• Namibia safari; Elephants at Etosha

Itinerary Summary

Duration
12 Days
Price
£4400
When
Year Round
Destination
Namibia
Type
Tailor-Made
Duration Price When Destination Type
12 Days £4400 Year Round Namibia Tailor-Made
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Highlights of Namibia Safari

An incredible self-drive safari through the dry deserts and dunes of Namibia. You will be able to travel at your own pace and be in complete control of how your journey is carried out. Throughout your safari you will have the opportunity to visit Damaraland, Windhoek and the AfriCat Foundation.

Walk the magnificent dunes, take in the stunning desert mountain scenery, follow the wildlife of Etosha National Park and get up close and personal with the Big Cats of the AfriCat Foundation.

 

What makes this trip extraordinary

  • Hot air balloon ride at sunrise, over the towering sand dunes of Sossusvlei watching the world below light up in a palette of colours.
  • Boat trip to see seals at Walvis Bay.
  • Visit a UNESCO World Heritage Site to see over 2000 ancient rock carvings created over a thousand years ago.
  • Enjoy an evening drink overlooking floodlit waterholes at Etosha National Park.
  • Visit the AfriCat Foundation to encounter and learn more about Africa’s big cats.

Embedded Video Overview

A beautiful 12 day safari exploring the best bits of Namibia  
from $5,148 per person sharing, excluding international flights

Day by day

Day by day

Day 1

Arrival in Namibia, overnight Windhoek

On your arrival into Windhoek/Hosea Kutako International Airport in Windhoek, you will be met a NWS representatives who will transfer you to Windhoek, where you spend your first night at Galton House. Once at the guesthouse, the NWS representative will go over your itinerary with you and answer any questions you may have. Your rental vehicle will be delivered to your guesthouse at a pre-arranged time. Overnight at Galton House. 

Day 2

Self-drive to Sossusvlei, Dead Valley Lodge

Today you self-drive from Windhoek in a southwestern direction to the Sossusvlei area. Depending on your time of arrival you may have a chance to visit the Sesriem Canyon, returning to the lodge as night falls for some optional star gazing. Overnight at Dead Valley Lodge for two nights. All meals included at Dead Valley Lodge (drinks excluded).

Day 3

Sossusvlei Excursion

This morning have the option to rise early for a magical excursion in the Namib Naukluft National Park, normally setting off before sunrise to capture the dunes whilst the light is soft and shadows accentuate the towering shapes and curves. This area boasts some of the highest free-standing sand dunes in the world. Once you have explored Sossusvlei, Deadvlei and surrounding dune fields to your heart’s content you can enjoy a relaxed picnic brunch (to be pre-arranged with Dead Valley Lodge) in the shade of a camelthorn tree. You then return to Dead Valley Lodge in the early afternoon in time for late lunch. The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure (from experience, this is usually welcomed after an exhilarating morning in the dunes). All meals included at Dead Valley Lodge (drinks excluded).

Day 4

Self-drive to Swakopmund, Cornerstone Guesthouse

A highlight of Sossusvlei is to take an early morning hot air balloon ride over the Namib-Naukluft Park, landing somewhere in the desert landscape for a champagne breakfast. (optional extra at additional costs). Self-drive from Sossusvlei to Swakopmund, stopping at a small town, called Solitaire, en route for a taste of the World’s Famous Apple pie. You should reach Swakopmund by the afternoon, and can explore the town and wander along the waterfront on foot, before heading off for dinner at a popular restaurant which specializes in fresh seafood. Overnight at Cornerstone Guesthouse. Breakfast included (Lunch, Dinner and drinks excluded).

Optional add-on:

This morning, you have the option to enjoy a spectacular early morning launch in a hot air balloon and take-off as the sun rises over the desert. Your flight would take you over the vast sand sea and breath-taking mountain scenery, before setting down amidst the on the private reserve.  After an unforgettable Hot Air Balloon flight, a delicious sparkling wine breakfast awaits, before you head to the lodge for an afternoon at leisure or on scheduled lodge activities. (Ballooning is strictly weather dependent) – additional cost.

