The country can be divided into four distinct topographical regions. Of these the most definitive is possibly the Namib Desert, which consists of a 50 km – 140 km wide coastal plain extending along the entire coastline, interspersed with dune belts, dry riverbeds and deeply eroded canyons. The central plateau, which runs from north to south, has an average altitude of between 1,000 m and 2,000 m. This plateau gradually falls away towards the east, where a sandy strip of land merges into the level expanse of the Kalahari Desert. Dense, bush covered plains to the north-east of the Etosha Pan included the high-rainfall areas of Kavango and Caprivi, typified by woodland savannah and riverine vegetation.

With a dry climate, typical of a semi-desert country, droughts are a regular occurrence. Average day temperatures in the summer vary from 20◦C – 34◦C and average night temperatures in the winter from 0◦C – 10◦C. The Benguela Current is also the prime determinant of the climate of the Namib, as it reduces rainfall and causes the omnipresent fog typical of the coast.

TOUR PROGRAMME

Day 1:
Windhoek – Okonjima Bush Camp
A representative from SafariWise will meet you at Hosea Kutako Airport with your vehicle. You will drive directly to Okonjima Bush Camp.

The Okonjima Bush Camp is a secluded, private suite that overlooks a waterhole. Set amongst the Acacia thorn veld with sandstone Omboroko Mountains in the background, it is a luxury cottage in the African Bush. The property on which the lodge is situated is home to the AfriCat Foundation which is dedicated to housing orphan animals, cheetah and leopard rescue and release, youth education and research projects.

You can enjoy a night under the stars, all made possible as 1 of the wheeled, queen-size beds, can be rolled out onto the terrace. There is a large swimming pool, overlooking the bush and mountains, some 13m long. Meals are prepared in the private kitchen, by a personal chef.

You see leopard and cheetah during their feeding times and join highly informative Bushmen and Bantu trails. At Okonjima you see the Africat Foundation at work, learn more about leopard and cheetah, and have excellent photographic opportunities.
Accommodation: Okonjima Bush Camp
Meals: Full board

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Day 2:
Okonjima Bush camp – Etosha National Park
Today you will take part in the activities at Okonjima Lodge before departing to Etosha National Park.

Etosha Pan is surrounded by sweetveld Savanna plains, which sustain extraordinary numbers of wildlife. Etosha is home to 114 mammals and some 340 bird species. It houses large numbers of globally endangered or threatened species, most notably black rhinoceros and African elephant. Because of its size, the park serves as a genetic reserve for various species of animals and plants.

Strategically located halfway between Okaukuejo and Namutoni, Halali is situated at the base of a dolomite hill, amongst shady Mopane trees. A flood-lit waterhole which is viewed from an elevated vantage point within the camp provides exceptional wildlife viewing throughout the day and into the night.
Accommodation: Halali Resort
Meals: Breakfast

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Day 3:
Halali Resort

Game drives in Etosha National Park.
Accommodation: Halali Resort
Meals: Breakfast

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Day 4:
Halali – Damaraland
After breakfast you depart to Damaraland.

Situated on the northern face of the Huab River Valley and looking south toward the imposing Brandberg Mountains, Damaraland Camp offers its guests endless vistas.

Early morning mists generated by the clash between the icy Atlantic Ocean and the warm desert air of the Skeleton Coast, drift inland along the river sand canyon, providing sustenance to the flora and fauna of the region.

This comfortable and friendly camp offers walks and drives in one of the best wilderness areas in Namibia. Although wildlife is not concentrated, Damaraland Camp is situated where the rare Desert Elephant roams, alongside Gemsbok (Oryx), Springbok, Ostrich and other hardy desert animals. Rare succulent plants somehow manage to eke out an existence in this harsh countryside. The natural laws of food and water availability dictate the movement and cycles of the elusive and majestic desert adapted Elephant, the rare Black Rhinoceros, Oryx, Kudu, Springbok and other species that have come to terms with life in a desert environment. Even Cheetah move in and out of the area occasionally.
Accommodation: Damaraland Camp
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

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Day 5:
Damaraland Camp – Swakopmund
After breakfast, you drive to the coastal town of Swakopmund.

