12 Day Namibia Lodge Safari (BS-UKN)

Halo! Welcome to Namibia.

As this tour departs early morning of day 1, it is necessary to spend the night pre tour in Windhoek. Please look for a note at the hotel reception area advising your exact departure time for today. Departure is normally between 9 and 9:30am. Your leader will collect your local payment money this morning.

We leave Windhoek and straight away join the small desert roads that connect the whole of rural Namibia. Windhoek is in a mountain valley and we have to climb out, first over the Eros Mountains and then the Khomas Hochland Range. The mountain passes are spectacular, we pass by several desert homesteads and we often see wild game along the road. As we come through the mountains we drop down from the central plateau by way of the impressive Remhoogte Pass and emerge to find grassy desert savanna.

We stop at Solitaire, Namibia's second smallest town, for afternoon tea before driving on to our accommodation near the sand dune sea. We drive a total of 350km today, which is approximately 5 hours driving. We'll have dinner tonight in the restaurant at the lodge.

Meals included: Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Guest farm stay accommodation with en-suite facilities in the Namib Desert.

On day 2 a pre dawn start is essential as we want to catch the soft light of the sunrise on the desert. We drive the short distance to Sesriem, the entrance to the Namib Naukluft National Park and gateway to the world's highest dunes.

From here we drive another 60km to Sossusvlei itself, transferring to special desert vehicles for the last 5km through the dunes. We drive about 250km, taking about 3 hours. The drive is like nothing else, in the cool of the morning, with soft sunlight just beginning to play over the dunes creating a sharp light and shadow contrast across the whole desert. Ancient mineral pans, stunted camelthorn trees and the chance of seeing a gemsbok or maybe an ostrich make the photo opportunities perfect.

We spend the morning in and around Sossusvlei, also visiting "dune 45", and as the day wears on we return to Sesriem for lunch and to escape the heat of the afternoon. As the day cools off in the late afternoon we will take a short excursion to the Sesriem Canyon.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Guest farm stay accommodation with en-suite facilities in the Namib Desert.

An early start today, we are heading north-west to the seaside town of Swakopmund located on the Skeleton Coast (300km, approx. 6 hours). Leaving the dune fields far behind us we are soon back into the mountain desert. We cross the Tropic of Capricorn and traverse both the Gaub and the Kuiseb pass, driving down to the dry river bed at the bottom of the canyon before climbing up the other side, watching the spectacular desert landscape unfold before us.

From the mountains we cross the desolate "Namib gravel plains" before reaching the coastal sand dunes at the port town of Walvis Bay. We will stop for a picnic lunch beside the ocean and there will be time to see the flamingos and other bird life in the Walvis Bay lagoon before continuing the now short drive into Swakopmund.

Day 4 is a free day to allow time for everybody to do their own thing. Swakopmund is a very pleasant seaside town with lots of shops, a good stretch of beach (although the Atlantic here is quite cold) and an open-air curio market. There is also a very good museum and the Namibian National Marine Aquarium is located in Swakopmund.

Alternatively, there are various optional activities that can be arranged. These include aeroplane and microlight flights over the desert, scenic drives, fishing trips (both from the beach or in a boat), four-wheel motorcycle (quad bike) trips into the desert and over the sand dunes around Swakopmund, sand boarding trips (also in the dunes), skydiving, surfing, bird-watching and many other activities are available. Your tour guide will discuss all the possible options with you before you reach Swakopmund and will offer to make bookings in advance of your arrival.

In addition to this, if you have decided not to join any of the optional afternoon activities, your guide will take you on an excursion into the Swakopmund River Valley. Traveling through the ancient, long dried up Swakopmund Delta, we first stop at the "Moon Landscape" an unusual example of water erosion in the desert. From here we continue to the Swakopmund Valley itself to hunt the giant Welwitchia Mirabilis plants. This plant is in fact a species of tree and is one of the rarest fauna species in the world. We will see examples that are reported to be in excess of 1500 years old.

(Please note: All extra activities and excursions in Swakopmund are subject to availability and are made at the clients' own risk and expense).

Meals included: Breakfast both days, Lunch and Dinner day 3

Overnight: Swakopmund. Hotel or pension with ensuite facilities.

A long drive today (300km, approx. 6 hours), leaving early and heading north along the coast, we will first visit the seal colony at Cape Cross where it is possible to see thousands of Cape Fur Seals in the water and on the surrounding rocks and beaches.

From here we will turn east, back into the desert and the beautiful area known as Damaraland and the next stop will be at the small town of Uis, located in the remote desert. Uis is an old mining town and one of the best places to buy semi-precious stones for which Namibia is famous. Here, rough amethyst and tourmaline can be found at bargain prices.

