Arrival at Hosea Kutako International Airport, where you will receive your rental vehicle. Once you have sorted out all the formalities for your vehicle, drive to Windhoek, Namibia’s capital city. After check-in at the accommodation establishment, you can explore the city of Windhoek on your own account.
After breakfast departure from Windhoek and drive via Rehoboth into the red dunes of the Kalahari Desert.
Late afternoon you can optionally participate in a guided game drive to learn about the flora and fauna of the Kalahari Desert.
A full day's journey takes you south through the desert-dominated landscapes to a picturesque Quiver Tree Forest. Giant's Playground is an impressive jumble of massive boulders; a virtual maze where time can be spent wandering through the extensive rocky labyrinth. You proceed to Keetmanshoop and thereafter continue via the Naute Dam, to the Fish River Canyon, which is the second largest in the world.
Today you can view the spectacular northern fringes of the Fish River Canyon from various vantage points. Here the impressive surrounding rock formation provides many interesting hours for enthusiastic nature lovers.
The next leg of the journey takes you via the small historic village of Aus and through the vast barren expanse of the Prohibited Diamond Area, to Lüderitz. Lüderitz is renowned for its old-world charm and distinctly German colonial architecture. Set around the bay, with their original gables, winding stairwells, verandas, turrets and bay and bow windows still intact, these buildings have a unique character.
The journey leads once more through the Diamond Prohibited Area via Aus and Helmeringhausen to the Tiras Mountains. En route, visit Kolmanskop, a ghost town that was abandoned over 40 years ago and now gives a fascinating insight into the area's great diamond boom. A few of the buildings have been restored, but many are left exactly as they were, and now the surrounding dunes are gradually burying them.
Today you travel through some of Namibia's most spectacular sceneries. Vast expanses of yellow savannah are dotted with bushes and solitary camelthorn trees. Distant mountain ranges take on different nuances of purple and blue as the day progresses. En route you visit the Duwisib Castle, which was built by Baron von Wolff for his American wife Jayta in 1909. The furnishings and paintings were imported from Germany.
Very early departure today into the Namib Naukluft Park to witness one of Namibia’s most scenic attractions - the Sossusvlei and the highest dunes of the world. You will visit the nearby Deadvlei, a dried out natural water pans with its dead acacia tree trunks rising to the blue sky. The Sesriem Canyon is another attraction worthwhile seeing en route back to the lodge. A relaxing sundowner on top of the nearby ridge ends off an unforgettable day in the desert. Take along enough drinking water, sunscreen and a hat as it becomes extremely hot in this area.
The route today takes you north via the Kuiseb Canyon to Swakopmund. Highlights en route include a drive to the „Moon Landscape" and the ancient desert plant, "Welwitschia mirabilis".
For today’s activity we recommend a dolphin cruise which is not included in the travel price. Should you be keen and proceed to make a booking you will be picked up at your accommodation and driven to the nearby town of Walvis Bay, from where your boat cruise with Laramon Tours departs. Please ensure that you have had breakfast and are ready to leave Swakopmund by approximately 08h00, as you are requested to be at the check-in at the Walvis Bay Waterfront by approximately 08h45.
The scenic drive from Swakopmund to Walvis Bay takes about 45 minutes. Don’t forget to take a hat, sunscreen and a warm jacket along. After 3 exciting hours the catamaran will dock and your guide will return you to the Guesthouse.
Departure from Swakopmund along the Atlantic Coast towards the North. Visit the lichen fields near Wlotzka's Baken before continuing to Henties Bay, a small holiday resort. Onwards to the seal colony at Cape Cross. After visiting the seals, the journey continues via Ugabmund to the southern Skeleton Coast Park to inspect a shipwreck. You leave the Skeleton Coast Park in the early afternoon via Springbokwasser and can experience the harsh transition from the Namib Desert to the Damaraland highlands with its impressive landscape and ragged valleys.
Whereas all activities are included at Etendeka Mountain Camp, there are a variety of activities to choose from at Grootberg Lodge, inter alia rhino tracking, an excursion to the Ovahimba and scenic drives into the immediate area.
Today's drive takes you to the Etosha area. You can either take a detour to visit Twyfelfontein or you can take the route via Kamanjab and Outjo. Twyfelfontein, which means “doubtful fountain” resembles a large, open-air art gallery. This treasure house of rock engravings left by stone-age artists is regarded as one of the richest collections of rock engravings in Africa.
Discover the mysteries of the African bush in Etosha National Park, whilst going on game drives in the Etosha Park. Relax at the waterhole and delight in the comings and goings of a variety of game at the floodlit waterhole.
You travel east through Etosha National Park and leave the Park through the von Lindequist Gate, the eastern gate of Etosha to Mushara Bush Camp. En route, you stop at the numerous perennial springs found along the edge of the salt pan in search of lion, leopard, elephant and black rhino. Leave the Park via the eastern von Lindequist Gate and spend this night in a Lodge outside the Park.
After breakfast you travel via Tsumeb to the "Hoba Meteorite". En route visit the Otjikoto Lake and the mine museum of Tsumeb. Continue to the Okonjima Lodge, home of the AfriCat Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation and protection of Namibian wild cats, in particular leopard and cheetah. Enjoy the opportunity to admire and photograph these predators during today’s afternoon activity.
Return journey via Okahandja to Windhoek. Okahandja is an important centre for woodcarvers from the north. They practice their ancient skills at the Woodcarvers Market next to the main road, which is a great place to pick a last souvenir.
Depending on the time of your departure, you may have time for last minute shopping before driving to the Hosea Kutako International Airport in time to return your rental vehicle, take care of all formalities and check-in on your outbound flight.
Bid farewell to Namibia, we wish you a safe journey home.