Swakopmund is situated on the coast and surrounded by desert. 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. The Walvis Bay lagoon takes pride of place as regards scenic attractions in the area. A tranquil stretch of water, its natural beauty is accentuated by thousand of flamingos, which 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 and a visit to Sandwich Harbour. The Crystal Gallery is really worthwhile visiting for people interesting in gemstones.
Accommodation: Swakopmund Alte Brucke
Meals: Breakfast

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Day 6:
Swakopmund – Namib Naukluft Park
After breakfast, you drive southwest to the Namib Naukluft Park.

Situated on the edge of the Namib Desert, the Naukluft complex takes its name from the spectacular, narrow kloof on the eastern side of the massif. Its rugged mountains, deep ravines and crystal-clear pools come as a complete surprise to the unsuspecting visitor. The mountain is an ideal hiking country.

The twenty thatched chalets ensure the guests a more comfortable stay, and needless to say, the little touches on their traditional wide farm verandah, with lanterns and stars adding to the ambience. The Desert Homestead offers simple but stylish accommodation in thatched chalets which were designed with the fragile beauty of this remarkable environment in mind. The lodge is situated approximately 32 kilometers from Sesriem, the gateway to Sossusvlei.

The Desert Homestead offers respite from the extreme temperatures of the Namib Desert. Set in tranquil surroundings, alfresco dining, delectably fresh farm cuisine, refreshing dips in the pool, stunning sunsets and sunrises are the basic pleasures of the lodge. The Lodge offers extra optional activities as follows:

Horse back activities: The Desert Homestead has excellent riding horses, all docile and easy to handle. You can choose between several outrider options. Most popular are their sunrise and sunset rides. They also offer a sundowner drive in the evenings which includes a leisurely nature drive, slowly winding up a mountain, and culminating in gin and tonics and snacks, before venturing home again.

Guided Sossusvlei Trip: A guided trip from the Desert Homestead to the dunes at Sossusvlei. For an entirely different view of the area considering the balloon flight over the Namib Desert.
Accommodation: Desert Homestead
Meals: Breakfast / Dinner

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Day 7:
Desert Homestead – Solitaire Guest Farm
After breakfast or very early morning you can visit Sossusvlei and Sesriem before driving to the Solitaire Guest Farm.

The name of Sesriem is derived from the fact that to reach water six ox thongs were used in old times.

Sesriem Canyon is located only 4 kilometres from Sesriem. The canyon, approximately 2 to 4 million years old, is up to 40 metres deep and about 3 kilometres long.

Sossusvlei is one the places definitely worth to see in Namibia. Huge red sand dunes, camel thorn trees and vlei (shallow water pond) itself, filled occasionally after a good rains are the attractions of the area.

Between wide open plains of the Namib Desert and rugged granite mountains you will find a little oasis with friendly hospitality. Relax in the swimming pool with stunning view over the Namib Desert, admire nature on a walk or sunset drive and enjoy a real farm cuisine. Experience Namibia’s wild and game on a “Night Drive” and visit the miraculous mountain that looks like a human skull. You also can do day trips to the Naukluft Mountains and the three passes, Spreetshoogte, Remhoogte and Gamsberg. The entrance to Solitaire Guest Farm is only 500m from the Solitaire gas station. Meals are cooked in the farm kitchen and are based on typical Namibian farm cuisine. The Solitaire Guest Farm is situated around 85km north of Sesriem, the entrance to the dunes at Sossusvlei.
Accommodation: Solitaire Guest Farm
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

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Day 8:
Solitaire Guest Farm – Windhoek
After breakfast, you drive back to Windhoek where you will meet a representative from SafariWise who will transfer you to Hosea Kutako International Airport.
Meals: Breakfast

Quoted price:
2011 – On request

Included in the quoted price:

• En-Suite Accommodation: as stipulated in the itinerary
• Meals: As stipulated in the itinerary
• Vehicle

