What is Included
- Hand over of Travel Documents and short discussion on route with Q&A opportunity once clients have settled in at their Windhoek guesthouse.
- Accommodation as indicated above with applicable meal basis.
Day 1
Welcome in Namibia! You will be met on arrival by your drive for the road transfer to Utopia Guesthouse where you can relax after your international flight.
This N/a’an ku sê owned business-meets-leisure Boutique is unique to the otherwise standardized accommodation offered in the heart of Windhoek. The modern, up-market Utopia Boutique Establishment has allied with the neighbouring Pension Bougainvilla and is now offering more serene rooms and luxurious suites situated amidst beautiful, green lush gardens. It is also conveniently situated in the most tranquil suburb, Klein Windhoek. Boasting with 11 standard rooms and 6 luxurious suites, the Utopia Boutique Hotel creates a perfect hideaway making you feel at home away from home. All rooms are equipped with a TV, DSTV, free wifi-access and air-conditioning.
Enjoy 1 night at Utopia Boutique Guesthouse on a Bed & Breakfast basis. Meet & Greet at Guesthouse to hand over travel documentation for upcoming self drive holiday.
Day 2
After Breakfast and head south to the Kalahari Desert. Simply stylish and elegant, the Zebra Kalahari Lodge is the most decadent of the 3 lodges on the Intu Afrika Private Game Reserve. After a short drive through the contrasting Kalahari Desert where game languish under trees or in pans, guests are welcomed with a much-needed refreshing drink and a smile as warm as the desert sun. The gurgling fish pond and the beautiful stone and wood buildings immediately soothe one’s soul and guests are ushered into the coolness of the lounge area overlooking a rather vibrant waterhole and swimming pool whilst logistics are efficiently handled. The rooms area are huge and the walls are decorated with ancient African masks and ebony furnishings and are fitted with air conditioners, a mini bar, a hairdryer and a coffee and tea station with a very large bathroom leading out to an outside shower.
Although the Kalahari is often called a desert, it is not a true desert. Deserts are defined as being areas of land receiving less than 25 mm of rain per annum – The Kalahari receives much more than this with no part receiving less than 100 mm on average. Like a typical desert, the Kalahari has vast areas of waterless ground surface covered by red sand. Despite widespread cattle fencing, much of the Kalahari remains an area of nomadic antelope herds, such as gemsbok, kudu, eland, blue wildebeest and springbok. Carnivores are well represented in the Kalahari and include lion, leopard, cheetah, caracal, hyena, black backed jackals and a variety of the smaller cats. Bird life is also prolific. The Bushmen (or San people) were the first known inhabitants of the Kalahari. Traditionally they are nomadic hunters living in small (25 – 40) communities, their survival skills and adaptation to the harsh Kalahari wilderness have become legendary. Today only a small number of Bushmen follow in the traditional way of life.
Enjoy 1 night at Intu Afrika Zebra Kalahari Lodge on a Dinner, Bed and Breakfast basis.
Day 3 & 4
Depart after breakfast for the Namib Naukluft National Park where you will be spending two nights. The park is the largest game park in Africa, and a surprising collection of creatures survives in the hyper-arid region, including snakes, geckos, unusual insects, hyenas, gemsboks and jackals. More moisture comes in as a fog off the Atlantic Ocean than falls as rain, with the average 106 millimetres of rainfall per year concentrated in the months of February and April. The winds that bring in the fog are also responsible for creating the park’s towering sand dunes, whose burnt orange colour is a sign of their age. The orange colour develops over time as iron in the sand is oxidized, like rusty metal; the older the dune, the brighter the colour. These dunes are the tallest in the world, in places rising more than 300 meters (almost 1000 feet) above the desert floor. The dunes taper off near the coast, and lagoons, wetlands, and mudflats located along the shore attract hundreds of thousands of birds.
Desert Quiver Camp uniquely combines modern self-catering accommodation with comfort and style. Conveniently located a mere 5km from the entrance gate to Sossusvlei, the inspiring scenery characterised by granite outcrops, spectacular views and roaming wildlife will captivate your senses. The 24 uniquely designed self-catering accommodation units have spacious bedrooms, en-suite bathrooms, patio and private parking. Facilities at the main building include a fully stocked bar with a big screen television, a sparkling swimming pool and 2 communal boma-areas which are perfect to cater for groups travelling together. Meals can be enjoyed at the nearby Sossusvlei Lodge restaurant and their Adventure Centre offers a range of exciting desert activities to explore the area.
On your second day we suggest an early morning self-drive excursion to the dunes at Sossusvlei, and a visit to Sesriem Canyon.
