10 Days under the Namibian Sun

Leaving Windhoek we travel via the town of Okahandja, founded around 1800 by two local groups, the Herero and the Nama it is known as the Garden town of Namibia. South of Otjiwarongo lies Mount Etjo Safari Lodge located in the heart of the Okonjati Game Reserve. Home to over 8000 animals and a impressive variety of bird species the Okonjati Wildlife Sanctuary is a true Conservation Area, Mount Etjo Safari Lodge is where the most important Declaration towards Namibia's Independence was signed in 1989 (The Mount Etjo Declaration).

Three different dinosaur footprints can be found in the area, believed to date back to the Triassic (Stormberg) age, around 230 Million years ago.

Late afternoon we will join a guided game drive on the property.

We continue northwards via the town of Otjiwarongo, the next stop being the mining town of Tsumeb. We aim to arrive at the private reserve mid-afternoon, set up camp and head off for some game viewing.

Up before dawn, we need to be at the Von Lindequist Gate for sunrise which is when the entrance gates open, one of the best times for game viewing is the cooler morning hours and late afternoon. We make use of today on an extensive game drive in search of black and white rhino, elephants, lion, cheetah and the numerous species of plains game. The drive will give you an overview of the National Park including its birdlife, flora and geology. A stop will be made at Halali, the most central of the resorts. Exit the National Park, it’s a short journey to our overnight camping.

Todays travels take us to a Himba Village situated on a local cattle farm, a guided tour around an authentic Himba village will not only give you an in depth insight into the life and ways of this traditional tribe but an amazing photographic opportunity as well. A stop to buy supplies before we head off to our campsite, hidden among large grey granite boulders and mopane trees, the sites were designed to minimize the impact on the environment. After a day on the road refresh oneself in the sparkling splash pool and enjoy your sundowners on the natural wooden decks surrounding it.

 We drive along the Grootberg Pass through Damaraland, an area characterised by its rocky and rugged landscapes of rough, fascinating beauty. A visit to the Damara Living Museum before we view the rock engravings and rock paintings at Twyfelfontein, a UNESCO World Heritage Site before setting up camp for the night.

Destination = Swakopmund. Today we continue our travels through southern Damaraland, passing the Brandberg Mountain to arrive at the old mining town of Uis before heading off across the gravel plains to reach the Atlantic Ocean and the Skeleton Coast. Here we travel north to Cape Cross Seal Reserve, home to between eighty and one hundred thousand Fur seals, endemic to southern Africa they are commonly known as “eared seals”. Arrival in the coastal town of Swakopmund will be mid-afternoon.

Swakopmund is the adventure centre of Namibia with activities offered in and around the town itself or in neighbouring Walvis Bay (30km away). A few examples: marine cruise, Sandwich Harbour excursion, kayaking in Walvis Bay– Living Desert Tour, Township tour, dune boarding, quad biking – any of these tours can be pre-booked, please do ask for more information as needed. Accommodation tonight is included within the tour costs.

We leave Swakopmund to the harbour town of Walvis Bay before heading south travelling across the gravel plains of the Namib Desert, endless horizons. The surrounds of the Kuiseb and Gaub Canyon provide good geological phenomenon, in addition we may see the elusive Mountain Zebra. After crossing the Tropic of Capricorn head on to the settlement of Solitaire. Our aim is to arrive at our campsite mid to late afternoon. Set up camp and visit Elim dune – a great place for sundowners with the dunes behind us and the Naukluft Mountains in the distance.

We’ll need to be on the move an hour before dawn as we make our way through a dry riverbed and across the gravel plains towards the Namib Dunes. We’ll stop at Dune 45 before making our way to Sossusvlei with age old sands said to be around five million years old. Dead Vlei with its white pan and contrasting black scorched trees is also on our visit list. Whilst this region appears to be lifeless there are a variety of animal species that have adapted to these conditions and if we’re lucky may see Oryx antelope, ostrich, springbok and don’t forget about the birdlife and reptiles that inhabit the area. Return to our campsite for lunch, late afternoon visit to the Sesriem Canyon where the ephemeral Tsauchab River has shaped the area over millions of years.

Our route today takes us back towards Solitaire from where we travel to the town of Rehoboth, an area of natural hot water springs, before arriving back into the city of Windhoek, this will be late afternoon, please do not book any outbound flights for this afternoon.