11-Day Classic Namibia Thrilling Wildlife Adventure

Itineraries

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  Day 1

  Arrival at Windhoek’s Hosea Kutako International Airport | Game Drive In Erindi Game Reserve

  You will be met on arrival at Windhoek’s Hosea Kutako International Airport by English speaking guide. Short time to change money if necessary before proceeding directly north to reach overnight accommodation. Flight arrival times permitting we enjoy an afternoon game drive (otherwise the game drive will be tomorrow morning). Halfway between Windhoek and Etosha lies the well-known Erindi Private Game Reserve. It is a protected reserve in central Namibia with 70,700 hectares of pristine wildlife wilderness, Erindi in Otjiherero language meaning “place of water”. You will have the Game drive in the Erindi Game Reserve with a guide in an open 4×4 vehicle. Dinner and overnight at Erindi Old Traders Lodge.

    Destination

  Erindi Private Game Reserve
  
   

    Accommodation

  Old Trader's Lodge
  

  Luxury lodge located inside Erindi GR

  If the hotel is unavailable, a similar hotel will be provided

  Meals

   -All meals included

   -Drinks not included
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  Day 2

  Morning Game Drive | Travel To Eastern Etosha National Park

  This morning we enjoy an early morning game drive at Erindi (if we didn’t do yesterday) we continue north (via Otjiwarongo and Tsumeb) to reach our accommodation on the border of Etosha National Park. Lunch en-route to Mushara Bush Camp. Time permitting we undertake a late afternoon game drive in Eastern Etosha National Park, one of the largest National Park in Africa, returning to the lodge at sunset. The park cannot support the large herds of game found in East Africa but it has a diversity and haunting quality few parks can match. Etosha or “the great white place”, owes its unique landscape to the Etosha Pan, a vast shallow depression of approximately 4800 km². A series of waterholes along the southern edge of the pan attract game into this area. Dinner and overnight at Mushara Bush Camp.

    Destination

  Eastern Etosha National Park
  
   

    Accommodation

  Mushara Bush Camp
  

  Mid-range tented camp located just outside Etosha NP

  If the hotel is unavailable, a similar hotel will be provided

  Meals

   -All meals included

   -Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
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  Day 3

  Morning And Evening Game Drives In Etosha National Park

  After breakfast, head out for a game viewing in the Etosha National Park spans over 22,270 km², it is home to several rare and endangered species including Black Rhino, Black-faced Impala, and the Damara Dik-Dik. The park is home to over 114 animal species; elephants, Lions, Leopards, Cheetahs, wildebeests, kudu, oryx, and a variety of antelope species ranging from the giant Eland and stately Giraffe to the tiny Dik-Dik. The dry season (May to Oct) is a particularly rewarding month for game viewing as the rainwater has dried up and the game is forced to rely on the life-supporting waterholes. The rainy season (Nov to April) has its delights as it is the peak calving season in the park. Enjoy the evening game drive. Etosha holds one of the largest and perhaps the most stable populations of black rhino in the world. The waterhole at Okaukuejo is famous for its nighttime wildlife including frequent visits by black rhino, elephants, and lions. Dinner and overnight at Okaukuejo Resort.

    Destination

  Etosha National Park
  
   

    Accommodation

  Okaukuejo Resort
  

  Mid-range chalet located inside Etosha NP

  If the hotel is unavailable, a similar hotel will be provided

  Meals

   -All meals included

   -Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
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  Day 4

  Morning Game | Travel To Twyfelfontein | Visit the Petrified Forest

  We enjoy one last game drive before bidding farewell to Etosha and departing to reach Twyfelfontein (late this afternoon) into Damaraland, a sparsely populated part of Namibia, an area of stunning scenic beauty and home to the desert-adapted elephant. Twyfelfontein is home to one of the largest collections of rock-art engravings found in Southern Africa, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. En route, we stop to visit the Petrified Forest where ancient logs estimated to be 240 million years old lie in the hot semi-desert terrain where we can also marvel at the oldest desert plant on earth, the Welwitschia mirabilis. Lunch en-route to Twyfelfontein. You will visit the Petrified Forest Dinner and overnight at Twyfelfontein Country Lodge.

