Etosha South – Twyfelfontein – Swakopmund – Sossusvlei – Luderitz – Fish River Canyon – Keetmanshoop – Windhoek
Overview
This safari incorporates some of the main highlights in Namibia.
A leisurely tour through some of Namibia’s highlights including :- Kalahari, fish river canyon, Sossusvlei, Damaraland
and Swakopmund.
Day 1 Okaukuejo Campsite Etosha South L&D 1x Campsite 2 Nights
Day 3 Mowani Mountain Campsite Twyfelfontein FB 1x Campsite 1 Night
Day 4 Hotel Pension Rapmund Swakopmund B&B 1x Double Room 2 Nights
Day 6 Sesriem Campsite Sossusvlei FB 1x Campsite 2 Nights
Day 8 Shark Island Luderitz Luderitz FB 1x Double Room, 1x
Campsite
1 Night
Day 9 Canyon Roadhouse Gondwana Collection Namibia Fish River Canyon B,B&L 1x Double Room 1 Night
Day 10 Quiver Tree Forest Keetmanshoop FB 1x Campsite 1 Night
Day 11 River Crossing Lodge Windhoek B&B 1x Double Room
Key
B&B: Bed and Breakfast
B,B&L: Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
L&D: Lunch and Dinner
Itinerary
Etosha South
Located just south of the boundary of Etosha National Park in northwestern Namibia, Etosha South makes up the southern region of this wild paradise. Ongava Private Game Reserve shares the southern boundary with Etosha National Park and offers an array of luxury lodges overlooking picturesque landscapes dotted with abundant wildlife.
The national park can be accessed via the southern entrance at Andersson’s Gate. Visitors can catch a glimpse of a variety of wildlife including: lion, giraffe, elephant, white and black rhino, and a multitude of plains game. Popular activities include: game drives, tracking rhinos on foot, guided nature walks, or watch the sunset over this magnificent landscape
Overnight: Okaukuejo Campsite
Okaukuejo is located 17 km from the southern entrance of the park, Anderson Gate. Okaukuejo is the oldest tourist camp in Etosha and it also functions as the administrative centre of the park. Okaukuejo is also home to the Etosha Ecological Institute. It is situated at the western end of the Etosha Pan. Facilities include a restaurant, bar, shop, swimming pool, kiosk and camp sites.
The main attraction of this camp is that it overlooks a permanent waterhole which is floodlit at night. Here a wide diversity of wildlife congregate and interact from lion to rhino to elephant and antelope. The spectacle starts at dawn, with animals coming in large numbers to quench their thirst. The activity continues throughout the day until late at night. In the early evenings, it is not uncommon to have black rhino, elephant and lion all drinking at the same time.
Activities
Etosha Pan
Aeons ago, Etosha Pan was the bed of a vast lake; today what remains is a glittering, silvery-green salt pan that stretches across roughly 5000 square kilometres. Etosha is protected by the Etosha Pan National Park surrounded by savannah plains and woodlands supporting large herds of elephants. When dry, the pan sustains little life except for
the algae that gives it its distinctive colour, and migratory birds that use it as a pit stop, but with heavy rain it becomes a shallow lake where flamingos breed, pelicans wade and feed, and a variety of mammal species come to quench their thirst, including leopards, lions, white rhinos, hunting dogs and antelopes. Lunch and Dinner
Full day Etosha. Lunch and Dinner
Twyfelfontein
Set in the Kunene Region of northwestern Namibia, Twylfelfontein is a spectacularly scenic area, featuring one of the largest and most important concentrations of rock art in Africa. The name ‘Twyfelfontein’ translates to ‘Fountain of Doubt’, which refers to the perennial spring situated in the impressive Huab valley flanked by the slopes of a sandstone table mountain. It was this spring that attracted Stone Age hunters over six thousand years ago, and it was during this time that the extensive group of rock engravings and paintings were produced. Visitors can look forward to basing themselves at some wonderfully shady campsites along the Aba-Huab riverbed, while exploring over thirty different sites of these sacred records of ritual practices relating to traditional hunter-gatherer communities.
Overnight: Mowani Mountain Campsite
Mowani offers campers 7 stunning campsites with individual bathrooms facilities; hot water provided by a 'donkey', flushing toilets and private kitchen wash-up areas. All sites offer stunning views of the area.
