Namibian Adventurer Safari

Safari Synopsis:

You will be collected from your accommodation in Windhoek on the morning of departure and your safari begins by travelling via the community woodcarving market in the small town of Okahandja, about 80 km north of Windhoek, we continue north to the 'Table Mountain' of Namibia. Waterberg Plateau towers high above the surrounding plains, dominating the landscape and providing us with an ideal campsite for your first night under canvas. We aim to arrive in time for lunch, giving you time in the afternoon to make use of the swimming pool and to take the Mountain View Hike to the top of the plateau.
Accommodation: Waterberg Campsite (L,D)

Namutoni is our first two-night stop. No breaking camp today so 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 Namutoni 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 camp 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 very good, shaded by palm trees and a stone's throw away from the waterhole. As on day two, we take a shorter game drive in the late afternoon, often driving out to one of the waterholes popular with game and wait for the animals to come to us.
Accommodation: Namutoni Campsite (B,L,D)

Leaving Etosha we are en-route for the desert and the most scenic campsite of our safari. We make a stop at a small town called Outjo where we can get coffee, cakes and make use of the Internet Cafe. We then drive west to Khorixas, the capital of the Damaraland region. A short break here and then, leaving the sealed roads far behind us, we drive into the desert. We stop for lunch at the Petrified Forest geological site, where a local guide will take us around and explain about the prehistoric trees, before continuing on to our campsite on the banks of the Aba Huab riverbed, in the vicinity of Twyfelfontein. Damaraland scenery is some of the best in Namibia; open grasslands studded with massive granite koppies create the feeling of being surrounded by mountains.

We are well into desert elephant and black rhino country and other game such as springbok, ostrich and gemsbok are often seen. Aba Huab Desert Camp is right in the middle of this wilderness providing basic facilities with star lit showers and a small bar. We aim to arrive in the early afternoon and have time to relax in the shade before making a late afternoon excursion to Twyfelfontein itself. Here, again, a local guide will introduce us to the ancient Bushman rock engravings or petroglyphs. We also make a visit to another geological site in the area called the Organ Pipes.
Accommodation: Aba-Huab Community Campsite (B,L,D)

More beautiful Damaraland scenery this morning. We pass Namibia's highest mountain, the Brandberg (2573 m) and make our first stop of the morning in the small town of Uis. Uis, an old mining town, is 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. From here we turn directly west and cross the gravel plains on our way to the Atlantic Ocean and the Skeleton Coast. Meeting the ocean at Henties Bay, we first head north along the coast to visit the seal colony at Cape Cross.

Here at certain times of the year there can be as many as 100,000 Cape Fur seals in attendance. The next destination is Swakopmund stopping for lunch en-route and following the Skeleton Coast into Namibia's premier seaside town. There is no suitable campsite available in Swakopmund, so we really make the most of being back in civilization by staying at a comfortable guest house.

The Swakopmund section of the trip is designed to allow people to relax either with the group or, on their own. Only breakfast is provided tomorrow. This is to allow you to plan your time here with as much flexibility as possible and not to be tied to group meal times. It also gives you the chance to sample some of the excellent local cafes and restaurants. The seafood in Swakopmund is superb. Your guide will offer to organise a group meal in a local restaurant for this evening.
Accommodation: Sea Breeze Guest House in Swakopmund (or similar) (B)

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.

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), quad bike trips into the Namib 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. NB All extra activities and excursions in Swakopmund are subject to availability and are made at the clients' own risk and expense.
Accommodation: Sea Breeze Guest House in Swakopmund (or similar) (B)

Away by 09:00 and a little further down the coast to the port town of Walvis Bay. South of the town there is a large marine lagoon which is home to a vast array of marine bird life, in particular flamingos. We will make a short visit to the lagoon to see the birds and a short visit to Walvis Bay to collect any last-minute supplies before once again heading out into the desert. The first part of our journey today takes us across more of the seemingly endless Namib gravel plains. Then the landscape suddenly changes and we are into the mountain desert. We traverse both the Kuiseb and Gaub passes, driving both times to the river beds at the bottom of the canyons and then climbing the long steep road to the top and the spectacular panoramas the mountains give us. Again the scenery changes as we make our way down to the dune fields at Sesriem.

