Besides breath-taking landscapes and abundant wildlife, Namibia offers food connoisseurs a unique culinary experience. For meat enthusiasts Namibia is just the right destination, while fish lovers get their money’s worth on the coast. While inland farm produced meat like beef, mutton and lamb are staple food for most locals, more exotic assortments of venison such as springbok, mountain zebra, oryx, kudu, warthog and hartebeest to mention but a few, have found their way to the traditional Namibian cuisine for centuries. A long tradition has biltong, air-dried spiced meat strips, which was a method of meat preservation in the old days and has , and smoked game. Since no hormons or antibiotics for fast growth are fed to the animals, Namibian meat has been attributed bio food quality.
Delicatessen on the coast include locally cultivated oysters, which can be enjoyed year round, rock lobster, mussels, clams, exquisite Kingklip, hake and Steenbras, all harvested and caught in the unpolluted fertile waters of the Benguela current in the Atlantic Ocean.
Upon arrival at the Windhoek International Airport meet with your guide who will accompany you for the duration of your culinary adventure in Namibia. You will be taken to your first destination, Naankuse Lodge, which is only 45 km from the airport. Check in and relax from the long flight. Arrival time permitting take part in the afternoon full carnivore feeding tour. You will have your first encounter with juicy Namibian meat at the dinner buffet.
After a healthy breakfast to start the day, depart in a northerly direction to arrive at Mokuti Etosha Lodge in the early afternoon. The route leads via the towns of Okahandja, Otjiwarongo, Otavi and Tsumeb. Check in, freshen up and prepare for the first afternoon game drive that will last until sunset, when you return and get ready for dinner, where you have the choice of an assortment of Namibian meats including beef and venison.
The entire next day is dedicated to morning and afternoon game drives in the iconic Etosha National Park in your own tour vehicle. If so wanted you have the opportunity to participate in game drives in open gameviewer vehicles offered by the lodge. This activity is not included and on your own account. Dinner is again a buffet with meat grilled on the open fire.
The last day in paradise as you traverse the park until you reach Okaukuejo where you will exit the game reserve. Your safe haven tonight is Taleni Etosha Village. Indulge in the abundant and exquisite buffet offered for dinner and have your fill with an assortment of venison and other delicatessen.
Game vieiwing in the Etosha National Park
Today's destnation is the rugged mountain desert region of Damaraland and Twyfelfontein with its rock engravings and geolocial wonders. Arrive at Twyfelfontein Country Lodge in the early afternoon, check in and hold a little siesta before participating in a nature drive in search for the famous resident desert-adpated elephants that roam the valleys and dry riverbeds in the area. Return to base after sunset and time for dinner, which will again be a copious buffet with an assortment of meats.
After an early breakfast we load our luggage and set off for our first visit of the day, which are the rock engravings of Twyfelfontein, Namibia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, followed by the Burnt Mountain and the Organ Pipes. Then we depart for the Central West Coast and Swakopmund via Uis and Henties Bay with a visit at the Sheila shipwreck en route. Arrival at the quaint town between the desert and sea is in the later afternoon. Check in at Casa al Mare and freshen up before taking a stroll along the nearby Atlantic Ocean shoreline. An exquisite seafood dinner will be served in one of Swakopmund's fine restaurants.
The second day starts early, as we have to reach Walvis Bay in time for the kayaking experience that starts at 09h00 AM. Depart on a Catamaran to Pelican Point at the bay's edge, disembark, and start with your kayak excursion along the seal colony there. After a good time has been spent there we return to the beach and enjoy an oyster- and champagne-based brunch. Return to Walvis Bay in 4x4 vehicles via the salt works and the Walvis Bay lagoon to see the myriads of flamingos living here.
