| D1: Windhoek |
| Meet and Greet |
| | - | Be met at Windhoek Airport by one of our experienced guides, who will explain your itinerary and give you valuable advice, as well as information to make your trip run smoothly and be utterly unforgettable. Our guide will answer any questions you may have, hand over all the travel documents that you may need such as maps and vouchers, and escort you to your designated transportation. |
| | - | Pick up your vehicle Europcar NA Classic Max Category W c: 14-30 days at Windhoek - Drop Off Windhoek (Day 14) - 14 days  |
| | - | Overnight: Londiningi Guest House (Standard Room - Bed and Breakfast) |
|
|
| D2: Windhoek - Otjiwarongo |
| Waterberg Plateau Park(n) |
| | - | Breakfast |
| | - | Travel to Otjiwarongo |
| | - | Clamber to the summit or simply walk the lower trails of the Waterberg Plateau National Park, where a 200 metre plateau rises amid the Namibian plains. Set within 41 000 hectares of protected land, this ancient geological rock formation, with its sheer red granite cliffs and verdant summit, is a sanctuary for varied flora and fauna, including endangered species such as black and white rhino, sable and roan antelope, and the Cape vulture, the rarest bird in Namibia. Its inaccessibility has encouraged these and other animal species, including Cape buffalo, eland, giraffe and blue wildebeest, to flourish, protected as they are from poaching. The summit can be reached by foot by the more adventurous, while there are a number of less-challenging trails available at the base of the plateau, where 200-million-year-old fossilised dinosaur tracks can also be observed. (n) (n) |
| | - | Overnight: Waterberg Resort - Rest Camp (Bush Chalet 4 Beds - Bed and Breakfast) |
|
|
| D3: Otjiwarongo - Etosha |
| Cheetah Conservation Fund's Education Centre(n) • Etosha East Afternoon Game Drive(n) |
| | - | Breakfast |
| | - | Get your feline fix with a visit to the Cheetah Conservation Fund's International Research and Education Centre. Situated 44 km outside Otjiwarango, the CCF Centre was founded by Dr Laurie Marker and is the world's leading organisation dedicated to saving the cheetah from extinction. Loss of habitat, poaching and prosecution by farmers has led to the cheetah being the most endangered cat in Africa. The CCF Centre provides in-depth information about the cheetah, and what CCF is doing to ensure the survival of this species for future generations. Cheetah that cannot be released into the wild for various reasons are protected in this peaceful sanctuary and visitors can observe these big cats on a drive through one of the cheetah camps. (n) (n) |
| | - | Fringe the edges of the Etosha Pan with an afternoon safari in the eastern part of the Etosha National Park. Reputed for the exceptional diversity of its fauna and its unique landscapes, Etosha is one of Africa's most captivating game reserves. The eastern sector, accessed by the Von Lindequist Gate, borders the Etosha Pan, a vast depression bearing testament to the salt lake that once existed here. The waterholes along the southern perimeter of the pan attract myriad animals as the heat of the day subsides. (n) (n) |
| | - | Overnight at the Camp: Onguma Bush Camp. (Loft (Standard) Room - Bed and Breakfast) |
|
|
| D4: Etosha |
| Etosha Discover(n) |
| | - | Breakfast |
| | - | Travel to Etosha |
| | - | Full day game drive through the vast wilderness at the Etosha National Park. This spectacular wildlife park is dominated by a massive mineral pan, part of the Kalahari Basin, the floor of which was formed over 1 000 million years ago and fills up only for a short period of time when rains are heavy. Most of the year it is a shimmering mirage against which the long shadows of passing herds of game can be seen, providing a unique and stunningly stark landscape. Despite its aridness, the park is rich in wildlife and boasts the Big Five and over 100 other mammal species as well as thousands of birds that flock to the pan. During your game drive, stop at some of the waterholes to watch animals slake their thirst in the water. (n) (n) |
| | - | Overnight at the Rest Camp: Okaukuejo Rest Camp (Family Chalet 4 Beds - Bed and Breakfast) |
|
|
| D5: Etosha |
| Etosha Central Game Drive Full Day(n) |
| | - | Breakfast |
| | - | Journée complète de safari avec votre véhicule. Vous pouvez aussi participer au safaris en 4x4 ouverts organisés par le parc, tôt le matin, en fin d'après midi ou même de nuit. |
