The Tribes and South Namibia Tour, is a 14 day accommodated tour, to a world famous national park and several traditional tribal areas in the north of Namibia. It visits 3 of the most interesting cultural groups in Namibia; the Bushmen (San), Oshiwambo and Himba tribal groups and also has the added attraction of a wildlife viewing element, as it includes Etosha National Park.

It also concentrates on the traditional highlights of Southern Namibia as well; Fish River Canyon, Luderitz and of course the huge sand dunes of the Namib Desert at Sossusvlei. The northern leg will take you to:

• Okahandja - the former tribal center of the Herero people and old mission station.
• Tsumeb – displaying the life of the majority of Namibians and their history and culture, and work and skills in producing arts and crafts.
• The Ombili Foundation - until recently the Bushmen practiced a lifestyle of hunting and gathering. They will show you their traditional way of life in a 'Historic Living Village' Also the foundation attempts to teach 350 Bushmen living on the farm to be familiar with the sowing , maintenance and harvesting of crops and to become 'farmers,' as they are no longer hunters.
• Visit a Ndonga homestead, and observe a demonstration of wheat-crushing, basket-weaving, hair-plaiting, and traditional dancing and music.
• Owamboland and it's people, who raise cattle, fish in the Oshonas, and farm. They are skilled craftsmen and make and sell basketry, pottery, jewelry, wooden combs, wood/iron spears, arrows, richly decorated daggers, musical instruments and ivory buttons.
• The Himba who have managed to maintain much of their traditional lifestyle, living under a tribal structure based on bilateral descent. (Where every member belongs to two clans, one through the father and another through the mother.) A local guide, accompanying the group, will negotiate a visit to a Kraal with the headman of the tribe, and will explain the lifestyle and the culture of the Himba people.
• floodlit waterhole, where wildlife can be viewed throughout the day, as well as at night.

The southern leg's highlights include:

• Dordabis. With a visit the oldest Karakul weavery in Namibia.
• The Kokerboom forest. The quiver tree gets its name from the San practice of hollowing out the tubular branches of Aloe dichotoma to form quivers for their arrows, known as 'Choje' to the indigenous San people.
• Fish River Canyon. The 2nd largest canyon in the world, with the longest interior river in Namibia. Its flow is now just a trickle compared to the immense volume of water that flowed in ages past.
• Kolmanskop. )The ghost town, a former mining village, developed after discovery of diamonds, and was built like a German town, with facilities such as a hospital, ballroom, power station, school, ice factory and the first x-ray station in the southern hemisphere. It also had a railway line to Luderitz. It's just you, the plant life and the howling winds here!
• Luderitz. The first German settlement in Namibia, named after the merchant Adolf Luderitz from Bremen, who bought this area in 1883.
• Sossusvlei deserts. Though they are very harsh, they are a delicate ecosystem with a surprising amount of life living around and underneath the dunes.Keep this in mind when roaming around and driving in the area.
• The Sesriem Canyon. Walk down the path and the walls start rising around you!

Day 1: Windhoek - Tsumeb

Guest will be collected from their accommodation at ± 07h45 and the tour departs from Windhoek to Tsumeb. En-route there is a stop at Okahandja to visit some Herero graves, the cemetery of the German Schutztruppe, and the Kavango woodcarvers market. The tour then heads via the large town of Otjiwarongo (pleasant place) the small agricultural town of Otavi and on to Tsumeb, the capital city of the Oshikoto region. The Cultural Village, an open-air museum, invites tourists to get an insight into the rural life and cultures of Namibian tribes. It displays the life of the majority of Namibians and tells about their history and culture, shows their work and skills in arts and crafts. A visit to the Mine Museum is also planned. Overnight in double rooms with private
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Makalani Hotel or other Tsumeb Accommodation

Day 2: Tsumeb - near Etosha

After breakfast the tour departs to Treesleeper Camp near Tsintsabis. It is home to the Hei//omn Bushmen, the former habitants of Etosha and its surroundings, and the !Kung Bushmen. One explanation of 'treesleeper' refers to days gone by, when the Bushmen who lived and hunted in Etosha, escaped into trees when wild animals threatened their safety. After a light lunch (on own account) the drive proceeds to Farm Hedwigslust, the home of the Ombili Foundation. As the Ombili foundation is financing this project through donations, a gratitude of approximately N$50 is very welcome. Overnight in double rooms with private shower/bath/toilet in the cozy Etosha Aoba Lodge, set in a Tamboti-Terminalia forest next to a dry river bed.
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Etosha Aoba Lodge (alternative Etosha accommodation may be used)

Day 3: Owamboland

A drive north to Ovamboland, the most densely populated region of Namibia, with around 600,000 people. The Owambo are divided into 9 kindred sub-tribes. First stop will be the Nakambale Museum at Olukondo, that represents the present and the past of the role of the Finnish Mission, the church and the local cultures. A traditional Owambo lunch will be served. Afterwards it's on to Oshakati via Ondangwa.
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Oshakati Country Lodge

Day 4: Owamboland - Opuwo

Today the tour travels through western Ovamboland, a landscape characterized by flat, sandy plains dotted with Makalani palms, savannah grasslands and Mopane woodlands. Different attractions will be visited, before continuing on to Opuwo via Ruacana. Opuwo Country Lodge is situated on a hilltop, north-west of the bustling town of Opuwo, and overlooks the surrounding valleys and mountains.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Opuwo Country Lodge

