7 Day -Taste of Namibia - Group Scheduled Tour - NA0704 - (Windhoek-Windhoek)

You are collected from the airport (must arrive prior to 12h00) on arrival and transferred to the centrally located Hilton Hotel. This afternoon we will join the afternoon feeding tour at N/aankuse Lodge, where we join the Ancient San Skills tour where we will learn some of the skills of the Bushman people, a unique chance to interact with the worlds oldest cultural group. Returning to Windhoek early evening, dinner tonight is own expense either at one of the many restaurants. Overnight twin share room with en-suite facilities.

We will picked up this morning from the Hilton Hotel @ 7h15 and transferred to the nearby Chameleon Backpackers for the pre-departure talk and to meet the rest of the group. After the departure from Windhoek, we stop briefly at Otjiwarongo and eat a light lunch pack “on the move” before entering Etosha National Park through the Anderson Gate. 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. We arrive 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. (BLD)

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 4500sq 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 en-suite bathroom, creating an ideal space to sit back, relax and enjoy the beauty that surrounds you. Fantastic dinner is prepared by our guide and another early night is recommended. (BLD)

Enjoy an early morning breakfast and departure from our lodge is at 07h30. The route today takes us into the dramatic and beautiful scenery of Damaraland. We have the chance to meet the wonderful Herero, Himba & Damara ladies who sell their handmade arts and crafts to support their rural families. A light roadside lunch is served en-route in the shadow of Namibia's tallest mountain, the Brandberg, and we can interact with some of the colourful local characters who live in this harsh environment. On the drive down the Skeleton Coast we explore the remains of a small shipwreck. Arrive in Swakopmund late  afternoon where we have the chance to explore this quaint seaside town on foot and enjoy a coffee and cake in one of the many cafes (depending on the season). Overnight accommodation at Hotel A La Mer (or
similar) in en-suite rooms on a twin share basis. Dinner tonight is at own expense in one of the many restaurants (BL).

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. We will be picked up from our guesthouse/hotel in Swakopmund at 11:15, for a brief pre-departure talk. Afterwards we travel through the Namib Desert via the Kuiseb Canyon and Solitaire, we arrive at our camp late afternoon. There is a chance to relax and enjoy the views before taking a short walk for sunset looking over the Naukluft Mountain range. Overnight in twin rooms with en-suite bathroom facilities. Pool and bar available. Dinner prepared by our guide. (BLD)

Dawn departure from camp/lodge 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. We take the 4x4 shuttle back to our vehicle and then head back to our accommodation stopping at the famous Dune 45 and climb this dune 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. Overnight in twin share rooms with en-suite bathrooms. Dinner prepared by our guide. (BLD)

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 worlds fastest land mammal. We return to Windhoek via Bullsport and Rehoboth. On arrival in Windhoek, mid-afternoon, we will be dropped at our accommodation of choice or transferred directly to the International Airport for our onward flight, or to the bus terminal for your overnight bus. For those flying today NO FLIGHTS DEPARTING PRIOR TO 17H00 in case there are unexpected delays returning from safari. Outbound airport transfer is included, should it be for today or a later date. (B)