A wonderful way to visit Namibia in a shorter version but still including most of the highlights.
This safari is based on using a variety of comfortable lodges and Namibia Wildlife Resorts bungalows, “value for money ” accommodation. Choose to have a guided or a self-drive safari.
CLASSIC - a range of good, mid-market lodges and wildlife Resort Bungalows
ITINERARY
Day 1 Windhoek / Kalahari Desert
From Windhoek, head south through desert shrub savannah to the Naukluft and Tsaris Mountains. The lodge offers walks with or without a guide.
OVERNIGHT: AUAS GAME LODGE - Bed, Breakfast and Dinner
Situated only 43 km south of Windhoek, the Auas Game Lodge offers 12 comfortable double en-suite bedrooms on a 10 000 hectare game farm with the emphasis on individual hospitality, ideal for smaller groups and families, who want to enjoy the panoramic view and the tranquillity of nature.
Day 2 Desert scenery / Namib Desert
After breakfast, travel south to the Namib Desert for the next two nights. This is a lovely drive passing through desert type savanna, open plains and rolling hills.
The vegetation changes from acacia savannah to desert shrub and then open landscapes, hills and passes … changes as you head south-west. Stopping at scenic sites, giant sociable weaver nests, watch some wildlife like Chacma baboon, Springbok, Oryx and Ostrich makes the drive part of the holiday. Namibia is a country where the journey is often more important and interesting than the actual destination.
A late afternoon nature drive or walk at the lodge is recommended, especially at sunset.
OVERNIGHT: DESERT HOMESTEAD or NAMIB DESERT LODGE - Dinner, Bed and Breakfast
Desert Homestead
Situated 31.5km from the Sossusvlei entry gate, this newly rebuilt lodge has been skillfully designed to incorporate all the features that guests loved about the original lodge, whilst enjoying the benefit of a pristine location. Extra activities include horse riding, sun-downer drives, guided walks, hiking, ballooning, quad biking and flight excursions.
Namib Desert Lodge
Namib Desert Lodge sits at the foot of a red sandstone cliff, the 'fossilised' dunes of the protomorphic Namib. Situated just 60 km north of Sesriem, the gateway to famous Sossusvlei, the lodge is an ideal starting point for an excursion to the highest dunes in the world. Among tall trees and palms are 21 rooms en suite, a restaurant and swimming pool, all of which invite you to linger and relax.
Day 3 Sossusvlei / Dead Pan / Dune 45 / Sesriem Gorge
Early morning rise to be at the Namib Naukluft Park gate at Sesriem in time when it opens at sunrise. After paying the entry fee, drive west to the beautiful
Sossusvlei area where most of the morning will be spent on dune climbing, photography and to visit the amazing Dead Pan. A stunning area, especially early morning!
Star dunes rise up to 300m into the air and rank among the biggest in the world; the dune valleys are marked by vast clay pans where the Tsauchab River gave up its fight to reach the sea. More than 60,000 years ago, the encroaching dunes stopped the ephemeral river from reaching the sea with over 50km still to go.
Besides the dunes and pans of Sossusvlei and Sesriem Canyon, a sideshow of activities and sights has developed around the region and there are plenty of game lodges that provide additional desert-adapted activities. Plants and birds are the dominant life form in this desiccated realm and they support a tiny world of mammals, reptiles and insects that, in the absence of coastal fog, seldom wander far from the river-course and its pans.
This is a photographer’s haven especially in the morning light when the shadows magnify the sharp edges of the dunes, the red Namib sands shine and the area is just so beautiful. The Dead Pan is also one of the most beautiful places to visit, a short hike from one of the parking areas. For the adventurous and fit, climb one of the biggest dune sin the world, Big Daddy!
On the way back to the lodge, stop over at Dune 45 which is probably the most photographed dune in the world. A visit to the enchanting Sesriem Gorge is also recommended where evidence of wetlands of days gone by is in clear evidence.
