Namibia Holidays
The sheer scale of Namibia’s natural wonders, so scarred and ravaged by time, is one of its most distinguishing and awe-inspiring features. Yet despite these desolate landscapes, the miracle of life appears all around. Dunes the size of mountains that are ceaselessly blown and sculpted by the wind host a wonderful variety of flora and fauna, whilst the fog shrouded beaches of the legendary Skeleton Coast, curse of so many shipwrecked sailors in times past, are home to sprawling colonies of breeding seals and the sun-bleached bones of ancient whales.
Damaraland
Damaraland lies between the Skeleton Coast and the high central plateau of Namibia. It is a truly remarkable place of jagged mountains and semi-desert plains juxtaposed between huge sand dunes constantly being shaped by the winds. As the sun rises and the temperatures begin to soar, this whole barren wilderness starts to shimmer and turns a deep shade of ochre. Once the home of ancient bush tribes and still home to Damaraland people, the whole region offers wonderful opportunities for exploration and observation of the fascinating indigenous flora and fauna.
Game drives into the Huab River valley reveal those animals that have adapted remarkably well to this harshest of environments including the desert elephant, gemsbok, springbok, greater kudu, ostrich and, on rare occasions, even the black rhino and lion that manage to eke out an existence in the mountains. Walking through this lunar landscape to marvel at the endless vistas of rock and sand, and soak up the piercing silence of these serene and timeless lands, will leave an indelible impression.
The ancient Bushmen engravings at Twyfelfontein, one of the largest displays of rock art in Africa, are well worth a visit, as is the Petrified Forest outside Korixas which is an open area of bushveld that contains the remains of trees fossilized
over 200 million years ago.
Our preferred camps and lodges include:
Damaraland Camp
Doro Nawas Camp
Desert Rhino Camp
Palmwag Lodge
Mowani Mountain Camp
Camp Kipwe
Kuidas Camp
Etosha National Park
This is a vast National Park of approximately 22,500 sq. km, and it is dominated by the huge Etosha Pan lying within its borders. The Pan itself, known locally as ‘great white place of dry water’, is around 5000 sq. km and consists of a white, shallow depression that stretches as far as the eye can see.
Around this great expanse of shimmering mirage lie the savannah grasslands and mopane woodlands that provide suitable habitats for a remarkable variety of wildlife. Almost all of the large mammals are found here and this is also a fantastic place to see a huge variety of bird species with abundant migratory visitors, including many raptors and both the greater and lesser flamingoes that arrive here in their millions to breed during the summer months. During the winter, the bush thins out and the water becomes scarce, which generally affords some fantastic game viewing.
Our preferred camps and lodges include:
Ongava Lodge, Ongava Tented Camp & Little Ongava
Mushara Lodge, Mushara Bush Camp, The Mushara Outpost & Villa Mushara
Namutoni, Halali & Okaukuejo Restcamps
Andersson’s Camp
Kaokoland & the Kunene River
Kaokoland is located in the far north-eastern corner of Namibia, a lost world of dramatic dunes, mountains, rivers and plains and home to the semi-nomadic Himba people.
Kaokoland is an adventurous destination best visited on a private mobile camping safari, with Skeleton Coast Safaris or by staying at Serra Cafema Camp on the banks of the Kunene River. The Kunene River is the only permanent source of water in the region and lush oases of trees, bushes, reeds and other vegetation are to be found along its banks, which inevitably attracts a wide variety of animals and birdlife. The Cinderella waxbill, one of Southern Africa’s rarest birds lives here, as well as a variety of other wildlife such as springbok, gemsbok and ostrich. Activities are hugely varied with the opportunity for walking, game drives, quad biking, bird walks, boating and fishing.
Our preferred camps in this area are:
Serra Cafema
Kunene Camp
Namibia Mobile Camping Safaris
Heading off the beaten track to explore some of Namibia’s most beautiful and wild terrain makes a truly exciting and unique safari. Depending on the time you have available we can tailor an itinerary to suit your individual requirements.
A suggested 13 nights professionally guided itinerary, using mobile tented camps and the occasional lodge, is as follows: From Windhoek you travel with your guide to the timeless, shifting dunes of Sossusvlei in the Namib Naukluft National Park; Walvis Bay and its vast shallow lagoon, a mecca for coastal birds; the small town of Swakopmund with its exquisite seafood and incongruous German architecture; then northwards along the Skeleton Coast, one of the harshest and most inhospitable regions in the world and across the lunar landscapes of Damaraland where you explore the ancient Bushman engravings on the rocks of Twyfelfontein and foray into the wilderness in search of the rare desert elephant; and finally to the game-rich salt pan of Etosha which is home to a remarkable variety of animal and birdlife.
