Namibia Family Safari

A great way to experience Namibia with the whole family, visiting places like Etosha National Park and the spectacular Desert Sand Dunes.

Price: (Valid until 31 March 2010)
N$16,500 pps - children under 13 years N$14,500 pp
3 Days Safari

Highlights * Etosha National Park- great wildlife viewing. * Swakopmund - sandboarding, quadbiking * Namibia Desert - Sand dunes

Departs from: Windhoek - Ends: Windhoek

Includes
* Itinerary as specified,
* Fully equipped safari vehicle
* Services of trip leader and driver
* All accommodation as specified above
* All catering equipment and scheduled National Park entrance fees.
* Breakfast (B) Lunch (L) Dinner (D), No Meal (NM) where specified.
* Meals not shown will be to the clients account.

Namibia Family Safari Itinerary

Meal codes [B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner]

Day 1 WINDHOEK [Accommodation]
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.
Includes: N/A
Overnight: Accommodation

Day 2 OKONJIMA [Camping BLD]
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.
Includes: Entrance Fees
Overnight: Camping - basic facilities

Day 3 ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK [Camping BLD]
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.
Includes: Entrance fees and game drives
Overnight: Camping - basic facilities

Day 4 OKAUKUEJO, ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK [Camping BLD]
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.
Includes: Game drives
Overnight: Camping - basic facilities

Day 5 WEST ETOSHA [Camping BLD]
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.
Includes: Entrance fees to Sesriem Canyon and Naukluft National Park
Overnight: Camping - basic facilities

Day 6 DAMARALAND [Camping BLD]
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.
Includes: N/A
Overnight: Camping - basic facilities

Day 7 BRANDBERG MOUNTAIN [Camping BLD]
Damaraland is probably 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, (2573m). 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.
Includes: Entrance fees Twyfelfontein rock engravings
Overnight: Camping - basic facilities

Day 8 SWAKOPMUND, SKELETON COAST [Accommodated BLD]
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. Overnight in accommodation. (BL)
Includes: Entrance fees to Etosha National Park, morning & afternoon game drives
Overnight: Guest Lodge or tented camp – twin rooms with en-suite facilities, swimming pool, restaurant
& bar
Distance/time: 400kms, ± 5½ hours excluding stops for sightseeing + 2 x 3 hours game drives per day

Day 9 SWAKOPMUND [Accommodated B]
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.
Includes: N/A
Overnight: Accommodated
Optional Activities: Quad biking, fishing trips, microlights flights, sand boarding, boat rides, skydiving and many more.

Day 10 NAMIB DESERT CAMP [Camping BLD]
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.
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 and from here it is only a short distance to our next stop, the tiny town of Solitaire. We will stop here for some refreshments before continuing on through stunning desert scenery.
We aim to arrive at our camp during the late afternoon and watch the colours glow and change on distant mountains to the east.
Includes: N/A
Overnight: Camping - basic facilities

Day 11 NAMIB DESERT CAMP [Camping BLD]
A pre dawn start is essential this morning as we want to catch the soft light of the sunrise on the desert. After passing through Sesriem, the gateway to the dunes and driving into the heart of the dune field, we reach Sossusvlei itself by walking 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 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.
Includes:Entrance fees
Overnight: Camping - basic facilities

Day 12 NATURE RESERVE, WINDHOEK [Bungalows BLD]
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 Viljoen 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.
Includes: Entrance fees
Overnight: Bungalows

Day 13 WINDHOEK [B]
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. End of services.
Includes: N/A

Please note:
The distance and travel times quoted above are an estimate only, and subject to local road conditions and photo stops!

PRE & POST TOUR ACCOMMODATION:
This tour departs from Windhoek, please make sure that you are there well ahead of time. This tour ends in Windhoek.