Namibia – Excitingly Desolate
$ 4495
/ per person
(0 Reviews)
NAMIBIA – EXCITINGLY DESOLATE & QUIET
11 Days / 10 Nights
January – December 2022
For a sparsely populated country, Namibia boasts an impressively diverse population, from the Bantu-speaking Ovambo and Herero tribes (the latter of which are admired for their colourful Victorian dress) to the Damara minorities, the nomadic San Bushmen and, of course, the German colonisation, all of whom have left their own imprint of language, architecture, art and cuisine. Namibia’s harsh climate, it seems, made not only for a rich and colourful cultural heritage but an equally rich natural environment. Most remarkable is the endurance and survival skills adapted by it’s unique animal kingdom and diverse fauna. If this is your first travels to Namibia, you will surely be left with the desire to return, time and time again!
INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE:
- 10 Nights’ accommodation sharing
- Meals & beverages as specified
- Activities as specified
- Hot air balloon safari over the Sossusvlei dunes
- 4 x 4 Vehicle with accompanying driver / guide
- Gratuities, airport & hotel porterages
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Destination
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Departure
Windhoek
Tour Plan
1
DAY 1: WINDHOEK
- Flight arrival at Hosea Kutaka International Airport, Windhoek, Namibia.
- Airport / hotel transfer.
- Check-in: AM Weinberg Boutique Hotel (5*)
- Dinner at a local restaurant or at the AM Weinberg Boutique Hotel.
- Beverages excluded for dinner.
- Overnight: AM Weinberg Boutique Hotel, Courtyard Fountain ground level room, double pps, breakfast & dinner.
- ACTIVITIES: Windhoek ("windy corner") is literally the heart of Namibia and will most likely be either your first or last port of call in this southern African country. Although small, this iconic city deserves at least one full day to allow you to enjoy the perfect blend of African and European cultures. You should easily pick up on the Germanic thread of influence, especially prevalent in the architecture, use of language and cuisine throughout the city and its surrounds.
- Windhoek afternoon city tour with a number of museums (Namib Craft Centre, Bushman Art Gallery & Gibeon Meteorites), landmark sights (Christuskirche), galleries (StART Art Gallery) and restaurants to enjoy (eg. The Stellenbosch Tasting Room and Joe's Beerhouse).
2
DAY 2: ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK AND SURROUNDS
- Breakfast included at the AM Weinberg Boutique Hotel.
- Early morning departure to greater Etosha National Park area. Travel distance approx: 540kms / 7 hours.
- Check-in: Onguma Tree Top Camp (4*).
- Lunch packs en-route or lunch included upon arrival at Onguma Tree Top Camp pending arrival time.
- Afternoon game activity with the lodge.
- Dinner at Onguma Tree Top Camp.
- Beverages for lunch and dinner include bar and mini bar (beers, local spirits, soft drinks, water and house wines).
- Overnight: Onguma Tree Top Camp, tented accommodation on stilts, double pps, fully inclusive, 3 meals & 2 game activities daily.
- ACTIVITIES: Etosha National Park ("great white area") is a national park in the north west of Namibia. Proclaimed a park in 1907 it is best known for its arid beauty and wildlife, with a landscape that is unique and varied and amazing game sightings available all year round. It is home to 114 species of wildlife and 4 of the Big 5, including lion, elephant, leopard, giraffe, cheetah, hyena, springbok, two kinds of zebra, eland, black-faced impala – there are no southern impala in the park – and the threatened black and white rhino. There are however no buffalo, hippo, crocodile or monkeys, but there is enough to keep you enthralled on a game drive. It is also the largest salt pan in Africa, and when it rains the pools fill up and attract the most beautiful flamboyance of flamingoes!
- Onguma Tree Top Camp includes 2 x daily game activities eg. an Etosha AM game drive and an Onguma sundowner drive.
- Aside from enjoying a game drive into Etosha National Park in the morning and a 2nd gaming activity later in the day, you have several add-on options to choose from for in between, including: Etosha game drives, Onguma game drives, Onkolo hide, interpretive bush walks, massage therapy, boma evenings and childrens' safari activities.
- Visit Onguma activities.
3
DAY 3: ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK AND SURROUNDS
- Breakfast at Onguma Tree Top Camp.
- Morning game activitiy with the lodge.
- Lunch at Onguma Tree Top Camp.
- Afternoon game activity with the lodge.
- Dinner included at Onguma Tree Top Camp.