| | - | Sweep through the wilderness on a full day game drive in the Etosha National Park. Proclaimed a game reserve in 1907, Etosha spreads over 22 270km2 of saline desert, mopane forests and grassy scrublands. The park's most distinctive feature is the Etosha Pan, once a lake and now a massive white, salty depression that fills with pockets of pools after infrequent rains, attracting up to 1-million flamingos which use the pan as a breeding ground. The rain pools, along with approximately 30 waterholes and springs across the reserve, sustain an abundance of wildlife, including 340 bird and 114 mammal species, as well as some rarities like the Damara dik-dik, the black-faced impala and the Egyptian vulture. (n) (n) |
| | - | Overnight at the Rest Camp: Okaukuejo Rest Camp (Family Chalet 4 Beds - Bed and Breakfast) |
|
|
| D6: Etosha - Twyfelfontein |
| Petrified Forest(n) • Visit the Living Museum of the Damara. (n) |
| | - | Breakfast |
| | - | Travel to Khorixas |
| | - | Touch trees of stone with a visit to the Petrified Forest, a remarkable site of fossilised tree trunks dating back to the paleontological era. Geological research has revealed that these trees belong to the pine family, and were washed down the continent in a massive flood to their current site, buried beneath hundreds of metres of sediment. Over millions of years, the pressure caused the organic material to be replaced by silica and completely transformed the trees into stone. The effects of erosion have exposed these tree relics, including two trees measuring up to 45 metres. (n) (n) |
| | - | Travel to Damaraland |
| | - | Engage with the enigmatic Damara people with a visit to the Damara Living Museum near Twyfelfontein. The Damara are one of the oldest nations in Namibia with no clear lineage attachment to any other tribe in Africa, making their origins somewhat mysterious and unique. During your visit you will gain insight into the daily routine of the Damara tribe as you watch blacksmiths making traditional tools and weapons and women producing pretty jewellery and crafts. Test your skills of traditional fire making while the tribe explains to you the importance of the Holy Fire – on object of reverence that is believed to bring good fortune in hunting and can be started only by the village headman as he rubs together sticks and murmurs a ‘magical formula’. Leather tanning to make traditional clothing, dancing, singing and traditional games will round off a memorable experience. (n) (n) |
| | - | Travel to Twyfelfontein |
| | - | Dinner: Twyfelfontein Country Lodge |
| | - | Overnight: Twyfelfontein Country Lodge (Standard Room - Dinner, Bed and Breakfast (FIT)) |
|
|
| D7: Twyfelfontein - Uis |
| Twyfelfontein World Heritage Site(n) • Burnt Mountain(n) |
| | - | Breakfast |
| | - | Read the pictures that paint a thousand words at the site of Twyvelfontein in the heart of Damaraland. With over 2 500 rock engravings dating back 6 000 years to the hunter-gatherers of the Stone Age, as well as numerous Khoikhoi rock painting sites estimated to be 2 000 years old, Twyfelfontein has one of the largest concentrations of rock petroglyphs in Africa, and was declared Namibia's first World Heritage Site in 2007. The ancient engravings and paintings depict the lives of lost communities and the animals with whom they shared the landscape. Twyfelfontein is translated to 'doubtful spring' in Afrikaans, referring to the /Ui-//aes spring that that lies within the valley along the slopes of the sandstone plateau. (n) (n) |
| | - | Fathom the forces of nature at Burnt Mountain. Forming part of the Twyfelfontein peaks that stretch over 12 km in Damaraland, this mountain appears to have been exposed to fire. Geologists surmise that 120 million years ago, volcanic action in Namibia caused magma to thrust up solidified shale deposited at the bottom of an ancient dried-up lake, buried by layers of sediment as a result of wind erosion. The shale turned black as it came into contact with the magma, creating a mountain formation that looks as if it has been burnt. At sunrise and sunset, the granite mountain face shimmers in hues of pink, red and orange. (n) (n) |
| | - | Overnight: Brandberg White Lady Lodge (Family Unit - Bed and Breakfast) |
|
|
| D8: Uis |
| Elephant Drive(o) • White Lady(n) |
| | - | Breakfast |
| | - | The desert elephants are roaming the Ugab River between June/July to Nov/Dec. Their visit to this area is seasonal and all depends on the rainy season. The rest of the year (summer time or when the country gets rainfall) they move further north and out of the rivers into farm lands. Thus our drives also depend on the time of year and if the elephants are in the area.
