| For more than 20 years, the
Save the Rhino Trust (SRT) has worked
ceaselessly to protect the last free-ranging
rhino population on Earth: the rare
desert-adapted black rhino. In the
remote, rugged Palmwag Concession,
teams of local trackers use camel trains to
help in researching and monitoring this
animal. On this original and exciting
Exploration, guests join these "ships of the
desert" on a great adventure: an eight-day
walk (little time is spent actually on the
camels) across the oldest desert in the
world, where a camel train and a team of
Save the Rhino trackers take us deep into
the heart of the Namib Desert in
search of this rare and endangered species.
Another wonderful sight is that of the
unique desert-adapted elephant - both
these iconic animals being searched for in
some of the most remote and inaccessible
regions of the Concession. The revenues
generated from this venture are channeled
back into critically important rhino
conservation projects
Day 1:
Palmwag Lodge, Palmwag
Concession
Palmwag Lodge, one of
Namibia's oldest and most popular
eco-tourist destinations, is set in
spectacular palm-studded surroundings with
awe-inspiring sunsets. The area is also home
to the famous desert-adapted elephant and
rare black rhino. The lodge offers 24 beds
in 2- or 3-bed thatched bungalows, a fully
licensed restaurant, swimming pool under
shady palms and a small "Pool Bar". On our
arrival at Palmwag Lodge, we are welcomed by
the guide to the area and receive a full
briefing on the tour ahead.
Day 2: Aub
River, Palmwag Concession
After an early breakfast, we
depart northwards by game drive to Mbakondja
Camel Camp to meet the Save the Rhino Camel
team. Then we ride or walk south to the Aub
River, where our Adventurer camp has been
erected prior to our arrival. In addition to
the tracking and hopefully viewing of
desert-adapted elephant and black rhino (the
latter a rare subspecies of rhino), our
guides reveal the sheer magnificence of
nature's survival strategies in this arid
environment, concentrating on a variety of
topics from birds, insects, medicinal uses
of plants and viewing general wildlife.
Days 3: Barab
River, Palmwag Concession
Our journey continues today
with a walk to the Barab River,
concentrating on the tracking of the elusive
desert giants through a series of hills,
rocky landscapes and diverse geology. After
even a little rain, the gravel plains are
covered in nutritious grasses offering
life-giving sustenance.
Day 4: Kudu
Springs, Palmwag Concession
After an early breakfast, we
ride out further west through the Okomutati
Springs to Kudu Springs. This area is almost
inaccessible to vehicles, a pristine
wilderness area with a complete sense of
remoteness. En route we also have the
opportunity to see extraordinary plant life
including the ancient Welwitschia plants and
numerous lichens.
Day 5: Hunkab
Spring, Palmwag Concession
Heading northwards, we move to
the next popular drinking point for
Kaokoland's diverse animal life, the Hunkab
Spring. Fresh drinking water in the desert
forms the basis for seasonal animal
movements and a surprisingly diverse range
of animal life can be seen here. Animals
from Hartmann's mountain zebra to elephant
and the endemic Ruppell's Korhaan come to
slake their thirst.
Day 6 & 7:
Hoanib Camp, Kaokoland
We bid farewell to the Save
the Rhino Trust trackers and depart on game
drive from Hunkab, travelling through the
concession to the ephemeral river of the
Hoanib Valley. Here, in an area seemingly
parched and desolate, we enter one of
Namibia's richest desert wildlife areas. We
stay at Hoanib Camp, and enjoy game walks,
rhino tracking, game drives and night drives
into the Hoanib River valley.
Our Discoverer-styled tented Hoanib
Camp close to the Hoanib River is a relaxed
haven from which we explore this wild land
on foot, or from the comfort of one of our
safari vehicles. The camp is powered by
solar-powered inverter systems and there are
no generators or pumps running whilst guests
are in camp. There are 5 walk-in hexagonal
Meru-style tents with en-suite and flush
toilet and bucket shower bathrooms in a
separate portion of the tent. Each tent is
furnished with necessary comforts and styled
with burnt orange interiors, wood and brass,
effectively recreating a sense of the early
explorers of Africa.
Day 8: Air
charter to Palmwag Lodge
After an early breakfast and game
drive, we fly back to Palmwag Lodge, in time
for a lunch and final farewell to the
adventure. |
