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.

Days 12 / 11 Nights

4 July – 15 July 2011
7 November – 18 November 2011
OR even better you get 5 friends together and tell us your travelling dates!

Tour Programme

Day 1:
Hosea Kutako International Airport- Safari Court Hotel

A representative from SafariWise will meet you at Hosea Kutako Airport. We transfer to our overnight accommodation at Safari Court Hotel

The four star Safari Court Hotel is situated on 13 hectares on the outskirts of Windhoek. The hotel offers the largest local selection of first class accommodation and catering with a difference.
Accommodation: Safari Court Hotel
Meals: Dinner
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Day 2:
Windhoek – Namib Naukluft

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.

Namib-Naukluft National Park is an ecological preserve in the Namib Desert, thought to be Earth’s oldest desert. The park is the largest game park in Africa, and a surprising collection of creatures survives in the hyper-arid region, including snakes, geckos, unusual insects, hyenas, gemsboks and jackals.

Ancient dunes near Sossusvlei, is the frequently visited center of the national park. The winds that bring in the fog are also responsible for creating the park’s towering sand dunes, whose burnt orange color is a sign of their age. The orange colour develops over time as iron in the sand is oxidized, like rusty metal; the older the dune, the brighter the colour.

The twenty thatched chalets ensure the guests a more comfortable stay, and needless to say, the little touches on their traditional wide farm veranda, 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:

Horse back rides: The Desert Homestead has excellent riding horses, all docile and easy to handle.

We 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.
Accommodation: Desert Homestead
Meals: Breakfast / picnic lunch / Dinner
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Day 3:
Desert Homestead

A very early start before sunrise. We drive to Sossusvlei in time to see the beautiful Namib sunrise.

The Sossusvlei, Namibia’s famous highlight in the heart of the Namib Desert, is a huge clay pan, enclosed by giant sand dunes.

Some of the spectacular hills of sand are, at a height of 300 meters, the highest in the world. Only after a heavy rainfall, which is a rare event in this area, does the vlei fill with water. As the clay layers hardly allow any water infiltration, a turquoise lake will remain for quite some time.

After lunch we visit the Sesriem Canyon, one of the amazing features of the Namib. Here the Tsauchab River has carved a gorge – up to 30 meters deep and about 1 km long – into the conglomerate gravels deposited some 15 – 18 million years ago during a wetter phase in the history of the Namib. From the parking area a track leads to the canyon floor and a walk into Sesriem is like descending through the layers of time.
Accommodation: Desert Homestead
Meals: Breakfast / Picnic Lunch / Dinner
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Day 4:
Desert Homestead – Swakopmund

After breakfast we drive northwest to the coastal town of Swakopmund.

As we travel towards the Atlantic Coast we see the scenery change from sand dunes to dark craggy canyons and then to flat gravel plains.

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.

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.

Occupying a quiet corner of Swakopmund’s old town near the marine museum and the old brewery, Cornerstone Guesthouse offers the charm and intimacy of a family-run B&B combined with the modern amenities of a luxury hotel.

Extra optional activities: Quad biking, sand boarding, Boat fishing, Ballooning, & Scenic flights over the Skeleton Coast.
Accommodation: Cornerstone Guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast / Picnic Lunch
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Day 5:
Swakopmund Area

Activity included for today:

Dolphin Cruise:

The ski boats depart from the Tanker Jetty at the Walvis Bay Harbour. We go along the coast to the Bird Island and foreign boats, and then cross to Pelican Point.

Friendly seals come join us on the boat to be fed, while dolphins swim around enjoying the fun.

Fresh oysters, snacks, champagne, beer and soft drinks are served at the seal colony before we return to Walvis Bay via the Lagoon.

Optional extra activity:

The Living Desert Tour:
Originally developed by Tommy himself, is a unique 4×4-adventure drive through the dunes outside Swakopmund, Namibia. Just the drive in the dunes is an amazing experience, but Tommy will show us a lot more than sand. The tour takes us from the vegetated, life-rich eastern side of the dunes, right through the dunes to the Atlantic Ocean on the western side of the dune belt. Tommy introduces us to some of the fascinating, hidden life in this apparently barren landscape that is part of the Namib Desert. Here we can find creatures endemic to the Namib: the sidewinder (Peringuey’s Adder), the Palmato Gecko with its transparent skin and beautiful colours – we dig into the dune side to find this nocturnal desert-dweller.