C'est dans la rivière Ugab, lieu de résidence des fameux éléphants du désert que vous emmènera votre guide en 4x4. Si vous êtes chanceux vous apercevrez peut-être le furtif rhinocéros noir ! (Optional rates: D8:Elephant Drive) |
| | - | Untangle the mystery of the 'White Lady'. Among the hundreds of rock paintings at Brandberg Mountain in Damaraland, the 'White Lady' is the most famous, inspiring a host of possible interpretations from anthropologists around the world, including Abbot Breuil who wrote a book in 1948 speculating about the possible origins of the painting. Others have seen it as a depiction of the five emperors who ruled over Zimbabwe over a period of 200 years, or that the 'White Lady' depicts a medicine man. However, to this day, the meaning and origin of this rock painting, estimated to be over 2 000 years old, remains a mystery. (n) (n) |
| | - | Overnight: Brandberg White Lady Lodge (Family Unit - Bed and Breakfast) |
|
|
| D9: Uis - Swakopmund |
| Cape Cross Seal Reserve(n) |
| | - | Breakfast |
| | - | Travel to Cape Cross |
| | - | Watch as seals frolic on the shores of the Cape Cross Seal Reserve. Located approximately 60 km north of the coastal city of Henties Bay on the Skeleton Coast, this reserve holds the largest breeding colony of the Cape fur seals in the world. Cape Cross is also where Portuguese explorer Diego Câo erected a stone pillar and cross to establish his claim on the territory in 1486. The original cross was removed in 1893 and taken to Berlin after the German possession of the land, and a replica made of Namibian dolomite was erected in its place. The reserve is open daily from 10am to 7pm. (n) (n) |
| | - | Travel to Swakopmund |
| | - | Overnight: Swakopmund Guest House (Luxury Room - Bed and Breakfast) |
|
|
| D10: Swakopmund |
| Dolphin Cruise(o) |
| | - | Breakfast |
| | - | Inhale the fresh, salty air as you prepare for a marine dolphin motorboat cruise to Pelican Point. The calm waters of Walvis Bay's lagoon are teeming with marine life. The cruise traverses the oyster lines, Walvis Bay Harbour and Pelican Point with its iconic lighthouse, where Cape fur seals play in the waves and come right up to the boat. Further out bottlenose and heaviside dolphins swim alongside the boat, and whales can be spotted between July and November. Flamingos, pelicans and even jackass penguins are common sightings during the cruise. Light lunch with oysters served on board. (Optional rates: D10:Marine Dolphin Cruise) |
| | - | Cet après-midi, nous vous conseillons d'arpenter les rues de Swakopmund à l'architecture très germanique, de faire du surf (debout ou allongé) ou du quad sur les dunes entre Swakopmund et Walvis Bay, une sortie en 4x4 jusque Sandwich Harbour, du VTT... |
| | - | Overnight: Swakopmund Guest House (Luxury Room - Bed and Breakfast) |
|
|
| D11: Swakopmund - Solitaire |
| Moon Landscape and Welwitschia Mirabilis(n) • Kuiseb Canyon(n) |
| | - | Breakfast |
| | - | Travel to Namib-Naukluft |
| | - | Walk on the moon Namibian-style at the Namib Moon Landscape, a name given to a part of the valley of the Swakop River near Swakopmund. The lunar-type landscape, eroded by thousands of years of wind and rain, is awe-inspiring. The river that flows from time to time at the bottom of the valley brings a short-lived period of fertility to the region and the water allows some plants to survive in this hostile environment. Man tried to cultivate parts of this valley for agriculture at the beginning of the previous century, with little success due to the harshness of the environment. Discover the Welwitschia mirabilis, a botanical curiosity that is found almost exclusively in areas of fog of the Namib Desert. Some specimens are older than 1500 years. (n) (n) |