    Destination

  Twyfelfontein (Rock Art)
  
   

    Accommodation

  Twyfelfontein Country Lodge
  

  Mid-range lodge located inside Damaraland

  If the hotel is unavailable, a similar hotel will be provided

  Meals

   -All meals included

   -Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
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  Day 5

  Explore Damaraland | Visit Rock Engravings And Organ Pipes | Nature Drive in Aba-Huab River Bed

  You will explore the beauty and wildlife of Damaraland on a nature drive in the dry Aba-Huab River valley with the possibility to encounter desert-adapted wildlife such as springbok, oryx, elephants, and Ruppell’s korhaan or Benguela long-billed lark. Also, explore the rock engravings at Twyfelfontein where Bushman communities engraved and painted over 2500 pictures some 6000 years ago. The name Twyfelfontein is Afrikaans for “doubtful fountain” a reference to the small fountain located in the area. The farmer who purchased this land doubted that the fountain could produce enough water to support the variety of games depicted in the engravings. We visit the Organ Pipes are located in a small ravine and consist of a 100 meter stretch of four-meter-high dolerite columns. Close by is the Burnt Mountain which appears to have been literally burnt by fire. Gaseous releases from deep within the bowels of the earth scorched this area millions of years ago. Dinner at Twyfelfontein Lodge.

    Destination

  Damaraland
  
   

    Accommodation

  Twyfelfontein Country Lodge
  

  Mid-range lodge located inside Damaraland

  If the hotel is unavailable, a similar hotel will be provided

  Meals

   -All meals included

   -Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
• 

  Day 6

  Travel To Swakopmund | Visit The Museum | Leisure In The Afternoon

  We travel across the rugged expanse of Damaraland, passing the Brandberg mountain complex and the highest peak in Namibia en route to the coast. As we near the coast the temperature drops due to the influence of the cold Benguela current. Hot air off the desert meeting cold air off the ocean often results in the fog along the coast. Swakopmund served as the territory’s main harbor for many years. Today this historical desert town, surrounded by desert and sea is a popular destination with a Bavarian flair. We reach Swakopmund in the afternoon and after a short orientation of the town, we check into the hotel. Leisure in the afternoon is free for shopping and/or optional extra activities such as quad biking on the dunes, scenic flights over the desert, sky-diving, para-gliding, horse & camel riding. Visit the museum, the cristal gallery or art galleries. In the evening, we will go to one of the best restaurants for dinner. Overnight at Swakopmund Guesthouse.

    Destination

  Swakopmund (City)
  
   

    Accommodation

  Swakopmund Guesthouse
  

  Mid-range guest house located in or near Swakopmund

  If the hotel is unavailable, a similar hotel will be provided

  Meals

   -All meals included

   -Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
• 

  Day 7

  Visit Walvis Bay | Marine Cruise | An Exhilarating Dune Drive In Sandwich Harbour Area | Birding

  We will go to Walvis Bay has been a haven for sea vessels because of its natural deepwater harbour. Being rich in plankton and marine life, these waters drew large numbers of whales attracting whalers and fishing vessels. From the Walvis Bay Yacht Club, we board the catamaran and spend the morning exploring the bay area which is home to a great variety of birdlife, seals and three different types of dolphins may be encountered, namely the Heavyside Dolphins which are the most prolific in being endemic to the coast of Namibia, Dusky Dolphins and Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins. The larger mammals like the Southern Right Whale and the Humpback Whales may be spotted and with a bit of extra special luck, rare sightings of the Sunfish and the Leatherback Turtles also. Depart for an exhilarating dune drive in the Sandwich Harbour area. Breathtaking panoramic views of the picturesque dunes engulfed by the sea make for photographic opportunities. The area hosts upwards of 70 000 birds.