Upon return to Swakopmund in the early afternoon we visit a local coffee roaster, a craft gin distillery and a craft beer brewery. The later afternoon is at own leisure to explore the town. Return to the guesthouse in time for sunset and a little surprise, as tonight will be a culinary highlight. Your hosts will prepare a sundowner cocktail with Namibian delicatessen, followed by an exquisite seafood dinner cooked to perfection and served with exquisite South African wine.
The journey continues to yet another highlight on this adventure as we depart for the southern Namib Desert and the red dunes of Sossusvlei via the Moon Landscape and Solitaire. We cross the vast expanse of the gravel desert, descent and ascend the Kuiseb and Ghaub Canyons before we reach Rostock Ritz Desert Lodge for lunch, which is not included and will be on your own account. Then we proceed to Solitaire to taste a slice of the freshly baked apple pie prepared by the Moose Mc Gregor Bakery that made Solitaire famous beyond the country's borders, before we negotiate the last leg to reach We Kebi Safari Lodge in the early evening.
Dinners offered at We Kebi Safari Lodge are another culinary experience with organic vegetables from the own garden, oven-fresh homemade bread and tender free-range meat grilled to perfection. After dinner we sit around the fireplace indulge in merry conversation and marvel at the star-studded African nightsky above us.
The next morning we leave early as we want to see the sun rise from amidst the dunes. We climb Dune 45, walk to Dead Vlei, where ancient dead trees form a stark contrast against the backdrop of the red dunes, the white lake floor and the clear blue desert sky. On the way back we visit the Sesriem Canyon, a 36-metre deep gorge cut into the surrounding limestone conglomerate by the Tsauchab River millions of years ago. Then we return to the lodge for an afternoon nature drive through the lodge's own nature reserve. Return for dinner, which is another scrumptous affair.
On the last day of our Namibia adventure we are heading towards the Kalahari Desert, which we will reach in the early afternoon. Check in at Zebra Kalahari Lodge and relax a bit before we participate in another game drive through the private game reserve. For sunset we stop on top of a dune and watch Hephaestus' charriot disappear over the western horizon, while enjoying a fine glass of wine and snacks. Then return to the lodge for dinner, after which we will sit around the fireplace for the last time with the awe-inspiring African star sky above us.
As the Namibian part of our journey ends, we prepare to leave for the airport and our onward flight to the mother city Cape Town. Once we have arrived and checked in at our hotel, we explore the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront at the towns harbour. Dinner will then be served in the Jonkershuis Restaurant at South Africa's oldest and most prestigious wine estate Groot Constantia.
The next day we explore the town and Cape Peninsula driving through the suburbs of Muizenberg, Fishhoek, and Simonstown, all the way to Cape Point to see where it is said that the Atlantic and Indian Ocean meet. In the afternoon and on our way back we visit the extensive Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden before we return to our guesthouse and prepare for dinner, which will be in Cape Town's best cape-malay restaurant, the Bo-Kaap Kombuis.
Today we leave the mother city behind and travel to South Africa's second oldest town Stellenbosch in the heart of the winelands of the Fairest Cape. Once we have checked in at the Stellenbosch Hotel, we take a stroll in the historical centre of town, before we take off for an explorative tour of the winelands with some wine tasting and a delicious picnic basket and wine from the estate for lunch. Dinner will be in a fine restaurant in town.
This day is dedicated to exploring the winelands, visit some wine estates, and Franschhoek with its famous huguenot museum.
Franschhoek boasts some of South Africa’s ‘Top 100’ restaurants and has become known as the country’s Culinary Capital, providing visitors with a memorable dining experience. Leading chefs create everything from cutting-edge cuisine to stylish light meals, using only the freshest local produce paired with superb local wines. Franschhoek is also a member of The Délice Network of Good Food Cities of the World. Délice is an international network of likeminded cities engaged in promoting the benefits of culinary excellence and good food. Franschhoek was granted membership to this prestigious network in October 2014, and is the only member in the Southern Hemisphere.
Unfortunately all good things have to end and so today you depart for the airport and your return flight back to Italy.
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