Upon arrival at Hosea Kutako International Airport, our representative will meet you at arrivals and transfer you to your accommodation for the night.
Windhoek Gardens Boutique Hotel is located 5 minutes away from the centre of Windhoek, making it a perfect mix of convenience and practicality.
You can explore Windhoek in the afternoon and evening, enjoying a meal at one of the city's many excellent restaurants - or simply relax at the hotel.
Transfer from Hosea Kutako International Airport to Galton House.
Driving Distance: 267.44km Approximate Travel Time: 3:00 hours
You travel north, and can stop at small towns along the way including Okahandja, where you can visit Namibia’s largest wood carving market. The market is operated on a local co-operative basis and is one of the best places to shop for truly Namibian souvenirs. Continuing north, passing through farmland, aim to arrive at Okonjima during the middle afternoon, giving you time to relax for a while before heading out on to the property to take part in the afternoon’s optional activity.
Okonjima is the home of the Africat Foundation, a specialist conservation concern that centres its operations on the African Big Cats, particularly cheetah. This afternoon you will be taken on a tour during which you will be able to meet, close-up-and-personal, some of the cheetah that are going through the Africat rehabilitation programme.
Most of the animals currently living at Okonjima have been rescued from various desperate situations, being orphaned or caught in a trap, and the aim of the rehabilitation process is to attempt to re-introduce them into the wild.
After the educational tour you return to camp for dinner.
Driving Distance: 355.56km Approximate Travel Time: 4:05 hours
An early start and continuing north you pass through some small towns, where you can stop for a break if you wish.
Continuing on to East Etosha and Onguma Game Reserve, aim to arrive in time for lunch, giving you time to relax before heading into the Reserve during the cool of the late afternoon for our first game drive.
Optional: morning and afternoon game drives into Etosha National Park with the Lodge. Onguma sunset drive on own Reserve.
Morning and afternoon nature drives in own vehicle into Etosha National Park.
Full day game drive through the National Park in touring vehicle.
Driving Distance: 304.80km Approximate Travel Time: 4:50 hours
Today you head into one of the most beautiful desert regions in Namibia, Damaraland. You can visit the ancient Bushman rock engravings at Twyfelfontein before arriving at the spectacular Country Lodge.
Optional: Petrified Forest on route to Lodge. Damara Living Museum, Organ pipes, burnt mountain and Twyfelfontein rock engraving site
Driving Distance: 331.93km Approximate Travel Time: 4:30 hours
From here you head deeper into the desert and pass Namibia’s highest mountain, The Brandberg, (2573 m) and more beautiful Damaraland scenery. We recommend a stop in the small town of Uis, an old mining town, and one of the best places to buy semi-precious stones, for which Namibia is famous. Here, rough Amethyst, Tourmaline etc can be found at bargain prices.
From here you turn directly west and cross the gravel plains on your way to the Atlantic Ocean and the Skeleton Coast. Meeting the ocean at HentiesBay, you can first head north along the coast to visit the seal colony at CapeCross. At certain times of the year as many as 100,000 CapeFur seals congregate.
The next destination is Swakopmund, following the Skeleton Coast into Namibia’s premier seaside town. You should aim to arrive in the late afternoon giving you time to explore the town on foot before sunset.
Tonight you can take the chance to sample one of the excellent restaurants. The seafood in Swakopmund is superb.
Day at leisure, participate in one of the many activities.
Driving Distance: 357.46km Approximate Travel Time: 4:40 hours
Your first stop is at Walvis Bay, situated about 40 km south of Swakopmund. South of the town there is a large marine lagoon which is home to a vast array of marine bird-life, in particular flamingos.
You can make a short visit to the lagoon to see the birds and a short visit to Walvis Bay if you need anything for the long drive. Then it's time to head out into the desert. The second part of your journey today takes you across more of the seemingly endless Namib gravel plains. Then the landscape suddenly changes and you are into the mountain desert.
You traverse both the Kuiseb and Gaub passes, driving both times to the river beds at the bottom of the canyons and then climbing the long steep road to the top and the spectacular panoramas the mountains give you. Again the scenery changes as you make your way down to the dune fields. You cross some open grass savannah and farmlands before the terrain begins to give way to the immense red sand dune desert of the Namib and from here it is only a short distance to your next stop, Desert Homestead Lodge.
Aim to arrive during the late afternoon and watch the colours glow and change on the distant mountains to the east.
Optional: Guided Sossusvlei drive with the Lodge; afternoon nature drive.
Driving Distance: 307.28km Approximate Travel Time: 4:00 hours
After breakfast you begin our journey over the mountains and along scenic roads, back to Windhoek. Stop at Solitaire to stretch your legs then proceed back to Windhoek via the Khomas Hochland Mountain range back to civilization.
Return your hire car and we transfer you back to your accommodation. Spend your last afternoon and evening in Namibia in the capital and overnight at your hotel in Windhoek.
Transfer to Hosea Kutako International Airport.