We track the large Namaqua Chameleon, and watch it enjoy brunch. Then it is a dash to catch the swift sand-diving lizard. We find out how the area’s plants and small animals survive the harsh climate, and how they obtain water for life. We also track a FitzSimon’s Burrowing Skink across the dune face, in hopes of catching this legless lizard. Along the way Tommy will explain the variety of dune colours.

At the end of the tour, weather permitting, we experience a ‘roaring’ dune. Other characters to be found in the dune belt are the ‘dancing’ White Lady Spider; the Parabuthus Villosus black scorpion; the occasional horned adder or sand-snake; desert wasps, fish-moths, crickets and several beetle species, and many more.

A Living Desert Tour with the enthusiastic Tommy is educational, fun and an unforgettable experience. We see the desert and dunes with new eyes. The photographic opportunities are endless too: make sure those batteries are charged before we leave!

This half-day tour leaves at 8am in the morning, and returns at approximately 1pm.

Tommy also offers an optional night activity:
The Living Desert Night Walk takes us on a captivating three hour outing into the dunes with fluorescent lamps. We will see the nocturnal creatures moving around, and Tommy will track the more reclusive living things too.
Accommodation: Cornerstone Guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast
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Day 6:
Swakopmund – Damaraland

The Twyfelfontein area, being a very vulnerable and delicate ecosystem, is renowned for some of the best examples of Bushman paintings and rock engravings in Southern Africa and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Interesting rock formations and the remainder of prehistoric volcanic action can be seen among the most prominent geographic features including the Organ Pipes, Burnt Mountain, Doros Crater and the Petrified Forest.

The fauna and flora of Damaraland is typical of the Pro-Namib region and plant species include the magnificent Welwitschia, Moringa and a variety of the Commiphora species. The Desert adapted Elephant, Rhinoceros, Giraffe, Springbok, Zebra, Oryx, and Ostrich include some of the wildlife which can be found living in total harmony with the community.
Accommodation: Twyfelfontein Country Lodge
Meals: Breakfast / Picnic lunch / Dinner
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Day 7:
Damaraland area

Explore Damaraland.

The slopes above Twyfelfontein are littered with large rock slabs, with the largest concentration of rock engravings in Africa. The engravings are mostly of animals, but there are also human footprints, animal spoor and some abstract motifs.

We also visit the Organ Pipes, which are exposes in a gorge; roughly 100m long and reach a maximum height of 5m.

We go in search for the Desert adapted Elephant.
Accommodation: Twyfelfontein Country Lodge
Meals: Breakfast / Picnic lunch/ Dinner
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Day 8:
Damaraland – Etosha National Park

When it was originally proclaimed at the turn of the century the Etosha Park consisted of an area of 100,000 square kilometers. This was the largest reserve on earth but in the 1960′s political pressure resulted in the Park being reduced to its current size Etosha, meaning “Great White Place”, is dominated by a massive mineral pan. The pan is part of the Kalahari Basin, the floor of which was formed around 1000 million years ago. The Etosha Pan covers around 25% of the National Park. The pan was originally a lake fed by the Kunene River. However the course of the river changed thousands of years ago and the lake dried up. The pan now is a large dusty depression of salt and dusty clay which fills only if the rains are heavy and even then only holds water for a short time. This temporary water in the Etosha Pan attracts thousands of wading birds including impressive flocks of flamingos. The perennial springs along the edges of the Etosha Pan draw large concentrations of wildlife and birds.

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.

Okaukuejo, located 17 km from the Southern entrance of the park, was the first tourist camp to open in Etosha. Okaukuejo is famous for its flood-lit waterhole, where visitors can observe at close quarters a spectacle of wildlife congregating and interacting.

Okaukuejo is the main administrative centre and headquarters of the Etosha Ecological Institute, where research and nature conservation management in Etosha are conducted.
Accommodation: Okaukuejo Resort
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
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Day 9:
Okaukuejo Resort – Halali Resort

Strategically located halfway between Okaukuejo and Namutoni, Halali is situated at the base of a dolomite hill, amongst shady Mopane trees, and provides an ambiance of tranquillity and space. It is surrounded by some popular waterholes in the park. A floodlit 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 / Lunch / Dinner
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Day 10:
Halali Resort

Game Drives in the Park.
Accommodation: Halali Resort
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
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Day 11:
Halali Resort – Erindi Game Reserve

Namibia has its fascinating desert, its own canyon, the Etosha pan and endless savannah, but on a vast mountainous plain lie Erindi, translated as “The Place of Water” in local Herero, with more than 15 000 head of game teeming over an unbelievably large game reserve, where even rare and endangered species are being conserved and managed in a manner that allows man to experience what it was once like to live in undisturbed Africa…

The experience is set on 71 000 ha of pristine wilderness with varied landscapes in a malaria-free area, from mountains to savannah to open grassland right in the heart of Namibia: Erindi Private Game Reserve is situated in the triangle between Okahandja, Otjiwarongo and Omaruru. The pure tranquillity, abundant wildlife and distant horizons with awesome sunsets will sweep us off our feet.

Old Traders Lodge provides the accommodation at Erindi Private Game Reserve. This impressive lodge comprises the main dining room and viewing deck as well as 35 well appointed suites including 5 deluxe suites. Three of the five deluxe suites face the water hole. The spacious suites include; Comfortable double or twin single beds with crisp linen and warm blankets, Remote controlled air-conditioning, En-suite bathroom with bath and shower, In-room safe, In-room study desk, satellite TV, hairdryers, fridges and kettles.

Activity included:
Afternoon game drive

A short excursion takes a sundowner location. Intense golden hues make the evening surreal as we sip drinks and enjoy light snacks.

The light softens after a magnificent sunset, as the sun dips behind the horizon, the air cools, day transforms to night. Animals leave the safety of their daytime shelters. The numerous nocturnal hunters, including lion and genet pick up scent trailing the night air.

Evening excursion also bring incredible viewing of little creatures such as striped polecat, African wild cat, bat eared foxes, porcupine and pangolin, brown hyena, spotted hyena and jackal.
Accommodation: Erindi Game Reserve
Meals: Breakfast /Lunch / Dinner
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Day 12:
Erindi Game Reserve – Windhoek

Activity included:
Morning game drive

The day begins before first light. We meet at the main lodge where the kitchen prepares hot brewed coffee, tea, muffins.

We depart in the Land Rovers, the air crisp and the morning alive with the sounds of the bush. The rangers have an intimate knowledge of the environment, reading signs of last night’s activity they take us into their world. It’s not long before we pick up the spoor of a predator left not long before as the first rays of sun pierce the mountains in the distance. Communicating by radio, the vehicles share information on sightings giving us a greater chance of experiencing as much as possible.

After the game drive we depart to Windhoek to be in time for your flight.
We visit the Okahandja craft market on our way to Windhoek.
Meals: Breakfast

Tour Cost

Price: 2011 *No price increase for 2011*

GBP 1,900.00 per person sharing
GBP 300.00 single supplement

Included in the price:

• En-Suite Accommodation as stipulated in the itinerary
• Meals: As stipulated in the itinerary
• Professional Namibian Guide
• Vehicle
• Fuel
• All Road Taxes
• All excursions/activities as per itinerary
• All entrance fees

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Excluded from price:

• Return Flight costs
• Beverages
• Gratuities
• Extra optional activities
• Travel insurance
• Laundry

Notes:
a) The costing for the Tour Programme is based on a minimum of six (6) guests.
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 15% non-refundable deposit is required on confirmation of safari. Full payment is required sixty (60) days prior to arrival.
d) Quoted price is subject to availability and fuel/gas price- and exchange rate fluctuations.
e) Terms & Conditions.