Namibia 11 Day Explorer

Our adventure in Namibia begins in the capital city of Windhoek at 14h00. After a short tour briefing and "meet and greet", we set off exploring Windhoek, viewing the attractions of the city before ending the day welcoming the warm hospitality at the infamous Joe's Beerhouse restaurant. Tonight we spend in comfort at our hotel and prepare for the next day's adventure. Meals: Dinner own expense Distance: +- 30 km Accommodation: Hotel Safari Included Highlights/Activity: - Windhoek city tour Optional Activities: - None, all included

Leaving the city lights behind we enter the heart of the Namib, taking in its vast plains, red dunes, towering mountains and ever changing landscapes. Late afternoon, we reach the Namib Desert region, a remote camp, within a conservancy that forms part of the vast Namib Rand Nature Reserve, The reserve gives life to a variety of desert adapted fauna and flora and many an animal species. Enjoy an extensive walk as well as an optional day and a night desert drive during our time here. Meals: B L D Distance: 425 km Accommodation: Lodge Accommodation Included Highlights/Activity: - Private Desert lodge - Private Desert Reserve Optional Activities:

We awake to desert vistas that extend further than the eye can see. All animals here exist in completely natural surroundings, and are free to move unrestricted over the full extent of the reserve. Our expert guide will help us understand the unique desert fauna and flora, so today we start off with an ecology walk in this beautiful environment, searching for animals, foot prints, and signs of the behaviour and survival strategies that allow them to exist in these harsh conditions. During the heat of the day guests have time to relax at the camp, or to explore the surrounding area on foot, should they wish to. Mid-afternoon we depart on a desert drive, up and over the magnificent dunes. As the evening approaches, a traditional sundowner drink is enjoyed while the sun dips over the African landscape. Once dark, we slowly drive back to camp anticipating to encounter some of the nocturnal animals adapted to living in the desert.

Setting off early, we enter the Sesriem Canyon and the awesome red Sossusvlei dunes - reputedly the highest in the world. We transfer into the heart of the dunes, to spend some time climbing these spectacular mountains of sand, before taking a 4x4 transfer into Sossusvlei and Deadvlei - a clay pan characterized by dark dead camel thorn trees against the white pan floor. We explore these truly unique sites on foot, before the 4x4's take us back to our vehicle. On exiting the park we first make a stop to visit the Sesriem Canyon Meals: B L D Accommodation: Lodge Accommodation Distance: 200 km Included Highlights/Activity: -- Sossusvlei - Deadvlei - 4x4 transfer into these areas - Dune climbing Optional Activities: -None All included,

Crossing through Kuiseb Canyon, and the Namib-Naukluft National Park, we make our way to the port town of Walvis Bay, and then on to Swakopmund, where German influence still lingers from late 1800's, and spend two nights in comfortable accommodation. We explore this holiday town and its surrounds thoroughly, and enjoy both our evening meals at local restaurants (own expense). Swakopmund is a must-see for any visitor, and offers guests a variety of adventure activities. Clients have the opportunity to partake in quad biking, sand boarding and skydiving whilst here (own expense). For those that simply want to relax, the town offers a variety of restaurants and shops, where one can get a feel for the local culture. Meals: B L; B (Dinner on Day 5, lunch and dinner on Day 6 all own expense) Distance: 290 km on Day 5 Accommodation: Amanpuri Lodge Included Highlights/Activity: - Scenic drive through Namib-Naukluft National Park - Swakopmund Optional Activities: - Skydive - Quad bikes - Dune boarding - Desert tours - Boat cruises

Today we head north up the harsh Skeleton Coast, a barren stretch of coastline along the Atlantic Ocean, with scattered ship wrecks, littering the beaches. We visit Cape Cross, a spectacular breeding ground for Cape fur Seals where more than a 100 000 seals take refuge. We then venture back inland, travelling through the vast desert to the iconic Spitzkoppe, which is a group of bald granite peaks in the Namib desert of Namibia. The granite is more than 120 million years old and the highest outcrop rises about 1,728 metres above sea level. The peaks stand out dramatically from the flat surrounding plains, before arriving at the lodge early afternoon. Meals: B L D Distance: 330 km Accommodation: - Spitzkoppe Accommodation Included Highlights/Activity: - Cape Cross seal colony - Spitzkoppe Granite Mountains Optional Activities: None all included

After a leisurely start we spend time exploring and climbing the Granite boulders of Spitzkopppe, before venturing through the vast desert to the iconic Brandberg Mountain, the highest mountain in Namibia, en route we make a roadside stop to interact with members the local Himba tribe, before stopping at the base of the Brandberg mountain where take a guided hike to the iconic White Lady bushmen paintings before arriving at the lodge in the late afternoon. Those interested why not take an optional excursion hoping to encounter the elusive rare desert elephant, before retiring to our rooms snuggled at the foot of the mountain Meals: B L D Distance: 130 km Accommodation: - Brandberg Accommodation Included Highlights/Activity: -Himba tribe interaction (subject to availability) Optional Activities: - Game drive to find the rare Desert elephants

Today we continue our trip up to Etosha, this journey takes us through breath taking Damaraland, region and home of the Damara people. We arrive at our overnight destination in time for lunch, before entering the renowned Etosha National Park, for an afternoon game drive arguably the highlight of the tour. Becoming one with nature we enjoy two days of exploring the park. During these days we conduct extensive game drives, visiting little water holes, exploring, letting your senses free, making the most of our time in the park. (Game drives will be conducted in the Drifters truck ) On one of the days we will shorten the game drive and drive to the world famous Okekeujo waterhole where we will spend time, waiting patiently for the animals to come and quench their thirst, before leaving in time to exit the park. Time permitting; why not take an optional sunset game drive (drinks included) on private land bordering the parks. Distance: 300 km .Meals: B L D; B L D Distance: Roughly 120 km game drive on Day 10 Accommodation: Camping - Etosha area outside the park Included Highlights/Activity: - Brandberg white lady Hike - Damaraland - 2 days within the Park - Extensive game viewing opportunities Optional Activities: - None, all included

An early morning, we pack up and begin our journey back to civilization. The drive to Windhoek will take the majority of the day and the tour will officially come to an end in the late afternoon on arrival back in the capital city. Meals: B Distance: 540 km Included Highlights/Activity: - Scenic drive to Windhoek

1 NIGHT HOTEL, 9 NIGHTS LODGE

An overland expedition vehicle is used for this tour.

Most of the meals on this tour are included in the tour price. When a meal is not included, it is highlighted in the tour itinerary.