The emphasis on this type of safari is flexibility and choice with the freedom to choose detours to alternative sites of interest or extend your stay in any area with particular appeal.
Okonjima & The Africat Foundation
Nestled in the Omboroko Mountains near to the Waterberg Plateau in central Namibia lies Okonjima, home of the Africat Foundation.
This is a rehabilitation centre for large carnivores such as lion, cheetah and leopard and you can witness the Africat Foundation at work. Okonjima is renowned for the excellent opportunities for viewing and photographing these big cats at close quarters and a visit here serves as a fascinating education about their lives and the Foundation’s conservation and rehabilitation practices.
Excursions include:
Cheetah tracking on foot with telemetry equipment to monitor project animals;
Visiting the orphaned cats at the Africat Foundation;
Leopard trails (leopard viewing is not guaranteed);
Guided & self-guided nature trails;
Nocturnal & bird hides that can be visited throughout your stay.
Numerous walking trails cross the property and your guide will give you an excellent insight into the natural splendour of the area. You can head up into the hills to the porcupine caves or out into the veld on one of the Bushman Trails which is a highly informative walk and talk about the lives of the Bushmen, their tools, their trapping methods and their threatened way of life.
Our preferred camps are:
Okonjima Main Camp, Bush Camp, Bush Suite & Villa
Sossusvlei & Namib-Naukluft
The vast open spaces of the Namib-Naukluft National Park are filled with a dramatic sea of sand covering thousands of square kilometres. The towering sand dunes are neighboured by vast gravel plains, towering mountain ranges and deep sculptured canyons, all of which contribute to make this one of the most visually spectacular regions in Africa.
The dunes of Sossusvlei, reputed to be the highest in the world, are actually dynamic, meaning that the wind constantly shifts and sculpts them into an ever-changing pattern of crests and shadows.
As the sun rises, so the quartz sand reflects its rich textures and bright hues of deep orange and red and this barren land comes to life with a large variety of wildlife ranging from the gemsbok to the sidewinder adder, the blind golden mole, dune lizards and a host of other fascinating creatures. The temperatures soar during the day, but to climb up these gigantic dunes in the early morning and stare into this spectacular wilderness is guaranteed to stir the soul.
By contrast the Naukluft Mountains which jut out into the desert are home to streams, waterfalls and lush vegetation, making this superb hiking country.
To the south of Sossusvlei lies the Namib Rand Nature Reserve, one of Africa’s largest private sanctuaries. The terrain is varied, consisting of huge red sand dunes, sand and gravel plains, grassy valleys and jagged mountains, home to springbok, gemsbok and other desert-adapted creatures.
Our preferred camps and lodges in this area include:
Sossusvlei Mountain Lodge
Kulala Desert Lodge & Little Kulala
Desert Homestead
Wolwedans Dune Camp, Dunes Lodge & Boulders Camp
Sossusvlei Desert Lodge
Swakopmund & Walvis Bay
The small, charming town of Swakopmund on the Atlantic coast is famous for its classic German architecture, the seal colony at Cape Cross, dune boarding and delicious fresh seafood.
Other nearby sights include the Moon Landscape in the Namib-Naukluft National Park, a world of rocky ravines and fissures caused by millions of years of flash floods on the Swakop River. Here you can view some of the world’s rarest and most extraordinary plant life growing on stark gravel plains including the extraordinary Welwitschia mirabilis.
A fascinating visit can be made to Walvis Bay for a boat trip to view seals, dolphins and sometimes penguins and even whales. The bird life here in the lagoon is also magnificent.
There are a number of fine restaurants in Swakopmund where you can enjoy fine seafood lunches and dinners.
Our preferred hotels include:
Swakopmund Hotel
Hansa Hotel
Villa Margherita
Central Guest House
The Skeleton Coast
This is an area that covers approximately 16,200 sq. km and is best described as one of the harshest and most inhospitable regions in the world.
It stretches from the Kunene River in the far north of Namibia to the Swakop River in the south and consists of endless miles of windswept sand dunes, colourful rugged canyons and gravel plains.
It is perhaps best known for the scattered remains of ships that lost their battle with the sea and were forced upon these dry and barren shores giving the shipwrecked sailors little chance of survival. Less well known, however, is the fascinating variety of flora and fauna that constantly fight for survival against the harsh, unforgiving climate.
