Chameleon Holidays & Travel for Safaris & Vacations in Africa | Delta Dunes - 15 days

Delta Dunes- 15 days

This safari has a guaranteed departure most Thursdays of the year.  There is no minimum number, no single supplements and we will operate the trip with only one booking if necessary.  The price is virtually fully inclusive, the style is limited participation, assisted camping and there is one accommodated night included in the itinerary.  This trip takes you into the stunning Okavango Delta and its waterways,  Etosha National Park – one of southern Africa’s premier game reserves, the dramatic landscapes and history of Damaraland and of course, the huge sand dunes of Sossusvlei.

DAY 1 GHANZI, KALAHARI, BOTSWANA
A long drive today, making use of the Trans-Kalahari-Highway, a relatively new road that provides an invaluable communication link between Namibia, Botswana and South Africa.  The road takes us first to the small town of Gobabis, one of the main livestock farming centres of Namibia, and then on to the border with Botswana.

After completing the immigration formalities we continue, through rural Botswana to the town of Ghanzi, located in the centre of cattle farming Botswana.  Ghanzi is located almost in the middle of the Kalahari Desert and was almost unknown before the Trans Kalahari Highway. Overnight camping. (LD)

DAY 2 OKAVANGO DELTA
An early start and a quick stop in Ghanzi to collect any last minute supplies before continuing west, traversing the linear dunes of the Kalahari and passing through small towns along the way.

A change in vegetation heralds our arrival on the very western edge of one of the natural wonders of the world, the Okavango Delta.  Here we turn north for some way before again pointing our wheels west as we enter the Delta proper. 

We see our first glimpse of the crystal waters through the lush vegetation and we make our camp on the banks of a pristine African lagoon. Overnight camping. (BLD)

DAY 3 OKAVANGO DELTA
We are in the territory of the River People, so this morning we leave our vehicle behind and travel in a more appropriate fashion, first by motorboat and then by traditional mokoro (dugout canoe), deep into the Delta.

Mokoro’s will be our main form of transport for the next two days.  These amazing traditional craft are perfectly designed for the narrow waterways of the Okavango and allow us to travel further into the Delta than if we were using more modern forms of transport. 

Mokoros carry three people, two seated passengers and one driver.  The driver stands in the rear of the canoe, (a real feat of balance), and uses a long wooden pole to propel and steer the mokoro through the twisting channels.  It really is the only way to travel. 

We are fully self-sufficient and make our camps on the riverbanks and islands, under huge indigenous trees, sharing the environment with the local people and the local fauna of Africa.  The Okavango is a wildlife paradise and we will look for game from both our mokoros and on bush walks guided by local specialist guides, our polers. Overnight camping. (BLD)

NB:  The bathroom facilities in the Okavango Delta can be best described as rustic.  There is plenty of water but it is used, straight from the river, (well boiled first).  There is no electricity and we will enjoy bucket showers and basic toilet facilities.  These conditions will prevail for the two days on the islands.

DAY 4 OKAVANGO DELTA
Once established into our wilderness routine, we usually take a long, early morning bush walk to see the terrain and hopefully spot some Big Game, returning to camp in the mid morning for a cooked brunch.

There is time to relax in the shade during the heat of the day and from most camps our polers will be able to take us to a safe swimming place to cool off

In the afternoons there is often a shorter walk or a mokoro cruise in the cool evening air.  Sunset from the river is not to be missed. Overnight camping. (BLD)

DAY 5 OKAVANGO DELTA
The way of life of the Okavango River people has remained largely un-changed for hundreds of years.  It is a totally no-stress environment in a pure wilderness setting. 

We are heading back to our first camp today, gliding across the crystal waters, home to an amazing variety of bird life.  There is the chance to add crocodiles and even a hippopotamus to our list of creatures seen before making our final Okavango camp amongst the lush riverine bush.

We will transfer back to camp in the motorboats and aim to be back on the lagoon, with full facilities by the early afternoon.  We enjoy a final night beside the un-paralleled Okavango Waters. Overnight camping. (BLD)

DAY 6 RUNDU, NAMIBIA
Back on the road today, destination Namibia.  Passport formalities completed we go directly into the Mahango Game Reserve, a small but excellent park right on the edge of the Okavango River.  We game drive our way through Mahango and have the chance to spot rarely seen Namibian species such as roan and the majestic sable antelope. 

We now head west, through part of Namibia’s Caprivi Strip to our camp for tonight.  We are again beside the Okavango, but this time the main river, on its journey from the Angolan highlands, through the panhandle to waters end, the delta. Overnight camping. (BL)

Dinner tonight will be for the clients’ own expense in the restaurant at the lodge.

