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11 Day Ultimate Namibia Safari Scheduled Accommodated Safari - Silver/Gold Level |
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This Ultimate Namibia Safari affords you the chance to experience this magnificent and memorable country in a very personal way. You will have your own professional and experienced safari guide who will enhance your enjoyment of this unique country by making it a fascinating and stress-free journey of discovery amidst very dramatic scenery. The knowledge, experience and attitude of our guides are critical to a successful safari which is why we ensure that they are both personable and very professional. |
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Day 1 Sossusvlei area
This morning you will be collected from your respective accommodation establishment or from the Windhoek International Airport (assuming you land before 09h00). You then depart Windhoek in your safari vehicle Windhoek and drive southwest through the scenic Khomas Hochland highlands before you head down the Great Escarpment into the Namib Desert below. A picnic lunch will be served at a scenic location en-route. You will arrive at Hoodia Desert Camp in the late afternoon where you will stay for two nights whilst you explore the remarkable sights of the Namib Desert with your guide. If there is still time today, your guide will take you to visit Sesriem Canyon, a nearby geological attraction, or you can relax and soak in the scenic and tranquil surroundings at Hoodia Desert Camp.
Overnight: Hoodia Desert Camp (LD)
Day 2 Sossusvlei
This morning you will rise early for a magical excursion with your guide into the Namib Naukluft National Park, entering the Park gates at sunrise to capture the dunes whilst the light is soft and shadows accentuate their towering shapes and curves. This area boasts some of the highest free-standing sand dunes in the world. Your guide will give you an insight on the formation of the Namib Desert and its myriad of fascinating creatures and plants that have adapted to survive these harsh environs. Once you have explored to your hearts content you can enjoy a relaxing picnic breakfast under the shade of a camel thorn tree. Return to Hoodia Desert Camp in the early afternoon for a late lunch, stopping off to view Sesriem Canyon if you haven’t already done so the day before. The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure (from experience, this is usually welcomed after an exhilarating morning in the dunes).
Overnight: Hoodia Desert Camp (BLD) |
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Day 3 Swakopmund
NOTE: Option to include a sunrise balloon flight over the Namib Naukluft National Park before you depart for Swakopmund (optional extra at additional cost).
The fascinating drive today takes you northwest through awesome and ever changing desert landscapes of the Namib Naukluft National Park, including the impressive Gaub and Kuiseb canyons. You will meet the coast at the port town of Walvis Bay and then continue north to Swakopmund where you can enjoy the pleasant seaside location and cooler coastal air for your next two nights. There will be time this afternoon to wander around town and along the waterfront on foot if appeals, before heading off for dinner at the popular Tug Restaurant by the jetty which specialises in fresh seafood.
Overnight: Centrally located guesthouse in Swakopmund (BLD)
NOTE: As an alternative to the drive from Hoodia Desert Camp to Swakopmund you may like to take a scenic light aircraft flight over Sossusvlei and along the Diamond Coast (optional extra at additional cost), allowing you a birds eye view over the dune sea, abandoned mining camps, shipwrecks, Sandwich Harbour and salt pans before you land at Swakopmund Airport. Your guide will drive to meet up with you in Swakopmund later in the day.
Day 4 Swakopmund
After an early breakfast your guide will drive you along the scenic coastal road back to Walvis Bay for a memorable seal and dolphin cruise within the outer lagoon and harbour. This is an ideal way of seeing Cape fur seals, heaviside and bottlenose dolphins, pelicans, flamingos and a wide variety of sea birds. If you are lucky, there is also a chance of seeing whales, leatherback turtles and sunfish. During the course of the cruise snacks will be served along with local sparkling wine and fresh oysters. You will return to the jetty at roughly 12h30 after which you may like to explore Walvis Bay further before returning to Swakopmund for an afternoon at leisure at your guesthouse or in town. You may also like to partake in some of the many activities that Swakopmund has to offer, these include camel rides, scenic flights, quad-biking in the dunes, sky diving and more (all at extra cost).
Overnight: Centrally located guesthouse in Swakopmund (BLD)
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Day 5 Damaraland
Continue on your safari, heading north and east into the wonderful and diverse region of Damaraland. You will pass Namibia’s highest mountain, the Brandberg which peaks at 2,573 m above sea level, and take time to view game and absorb the vastness of the scenery along the way. Damaraland is typified by displays of colour, magnificent table topped mountains, rock formations and bizarre-looking vegetation. The present day landscape has been formed by the erosion of wind, water and geological forces which have formed rolling hills, dunes, gravel plains and ancient river terraces. It is the variety and loneliness of the area as well as the scenic splendour which will reward and astound you, giving one an authentic understanding of the word 'wilderness'.