On account of the cold Benguela Current , the coastal waters have one of the highest densities of marine life in the world, which in turn result in the healthy population of Cape fur seals that live along the coast in a number of ‘high density’ breeding colonies. Other wildlife that can be seen are giraffe, gemsbok, springbok, ostriches and even lion, elephant, and rhino that have gradually adapted over many years to the harsh desert environment. The thick coastal fog caused by the Benguela Current has resulted in a unique ecosystem within which an extraordinary number of plants and lichens have become adapted.
This is an area accessible only by light aircraft and the journey to the Skeleton Coast offers some of the most breathtaking views in Africa. There are two possible ways to visit this area. The first is to do a flying safari with Skeleton Coast Safaris with the emphasis on the flying and some game driving whilst staying at three semi-permanent camps as you head north along the coast. The second type of safari is to fly into and stay at Wilderness Safaris’ Skeleton Coast Camp for 3 or 4 nights from where you head out each day on different journeys of discovery.
Either way, the animals, plants and geology of this remote region make it a truly fascinating experience.
Our preferred camps in this area are:
Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp
Purros or Leylandsdrift Camp
In the northern stretches of Namibia’s endless plains lie the shimmering salt pans of Etosha, a fragile ecosystem of shady water holes and thick mopane forests in which herds of oryx and impala shelter from the midday heat and where the predators lie in wait for their prey.
Even in the high plateau region of Damaraland, a world of jagged rocks and craggy mountains overlooking a hostile semi-desert wilderness, underground streams support lush oases, which in turn support an intriguing array of desert-adapted wildlife including elephant, springbok, greater kudu and the rare black rhino.
Namibia is a remarkably diverse and exciting country that always confounds first impressions and delights in sharing its secrets.
Diverse Namibia
Diverse Namibia is an active 10 day adventure, exploring key areas of this vast country – revealing the elusive wildlife of the desert, the rugged Atlantic Coast and the immense moving dune fields of the Namib Desert. The seemingly barren desert comes to life with an amazing plethora of plants and animals that have ingeniously adapted to and thrive in these harsh surroundings.
Hosted by professional guides and staying in exclusive camping accommodation in private reserves and concessions and private access to Sossusvlei, you enjoy a pure wilderness camping safari reminiscent of the times of the great African explorers with lively campfires, camps lit by hurricane lanterns and a range of exciting and diverse activities.
This is a scheduled departure safari operating from 20 January 2012 to 06 January 2013. Please contact us for specific dates of the departures. Each departure is guaranteed with a minimum of two and a maximum of eight persons. Children from the age of 12 are welcome on all scheduled departures.
Day 1 – Fly from London Heathrow
Day 2 – Arrive Johannesburg & connect to Windhoek – Olive Grove Guest House – 1 night
Day 3 – Drive to Sossusvlei – Kulala Adventure Camp – 2 nights
Day 4 – One full day to explore Sossusvlei
Day 5 – Drive to Swakopmund – Hansa Hotel – 2 nights
Day 6 – Day at leisure to explore Swakopmund
Day 7 – Drive via Cape Cross seal colony to Damaraland – Damaraland Adventurer Camp – 3 nights
Days 8 & 9 – Two full days to explore the area
Day 10 – Drive to Etosha – Andersson’s Camp – 2 nights
Day 11 – One full day to explore Ongava Reserve & Etosha National Park
Day 12 – Drive to Windhoek. Fly to Johannesburg & then connecting flight to London
Day 13 – Arrive London Heathrow
2012 price from £ 2,536 per person
(Price based on two people sharing a twin/double room on a scheduled departure excluding the cost of international flights London/Windhoek/London)
Wings over Namibia
This flying circuit takes you on a journey through the best areas of Namibia. To observe Namibia from the air is an awe-inspiring experience; vast expanses of moving, rippling sands, great blue skies and the grey of the ocean extending to the horizon. This wonderful 8 day flying safari explores four distinct regions, the sands and red dunes of Sossusvlei, the icy coasts at Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, the stark plains of Damaraland with their desert-adapted elephants and the amazing wildlife abundance on the Etosha savannah.
There are daily departures from Windhoek throughout the year. These circuits are flexible and can be tailor made to suit your requirements as long as the circuit route is still followed. Your journey can be extended by including a couple of nights in the seaside town of Swakopmund, extending your stay in each area by an additional night, a visit to the pristine and isolated Skeleton Coast to experience this isolated coastline and the wildlife it supports or a visit to Serra Cafema on the lush banks of the Kunene River where you have the opportunity to meet the nomadic Himba people.