Activities
Otjikandero Himba Orphanage Village
Otjikandero Himba Orphanage Village is located close to the local Kamanjab cattle farm in Himba Village. The village is inhabited by Himba kids, who are taken care of by volunteer mothers. All the children are raised in the traditional way, although a few of them have been slightly westernised because of the school they attend. Otjikandero Himba
Orphanage Village is funded by the money received from tours to the village. Funds are used for medical purposes, food and other basic needs. Tourists will have the opportunity to see the Himba people in their natural environment as well as observe their culture. Excellent photo opportunities are also available.
Twyfelfontein Rock Art
Twyfelfontein is a World Heritage Site boasting one of the richest rock art concentrations in Africa. Thousands of tourists come to this site each year to view some 2, 500 Stone Age rock engravings. The area is home to 17 rock art sites, which collectively encompass 212 engraved stone slabs. There are an additional 13 sites displaying rock paintings.
Basis
Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
Swakopmund
Set along Namibia's spectacularly scenic coast, the seaside town of Swakopmund is known for its wide-open avenues, colonial architecture, and its surrounding otherworldly desert terrain. Founded in 1892 as the main harbour for German South West Africa, Swakopmund is often described as being more German than Germany. Now a seaside resort town, Swakopmund is the capital of the Skeleton Coast tourism area and has plenty to keep visitors happy. The quirky mix of German and Namibian influences, adventure options, laid-back atmosphere and cool sea breeze make it a very popular Namibian destination. Visitors can look forward to a number of exciting activities including: quad biking, horse riding, paragliding, fishing, sightseeing and fascinating desert tours.
Overnight: Hotel Pension Rapmund
Established in 1968 by the Rapmund Family the Hotel Pension Rapmund continues to be a family run hotel. As from 2008 the new owners Sonja and Enjo Mueller have been operating on a family oriented basis.
Enjoy hearty "German" breakfast in a friendly and personalized atmosphere, with a view of the ocean. The Hotel’s central location provides great access to the heart of town and the beach.
Activities
Cape Cross Seal Colony
This colony of Cape Fur Seals is one of the largest in the world, home to approximately 80 000 to 100 000 of these so-called 'seals', which are in fact a species of sea lion. Day trips to the colony are offered and the seals can be viewed from a walkway at a distance of roughly 200 metres.
Basis
Bed and Breakfast
Activities
Catamaran Charters
The Catamaran Charters Team invites you aboard the 45ft Royal Cape Sailing Catamaran Silverwind, or the 60ft Simon Sailing Catamaran Silversand, or the 40ft Admiral Motorised Catamaran Silvermoon, to enjoy an adventure packed tour to Pelican Point and Walvis Bay’s beautiful bay area.
The chances of encountering dolphins, whales, turtles, seals and Mola Mola (sunfish) make the search for the marine big 5 and adventurous tour by enjoying sparkling wine, fresh oysters and other mouth-watering snacks aboard the spacious and comfortable catamarans.
Basis
Bed and Breakfast
Sossusvlei
Located in the scenic Namib-Naukluft National Park, Sossusvlei is where you will find the iconic red sand dunes of the Namib. The clear blue skies contrast with the giant red dunes to make this one of the most scenic natural wonders of Africa and a photographer's heaven. This awe-inspiring destination is possibly Namibia's premier attraction, with its
unique dunes rising to almost 400 metres-some of the highest in the world. These iconic dunes come alive in morning and evening light and draw photography enthusiasts from around the globe. Sossusvlei is home to a varietydesert wildlife including oryx, springbok, ostrich and a variety of reptiles. Visitors can climb 'Big Daddy', one of
Sossusvlei’s tallest dunes; explore Deadvlei, a white, salt, claypan dotted with ancient trees; or for the more extravagant, scenic flights and hot air ballooning are on offer, followed by a once-in-a-lifetime champagne breakfast amidst these majestic dunes.
Overnight: Sesriem Campsite
At the entry to Sossusvlei is Sesriem Canyon, At the foot of the gorge, which plunges down to 30 to 40 m, are pools that become replenished after good rains. Located perfectly at the entry to Sossusvlei inside the park gate is Sesriem Camping, right beside the gate into the desert and just a short drive from Sesriem Canyon where centuries of erosion have incised a narrow gorge about 1 km in length.
It is perfect for campers who want to experience the beauty of the Namib Desert with the sun setting over the Elim dune then the stars emerging until they fill the sky above you and the clicking of the desert barking Geckos and distant howl of the Jackal. Sit by the fire and imagine what you will.
After a good nights rest its up early (one hour before sunrise) for a drive to the sossusvlei wherer you can climb a sand dune and watch the colours change as the sun rises over the horizon slipping its morning warmth over the Namib desert dunes. Sesriem derives its name from the time when earlier pioneers tied six lengths of rawhidethongs (riem) together to draw water from the pools. Accommodation at Sesriem is provided in 24 campsites.
