+264 (0)61 252922
P.O. Box 40497, Windhoek, Namibia
+264 (0)61 252922
P.O. Box 40497, Windhoek, Namibia
A classic Best-of-All Namibian Safari. This is an introduction to the major highlights Namibia has to offer. The contrasting landscapes of the country, including the awe-inspiring Fish River Canyon, the surreal Namib Desert, the charming coastal town of Swakopmund and the majestic mountain ranges in Damaraland mixed with the vibrant cultures that live there, and the amazing wildlife in the national parks and conservancies.
Leaving Windhoek, we travel into the largest sand mass on Earth, the Kalahari Desert. The Kalahari is a vast semi-desert of wind-blown sand held by a sparse mantle of thorn scrub making it the most extensive continuous stretch of sand covering nine African countries. With its deep red dunes and endless grass plains interspersed with acacia’s and shrubs, it is still home to a surprisingly large amount of specially adapted wildlife. Enjoy the opportunity to experience the red dunes, wildlife and plants, in this desert environment on a nature drive.
We continue south through arid and extensive rocky plains, visiting the unique Garas quiver tree forest. Quiver trees and aloes nestled amongst huge dolerite boulders, stacked mysteriously, the area is also aptly referred to as “Giant’s Playground”. We continue to our lodge, situated in close vicinity to the Fish River Canyon. Here we can explore the area on foot or a guided nature drive in the later afternoon.
Our morning starts on the edge of the Fish River Canyon where we gaze into this magnificent geological phenomenon. The Fish River Canyon is located in the northern part of the Nama Karoo and is the second largest canyon on earth. We continue our journey past the Naute dam, where we shortly stop at the Naute Kristall Cellar and Distillery, to taste some of their unique liquors or simply enjoy a delicious cup of coffee. Proceeding onwards we head towards the coastal town of Lüderitz. On the way to Lüderitz, we stop at Garub, viewing point for the Wild Horses of the Namib Desert.
Our morning starts with a visit to Kolmanskop ghost town. Kolmanskop is a deserted Diamond Mining Town in the Sperrgebiet National Park. Once an opulent and decadent town, a monument to the Diamond boom and built to last…until the diamonds ran out. Today Kolmanskop stands as a haunting monument to the thriving past, offering visitor’s unique photo motives into a bygone era. On our return to town, we visit Diaz Point, with its Padrao on a cliff overlooking the harsh Atlantic Ocean. Arriving back in Lüderitz we explore this small, historic town.
After an early breakfast, we travel across vast open plains, before we continue further north along the Tiras Mountain range to our lodge in the Namib Desert. We are located close to Sesriem the gateway to Sossusvlei, Dead Vlei and Sesriem Canyon. The afternoon can be spent relaxing at the sparkling pool, enjoying the vast open desert plains, or taking part in activities offered at the lodge.
The morning demands an early start. Entering the Namib Naukluft National Park shortly after sunrise, the first rays of sunlight paint the mountains of sand into a variety of apricot, red and orange, contrasted against a crisp blue skyline. You will be captivated by the surreal Deadvlei surrounded by some of the highest dunes on earth and Sossusvlei, where the dry Tsauchab River ends abruptly amongst dunes. Take the opportunity to walk up one of these majestic dunes to admire the desert landscape beneath. Your endurance will be rewarded with an unforgettable desert breakfast amidst the ancient camelthorn trees and endless dunes as backdrop. After this thrilling experience we visit the Sesriem Canyon, a life-sustaining natural phenomenon in the heart of the Namib Desert before returning back to our lodge.
After breakfast we continue our journey to the little settlement of Solitaire, before travelling via the desolate, rolling hills of the Kuiseb Valley towards the Atlantic Ocean. Reaching the coastal harbour town of Walvis Bay, we visit the shallow lagoon, one of the most important wetland areas on the African continent and a RAMSAR World Heritage Site. Continuing along the scenic route between the dune belt and the Atlantic Ocean we reach Swakopmund, where the rest of the day is spent at leisure. With palm-lined streets and seaside promenades, Swakopmund is a popular holiday destination in Namibia. For the international guest, Swakopmund is a bohemian mix of German architecture and African rhythms. It is colourful, it is vibrant, but most of all, it is pure fun.
