On arrival at the Windhoek International Airport you will be welcomed and transferred to Otjimbondona Kalahari. Otjimbondona is situated 120 km south east of Windhoek, and 80 km from the Hosea Kutako International Airport, on a 3000 hectare Private Nature Reserve on the fringes of the Namibian Kalahari.
Otjimbondona, meaning “the place where the small camel thorn trees grow” in the Herero language, was bought by the Slaney family in 1922 to farm with sheep and cattle. Wilfried and Anita, took over the farm in 2008 as the third generation of cattle and sheep farming Slaneys and are welcoming guests to their boutique lodge, Otjimbondona Kalahari.
After breakfast and all luggage together...your Fly-In Safari starts from Otjimbondona Kalahari to the Ongava Private Game Reserve, bordering the Etosha National Park.
Soft air, crackling with bird song and a chorus of lion roars, this is just a small, spectacular part of the Ongava experience. Tracking rhinos on foot, game drives into the fabled Etosha National Park, nights spent around the fire, watching as some of the world's most illusive and endangered animals drink at at subtly lit waterholes. This is your chance to be immersed in the wild.
Ongava Game Reserve provides visitors with the ultimate in accommodation, offering comfort, luxury and a connection to the earth.
The surprising mix of peace and adrenaline, the quiet of the bush and the sudden burst of energy as wild animals congregate at waterholes; this is the magic of the African bush, where you experience the unexpected.
Ongava is one of the largest private game reserves in Namibia, with over 125 square miles to explore. Climb into an open
vehicle for game drives on Ongava and into neighbouring Etosha National Park to view the astonishing variety of life found in this spectacular environment.
Lions, black and white rhinos, elephants, giraffe and several stunning species of antelope, including rare black-faced impala, are at home on the reserve.
Our experienced guides share with their guests an intimate knowledge of the wildlife and the land that is part of their natural heritage.
Rhino tracking on foot in the company of your trained guides is a part of our quintessential African adventure.
Nature walks, photographic hides, lounging by the pool, or relaxing on your private deck are all wonderful ways to enjoy and reflect on your journey of a lifetime.
Today's Charterflight from Ongava to the Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp
Damaraland is a stunning region that ticks the wildlife, culture and landscape boxes, and within it Skeleton Coast National Park is notable, a must for any curious visitor to Namibia. Enjoy breath-taking views over the dry, rocky interior of Damaraland before heading over flat-topped mountains and vast gravel plains to the Hoanib River. Arrive at the extremely remote yet luxurious Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp in the Palmwag Concession, adjacent to the iconic Skeleton Coast National Park.
Game drives and nature walks within this rugged landscape reveal wildlife such as desert-adapted elephant to Hartmann’s mountain zebra and giraffe to name a few. A real highlight of your stay (weather permitting) is a visit to the iconic Skeleton Coast. Travelling by air or by land, this fascinating journey takes you via the Hoanib River and floodplain, the dune fields and Klein Oasis, ending at the dramatic rocky coastline itself with its huge Cape fur seal colony.
Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp is a place to enjoy, to savor and to live every second. The sunsets and sunrises, although behind the mountains flanking the camp brought out the most magnificent and otherworldly colors.
After breakfast fly to Swakopmund down the legendary Skeleton Coast - named for the numerous ships the treacherous shores have claimed over the years. In Swakopmund, you will have time to explore this quaint seaside town on foot. Swakopmund is a German colonial town located on the Atlantic coast and encompassed by the Namib Desert. This is Namibia’s most popular seaside town and the beaches are pleasant. It is a pleasant town to wander around and take in the German architecture and colonial history.
You can explore the Atlantic coast with a private boat cruise from Walvis Bay (weather permitting) to see diverse pelagic (ocean-going) birdlife, join a dolphin cruise or explore the lagoon on a kayak tour.
The morning you can still enjoy Swakopmund, before you continue your Fly-In Safari to the most beautiful desert in the world. The Flight is approx. 2 hours long. You will be met at Sesriem and taken by vehicle to the Desert Hills Lodge.
During the afternoon take part on a Scenic / Sundowner Drive, or just relax at the lodge.
Take part on a visit to the famous Sossusvlei Dunes and the Sesriem Canyon. Wake up early to enjoy the early morning light on the sea of vivid orange dunes of Sossusvlei. After breakfast, you are free to enjoy the activities offered at the lodge , such as nature walks, drives to scenic viewpoints, and marvelling at the unique Namib fauna and flora. The Sesriem Canyon is so named because the Afrikaner trekkers had to use six (ses) ox-thongs (riemme) in order to lower their buckets into this narrow gorge incised into the Tsauchab River. A visit here is a must, as well as to the Naukluft Mountains where there are beautiful natural streams.
Optional and weather permitting - take part on a Hot Air Balloon Trip. Hot air ballooning over the Namib Desert is an absolute must for anyone considering a holiday to Namibia and visiting the Namib Desert. To take to the skies at sunrise in complete silence, except for the occasional blow of the burner is an experience one never forgets. Sossusvlei itself is staggeringly strange - pans of cracked, white earth, sprouting the gnarled shapes of lifeless trees.
End off the experience with a picnic among the dunes in the protected Namib Naukluft Park. The Namib Naukluft Park covers huge tracts of the Sossusvlei dunes, which is a photographer’s dream. (Please pre-book with us, should you want to take part)
Today we head back to Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Aiport - where your holiday ends. On arrival in Windhoek, mid afternoon, you will be dropped at your accommodation of choice or transferred directly to the International Airport for your onward flight . Should you wish to extend your holiday, we are more than willing to assist you.