DAY 7 NAMUTONI, ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK
A short drive brings us to the northern Namibian town of Rundu where there is time to explore the local market before continuing down through the Kavango Region. There are a few breaks along the way at various kraals to see the local crafts and woodcarvings.

Continuing on to our East Etosha, Namutoni region camp we again aim to arrive in time for lunch, giving us time to relax before heading into the park during the cool of the late afternoon for our first game drive. Overnight camping. (BLD)

DAY 8 NAMUTONI, ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK
We go straight out on an early morning game drive.  We visit some of the numerous waterholes in the area hoping to catch some of Etosha's big game out for an early morning drink.  The game drives around the Namutoni area are some of the best in the park. 

We cover several different terrains this morning, from wooded areas to open savannah and in the rainy season, wetland.  Back to Namutoni in the late morning and after lunch there is time once again to relax during the heat of the day.  The pool area here is very good, shaded by palm trees and a stone's throw away from the waterhole. 

As on day seven, we take a shorter game drive in the late afternoon, often driving out to one of the waterholes popular with game and waiting for the animals to come to us. Overnight camping. (BLD)

DAY 9 OKAUKUEJO, ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK
A full day's game driving.  We again leave early to enjoy the cool morning air.  We game drive our way through Etosha to Halali camp, situated in the middle of the park.  Along the way we visit several waterholes and are afforded splendid views of the massive Etosha Pan.  The game viewing is usually excellent and we have the chance to tick off a few new species that are not normally seen on the Namutoni side of the park.

We stop at Halali for a rest and a leisurely lunch.  There is also time to visit the Halali waterhole and to make use of the swimming pool and bar facilities before continuing on our way and game driving down to Okaukuejo camp. 

Okaukuejo is famous for its waterhole, which has been described as one of the "best game viewing opportunities in Southern Africa".  Situated on the doorstep of our accommodation, black rhino, elephant, lion and numerous species of antelope are often seen. Overnight camping. (BLD)

DAY 10 TWYFELFONTEIN, DAMARALAND
Leaving Etosha we are en route for the desert and the most scenic area of our safari.  We make a stop at a small town called Outjo where we can get coffee and sticky cakes at the local bakery.  We then drive west to Khorixas, the capital of the Damaraland region.  A short break here and then, leaving the sealed roads far behind us, we drive into the desert. 

We stop for lunch at the Petrified Forest geological site, where a local guide will take us around and explain about the prehistoric trees, before continuing on to Twyfelfontein.

Damaraland scenery is some of the best in Namibia, open grasslands studded with massive granite koppies create the feeling of being surrounded by mountains.  We are well into desert elephant and black rhino country and other game such as springbok, ostrich and gemsbok are often seen.

We aim to arrive in the early afternoon and have time to relax in the shade before making a late afternoon excursion to Twyfelfontein itself.  Here, again, a local guide will introduce us to the ancient Bushman rock engravings or petroglyphs.  We also make a visit to another geological site in the area called the Organ Pipes. Overnight camping. (BLD)

DAY 13 NAMIB DESERT CAMP
We first make a stop at Walvis Bay, situated about 40 km south of Swakopmund.  South of the town there is a large marine lagoon, which is home to a vast array of marine bird-life, in particular flamingos.  We will make a short visit to the lagoon to see the birds and a short visit to Walvis Bay to collect any last minute supplies before once again heading out into the desert.   

The second part of our journey today takes us across more of the seemingly endless Namib gravel plains.  Then the landscape suddenly changes and we are into the mountain desert. 

We traverse both the Kuiseb and Gaub passes, driving both times to the river beds at the bottom of the canyons and then climbing the long steep road to the top and the spectacular panoramas the mountains give us.  Again the scenery changes as we make our way down to the dune fields.

We cross some open grass savannah and farmlands before the terrain begins to give way to the immense red sand dune desert of the Namib and from here it is only a short distance to our next stop, the tiny town of Solitaire.  We will stop here for some refreshments before continuing on through stunning desert scenery.

We aim to arrive at our camp during the late afternoon and watch the colours glow and change on distant mountains to the east. Overnight camping. (BLD)

DAY 15 WINDHOEK
After breakfast we begin our journey, over the mountains and along scenic roads, back to Windhoek.  We will travel over the Naukluft Mountains and also the Khomas Hochland range, through beautifull Remhoogte Pass on our way back to civilization.

We are due back into the city around 15:00 and you will be dropped off at your accommodation on our return. (BL)