- Beverages for lunch and dinner include bar and mini bar (beers, local spirits, soft drinks, water and house wines).
- Overnight: Onguma Tree Top Camp, tented accommodation on stilts, double pps, fully inclusive, 3 meals & 2 game activities daily.
- ACTIVITIES: Onguma is situated on the eastern border of Etosha National Park and offers 34 000 hectares of private wilderness to explore. It is home to numerous plains game, more than 300 bird species and even 4 of the “Big 5”.
- Onguma Tree Top Camp includes 2 x daily game activities eg. an Etosha AM game drive and an Onguma sundowner drive.
- Aside from enjoying a game drive into Etosha National Park in the morning and a 2nd gaming activity later in the day, you have several add-on options to choose from for in between, including: Etosha game drives, Onguma game drives, Onkolo hide, interpretive bush walks, massage therapy, boma evenings and childrens' safari activities.
- Visit Onguma activities.
4
DAY 4: TWYFELFONTEIN, DAMARALAND
- Breakfast at Onguma Tree Top Camp.
- Morning game activitiy with the lodge.
- Departure after breakfast to Twyfelfontein. Travel distance approx. 580kms / 8 hours.
- Check-in: Camp Kipwe (4*)
- Lunch packs en-route or lunch included on arrival at Camp Kipwe pending arrival time.
- Afternoon game activity with the lodge.
- Dinner at Camp Kipwe.
- Beverages for lunch and dinner excluded.
- Overnight: Camp Kipwe, bungalow rooms, double pps, fully inclusive,3 meals and 2 game activities daily.
- ACTIVITIES: Twyfelfontein is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and known mostly for its unique rock engravings. Twyfelfontein ("doubtful fountain or fountain of doubt“) is the name of a valley in the Damara highland about 70 km west of Khorixas. The valley was inhabited by the Damara, who call the valley Uri-Ais ("jumping fountain") in their language. As many as 2500 rock paintings and rock engravings (Petroglyphs) of the San (Bushmen) have been counted. Specifications about the age of the engravings fluctuate and a period of 1000 – 10000 years is stated.
- Camp Kipwe includes 1 x daily activity eg, elephant / nature drive (+- 4 to 6 hours in the morning) and Twyfelfontein, including:
- Brandberg ("burnt mountain") - this 30 km long and 23 km wide mountain range derives its name from the glowing colours that the setting sun paints - as if the mountain was on fire.
- The Damara Living Museum - the first tradititional Damara project in Namibia. The possibility to experience the traditional Damara culture in this form exists nowhere else in Namibia or in the world.
- Petrified forests - not exactly a forest but rather an accumulation of enormous fossilized tree trunks about 280 million years old which have turned to stone. Scientists found out that these trunks haven’t grown in today’s Namibia but were washed down a river in ancient times when one of the many Ice Ages ended on the Gondwana continent.
- Vingerklip - A huge finger pointing vertically into the air - the Vingerklip is one of Namibia’s most famous and remarkable rock formations.
- Organ Pipes - a small gorge that contains a 100m stretch of unusual 4m-high dolerite (coarse-grained basalt) columns known as the Organ Pipes.
- Spitzkoppe - The Spitzkoppe ("pointed dome") is a group of bald granite peaks. The granite is more than 120 million years old and the highest outcrop rises about 1,728 metres (5,669 ft) above sea level. The peaks stand out dramatically from the flat surrounding plains.
- Visit Camp Kipwe Activities.
5
DAY 5: TWYFELFONTEIN, DAMARALAND
- Breakfast at Camp Kipwe.
- Morning game activitiy with the lodge.
- Lunch at Camp Kipwe.
- Afternoon game activity with the lodge.
- Dinner at Camp Kipwe.
- Beverages for lunch and dinner excluded.
- Overnight: Camp Kipwe, bungalow rooms, double pps, fully inclusive,3 meals and 2 game activities daily.
- ACTIVITIES: Huddled in the rocks, with sweeping views across the Aba Huab valley, Camp Kipwe is full of surprises, starting when guests first arrive. Upon first sight it appears as if rocks have tumbled down the hill to reveal this gem of a camp. The setting is one of intimacy and space with an inviting lounge area where birds fly in to enjoy the water seeping from the rocks, a refreshing swimming pool nestled in the rocks and a scattering of bungalows are included to complete this eco friendly camp.