Facilities found there include a gas station, convenience store and a secure parking area.
Activities
Elim Dune
Just five kilometres from the camp at Sesriem, Elim Dune is best viewed at sunset, when the colours deepen, intensifying the contrast between the red dunes and the purple-blue Naukluft Mountains on the opposite horizon. Elim Dune is roughly 100 metres in height and the climb to its zenith takes under an hour.
Basis
Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
Activities
Sossusvlei
Dead Vlei
Sesriem Canyon
Sossusvlei
Located in the scenic Namib-Naukluft National Park, Sossusvlei is where you will find the iconic red sand dunes of the Namib. The clear blue skies contrast with the giant red dunes to make this one of the most scenic natural wonders of Africa and a photographer's heaven. This awe-inspiring destination is possibly Namibia's premier attraction, with its
unique dunes rising to almost 400 metres-some of the highest in the world. These iconic dunes come alive in morning and evening light and draw photography enthusiasts from around the globe. Sossusvlei is home to a variety desert wildlife including oryx, springbok, ostrich and a variety of reptiles. Visitors can climb 'Big Daddy', one of Sossusvlei’s tallest dunes; explore Deadvlei, a white, salt, claypan dotted with ancient trees; or for the more
extravagant, scenic flights and hot air ballooning are on offer, followed by a once-in-a-lifetime champagne breakfast amidst these majestic dunes.
Dead Vlei
This ancient clay pan was once an oasis, studded with acacias and fed by a river that suddenly changed course, leaving the earth to dry up along with the trees it previously supported. So dry were the climatic conditions that the
trees never decomposed – instead they were entirely leached of moisture so that today, 900 years later, they remain as desiccated, blackened sentinels dotting the pan’s cracked surface. Surrounded by the red-pink dunes of the Namibia Desert, they create a surreal spectacle that is a photographer's dream.
Sesriem Canyon
Sesriem Canyon, a deep chasm carved through the rocks by water, is a striking natural feature of the area that is best explored on foot. Stony walls rise up sharply on both sides of the canyon, while birds roost in its crags and lizards dart along the ledges. The canyon’s name was coined when early settlers used it as a water source, using six lengths
of leather (‘ses riem – six thongs) tied together to lower buckets into the water at the base of canyon.
Basis
Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
Luderitz
Sandwiched between the rugged and stark Atlantic Coast and the arid Namib Desert, the town of Luderitz is set in an incredibly unique geographical setting. This seaside town is something of an anomaly frozen in time – a piece of 19th-century Bavaria bordering the pinkish sand dunes of the Namib Desert. Lutheran churches, German bakeries, and colonial buildings boasting German art nouveau architecture are dotted about the settlement, while its windswept beaches are home to flamingos, ostriches, seals and penguins. The nearby ghost town of Kolmanskop, which has been taken over by the desert dunes, is one of the most fascinating area attractions, located approximately 10 kilometres from Luderitz central. Visitors can also take a trip to discover the wild desert-adapted horses located near the small town of Aus.
Overnight: Shark Island Luderitz
Shark Island is located on Shark Peninsula in Luderitz Bay, in southwest Namibia. The resort overlooks the bay, town and harbor. Onlookers can spot the seals and pelicans that frequent the rocky areas around the site. The resort is an excellent central point for exploring the town of Luderitz, the Kolmanskop Ghost Town and Diaz Point the historic
landing spot of 17th century explorer Bartholomeu Diaz. The resort also runs it’s own signature trip, Sand Roses, into the Diamond Area at Agate beach. Visitors get to see the sand roses formed from crystallized gypsum, which are a stunning natural marvel.
Activities
Kolmanskop
Amongst the sands of the Namib, the crumbling buildings of a small, once-luxurious town emerge from the drifting dunes. This ghost town is Kolmanskop, a reminder of the wealth of a time when diamonds could be picked by hand from the desert, and a remarkable photographic opportunity with few equals anywhere on earth.
