Welcome to beautiful Namibia! Home to vibrant cities and rich cultural history. The Namib sand dunes, some of which are 300 metres high and span 32 kilometres (20 mi) long, are the second largest in the world. Explore the coastal city of Swakopmund at your own pace. Spend a few memorable hours with the fascinating and fun-loving SAN and learn about their way of life. Witness Nambia’s wildlife in a Safari Vehicle with your guide while exploring Etosha National Park and Waterberg Nature Reserve.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Etosha National Park: One of the largest parks in Africa. Its definitive feature is the Etosha Pan, a vast, shallow depression of approximately 5000 sq. km. For the greater part of the year, the pan is a bleak expanse of white cracked mud which shimmers with mirages on most days.
Waterberg Nature Reserve: Rising some 200m above a surrounding sea of African bush and savannah, the Waterberg Plateau with its flamboyant brick-red sandstone formations and lush green vegetation presents an island of vibrant colour.
Namib Desert: Considered possibly the oldest desert in the world, the Namib was already arid at least 80 million years ago. In the south, it extends into South Africa across the Orange River, while in the north it crosses the Kunene into Angola.
Swakopmund: Swakopmund is much loved by Namibians as a welcome respite from the inland heat. It is also popular amongst visitors for its old-world charm and relaxed atmosphere.
Day 1: WINDHOEK – SWAKOPMUND (395km – 4hrs)
Early morning transfer from your hotel in Windhoek City to Swakopmund (around 8:30 am). Arrive in Swakopmund and check in to your hotel where you will be welcomed warmly and you can sink into cool comfort in the fresh coastal air. Tour discussion with your guide about the next 6 days, hereafter you can enjoy an optional city tour (not included), or get to know this quaint and lovely town on foot at your leisure.
Overnight in Swakopmund.
Day 2: SWAKOPMUND
Enjoy a relaxing day at your leisure. In Swakopmund, there are many activities to choose from (not included) such as a Catamaran cruise in the Walvis Bay lagoon with oysters and sparkling wine served underway, the famous ‘Living Desert tour’, or a Quad Bike excursion into the dunes. Alternately, visit the Crystal Gallery to see the largest crystals in the world, or join a guided Fatbike Tour through town or into the dunes. If you travel the short distance to Walvis Bay for a Boat Cruise, the road that runs between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund will offer a fascinating contrast, flanked on one side by the soaring yellow sand dunes of the Namib Desert and on the other by the sea and the cold Benguela Current. The mists that cover the dunes and beaches in the early mornings are equally as eerily beautiful as the wind-blown sands that drift over the dune ridges, driven by the on-shore winds in the late afternoon. Dinner in the evening can be enjoyed at any one of Swakopmund’s renowned and very popular Restaurants (at own expense).
Overnight in Swakopmund.
Day 3: SWAKOPMUND – ERONGO MOUNTAINS REGION – KALKFELD (375km – 4hrs)
Another sumptuous buffet breakfast precedes today’s departure from the cooler coastal temperatures. You travel on in the safari vehicle past the fascinating Spitzkoppe Mountain area, en-route to the Erongo Mountains where you visit the Omandumba Farm and spend a few fascinating hours with the SAN Bushmen Tribe who live here. Spend a few memorable hours with the fascinating and fun-loving SAN and learn about their way of life, partaking in activities such as jewellery making with Ostrich Egg Shell, or shooting with a bow and arrow. Finally, you continue on to your lodge for the night, arriving during the afternoon. Enjoy refreshing sundowners (not included) before a delicious dinner in the Boma (included).
Overnight in Kalkfeld.
Day 4: KALKFELD – ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK REGION (240km – 3hrs)
Today you sleep a little later, before a leisurely breakfast. Your lodge offers a number of fascinating optional excursions you can participate in, such as Game Drives or a visit to the fascinating Dinosaur Footprints where you can enjoy an easy Guided Walk of 1.5km, duration approximately 30 minutes (not included.) These excursions can also be undertaken in the morning, prior to your departure for your next destination. Thereafter you board the Tour Vehicle once more and journey onwards, into the North to the renowned Etosha National Park region. Arrive and check-in at your beautiful, comfortable Lodge before you wander in the luscious green gardens which offer an extraordinary contrast to the bush savannah of this area. At your leisure, enjoy a swim in the cool sparkling pool, or sundowners as you watch the sun sink in the west. Savour dinner at the hotel.
Overnight in Etosha West Region.
Day 5: ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK REGION
Shortly after breakfast, you drive the short distance to the famous Etosha National Park where you spend the full day observing the fascinating and wonderful wildlife from the Tour Vehicle. Lunch can be enjoyed in the form of a hearty Lunch Pack while you are underway in the Park, or at one of the Camp restaurants, with a cooling swim in the pool (not included). A few hours can also be spent observing the game and from the comfortable shady benches overlooking the camp waterhole. In the late afternoon, you return to your accommodation where the evening promises another beautiful sunset and delicious dinner.
Overnight in Etosha West Region.
Day 6: ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK REGION – WATERBERG REGION (295km – 3hrs)
An early breakfast is followed by another 2-3 hour excursion into the famous Etosha National Park once again, before you set off on the penultimate leg of your Namibian Safari, travelling via the towns of Outjo and Otjiwarongo to the Waterberg Plateau Park. Marvel at the ever-changing landscapes along the way, and the vast and majestic plateau that rises in the distance as you travel closer to the Waterberg. Once checked in and time-permitting, there are some wonderful activities to participate in including Guided Walking Trails, a visit to the Cheetah Conservation Foundation or a rejuvenating massage in the Spa (not included). As the last day of your safari day draws to a close, watch a final sunset over the horizon before the African night sky is lit by a million stars. Savour dinner at the guest farm.
Overnight in Waterberg.
Day 7: WATERBERG – DEPARTURE WINDHOEK (360km – 4hrs)
After breakfast you depart via Okahandja and Windhoek, travelling directly to the Hosea Kutako International Airport outside Windhoek. Once there, bid your Guide and this beautiful and fascinating country farewell. We wish you Bon Voyage!
Comfortable clothing is the most suitable for travelling to Namibia. Warm clothing for cool evenings is recommended, light-weight long-sleeved clothing during the hot days provides protection from the sun and insects. Closed Shoes should be worn in the desert at all times. Sun protection, sunglasses and a hat are a must, and mosquito repellent can be very useful during your stay.