The sand dunes of Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert are often referred to as the highest dunes in the world. Various arguments are laid out to support this claim, but all miss the point, which is that Sossusvlei is surely one of the most spectacular sights in Namibia. Located in the Namib Naukluft Park, the largest conservation area in Africa, and fourth largest in the world – the sand dunes at Sossusvlei are just one excellent reason to visit Namibia. The best time to view Sossusvlei is close to sunrise and sunset; the colours are strong and constantly changing, allowing for wonderful photographic opportunities. The midday heat is intense and best spent in the shade while sunset also offers excellent photographic opportunities.
Spend 2 nights at Desert Quiver Camp on a Dinner, Bed and Breakfast basis (meals at Sossusvlei Lodge)
Day 5 & 6
Today you travel in a northerly direction, through the spectacular Gaub and Kuiseb Canyons, to the coastal town of Swakopmund. You may wish to travel via the harbour town of Walvis Bay, or via the erosional feature of ‘Moon Valley’ and Namibia’s ancient plant species, the ‘Welwitshia mirabilis’ (permit to be purchased at Sesriem before departure).
Perfectly positioned in the picturesque Swakopmund, the luxurious Hotel Zum Kaiser, offers direct access to the beach and the town’s vibrant street life, quaint architecture, shopping and fine dining. Being walking distance from the beachfront and City Centre, makes this the ideal haven for those that enjoy being independent explorers on foot. You have easy access to the famous Tug and Jetty Restaurants, the Aquarium, craft markets and shopping outlets. The tastefully decorated hotel offers a combination of Court Yard Suites, Front Facing Suites and 3 Family Rooms with inter-leading doors. Each of the Front Facing Suites is equipped with a private balcony to enjoy splendid views of the historic town and partial views of the nearby Atlantic seaboard.
On your second day Spend your time here exploring the picturesque coastal town of Swakopmund and the harbour town of Walvis Bay, or take part in some of the activities on offer, such as a dolphin cruise from Walvis Bay, Sandwich Harbour tour, living desert tour, quad biking, sand boarding, scenic flight, city and township tours, fishing, and sky diving, to name a few (activities are for your own account).
Enjoy 2 nights at Hotel Zum Kaiser on a Bed & Breakfast basis.
Day 7
Early morning departure from Swakopmund towards the region known as Damaraland. On the way you might wish to visit the Cape Fur Seal Colony at Cape Cross, located north of Henties Bay, before heading inland.
The Cape Cross Seal Reserve was proclaimed in 1968 to protect the biggest and best known of the 23 colonies of Cape Fur Seals that breed along the coast of Namibia and South Africa. The Cape Fur Seal is the largest of the world’s nine fur-seal species. As many of 210 000 of these animals gather at Cape Cross at any one time during the November / December breeding season. It was here too that the Portuguese navigator Diego Cao, on his second expedition to Africa south of the equator, planted a stone cross in 1486. Leaving the coast continue to Damaraland, famous for the desert adapted elephant and the Twyfelfontein rock engravings. Damaraland is one of the most scenic areas in Namibia, a huge, untamed, ruggedly beautiful region.
Here there are prehistoric water courses with open plains and grassland, massive granite koppies and deep gorges. Towards the west, the geography changes dramatically with endless sandy wastes, that incredibly are able to sustain small, but wide-ranging, populations of desert-adapted elephant, black rhino, giraffe, ostrich and springbok. These animals have adapted their lifestyles to survive the harshness of the sun-blistered, almost waterless desert spaces. Elephant move through euphorbia bush country, and can travel up to 70km in a day in search of food and water. While here (either this afternoon or tomorrow morning, as time permits) we suggest a visit to the engraving sites at Twyfelfontein, Burnt Mountain & “Organ Pipes”, and the Petrified Forest.
Enjoy 1 night at Twyfelfontein Country Lodge on a Dinner, Bed and Breakfast
Day 8 & 9
After breakfast depart in a northerly direction through the town of Kamanjab towards Opuwo. The Kunene or Kaokoland region is situated in the north-western corner of Namibia and is bordered by Angola in the north, by Owamboland and the Etosha National Park in the east, Damaraland in the south and the Atlantic Ocean (the Skeleton Coast Park forms part of Kaokoland) to the west. The landscape is extremely contrasting and varies from dry dolomite hills in the south, to towering peaks with deep gorges and chasms in the central region. To the east, the sandy, flat plains of Owamboland reach into the Kunene Region. Surrounded by low-lying hills, Opuwo, which means “the end” in Oshiherero, is a small and uninspiring town in the middle of the bush. The town grew into a permanent settlement and administrative centre for the region during the bush war prior to Independence. Opuwo’s name is indeed appropriate, as it is both the first and last place offering supplies in the region.
