Namibia
13 Day Family Adventure Tour
A 13 day partly accommodated family safari with
an itinerary specially designed for families with Children.
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Etosha National Park
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Africat Foundation
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Damaraland People
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Twyfelfontein Rockart
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Skeleton Coast
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Swakopmund
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Sossusvlei Dunes
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Sesriem Canyon
Day
1:
Depending on arrival times there will be time to relax in your
room or by the pool.
(Also depending on arrival times), this afternoon you will be
taken on a "Katutura Township Tour". Katutura was,
during the apartheid years, the original Windhoek workers "township"
and is still today the largest suburb in Windhoek. The atmosphere
is truly African and we will visit all the areas of local interest
including markets and a local bar to try out the traditional
drinks and food.
Dinner this evening in not included in the price of the safari
and will be for the client's own account.
Day 2:
We will travel north, stopping at small towns along the way
including Okahandja, where we have time to visit Namibia's largest
wood carving market. The market is operated on a local co-operative
basis and is one of the best places to shop for truly Namibian
souvenirs.
Continuing north, passing through farmland, we aim to arrive
at Okonjima during the middle afternoon, giving us time to set
up our camp and to relax in the shade for a while before heading
out on to the property to take part in the afternoon's activities.
Okonjima is the home of the Africat Foundation, a specialist
conservation concern that centres it's operations around the
African Big Cats, particularly cheetah. This afternoon specialised
guides will take you on a tour during which you will be able
to meet, close-up-and-personal, some of the cheetah, and other
Big Cats, that are going through the Africat rehabilitation
programme.
Most of the animals currently living at Okonjima have been rescued
from various desperate situations, being orphaned or caught
in a trap, and the aim of the rehabilitation process is to attempt
to re-introduce them into the wild. After our educational tour
we will return to camp and prepare for dinner under the African
stars.
Day 3:
Heading north on the main road and passing through small towns
along the way. We will make a short stop for fresh supplies
in the northern community of Outjo where we can also get coffee
and sticky cakes at the local bakery, before continuing on to
Etosha's premier resort, Okaukuejo.
We have time to make our camp and to relax in the shade by the
swimming pool before heading out into the park in the cool of
the late afternoon on our first game drive. Etosha forms the
main game viewing section of our safari and the Okaukuejo area
offers us some of the best waterholes in the park and the best
chance to see some Big Game.
Game driving is not the only way to see the African wildlife
at Okaukuejo. Located right on the boundary of the camp and
within easy walking distance there is a floodlit waterhole for
"after hours" game watching. Okaukuejo is famous for
its waterhole, it has been described as one of the "best
game viewing opportunities in Southern Africa" and black
rhino, elephant, lion and numerous species of antelope are usually
seen.
Day 4:
Okaukuejo is our first two-night stop and we go straight out
on an early morning game drive. We visit some of the numerous
waterholes in the area hoping to catch some of Etosha's Big
Game out for an early morning drink. The game drives around
the Okaukuejo area are some of the best in the park and we cover
several different terrains this morning, from wooded areas to
open savannah and in the rainy season, wetland.
Back to Okaukuejo in the late morning and after lunch there
is time once again to relax during the heat of the day. The
pool area here is very good, shaded by palm trees and within
easy walking distance of the waterhole.
As on day three, we take a shorter game drive in the late afternoon,
often driving out to one of the waterholes popular with game
and waiting for the animals to come to us.
The Okaukuejo waterhole "Game Show" is scheduled to
start again at sunset
Day 5:
Leaving early we continue with our Namibian wildlife experience
today, driving westward through Etosha and entering the restricted
"West Etosha" zone. West Etosha is a huge area of
the National Park that has been set aside for wildlife research
and to allow the animals to breed without the intrusion of game
drive vehicles.
With special permission we are allowed to transit through this
special area of the park, stopping on the main road for any
special animals, however our permit does not allow us to leave
the main road or to make too many stops along the way. We should
be lucky enough to see many elephants as they abound in this
area and we also keep a sharp lookout for Hartmann's Mountain
Zebra, a different species of "stripy donkey" that
does not usually occur in the main tourist areas of Etosha.