- Camp Kipwe includes 1 x daily activity eg, elephant / nature drive (+- 4 to 6 hours in the morning) and Twyfelfontein, including Brandberg Burnt Mountain, The Damara Living Museum, the Petrified Forests, Vingerklip, Organ Pipes and Spitzkoppe.
- Visit Camp Kipwe Activities.
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DAY 6: SWAKOPMUND
- Breakfast at Camp Kipwe.
- Morning game activitiy with the lodge.
- Departure after breakfast to Swakopmund. Travel distance approx: 330kms / 5 hours.
- Check-in: The Strand Hotel (4*)
- Lunch packs en-route or lunch included on arrival at a Swakopmund restaurant.
- Afternoon Swakopmund city tour & Moon Landscape visit.
- Dinner included at a Swakopmund Restaurant.
- Beverages for lunch and dinner excluded.
- Overnight: The Strand Hotel, seafacing room, double pps, breakfast.
- ACTIVITIES: Swakopmund is situated amidst dunes and desert close to the mouth of the Swakop River and is known as the activity centre of the area. As is the case with Windhoek, one will experience an array of African and European cultures, with the Germanic flair remaining quite evident. There is a wide selection of restaurants, museums and landmark attractions within the city with scenic attractions on the outskirts of Swakopmund. Most famous is the surrounding desert landscape with collosal dunes fringing its edges which run into the most beautifully remote coastline. For the ultimate adventure one may opt for a scenic flight or a hot air balloon safari over the dunes of Swakopmund.
- Swakopmund city tour.
- Welwitschia drive - a route through the desert which consist of 13 stone beacons marking sites of interest with the route ending at one of the country's largest, and hence oldest, welwitschia plants. Stops along the way include oxwagon trails, lichen fields, Swakop Valley moonscape, dolorite ridges, molten lava, granite rock and the Von Stryk iron ore mine.
- Moon Landscape - a mass of hills and valleys eroded by the Swakop River as it cut through the softer surface deposits. These soft materials were laid down some 460 million years ago when the area's climate was more wet.
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DAY 7: WALVIS BAY
- Breakfast at The Strand Hotel.
- Day trip including Walvis Bay Lagoon, dolphin tour & Sandwich Harbour.
- Picnic lunch - including snacking on oysters and champagne - on the tour.
- Dinner included at a Swakopmund restaurant.
- Beverages for lunch and dinner excluded.
- Overnight: The Strand Hotel, seafacing room, double pps, breakfast.
- ACTIVITIES: Located only 30kms from Swakopmund, Walvis Bay ("whale bay") is a harbour town on the Atlantic coast in Namibia. It is the third largest town in Namibia and hosts the only deepwater port of the country which makes it a haven for sea vessels. It is also protected by the Pelican Point and spit, As the water here is rich in plankton and marine life, the large numbers of whales that cam to feed attracted whalers and fishing vessels.
- Half-day dolphin & seal tour including Sandwich Harbour - spend the morning on the water sipping champagne, eating oysters and other delicious treats while keeping a look out for bottle nose dolphins! See Pelican Point, seal colonies, birds nests, and so much more! Then it's off by 4x4, navigating up and down the dunes to witness the spectacular beauty that is Sandwich Harbour and its surrounds - where the dunes literally meet the sea.
- Visit Levo Tours for details.
8
DAY 8: SOSSUSVLEI
- Breakfast at The Strand Hotel.
- Departure after breakfast to Sossusvlei. Travel distance approx: 370kms / 5.30 hours.
- Check-in: Le Mirage Resort & Spa (5*)
- Lunch packs en-route or lunch included on arrival at Le Mirage Resort & Spa.
- Afternoon game activity.
- Dinner included at Le Mirage Resort & Spa.
- Beverages for lunch and dinner excluded.
- Overnight: Le Mirage Resort & Spa, Sossusvlei, Oasis Open-Tower Room, double pps, half-board incl. breakfast & dinner.
- ACTIVITIES: Situated in the largest conservation area in Africa (the Namib-Naukluft National Park), Sossusvlei is possibly Namibia’s most spectacular and best-known attraction. Characterised by the large red dunes that surround it, Sossusvlei is a large, white salt and clay pan and is a great destination all year round. The dunes in this area are some of the highest in the world, reaching almost 400 meters, and provide photographic enthusiasts with wonderful images in the beautiful morning and evening light. Sossusvlei literally translates to “dead-end marsh”, as it is the place where the dunes come together preventing the Tsauchab River from flowing any further, some 60km east of the Atlantic Ocean. However, due to the dry conditions in the Namib Desert the river seldom flows this far and the pan remains bone-dry most years.
