10 Day Namibian Explorer

This safari has a guaranteed departure every Friday of the year, with a minimum of 4 people from the 1st November 2011 to 30 June 2012. There is no single supplement, and the price is virtually fully inclusive of everything you will need whilst travelling with us.  The style is limited participation, assisted camping and there are two accommodated nights included on the itinerary.  Collection time is between 08:00 & 08:30 from anywhere within the Windhoek city limits. Book your pre and post safari accommodation NOW!!

Note: Please contact us for travel plans after the 1st of April 2012 as there are minor changes to this itinerary that you should be informed of!

Leaving Etosha we begin our journey south with a relatively short drive to the small town of Kamanjab and on to Kavita Lion Lodge and Africat North.  A local Otjiwarongo business has chosen to fund a project at AfriCat North - the Communal Carnivore Conservation Project. This team will work with farming communities as well as those surrounding the Etosha National Park, assisting in carnivore management (mainly lion) and advising communal and commercial farmers on how best to protect livestock. This will be the first unit of its kind in Namibia.

We overnight - camping under the stars.

Day 5 - Kavita Lion Lodge, Twyfelfontien (300km)(BLD)

After an early morning start we visit a Himba Village - 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, the exact location of the site varies as the Himba occasionally roam to a new location.  We will learn about marriage customs, traditional food and the mysteries of the 'Holy Fire' religion. Today we head into one of the most beautiful desert regions in Namibia, Damaraland.  We drive south to the capital of this region, the small town of Khorixas, and then take a detour to the west to visit the ancient Bushman rock engravings at Twyfelfontein.  At this location we will have a local guide to conduct us on a short tour before we set up camp for the night.

From here we head deeper into the desert and pass Namibia’s highest mountain, The Brandberg, (2573 m). 

Back on the road for more beautiful Damaraland scenery.  We make a stop in the small town of Uis, an old mining town, and 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 here we turn directly west and cross the “gravel plains” on our way to the Atlantic Ocean and the Skeleton Coast.  Meeting the ocean at Henties Bay, we first head north along the coast to visit the seal colony at Cape Cross.  At certain times of the year there can be as many as 100,000 congregating Cape Fur seals.  The next destination is Swakopmund, following the Skeleton Coast into Namibia's premier seaside town. 

The Swakopmund section of the trip is designed to allow people to relax either with the group, or on their own.  Only breakfast is provided, this is 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.  Your guide will offer to organise a group meal in a local restaurant for this evening.  Participation is recommended but by no means required. 

Dinner this evening in not included in the price

Day 7 Swakopmund (B)(chalet)

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. 

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).

Dinner this evening is not included in the price of the safari and will be for the client’s own account

Day 8 - Swakopmund - Sesriem Area (300km)(BLD) 

We first make a stop at Walvis Bay, situated about 40 km south of Swakopmund.  South of the town there is a large marine lagoon which is home to a vast array of marine bird-life, in particular flamingos. We will make a short visit to the lagoon to see the birds and a short visit to Walvis Bay to collect any last minute supplies before once again heading out into the desert. The second part of our journey today takes us across more of the seemingly endless Namib gravel plains.  Then the landscape suddenly changes and we are into the mountain desert. We traverse both the Kuiseb and Gaub passes, driving both times to the river beds at the bottom of the canyons and then climbing the long steep road to the top and the spectacular panoramas the mountains give us.  Again the scenery changes as we make our way down to the dune fields. We cross some open grass savannah and farmlands before the terrain begins to give way to the immense red sand dune desert of the Namib and from here it is only a short distance to our next stop, the tiny town of Solitaire. 

We aim to arrive at our camp during the late afternoon and watch the colours glow and change on distant mountains to the east.