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13 Days Wild and Crazy Family Adventure Safari |
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This itinerary has been especially designed to appeal to families with children, the driving distances, (where possible), have been kept to a minimum and the places visited have all been chosen with a mind for activities that will appeal to adults and children alike.
The minimum age on this itinerary is 5 years, the price is virtually fully inclusive of everything required whilst on the road with us and the style of safari is semi-accommodated / assisted camping. There are four accommodated nights included on the itinerary, the first night in Windhoek and two nights in Swakopmund on the Skeleton Coast. |
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Day 1 Windhoek - 1night accommodation
After arriving in Windhoek and settling into your guest house, you have the day to yourself where you can relax at the guest house, laze by the pool, visit the museum or take a stroll through town. Dinner this evening in not included in the price of the safari and will be for the client’s own account. Overnight in twin share rooms with en-suite bathroom.
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Day 2 Namib Desert Camp, outside Namib Naukluft Park - 1night camping
We travel out over the Eros Mountains and along scenic roads, on our way south-west to the desert. We also pass over part of the Naukluft Mountains the Khomas Hochland range on our journey today and head down from Namibia’s central plateau by way of the beautiful Remhoogte Pass. Coming out of the mountains we reach open plains and from here it is only a short distance to our next stop, the tiny town of Solitaire. We will stop here for some fuel and refreshments before continuing on a short distance to our camp for the night. We aim to arrive at our camp during the late afternoon and so there should be time for a dip in the pool and to see the sun set over the Naukluft Mountains. (Please note that we do not camp inside the Park area but about 48 kms away.) Overnight camping. (BLD) |
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Day 3 Sesriem, Namib Naukluft Park - 1night camping
A pre dawn start is essential this morning as we want to catch the soft light of the sunrise on the desert. After passing through Sesriem on sunrise, the gateway to the dunes, we drive into the heart of the dune field, we reach Sossusvlei itself by walking the last 5 km through the dunes. The walk is like nothing else, in the cool of the morning, with soft sunlight just beginning to play over the dunes creating a sharp light and shadow contrast across the whole desert. Ancient mineral pans, stunted camel thorn trees and the chance of seeing a gemsbok or maybe an ostrich make the photo opportunities perfect. We spend the morning in and around Sossusvlei, also visiting dune 45, and as the day wears on we return to Sesriem for lunch to escape the heat of the afternoon. Overnight camping. (BLD) |
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Day 4 Swakopmund - 1night accommodation
An early start today, we are heading north-west to the seaside town of Swakopmund located on the Skeleton Coast. Leaving the dune fields far behind us we are soon back into the mountain desert. We cross the Tropic of Capricorn and traverse both the Gaub and the Kuiseb pass, driving down to the dry river bed at the bottom of the canyon before climbing up the other side, watching the spectacular desert landscape unfold before us. From the mountains we cross the desolate “Namib gravel plains” before reaching the coastal sand dunes at the port town of Walvis Bay. We will stop for a picnic lunch beside the ocean and there will be time to see the flamingos and other bird life in the Walvis Bay lagoon before continuing the now short drive into Swakopmund. The Swakopmund section of the trip is designed to allow people to relax either with the group, or on their own. Overnight in twin share rooms with en-suite bathroom. (BLD) |
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Day 5 Swakopmund - 1night accommodation
Today is a free day, the idea is to allow time for everybody to do their own thing. Swakopmund is a very pleasant seaside town with lots of shops, a good stretch of beach (although the Atlantic here is quite cold) and an open-air curio market. There is also a very good museum and the Namibian National Marine Aquarium is located in Swakopmund.
Only breakfast is provided to allow you to plan your time here with as much flexibility as possible and not to be tied to group meal times. It also gives you the chance to sample some of the excellent local cafes and restaurants. The seafood in Swakopmund is superb and your guide will offer to organise a group meal in a local restaurant for this evening.
Alternatively, there are various optional activities that can be arranged. These include aeroplane and microlight flights over the desert, scenic drives, fishing trips (both from the beach or in a boat), four-wheel motorcycle (quad bike) trips into the desert and over the sand dunes around Swakopmund, sand boarding trips (also in the dunes), skydiving, surfing, bird-watching and many other activities are available. Your tour guide will discuss all the possible options with you before you reach Swakopmund and will offer to make bookings in advance of your arrival.
(N.B. All extra activities and excursions in Swakopmund are subject to availability and are made at the clients’ own risk and expense and dinner this evening is not included in the price of the safari and will be for the client’s own account. Overnight in twin share rooms with en-suite bathroom. (B) |
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Day 6 Brandberg Mountain, Damaraland - 1night camping
Leaving early and heading north along the coast, we will first visit the seal colony at Cape Cross where it is possible to see thousands of Cape Fur Seals in the water and on the surrounding rocks and beaches.
From here we will turn east, inland and back into the desert, travelling on to the small town of Uis, an old mining town, located more or less in the middle of no-where. Uis is one of the best places to buy semi-precious stones for which Namibia is famous. Here, rough Amethyst, Tourmaline etc can be found at bargain prices. From Uis it is now only a short drive to Namibia’s highest mountain, The Brandberg, (2573 m). Brandberg Mountain is an ancient Bushman spiritual site and tonight we will sleep under the shadow of this giant granite monolith. Overnight camping. (BLD) |
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Day 7 Palmwag, Northern Damaraland - 1night camping
Starting early to enjoy the cool of the morning we will hike, “into” the mountain with our guide to see the world famous “White Lady” rock painting. Attributed to the Bushman artists, the white lady panel is believed by some to be in excess of 20 000 years old.
