Description
Travel with a small group of like-minded individuals to the highlights of Namibia.
Overview
This expertly-guided small group trip consisting of a maximum of seven guests takes in the natural highlights of Namibia. Over the course of this twelve-day trip, you'll visit the home of the AfriCat Foundation and sleep amongst the trees in Onguma Tree Top Camp, experience excellent game viewing at Etosha National Park and Onguma Game Reserve including the iconic Ficher's Plan, witness the desert-adapted wildlife and unique rock formations of Damaraland, learn about the coast and wildlife at Swakopmund and round it all off with a sunrise trip to the world's oldest desert to see the highest free-standing dunes in the world.
This is a small group safari in Namibia taking in the best the country has to offer, including access to private concessions and reserves.
What makes this trip extraordinary
- Be guided by one of Namibia's most well-known naturalist guides who will be with you for the duration of the safari and help to explain this unique country to you.
- Spend three nights in the treetops overlooking a waterhole which is a magnet for game on the Onguma Private Game Reserve.
- Explore Etosha National Park on game drives visiting the famous waterholes and pans.
- Stay in an exclusive tented camp in wild Damaraland and search for desert adapted elephant and track endangered black rhino with Save the Rhino Trust.
- Summit some of the world's highest free-standing sand dunes in the world's oldest desert at Sossusvlei.
- Spend a night under the stars overlooking one of Onguma Private Game Reserve's most productive waterholes from an undetected position in the tree tops.
- Enjoy spectacular sunsets and breathtaking star gazing in the Namib Tsaris Conservancy.
Itinerary
Arrive Windhoek
On your arrival into Windhoek International Airport, you will be met by one of Natural World Safaris’ representatives who will assist you with any questions you may have and transfer you by private vehicle to Galton House.
Overnight accommodation: Galton House
(D)
Windhoek - Onguma Reserve via Okonjima
Meet the rest of your group and depart Windhoek in your safari vehicle with your private guide. You will drive north west towards Etosha National Park and the private Onguma Game Reserve. Stopping en route at Okonjima you will visit the home of the AfriCat Foundation and its wildlife sanctuary focussed on the research and rehabilitation of Africa's big cats. You will be taken on a game drive before touring the centre to learn more about their mission and to meet some of their carnivore residents. Following a light lunch you will continue northwards reaching Onguma in the late afternoon allowing time to settle in and freshen up before dinner and the official safari briefing from your guide.
Overnight accommodation: Onguma Tree Top Camp
(B, L, D)
Eastern Etosha National Park
Today you will embark on a full day of game viewing in the eastern section of Etosha National Park. You can choose which area of the park to focus on whether heading across to Halali or concentrating closer to Namutoni and up towards Fischer’s Pan. The group as a whole can decide whether you would like this to be a full day spent in the park with picnic lunch to maximise your game viewing chances, or whether you would prefer to return to camp for lunch.
Overnight accommodation: Onguma Tree Top Camp
(B, L, D)
Etosha National Park & Onguma Game Reserve
This morning will be spent further exploring the eastern section of Etosha National Park before returning to camp for lunch and an afternoon siesta. Later this afternoon you will be met by a local guide from Onguma Private Game Reserve who will take you on a shared game drive which will end with sundowners overlooking the famous Fischer's Pan. Following sunset you will return to camp to freshen up before being treated to a memorable 'safari dinner' overlooking the floodlit waterhole.
Onguma Game Reserve comprises 20,000 hectares of protected land and wildlife and is home to over thirty different species including kudu, giraffe, eland, oryx as well as lion, cheetah, leopard and black rhino to name just a few.
Overnight accommodation: Onguma Tree Top Camp
(B, L, D)
Eastern Etosha - Damaraland
Today is a longer travel day as you leave Eastern Etosha after breakfast to journey into Damaraland, the heart of Namibia. A vast and desolate environment, Damaraland comprises unique geological features and offers a rewarding wilderness experience and the chance to search for desert-adapted wildlife including elephant and rhino; only found in this region. You will stop off en route to have a picnic lunch before arriving at your next camp, the exclusive Huab Under Canvas in time to enjoy a sundowner around the camp fire.
Overnight: Huab Under Canvas (B, L, D)
Damaraland Rhino Tracking with Save the Rhino
Rise early this morning for the memorable experience of accompanying local trackers to search for endangered black rhino. The rhino are totally unfenced and now number one of the few free-roaming black rhino populations left on the African continent. This makes for a totally unique experience, and whilst it is a privilege to encounter them, there is no guarantee. You will return to camp in time for another delicious freshly-prepared lunch before relaxing at camp to escape the heat of the day (there is a small plunge pool if you need to cool off), before heading out later in the afternoon on a scenic nature drive or walking safari to further explore this vast and unique ecosystem.
