12-day Namibia Ideal Safari

The 12-day Namibian Ideal Safari is uses excellent quality 3 star accommodation. This tour is designed for clean & comfortable value for money, rather than luxury.  Travelling to the world’s highest sand dunes at Sesriem & Sossusvlei and on to Swakopmund on the Skeleton Coast. From here we will enter Namibia’s most beautiful desert region, Damaraland, where we will visit Namibia’s highest mountain, The Brandberg and the ancient Bushman rock engravings at Twyfelfontien. Into Etosha National Park for the Big Game experience and returning to Windhoek via a Bushman community and the Otavi Mountains.

Highlights: Windhoek, Etosha National Park, Himba Experience, Bushman Community, Opuwo, Brandberg, Swakopmund, Sossusvlei & Sesriem.
Group Size: maximum 12 people
Type of Safari: Semi-participation lodge safari
Accommodation: lodges/bungalows/hotel

Price: From ZAR26500 per person sharing*

Includes: Use of full camping equipment (except sleeping bags), meals as per itinerary, coffee/tea with the meals, transport on the tour, 3 nights in basic Lodges and 11 nights camping at designated campsites, activities as per itinerary, game drives as per itinerary.

Excludes: Meals not mentioned in the itinerary, all personal expenses, insurance for luggage, tips, drinks, laundry. 

Day 1 - Windhoek – Namib Desert Guest Farm
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.

Day 2 - Namib Desert Guest Farm 
A pre dawn start is essential this morning as we want to catch the soft light of the sunrise on the desert as we drive in. We will arrive at the entrance to the dunes on sunrise and then travel through the dune field as the sun is coming up. The light casts strong contrasts of colour on the edges of the dunes and offers stunning views from the dry river bed you travel through.  From here we drive another 60 km to Sossusvlei itself, transferring to special desert vehicles for the last 5 km through the dunes. The drive is like nothing else, enjoying the changing light and coolness of the morning. Ancient mineral pans, stunted camel thorn trees and the chance of seeing a gemsbok or maybe an ostrich make the photo opportunities perfect.

Day 3 - Namib Desert Guest Farm – Swakopmund 
An early start today, we are heading north-west to the seaside town of Swakopmund located on the Skeleton Coast. 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.

Day 4 - Swakopmund (Day Activities)
Today is a free day. The idea is 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.

Day 5 - Swakopmund - Brandberg 
A long drive today, 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, Tourmaline etc can be found at bargain prices.

Day 6 - Brandberg – Damaraland 
We leave early to visit the ancient site of Twyfelfontein. Here is an impressive collection of rock engravings created by the talented artisans of ancient peoples. Twyfelfontien is one of the most important archeological sites in southern Africa and we will have a local guide to take us around and introduce us to the petroglyphs.  We continue on, deeper into the beautiful Damaraland region to our accommodation in a stunning desert setting. There is time this afternoon to join an optional activity, game or nature drives are available for those who want to explore the area, but the views across the desert from the lodge are truly awe inspiring for those who would like to relax at the lodge. 

Day 7 - Damaraland – Kaokoland 
Heading further north, the Damaraland scenery stays with us today. We follow the western border of Etosha National Park for some way, heading into the far northern regions of Namibia, turning off to our destination on a small game reserve.  We aim to arrive in the early afternoon. There are some self guided bush walks available for those who are feeling energetic, but otherwise the rest of the day is designed to allow you to relax by the pool and re-charge you energy.

Day 8 - Kaokoland – Etosha National Park 
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.

Day 9 - Etosha National Park
We go 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.

Day 10 - Etosha National Park 
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.

Day 11 - Etosha National Park – Okonjima 
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.

Day 12 - Okonjima – Windhoek - END OF TOUR
Our last day on the road, 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 and you will be dropped off at your accommodation.