Marv Weidner - Ultimate Namibia Safari & Tanzania Journey

This half-day morning adventure takes you into the Namib Naukluft National Park. Learn about the ecosystem, Aeolian geological processes, walk to Deadvlei, perhaps climb a sand dune, and for the fit and adventurous, conquer the towering ‘Big Daddy’.

Set out to the dunes on our reserve, where the story of the deserts ecology is written in the sand. Explore the dunes on foot or by quad bike with a specialist guide who’ll uncover the secrets of the dunes.

Step back in time and bring to life the history of the area and its people. Follow your expert guide into the untamed Namib Desert scattered with San rock art. Explore heritage sites and gain insight into the San people.

Explore the unique landscape on this fascinating geological excursion, in a vehicle and on foot. View the varied topography, exposed due to the upliftment events after the continent of Gondwana split into Africa and South America. Observe young geology ‘in action’ as the dunes shape this awe-inspiring landscape.

Be mesmerised by the magnificence of the desert on morning or late afternoon desert drives that continue after nightfall. Explore four different habitat types and ecosystems. Learn about fairy circles, how deserts are formed and function, and how animals have adapted to this desolate environment.

Enjoy this exclusive experience at &Beyond Sossusvlei Private Desert Reserve, the only private reserve featuring the iconic star dunes of Namibia. Take the time to appreciate your surrounds and tuck into a delicious picnic breakfast.

Sossusvlei neighbours Africa’s first International Dark Sky Reserve, which has also been awarded Gold Tier status, declaring it an environment with little to no impact from artificial light. Get a closer look at the night sky from our sophisticated observatory and state-of-the-art telescope.

Indulge in one of our many relaxing treatments for a truly authentic African spa experience that rejuvenates the mind, body and soul. Our treatments promise to leave you feeling in harmony with the tranquillity of the surrounds.

Available at an additional cost.

Gain a bird’s eye perspective over the spectacular scenery surrounding the lodge, in the company of other guests. The balloons are unable to fly over the Namib sand dunes; however, you will still be treated to awe-inspiring views.

Available at an additional cost.

Traverse the stark beauty and vast expanse on an e-bike. Easy to ride and super fun, these nifty bicycles are fitted with a battery-powered ‘assist’ that gives a boost via a throttle when pedalling. There are two different options, an 11km (6.8mi) or a 19km (11.8mi) route.

Explore the lodge surrounds on foot, take the time to sit in the stillness and be enchanted by the views. There are two defined hiking trails, a 2.2km (1.4mi) or a 3.4km (2.1mi) route waiting to be explored.

andBeyond’s WILDChild programme, designed especially for children visiting our safari lodges and camps in Africa, is filled with fun, interactive activities that offer opportunities to learn and discover new experiences and cultures. Deeply rooted in the love for the African bush, it not only creates a series of unforgettable moments for the whole family but forges strong bonds between our young guests, our planet and its people.

Take off from nearby the lodge and soar over the vast expanse of the desert for an approximately 60 min helicopter flight. Hover over jagged mountain tops that emerge from the iconic Namib dunes, white mineral pans, rocky outcrops and unique fauna and flora. Be captivated as you fly over a landscape that has remained unchanged for millions of years.

Available at an additional cost.

Avid photographers will enjoy this 90 min photographic flight showcasing the best of the Namib Desert. This flight extends to the ocean, where the red dune belt drops 152m (500ft) into the sea. Observe a seal colony at Black Rock and fly with doors off allowing you to capture red dunes, resident desert-adapted wildlife, rocky mountains and sandy plains. This experience includes a stopover in the dunes to enjoy a glass of champagne.

Available at an additional cost.

Experience the desert from above on a 2.5 hour helicopter flight. Fly over the Devil’s Fork dune formation and soar past the gnarled, twisted trees of Deadvlei. Continue until you hit the coast where the dunes fringe the sea, turn north from Meob Bay and follow the shoreline towards the Eduard Bohlen shipwreck. Enjoy a champagne stop and head home with views of Witberg Mountain.