Basis
Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
Fish River Canyon
Carving out an epic rocky wonderland in the south of Namibia, the Fish River has created Africa’s largest and the world’s second largest canyon. Hot, dry and stony, the Fish River Canyon measures a whopping 160 kilometres in length, at times 27 kilometres in width and 550 metres in depth. The awe-inspiring natural beauty of this ancient geological marvel draws visitors from around the globe. For those looking for adventure, the intense 85 kilometre Fish River Hiking Trail through1.5 billion years of geological history will definitely thrill avid adventure enthusiasts, and for visitors looking to relax, head over to the canyon's southern end to enjoy a soak in the mineral waters of the renowned hot springs of Ai-Ais, or take in the spectacularly scenic views from Hobas Restcamp as well as numerous other viewpoints along its rim. Other popular activities include: scenic chartered flights, horse riding, nature drives and seasonal kayaking
Overnight: Canyon Roadhouse Gondwana Collection Namibia
Canyon Roadhouse is located 20 km east of the Fish River Canyon on the C 37.
Fill up with smiles at this innovative lodge that celebrates the good old days of the automobile. It offers peaceful slumber in 24 spacious rooms and boasts a pool, a campsite, a fuel station, an inviting terrace and the most extraordinary restaurant in southern Namibia.
Activities
Fish River Canyon
Carving out an epic rocky wonderland in the south of Namibia, the Fish River has created Africa’s largest and the world’s second largest canyon. Hot, dry and stony, the Fish River Canyon measures a whopping 160 kilometres in length, at times 27 kilometres in width and 550 metres in depth. The awe-inspiring natural beauty of this ancient geological marvel draws visitors from around the globe. For those looking for adventure, the intense 85 kilometre Fish River Hiking Trail through1.5 billion years of geological history will definitely thrill avid adventure enthusiasts, and for visitors looking to relax, head over to the canyon's southern end to enjoy a soak in the mineral waters of the renowned hot springs of Ai-Ais, or take in the spectacularly scenic views from Hobas Restcamp as well as numerous other viewpoints along its rim. Other popular activities include: scenic chartered flights, horse riding, nature drives and seasonal kayaking.
Basis
Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
Keetmanshoop
Situated along the Trans-Namib Railway, in the ǁKaras region of southern Namibia, the town of Keetmanshoop is known as the capital of southern Namibia. Founded in 1860, this southern Namibian town is a living slice of history.
German colonial architecture is dotted around the town and the local museum, housed in an old church, provides interesting insight into the town’s heritage. Just a short drive out of town, the Quiver Tree Forest is a sea of spikes and twisted trunks, while the neighbouring ‘Giant’s Playground’ is an evocative expanse of strange rock formations.
Both offer superb opportunities for photography, particularly at sunset. Visitors can look forward to exploring the scenic and historic attractions of this amazing place and enjoy an array of wonderful activities
Overnight: Quiver Tree Forest
Activities
Quiver Tree Forest
Giant's Playground
Giant's Playground
The Giant's playground gets its name from the way in which the massive dolerite boulders appear to have been purposefully placed on top of one another by a gigantic hand. The manner in which the boulders are stacked creates fascinating rock formations and a series or mazes where one can easily lose one's bearings one is not careful. Hiking between these rock formations will entertain visitors for a couple of hours and is guaranteed to present great photo opportunities.
This fascinating rock formation is located on the farm Gariganus and visitors need to buy their tickets at the farm office before setting out.
Basis
Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
Windhoek
Situated in Central Namibia, the cosmopolitan city of Windhoek serves as the capital of the country. It is home to an international airport and a plethora of restaurants, shops, entertainment venues and accommodation options. The city is clean, safe and well-organised, with a colonial legacy that is reflected in its many German eateries and shops, and the widespread use of the German language. Windhoek has an interesting mix of historical architecture and modern buildings, many of which are worth a look, including the Alte Feste an old fort, the 1896 Christuskirche
Christ Church, and the more contemporary Supreme Court.
Overnight: River Crossing Lodge
“Feel the pulse of the city from the heart of the bushveld.” River Crossing is 5 km from Windhoek, situated on the airport road and only 5 minutes from the heart of Windhoek. The lodge is situated on top of a koppie on a pristine 6500 hectare reserve, offering unparalleled sunset views. River Crossing will allow you to rediscover the nuances of a bygone era of farm life and offers the discerning traveler all the modern comforts.
Activities
Himba Cultural Excursions
Himba Cultural Excursions
Damaraland and the Kaokoveld, as well as southern parts or Angola, are home to the Himba, one of the last truly traditional tribes on the planet. These friendly people are closely related to the Herero and lead a semi-nomadic life as herdsmen, breeding mainly cattle and goats. The community living among the majestic Makalani palms at
Palmfontein invites visitors to learn more about their proud and ancient lifestyle and traditions. Visitors will be able to see their cone-shaped homestead made from palm leaves, mud and cattle dung and learn more about their unique customs and techniques. Due to the nomadic lifestyle of the Himba, the trip is not offered all year round.