Namibia Explorer

Day 1 - Windhoek
Your guide will meet you at the Windhoek International Airport and transfer you to Hilltop House in Windhoek.

Hilltop House was built in 1958 and has an old world charm reminiscent of bygone days. Oregon pine decks and commanding views over Windhoek add to the appeal of this wonderful home.

Accommodation: The Hilltop House
Meal arrangements: None included

Day 2 and 3 - Sossusvlei
Drive south-west to the Namib Naukluft area via the spectacular Spreetshoogte Pass. En route, we will enjoy a picnic lunch overlooking the endless the Namib Desert. The journey is about 300km of excellent gravel road.

Many visitors to Namibia say that no part of the desert is visually more stunning than Sossusvlei. This major attraction of the Namib Naukluft Park is renowned for its gigantic dunes. These star-shaped mountains of sand, the highest of which is estimated to be about 325m, are a sought-after topic for photographers.

We will also visit the Sesriem Canyon, which is one of the most amazing features of the Namib. Here the Tsauchab River has carved a gorge – up to 30 meters deep – into the gravels deposited some 15 to 18 million years ago, during a wetter phase in the history of the Namib. Sesriem derives its name from the time when early pioneers tied six lengths of rawhide thongs together to draw water from the pools.

Accommodation: Namib Naukluft Lodge/Movenpick Lodge
Meal arrangements: Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner

Day 4 and 5 - Swakopmund and Walvis Bay
After breakfast, you drive north-west to the coastal town of Swakopmund. As you travel towards the Atlantic Coast you will see the scenery change from sand dunes to dark craggy canyons and then to flat gravel plains. You will also visit the moon landscape, which reveals the famed Welwitschia plants that grow on seemingly lifeless gravel plains.

Spend two days exploring Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and the surrounding area with your guide. The Walvis Bay Lagoon is a RAMSAR site and home to thousands of flamingos and numerous other species that gather at these rich feeding grounds. Altogether some 80 000 wading birds can be seen on the lagoon. Extra optional activities include dolphin cruises, scenic flights over the Skeleton Coast, quad biking and fishing.

Accommodation: Hansa Hotel, Swakopmund
Meal arrangements: Breakfast

Day 6 and 7 - Damaraland
Today you drive north along the Skeleton Coast and visit Cape Cross, where thousands of Cape fur seals breed. Continuing the journey up the coast, you cross the windswept gravel plains bordered by the icy Atlantic Ocean on one side and the endless desert on the other.

From your base you will have easy access to the rugged mountains, dry river valleys and huge open plains where black rhino and the desert-adapted elephant may be found. Activities centre around game drives in open 4-wheel drive vehicles from which you are likely to see ostrich, kudu, giraffe, gemsbok, springbok and mountain zebra.

Accommodation: Huab Lodge/Etendeka Mountain Camp
Meal arrangements: Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner

Day 8 and 9 - Kaokoland
We continue our journey North to Sesfontein. We will also visit Ongongo waterfall, where you can have a much appreciated swim. On approaching this scenic spot it is hard to imagine an oasis tucked away somewhere in the arid wastelands surrounding it and the waterfall and the crystal clear pools create some of the most beautiful scenery in the Kaokoveld.

We overnight at Sesfontein, which owes its name to six springs surfacing in the area. Sesfontein is a dusty but photogenic spot set between mountains in the Hoanib valley.

We meet and interact with traditional Himba villagers. The Himba people are about 1% of Namibia’s population and live in small settlements. Their beehive huts are made from saplings which are covered with a mixture of mud and cattle dung. The settlements are often deserted as the pastoral Himba are continuously moving with their herds of cattle and goats in search of grazing.

Accommodation: Fort Sesfontein
Meal arrangements: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 10 and 11 - Hobatere, Western Etosha
Hobatere Lodge, which borders on western Etosha, is a large private conservancy packed with wildlife, birdlife and spectacular scenery.

Animals to be seen include elephant, gemsbok, eland, giraffe, kudu, springbok and Hartmann’s mountain zebra. Amongst the predators you might see are lion, leopard, cheetah and hyena, while several smaller mammal species also occur. It is also possible to do a night drive and find some of the rather shy and nocturnal species. Activities include game drives, bush walks and scenic drives.

Accommodation: Hobatere Lodge
Meal arrangements: Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner

Day 12 - Etosha National Park
After breakfast we depart for Etosha National Park via the western gate, which is only open to licensed tour operators. This part of the park is quite different to the rest of Etosha as the animals are not as used to vehicles and people.

Characterised by its thatched rondavels (hut-shaped bungalows), Okaukuejo is Etosha’s oldest and most popular rest camp. Its floodlit waterhole attracts wildlife such as elephant, black rhino, a variety of plains game and the rare sight of Burchell’s and Hartmann’s zebra in the same frame. Activities include game drives to several excellent waterholes nearby.

Accommodation: Etosha - Okaukuejo
Meal arrangements: Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner

Day 13 and 14 - Etosha National Park
Today we head through the park to Namutoni Rest Camp, the most easterly camp in the park. Namutoni was developed around a German fort built in 1902 and now houses a museum and accommodation units of various sizes.

The lodge overlooks a floodlit waterhole and it has a game-viewing hut and lookout tower. Several waterholes in the area make for excellent game drives.

Accommodation: Etosha - Namutoni
Meal arrangements: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 15 and 16 - Okonjima, Waterberg
Okonjima is a family-run guest lodge and the home of the Africat Foundation where you can experience leopard and cheetah during their feeding times and join highly informative Bushman and Bantu trails.

A spacious hide, within walking distance of the luxury rooms, is excellent for bird watching. Over 300 species, including most of Namibia's endemics, have been identified. For an after-dinner treat, honey badgers, porcupine and other nocturnal creatures around the hide are sure to entertain you, as they too enjoy their dinner.

At Okonjima you will see the Africat Foundation at work, learn more about leopard and cheetah, and have excellent photographic opportunities.

Accommodation: Okonjima Guest Lodge
Meal arrangements: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 17: Windhoek
After brunch we depart for Windhoek to be in time for your flight. En route we visit the wood carving market at Okahandja.

Meal arrangements: Brunch