Depart Windhoek and drive to the Kalahari Desert, via the small town of Rehoboth, a community that still lives according to their paternal laws dating back to 1872. The Kalahari Desert is not a desert in the strictest sense of the word, as it receives too much rainfall. It’s only the vast expanses of sand, through which precipitation filters rapidly, leaving nothing on the surface, that have made the Kalahari into the “thirst land” that early European settlers described. Enjoy a scenic, sunset nature drive in an open safari vehicle before dinner.
After breakfast, drive through the Kalahari region and visit the Quiver Tree Forest near Keetmanshoop. The forest was declared a national monument of Namibia and comprises of about 250 specimens of Aloe dichotoma, from which the San people used to make quivers. A short stop will be made in Keetmanshoop, with lunch en route that will be for your own account. Visit the Naute Dam, Namibia’s third largest dam. Stretch your legs with an easy walk to a nearby mountain and enjoy a complimentary drink as you watch the sunset.
This morning we travel to the spectacular Fish River Canyon, the largest canyon in Africa. It features a gigantic ravine, in total about 160km long, up to 27km wide and in some places 550m deep. Our journey continues to Aus with lunch en route (for own account). You’ll have the opportunity to perhaps see the desert adapted Wild Horses of the Namib. These horses hold an irresistible fascination, as they managed to adapt to the harsh conditions of the desert. Enjoy spectacular scenery of the Aus Mountains on an unguided walk and enjoy a scenic sun downer drive in the afternoon (for own account).
Today you’ll be spoilt with ever-changing vistas of the desert landscapes when driving along the most beautiful district road in Namibia, the D707 (road conditions permitting). Visit Duwiseb Castle, a grand medieval fortress, built in the hills of the semi-arid Southern Namib region. Learn more about the Castle’s fascinating history, before continuing to your lodge, arriving in the early afternoon.
Today will be an early start to explore the spectacular towering dunes of Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei, another pan where water once flowed, but all that remains today are the skeletons of trees that reach up out of the cracked earth. Enjoy a drive in 4×4 vehicles into the heart of the Namib Desert. Visit the rugged Sesriem Canyon where you can view millions of years of sedimentary layers in the ravine walls. Views from the top are breathtaking while walks through the canyon reveal distinct geographical layers which were laid down over centuries. Travel past the impressive Namib Naukluft Mountains to your lodge.
After breakfast, drive through Kuiseb Canyon and continue towards Walvis Bay, Namibia’s largest commercial port. Enjoy an opportunity for lunch in Walvis Bay (for own account). The Walvis Bay Lagoon is considered one of the richest and most important wetlands in southern Africa, with prolific birdlife and diverse species. Our journey continues to Swakopmund, a city that resembles a small German town, with seaside promenades, restaurants, cafes and museums. Enjoy a sun downer drive to the Moon Landscape, a barren, undulating rocky desert which was formed by the valleys of the Swakop River. Enjoy a complimentary sun downer, whilst absorbing the rugged beauty of this lunar landscape.
Explore the quaint town of Swakopmund. You may wish to book an optional day tour (for own account) in Swakopmund (guided tour through the Mondesa township, quad-biking, sand-boarding; a scenic flight over the Skeleton coast or a catamaran cruise in Walvis Bay). Many optional activities are on offer (for own account): visit the aquarium, various museums or the crystal gallery.
Another day to enjoy the splendours and many attractions of Swakopmund. There is a possibility of meeting fellow travellers at dinner that will be joining the tour in Swakopmund.
Depart early morning and travel on the salt road towards Henties Bay, past salt pans and an array of bird life, to Damaraland, one of the most scenic areas in Namibia. Visit Twyfelfontein, a site of ancient rock engravings and the Organ Pipes, a distinctive series of dolerite pillars that have been exposed by erosion. Arrive at your lodge during the late afternoon.
The morning is at leisure, to relax at the lodge until lunchtime. In the afternoon, join a sun downer drive in the Aba Huab River and possibly encounter the desert dwelling elephants (seasonal). These elephants are not a distinct species but are African bush elephants that have made their homes in the Namib and Sahara deserts. They were once more widespread in Africa, but are currently found only in Namibia and Mali.
After breakfast, depart Damaraland and journey to the Etosha National Park. Visit a Damara village near Twyfelfontein and learn more about the culture and the tradition of this half-nomadic people. Continue via the little town of Outjo. Lunch stop (for own account) – possibly meet fellow guests joining the Etosha tour. From there continue to Etosha National Park. Arrive in the early afternoon and undertake your first game drive, in your closed touring vehicle, into the park.
The entire day will be spent in the Etosha National Park, exploring the waterholes along this enormous saltpan, in your closed touring vehicle. Enjoy a lunch stop at one of the rest camps (lunch for own account). There are close to 114 species of mammal in Etosha, including the black faced impala and the threatened black and white rhino. The Etosha Pan (a flat calcrete depression), contains water only after very good rains and sometimes only for a few days each year, but is enough to stimulate the growth of a blue green algae which lures thousands of flamingos.
Enjoy another full day exploring this world famous National Park, in your closed touring vehicle. Your guide will introduce you to the complex subject of managing such an enormous reserve, that’s considered to be one of the world’s great wildlife sanctuaries. Lunch stop en route at one of the rest camps (lunch for own account).
After breakfast, travel south towards Otjiwarongo. Continue towards Windhoek via Okahandja where we will visit a local handicraft market. Tour ends on arrival in Windhoek late afternoon.
