18 Day - Cultural Discovery Tour - Self Drive - 18SD1

Discover the fossilised dunes, the red dunes above the plateau and the many other wonders of the Namib Desert on this drive around the Gondwana Namib Park

Experience the Namib Desert on foot on our self-guided walks of 3km, 5km and 7km. Please enquire at the reception.

Ready for a thrilling but safe experience? Join our guided night walk (3km) with UV light and a laser pointer after dinner. May only be booked directly at the lodge.

Enjoy a guided half-day excursion to highest dunes on Earth at Sossusvlei. They form part of the spectacular Namib Sand Sea, which was declared a World Heritage site in 2013. Including brunch, pre-booking is essential.

Activities to be advised at the Hotel. We gladly assist you with bookings for activities or dinner.

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

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

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

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.

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.

A close up guided experience of the traditional lives of the Himba in the Epupa area. Duration +- 4 hours.

Enjoy a guided drive to a beautiful scenic sundowner hill above the Epupa Falls where snacks and drinks will be provided. Duration ± 3 hours.

Enjoy a walk along on one of the hiking trails along the Epupa Falls all the way downstream along the Kunene River. The hiking trails offer bird enthusiasts a good chance to spot the various bird species in the Epupa area. Self-guided.

A scenic and beautiful 2 hour guided walk upstream along the Kunene River in search of crocodiles. You might also see the vervet monkeys and do some birdwatching.

These activities are seasonal and can be enquired at the reception.

Join an excursion to the Epupa Falls and a Himba village. Drinks included, flight not included in the rate.

Learn the set-up of a homestead. Learn about the importance of cultivating the lands (seasonal activity). Learn the use of many endemic trees and their use by the Owambo people

Mahangu (Pear millet) – The staple food of the Owambo people; used in their traditional food and drinks – take part in the pounding of Mahangu

Learn how to make Marula oil ‘Odjove’ in the local language

Experience the local distillery and learn how they make ‘Ombike’ schnapps or grappa as called by many

Learn how to cook at the open fire in the traditional kitchen known as ‘Epata’ or Elugo in Oshiwambo.

Basket weaving and pottery – Join the Owambo woman as they demonstrate their weaving and pottery making skills

The Ongula Village Walk will usher you to different places in the community, have an insight look in local homesteads and learn how to pound mahangu and where the local people collect water and fire wood. Explore the wide range of trees, shrubs and their use in the community. Enjoy an atmospheric sundowner under a marula tree and listen to the voices in the surrounding.

Village sun downer – at the local cuca shops; situated a stone thrown away from the lodge, you get a glimpse of the night life or social life of the locals as you chat to them or get to understand their local brews and the more modern drinks like beer and so forth.

Duration: Half day Morning back late afternoon

Nakambale Museum – A legacy from the finnish missionaries who settled in the area in the 1800’s.

Open Market – an opportunity for guests to buy Owambo souvenirs and see how the local do their trades.

Ohanje Craft Centre – visit the local as they engage in making crafts from recycled materials.

A stop over for a picnic lunch before proceeding.

Oshigambo river – the tour is concluded with a visit to Oshigambo river as you learn the fauna and the amazing flora and the historical activity that took place in the 1800’s and 1900’s.

Get an experience of one of the important parts of the Owambo culture “Dancing”, you get to participate in music lessons, learn some dance moves, how to drum, and the meaning of different traditional songs. Or just sit back relax and enjoy the show as the Ongula Village Lodge kids traditional dance group show you how it is done.

Owela game was traditionally played by elders, Currently the game is played by both the young and old as a recreational activity, the game is played by oshiwambo-speaking population of Namibia and Angola. Another name of the Owela game played by other tribes is called “Hus”.

Traditionally Owela is played on a four- row trough (Modern on a board) of at least eight holes per row, but no more than 32 and always on an even number.

Owela has been Redesigned/Modernized by a graduate from a local university and is now a product like any other board games. This innovation will ensure that the game will remain alive and future generations will continue to learn/play it and preserve this cultural heritage. Owela is not a game of luck, If the game can be promoted even in school, it can enhance students mathematical and strategical skills.

Come face to face with Etosha’s wildlife in the safety and comfort of our hide. Only King Nehale guests have access to this waterhole. Snacks and refreshments included.

Explore the National Park and its amazing wildlife in a 9-seater game vehicle. Refreshments, snacks, and entrance fees to the National Park are included. Departing morning or afternoon, approx. 5-6 hours.

Explore the National Park and its amazing wildlife in a 9-seater game vehicle. Refreshments, snacks, and entrance fees to the National Park are included. Approx. 9 hours.

Ondjumba Cultural Village Tour is an indispensable and captivating journey through an Oshiwambo traditional homestead. It encapsulates interactive rudiments and in-depth knowledge about an Oshiwambo homestead and the Aawambo people. Guests are meticulously led through unique passages of the homestead and exclusive cultural encounters await all Etosha King Nehale guests.

Duration: 3 hours including transfer to/from Ondjumba Cultural Village.
This activity is bookable at the lodge only.

Explore the national park with our guides who are familiar with the waterholes and the animals that visit them. Let them introduce you to African wildlife from the elevated seat of a game vehicle. Early mornings or late afternoons provide the best game viewing times. And, after Etosha enchantment return to the lodge to dive into the cool waters of the pools. Dine on the veranda under a dome of stars, sit next to a blazing fire or watch the ruby sun sink gracefully into the landscape. Be at peace.

Explore the National Park and its amazing wildlife in a 9-seater game vehicle. Refreshments, snacks, entrance fees to the National Park and passenger liability insurance are included.

Explore the national park with our guides who are familiar with the waterholes and the animals that visit them. Let them introduce you to African wildlife from the elevated seat of a game vehicle. Early mornings or late afternoons provide the best game viewing times. And, after Etosha enchantment return to the lodge to dive into the cool waters of the pools. Dine on the veranda under a dome of stars, sit next to a blazing fire or watch the ruby sun sink gracefully into the landscape. Be at peace.

Explore the National Park and its amazing wildlife in a 9-seater game vehicle. Refreshments, snacks, entrance fees to the National Park and passenger liability insurance are included. Departing morning or afternoon.

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.