Available at an additional cost.

Take off from near &Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge and soar over the vast expanse of the desert for a 45 min helicopter flight. Hover over jagged mountain tops that emerge from the shifting Namib dunes flying over a landscape that has remained unchanged for millions of years.

Available at an additional cost.

With a dedicated guide and a private vehicle, guests have the luxury of tailoring their own desert experience, choosing their own drive times, and spending as much time as they want exploring the desert.

Available at an additional cost.

Our front Desk, will help Guests plan their activities in Swakopmund ensuring they experience and enjoy all on offer in Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and along this exciting and very unique Southern Atlantic coastline and neighbouring Namib Desert. Their sole objective is making sure that every guest's stay is personalised and filled with interesting, exciting, educational and cultural activities and adventures.

It provides:
* Airline Re-confirmations
* Car & Bicycle Hire
* Transfer Arrangements
* Restaurant Reservations
* Shopping Advice & Information
* Personalised Consultation

Informative nature drives in open game vehicles allow guests to experience the true Namib in its unbridled glory. A broad spectrum of wildlife, from desert-adapted oryx, springbok, and Hartmann’s mountain zebra are familiar sightings. While walking provides unique opportunities to see the smaller denizens of the desert, from the famous fairy circles to the desert chameleon.

For a truly remote experience, the vast expanse of the Marienfluss Valley offers a much-needed sense of space and enables new interpretation of the concept of beauty. A safari at Wilderness Serra Cafema will leave you in awe of the natural beauty of Namibia and its wildlife..

One of our highlights, guided quad bike excursions through the fragile environs, is conducted with the utmost care along specifically allocated pathways, so as to tread lightly on the dunes and preserve the unique and delicate habitat of this landscape.

In this isolated area, the Himba people continue their traditional semi-nomadic way of life and, when they are in the area, guests have an opportunity to learn about their lifestyle and customs.

Boating on the wondrous Kunene River provides our guests with the opportunity to venture through the lush riverside oases. Nile crocodiles and water birds seem out of place in this surreal, lunar-like landscape.

* Seasonal and water levels permitting.

Wilderness Serra Cafema’s prime location means that it has a unique combination of water and desert birds.

An exciting 4x4 excursion along the ephemeral Aba Huab

and Huab River valleys to explore this remarkable region and to search for game,

especially the elusive desert adapted elephants, if they are in the area.

Damaraland is home to a variety of desert adapted wildlife and hidden desert

treasures.

This is a fascinating activity that will allow

you to explore the rock art ‘petroglyphs’ at the Twyfelfontein UNESCO World

Heritage site. This is a great way to explore the area on foot and to learn about

the history behind these famous rock engravings.

This is a superb area to walk in because of the great variety of things to

see, no matter what direction you head out in. Guided walks allow you to explore

any part of the local area on foot, with your guide, at almost any time of day, and

they always make for a great ‘alternative’ activity to enjoy during your stay.

There are various bike trails set out which allow for various distances

to be covered by E-Bikes and also allow you to enjoy the scenic landscape. You

set out with your guide and make your way around the area so you stand a good

chance of seeing wildlife and amazing landscapes while experiencing the joys of

biking while on holiday

This activity is run in conjunction with SRT working with Rhino Rangers who are based in the area.

Head out by vehicle into the scenic Damaraland landscapes and meet up with the

rangers to continue on foot so that you can view these rare animals in their

natural habitat.

Guided afternoon/evening game drives take place on the private Ongava Game Reserve. The reserve is famed for its population of rhino as well as lion and other game such as antelope, including endemic black-faced impala. Private vehicles can be booked at an extra cost (subject to availability).

