AT A GLANCE
When going on safari in this beautiful country, you want to make sure that you experience the highlights of Namibia. This 11-day budget safari will take to you to three of Namibia’s must see natural wonders. We will visit the Namib Desert and Sossusvlei which is home to some of the highest sand dunes in the world. Then we move on to Swakopmund where the desert and the coast come together. We will then make our way up along the Skeleton Coast and turn inland into the dramatic and scenic Damaraland. Last but not least we will move on to Etosha which is one of Africa’s best game viewing destinations.
On this guided safari we will stay in more affordable accommodation which could include permanent tented structures and guesthouses. The accommodation is located close to all the major tourist areas. This safari excludes lunch as well as dinner in Swakopmund.
19 JULY (fully booked) / 9 SEPTEMBER / 19 OCTOBER
DAY 1:
Sossusvlei and the Namib Desert
After breakfast and meeting your guide for the safari you will depart for Sossusvlei. We will drive through the Khomas Hochland and down the escarpment via one of the scenic mountain passes into the Namib Desert. This journey will take about 4 hours depending on the number of stops for photographs. Our accommodation is in an area perfectly situated to explore the surrounding desert and its attractionsThe Namib is the oldest desert and boasts the highest sand dunes in the world. This region is one of the most spectacular areas of Namibia and always one of the highlights of any safari. The name Sossusvlei refers to the vlei or pan into which the seasonal Tsauchab River flows in years of exceptional rainfall. The neighbouring Dead Vlei with the ancient dead Camel Thorn trees is one of the most photographic sites in good early morning light. The Sesriem canyon is a narrow gorge about 1 km long and is well worth a visit. Several desert adapted wildlife like oryx, springbok, black-backed jackal, ostrich, sociable weavers and plenty of reptiles and small mammals call this place home.
Day 2:
Sossusvlei and the Namib Desert
After an early breakfast and coffee, we will depart for a morning excursion to Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei. We will stop at the scenic Dune 45 along the way and spend a couple of hours at both Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei. Some of the dunes in the area are a few hundred meters high but the view from the top for those that dare is one you will never forget. After lunch and a well-earned siesta, we will join the lodge for a sundowner Nature Drive before returning to the lodge in time for dinner.
Day 3:
Swakopmund
After a relaxing breakfast we will depart for Swakopmund via the Namib Naukluft National Park. We will spend the next 2 nights in this wonderful town.
Swakopmund is a very popular holiday destination for many Namibians and will probably be the only place that you will visit on the Namibian safari that has a real town feel to it. Wedged between the Namib Desert and the cold Atlantic Ocean, Swakopmund which is known for its very relaxed atmosphere, has something for everybody. There are plenty of great restaurants and bars, good shopping opportunities and fascinating architecture. For the adventurous there’s quad biking, sand-boarding, skydiving, beach angling and scenic flights over the coastline and Sossusvlei to name a few. The nearby Walvis Bay, Namibia’s major harbour town is well known for the lagoon and its prolific bird life.
Day 4:
Living Desert Adventure
After breakfast you have the option to partake in any of the following activities (not included)
• Living Desert Tour
• Catamaran Charters
• Pelican Point Kayak Tour
• Scenic Flights
• Sandwich Harbour 4×4
• Sandboarding
• Quad Biking
• Horse Riding
• Swakopmund Fat Bike Old City Tour
• Swakopmund Fat Bike Scenic Desert Tour
• Swakopmund Tandem Skydiving Tour
Contact us for all the optional activities available in Swakopmund -advance booking recommended
Day 5:
Skeleton Coast and Damaraland
After a leisurely breakfast we continue our safari northwards along the Skeleton Coast. After visiting a shipwreck will turn inland towards Damaraland. We will drive past the Brandberg, Namibia’s highest mountain with the highest peak at 2573 meters. We will be at our lodge in time for a sun-downer drink while we enjoy the view over this beautiful landscape.
Day 6:
Damaraland
After breakfast we will visit the Twyfelfontein rock engravings (UNESCO World Heritage Site), burnt mountain and organ pipes rock formation and the Petrified Forest or we can embark on a morning drive looking for the desert adapted elephants.
Day 7 and 8:
Etosha National Park- Western Side
Today our journey continues to Etosha National Park where will spend the next 4 nights. Etosha is one of Africa’s biggest and best National Parks and one of the main tourist attractions in Namibia. It is 22 912 km 2 in size of which the Etosha Pan, a shallow depression that only holds water after good rainy seasons, is 5000 km 2 in size. 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. During the rainy season the park is transformed into a green oasis and this is the time you find young of various animal species in huge numbers. 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. One of the highlights of the park is the flood-lit waterholes at the 3 main camps where game viewing continues long after the sun has set.
Day 9 and 10:
Etosha National Park- Eastern Side
From here we will make our way across the park in a full morning game drive to our accommodation on the eastern boundary where we will spend the next 2 nights.
Day 11: Departure
After an early morning breakfast, we will depart for Windhoek where you will catch your connecting flight or contact us to assist with your Windhoek accommodation.
Do you have a quick question about this Namibia Safari? Speak to a specialist at
info@naturetravelnamibia.com