Meet the Namib: the
oldest desert in the world; Damaraland:
where the largest free-roaming population of
black rhino resides; Cape Cross: a
bewildering cacophony of Cape fur seals;
Etosha: a blinding whiteness that is
home to a surprising variety of wildlife.
This is an all-encompassing safari that
explores the spirit of this wide-open land -
Namibia's most special wild places, its
people and culture. Exposed and diverse
landscapes, desert wildlife, scenic, jagged
mountains, endless skies, and so-called
'barren' deserts all reveal a multitude and
variety of life. On this journey there is
also an excellent opportunity to find even
the largest of mammals surviving here - the
desert-adapted black rhino and elephant.
Days 1 & 2:
Andersson's Camp, Etosha Region
Transfer by comfortable
charter flight to Namibia's big game
country: Etosha and its environs. Here, the
diverse flora and fauna is experienced in a
variety of activities, from game walks to
game drives and visits to hides both on the
property and in the famous Etosha National
Park.
Andersson's Camp is surrounded by
plains teeming with wildlife and situated
close to Etosha (the vast expanse of
savannah and salt pan, the largest in
Africa, 'discovered' by Sir Francis Galton
and Charles Andersson in 1851), the
Discoverer atmosphere of the camp makes for
a much more comfortable modern-day
exploration of this landscape. The
resurrected farmstead now forms the anchor
fronting onto a thriving waterhole and the
20 tented guest units, each with en-suite
bathroom, are raised on decks for an
enhanced view. This model of eco-sensitive
lodging provides an authentic, safe and
down-to-earth experience for small groups,
families and independent travellers to
Etosha. Within Etosha on game drive we'll
visit numerous springs and pans, in search
of lion, leopard, elephant and black rhino,
as well as plains game.
Day 3: Palmwag Lodge, Palmwag
Concession
After an early breakfast, we travel to
the Palmwag concession. Here, on the
concession and in the surrounding areas the
desert-adapted elephant and elusive black
rhino can be found. The camp consists of 5
Meru-style tents, built on individual,
wooden platforms and offering a great scenic
view of the surroundings and also the
desert-adapted elephants when they visit the
area. Situated about 600 metres away from
the restaurant and secluded from the rest of
Palmwag Lodge. The tents are tastefully
furnished, with en-suite facilities, solar
power and a wonderful atmosphere.
Over the course of the next four nights
in the enormous wilderness areas of
Damaraland and Palmwag our guides expose the
sheer magnificence of nature's survival
strategies in this arid environment, through
walks, tracking and game drives
concentrating on a variety of topics from
birds to insects, medicinal uses of plants
and viewing wildlife. In addition, we travel
through regions with an exciting array of
exposed geological sequences, ranging in age
from "young" 130 million-year-old igneous
shale through to 850 million-year-old schist
formations.
Days 4 & 5: Hoanib Camp, Kaokoland
With an early start, our
journey continues by road towards the
ephemeral river of the Hoanib Valley. Please
note that this is a long nature transfer,
giving guests a unique opportunity to see
some of the most rugged and "hard to get to"
areas within Namibia's remote North West.
Here, in an area seemingly parched and
desolate, we enter one of Namibia's richest
desert wildlife areas.
The rugged mountains and canyons of the
Hoanib River provide a last refuge for some
of the continent's most unique wildlife;
this is the home of the legendary
desert-adapted elephant and the last
free-roaming black rhino population on
Earth. While here, we have the opportunity
to explore this area on game drives and
walks. Possibly, we can visit one of the
nomadic Himba villages if they are in the
region at the time.
Our Discoverer-styled tented 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 guest 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.
Day 6:
Damaraland Camp, Damaraland
Departing early, we travel
east to Sesfontein and we end this road
journey at the award-winning Damaraland Camp.
Damaraland Camp is situated on the
northern face of the Huab River valley and
looking south toward the imposing Brandberg
Mountain. The camp accommodates guests in 10
comfortable tented rooms (with en-suite
facilities including flush toilets and
showers) with endless vistas as views. The
dining room and pub are combined under
canvas, and an open fire is enjoyed on calm
evenings.
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. Although wildlife is not
concentrated, we are situated where the rare
desert-adapted elephant roams, alongside
gemsbok (oryx), springbok, Ostrich and other
hardy desert animals. Rare succulent plants
eke out an existence in this harsh
countryside.
Day 7: The
Stiltz Lodge, Swakopmund
After an early breakfast, we
travel to Twyfelfontein where we take a
guided walk with local Damara guides to view
the San petroglyphs - prehistoric rock
etchings, strewn over the rock face.
After lunch we continue our journey
travelling south via Uis en route to
Swakopmund. Closer to the coast there are
lichen fields strewn over the gravel plains,
one of the most fragile ecosystems on Earth.
After a packed lunch en route, we make
for The Stiltz Lodge in the quaint, charming
town of Swakopmund, arriving in the late
afternoon. Swakopmund, with its unique urban
atmosphere that is a vibrant combination of
Africa and Europe, is a wonderful town in
which to end a safari after the experiences
of the northern Namibian bush.
The Stiltz, as its name implies, is built on
stilts, providing breathtaking views of the
Atlantic Ocean, the red iron-rich beach
dunes and also the Swakopmund River mouth.
Each of the 8 minimalist yet elegantly
furnished thatched bungalows is linked by
wooden walkways to the main restaurant. The
lodge is sited close to the central part of
town, allowing for easy access to enjoy the
special hospitality, history and cuisine.
Days 8 & 9:
Kulala Adventurer Camp, Sossusvlei
After an early breakfast, we
drive southwards to Walvis Bay Lagoon. Here
in a protected bay, many flamingos, pelicans
and other waterbirds amass. On the calm
waters of the bay, we experience sea
kayaking, a spectacular activity that allows
us to approach seals, dolphins and birds at
a respectable distance and in their habitat,
allowing for some unique photographic
opportunities.
Afterwards, we drive inland to the
Kulala Adventurer Camp in our private
Sossusvlei concession. Here we enjoy access
to the Sossusvlei dunes, for walks in the
immense moving sands of the Namib, game
drives on our concession and stargazing.
Photography in the early morning of the
dunes is particularly stunning with rich
reds and dark shadows completing the
extraordinary vista that is the enormity of
the Namib Desert.
Day 10: Transfer
to Windhoek
After breakfast we transfer by
road, including lunch overlooking the view
of the plains nearby, to Windhoek and bid
farewell to the adventure. |