Damaraland is probably Namibia’s most beautiful area and we drive through the heart of the region today. Giant granite “koppies” and open grassland make up the terrain with rare and unusual flora species dotting the landscape. We travel deeper into Damaraland and head down to the Palmwag Oasis.Located on the banks of a dry river, the Oasis is shaded by huge makalani palm trees and water comes from a rare desert spring that attracts a wide variety of wild game, including the rare and elusive desert elephant. There is a swimming pool where you can cool off and chill out or a self guided sunset walking trail if you are feeling energetic. Overnight camping. (BLD) |
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Day 8 Oase Village, Kamajab - 1night camping
Leaving Palmwag we begin our journey south with a relatively short drive to the small town of Kamanjab where we will make a short stop here before continuing on to find the Himba Tribesmen.
This is the only traditionally functioning Himba community outside the far north Kaokoland region of Namibia These tribes-people have migrated here, lifestyle and customs intact, and are following their traditional way-of-life in their village on a farm. Oase Village is located about 15 to 20 km outside Kamanjab, the exact location of the site varies as the Himba occasionally roam to a new location.
During the afternoon we will be invited into Oase Village and will meet with the locals. We will have a specialist guide for the time we are there, who will be able to translate for us and will introduce us to this “alternative lifestyle”. We will learn about marriage customs, traditional food and the mysteries of the local religion, “Holy Fire”. Your camp is close to the village and set amongst an out crop of rocks. Overnight camping. (BLD) |
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Day 9 Etosha National Park, Okaukuejo - 1night camping
Departing Kamanjab we head East to Outjo for a short stop for fresh supplies and where we can also get coffee and sticky cakes at the local bakery, before continuing on to Etosha’s premier resort, Okaukuejo.
We have time to make our camp and to relax in the shade by the swimming pool before heading out into the park in the cool of the late afternoon on our first game drive. Etosha forms the main game viewing section of our safari and the Okaukuejo area offers us some of the best waterholes in the park and the best chance to see some Big Game.
Game driving is not the only way to see the African wildlife at Okaukuejo. Located right on the boundary of the camp and within easy walking distance there is a floodlit waterhole for “after hours” game watching. Okaukuejo is famous for its waterhole, it has been described as one of the "best game viewing opportunities in Southern Africa" and black rhino, elephant, lion and numerous species of antelope are often seen. Overnight camping. (BLD)
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Day 10 Etosha National Park, Okaukuejo - 1night camping
Okaukuejo is our first two-night stop and 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 Okaukuejo area are some of the best in the park and we cover several different terrains this morning, from wooded areas to open savannah and in the rainy season, wetland. Back to Okaukuejo 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 within easy walking distance of the waterhole.
As on day three, 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. The Okaukuejo waterhole “Game Show” is scheduled to start again at sunset. Overnight camping. (BLD)
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Day 11 Okonjima, AfriCat Foundation - 1night camping
Sadly we have to leave Etosha today but it’s not the end of our game viewing. We will aim to arrive at Okonjima during the middle of the afternoon, giving us time to set up our camp and to relax in the shade or plunge into the pool before heading out on to the property to take part in the afternoon’s activities.
Okonjima is the home of the Africat Foundation, a specialist conservation concern that centres its operations around the African Big Cats, particularly cheetah. This afternoon specialised guides will take you on a tour during which you will be able to meet, close-up-and-personal, some of the cheetah, and other Big Cats, that are going through the Africat rehabilitation programme.
Most of the animals currently living at Okonjima have been rescued from various desperate situations, being orphaned or caught in a trap, and the aim of the rehabilitation process is to attempt to re-introduce them into the wild. After our educational tour we will return to camp and prepare for dinner under the African stars. Overnight camping. (BLD) |
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Day 12 Windhoek
We will travel south, stopping at Okahandja, where we have time to visit Namibia’s largest wood carving market. The market is operated on a local co-operative basis and is one of the best places to shop for truly Namibian souvenirs. We aim to arrive back in Windhoek in the early afternoon. Tonight we are staying at a guest house in town and there will be time to wander around town or relax at the guest house before your guide collects you again in the evening for dinner at one of the local restaurants. (BLD) |
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Day 13 End of safari - Windhoek
This morning you will be taken on a “Katutura Township Tour”. Katutura was, during the apartheid years, the original Windhoek workers “township” and is still today the largest suburb in Windhoek. The atmosphere is truly African and we will visit all the areas of local interest including markets and a local bar to try out the traditional drinks and food. Depending on departure times for your flight home, the afternoon can be spent shopping in Windhoek. Not only interesting, this is an excellent opportunity to check out the markets for last minute gifts and souvenirs. . End of services(B)
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2012 Rate
[valid until 31 March 2013]
28,500 per adult
R16.00 per child under 13 years
Departure dates: 1 Apr; 22 July; 23 Dec - any other dates are on request
Price includes: accommodation and camping as per itinerary; transport in safari vehicle; meals as per itinerary (B - breakfast, L - lunch, D - dinner); services of a professional English speaking guide; game drives and activities as per itinerary;
Price excludes: Personal travel insurance - this is compulsory; flights; visas; optional activities; snacks/drinks; items of a personal nature; sleeping bag (this can be hired);
This safari is run by a local tour operator |
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