- Le Mirage Resort & Spa, including 1 x daily activity eg. Sossusvlei Red Dunes drive & nature drive. Sites in the area include:
- Sesriem Canyon - the Tsauchab river carves the canyon in the local sedimentary rock. It is about a kilometer (0.6 miles) long and up to 30 meters (100 feet) deep. The canyon is located close to the Sesriem gate. This makes it a nice extra to visit after coming back from the Sossus trip.
- Deadvlei - the Dead Vlei is probably one of the most magical places in the world. This pan used the be a lake that dried out hundreds of years ago.
- Dune 45 - one of the more accessible dunes in Sossuvlei - you are free to climb this dune, it is not an easy task, but the view from the top will make it worth your while.
- Visit Le Mirage Activities.
9
DAY 9: SOSSUSVLEI
- Breakfast at Le Mirage Resort & Spa.
- Hot air balloon safari over the Sossusvlei desert.
- One activity with the lodge for the day.
- Lunch at Le Mirage.
- Afternoon self-drive or relax at the resort.
- Dinner included at Le Mirage Resort & Spa.
- Beverages for lunch and dinner excluded.
- Overnight Le Mirage Resort & Spa, Sossusvlei, Oasis Open-Tower Room, double pps, half-board incl. breakfast & dinner.
- Services include: driver / guide & vehicle rental.
- ACTIVITIES: Le Mirage Resort & Spa is a unique establishments in the Sossusvlei area. It is situated 21 km from the Sesriem gate to Sossusvlei. This makes it one of the lodges closest to the Sossusvlei and the ideal place to stay when you want to visit the highest dunes in the world! The entrance to Sossusvlei is in Sesriem, from the gate a 60km tarred road takes you in the National Park, along the way you will see some of the worlds highest dunes, even some petrified dunes, and the Sesriem Canyon. Drive on your own, or join a guided drive from the Lodge.
- Hot air balloon safari - at sunrise, in the world’s oldest desert, witness a spectacular hot air balloon inflation, and set out on the flight of a lifetime. From the best platform, in the most romantic way, soar with the winds for an hour, over the oceans of sand and mountains, endless vistas of shadows and lights. Your destination? The Sossusvlei dunes or the splendour of the desert. At landing, you come back to earth with an “Out Of Africa” style Champagne breakfast set up in the middle of nowhere. Your pilot will present you with a flight certificate before you take a leisurely nature drive back to the pick-up point. It is an experience like no other, the experience of a lifetime.
- Le Mirage Resort & Spa, including 1 x daily activity eg. Sossusvlei Red Dunes drive & nature drive. Sites include:
- Sesriem Canyon, Deadvlei and Dune 45 .
- Add-on options include quad biking & hot air ballooning over Sossusvlei.
- Visit Le Mirage Activities.
10
DAY 10: WINDHOEK
- Breakfast at Le Mirage Resort & Spa.
- Departure after breakfast to Windhoek. Travel distance approx: 330kms / 5 hours.
- Check-in: AM Weinberg Boutique Hotel (4*).
- Lunch packs en-route or lunch included on arrival at a Windhoek restaurant.
- Afternoon free - Windhoek is a very pleasant option for a walking / shopping outing.
- Dinner at a local restaurant or at the AM Weinberg Boutique Hotel.
- Beverages for lunch and dinner excluded.
- Overnight: AM Weinberg Boutique Hotel, Courtyard Fountain ground level room, double pp, breakfast & dinner.
- Services include: driver / guide & vehicle rental.
- ACTIVITIES:
- Transfer from Sossusvlei to Windhoek.
- Lunch at a local restaurant or at the hotel in Windhoek.
- Afternoon free in Windhoek - enjoy some self-guided sight seeing.
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DAY 11: WINDHOEK
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Pending timing of outgoing flights - morning free in Windhoek and lunch at a local restaurant or at the hotel.
- Beverages for lunch excluded.
- Transfer to the Hosea Kutako International Airport for onward flights.
- End of services.
Tour Location
Namibia, a country in southwest Africa, is distinguished by the Namib Desert along its Atlantic Ocean coast. The country is home to diverse wildlife, including a significant cheetah population. The capital, Windhoek, and coastal town Swakopmund contain German colonial-era buildings such as Windhoek's Christuskirche, built in 1907. In the north, Etosha National Park’s salt pan draws game including rhinos and giraffes.
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