WILD NAMIBIA
11 DAY ADVENTURE SAFARI
Windhoek to Windhoek
1 NIGHT HOTEL
9 NIGHTS LODGE

INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Windhoek city tour
  • Namib Desert reserve
  • Open-vehicle game drive
  • Desert walk
  • Desert night drive
  • 4×4 trip to Sossusvlei and Deadvlei dunes
  • Sesriem Canyon
  • Walvis Bay
  • Swakopmund
  • Skeleton Coast
  • Cape Cross seal colony
  • Brandberg
  • Etosha National Park
  • Damaraland

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

  • Quad biking
  • Dune boarding
  • Skydiving
  • Marine wildlife boat trip

Namibia: The land of unrelenting sun, where the ground appears to beg the heavens for rain and the vast landscapes stretch uninterrupted for hundreds of kilometres, without signs of human intervention. Living deserts, where one gazes in wonder and amazement at the displays of changing natural colours, and at the animals and plants that somehow survive in this seemingly harsh environment.

This tour covers all of the popular highlights, but also includes many “off the beaten track” destinations, seldom visited by mainstream tourism.

Flexibility, a willingness to participate, an awareness of the elements, and a desire for unlimited adventure, are essential in order to best absorb all this tour has to offer.

DAY 1: WINDHOEK

Our adventure in Namibia begins in the capital city of Windhoek at 14h00.

After a short tour briefing and “meet and greet”, we set off exploring Windhoek, viewing the attractions of the city before ending the day welcoming the warm hospitality at the infamous Joe’s Beerhouse restaurant. Tonight we spend in comfort at our hotel and prepare for the next day’s adventure.

Meals: Dinner own expense Distance: +- 30 km Accommodation: Hotel Safari Included Highlights/Activity:

  • Windhoek city tour

DAY 2: NAMIB DESERT RESERVE

Leaving the city lights behind we enter the heart of the Namib, taking in its vast plains, red dunes, towering mountains and ever-changing landscapes. Late afternoon, we reach the Namib Desert region, a remote camp, within a conservancy that forms part of the vast Namib Rand Nature Reserve, The reserve gives life to a variety of desert adapted fauna and flora and many an animal species.

Enjoy an extensive walk as well as an optional day and a night desert drive during our time here.

Meals: B L D Distance: 425 km

Accommodation: Lodge Accommodation Included Highlights/Activity:

  • Private Desert lodge
  • Private Desert Reserve

DAY 3 NAMIB DESERT RESERVE

We awake to desert vistas that extend further than the eye can see. All animals here exist in completely natural surroundings, and are free to move unrestricted over the full extent of the reserve. Our expert guide will help us understand the unique desert fauna and flora, so today we start off with an ecology walk in this beautiful environment, searching for animals, foot prints, and signs of the behaviour and survival strategies that allow them to exist in these harsh conditions.

During the heat of the day guests have time to relax at the camp, or to explore the surrounding area on foot, should they wish to. Mid-afternoon we depart on a desert drive, up and over the magnificent dunes. As the evening approaches, a traditional sundowner drink is enjoyed while the sun dips over the African landscape. Once dark, we slowly drive back to camp anticipating to encounter some of the nocturnal animals adapted to living in the desert.

Meals: B L D Distance: 0 km

Accommodation: Lodge Accommodation Included Highlights/Activity:

  • Private Desert lodge
  • Private Desert Reserve

DAY 4: SOSSUSVLEI DUNES

Setting off early, we enter the Sesriem Canyon and the awesome red Sossusvlei dunes – reputedly the highest in the world.

We transfer into the heart of the dunes, to spend some time climbing these spectacular mountains of sand, before taking a 4×4 transfer into Sossusvlei and Deadvlei – a clay pan characterized by dark dead camel thorn trees against the white pan floor. We explore these truly unique sites on foot, before the 4×4’s take us back to our vehicle. On exiting the park we first make a stop to visit the Sesriem Canyon

Meals: B L D

Accommodation: Lodge Accommodation Distance: 200 km

Included Highlights/Activity:

– Sossusvlei

  • Deadvlei
  • 4×4 transfer into these areas
  • Dune climbing

 DAY 5-6: SWAKOPMUND

Crossing through Kuiseb Canyon, and the Namib-Naukluft National Park, we make our way to the port town of Walvis Bay, and then on to Swakopmund, where German influence still lingers from late 1800’s and spend two nights in comfortable accommodation. We explore this holiday town and its surrounds thoroughly and enjoy both our evening meals at local restaurants (own expense).

Swakopmund is a must-see for any visitor and offers guests a variety of adventure activities. Clients have the opportunity to partake in quad biking, sand boarding and skydiving whilst here (own expense). For those that simply want to relax, the town offers a variety of restaurants and shops, where one can get a feel for the local culture.

