Exploring Namibia – Tour Code EN
Highlights – Code EN 13 Days Windhoek to Windhoek
Kalahari Desert, Fish River Canyon, Lüderitz, Kolmanskop Ghost Town, Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, Cape Cross, Twyfelfontein, Etosha National Park.
The classic Namibian Safari. This is an introduction to almost all the major highlights Namibia has to offer. The awe-inspiring landscapes of the Fish River Canyon, the surreal Namib Desert and the majestic mountain ranges in Damaraland and the amazing wildlife in the national parks and conservancies. This safari will leave you engrossed in Namibia.
Classification
Classic & Superior
Pax – Classic
– Superior
2 – 20 guests
2 – 6 guests
Vehicle
Minibus or Coach
Languages
Bilingual English / German
Driver / Tour Guide
Services of registered driver guide throughout tour
Included
Meals:
Classic: 12 Breakfasts
Superior: 12 Breakfasts; 12 Dinners
Entrance Fees: Fish River Canyon; Namib Naukluft National Park; Twyfelfontein; Petrified Forest; Living Museum of the Damara; Etosha National Park
Portages
All meals as specified in the itinerary
Still Mineral Water
Activities as specified
Accommodation as specified
Tourism levy & Government Taxes where applicable
24hrs Medical Evacuation Insurance
Excluded
All International / Domestic Flights & taxes
Visas
Travel & Personal accident insurance
Personal Expenses
Excursions / Activities not specified
Gratuities
Optional Extras
Dinner supplement for Classic Tour
Itinerary
Day 1 Saturday Kalahari Desert
Leaving Windhoek, we travel into the largest sand mass on earth, the Kalahari Desert.
The bushman refer to it as the “Soul of the World”, an emotive description for this area!
With its deep red sand dunes and endless grass plains interspersed with Acacia’s and shrubs, it is the only form of survival for a vast amount of specially adapted wildlife.
Enjoy the opportunity to experience the fauna and flora that has survived this desert environment for thousands of years
Day 2 Sunday Fish River Canyon
We travel south through expansive rocky plains, visiting the unique Quiver Tree forest.
Nestled amongst huge dolerite boulders, stacked in such a mysterious way that it seems giants played here.
We continue to our lodge, situated in close vicinity to the Fish River Canyon.
Days 3 Monday Luderitz
Our morning starts on the edge of the Fish River Canyon, where we gaze 550 meters into this magnificent geological phenomenon, the second largest of its kind on earth.
The Fish River is the longest interior river found in Namibia, but its current flow is just a drop compared with the immense volume of water that poured down its length in ages past.We continue our journey past the Naute dam towards the coastal town of Lüderitz. On the way to Lüderitz we stop at Garub were we might encounter the Wild Horses of the Namib Desert.
Day 4 Tuesday Luderitz
Our morning starts with a visit to Kolmanskop ghost town.Kolmanskop is a deserted Diamond Mining Town in the Sperrgebiet National Park. Once a cosmopolitan centre, a town built to last…until the diamonds ran out. Today Kolmanskop stands as a haunting monument to the thriving past. Returning to Lüderitz we visit Diaz Point and explore the coastal town of Lüderitz
Day 5 Wednesday Namib Desert
After breakfast we travel north through the Tiras Mountain range to our lodge in the Namib Desert.
This is the gateway to Sesriem Canyon and Sossusvlei, where some of the highest sand dunes on earth stand towering over the white desert plains.
The afternoon can be spent relaxing at the pool, or taking part in optional activities offered at our lodge.
Day 6 Thursday Namib Desert
This morning demands an early start.
The first rays of sunrise paint the mountains of sand into a variety of apricot, red and orange, contrasted against a crisp blue skyline, enrapturing our senses, and providing an opportunity to capture this awesome landscape on film.
Sossusvlei, where the mostly dry Tsauchab River ends abruptly amongst majestic dunes, sees us walking up one of these dunes to admire the desert landscape. Thereafter we visit the Sesriem Canyon, a life sustaining natural phenomenon in the heart of the Namib Desert.
Day 7 Friday Swakopmund
After breakfast we travel via the desolate, rolling hills of the Kuiseb Moon Valley towards the Atlantic Ocean.
In Walvis Bay we visit the shallow lagoon, one of the most important wetland areas on the African continent and a RAMSAR world heritage site.
Over 80% of the African flamingoes feed in this lagoon and present a breathtaking picture when they appear in groups counting a few hundred thousand. Having arrived in the coastal town of Swakopmund, we have the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 8 Saturday Swakopmund
Swakopmund is the perfect location for walking tours, shopping, relaxing at a quaint coffee shop or along the sandy beaches.
This being Namibia’s playground, we also have a wide variety of activities on offer, ranging from dolphin cruises, desert tours and scenic flights to quad biking, paragliding, parachuting and kite surfing – to mention but a few.
Day 9 Sunday Damaraland
Heading further north, we travel past the Brandberg, Namibia’s highest mountain (2.579m), into the Damaraland, one of the least populated and geologically diverse areas in Africa. This harsh, rocky environment is home to the rare desert elephant, the black rhino and free-roaming antelope species. We visit Twyfelfontein, a UNESCO heritage site where Bushman communities engraved and painted over 2.500 pictures some 6.000 years ago! After a visit to the nearby Living Museum of the Damarawe proceed on to the Petrified Forest – a geological phenomenon depicting the creation and evolution of some of the oldest landmasses on Earth. Here we also visit the Welwitschia mirabilis plant – the oldest living desert plant on Earth
Day 10 Monday Etosha Area
After a tranquil breakfast, we travel towards the Etosha National Park, famous for its vast amount of wildlife and unique landscape. Once we have reached our camp located just outside of the National Park, we head onto our first safari into the National Park. Together with our guide we explore the various waterholes located close to Okaukuejo and the Andersson gate
Day 11 Tuesday Etosha National Park
The day is devoted purely to the abundant wildlife found in the Etosha National Park, which surrounds a parched salt desert known as the Etosha Pan.
The park is home to 4 of the Big Five – Elephant, Lion, Leopard and Rhino – its waterholes supporting a rich diversity of birds and mammals, including rare species such as black-faced Impala, roan, cheetah, and Namibia’s smallest antelope, the Damara Dik-Dik.
Day 12 Wednesday Etosha National Park
Today we again game drive in the Etosha National Park.
We may encounter animal species we have not seen the previous day and look forward to any new surprises at the different waterholes visited.
In the afternoon we travel to our lodge, where we enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure.
Day 13 Thursday Return to Windhoek
After breakfast we continue southwards to Windhoek, where we visit the craft markets in the main street of the capital city, where after we are driven to our hotel or to the international airport for our return flight.