After your arrival at the international airport, you will move on to Windhoek, the capital city of Namibia. You will find your accommodation in a quiet neighborhood close to the city centre, with its afro /european flair and a peaceful atmosphere. In the evening you will enjoy the typical Namibian cuisine in one of the several restaurants in the city.
You will depart to The Namib Desert. Namibia gets it's name from the Namib so it should come as no surprise to discover that the entire western section of the country is part of the Namib desert. Of course the Namib spreads beyond the borders of Namibia and sprawls into southern Angola and the northern Cape Province of South Africa. A section of the central Namib Desert incorporates The Namib Naukluft Park, one of the largest national parks in Africa, as well as the Naukluft Mountains. The park is a combination of the Namib Desert Park and the Naukluft Mountain Zebra Park as well as sections of the Diamond Area. The combined area is just under 50,000km2 and main attractions are Sossusvlei, Sandwich Harbour and the Naukluft hiking and four wheel drive trails. Sossusvlei is the one attraction that should not be missed while you are in Namibia; the dunes are amazing and even though this is a popular tourist destination it is still easy to gain a sense of solitude while climbing one of the dunes or walking to the deavlei. Upon arrival you will go for a sundowner drive.
Today you will go on a guided Sossusvlei excursion. An early morning rise enables you to enjoy a sunrise excursion to the highest dunes in the world. The variety of colours and shapes are fantastic. Guided quad bike trips, as well as scenic flights and hot air balloon safaris over the Namib Desert, can also be organized.
Early departure via Solitaire and the Ghaub and Kuiseb passes to reach Swakopmund, Namibia’s premier holiday resort, that is characterised by a wealth of well-preserved German colonial buildings. Well-known historic buildings include Woermann House, the old State Railway Station, Alte Kaserne (Old Fort) and the old Magistrate’s Court which now serves as State House in Swakopmund. You will have the rest of the day to yourself to relax.
Spend the day at leisure in Swakopmund and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of this coastal town, nestling between the desert and the Atlantic ocean. The promenades, palm trees and beautiful gardens remind of a European seaside resort. Magnificent buildings dating back to the turn of the century give the city its charm. Excursion like boat cruises from Walvis Bay, quad-biking in the nearby dunes or scenic flights can be booked in town. The Marine Aquarium, the interesting Swakopmund Museum, the open wood market and the Kristal Galerie are worth a visit. The Kristal Galerie houses the largest known crystal cluster in the world.
Today you will reach the famous Damaraland. Damaraland is one of the most scenic areas in Namibia, a huge, untamed, ruggedly beautiful region that offers a more adventurous challenge. Here there are prehistoric water courses with open plains and grassland, massive granite koppies and deep gorges. Towards the west, the geography changes dramatically with endless sandy lands, that incredibly are able to sustain small, but wide-ranging, populations of desert-adapted elephant, black rhino, giraffe, ostrich and springbok. These animals have adapted their lifestyles to survive the harshness of the sun- blistered, almost waterless desert spaces. Together, Damaraland and Kaokoland are known as the Kaokoveld. Activities includes excursions to the rock engravings at Twyfelfontein. A morning's nature drive with the possibility of seeing the elusive desert-adapted elephant and rare black rhino is another favourite here. The more adventurous might prefer one of the walking trails which takes hikers to a small waterhole, and a viewpoint. Situated close by, there are other attractions including the Burnt Mountain and the Organ Pipes, all within an easy driving distance.
Your journey today enables you to reach the famous Etosha National Park, one of Africa’s great game parks. Centred around the vast expanse of the Etosha Pan, the park is a sanctuary to the largest population of the western subspecies of the black rhino, white rhino, large herds of elephants, the striking black-faced impala, lions and a profusion of other animals and birds. Upon arrival, preferably go for late afternoon game drives.
Sharing a common boundary with Etosha National Park, Ongava is considered one of the finest private game reserves in the region, enjoying global recognition for its exceptional conservation, ground breaking research and exciting safari experiences. Activities may include Bird watching, Game drives, Game viewing, Nature walks, Rhino tracking and Photographic hide.
Today, your journey will take you to Onguma Fort situated in the Onguma Game Reserve. This Namibian safari lodge is within a 34 000 hectares of diverse landscapes bordering Etosha National Park. Guided morning walks, morning game drives, sunset drives and rhino researching drives are the most popular activities at Onguma Game Reserve.
After a leisurely breakfast you continue via Tsumeb and Otjiwarongo to reach Okonjima Lodge which is situated halfway between Windhoek and Etosha National Park. The lodge is home to The AfriCat Foundation, a non-profit organization, committed to the long-term conservation of Namibia's large carnivores, notably cheetahs and leopards. You will see the Bushman Trail, which offers a great opportunity to experience a day in the life of a Bushman. Along an easy walking trail, highlighted with information on the way, the art of making traditional artefact's can be learned, as well as how the San adapted and survived in such an unforgiving, wilderness environment. There are other guided and self-guided walking trails, some up to 8kms in length available, for those who prefer to enjoy their time in the solitude of the wild. Cheetahs and leopards can be seen from a game-viewing vehicle.
Transfer to the airport on time for your flight.