We exit Etosha at the far western gate called Otjovasondu and
find ourselves, by way of our shortcut through West Etosha,
in northern Damaraland. Hobatere is a private concession area
that is designed to offer sanctuary to wildlife but also to
benefit the local communities through environment management
training, game management skills and revenue through tourism.
The campsite here is rustic but excellent with good views across
the surrounding terrain and shaded areas for the heat of the
day. The campsite is in an unfenced wilderness area and parental
control of children whilst at Hobatere is essential.
Day 6:
Leaving Hobatere we begin our journey south with a relatively
short drive to the small town of Kamanjab. We will make a short
stop here before continuing on to find the Oase Himba village,
located about 20 km from Kamanjab. (The exact location of the
site varies as the Himba occasionally roam to a new location).
Oase is a "living village", meaning that the inhabitants
permanently reside here and live according to their traditional
lifestyle. In the 21st century this is pretty unique and Oase
is in fact the only traditionally functioning Himba community
outside the far north Kaokoland region of Namibia.
We will meet a specialised guide before being invited into the
village to meet the inhabitants. Our guide will be able to translate
for us and we will learn about marriage customs, traditional
food, traditional medicine and the mysteries of the ancient
religion, "Holy Fire".
From Oase we will travel to the west, heading deeper into the
desert and passing through beautiful Damaraland scenery as we
traverse the small "Groot-Berg" mountain range and
we head down to the Palmwag Oasis. Located on the banks of a
dry river, the Oasis is shaded by huge makalani palm trees and
water comes from a rare desert spring that attracts a wide variety
of wild game, including the rare and elusive desert elephant
and rhinoceros.
There is a swimming pool where you can cool off and chill out
or a self guided sunset walking trail if you are feeling energetic.
Day 7:
Damaraland is probabally Namibia's most beautiful area and we
drive through the heart of the region today. Giant granite "koppies"
and open grassland make up the terrain with rare and unusual
flora species dotting the landscape.
Our first main stop today will be the Twyfelfontein valley to
visit the Bushman rock engravings or petroglyphs. Ancient artisans
used tools made from quartz to leave modern generations with
the gift of a fascinating open air museum. The art is carved
into the flat surfaces of a ruined petrified sand dune and a
local guide will introduce us to this important site.
From here we head deeper into the desert and on to Namibia's
highest mountain, The Brandberg, (2573 m). Brandberg Mountain
is another ancient Bushman spiritual site and tonight we will
sleep in a community campsite under the shadow of this giant
granite monolith.
Day 8:
Starting early to enjoy the cool of the morning we will hike,
"into" the mountain with our guide to see the world
famous "White Lady" rock painting. Attributed to the
Bushman artists, the white lady panel is believed by some to
be in excess of 20 000 years old.
Back on the road and more beautiful Damaraland scenery this
morning, we make our first stop in the small town of Uis, an
old mining town, and one of the best places to buy semi-precious
stones, for which Namibia is famous. Here, rough Amethyst, Tourmaline
etc can be found at bargain prices.
From here we turn directly west and cross the "gravel plains"
on our way to the Atlantic Ocean and the Skeleton Coast. Meeting
the ocean at Henties Bay, we first head north along the coast
to visit the seal colony at Cape Cross where at certain times
of the year there can be as many as 100,000 Cape Fur Seals in
attendance. The next destination is Swakopmund, following the
Skeleton Coast into Namibia's premier seaside town.
The Swakopmund section of the trip is designed to allow people
to relax either with the group, or on their own. Only breakfast
is provided to allow you to plan your time here with as much
flexibility as possible and not to be tied to group meal times.
It also gives you the chance to sample some of the excellent
local cafes and restaurants. The seafood in Swakopmund is superb
and your guide will offer to organise a group meal in a local
restaurant for this evening.
Dinner this evening in not included in the price of the safari
and will be for the client's own account
Day 9:
Today is a free day. The idea is to allow time for everybody
to do their own thing. Swakopmund is a very pleasant seaside
town with lots of shops, a good stretch of beach (although the
Atlantic here is quite cold) and an open-air curio market. There
is also a very good museum and the Namibian National Marine
Aquarium is located in Swakopmund.