Day 5: Opuwo - West etosha

Today a typical Himba cultural settlement will be visited. The Himba, a nomadic sub-tribe of the Herero, still live to their old traditions and culture. They breed cattle and goats, the basis for their wealth, and their nomadic existence in the Kunene Region, (formerly Kaokoland) will be emphasized as several deserted Himba settlements will be seen along the way, a symbol of their lifestyle. Then it's a return to Opuwo and proceed in a southerly direction to Hobatere Lodge at the western border of the Etosha National Park. In the afternoon guests are welcome to join a game drive at the lodge, home to a wide variety of Namibian game species including; elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, giraffe, eland and zebra.
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Hobatere Lodge(or alternative)

Day 6: Etosha

With special permission, travel through the rarely visited western part of Etosha National Park and view oryx and many other antelopes that prefer this region, making it an ideal area for a safari. West of Okaukuejo is the well known Sprokieswoud, Phantom or Fairy Forest, the only location where the African Moringa tree grows in a flat area. Okaukuejo Camp has the added advantage of overlooking a permanent floodlit waterhole. A wide diversity of wildlife congregates and interacts here. Overnight in double rooms with private shower/bath/toilet. One early translation of Okaukuejo, was 'the woman who has a child every year.'
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Okaukuejo Rest camp

Day 7: etosha - Windhoek

After a short safari game drive in the morning, the tour leaves the Etosha National Park. Return to Windhoek is via Outjo, Otjiwarongo and Okahandja with a lunch stop en-route. Arrival in Windhoek is in the afternoon. Overnight in double rooms with private shower/bath/toilet. Safari Court Hotel has a free hourly shuttle service into the Central Business District and Maerua Mall, and it's convenient location for shopping & banking
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Safari Court Hotel

Day 8: Windhoek - Gochas

Set off on the second leg of the tour at around 07h45 as the tour heads south-easterly via Dordabis and Uhlenhorst. The route continues on via Stampriet and on to Gochas, the tour now well within the Kalahari Desert, with it's characteristic low red dunes dominating the landscape. The day ends with an afternoon nature drive
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Kamelruhe Guest House

Day 9: Gochas - Canon Lodge

The day starts with a drive along the Auob River, via Koes and to the Kokerboom Forest (Quivertree Forest) near Keetmanshoop. Before proceeding past the Naute Dam to the Canon Lodge which is situated near to Namibia's famous Fish River Canyon. The lodge itself has been built amongst enormous boulders, designed to blend in with the natural environment.
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Canon Lodge

Day 10: Fish River Canyon - Aus

You are now at The Fish River Canyon, an area that has a typical semi-desert climate. It features a gigantic ravine, in places almost 550 metres deep, and is the 3rd most visited tourist attraction in Namibia. From the canyon the drive goes via Seeheim and Aus, passing through a fascinating landscape of bizarre rock formations and endless desert plains. Ostriches are kept near the main area of the Desert Horse Inn, which are a source of enjoyment and interest for younger and older members of the family alike.
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation:Desert Horse Inn - Klein Aus Vista

Day 11: Luderitz

A day visit to Luderitz. The much-photographed Namib Feral (wild) Horses can often be found in the area around Klein Aus Vista, so look out for them grazing on either side of the road on the way. Also capture the combination of high yellow grass and mountains, a superb photographic opportunity. This small harbour town is perched on rugged black rock, offset by the deep blue waters of the bay, and is surrounded by bays, coves and fjords. During the morning, walk knee deep in sand through the houses of the Ghost Town of Kolmanskop, where diamonds were first discovered in Namibia. After a day's sightseeing in the town, it's back across the Namib Desert plains to the Desert Horse Inn.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Klein Aus Vista

Day 12: Aus - Hammerstein

From Aus its northwards, winding your way through the loneliness of the Schwarzrand towards Maltahöhe, passing alongside the impressive Tiras and Nubib Mountain ranges, whilst heading for the overnight stopover. Hammerstein Lodge is nestled between the Nubib and Tsaris mountains, edging ever closer to the red sand sea dunes at Sossusvlei.
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Hammerstein Lodge

Day 13: Sossusvlei

An early departure on an excursion to the Sesriem Canyon and Sossusvlei, a large clay pan in the centre to the Namib Desert, set amid huge piles of sand known as star dunes. Sossusvlei is one of the major highlight in Namibia. An afternoon at leisure might be in order, with a choice of 2 swimming pools at the lodge.
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Namib Desert Lodge

Day 14: Namib Desert Lodge - Windhoek

The last day of the Tribes and South Namibia Tour departs the Namib Desert and drives via Remhootge Pass to Rehoboth, for lunch at the Oanob Dam, an area characterized by stony hills, sandy valleys and mountains. The tour ends on arrival in Windhoek in the late afternoon
Meals: Breakfast

Included

Tour in a group with an English speaking driver / guide.
Porterage & park-entrance-fees

Excluded

Beverages
Items of a personal nature
Tips
Travel Insurance

Route & Accommodation

The itinerary above is a guideline only and whilst we try to adhere to it there may be circumstances when it may change - for example weather and/or road conditions, seasonal daylight hours etc. Overnight stops on occasion may be altered from those indicated.