Full- or half-day guided morning game drives in the Etosha National Park, Namibia’s prime savannah wilderness area (with a packed lunch on full day). See the massive saltpan as well as the perennial springs that provide the water required by the Park’s high-density big game population, including its elephant population. Private vehicles can be booked at an extra cost (subject to availability).

Offered seasonally and subject to an available walking guide, nature walks through the area take in the abundant array of life, small and large; with a chance of potentially approaching white rhino.

The hide is a fantastic place to relax and while the hours away up close and personal with wildlife slaking its thirst at the camp waterhole. This arid environment where little water occurs makes this a popular drinking spot for game.

Guests can interface with science and research across the Ongava Game Reserve and part of this experience is an immersion into the world of natural history and science at the new Ongava Visitor Centre. With dozens of in-depth displays that feature information on the geology, animals, plants and ecological functioning of this fascinating region, guests are encouraged to meander through the self-guided exhibition area.

Relax in our Wellness area after an exhausting trip to Mt. Kilimanjaro or a bumpy safari trip.
Get away from it all, pamper yourself in this pure haven of peace and quiet. Spoil your body and soul. Choose one of our treatments to boost your energy levels, refresh your mind and get rejuvenated from head to toe.

Machweo Wellness Retreat & Fine Dining offers the finest spa & wellness facilities including steam bath, sauna and additional separate swimming pool. You also have the possibility to book a yoga session. The practice of yoga gives strength, flexibility and balance of the body, mind and spirit, revealing inner radiance and connecting us to the divinity of the universe.

List of massages:

- Swedish Massage
- Hot Stone Massage
- Shiatsu Massage
- Thai Massage
- Sports Massage
- Chocolate Massage
- D-Stress Massage

This trip will take you to a local organic and Fair Trade coffee farm. As you walk through the plantations you will be educated on the entire coffee-processing. You'll enjoy a cup of coffee with the farmers while having a homemade Tanzanian lunch. You will also get the chance to visit the oldest church on Mt. Meru and to visit a local primary school.

Visit the Baraa Primary School project which we are supporting in collaboration with the iThemba Foundation.

The first part of your walk will submerge you in the local way of life, housing, social structure and agriculture of Tanzania. In the school your guide will be joined by a pupil and together they will tell you everything about a Tanzanian primary school and all past and future iThemba projects. You will see the brand new classrooms, sanitary block, kitchen and all the other infrastructure iThemba built for the school and will learn everything about the projects to ensure a greater quality of education and a higher quality of life.
After that you will visit a local crafts shop, a daladala trip to the Banana Beer Factory and then a meal in a local restaurant. Your day ends with an unforgettable visit to the local market.

You will be taken to the slope of Mount Meru for an 8km walk through the Mount Meru forest, an old, thick forest with a magnitude of birds, Colobus monkeys and small antilopes. You will have lunch in a beautiful spot at the top of the waterfall where you have a stunning view over Arusha town.

The Duluti-tour takes you to the caldera lake where you can choose between a lake forest walk or a canoe-trip on the lake. What makes this trip so interesting is that, according to local beliefs, the lake hides many stories and is a popular place for worshipping.

Our local guide will show you the centre of Arusha. You will get a chance to visit the busy local market, see some beautiful African artifacts in the Cultural Heritage Museum or buy some local souvenirs at the Masai market.

Discover the local life in Tanzania through a beautiful walking tour. There are numerous options to get to know every part of the local environment.

- Meru Village Tour:

A local guide will take you to Tengeru where you get the chance of interacting with the villagers and learning about their culture and day-to-day habits.

- Visiting the pottery place:

This program takes you to the heart of a local industry. You'll get the chance of learning about - and participating in - the entire process of making clay pots.

- Flower farm tour:

If you fancy vibrant colors and smells, this tour is just right for you. We'll take you to both a local and an international flower farm where you'll get to know all there is about producing flowers.

- Masai Village tour:

About 30km along the Namanga-road is the village of Oldonyoshambu, a traditional Masai village in the middle of the Rift Valley. This trip promotes people-to-people tourism and encourages multicultural friendship.