The afternoon is free to relax after the early morning rise and/or to go on a drive or a short hike in the area.
OVERNIGHT: DESERT HOMESTEAD or NAMIB DESERT LODGE - Dinner, Bed and Breakfast
Days 4 & 5 Kuiseb Canyon / Namib Gravel Plains / Welwitschia / Skeleton Coast
A drive north (and then west) goes through the gradual change from mountains and dunes to rolling grass-covered hills with scattered acacia trees to Swakopmund, a quaint resort town by the sea with an obvious German heritage at odds with its bleak surrounds.
Look out for the endemic Hartmann's mountain zebra as you leave; stop at Solitaire, about 80km from Sesriem for some home-made bread and an ice cold drink; Kuiseb Canyon has some shady picnic spots; you can see springbok and pure-bred wild ostrich across the vast gravel plains of the Namib; the lunar landscape; look out for the Welwitschia plant.
Swakopmund is a lovely town situated on the Skeleton Coast at the mouth of the Swakop River.
The town hosts a wide range of superb restaurants and other interests such as:
- Karakulia weavers market
- Marine Aquarium
- Street markets
- Museum
- Krystal Gallery and lots more
A visit to Swakopmund is not complete without taking a break at Café Anton for tea/coffee and fresh cake!
Recommended restaurants:
- The Tug … excellent for seafood
- The Lighthouse Restaurant … a superb family style restaurant
- Erich’s … a wide range of fish and meat dishes
- Brauhaus … German style cuisine and excellent beef steaks!
The first morning (Day 5) is set aside for an excursion to the Walvis Bay lagoon, a RAMSAR wetlands site, where thousands of flamingoes, pelicans and numerous waders feed in the nutrient-rich shallows. The afternoon is free to spend in Swakopmund.
Optional extra activities:
- scenic flights over the Skeleton Coast (recommended)
- Dolphin boat cruise at Walvis Bay (recommended)
- Dune 4X4 quad biking etc
The drive from the Sossusvlei area to Swakopmund will take 5-6 hours depending on how often the group stops at scenic and other interesting sites.
OVERNIGHT: SWAKOPMUND GUEST HOUSE or SANDFIELDS GUEST HOUSE - Bed and Breakfast
Swakopmund Guest House
One of the newest guest houses in Swakopmund comprises of 12 superbly furnished rooms. Each room is individual, subtle changes to every room but keeps the lovely atmosphere throughout. All rooms have a small coffee station, fridge, television and telephone. Center of town with a wide range of restaurants is literally two blocks away with the beach a 5 minute walk.
Sandfields Guesthouse
Small, up-market establishment with 5 double/twin rooms, all with en suite bathrooms and own natural stone fireplace. In the rooms white linen combined with natural, muted stone and sand colours, laminated wood flooring, warm rosewood detail and a natural stone fireplace create a light, airy but cosy atmosphere. The guesthouse is situated in a peaceful residential suburb and has a lovely large tranquil, private garden to relax in. Only 2 blocks from the sea and a 5 minute drive from town centre.
Day 6 Skeleton Coast / Cape Cross / Damaraland / Twyfelfontein
Destination
Damaraland where enormous granite outcrops and dolerite dykes have been carved by ice, wind and rain over eons. Grassy plains, tree-studded riverbeds and endless open skies add to the grandeur and make this area one of the most scenic in Namibia.
The drive to Damaraland takes up to five hours because there is much to see and do along the way.
Drive along the Skeleton Coast via Henties Bay to Cape Cross - the largest breeding cape fur seal colony in the world. The stench of 100,000 seals can be a tad over-powering so a handkerchief to cover the nose is recommended
Enjoy lunch at Cape Cross Lodge or picnic at some suitably serene and other-worldly spot on the way to Uis. Along the way, top at the lichen fields and a salt pan.
