Itinerary
Days 1 & 2 Windhoek to Sossusvlei
You will be met at Windhoek Airport by your guide and start the five-hour drive through the iconic Sossusvlei region. The first two nights are spent at Kulala Adventurer Camp on the private Kulala Wilderness Reserve. The camp, comprising dome tents under the shade, is perfect for taking in the Reserve's expansive vistas and stark beauty and enjoys views into the Namib Naukluft National Park. Dining under the star-filled Namibian skies and watching a blood red sunset punctuated by the cacophony of barking geckos are a few highlights, as is spending unrushed quality time at the towering dunes of Sossusvlei, known for their red coloring in the early morning sunlight. Desert-adapted wildlife such as ostrich, springbok and gemsbok can be seen on the reserve, as well as smaller creatures like bat-eared fox, black-backed jackal and Cape fox. Other activities include day and night scenic drives and walks, and optional early morning ballooning, horse riding or quad biking (the last three at extra cost).
2 Nights at Kulala Adventurer Camp
Days 3 & 4 Walvis Bay & Swakopmund
Set out for Walvis Bay and the hauntingly beautiful skeleton coast, into the quaint town of Swakopmund, a distance of 230 miles. On day 4, we explore the ice-blue Atlantic coast and the incredible marine mammals that inhabit the area on our dolphin and seal catamaran cruise. Aside from spotting diverse pelagic (ocean-going) birdlife, pelicans and flamingo, and Cape fur seals, the massive sunfish, leatherback turtles, southern right and humpback whales can be seen in season.
Hansa Hotel is an iconic place that forms part of Swakopmund's architectural culture and is said to be one of the oldest buildings in the town. It is ideally situated in the center of Swakopmund within easy walking distance of town and the beach.
2 Nights at Hansa Hotel
Days 5 & 6 Damaraland
Continue your journey by road to Damaraland, west of the Brandberg Mountain, stopping for lunch at Ugab Save the Rhino Trust Camp. The Save the Rhino Trust (SRT) has been involved with rhino conservation in this area since the early eighties and has been singly responsible for helping these rare animals survive and thrive, so that today this area boasts the largest concentration of black rhino anywhere on the planet outside of a national park.
Once in the area around Damaraland, you are in the heart of the rocky desert, an ancient glacial landscape. Damaraland boasts a varied and breathtaking assortment of desert-adapted species including one of the highest concentrations of desert elephant and black rhino, and a surprisingly high diversity of wildlife including Hartmann's mountain zebra, kudu, giraffe, gemsbok, and springbok, with occasional cheetah sightings. Activities range from nature walks, mountain biking, viewing the rock engravings at Twyfelfontein (a World Heritage Site) today and night nature drives, exploring the mountains, hills and ephemeral riverbeds and springs. Looking south from camp toward the imposing Brandberg Mountains, Damaraland offers its guests endless vistas and one of the best wilderness areas in Namibia. Early morning mists generated by the clash between the icy Atlantic Ocean and the warm desert air of the Skeleton Coast, drift inland along the river sand canyon, providing sustenance to the flora and fauna of the region.
2 Nights at Damaraland Camp
Days 7 & 8 Ongava Game Reserve
A five-hour drive to Ongava Game Reserve, on the boundary of Etosha National Park, grants the experience of big game viewing and this iconic salt pan. Etosha remains the highest density wildlife area within Namibia, its fame justly acknowledged. The salt pan (largest salt pan in the world) is speculated to be a remnant of an ancient glacial lake - today being maintained by scouring winds across its surface and sporadic ephemeral flooding. On day nine you embark on a full day game drive into Etosha, exploring the southern roads of Etosha Pan from Okakeujo through to Halali, meandering our way from waterhole to spring and enjoying the endless vistas and mirages of the pan itself.
On the southern boundary of Etosha National Park and forming a buffer to the Park lies Ongava Game Reserve. It is a haven to large concentrations of wildlife: notably lion, cheetah, black rhino, white rhino, springbok, gemsbok, wildebeest, Burchell's zebra, Hartmann's mountain zebra, waterbuck, red hartebeest, giraffe, eland and the largest population of the endemic black-faced impala outside of Etosha. Meru-style, en-suite tents sit on raised wooden decks. There is a swimming pool in the main guest area.
2 Nights at Ongava Tented Camp or Ongava Lodge
Day 9 Windhoek
Today you drive back to Windhoek, arriving at approximately 1 p.m.