Day 1 – Fly from London Heathrow
Day 2 – Arrive Johannesburg & connect to Windhoek – Olive Grove Guest House
Day 3 – Fly to Sossusvlei – Little Kulala Camp
Day 4 – Full day exploring Sesriem and the vast sand dunes of Sossusvlei – optional balloon safari
Day 5 – Fly to Damaraland – afternoon game drive – Damaraland Camp or Rhino Desert Camp
Day 6 – Full day in search of the rare desert elephant and other species
Day 7 – Fly to Ongava Reserve – afternoon game drive – Ongava Tented Camp or Ongava Lodge
Day 8 – Full day game viewing in Etosha National Park and Ongava Reserve
Day 9 – Fly back to Windhoek – Olive Grove Guest House
Day 10 – Fly to Johannesburg & connect to overnight flight to London
Day 11 – Arrive London Heathrow
2012 price from £ 3,717 per person
(Price is based on two people sharing a twin/double room excluding the cost of international flights London/Windhoek/London)
The Great Namibian Journey
Namibia is a country of stunning landscapes, endless skies, barren deserts, rugged mountains and spectacular wildlife – and the Great Namibian Journey encompasses it all. You will explore the dunes of Sossusvlei and the Namib Desert, the stark beauty of the Skeleton Coast, amazing marine life off Swakopmund, the volcanic rock-strewn landscape of Damaraland and the game-filled savannah of Etosha.
The activities provide a wide range of differing impressions, from scenic flights up the Skeleton Coast, dolphin cruise with beach lunch, to hiking and cycling in Damaraland, walking in the Namib’s great dunes and interacting with the traditional Himba people. Light aircraft flights and overland transfers provide an in-depth experience of the contrasting landscapes of Namibia.
This is a scheduled departure safari operating throughout the year. Please contact us for specific departure dates. Each departure is guaranteed with a minimum of two and a maximum of eight persons. Children from the age of 12 are welcome.
Day 1 – Fly from London Heathrow
Day 2 – Arrive Johannesburg & fly to Windhoek – Olive Grove Guest House – 1 nt
Day 3 – Drive to Kulala Desert Lodge – 2 nights
Day 4 – One full day to explore dunes at Sossusvlei
Day 5 – Drive via Kuiseb Canyon to Swakopmund – Hansa Hotel – 2 nights
Day 6 – Explore Swakopmund & Walvis Bay with boat cruise to Sandwich Harbour
Day 7 – Drive via Cape Cross to Damaraland Camp – 1 night
Day 8 – Game drive in Damaraland en route to Desert Rhino Camp – 2 nights
Day 9 – Game viewing in Damaraland
Day 10 – Drive eastwards to Etosha – Ongava Tented Camp – 2 nights
Day 11 – Game viewing on Ongava Reserve & in Etosha National Park
Day 12 – Fly to Skeleton Coast Research Camp – 3 nights
Days 13 &14 – Two full days of exploring the Skeleton Coast National Park
Day 15 – Fly to Windhoek & connect to the flight to London via Johannesburg
Day 16 – Arrive London Heathrow
2012 price from £ 5,535 per person
(Price based on two people sharing a twin/double room excluding the cost of international flights London/Windhoek/London)
Namibian Adventure
Day 1 – Fly from London Heathrow
Day 2 – Arrive Johannesburg & connect to Windhoek – fly to Sossusvlei – Kulala Desert Lodge – 1 night
Day 3 – Morning excursion to Sossusvlei & transfer to NamibRand Reseve – Wolwedans Dunes Lodge – 2 nights
Day 4 – Full day to explore NamibRand Reserve
Day 5 – Transfer to airstrip for 3 night exploration of the Skeleton Coast by light aircraft – Kuidas Camp
Day 6 – Excursions to explore the Huab River & the roaring dunes of Terrace Bay – Purros Camp
Day 7 – Scenic drive down Hoarusib Valley, visit the nomadic Himba & fly north over Skeleton Coast – Kunene Camp
Day 8 – Boat excusion on Kunene River & fly from Hartmann Valley to Etosha – The Mushara Outpost – 2 nights
Day 9 – One full day to enjoy game drives in the Etosha National Park
Day 10 – Fly to Windhoek to connect to flight to London (via Johannesburg)
Day 11 – Arrive London Heathrow
2012 price from £ 7,649 per person
(Price is based on two people sharing a twin/double room excluding the cost of international flights London/JohannesburgWindhoek return)