| | - | Capture hypnotic scenic images at the Kuiseb Canyon. The ephemeral Kuiseb River has carved an impressive nine kilometre long canyon which can be seen from the C14 road close to the town of Solitaire. This river is the dividing line between the endless rocky plains of the north and the sand dunes that end near the Orange River. After the rainy season in the summer, the Kuiseb River mostly dries up but some water remains at the canyon. Klipspringer, leopard, hyena, jackal and springbok can sometimes be spotted. (n) (n) |
| | - | Travel to Solitaire |
| | - | Overnight: Namib Desert Lodge (Standard Room - Bed and Breakfast) |
|
|
| D12: Solitaire |
| Sossusvlei and Deadvlei(n) |
| | - | Breakfast |
| | - | Spend a full day in the desert to see Sossusvlei and Deadvlei. Drive to the entrance of the national park at Sesriem. From the entrance, continue along a paved road for 50 kilometres and be mesmerised by the transition between the magnificent landscapes of the Naukluft mountains and those of the dunes. If you’re up to the challenge, you can climb Dune 45, the real star of the show, and probably the most photographed dune of all. Arriving at the car park signalling the end of the asphalt road, you can continue your way on the sand for 5 km provided you have a 4x4, or take the shuttle to the car parks serving the sites of Deadvlei and Sossusvlei. A few hundred metres’ walk in the dunes from the parking of the site you will discover Deadvlei, a clay bowl sheltering a dry, cracked lake. The contrast between the blackened trees, the white of the lake, the ochre of the dunes and the deep-blue sky is dazzling. Finally, discover the incredible site of Sossusvlei. All the splendour of the Namib is concentrated here. From the top of one of the dunes, a breathtaking sea of sand awaits you, filled with giant dunes, the highest in the world, some reaching 300 metres in height. (n) (n) |
| | - | Overnight: Namib Desert Lodge (Standard Room - Bed and Breakfast) |
|
|
| D13: Solitaire - Kalahari |
| Kalahari Visit(n) • Nature Drive(o) |
| | - | Breakfast |
| | - | Travel to Kalahari |
| | - | Be blown away by the haunting beauty of the Kalahari Desert. Extending over an area of 500,000 km², the Kalahari covers most of Botswana - where it is known as the Kgalagadi - some areas of South Africa, and south-eastern Namibia. Contrary to what the notion of 'desert' might suggest, the Kalahari has a semi-arid climate and receives an average annual rainfall of 100 mm (as opposed to a maximum of 25 mm for a true desert). The rains enable a multitude of life to flourish across the red sands that transform into grassy plains at times of higher rainfall, and numerous species of mammals and birds inhabit the Kalahari, as do the San Bushmen, southern Africa's oldest human inhabitants. The solitary expanses evoke a sense of isolation, yet its lunar landscapes, varied fauna and flora and ancient tribes make the Kalahari an enriching experience. (n) (n) |
| | - | Nature Drive. This is the perfect way of getting acquainted with the Kalahari Desert. The colourful display of dunes, grass and sky unfolds in its most glorious splendour just before sunset (Optional rates: D13:Kalahari Nature Drive) |
| | - | Overnight: Kalahari Anib Lodge (Standard Room - Bed and Breakfast) |
|
|
| D14: Kalahari - Windhoek |
| Windhoek tour(n) |
| | - | Breakfast |
| | - | Travel to Windhoek |
| | - | Saunter the sidewalks on a city tour of Windhoek. The capital of Namibia lies at an altitude of 1 654 metres within the Khomashochland, a hilly plateau in the centre of the country. With its unique blend of European and African architecture, history and culture, the tranquil city has a slightly vintage feel. Its first inhabitants named the city as a "place of vapour, water or fire" due to the numerous hot water springs in the area. Following the arrival of the Germans in 1890 the city grew around a fortress, or the Alte Feste, and the Tintenpalast (Ink Palace), Namibia's parliament building. The Christuskirche, built in neo-Gothic / Art Nouveau style, rises above the city showcasing the German architectural influence of the time. (n) (n) |