We cross some open grass savannah and farmlands before the terrain begins to give way to the immense red sand dune desert of the Namib. We stop for lunch in the desert en-route and arrive in Sesriem during the late afternoon. We have time to relax and watch the sunset over the dunes from our campsite.
Accommodation: Sesriem Campsite (B,L,D)

A pre-dawn start to see the sunrise in the dunes. From our campsite we drive a further 60-km into the desert and have our breakfast as the colours change and grow across the landscape. To reach Sossusvlei itself we must then walk for the last five-km through the dunes. The walk 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 Camel thorn 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 (there is a good chance of getting a lift in a four-wheel drive vehicle for the return 5-km walk and there is often a four-wheel drive shuttle service available in both directions for a small extra charge), but as the day wears on we return to our camp for lunch and to escape the heat of the day. Back into the usual rhythm of relaxing in the shade and eating ice cream beside the swimming pool, or having a siesta, or both. As the day cools off in the late afternoon we will take a short excursion to the Sesriem Canyon.
Accommodation: Sesriem Campsite (B,L,D)

We will make an early start today with a boat trip on the Ocean. (This is an optional extra subject to availability). 'The Sedina' is an old wooden sailing boat in which we take a trip around Luderitz bay and, weather permitting, to Halifax Island to see the Jackass Penguins. If the weather conditions are suitable we turn off the engines come back to Luderitz under sail. Straight after the Sedina trip we drive out to Kolmanskop. Kolmanskop is a desert ghost town about 20 km out of Luderitz. It was built in the 1920's during the diamond rush and was abandoned when better diamonds were found further along the coast.

During the middle of the day there is time to explore the town and later we will take a drive out to Diaz Point to see the bird life, hopefully a few seals and the stone cross replica, originally erected by the Portuguese mariner Bartholomew Diaz.
Accommodation: Shark Island Campsite (B,L)

An early start today. We leave for the second largest canyon in the world at Fish River. The first part of the way is on sealed roads but giving way to the more usual gravel about half way into our journey. The southern desert scenery stays with us all the way as we make our way first east and then again south, almost to the Namibian border with South Africa.

We aim to arrive at Hobas in time for a late lunch, spending some time relaxing in the camp beside the pool in the afternoon, before driving the final 10 km to the canyon edge and the main lookout point. The views of Fish River Canyon need to be seen to be believed. We can see the river sparkling in the sunlight far below us, and can barely imagine how many millennia it took for the forces of erosion to carve such a magnificent vista. We are on the eastern edge of the canyon and perfectly placed to watch the sun slip behind the western rim.
Accommodation: Hobas Campsite - Fish River Canyon

Another pre-dawn start to catch sunrise from the lookout point. There is time for the energetic to hike to the bottom of the canyon and have a quick dip in the river, before ending our journey south and heading north to Hardap Dam. The road is long today. We will, however, make a short stop in the southern town of Keetmanshoop, then join the sealed main road for the second half of the days journey. We stop for lunch en-route and if the day is clear we should get a good view of Buckarros Volcano, one of only a few steam-formed mountains in the world.

Hardap Dam is our last night. The dam is home to a small but important irrigation project, and provides us with a scenic campsite and lots of bird life. We arrive in the late afternoon and have time to watch sunset at the dam.
Accommodation: Hardap Dam Campsite

• Luggage limits are 10kg per person and we will only carry soft bags to minimize luggage damage. One small day pack for hand luggage and a sleeping bag are separate.
• Safaris are undertaken on a twin share basis
• The Safari is run on a participation basis - and you will be expected to help with the camp chores
• All drinks must be purchased by you during your safari including mineral water.