Day 5

Swakopmund

You have the day at leisure and can enjoy the various activities on offer ranging from dune boarding, fat bike dune driving to sea kayaking to Living Desert Tours in the desert and drives to Sandwich Harbour. South of Swakopmund is Walvisbay which is a fantastic birding destination. Here you will see pelicans, flamingos and a host of other water birds. Breakfast included (Lunch, Dinner and drinks excluded)

Day 6

Self-drive to Damaraland, Onduli Ridge

Self-drive north into the wonderful and diverse region of Damaraland, taking time to view game and absorb the vastness of the scenery along the way as you head to Onduli Ridge. The afternoon is at your leisure to relax around the lodge and enjoy a sundowner. Overnight at Onduli Ridge for two nights. All meals, scheduled camp activities (such as tracking the desert adapted elephant, visiting the ancient rock engravings and paintings at Twyfelfontein, mountain biking and nature drives and walks), laundry, most local drinks included (excluding premium or imported brands).

Day 7

Twyfelfontein & Desert Adapted Elephants

After an early breakfast you will be treated to an exciting 4x4 drive along the ephemeral river valleys to explore this remarkable region and to search for game, including the elusive desert adapted elephants if they are in the area. Damaraland is home to a variety of desert adapted wildlife and hidden desert treasures. You have a ‘magic box’ picnic lunch in the shade of a tree in the river bed prepared by your camp guide. After returning to the lodge, you have the afternoon at leisure and may take a walk with your guide into the local area around Camp, or relax and enjoy some well-deserved leisure time. There is also the opportunity to go on a guided excursion to the Twyfelfontein rock engravings etc if you did not have the time (or the inclination) to do this the previous afternoon. All meals, scheduled camp activities (such as tracking the desert adapted elephant, visiting the ancient rock engravings and paintings at Twyfelfontein, mountain biking and nature drives and walks), laundry, most local drinks included (excluding premium or imported brands).

Day 8

Self-drive to Etosha National Park, Ongava Lodge

Your journey takes you north on a self-drive to the Ongava Lodge. The lodge boasts a very productive floodlit waterhole, which are renowned to be very lively during the day and at night. You have the afternoon at leisure and can enjoy a shared guided afternoon reserve drive. Overnight at Ongava Lodge. All meals, scheduled camp activities (morning Etosha guided game drive and afternoon Ongava Reserve guided game drive), most local drinks included (excluding premium or imported brands).

Day 9

Etosha National Park

You have a full day available for game viewing in the Etosha National Park. You can join the lodge for a shared guided morning Etosha game drive, returning to the lodge for a late lunch and afternoon siesta. Later this afternoon you can join the lodge for their afternoon shared guided Reserve game drive. All meals, scheduled camp activities (morning Etosha guided game drive and afternoon Ongava Reserve guided game drive), most local drinks included (excluding premium or imported brands).

Day 10

Self-drive to Okonjima Luxury Bush Camp

Self-drive from Onduli Ridge to Okonjima, located at the base of the Omboroko Mountains near Waterberg. Okonjima is home to the AfriCat Foundation, a wildlife sanctuary which focuses on the research and rehabilitation of Africa's wildlife. You have the afternoon at leisure to relax at the lodge, and can later join the shared guided game drive on the reserve. All meals, scheduled camp activities and most local drinks included (excluding premium or imported brands). Overnight at Okonjima Luxury Bush Camp.

Day 11

Self-drive to Windhoek, Galton House

Today you can enjoy a morning activity as offered by the lodge, returning to the lodge for brunch. Self-drive from Okonjima to Windhoek. Your rental vehicle is collected from the guesthouse at a pre-arranged time, thereafter, dinner can be enjoyed at a restaurant nearby, or at the guesthouse. Overnight at Galton House. Morning AfriCat activity with Okonjima and breakfast included (lunch, dinner and drinks excluded).

Day 12

End of Safari

A NWS representative will meet you at Galton House for a transfer to Windhoek/ Hosea Kutako International airport for your departing international flight.

Trip Details

ABOUT TAILOR-MADE SAFARIS

A tailor-made safari is one designed according to your specific requirements, including budget, dates, personal interests, the number of people travelling, and more. This itinerary is just an example and can be refined and altered to make it perfect for you.

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