Overnight: Huab Under Canvas (B, L, D)
Huab Conservancy and Damaraland
Today heralds another day exploring Damaraland both by vehicle and on foot accompanied by your private naturalist guide. Keep your eyes peeled for desert-adapted wildlife including elephant, giraffe, oryx and perhaps even predators such as lion if you are really lucky. As this area is wild and unfenced with the wildlife roaming free, it can be more challenging to spot the wildlife as it is more sparsely populated, but the searching is one of the most thrilling experiences. Today's focus will be the desert-adapted elephant and your guide will bring a picnic lunch along so that you can make the most of your day and maximise your time out exploring and wildlife viewing. You will return to camp later this afternoon.
Overnight: Huab Under Canvas (B, L, D)
Damaraland - Swakopmund
Another early start today with breakfast followed by the drive south to Swakopmund. Along the way you will pass the Brandberg, which at 2,573 metres above sea level, is Namibia's highest peak. You will be driven west to meet the coast at Henties Bay before continuing south to reach the cooler coastal air of the Germanic seaside town of Swakopmund, which will feel like a hub of civilisation after your time in the wilderness of Damaraland. Continuing with the off-the-beaten-track feel of this safari, you will stay on the eastern outskirts of town, at Desert Breeze, overlooking the Swakop River valley and desert. After relaxing at settling into your lodgings you will enjoy dinner at a popular restaurant in town whose specialities include freshly caught local seafood.
Overnight accommodation: Desert Breeze Lodge.
(B)
Swakopmund - Namib Tsaris Conservancy
After an early breakfast this morning, you continue south east through the desert landscape, enjoying a picnic lunch en route before reaching the Namib Tswaris Conservancy for the final two nights of your safari, staying at the exclusive Sossus Under Canvas. You will arrive in the mid to late afternoon and will have some time to freshen up and settle in before having dinner. As an alternative to the drive you may wish to take a scenic light aircraft flight along the Diamond Coast (at an additional cost) which will allow you to enjoy a bird's eye view of Sandwich Harbour, the Namib Sea Sand, and two shipwrecks. You will then meet your guide at Sossusvlei.
Overnight: Camp Sossus (B, L, D)
Namib Tsaris Conservancy and Sossusvlei
You will rise early this morning for your guided excursion to Sossusvlei, setting off before sunrise and entering the park at sunrise to capture the dunes in soft light with the shadows accentuating their already vast scale. Here you will discover some of the highest free-standing sand dunes in the world and your guide will explain the formation of the Namib Desert, the world's oldest desert. You will explore Sossusvlei, Dead Vlei and the surrounding dune fields before returning to camp for a late freshly prepared lunch and the chance to enjoy an afternoon siesta. Later this afternoon your guide will take you on a scenic nature drive or walk to explore the Namib Tsaris Conservancy before enjoying a final safari sundowner with a spectacular sunset guaranteed!
Overnight: Camp Sossus (B, L, D)
Namib Tsaris Conservancy - Windhoek
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast this morning before beginning the drive back to Windhoek. You will drive up the Great Escarpment and through the scenic Khomas Hochland highlands stopping en route for a picnic lunch. You will arrive in Windhoek mid afternoon and will either be dropped at your hotel for the night or transferred to the airport.
Overnight accommodation: Galton House
(B)
Depart Windhoek
Please note that checkout is in the morning. You will be transferred to the Windhoek International Airport for your international flight home. Why not consider adding a couple of days in South Africa, Botswana or Zambia and completing your Southern African Safari?
(B)
Accommodation
- Huab Under Canvas
- Camp Sossus
Cancellation Policy
Life is unpredictable and we understand that sometimes you have to cancel or change your trip dates and it is our endeavor to make it as easy as possible for you. However, please understand that we plan everything including guide fees, permits, accommodation, and ration in advance. Therefore, any cancellation means inconvenience and certain losses to the people involved in various stages of the program. Keeping that in mind, our cancellation charges are as below,
- Cancellations prior to 30 days from the start of the event: Full refund as cash.
- Cancellations between 30 days and 15 days to the start of the event: 50 % refund as cash.
- Cancellations less than 15 days to the start of the event: No refund.
- Cancellations will be accepted only by email.
Note: We reserve the right to cancel a program before departure in the event of logistical problems arising due to natural calamities, strikes, wars or any other circumstances that make the event inadvisable. In this case, we will refund 50% of the event fees.
Gallery
