African Savanna Travel - 10 Day Discover Namibia Small Group Tour

On arrival at Windhoek International Airport, we will be transferred through to Windhoek. After checking in to our
hotel we can then head out to get our first taste of the Namibian capital on an optional 3hr City & Township Tour
(time permitting), exploring with a local guide and learning all about the history and the people of Windhoek.
Alternatively, we can relax by the pool or take an early dinner (own expense) at any of the nearby excellent
restaurants, all within walking distance.

An early breakfast this morning with the rest of our group before we hit the road at 8h00.
Our journey today takes us west through to Windhoek, and then south with our first official stop being in the small
town of Rehoboth. From here, we make our way past the Naukluft Mountains and into the Namib Desert.
On arrival in the desert, there is time to check into our accommodation and enjoy lunch before some down time to
swim, siesta or just marvel at the stunning views from our camp. Late afternoon we head out on a short walk to
enjoy the sunset at Elim's Dune before dinner.

Activity:

Afternoon -  Sunset Walk at Elim's Dune

An early start this morning as we head into the heart of the Namib Desert. After a pre-dawn breakfast, we enter the dune field, making our way towards Deadvlei. As we travel, there will be opportunities to take plenty of photos of the dunes as they change colour with the rising sun, before arriving in the 4x4 carpark where we continue the adventure on foot.

We hike the 1km across to Dead Vlei where our guide will explain the history of this fascinating area before allowing us the freedom to explore, take photos, climb Big Daddy, the highest dune in the area, or just enjoy the experience of this serene landscape. From here, we make our way across to Sossus Vlei, where the area gets it name, where we can enjoy a snack and a break at the picnic benches under the shade of a tree, a welcome respite from the harsh desert sun.

Mid morning, we start to make our way out of the desert, stopping again for photos along the way, aiming to arrive back at camp in time for a well-deserved lunch. We can then relax during the heat of the afternoon with a siesta or a swim.

Late afternoon, we visit the nearby Sesriem Canyon, a small but important landmark in the area as once the only
permanent water source for the local people and wildlife. Explore the canyon, climb down and walk along the
canyon learning about the geology of the area.

Activities: 

Morning - Sossusvlei Excursion

Afternoon - Sesriem Canyon Excursion

After breakfast this morning we pack our bags and hit the road. Our first official stop today is Solitaire. As the name suggest, this is not a bustling city, but a small settlement now famous with travellers for its Apple Pie and car collection.

After a short stop, we continue on our journey towards the coast, making stops at the Tropic of Capricorn, Gaub Pass and Kuiseb Canyon, before crossing the desert plains and arriving at Walvis Bay. Here we visit the Walvis Bay Lagoon, a important breeding site, and now Ramsar listed wetland site for aquatic birds, most famously the flamingo.

From Walvis Bay, we head north, along the coast, through to Swakopmund, arriving mid afternoon. Here our guide
will give us a short tour of the town to orientate us, before checking in to our accommodation in the heart of the
city.

Afternoon  -Visit to Walvis Bay Lagoon

Optional: Afternoon Desert Explorers Quad Biking 90min Tour

A full day to relax today, or make the most of the day and join in some optional activities.
These range from adrenaline junkie options for the more adventurous including: Sky diving, sand boarding,
quadbiking, sea kayaking, Sandwich Harbour tours, Fat biking tours to more relaxed options including:
Boat cruise, Living desert tour, Township Tour, Moon Landscape Tour, Fishing, food and drink tours and more..
Should you wish to just relax, enjoy a lie in, take a walk through the city or along the beach, and enjoy the quaint
little town of Swakopmund.

After breakfast, we leave Swakopmund and head north along the famous Skeleton Coast. Our first stop today is the
Zeila Shipwreck, the most recent victim of the harsh Benguela current from as recently as 2008.

