After your arrival at the international airport, you will proceed to Windhoek, the capital city of Namibia. You will find your accommodation in a quiet neighborhood, surburb, close to the city centre with its afro / european flair and a peaceful atmosphere. In the evening you will enjoy the typical Namibia cuisine in one of the several restaurants in the city
Leaving Windhoek, you will travel into the largest sand mass on Earth, the Kalahari Desert. The Bushman refer to it as the “Soul of the World”, an emotive description for this area! With its deep red sand dunes and endless grass plains interspersed together with acacia’s and shrubs this landscape is breathtaking. Enjoy the opportunity to experience the fauna and flora that has survived this desert environment.
Today your journey will take you to the Namib Desert, often referred as the world's oldest 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. Of course the Namib spreads beyond the borders of Namibia and sprawls into the 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 whole area is ja bit less than 50,000km2 and its 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 deadvlei. A sundowner activity will be the perfect way to end the day
Today you will go on a guided Sossusvlei excursion. At dawn you will be able to enjoy a sunrise excursion to the highest dunes in the world. The variety of colours and shapes are fantastic.
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. Streets names serve as reminders of formers colonial rulers and administrators, while German is still widely spoken. 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 have will the rest of the day to yourself to relaxe.
You will spend your 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. Excursions 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 grasslands, 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 elephants, black rhinos, giraffes, ostriches and springboks. 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 include 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 main attractions like the Burnt Mountain and the Organ Pipes, all within an easy driving distance.
After a hearty breakfast you will depart to Kaokoland.Kaokoland is one of the last remaining wilderness areas in Southern Africa. It is a world of an incredible mountain scenery, a refuge for the rare desert dwelling elephant, black rhino and giraffe and the home of the Himba people. Although it is harsh and offers little respite at midday, the rugged landscape is especially attractive during the early morning and late afternoon when it is transformed into softly glowing pastel shades. Further north, the Otjihipa Mountains rise abruptly above the Namib floor to form the eastern boundary of the Marienfluss, while the west of the valley is defined by the Hartmann Mountains. Kaokoland differs greatly from Damaraland in terms of accessibility and infrastructure. While quite a bit of Damaraland is isolated from the world, Kaokoland is for the most of its part empty. With 16,000 or so inhabitants, 5,000 of them Himba, Kaokoland has a population density of only one person to every two square kilometers which is about a quarter of the national average. Upon arrival you will explore the Kaokoland area and visit the nomadic Himba people.
Your journey today will enable 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 stiriking black-faced impala, lions and a profusion of other animals and birds. Upon arrival, preferably, go for late afternoon game drives.
A whole day of game viewing in the Etosha National Park will lie ahead of you. Driving along the vast saltpan with some stops at various waterholes and game viewing en route.
There's so much to see such as large herds of plains game, concentrating around waterholes in the dry season, including elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, springboks, oryxes, kudus and the Damara Dik-Dik. Local specials of birds include the Short-toed Rockthrush, Hautlaub's Francolin, Rockrunner, Ruppells Parrot, White-tailed Shrike and Chestnut Weaver. Ostriches and raptors are also in abundance. In addition, you will have an excellent opportunity to see the black and white rhino. For those who enjoy close wildlife encounters, tracking the white rhino on foot with an armed guide is a highlight not to be missed.
After a hearty breakfast you will 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 the Namibia's large carnivores, notably cheetahs and leopards. You will see the Bushman Trail, which offers an 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. Please be on time for your flight.
