Destinations

Tours

Birdwatching

About Us

Day 1: WHK International Airport – Windhoek
A representative from SafariWise will meet you at Hosea Kutako Airport. We will transfer to our overnight accommodation at the Safari Court Hotel. The Hotel offers the largest local selection of first class accommodation. The Safari Court is situated on 13 hectares on the outskirts of Windhoek.

Accommodation: Safari Court Hotel
Meal arrangements: no meals (meals for own account)

Day 2: Windhoek – Waterberg Plateau Park
Waterberg Plateau Park. The Park was created as a sanctuary for the rare and endangered species of the Caprivi, and is one of Namibia's most interesting parks in terms of flora and fauna. The Park covers an area of 40 549 hectares. The plateau lies in a Northeast/Southwest direction and is 48 km in length and varies in width from 8 - 16 km. Several short walks have been laid out in the park and will take you right up to the plateau.

Game such as Roan - and Sable antelope are likely to be found when you partake on a game drive on top of the plateau. This is an extra optional activity and is done by Ministry of Environment and Tourism and can be organised through your guide.

Another fascinating aspect of the Waterberg is its interesting geology and it is, therefore, not surprising that the conservation of a representative area of the geologically important Etjo Sandstone Formation is one of the management objectives of the park.

The Waterberg is an erosion relic of sandstone casing, which covered large parts of Namibia millions of years ago. The lower Omigonde Formation was formed when sediments from the surrounding highlands were washed into a basin, which was then periodically partly covered by shallow water. The upper Etjo Formation, on the other hand, was formed by windblown sand, which filled the basin during drier climatic conditions. The cross-layered sandstone of this formation indicates that these winds blew mainly from the Northwest and Southeast. Most of this plateau was carved up over countless aeons, but the resistant Etjo sandstone prevented the erosion of the Waterberg and a few other mountains.

Accommodation: Waterberg Plateau Park
Meal arrangements: Full board

Day 3: Waterberg Plateau Park – Etosha National Park
A visit to the Etosha National Park is one of the highlights of travelling in Namibia. Etosha, which was declared a game reserve by the German colonial administration back in 1907, covers an area of more than 22 000 sqkms. In its centre lies a vast saltpan surrounded by grass and thorn savannah, Mopane 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.

Etosha National Park is one of the largest savannah conservation areas in Africa. It is world reknowned for its spectacular wildlife: elephant, black and white rhinoceros, lions, leopards, cheetahs, large herds of springbok, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe and a multitude of other fascinating species, big and small, interacting in their natural environment.

Be it a lion or an elephant, a giraffe or a zebra; almost all African animal species are represented in the huge nature reserve. There is an estimated number of 250 lions in the park, 300 rhinos, 2 500 giraffes, 6 000 zebras and more than 2 000 elephants. The dainty springbok are especially numerous; at least 20 000 of them roam the reserve. Often, they can be observed in enormous herds of several hundred animals.

Accommodation is provided to suit every need, in premier bush chalets overlooking the waterhole; bush chalets and double rooms; or family chalets. Other facilities include a restaurant, bar, shop, swimming pool, kiosk and camping facilities.

Overnight at Namutoni Resort, the most eastern camp in the park. It centers on an old German Fort, overlooking the King Nehale waterhole.

The Fort is the hub of activity, offering two restaurants, a relaxation lounge, a bar, crafts boutique, curio shop, jewellers and bookstore.

The Fort area is for pedestrian access only, and an elevated decked walkway along the water-hole facing wall will provide opportunities for enjoying the surrounding scenery, wildlife and the spectacular sunsets.

Accommodation is provided in comfortable double rooms or bush chalets.

Accommodation: Namutoni Resort
Meal arrangements: Full board

Day 4: Etosha National Park
Game drives in the park.

Accommodation: Namutoni Resort
Meal arrangements: Full board

Day 5: Etosha National Park
Game drives in the park. Okaukuejo is located 17 km from the southern entrance of the park, and famous for its flood-lit waterhole, where visitors can observe at close quarters a spectacle of wildlife congregating and interacting.

Accommodation is provided to suit every need, in premier bush chalets overlooking the waterhole; bush chalets and double rooms; or family chalets. Other facilities include a restaurant, bar, shop, swimming pool, kiosk and camping facilities.