Meals: B L; B (Dinner on Day 5, lunch and dinner on Day 6 all own expense) Distance: 290 km on Day 5

Accommodation: Amanpuri Lodge Included Highlights/Activity:

  • Scenic drive through Namib-Naukluft National Park
  • Swakopmund Optional Activities:
  • Skydive
  • Quad bikes
  • Dune boarding
  • Desert tours
  • Boat cruises

 DAY 7: SKELETON COAST – SPITZKOPPE

Today we head north up the harsh Skeleton Coast, a barren stretch of coastline along the Atlantic Ocean, with scattered shipwrecks, littering the beaches. We visit Cape Cross, a spectacular breeding ground for Cape fur Seals where more than 100 000 seals take refuge.

We then venture back inland, travelling through the vast desert to the iconic Spitzkoppe, which is a group of bald granite peaks in the Namib desert of Namibia. The granite is more than 120 million years old and the highest outcrop rises about 1,728 meters above sea level. The peaks stand out dramatically from the flat surrounding plains, before arriving at the lodge early afternoon.

Meals: B L D Distance: 330 km

Accommodation: – Spitzkoppe Accommodation Included Highlights/Activity:

  • Cape Cross seal colony
  • Spitzkoppe Granite Mountains

 DAY 8: BRANDBERG

After a leisurely start we spend time exploring and climbing the Granite boulders of Spitzkopppe, before venturing through the vast desert to the iconic Brandberg Mountain, the highest mountain in Namibia, en route we make a roadside stop to interact with members the local Himba tribe, before stopping at the base of the Brandberg mountain where take a guided hike to the iconic White Lady bushmen paintings before arriving at the lodge in the late afternoon. Those interested why not take an optional excursion hoping to encounter the elusive rare desert elephant, before retiring to our rooms snuggled at the foot of the mountain

Meals: B L D Distance: 130 km

Accommodation: – Brandberg Accommodation Included Highlights/Activity:

-Himba tribe interaction (subject to availability) Optional Activities:

  • Game drive to find the rare Desert elephants

DAY 9 – 10: ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK

Today we continue our trip up to Etosha, this journey takes us through breath taking Damaraland, region and home of the Damara people. Along the way we will stop for a roadside lunch before reaching our Lodge for the night.

Making our way further north, we enter the renowned Etosha National Park, arguably the highlight of the tour. Becoming one with nature we enjoy two days of exploring the park. During these days we conduct extensive game drives, visiting little water holes, exploring, letting your senses free, making the most of our time in the park. (Game drives will be conducted in the Drifters truck ) On one of the days we will shorten the game drive and drive to the world famous Okekeujo waterhole where we will spend approximately 2 hours, waiting patiently for the animals to come and quench their thirst, before leaving in time to exit the park.

Time permitting; why not take an optional sunset game drive (drinks included) on private land bordering the parks.

Distance: 300 km

.Meals: B L D; B L D

Distance: Roughly 120 km game drive on Day 10 Accommodation: Lodge – Etosha area outside the park Included Highlights/Activity:

  • Brandberg white lady Hike
  • Damaraland
  • 2 days within the Park
  • Extensive game viewing opportunities

DAY 11: WINDHOEK

An early morning, we pack up and begin our journey back to civilization. The drive to Windhoek will take the majority of the day and the tour will officially come to an end in the late afternoon on arrival back in the capital city.

Meals: B Distance: 540 km

Included Highlights/Activity:

Scenic drive to Windhoek

DEPARTURES
This tour starts and ends in Windhoek and runs every second week. Pre- and post-tour accommodation can be arranged through the Drifters office.

At time of going to print the above itinerary was correct, but Drifters continually strive to offer our clients the best available tour options, and as such we reserve the right to change aspects of the itinerary at our discretion. During the validity period of the published itinerary, conditions may change, roads may be improved or deteriorate, contracted camps and accommodation facilities may change standards, optional activities may become available or be discontinued, new border posts open or existing ones become congested, etc. Drifters are continuously monitoring all of the factors that contribute to a successful tour, and will make amendments to the published itinerary if circumstances so demand, or if we believe that the change will enhance the tour.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
This is an adventure tour, and as such involves a certain amount of walking – a small daypack is advisable.

Seasonable malaria precautions are advisable and are locally obtainable. During winter the night-time temperatures can fall below zero Celsius and during summer the daytime temperatures can reach the forties – please be prepared.

Most major currencies can be exchanged on arrival in Windhoek and at other centres, but banking hours do apply. Credit cards are generally accepted.

Visa info – A valid passport is required by everyone. The tour will visit Namibia and it is the client’s responsibility to ensure they have the appropriate visas required for this trip. Some nationalities may need to obtain visas before departure as they may not be obtainable on arrival.

Our price includes transport, food, coffee, tea and fruit juice at breakfast, two Drifters crew, group equipment, permits and park entry fees. The price does not include alcohol, bottled water and soft drinks, tips, curios and optional extras.

Before departure, clients will be required to enter into an agreement and indemnity pertaining to our booking conditions and general information.

It is compulsory for clients to have their own comprehensive personal travel insurance that includes cover for (but not limited to) any medical emergencies as well as Covid 19 related cancellations or deviations prior or during the tour.