.

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.

THE AfriCat FOUNDATION CARNIVORE CARE & INFORMATION CENTRE (ACCC)

During the visit to AfriCat, visitors will have the opportunity to spend some time at the Carnivore Care & Information Centre, which provides valuable insights into the Foundation's work.
The visit will include a short guided drive to the AfriCat Carnivore Care Centre, where visitors can meet some of the ambassador cheetahs. Our knowledgeable guides will answer questions, explain the Foundation's work with carnivores in Namibia, and help position the vehicle for that perfect photo opportunity.

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.

ENDANGERED SPECIES NATURE DRIVE

This game-drive allows more time to enjoy and understand the Okonjima Nature Reserve as a natural island bound ecosystem. As the private Nature Reserve was established primarily to conserve some of our more threatened mammal species, it provides an increased chance to encounter these relatively rare animals. This is once again assisted by the AfriCat Foundation’s research projects on the shy brown hyaena, bat-eared fox and rhino. There are more than 40 mammal species within the Okonjima Nature Reserve, both large and small as well as a good representation of the typical flora. At the discretion of your guide, there may be the chance to view some of these animals, large or small.

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.

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.