Namibia:- The Full Works! (12 Days)
A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING
If you like your Namibia safaris with an added dose of adventure and a few extra thrills and spills, then we may have found the perfect itinerary for you. This 12-day guided safari combines the iconic highlights of northern Namibia, with three nights under the watchful eyes of the towering dunes and crystal-clear skies at Sossusvlei, before ending at the coastal town of Swakopmund.
This is an itinerary that’s as diverse as the country is, and there’s something different around every corner. You’ll go from tracking white rhino in the private Etosha Heights Reserve to searching for desert elephant in the Hoanib Valley. Then you’ll jump from the towering dunes of Sossusvlei, to the pretty, palm-lined streets of Swakopmund, before rounding off with a day of quad biking, parasailing and dune boarding. And that’s just the beginning…
This itinerary is a fly-in safari, but it can also be done with a private guide, or as a self-drive safari (albeit, a bit longer!)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Experience the different wildlife, terrain and activities of four unique and diverse parts of Namibia.
- Stop off in Namibia’s two main cities, Swakopmund and Windhoek. They may both be cities, but that’s where the similarities end!
- Enjoy a traditional safari experience with all the benefits of a private reserve, with walking safaris, game drives and night drives at Etosha Heights.
- Track white rhino in Etosha, and search for black rhino and the incredible desert-adapted species in the harsh but beautiful Kaokoland.
- Wake up at dawn to watch the sunlight peep over the iconic dunes of Sossusvlei, before climbing to the top of the towering massifs for the best view of the blood-red landscape.
- Ramp up the adventure with quad biking and parasailing in Swakopmund, or take some time out and wander the pretty, palm-lined streets.
ACCOMMODATIONS
In Etosha Heights, cool and comfortable Safarihoek Lodge will be your home. Perched high on a ridge, the 11 thatch chalets have camera-loving vistas across the reserve and all have ensuite bathrooms with private loos and indoor showers. At the main area, there’s a wine cellar, indoor lounge and outdoor bar, as well as a swimming pool for the hot summer days and a large deck with a fireplace for chilly winter evenings.
Hoanib Valley Camp is tucked deep into the dry riverbeds and towering dunes of Kaokoland. A joint venture between the local communities and Dr Julian Fennessy, Africa’s foremost giraffe expert, the camp is an elegant, intimate affair that immerses you into the wilds of the desert.
At Sossusvlei and Swakopmund, we’ll help you choose from a variety of camps and lodges that suit your safari-style. But rest assured, all camps that we use meet our own, very high standards.
WILDLIFE
When you’re not being knocked off your feet by Namibia’s epic scenery, there’s plenty of animals to be spotted too. First up, Etosha Heights Private Reserve is a gem in Namibia’s wildlife-watching crown. Crowds of eland, zebra, gemsbok and kudu jostle for space with elephant and buffalo, and there are plenty of predators around too. But the sparkliest of the gems is, of course, the white rhino, an iconic symbol of the reserve. Tracking the prehistoric creatures through the scrub, and watching as they pause to drink at the waterholes is a memory that’s not easily forgotten.
For the mysterious desert-adapted elephant, you can’t do much better than the Hoanib Valley, where breeding herds roam the sandy riverbeds, digging deep holes for the last vestiges of water. Sossusvlei will reveal oryx and springbok dancing across the red sand, and at Swakopmund you’ve got an excellent chance of seeing Cape fur seals, and even dolphin in the Walvis Bay Lagoon.
ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrive at Hosea Kutako (Windhoek International) Airport and transfer to Etosha Heights Private Reserve
Your first night on safari will be spent in the exclusive Etosha Heights Reserve on the edge of the infamous Etosha National Park. Settle in with a sundowner and dinner under the star-spangled skies.
Days 2 & 3: Etosha Heights Private Reserve
Over the next two days you’ll track white rhino on 4×4 drives, walk across the plains learning about the finer details of the bush, and experience Namibia’s nightlife on after-dark game drives.
Day 4: Transfer to Hoanib Valley
Today, you’ll transfer to the Hoanib Valley in Kaokoland, a rugged corner of Namibia characterised by sandy riverbeds and rolling valleys as far as they eye can see.
Days 5 & 6: Hoanib Valley
This vast, arid landscapes of Kaokoland may be remote but there’s plenty to discover, including large populations of black rhino and the majestic desert-adapted elephant. You’ll also have the chance to meet and spend time with the nomadic Himba people.
Day 7: Transfer to Sossusvlei
One of Namibia’s most iconic scenes has to be the apricot dunes of Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert, and now’s the time to see them for yourself. Cameras at the ready!
Days 8 & 9: Sossusvlei
You’ve got two full days to get to grips with all that Sossusvlei has to offer, from the tree skeletons at Deadvlei to the fascinating Sesriem canyon, and all the activities in between.
Day 10: Transfer to Swakopmund
Today, you’ll head back north to Swakopmund, where the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean are a welcome sight after all that sand.
Day 11: Swakopmund
There’s plenty to do in Swakopmund. Spend the day paragliding, quad biking or sandboarding on the dunes, or, if a little R&R is called for, wander around the quirky shops and boutiques in the town.
Day 12: Depart Swakopmund
Epic adventure over, it’s time to bid farewell to Namibia and begin your journey home.
THE ESSENTIALS
Pricing Information: From N$68,800.00 per person sharing.
(Approx. USD5,850 - Subject to currency fluctuations)
A single supplement applies to
single travellers. The price is dependent on actual travel
dates.
Included:
Travelling costs as per itinerary; activities (most!); entrance and park fees; accommodation as specified on a sharing basis; all meals and local drinks; road transfers; applicable tourism levies, taxes, and all relevant VAT.
Excluded:
Expenses of a personal nature, such as telephone expenses & shopping; premium brand drinks; tips and gratuities; additional activities; scheduled flights and related taxes; Visa fees where relevant; cancellation, baggage, medical, and evacuation insurance.
Child Policy: Please enquire with
reservations.
Disabled Access: Please enquire with
reservations.
Wifi: Wifi is available at Safarihoek
Lodge and Hoanib Valley Camp.
Can this itinerary be customised? Yes, this itinerary can be fully customised.
Extension ideas: Experience a part of Namibia that few ever get the chance to, and add two or three nights at the eerily beautiful Skeleton Coast.