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Excluded from quoted price:

• Return Flight costs
• Additional Entrance fees
• Beverages
• Gratuities
• Optional activities
• Travel insurance
• Laundry
• Items of a personal nature

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Notes:
a) The costing for the Tour Programme is based on a minimum of two (2) clients.
b) Please also note that the accommodation outlined in the itinerary may, very occasionally, need to be amended. Replacements lodges and hotels will always be of the same standard as the ones outlined in the itinerary and will in no way affect your holiday. Should we have to implement any changes to the above we will notify you as soon as possible.
c) A non-refundable deposit of 15% is payable on confirmation of safari.
d) Full payment is required sixty (60) days prior to arrival.
e) Quoted price is subject to availability and fuel/gas price- and exchange rate fluctuations.
f) Terms & Conditions.

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The country derives its name from the Namib Desert, a unique geological feature renowned for the unusual and haunting quality of its landscape. Far from being lifeless and barren, this narrow strip of moist coastal desert features an unusual variety of desert-adapted flora and fauna.

The country can be divided into four distinct topographical regions. Of these the most definitive is possibly the Namib Desert, which consists of a 50 km – 140 km wide coastal plain extending along the entire coastline, interspersed with dune belts, dry riverbeds and deeply eroded canyons. The central plateau, which runs from north to south, has an average altitude of between 1,000 m and 2,000 m. This plateau gradually falls away towards the east, where a sandy strip of land merges into the level expanse of the Kalahari Desert. Dense, bush covered plains to the north-east of the Etosha Pan included the high-rainfall areas of Kavango and Caprivi, typified by woodland savannah and riverine vegetation.

With a dry climate, typical of a semi-desert country, droughts are a regular occurrence. Average day temperatures in the summer vary from 20◦C – 34◦C and average night temperatures in the winter from 0◦C – 10◦C. The Benguela Current is also the prime determinant of the climate of the Namib, as it reduces rainfall and causes the omnipresent fog typical of the coast.

In the northwest, the Okavango River empties into the Kalahari sands, creating the largest inland river delta in the world. While the Okavango Delta is home to relatively few large game animals in comparison to other areas of Botswana, its clear waters and myriad small islands are home to an astounding variety of birds, plants, and smaller species of animals.

Nearby is Chobe National Park, a beautiful grassland reserve that has gained international fame for its abundant elephant population. Southeast of Chobe are Botswana’s enormous Makgadikgadi salt pans, home to large herds of blue wildebeest, several antelope species, and those international lovers of salt pans, flamingos.
Almost the entire remaining portion of the country is covered by the Kalahari Desert – a varied environment of sand, savanna, and grassland. Although this area of Botswana is only sparsely inhabited by humans, it is one of the richest wildlife regions in all of Africa.
Botswana’s two largest parks, the Central Kalahari Game reserve and Gemsbok National Park, are found in this region.

Botswana’s climate can get rather cool, particularly during the dry winter months of June-August when night occasionally brings frost. The rainy summer months (December through March) are best avoided for those interested in enjoying the best game viewing conditions. The aboriginal inhabitants of Botswana, who have made the Kalahari their home for at least 30,000 years, are the San, or bushmen. The San number about 60,000 today, constituting a small but fascinating cultural minority in the country. Almost two millennia ago, a Bantu people known as the Tswana arrived, supplanting the San and now constituting the great majority of the population.
The discovery of gold in Botswana in the late 19th century attracted the interest of the Boers, leading the fiercely independent but desperate Tswana nations to petition the British for protection.
Botswana was granted protectorate status (as Bechuanaland) in 1885, though local authority was maintained with determination by the Tswana chiefs. In 1966, in the same wave of change that brought independence to much of the continent, Bechuanaland became the independent Republic of Botswana.
The very next year, the discovery of enormous diamond reserves in Botswana transformed the poor country’s economic prospects. Today it enjoys one of the highest economic growth rates of any country in the world, although its national wealth has not solved the problem of widespread unemployment.