We continue our journey to Henties Bay and then inland, across the gravel plains of the Namib. Enjoy the
changing landscape as we head into Damaraland, and region of Namibia best known for its community
conservancies where people and wildlife live together in some of the country's most impressive landscapes. As we
travel to our camp for the next 2 nights, we will have the opportunity to stop and meet some of the people who call
this area home, the Himba, Herero & Damara. These enterprising individuals have created small roadside markets,
offering the perfect chance not only to buy curios but to meet and support the local tribes people.

Arrival at our camp signals the end of a long day on the road and the perfect chance to relax with a drink to enjoy the sunset before settling in for the evening in our spacious premium tent with en-suite bathroom.

Activity:

Lunch Himba Village Experience

Another early start, who said this was a holiday!

This morning we head deeper into Damaraland. Our goal this morning is to head off the beaten track, and enjoy a
nature drive through the river beds, searching for desert elephants. Namibia (just one of 2 countries in the world) is
incredibly lucky to be home to these free roaming elephants that have managed to adapt genetically to survive in
these harsh desert landscapes. *Note that sightings cannot be guaranteed

After our morning drive we head back into 'civilisation' and visit the UNESCO World heritage site of Twyfelfontein,
home to some of the worlds oldest rock etchings. Here, a local guide takes us on a fascinating tour of this art
collection, explaining the importance of rock art to the local people, both when it was created, and even to this day.

Activities:

Morning -  Huab River Nature Drive in search of desert elephant.
Afternoon - Visit to Twyfelfontein UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Our journey today takes us into the world renowned Etosha National Park.

We enter the park via the western Galton gate, and from there we game drive the full afternoon all the way through to Okaukuejo, our base for the night.

The park itself covers 22,270 kms², and gets its name from the salt pan that makes up approximately 23% of the
park. Once a massive lake, the Etosha Pan is now mostly dry, with the exception of good rainfall years when the pan fills up enough to become a breeding ground for flamingos that migrate between Walvis Bay and Sua Pan in
Botswana.

We enjoy a game drive from the park gate, stopping at some popular (animal) waterholes, before arriving late
afternoon at our lodge. Tonight, we can relax by the floodlit waterhole, an excellent chance to view those creatures that prefer to be active during the cool of the night.

Activity:

Afternoon Game Drive in Etosha National Park.

Today will be devoted to exploring the park and maximising our chances for amazing wildlife sightings.

We start with an early breakfast before heading into the park for a full day of game driving. From Okaukuejo, we will drive from waterhole to waterhole (especially in the winter months), as they support a rich diversity of animals.

These waterholes are one of the most unique aspects of Etosha National Park, and a major attraction for wildlife
photographers and animal behaviour experts as the different species of animals, both predator and prey alike, can
often be captured (on camera) drinking at the same waterhole.

We make our way east across the park, checking in at Halali and then Namutoni before exiting the park late
afternoon and arriving at Onguma Private Reserve.

Activities:

Morning Game Drive in Etosha National Park
Afternoon Game Drive in Etosha National Park

After an early breakfast this morning we head out onto the reserve on our last game drive, this time exploring the
Onguma Reserve which covers 34,000 hectares of Namibian wilderness & is home to numerous plains game, more
than 300 bird species , and even 4 of the Big 5. Lions and Cheetahs are frequently seen and often heard and there is
a healthy black rhino, leopard, and hyena population so you never know what we might spot.

After our morning drive, we return to camp, have time to freshen up and then we hit the road. We are heading south today, through Tsumeb, Otavi, and Otjiwarongo before reaching Okahandja, where time permitting, we make
a short stop at the Wood Carvers Market, an informal market for local craftsmen and a good place to bargain for
some last-minute gifts for those you left at home.

We aim to arrive back in Windhoek around 18h00, and you will be dropped off at your accommodation in Windhoek and airport transfers will be arranged for the following day.

Activity:

Morning Sunrise Drive on the Onguma Reserve with local guide in an open vehicle