6 Day - Dune and Wildlife Experience - Group Scheduled Tour - NA0601 (Windhoek-Windhoek)

You will be collected from your guesthouse/hotels as 07:15 for the pre-departure talk and to meet the rest of the group. After the departure from Windhoek, we stop briefly at Otjiwarongo to gather some last minute supplies before continuing on to Etosha with a light lunch pack whilst “on the move”. We enjoy an afternoon game drive through the park visiting waterholes looking for predators as well as zebra, giraffe, elephant, rhino and many different species of antelope arriving at our lodge just before sunset and settle into our rooms, with en-suite bathroom and tea/coffee facilities. A visit to the flood lit waterhole is highly recommended while dinner is prepared by your guide over an open fire. (LD)

We start our first game drive at sunrise to catch the predators while they are still active, visiting many waterholes and return to Halali for breakfast. Our second game drive mid-morning takes us to the impressive Etosha Pan “great white place” where you can get out of the vehicle and experience this 4500 sq km “saline desert” before continuing your game drive to look for the Big 4. We arrive back at Halali where your guide will prepare you a delicious lunch whilst you have a dip in the pool or relax by the camp waterhole. After lunch you will have a chance to relax before our final game drive across the park towards Okaukuejo calling into some well-known waterholes and leave the park prior to sunset. Accommodation tonight is just outside the park in twin share permanent tents with en-suite bathroom facilities. Dinner is prepared by your guide and another early night is recommended. (BLD)

Enjoy an early morning breakfast and departure from your lodge is at 07h30. Your route today takes you into the dramatic and beautiful scenery of Damaraland. You have the chance to meet the wonderful Herero ladies who sell their handmade arts and crafts to support their rural families. A light roadside lunch is served en-route in the shadow of Namibia's tallest mountain, the Brandberg, and you can interact with some of the colourful local characters who live in this harsh environment. On the drive down the Skeleton Coast we explore the remains of a small shipwreck. We arrive in Swakopmund mid-afternoon which gives you time to explore this quaint seaside town on foot. Your guide will be happy to recommend a good restaurant for your evening meal (own expense). Overnight accommodation is in twin share rooms with en-suite bathroom.(BL)

This morning after breakfast we highly recommend a visit to the Museum or Aquarium (optional and unguided) and for the adrenalin junkies a 2 hour sand boarding experience in the dunes should get your pulse racing. You will be picked up from your guesthouse/hotel in Swakopmund from 11:15,  as we aim to depart Swakopmund by 12noon. We then drive through the Namib Desert via the Kuiseb Pass and Solitaire, arriving at our camp late afternoon and we have a chance to relax and enjoy the views before taking a short walk for sunset looking over the Naukluft mountain range. Overnight in twin rooms/permanent tents with en-suite bathroom facilities. Pool and bar available. Dinner prepared by your guide. (BLD)

Dawn departure from camp to arrive at the park gate for sunrise. We drive down an ancient river bed surrounded by towering dunes to the 2x4 parking (around 55kms) and take a 4x4 shuttle into the Sossusvlei area to appreciate the beauty of this place in early morning light and enjoy the peace and tranquility of the region. We explore this unique area on foot before heading into Dead Vlei with its large expanse of bleached cracked clay and skeletal camel thorn trees, contrasting with a backdrop of huge dunes with their ever-changing colours. We can either walk or take the 4x4 shuttle back to our vehicle.

As we drive back to our accommodation we will stop at the famous Dune 45 and climb this dune if we wish or just wander around the base. We return to Sesriem and visit the nearby Sesriem Canyon, one of the few permanent water sources before arriving back at our lodge late afternoon to watch the sunset over this spectacular desert. Overnight in twin share rooms/ permanent tents with en-suite bathrooms. Dinner prepared by your guide. (BLD)

Early morning breakfast before heading to Solitaire Guest Farm where we join a biologist to track wild cheetahs at the N/a'ankuse Namib Conservation Centre. We return to Windhoek via Bullsport and Rehoboth and we arrive mid-afternoon where you will be dropped at your accommodation. For those wishing to travel onwards today we DO NOT recommend booking any flight prior to 17h00 in case there are delays returning from safari, transfers to the airport can be organised by the safari office on request and at own expense.(B)