Alternatively, there are various optional activities that can
be arranged. These include aeroplane and microlight flights
over the desert, scenic drives, fishing trips (both from the
beach or in a boat), four-wheel motorcycle (quad bike) trips
into the desert and over the sand dunes around Swakopmund, sand
boarding trips (also in the dunes), skydiving, surfing, bird-watching
and many other activities are available.
Your tour guide will discuss all the possible options with you
before you reach Swakopmund and will offer to make bookings
in advance of your arrival. (N.B. All extra activities and excursions
in Swakopmund are subject to availability and are made at the
clients' own risk and expense and dinner this evening is not
included in the price of the safari and will be for the client's
own account.
Day 10:
We first make a stop at Walvis Bay, situated about 40 km south
of Swakopmund. South of the town there is a large marine lagoon
which is home to a vast array of marine bird-life, in particular
flamingos.
We will make a short visit to the lagoon to see the birds and
a short visit to Walvis Bay to collect any last minute supplies
before once again heading out into the desert.
The second part of our journey today takes us across more of
the seemingly endless Namib gravel plains. Then the landscape
suddenly changes and we are into the mountain desert.
We traverse both the Kuiseb and Gaub passes, driving both times
to the river beds at the bottom of the canyons and then climbing
the long steep road to the top and the spectacular panoramas
the mountains give us. Again the scenery changes as we make
our way down to the dune fields at Sesriem.
We cross some open grass savannah and farmlands before the terrain
begins to give way to the immense red sand dune desert of the
Namib. We aim to arrive at Sesriem during the late afternoon
and we have time to drive out to one of the nearby dunes to
watch the colours on distant mountains to the east, glow and
change.
Day 11:
A pre-dawn start to see the sunrise in the dunes, we drive a
further 60 km into the desert and have our breakfast as the
colours grow across the landscape. To reach Sossusvlei itself
we walk for the last 5 km through the dunes. The walk is like
nothing else, in the cool of the morning, with soft sunlight
just beginning to play over the dunes creating a sharp light
and shadow contrast across the whole desert.
Ancient mineral pans, stunted camel thorn trees and the chance
of seeing a gemsbok or maybe an ostrich make the photo opportunities
perfect. We spend the morning in and around Sossusvlei, also
visiting "Dune 45", and as the day wears on we return
to Sesriem for lunch and to escape the heat of the afternoon.
As the day cools off in the late afternoon we will take a short
excursion to the Sesriem Canyon.
Day 12"
After breakfast we begin our journey, over the mountains and
along scenic roads, back to Windhoek. We will travel over the
Naukluft Mountains and also the Khomas Hochland range, through
beautiful Remhoogte Pass on our way back to civilization.
Passing through Windhoek we will drive a little further to Daan
Viljoen Nature Reserve located about 20 km from the city centre.
Daan Vilogen is a small but interesting reserve with several
bush walks that your guide will be able to introduce you to.
Tonight we are staying in small bungalows and we aim to arrive
in time to explore the area on foot or to relax by the pool.
Day
13:
Depending on departure times, there is the option this morning
to stay and explore or use the swimming pool at Daan Viljoen
or to go into Windhoek City with your guide. The shopping in
Windhoek is interesting and this is an excellent opportunity
to check out the markets for last minute gifts and souvenirs.
Eco Camping Safari's (to view tours click on tour below)
3
Day Etosha Link
3
Day Sossusvlei Link
6
Day Taste of Namibia, (3 days north & 3 days south)
7
Day Northern Adventure
7
Day Southern Swing
8
Day Delta and Vic Falls
10
Day Namibian Explorer
12
Day Namibia Ideal
13
Day Culture and Nature
13
Day Family Adventure
14
Day Namibian Experience
14
Day Delta and Dunes
Combination
Tours:
10
Day Combination, (3 days south + 7 days north)
18
Day Combination, (3 days Sossusvlei link + 7 day Northern Adventure
+ 8 day Delta and Falls)
22 Day combination, (14 day Namibian Experience + 8 day Delta
& Falls)
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