14 Day N/a’an ku sê, Dunes & Wildlife

Day 1 - 6: N/a’an ku sê Wildlife Sanctuary

We will be collected from the Hosea Kutako International Airport on arrival and transferred to the volunteer centre at N/a’an ku sê Wildlife Sanctuary, which provides a safe haven for injured, orphaned or conflict animals. Whenever possible the goal is to re-introduce the animals into the wild. Only animals too ill, abused or habituated remain at the sanctuary. Depending on our arrival time we have the opportunity to meet with the team and meet some of the animals that we will be working with before we join the N/a’an ku sê team for an induction presentation and a lovely welcome braai as our evening meal. 

Day 7: Chameleon Backpackers, Windhoek

A leisurely breakfast and after breakfast we will be transferred to Chameleon Backpackers centrally located in Windhoek. Time permitting we have the opportunity to join one of the optional activities that Chameleon Safaris has to offer, pop into their office and have a chat with one of the consultants. Enjoy your evening with a delicious “potjiekos” at the Chameleon Backpackers’ bar. 

Day 8: Halali, Etosha National Park

This morning we start our tour of Namibia, with a pre-departure meeting at 7h30 and hitting the road shortly after. 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. 

Day 9: Etosha Village, near Anderson Gate

We start our first game drive at sunrise to catch the predators while they are still active, visiting many waterholes.  Our second game drive mid-morning takes us to the impressive Etosha Pan “great white place” where we can get out of the vehicle and experience this 4500 sq km “saline desert” before continuing our game drive to look for the Big 4.  We arrive back at Halali where our guide will prepare a delicious lunch whilst we have a dip in the pool or relax by the camp waterhole.  After lunch we begin 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 a comfortable spacious twin share rooms with a modern en-suite bathroom facilities, creating an ideal space to sit back, relax and enjoy the beauty that surrounds you. 

Day 10 : Hotel A La Mer, Swakopmund

Enjoy an early breakfast and depart from our lodge at 07h30. The route today takes us into Damaraland where we meet the wonderful Himba & Damara ladies who sell their arts and crafts to support their families. On the drive down the Skeleton Coast we explore the remains of a small shipwreck and learn about the fascinating lichens before arriving in Swakopmund late afternoon.

Day 11: Desert Camp, near Sesriem

A leisurely breakfast and the option to join one of the many optional activities available here such as: quad biking, sand boarding, scenic flight over the shipwrecks just to name a few. You will be picked up from your guesthouse/hotel in Swakopmund from 11:15, (wintertime 10h15) 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. 

Day 12: Desert Camp, near Sesriem

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 before taking 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. 

Day 13: Chameleon Backpackers, Windhoek

Early morning breakfast before heading to Solitaire where we jump onto an open vehicle and visit the local conservation project. Here they have a number of cheetah that are unable to be released for different reasons. This 1hour activity allows us the chance to learn all about the cheetah, the work done by local conservations projects, and get some incredible photos of the world’s fastest land mammal. We return to Windhoek via Bullsport and Rehoboth. We arrive mid-afternoon and will be dropped at Chameleon Backpackers. Dinner tonight is at own expense in one of Windhoek’s excellent restaurants and our guide will be happy to make some suggestions. 

Day 14: International Airport - End of services

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and the option to join a FREE City Walking tour so be sure to book a flight after 14h00. We will be transferred to the International Airport approximately 3 hours before our scheduled flight departure.