From Uis it is now only a short drive to Namibia's highest mountain, The Brandberg (2573m). Brandberg Mountain is an ancient Bushman spiritual site and in the cool of the late afternoon we will hike into the mountain with our guide to see the world famous 'White Lady' rock painting. Attributed to the Bushman artists, the white lady panel is believed by some to be in excess of 20,000 years old.

Tonight we will sleep at the quaint White Lady Lodge under the shadow of this giant granite monolith. Dinner tonight will be in the restaurant at the lodge.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: White Lady Lodge. Lodge accommodation with ensuite facilities.

Traveling with special permission through the western side of Etosha National Park, we transit through this restricted area that is set aside for research and breeding. We have the chance to see some species not normally seen in the main tourist areas of the park. We travel for 200km today (about 5 hours drive including slow game driving).

As we drive into the Okaukuejo region of Etosha where our main game drive really begins, and we travel slowly down to Etosha's main camp, Okaukuejo where we aim to arrive in time for a late lunch.

We have time to relax in the afternoon and then sundowners at Okaukuejo's floodlit waterhole. Situated on the boundary of the camp and easily reachable on foot from your bungalow, the Okaukuejo waterhole is famous as one of the best game viewing opportunities in Southern Africa. Perfectly placed for sunset, black rhino, elephant, lion and numerous species of antelope are often seen. Dinner tonight is prepared by your guide over an open fire.

On day 9 we head straight out on an early morning game drive. We visit some of the numerous waterholes in the area hoping to catch some of Etosha's big game out for an early morning drink. The game drives around the Okaukuejo area are some of the best in the park.

We cover several different terrains this morning, from wooded areas to open savannah and in the rainy season, wetland. Back to Okaukuejo in the late morning and after lunch there is time once again to relax during the heat of the day. The pool area here is great, shaded by palm trees and close to the waterhole.

We take a shorter game drive in the late afternoon, often driving out to one of the waterholes popular with game and waiting for the animals to come to us. Dinner tonight will be in the restaurant at the Okaukuejo.

Meals included: Breakfasts, Lunches, Dinners

Overnight: Okaukuejo Rest Camp. Two-roomed chalets with shared facilities.

Day 10 sees us embark on a full day's game driving and we leave early to enjoy the cool morning air. We game drive our way through Etosha to Halali camp, situated in the middle of the park. Along the way we visit several waterholes and are afforded splendid views of the massive Etosha Pan. The game viewing is usually excellent and we have the chance to tick off a few new species that are usually only seen on the eastern side of the park.

We stop at Halali for a rest and a leisurely lunch and there is also time to visit the Halali waterhole and to make use of the swimming pool and bar facilities before continuing on our way and game driving down to Namutoni. A short stop here to check the camp waterhole for game and then we leave the park, checking into a lodge located on the eastern boundary of Etosha. Dinner tonight will be in the restaurant at the lodge.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Lodge accommodation with shared facilities.

Today we cover about 300km, a driving time of about 3 hours.

Our first stop this morning will be to visit a local community of Bushman or San people. Before Namibian independence in 1990, the Namibian people were engaged in a liberation struggle with South Africa. During this time Namibia had a large South African military presence and the South African army incorporated local Bushmen into their ranks because of their natural talent for tracking.

The Ombili village is located on the site of an old South African military base where, during the war years, many Bushmen had been in uniform. When the South African army withdrew, the local Bushmen trackers remained behind and were in danger of becoming displaced people, being so long away from their own villages. The local farming community in the Ombili area invited the Bushmen to stay and make their homes. Over the last 15 years or so a thriving bushman community has developed.

The Bushmen at Ombili are not living the traditional hunter gatherer lifestyle, that harsh but romanticised way of life has disappeared for ever, but the language and many of the customs remain alive. We make a stop at Ombili and we have the chance to meet the local inhabitants and learn something of their ancient and modern culture.

From Ombili, we are heading predominantly south. We pass through the Otavi mountains and our accommodation for the night is in the foothills of this small but picturesque range. Dinner tonight will be in the restaurant at the lodge.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Otavi Mountains. Lodge accommodation with en-suite facilities.

Our last day on the road (350km, approx. 4 hours), the drive down to Windhoek is on a good road and we have time to stop in Okahandja, home to Namibia's largest woodcarving market. The stalls are operated on a co-operative basis by the local community and the market is a perfect place to do last minute shopping for truly Namibian souvenirs.

We aim to arrive back in the capital in the middle afternoon around 3pm and you will be dropped off at your accommodation or at the airport.

Please note there is no accommodation included tonight but we are able to organise this for you. Please ask at the time of booking.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch