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

10 May – 21 May 2010
28 May – 8 June 2 010
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 Park

Sesriem is the gateway to the sand dune desert and is the location of the National Park campsite for this area. Set in a beautiful landscape with mountains to the east and dunes to the west. The camping area at Sesriem receives its name from a nearby canyon, the Sesriem Canyon. Early pioneers who came to the area and wanted to get water from the canyon had to tie six leather thongs to the handle of their bucket in order to draw water from the top of the canyon.

These thongs were called “leer riems” in the Afrikaans language and the word for six in the same language is “ses”. The area became known as “Ses Riems” which was corrupted into English as Sesriem. The dunes of the Namib Desert have developed over a period of many millions of years. It is thought that the vast quantities of sand were deposited into the Atlantic Ocean by the Orange River. This material was subsequently moved northwards by the Benguela current to be dumped back onto the land by the surf. The coastal dunes developed as a result of this and were shifted further and further inland by the wind. Wind continuously reshapes the patterns of the huge dunes of the Namib Desert.

It timelessly forces the grains of sand on the flat windward slope upwards to the crest of the dune. Here they fall down in the wind shade. The leeward slope is therefore always considerably steeper than the windward side.
Accommodation: Sesriem campsite – camping
Meals: Breakfast / Picnic lunch / Dinner

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Day 3:
Sesriem campsite

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

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 metres, 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.

Extra optional Activities:

Hot air ballooning:
The duration of the excursion is approximately 3½ hours. The Hot Air Balloon flight itself takes about one hour and ends with an exclusive Champagne Breakfast at the landing spot in scenic nature.

The breakfast is followed by a Nature drive back to the Lodge. Due to the extreme desert temperatures, this activity is only offered in the mornings. The balloon rises as the sun rises! The first light hour of the day is known to be the most spectacular, especially in the desert with the rich contrast of colour and shape on the towering sand dunes of the Sossusvlei Area, on the vast desert plains and surrounding mountain ranges. Ballooning is strictly weather permitting for everyone’s safety. Should there be wind the ride will have to be postponed to the next day.
Accommodation: Sesriem campsite – camping
Meals: Breakfast /Lunch / Dinner

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Day 4:
Sesriem – 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.
Accommodation: Alte Brucke Resort
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: Alte Brucke Resort
Meals: Breakfast

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Day 6:
Swakopmund – Damaraland

Today we drive north along the Skeleton Coast and visit Cape Cross, where tens of thousands of Cape fur seals breed.

Continuing the journey up the coast, you cross the windswept gravel plains bordered by the icy green Atlantic on one side and the endless desert on the other. From Camp Xaragu, you have easy access to the rugged mountains and dry river valleys, where black rhino and desert-adapted elephant can often be seen.
Accommodation: Camp Xaragu – Camping
Meals: Breakfast / Picnic lunch / Dinner

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Day 7:
Damaraland area

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

In the afternoon, we go on a game drive in search of the desert-adapted elephant.
Accommodation: Camp Xaragu – Camping
Meals: Breakfast / 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.

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 – Camping
Meals: Breakfast / Picnic lunch / Dinner

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Day 9:
Okaukuejo

Game drives in Etosha National Park.
Accommodation: Okaukuejo Resort – Camping
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

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Day 10:
Okaukuejo

Game drives in Etosha National Park.
Accommodation: Okaukuejo Resort – Camping
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

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Day 11:
Etosha National Park – Waterberg Plateau Park

After breakfast, we depart to Waterberg Plateau Park. The wildlife at Waterberg is as big a draw here as the scenery, as the high cliffs of Waterberg have long been used to protect its population of rare and endangered animals.

White rhino, roan and sable antelope all have good populations here, thriving for some years, whilst they were rare or absent from elsewhere in Namibia. There’s a colony of fairly rare Cape vultures here, and a really good mix of birdlife – about 200 species are on record. Visiting on a short 1-2 night visit, you’ll be struck by the number of diminutive steenbok who seem to live around the rest-camp – along with the rather less welcome troops of baboons.

Although the game drives can sometimes be productive here … they advice visitors to come in search of the scenery – and let any wildlife sightings here be a bonus.

There are a number of short walking trails around the camp that you can explore by yourself. If you’re relatively fit, then we recommend one that goes up to a look-out point on the top of the plateau; the view is magnificent!
Accommodation: Waterberg Plateau Park – Camping
Meals: Breakfast / Picnic lunch / Dinner

Day 12:
Waterberg Plateau Park – Windhoek

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We transfer you to the airport for your flight back home. We visit the Okahandja craft market on our way to Windhoek.
Meals: Breakfast

Tour Cost

Price: 2010

GBP 1,400.00 per person sharing
GBP 200.00 single supplement

Included in the price:

• En-Suite Accommodation and camping as stipulated in the itinerary
• Meals as stipulated in the itinerary
• Professional Namibian Guide
• Vehicle
• Fuel
• Full Backup team
• All Road Taxes
• All excursions/activities as per itinerary
• All entrance fees

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Excluded from quoted price:

• Extra optional activities
• Return Flight costs
• Beverages
• Some meals in Swakopmund
• Gratuities
• 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.