Rivers of Kaokoland - Namibia
Safari
Remote northern Namibia - 9 nights
/ 10 days
Namibia is a rugged and arid
country; therefore its unique wildlife tends to be found near
surface
water, often on the banks of river systems. This safari, which
creates a sense of pure adventure,
follows the twisting riverbeds and finds an unexpected and delightful
diversity of life in this remote
corner of the world. This incredible journey takes place in
Kaokoland, an area between the stunning isolation of Serra Cafema
Camp on the Kunene River and Etosha National Park.
This highly original adventure
travels far off the beaten track, through habitats with unrivalled
wildlife viewing of desert elephant, gemsbok, springbok, and
possibly black rhino. This is a completely free-ranging
safari with a non-scheduled camping route determined by the dynamics
of nature. Additional activities include meeting Himba
people, dune quad biking and boating on the Kunene River. The
safari also offers exposure to community-based conservation first-hand.
Guides: The entire safari is guided and hosted
by the professional and passionate Chris
Liebenberg. As a Namibian, he shares his in-depth knowledge
of an area in which he is an
expert, presenting a seamless and well-rounded experience.
Exclusive experience: Namibia’s Kaokoland is extremely
remote and well off the main tourist
routes. On this specialized tour, most areas will more than likely
be private, and shared only with
the local Himba people. All campsites are private and for the use
of Adventurer safari
guests only.
Routes: The dry river systems of the arid Namibian
north-west are vital oases for elephant and
other desert -adapted wildlife. These hidden life supports form
the basis of an innovative travel
route, where we spend six days exploring one of the most remote
and exciting regions in Africa. Natural animal movements and location
dictate where our ‘wild’ campsites
and areas of focus will
be. The landscape is simply unimaginably large, 4x4 driving is challenging
and roads can be
rough; all this just enhances the atmosphere of isolation and achievement.
Transfers: Cross-country drives have the advantage
of viewing the changing scenery and
landscapes of the region, while the air transfer allows for a bird’s-eye
view and comfort with which
to end the journey.
This safari is a combination
fully serviced dome tent camping in remote campsites, plus
permanent camps.
Safari Style: Adventurer
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| For
2008: There are no scheduled departures. This
safari is only available on request with a minimum of 4 guests. |
DAY 1;
(1 Night)
ONGAVA TENTED CAMP, Etosha
Region
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After
an early morning arrival at Windhoek International airport, we
meet Chris Liebenberg and
depart by road to Ongava Tented Camp.
Ongava Tented Camp, situated
in the Ongava Game Reserve and the neighbouring Etosha National
Park, is a small, traditional tented camp. Guests sleep in
comfortable ‘Meru’-style
tents with en-suite
bathrooms and open -air showers. The main area is under thatch
with a veranda and a pool.
There is a much-frequented
waterhole in front of the camp where guests can experience
excellent game viewing from the veranda. |
DAYS 2 - 7;
(6 Nights)
WILD CAMPING , Kaokoland
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Leaving
early after a light breakfast, we wind our way westwards towards
the linear oases of the
Namibian north-west. Here, in these river systems that hold more
surface water and hence more
vegetation, we begin our search for desert game. Exploring from the
Khumib to the Ombonde and
Hoanib rivers, these systems often serve as migratory routes for
game; our encounters thus are
diverse, different and exciting. So specialized is the area that
behavior of the same species of
bird is often different from one river system to the next.
We meet
the local custodians of Kaokoland, the Himba nomadic peoples, explore
almost every
geological sequence, from the oldest to the youngest, and experience
community-based tourism
first hand.
We camp in two or three different
sites, depending on wildlife movements. These camps are
always erected before our arrival, allowing us more time to explore
the areas in detail and
providing a comfortable place in which to relax on our return
to camp. |
DAYS 8 - 9;
(2 Nights)
SERRA
CAFEMA CAMP, Kunene River Jump
to Serra
Cafema Camp
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Making
our way across country through the last of the desert tracks
northwards, we arrive at
arguably the most remote camp in Africa, Serra Cafema. The camp is
set amongst ancient Albida
trees on the banks of the only permanent source of water in the region,
the Kunene River.
The eight canvas and thatched chalets,
each with its own en-suite bathroom , are raised off the
ground. The camp also has a dining room, bar and pool. Guests fall
asleep to the sound of the
river rapid just below the camp; in contrast, during the day they
explore one of the driest deserts
in the world.
Activities here are many and varied,
including traversing sand dunes, boating on the river,
walking in remote valleys, enjoying breathtaking landscapes,
as well as carefully guided quad bike
excursions that tread lightly on the dunes. Serra Cafema is often
visited by nearby native
Ovahimba families, providing guests with the opportunity to learn
about their lifestyle and
traditions. |
DAY 10
Transfer to Windhoek
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Our adventurous journey ends this
morning with a flight back to Windhoek Eros Airport, enjoying
the magnificent and vast landscapes from the air along the way.
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SAFARI NOTES:
• Each departure is guaranteed from a minimum
of 2 confirmed guests, with a maximum of 8 guests per safari.
• Children from the age of 12 are welcome on all scheduled
departures. For groups with children under 12, we recommend a
private tailor-made safari, on request. For guests over the age
of 75, a certified medical certificate of full health must be
provided.
• Luggage limitation of 12 kgs per person in a soft bag. This limit includes camera equipment and hand luggage. Passengers weighing more than 100kg (220 lbs) must please advise us in advance, as an extra seat will then have to be costed into the package for safety purposes.
• Due to situations beyond our control, a substitute a lodge or location
of comparable quality may be used on the safari. This will be advised timeously.
• We gladly arrange competitively priced flexible tailor-made departures,
subject to availability of space.
• There is a limitation of 2 single tents per safari, and a maximum number
of 5 tents at any site while on safari. No single supplement is payable. When
there are more than 2 single guests on a safari, we will attempt to match guests
with another guest of the same gender. No triple rooms are accepted.
• Please note that all scheduled Exploration safaris operate with a minimum
of two guests. Should all other bookings on an Exploration cancel or that there
is only a single guest booked, we will convert the booking to an FIT package,
which is in all likelihood subject to a higher price.
WHAT
IS INCLUDED
Accommodation
on a sharing basis, all meals from lunch on Day 1, drinks
(except premium brands) while on activity, house wine at
dinner times, national park fees, activities and all internal
charters as specified in the itinerary.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
Flights (other than specified in the safari itinerary), visas, compulsory
insurance, laundry, all relevant entry and departure government
taxes, all personal purchases (including curios, spirit liquors, telephone
calls etc.), gratuities, optional extra activities, pre and post safari
tours and meals or accommodation before or after the safari.
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Safari Packages
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