10 Day Classic Namibia Conservation Safari
This unique Namibia Conservation Safari offers the once in a lifetime chance to a behind the scenes conservation experience. Visiting some of the leading conservation organisations and reserves in Namibia combined with highlights such as Sossusvlei, Etosha, Swakopmund and Namib Nauklift National Park, this is a bucket list experience not to be missed.
Full Itinerary – 10 Day Classic Namibia Conservation Safari
Day 1:
Arrival in Windhoek and Sossusvlei
Welcome to Namibia! You will be met at the airport by your guide. After loading your luggage in the vehicle, we will set off for Sossusvlei. We will make regular stops along the way to take photographs of the beautiful landscape. Mid-morning we will stop for a coffee break at a perfect lookout point and enjoy the vast beauty of the Namibian vista.
If time allows we will stop for the “famous Apple Pie” in Solitaire, a true Namibian tradition that cannot be missed. This journey will take approximately 4 to 5 hours and we will arrive at our lodge located close to the entrance gate of Sesriem in time for watching the beautiful sunset and enjoying some drinks while we discuss the plans for tomorrow’s early start.
Situated in the largest conservation area in Africa (the Namib-Naukluft National Park), Sossusvlei is possibly Namibia’s most spectacular and best-known attraction.
Day 2:
Sossusvlei
We will be up before the sun rises to get ready for our Sossusvlei visit. We will enjoy a quick cup of coffee/tea and then wait for the entrance gates of the park to open. (The gates open at sunrise) We will drive for about 30 minutes while appreciating the beauty of the sun that is rising over the amazing red dunes. The dunes in this area are some of the highest in the world, reaching almost 400 meters, and provides the opportunity to capture wonderful images in the beautiful morning and evening light.
For the adventurous you have the option of climbing the dunes, sliding down them or enjoy a brisk walk to Dead Vlei. You will have plenty of time to enjoy the many highlights that surround Sossusvlei itself.
• Dune 45, situated 45 km past Sesriem on the road to Sossusvlei, this is the most photographed dune on earth
• Hiddenvlei, the perfect place to find solitude in the desert
• The magnificently tall Big Daddy dune
• Deadvlei, photographer’s paradise with the blackened, dead acacia trees, in vivid contrast to the shiny white of the salty floor of the pan and the intense orange of the dunes
We will take a break halfway and enjoy a picnic breakfast while enjoying the surrounding landscape. After a full morning’s activity, we will return to the lodge for lunch and some free time. Late afternoon we will join the lodge on a sundowner drive. Another perfect end to our day on safari in Namibia.
Day 3:
Swakopmund
This morning we can enjoy a relaxed breakfast and for those that are interested, there is the option to do an early morning Balloon Ride (please enquire about this option).
We will slowly make our way to our next destination, Swakopmund. We will again stop along the way for a coffee break as well as taking photographs of the ever-changing landscape.
We will arrive in Swakopmund late afternoon and have time to settle in before we all meet up for sundowner drinks and enjoy dinner at one of the many wonderful restaurants in town. (Please note that dinner is for you own account, we can arrange all bookings beforehand
Day 4:
Living Desert Experience
We wake up to another Namibian sunrise and enjoy our coffee while getting ready for our adventure this morning. After breakfast, you will be picked up for your Living Desert Adventure.
You will return to the hotel at around 13h00 and after enjoying lunch we will make our way to Walvis Bay where we will marvel at the thousands of waterbirds that call the Walvis Bay Lagoon their home. We will head back to Swakopmund where will enjoy dinner at one of the restaurants in town.
There are various optional activities you can partake in while you are in Swakopmund. These range from scenic flights, quad-biking, fatbike tours, horse riding, skydiving and Catamaran Cruises. Please enquire should you be interested in any of these options.
Day 5:
Rare and Endangered Species Trust (REST)
This morning, after breakfast we will make our way to Outjo where we will spend the afternoon at the Rare and Endangered Species Trust (REST).
You have the option to partake in the following activities:
• Observing the treatment of wildlife at the Rare and Endangered Species Trust (REST) sanctuary – current resident species include Cape Vulture, Common Duiker, Pangolin, Bateleur, Western Barn Owl, Honey Badger, Warthog etc
• Assist in conservation projects and research
• Bush Walks with one of the resident biologists: he/she will guide and assist to identify various fauna, animals, etc that they will come across on the walk.
• Observing and documenting various animals’ behaviour
• Assisting with or watching training sessions with animals during their training.
• Assisting with preparing special diets and feeding of animals
Day 6:
Etosha National Park South
From here we will depart for Etosha National Park where will spend the next 2 nights. Etosha is one of Africa’s biggest and best National Parks and one of the main tourist attractions in Namibia.
Etosha is known for its spectacular game viewing and the waterholes attract huge numbers of game in the dry season when all the open water has dried up. 114 Species of mammal are found in the park and it is the best place in the world to see Black Rhino.
Other game include Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Hyena, Giraffe, Honey-badger, Black-faced Impala, Kudu, Eland, Damara dik-dik, Warthog and big herds of Springbok, Zebra, Blue Wildebeest, Red Hartebeest and Oryx. More than 300 species of birds are found here and it is brilliant for finding raptors.
After arriving at our lodge and freshening up we will do an afternoon game drive in our own vehicle. We will enjoy dinner at our lodge.
Day 7:
Etosha National Park South
We will explore the southwestern side of world-famous Etosha park today, going for a morning drive in our own vehicle after breakfast and returning to our lodge for lunch and a break in the heat of the day.
In the drier months of the year, almost all the animals tend to congregate around the waterholes dotted around the massive park. They come to drink water and are inevitably followed by predators; this allows us to sit and wait at some of the waterholes and wait for the action to come to us. This is what sets Etosha apart from other parks in southern or east Africa; unique indeed!
We will return to the lodge after our afternoon game drive in our own vehicle to enjoy dinner. Remember to look up before settling into your bed tonight – the African night sky, undisturbed by city lights out here in the bush, is truly amazing.
Day 8:
Okonjima Nature Reserve
This morning we will leave the Etosha area and make our way to Okonjima Nature Reserve. The 22 000 ha nature reserve is home to AfriCAT, a carnivore sanctuary, which gives the captive cats a second chance to be released back into the wild and become completely independent hunters in a protected area right in the middle of commercial cattle farmland. We will spend two nights here while enjoying some of the many conservation activities on offer here.
After lunch and settling in at the camp, we will meet up for tea/coffee and go on an afternoon Leopard Tracking drive.
We return to camp for sundowners and dinner.
Day 9:
Okonjima Nature Reserve
This morning we will visit Africat, where we will get some background information on the conservation done here. We will return to camp for lunch and do another tracking drive late afternoon.
Our last dinner in Namibia will be enjoyed at our camp, a perfect way to end our Conservation Safari.
Day 10:
Departure
This morning after breakfast you will be transferred to Hosea Kutako International Airport, or extend your visit with a night in Windhoek, the capital city of Namibia.
Optional Extensions/Additions:
• Palmwag Rhino Tracking
• Damaraland Desert Adapted Elephant Tracking
• Naankuse Foundation Visit
Do you have a quick question about this Namibia Conservation Safari? Speak to a specialist at
info@naturetravelnamibia.com