Swakopmund has numerous activities on offer. Explore the rugged, sweltering desert on a day tour, or view this awesome, environment from the air on a scenic flight. Find your inner child and push adrenaline to its limits with extreme adventures such as skydiving over the desert or quad biking and sand boarding on the dunes. Embrace the relaxed pace of this idyllic coastal town while enjoying coffee and freshly baked pastries in one of the many cafés. Take time to get the feel of this quaint town with its historic buildings, museums and shopping arcades.
Today we head further north, travelling along the skeleton coastline towards the Fisherman’s town of Hentisbay before turning east and heading back inland past the Brandberg, Namibia’s highest mountain (2.579m), into the Damaraland, one of the least populated and most geologically diverse areas in Africa. This harsh, rocky environment is home to the elusive desert elephant, the black rhino and free-roaming antelope species. Accompanied by a local Damara guide, we visit Twyfelfontein, a UNESCO heritage site where Bushman communities engraved and painted over 2.500 pictures some 6.000 years ago! After a visit to the nearby Living Museum of the Damara, we proceed to the Petrified Forest – a geological phenomenon depicting the creation and metamorphosis of wood into stone amongst some of the oldest landmasses on Earth. Here we also see the Welwitschia mirabilis plant – the oldest living desert plant on Earth.
Our destination today is the wildlife heaven of Namibia – the Etosha National Park. We check into our lodge located on the border of the Etosha National Park. Today we already enter the park for our first game viewing excursion. Together with our guide, we explore the various waterholes located close to Okaukuejo and the Anderson gate.
The day is devoted purely to the abundant wildlife found in the Etosha National Park, which surrounds a parched salt desert known as the Etosha Pan. The park is home to 4 of the Big Five – elephant, lion, leopard and rhino. The Park was proclaimed as Namibia’s first conservation area in 1907 by the then Governor, von Lindequist. Despite the size of the Etosha National Park, only the southern edge of the pan is accessible to visitors. Game viewing in the park is primarily focussed around the waterholes, some of which are spring fed and some supplied from a borehole, ideal places to sit and watch over 114 different game species, or for an avid birder, more than 340 bird species. Popular game species such as giraffe, blue wildebeest, plains and mountain zebra, hyena, lion, leopard, antelopes such as kudu, oryx, eland, as well as some of the endangered species such as Black rhino, cheetah and the black-faced impala are all found here. An extensive network of roads links the over 30 water holes allowing visitors the opportunity of a comprehensive game viewing safari throughout the park as each different area will provide various encounters.
Today your guide again takes you on a game drive in the Etosha National Park, or optionally you can book an open game drive park drive with the lodge. We may encounter animal species we have not seen the previous day and look forward to any new surprises at the different waterholes visited. The Etosha Pan dominates the park. This salt pan desert, which is nearly completely enclosed by the park and is lined by numerous watering holes, is roughly 130 km long and as wide as 50 km in places. During Etosha’s notorious dry spells the pan is a deathly place, lying parched and cracked under the molten African sun. It is claimed that game viewing is best during the dry periods as animals will then congregate closer to water. But even in the rainy season, the park remains an abundant wildlife haven. You then have the pleasure of experiencing the rebirth of life as the young foals, cubs and chicks are seen frolicking with their parents, and the sprouting new green shrubs and grasses create a pleasing green oasis. In the afternoon we travel back to our lodge, where we enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure. An optional open vehicle game drive can be booked with the lodge. Your guide will assist you with this booking.
After breakfast, we travel back through the centre of the country exposing bush land savannah to the capital in the centre of the country. Time permitting, en-route we may stop at the famous wood carvers’ market in Okahandja or the craft market in the main street in Windhoek to pick up the last few souvenirs. Windhoek is a cosmopolitan melting pot of European architecture with African culture, with a variety of excellent restaurants to choose from. You will be dropped off at your accommodation of choice or transferred to the airport for your outward flight.
Enjoy Africa offers custom self-drive tours, guided safaris, fly-in safaris and camping tours – for individual travelers, families and groups.