If time allows this afternoon your guide will take you to visit the nearby attractions and geological sites of Twyfelfontein rock engravings (recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Burnt Mountain and the Organ Pipes - if not there is plenty of time to do so tomorrow.
Overnight: Camp Kipwe (BLD)
Day 6 Damaraland
After an early breakfast you will be treated to an exciting 4x4 excursion along the ephemeral Aba Huab River valley to explore this remarkable region and to search for game, including the elusive desert adapted elephants if they are in the area. Damaraland is home to a variety of desert adapted wildlife and hidden desert treasures. You will return to Camp for lunch and this afternoon you may visit Twyfelfontein and other nearby attractions if you haven’t already done so, or take a walk with your guide into the local area around Camp, or relax and enjoy some well deserved leisure time.
Overnight: Camp Kipwe (BLD) |
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Day 7 Hobatere Concession
You may like to begin with a gentle walk into the local area before breakfast, or enjoy a more leisurely start to your day if preferred. After breakfast you will depart and head northeast through northern Damaraland to reach the Hobatere Concession, stopping off to see the Petrified Forest en-route. Hobatere Concession is effectively a private game reserve, spanning 32,000 hectares along the western border of the Etosha National Park. The concession is home to a wide variety of game including lion, elephant, leopard, cheetah, eland, Hartmann’s mountain zebra, gemsbok (oryx), kudu, steenbok and much more. The scenery is attractive with large open plains blending into Mopane tree woodlands and granite outcrops.
Let the game viewing really begin! You will start with an afternoon game drive followed by a night drive after dinner this evening, both in a specially modified open 4x4 game viewing vehicle. The night drive is highly recommended as it offers a good chance of seeing nocturnal animals such as spring hares, aardvark, Cape and bat-eared foxes, aardwolf and genets.
Overnight: Hobatere Lodge (BLD)
Day 8 Etosha National Park
The route today takes you from the Hobatere Concession into Etosha National Park, entering the Park through Galton Gate on the western boundary. We have a special permit which allows us through this western section of Etosha National Park, an area that is closed to ‘normal tourist traffic’ for research and rehabilitation of game. You will game drive your way across the Park to arrive at Okaukuejo Restcamp in the afternoon. This evening you can relax by Okaukuejo’s excellent floodlit waterhole where game comes and goes throughout the night.
Overnight: Okaukuejo Resort (BLD)
Day 9 Etosha National Park
Full day of exciting game viewing within Etosha National Park today, on game drives with your guide and at Okaukuejo’s busy waterhole.
Overnight: Okaukuejo Resort (BLD)
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Day 10 AfriCat Foundation (Okonjima)
Game drive your way from Okaukuejo Resort to exit Etosha National Park at Andersson Gate and then continue south to stay at Okonjima Bush Camp, located at the base of the Omboroko Mountains near Waterberg. This is a wonderful highlight to conclude your safari on. Here you can enjoy the welcoming atmosphere, superb accommodation and fantastic activities; starting with a guided afternoon excursion and a visit to the night hide after dinner.
Okonjima is home to the AfriCat Foundation, a wildlife sanctuary which focuses on the research and rehabilitation of Africa's big cats, especially injured or captured leopard and cheetah. Close encounters with leopard and cheetah are an unforgettable highlight. Activities include leopard tracking by vehicle, a visit to the cheetah welfare project and a visit to the night hide where nocturnal animals such as porcupine, caracal, honey badger, and even leopard may be seen.
Overnight: Okonjima Bush Camp (BLD)
Day 11 End of safari - Windhoek
You will rise early this morning for another memorable guided activity before you return to Bush Camp for a sumptuous breakfast. After freshening up you will depart for Windhoek in the late morning, via the town of Okahandja, to arrive back at roughly 14h00. Upon your arrival into Windhoek you will be transferred to your accommodation establishment of choice, or to Windhoek International Airport to check-in for your ongoing flight (departure flights must be no earlier than 16h00 or a final night in Windhoek can be arranged at additional cost if required). (BL)
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2012 Departures
2 Apr; 14 May; 18 Jun; 16 Jul; 13 Aug; 10 Sep; 8 Oct; 5 Nov.
2012 Rates
[valid until 30 November 2012]
R35,865 per person sharing
R4,345 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
Price includes: Accommodation as stated in itinerary; transport in a luxury safari vehicle; services of a professional English speaking guide; meals as stated in itinerary; entrance fees and excursions as described in itinerary; return airport transfers from Windhoek International Airport to Windhoek; mineral water on board the safari vehicle; welcome pack
Price excludes: Personal travel insurance - this is compulsory; international flights to Namibia and airport taxes; any entrance fees and excursions not included in the itinerary; snacks/drinks; laundry (laundry service available at lodges at extra cost); tips/gratuities; items of personal nature; VISA FEES; BANK CHARGES
This safari is run by a local tour operator
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