Accommodation: Okaukuejo resort
Meal arrangements: Full board

Day 6: Etosha National Park – Grootberg Lodge (Damaraland)
After breakfast we depart to Damaraland. Grootberg Lodge is a landmark in Namibia for the tourism industry as it is the first middlemarket establishment in the country that is 100% owned by the conservancy. The European Union funded the project through the Ministry of Environment and Tourism's Development Programme with a donation of N$4.5 million to develop the 12-room Lodge. At the same time, the private sector has been called in to supply the training and management skills until the community becomes self-sustainable. The purpose of the Grootberg Lodge is not only to offer a professional service, great surroundings, extremely good food, well-trained guides and exceptionally good local management but, at the same time, to benefit the local community thanks to the revenues generated by the Lodge.

While sustainability of the Conservancy is a primary objective which the Lodge would contribute towards, there are additional benefits such as increasing direct job opportunities in a poorly developed area; supporting marginal people with projects such as building schools, clinics, creating a community kitchen for the elderly and vulnerable groups and award bursaries to promising pupils with the proceeds of the lodge. Another important aim of the Lodge is to reduce the animal/human conflict in this community so that the locals will be more tolerant of the lions, cheetahs and elephants and give them a value from a tourism perspective.

The success of the lodge is critical to demonstrate the value of the land-use which the conservancy is promoting. The exclusive development area needs to show the value in setting aside “core” areas for tourism and biodiversity conservation.

Activities include guided walks on top of the plateau, where visitors could learn about the local flora, the amazing rock formations of the Etendeka Mountains and the shy wild animals, long inhabitants of the plateau. The lodge also offer guided walks down the mountain to the Klip River Springs, scenic drives and horse riding. Elephant and rhino tracking are very popular activities.

We could also visit a Himba a small settlement near Palmfontein. These friendly people, closely related to the Herero, are herdsmen, breeding mainly cattle and goats while leading a semi-nomadic life. Learn how the proud Himba women spend many hours on beauty care and clean themselves with herbal steam baths. See their homesteads, cone shaped structures made from palm leaves, mud and cattle dung.

A visit to the Klip River Valley where permanent springs provide water for the local population of zebras, antelopes and occasionally elephants and black rhinos Springboks, kudu and oryx are a permanent fixture and even the nervous and shy klipspringers are sometimes seen leaping about on the steep cliffs of the mountain as if they were flying.

Accommodation: Grootberg Lodge
Meal arrangements: Full board

Day 7: Grootberg Lodge (Damaraland)
Activities at the lodge.

Accommodation: Grootberg Lodge
Meal arrangements: Full board

Day 8: Grootberg - Swakopmund
Depart Grootberg Lodge and travel to Swakopmund. Swakopmund has the cold Atlantic Ocean on it’s west, with the forbidden coast to the south and the Skeleton coast to the north and surrounded by desert to the east. It offers a wide variety of attractions in an atmosphere unique in its appeal. The influence of German architecture, dating back to the turn of the last century, can be seen.

Enjoy a picnic lunch en route.

Accommodation: Alte Brucke Resort
Meal arrangements: Breakfast / picnic lunch

Day 9: Swakopmund
An half-day excursion to Walvis Bay. The Walvis Bay Lagoon takes pride of place as regards scenic attractions in the area. A tranquil stretch of water, it’s natural beauty is accentuated by the thousands of flamingos which gather at these rich feeding grounds. Altogether some 80 000 wading birds, including flamingos and white pelicans, can be seen on the lagoon. Extra optional activities include dolphin cruises, scenic flights over the Skeleton Coast, Sandwich Harbour, quad biking, shark fishing a visit to the museum or Crystal Gallery, aquarium, skydiving, dune boarding, sand skiing, paragliding, angling from the beach or boat and camel rides.

Accommodation: Alte Brucke Resort
Meal arrangements: Breakfast

Day 10: Swakopmund
Explore the area with your guide. Optional activities.

Accommodation: Alte Brucke Resort
Meal arrangements: Breakfast

Day 11: Swakopmund – Windhoek International
After breakfast we depart to the airport, where the safari ends.