Opuwo Country Hotel is situated on a hilltop, north-west of the bustling town of Opuwo. It overlooks the surrounding valleys and mountains and is an ideal base to explore Kaokoland. The hotel has a dining room, bar, lounge, wine cellar, curio shop, patio and swimming pool. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are normally served buffet style, but guests are welcome to order from the ‘a la carte’ menu if they prefer. Snacks can be ordered throughout the day.
Day 9: Today you can participate in an optional activity to a local Himba Village. This activity is offered by the lodge (for your own account), or you can arrange your own local guide from the Opuwo Information Centre (for your own account).
Enjoy two nights at Opuwo Country Lodge on a Dinner, Bed & Breakfast basis.
Day 10 & 11
Early departure and travel via the towns of Kamanjab and Outjo, towards the renowned Etosha National Park. You will stay at Taleni Etosha Village which is located just a few kilometres from the Anderson park entrance gate. If there is time this afternoon you may already be able to explore a little of the park today (self drive). The entrance gates to the park are open strictly between sunrise and sunset – please plan your day’s activities accordingly.
Prime destination for nature lovers combined with excellent service and cuisine! Etosha Village uniquely combines affordability with comfort and delivers the perfect safari style experience in a private and protected reserve directly adjacent to the Etosha National Park, near Okaukuejo. At Etosha Village nature and luxury are in perfect harmony through design and comfort. Besides the 45 accommodation units and camping facilities, Etosha Village has three restaurant seating areas, a unique bar with a big screen television, a sparkling pool plus two kiddies pools as well as a well-stocked utility and curio shop. The individual luxurious units offer a spacious air-conditioned bedroom and a modern en-suite bathroom with shower. The patio and outside seating area create an ideal space to sit back, relax and enjoy the beauty that surrounds you.
Day 11: Today you can explore the park (self drive in your own vehicle), visiting various waterholes in search of wildlife. Today’s Etosha National Park was proclaimed as Namibia’s first conservation area in 1907 by the then German government and is one of the largest game reserves in Africa. Consisting of saline desert, savannah and woodlands, its definitive feature is the Etosha Pan, a vast shallow depression. For the greater part of the year the pan is a bleak expanse of white, cracked mud which, on most days shimmers with mirages. Seeing vast herds of game against this eerie backdrop, referred to in the local vernacular as the ‘great white place of dry water’, makes the Etosha game-viewing a unique experience.
Spend 2 nights at Taleni Etosha Village a Dinner, Bed & Breakfast basis.
Day 12
Another day to explore the Etosha National Park in search of wildlife as you make your way to the eastern side of the park. Visit the majestic Etosha pan, before exiting the park this afternoon for an overnight stay at Mokuti Lodge.
Mokuti is situated two km from the Eastern entrance of the world-renowned Etosha National Park. Mokuti Lodge is only a short drive from the Von Lindequist Gate near Fort Namutoni and is located on its own private 4.000 hectare nature reserve, which shares a common border with the amazing Etosha wildlife reserve. The rooms are inspired by African traditions and the wildlife of the bush. Comfortable rooms with typical African décor in an ambience that projects tranquillity and distinctive taste. Situated in the main building next to the lounge area, the Marula Bar is the perfect place to meet your family and friends in the evening for pre-diner drinks or to share your safari experiences around the fireplace. You can enjoy a great selection of African and international cocktails, long drinks and beer.
Spend 1 night at Mokuti Lodge on a Dinner, Bed & Breakfast basis.
Day 13
Early departure and head south to Okonjima Private Game Reserve. On the way you could visit the sinkhole Lake Otjikoto, located near Tsumeb, or Hoba, the largest known meteorite, located near Grootfontein.
The Plains Camp design honours the Okonjima cattle-farming history. In the early 1920’s, Okonjima became a cattle farm and was bought by Val (VJ) & Rose Hanssen in 1970. They were well-established Brahman breeders and continued to farm cattle until the need for solutions to increasing livestock losses became pertinent and post-independence interest in Namibia as a tourist destination, escalated. In 1993, the herds of Brahman and Jersey cattle were sold, changing the face of Okonjima as well as that of Carnivore Conservation! The Barn/ Entertainment area – AKA ‘The Lapa’, meaning ‘Gathering Place’, includes, the dining and lounge area, the pool and the curio-shop; and hosts the 3-tier accommodation facility. Arrive at Okonjima in time to still take part in an afternoon activity as offered by the camp (for own account). Okonjima is home to The AfriCat Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to the long-term conservation of Namibia’s large carnivores, notably cheetahs & leopards. A visit to Okonjima gives visitors the opportunity to witness some of AfriCat’s work.
Spend 1 night at Okonjima Plains Camp on a Dinner, Bed & Breakfast basis.
Day 14
Today you return to Windhoek International Airport for your departure flight (your flight should depart no earlier than 15h00). Return your vehicle at the airport. Check in for your flight at least 2 hours before the flight departure time. Bon Voyage!
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