Chameleon Holidays & Travel for Safaris & Vacations in Africa | Southern Africa | Namibia | Self drive - Namibia Family Adventure

 13 Day Namibia Discovery - Family Adventure
Accommodated Self Drive - Silver Level

Day 1  Chameleon Guesthouse, Windhoek - 1night bed & breakfast
Upon arrival at the Windhoek International (Hosea Kutako) Airport, depending on the car hire company you will either collect your vehicle from the airport or will be transferred into the city where you will then pick the vehicle up and drive to Chameleon Guesthouse in Windhoek. Here, you will be met by one of our tour consultants’ to go through your travel plans. Depending on the time of your arrival you may choose to wander into the city centre, or relax by the pool. Chameleon Guesthouse has a hotspot zone and you can use this facility to browse the internet while you are out doors on your own laptop. Alternatively you join an optional township tour, enjoy a horse ride, or even head out for a birding trip. Overnight in based in twin share rooms with en suite facilities on a bed and breakfast only, all additional meals at own expense.

Day 2&3  Desert Camp, nr Namib Naukluft Park - 2nights accommodation only
Enjoy stunning scenery on the drive to Sesriem, the entry to the famous and dunes of Sossusvlei. Upon arrival, you can relax by the pool, head to the nearby Elim’s Dune for sunset, and the following day rise early to venture into the dune fields. The last 5km section is for 4x4 vehicles only so you need to walk the last section or take a private shuttle service (unless you are an experienced 4x4 sand driver we do not recommend you drive in yourself.) Once here, you can spend several hours wandering around and climbing the dunes, or resting under the shade of the trees appreciating the scale and beauty of the area. Ensure you visit nearby Dead Vlei, where ancient and skeletal camel thorn trees stand on the white pan with the backdrop of orange sand dunes and blue sky, a photographer’s delight. Return to camp and later this afternoon you may wish to visit the nearby Sesriem Canyon. Overnight based on accommodation only in a chalet – all sharing, in an adobe style permanent tent with en suite facilities, private balcony and self-catering facilities, there is a pool and bar, and you can either prepare your own meals or enjoy them at a nearby lodge.

Days 4,5&6  Brigadoon Guesthouse, Swakopmund - 3nights bed & breakfast
Drive through the desert to Swakopmund, once at the coast you may wish to stop at Walvis Bay Lagoon en route to Swakopmund, a RAMSAR wetland site and numerous birds including greater and lesser flamingos, pelicans and the endemic damara tern reside. From here it’s a short drive to Swakopmund, where you will be based in a family room on a bed and breakfast basis for the next three nights in a centrally located guesthouse. This coastal town is also the activity centre of Namibia and you can enjoy optional activities such as a dolphin cruise (seals will often jump onto the boat and will happily receive a hug or kiss in exchange for a fish or two) - a great family activity,  sand boarding, quad biking, scenic flight over the desert, dunes and shipwrecks, sky diving – the list is endless. There is a safe beach for swimming, an interesting aquarium and museum or you may want to sit back and relax with a coffee and cake and watch the world go by, pick up fresh supplies and plan for your next section of the journey.

Days 7&8   Grootberg Lodge, Northern Damaraland - 2nights dinner, bed & breakfast
Recommend a departure after breakfast heading north along the Skeleton Coast as well as a stop at Cape Cross to view a huge colony of seals. From here enter the Skeleton Coast Park and appreciate this hostile region, continue your drive to your lodge in the heart of Damaraland, this is a community-based establishment, where plateaus reach high on skyline and strange plant life dominates the surrounds. You will spend two nights here and be able to enjoy activities such as rhino tracking, this is a ¾ day tracking excursion both in the vehicle and on foot, the rhinos were relocated from the Kunene Region in 2006 and with the backing of the Save The Rhino Trust and the Namibian Government (Ministry of Environment and Tourism) these animals are now adapting to their new home and have settled well, it is hoped in the near future that additional animals will be added. Alternatively you can enjoy a search for the elusive desert adapted elephant that live in Damaraland, or a game drive in the region looking out for the game such as black rhino, mountain zebra, kudu, klipspringer and springbok. Overnight is in a family chalet with en-suite facilities and amazing views across the plateau and down into the valley below on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis and optional activities extra.

Days 9&10      Okaukuejo, Etosha National Park - 2nights bed & breakfast
Today you head for Etosha, Namibia’s prime game reserve and spend the next three nights enjoying game drives in this premier park, one of the largest and best reserves in Africa. Etosha is over 22,000 sq kms and home to many species of game including lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, hyaena, giraffe as well as antelope including the endemic black faced impala and over 340 species of birds so you should be kept amused. Etosha can be translated to ‘great white place’ and you will have the opportunity to visit the pan and appreciate the vastness of the region. Overniht is in a family room on a bed and breakfast basis

Day 11         Frans Indongo Lodge, Otjiwarongo - 1night bed & breakfast
Today drive towards Otjiwarongo where you will overnight at a lodge situated on a private reserve, where you may wish to join an optional game drive to see unusual species such as black springbok and blesbok.  The lodge is ideally located to visit the nearby CCF - the Cheetah Conservation Fund where you can visit the educational centre and museum, their programme is an innovative one, not only do they educate the local farmers and  villagers but train dogs to protect the livestock from the cheetahs ensuring that both survive – children of all ages are welcome at the educational centre – if you wish to enjoy the cheetah run and see them exercised kids under 12 must stay outside the enclosure.  However, it’s a great way to see them close up and appreciate these wonderful predators.  Overnight is in a family room on a bed and breakfast basis, all other meals will be at client's expense and activities at own expense.

Day 12 Erindi Private Game Reserve - 1night full board
Continue your journey south and onto one of the largest private reserves in Southern Africa - Erindi. Here, this newly opened lodge has a huge amount of game and each room overlooks a waterhole. You may be lucky to see rhino or other game come to drink. There is a games room and swimming pool for the kids and areas are secure. You can enjoy a sundowner drink on the wooden deck overlooking another waterhole that has resident hippo and crocodiles – unusual to see this far south in the country and one of the few opportunities you will have to see these incredible animals. The reserve is home to species such as elephant, lion, leopard, various plains game as well as the endangered cheetah and wild dog. Overnight based in a luxury family room on a full board basis. Drinks and activities will be at client's expense.

Day 13   Windhoek – Flight
Return to Windhoek and proceed to the International Airport where you will drop off your vehicle in time for your onward flight. End of services

This is just a suggestion please contact us for more information on this or other itineraries