If time permits this afternoon, visit the Twyfelfontein rock engravings and paintings, the Petrified Forest and the Organ Pipes. If the day was too interesting and arrival at the lodge is too late, visit Twyfelfontein the next morning.
Distance today will be about 400 kms but can take from 6 – 8 hours … depending on how often and for how long the stops are taken.
OVERNIGHT: TWYFELFONTEIN LODGE - Dinner, Bed and Breakfast
Twyfelfontein Lodge is situated in the Uibasen Twyfelfontein Conservancy, approx. 5km from the renowned historical site with some of the best specimens of rock engravings and paintings in Southern Africa. The Lodge boasts 57 en-suite double rooms, restaurant, bar and swimming pool. Other popular attractions include Burnt Mountain, the Organ Pipe rock formations, Doros Crater and Petrified Forest
Days 7, 8 & 9 Etosha National Park
2007 … Etosha Celebrated its Centenary!
A visit to the Etosha National Park is one of the highlights of traveling Namibia. Etosha, which was declared a game reserve by the German colonial administration back in 1907, covers an area of more than 22 000 sq kms. In its centre lies a vast saltpan surrounded by grass and thorn savannah, Mopani bushland in the west and dry forest in the north-east. About two million years ago, this area was an enormous lake, fed by the Kunene river. However the lake slowly dried up because over time, the river changed its course.
The pan is just about always dry. However, in the southern parts there are have water-holes scattered throughout this area and form the basis of life for countless game. In years of good rain, sections of the pan are flooded and become home to many birds species, a speciality being flamingos who come here to breed.
Be it a lion or an elephant, a giraffe or a zebra, almost all African animal species (except the Cape Buffalo) are represented in this huge game reserve, approximately the size of Wales in the UK.
There is an estimated number of 250 lions in the park, 300 rhinos, 2500 giraffes, 6000 zebras and more than 2000 elephants. The dainty springbok are especially numerous; at least 20000 of them roam the reserve. Often, they can be observed in enormous herds of several hundred animals.
The Etosha National Park has a good infrastructure. Well-maintained gravel roads (un-tarred) lead to the waterholes, where game viewing is at its best. In the three rest camps/resorts Okaukuejo, Halali and Namutoni, chalets and camping sites are available as well as restaurants, stores and swimming pools.
Two full days (three nights) are set aside to spend on game drives and game viewing at various waterholes in the beautiful game reserve. View numerous species of animals drinking at the same waterhole, not often seen in other African parks!
OVERNIGHT: NAMIBIA WILDLIFE RESORTS BUNGALOWS AT HALALI and/or OKAUKUEJO or at a lodge on the outskirts of the park - Bed, Breakfast and Dinner on guided tours / Breakfast only on self drive itinerary
Okaukuejo (Namibia Wildlife Resorts):
Okaukuejo is Etosha’s oldest and most popular resort. A floodlit waterhole visited by plenty of game especially after sunset gives Okaukuejo special character, with its luxury and standard bungalows, camping facilities, museum, swimming pool and restaurant complex.
Halali (Namibia Wildlife Resorts):
The name Halali comes from a German word signifying the bugle call made to announce the end of the hunt. The camp is spread out amongst shady mopane trees and has en-suite rooms in self-contained bungalows. Leading to the summit is a small dolomite hill with a footpath, referred to as the Tsumasa Trail.
Onguma Bush Camp
Onguma is one of Namibia’s best kept secrets. Situated on the eastern side of Etosha, bordering Fisher’s pan, here you will be afforded the opportunity to experience Africa in all her beauty and diversity. Extra optional activities such as guided game drives to Etosha National Park are on offer.
Day 10 Windhoek
Exit Etosha today and head south via Otjiwarongo and the wood carvers market, ending in Windhoek in the afternoon. You have a long drive ahead of you today: up to six hours if you're traveling from the east and four from the south. The roads are all paved so it's a comfortable ride to arrive in time for your onward flight or a night in Windhoek. Okahandja has the largest wood carvers' market in Namibia.
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