    Destination

  Walvis Bay (City)
  
   

    Accommodation

  Swakopmund Guesthouse
  

  Mid-range guest house located in or near Swakopmund

  If the hotel is unavailable, a similar hotel will be provided

  Meals

   -All meals included

   -Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
• 

  Day 8

  Travel To Sossusvlei | Explore The diversity Of The Namibia Desert

  Bidding farewell to the coast we travel across the vast expanses of Namibia. You will experience the many different faces of the Namibia desert on the journey today. We cross the silent gravel plains, to reach the Kuiseb Canyon where the Kuiseb River cuts off the northward march of the Namib dune-sea. Climbing out of the canyon the towering mountains of the escarpment loom on one side while on the other the distant glow of orange indicates the start of the dune fields. We descend into the smaller Gaub canyon. Before we cross the tropic of Capricorn Once clear of the canyons we travel between the escarpment and the dune fields to reach the aptly named settlement of Solitaire. Here we can stop for a cold drink and a slice of excellent apple cake, which is reputedly the best in Africa. You will explore the diversity of the Namibia desert, we have the rest of the afternoon at leisure and can relax. Lunch en-route to Sossusvlei. Dinner and overnight at Desert Homestead Lodge.

    Destination

  Sossusvlei (Sand Dunes)
  
   

    Accommodation

  Desert Homestead Lodge
  

  Mid-range lodge located just outside Namib-Naukluft NP

  If the hotel is unavailable, a similar hotel will be provided

  Meals

   -All meals included

   -Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
• 

  Day 9

  Excursion In Namib Desert To Visit Sossusvlei| Exploring The Dune Fields | Visit Sesriem Canyon

  We spend the morning exploring the dune fields. The Namib Sand Sea is the second UNESCO World Heritage site for Namibia (2013). One of the oldest, driest and most pristine areas on Earth, the Namib Desert is a world of vast spaces, endless horizons, dramatic deserts capes and jagged mountain heights. The best time for photography in the dunes is early morning when the rising sun still casts shadows that give depth and contrast to the dunes. As the sun rises overhead the colours of the dunes change from salmon pink to brick red and orange. We drive along the ancient Tsauchab riverbed until the tar road ends, the last few kilometres of thick sand to reach Sossusvlei: "the gathering place of the water". Sossusvlei is a striking white pan surrounded by ancient Camelthorn trees and the towering orange dunes of the Namib. Visit Sesriem Canyon, a 30-meter deep gauge incised into the desert floor by the Tsauchab River. Rest in the afternoon and can relax. Dinner at Desert Homestead Lodge.

    Destination

  Sossusvlei (Sand Dunes)
  
   

    Accommodation

  Desert Homestead Lodge
  

  Mid-range lodge located just outside Namib-Naukluft NP

  If the hotel is unavailable, a similar hotel will be provided

  Meals

   -All meals included

   -Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
• 

  Day 10

  Travel To Kalahari Desert | Game Drive

  This morning, we travel east to the Kalahari Desert. The Kalahari Desert is located in eastern Namibia on the border with Botswana. Kalahari is derived from the Tswana word Kgala, meaning "the great thirst", or Kgalagadi, meaning "a waterless place"; the Kalahari (520.000 km²) has vast areas covered by red sand without any permanent surface water. Younger than the Namib Desert the Kalahari is in its formative years. Long, gently rolling linear dunes stretch hundreds of kilometers in length. The deep red sands are dotted with yellow grasses and in the dune corridors, ancient Camelthorn trees are decorated with the giant nests of the communal Sociable Weaver. After lunch, you will head out for a thrilling game drive. Despite being a desert the Kalahari is home to a great diversity of species including lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, hyenas, rhinos, venomous snakes. This afternoon join a 4x4 drive to further explore the Kalahari. Dinner and overnight at Kalahari Anib Lodge.

    Destination

  Kalahari Desert
  
   

    Accommodation

  Kalahari Anib Lodge
  

  Mid-range lodge located in or near Mariental

  If the hotel is unavailable, a similar hotel will be provided

  Meals

   -All meals included

   -Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
• 

  Day 11

  Final Day In Namibia | Travel To Hosea Kutako International Airport

  After breakfast, you will return to Windhoek and transfer to Hosea Kutako International Airport to check in for your outbound flight back home. Expert Tips: Please note no outbound flights before 13h00. If you would love to extend your trip to Botswana, this can be arranged too.

    Destination

  Hosea Kutako International Airport (Windhoek)
  
   

    Accommodation

  Not Specified

  Meals

   -Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)

   -Drinks not included