Relax on the tranquil shores of Lake Manyara with a drink in hand after the day’s excitement of exploring the bush. Gather your thoughts as you watch the sun set, the first stars appear and the birds come home to roost

Explore the game-rich environment of the breathtaking Tarangire National Park from the comfort of an open 4x4.

Guests of Chem Chem Lodge are welcome to explore the Little Chem Chem Concession for morning or afternoon drives.

To visit Tarangire, choose either a full- or half-day excursion which includes a picnic breakfast or lunch at a private site. Expect vast elephant herds and huge baobabs.

Wake up with the birds and set out for an invigorating morning walk. Hear the bush come alive as the sun warms up the earth and its furred and feathered creatures. Afterwards settle down at the foot of a 3000-year-old baobab and enjoy a well-earned full English breakfast.

Visit one of the schools supported by the Chem Chem Association. Join in an impromptu soccer game with the children, share African songs and dance with them. You can even teach a math, geography or English lesson. Learn from them as they learn from you.

Expand your cultural horizons and enjoy an authentic experience sharing stories and learning about the Maasai - you'll meet Chief Choroko and some of his wives: Sindani, Seeki, Nebulu and Nemburis. Guests are also invited to visit the Barabaig village and gain a truly authentic glimpse their world, a vivid and transformative experience for any visitor.

Discover the wilderness through the eyes of those who have lived it and breathed it for centuries: the Maasai. A warrior will walk with you and a field guide – a rare opportunity to learn how this local population has survived by living in harmony with wild animals for hundreds of years.

Chem Chem welcomes children from 4 years old. They will create unforgettable memories by learning bush skills from Maasai warriors: how to make a fire, use a bow and arrow, throw a spear. A visit to local schools and villages will expose them to different cultures. Children can build a recyclable soccer ball, follow wildlife tracks and decorate safari-themed cupcakes.

Dine in a different location each night. From where to have dinner to whom you share it with, the choice is yours. The evening can be as private as you like or more convivial with other guests. Feel the whisper of the evening breeze as you eat beneath the stars. If you imagine it we can do it.

The sight of thousands of rose-coloured flamingoes at sunrise is a matchless, magnificent sight. Their presence cannot be guaranteed, but if they arrive this is a must-do. Wade slowly towards them in rubber boots or watch from the shore in a safari vehicle with a coffee and snacks.

Let your senses slip into sheer relaxation mode with our small but sumptuous range of indulgent body massages. Drift away into a slumber as you are gently pampered in serene surrounds. And you can get yourself back into top-to-toe shape with a manicure or pedicure.

Glide over the tops of ancient baobab trees as the sun rises, glinting off elephant herds, antelope, zebra, lion. Watch in silence as the world wakes up below you and savor sights never seen before. Enjoy a rustic bush-breakfast after the hour-long flight.

It doesn’t get more romantic than this: an unforgettable wedding ceremony on the shores of Lake Manyara at the foot of the Rift Valley escarpment. Chem Chem Lodge offers privacy and beauty for that most intimate celebration. Married already? Renew your vows in a private ceremony that will enhance the moment.

Explore the Northern Serengeti with our fabulous and very experienced guides. Game drives allow you to get closer to the big game and cover greater distances so that you can explore further afield in this beautiful part of the Serengeti.

**Game drives are on a shared basis unless a private guide and vehicle have been pre-booked. Max six in a vehicle.

Walking safaris are available at Lamai in certain seasons. At times of year when the grass can be a bit higher walking is sometimes not possible so it is important to bear this in mind (typically between January - March and June).

Walking in the bush is a fantastic experience and one of our favourite safari pastimes. It gives you the chance to really learn about the intricacies of the African bush; to taste, touch, smell and feel Africa. You don't get as up close and personal to the big game, but you do meet the little guys, all equally important in the grand scheme of things.