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Namibia Discovery - Family Adventure
13 days - Accommodated Self Drive |
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This self-drive is geared specifically towards families encompassing the endless sand dunes of the Namib, 3 nights in Swakopmund to enjoy the many optional activities on offer, Etosha National Park, as well as the opportunity to visit the Cheetah Conservation Programme and a final night on one of the largest private game reserves in Southern Africa.
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Day 1 Windhoek
Upon arrival at the airport you will collect your vehicle and drive to Windhoek. Depending on the time your flight arrives you may have time to explore the capital city and see the sights. Alternatively, you may wish to join an optional township tour where you are able to sample local foods and meet some of the people, perhaps visit a school or orphanage. You could also join an afternoon horse ride excursion just outside the city. Tonight you will be based in a bed and breakfast style guesthouse near the centre of the city. Overnight in a twin bedded room with en-suite facilities. Bed and breakfast only, all additional meals are at own expense.
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Day 2-3 Namib Naukluft
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. 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 photographers 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 adobe style permanent tents 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.
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Days 4-6 Guesthouse, Swakopmund
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. 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), 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.
Restaurants include: The Tug – a must but needs to be prebooked , situated on the beach and partly built of a tug boat; Cape to Cairo – African Themed; Erichs; The Lighthouse – ideal for families; The Grapevine – excellent selection of wines and continental style food; This is just a small selection of many, there are also a number of cafes and bars.
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Day 7-8 Northern Damaraland
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. Overnight family chalet with en-suite facilities and amazing views across the plateau and down into the valley below. You will spend two nights here and be able to enjoy activities such as rhino tracking. This ¾ day rhino 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. Dinner, bed and breakfast basis and optional activities extra.
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Day 9-10 Etosha National Park
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. Your accommodation will be in or around this famous park depending in availability on a bed and breakfast basis in a family room.
Day 11 Otjiwarongo
Today drive towards Otjiwarongo where you will overnight at a lodge situated on a private reserve. You will be based in a family room 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. Bed and breakfast only, additional meals and activities at own expense.
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Day 12 Erindi Private Game Reserve
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. The lodge is based on a fully inclusive basis so all activities, meals and drinks are included. 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.
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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.
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2010 Rate
Price to Chameleon based on family of 4 - 2 adults and 2 kids (under 12 years)
Per person from N$10,850
Rates valid until 31 October 2010
Price Includes: accommodation and activities as stated; meals as stated; 2x4 Nissan X-trail (0 excess); VAT; tourism levy;
Price Excludes: fuel; entry fees to national parks and places of interest; meals not included as per itinerary; visas; personal travel insurance; items of a personal nature; tips/gratuities; telephone calls and internet facilities; laundry; curios;
Vehicle hire – Budget Car Rental
Includes: Unlimited kms, Super CDW, Super theft loss waiver, personal accident insurance PAI inc Europ Assist; Stamp duty, VAT; airport surcharge; map, inbound guide;
Excludes: Refundable deposit; contract fee N$45; additional driver N$190/rental; young driver surcharge (18-20) N$135/rental; fine handling fee per occurrence N$195; claim admin fee N$480; baby/booster seats N$230/rental; cooler box N$150; jerry can N$30 (N$110/deposit); second spare wheel (N$1000 deposit) N$40/day; one way fees; windscreen and tyre waiver N$100/day; water, sand and undercarriage; valet for excessive dirt; lost keys call out fee N$350; towing if not mechanical; after hours call out (weekdays prior to 8am and after 18h00 and weekends prior to N$80 and after 13h00 – not applicable at airport) N$70;
Please note that this quote is based on the availability of both accommodation/vehicle and on the understanding that no accommodation/trip has been booked. Should we need to use alternative accommodation/trip the price and itinerary is subject to change.
This is just a suggestion please contact us for more information on this or other itineraries |
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This itinerary is based mainly on family share accommodation, should you wish to have separate rooms (or that is all that is available) then the price is subject to change. You are also able to upgrade to a 4x4 vehicle such as a double cab (recommended particularly in rainy season)
Please also note that if children are over 12 years old then additional costs will apply.
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