Namibia Safari

Namibia Lodge Safari - 15 Days

Small group Lodge Safari - 10 nights / 11 days

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Tour code: NLS

Enjoy the diverse and ever changing allure of the Namibian landscape during this lodge safari. Beginning in Wondhoek, this safari takes you through the deserts of the Namib-Naukluft National Park to the coastal town of Swakopmund. Travel along the coast to visit the Cape Fur Seal breeding grounds at Cape Cross before heading inland, stopping at the majestic Petrified Forest. Spend three days with Africa’s famous Big 5 in Etosha National Park; visit Waterberg on your return journey to Windhoek. Departs: Windhoek, Namibia. Ends: Windhoek, Namibia. Group size: Guaranteed from 4 guests; 12 guests maximum. *Guaranteed departures with no minimum pax available, please enquire. Summary A small-group lodge safari from / to Windhoek through Namibia. Highlights Windhoek, Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, Damaraland, Cape Cross Seal Colony, Twyfelfontein, Petrified Forest, Game Drives in Etosha National Park, Visit to the Cheetah Conservation Foundation & Waterberg Plateau National Park. Meals 10x Breakfast, 8x Lunch. Breakfast is included daily and provided by the lodge restaurants. A dinner package is available, at additional cost for 6 dinners. This needs to be booked in advance and the meals are to be taken in the lodge restaurants. Please advise us of any special dietary requirements in advance. Should you not wish to pre-pay for this, dinners will be for your own account and will still need to be taken in local restaurants or at the lodges if there are no restaurants in the nearby vicinity. There are no facilities available for self-catering. SAFARI COST: Call for Pricing. SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: Call for Pricing.

Note: The accommodation specified in the itinerary is a guide only and is subject to availability. Alternatives will be nearby and of a similar standard.

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Included
Accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary, transport in fully kitted, 12 seater 4x4 safari vehicle or similar, game drives and activities as mentioned, meals as per itinerary, park entrance fees, experienced local guide.

Excluded
Travel insurance, flights, pre and post tour accommodation, optional activities, all drinks, tips and curios, all personal expenses.

Departure
The Namibia Lodge Safari departs from Klein Windhoek Guesthouse in Windhoek.

Please note that the daily departure times are a guideline only and are subject to change due to seasonal variations, as well as unforeseen circumstances. The final decision rests with your guide who will advise you at what time you will be departing each day.

On the evening of day 1, there will be a meeting presented by your guide, at 6 pm, at your lodge. It is imperative that all clients attend this meeting so as not to miss out on any critical information. Whilst it is our every intention to adhere to the above mentioned itinerary, there may on occasion be a necessity to make alterations in order to make the tour more enjoyable or practical. Therefore please treat the itinerary as a guide only.

Transport
Fully equipped Toyota Land Cruisers, 12-seater 4x4 safari vehicles or other appropriate vehicles with comfortable seating, large windows for game viewing, a music and PA system and air-conditioning. All luggage, besides hand luggage and photo equipment, is carried on the vehicle or trailer roof racks to ensure maximum comfort in the vehicle.

Travelling Times and Distances
All travelling times are affected by road conditions, border crossings, detours and weather conditions, therefore on certain days travelling times may be longer than anticipated especially where there is a lot of distance to be covered. Please keep in mind that the time it takes to travel 100 km in your home country is not equivalent to the time it takes to travel 100 km on African roads, therefore we encourage you to sit back and enjoy the spectacular scenery Africa has to offer. Where possible additional stops will be made to ensure your travelling comfort at all times.

Accommodation
We make use of mid-range typical African standard lodge accommodation. Accommodation is situated either in national parks, on the banks of a river, or in other places of interest. The accommodation will be a mix of lodges, chalets and tented camps with en-suite bathrooms.

Visas
The onus is on the client to organize all visas required for clients to visit Namibia prior to departure.

Information on Areas Visited
NAMIBIA
'Namibia' means 'open plains' in the ancient Hottentots language. It is a sought after tourist destination defined by endless sunshine, scenic beauty and unusual and contrasting topography. Namibia is sandwiched between two deserts - the Namib Desert, said to be the oldest in the world, on its western coastline and the Kalahari Desert in the eastern interior. Northern Namibia features the great Etosha National Park, with the countries largest concentration of game and in the south the majestic Fish River Canyon plunges 550 m and extends for 160 km. Between these four highlights lies over 820 000 km2 (the size of France & Britain combined) of contrasting scenery. The world's highest dunes are found in haunting scenery inspiring somber reflection. Prehistoric rock art, the ancient fossil plant, Welwitschia mirabilis and fossilized dinosaur footprints are preserved in the ancient, rocky mountain ranges. Many of the features of this country are of particular scientific interest and attract scientists from all over the world. Namibia is the first country in the world to include protection of the environment and sustainable utilization of wildlife in its constitution. About 15,5% of the country has been set-aside as national parks. In these areas, rare and endangered species of animals, birds and plant life are preserved and protected. They serve as a living reminder to us all, and to the generations of the future, of how it once was in Africa.

Etosha National Park
Consisting of over 22 000 km2 of saline desert, savannah and woodlands, the Etosha National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa and one of the major sanctuaries for wildlife. Its definitive feature is the Etosha Pan, a vast shallow depression of about 5 000 km2. This great, white expanse locals call 'great place of dry water', often shimmers with mirages and herds of game can be seen within this eerie setting.
There are 144 mammal species in the park, including elephant, giraffe, blue wildebeest and black rhino, predators such as lion, cheetah, leopard, wildcat, hyena and jackal.

The black rhino population of 300 is one of the few growing populations in the world and the local elephant are reputed to be the largest in Africa - the tallest standing at 4 m at the shoulder. Their tusks however are relatively small due to genetic defects and mineral deficiencies in their diet.
The majestic eland, the tiny, shy Damara dik-dik (45 cm high) and the striking gemsbok, with its dramatic black and white markings are common. Bird life is prolific and some 340 species have been identified, including Namibia's national bird, the vividly coloured crimson-breasted shrike. During the more rainy seasons Etosha is also one of the most important breeding grounds for flamingos. Etosha is also known for its expert game management and attentive protection of the unspoiled environment.

Damaraland
North of the main road of Swakopmund and South of Kaokoland extends Damaraland, one of the most beautiful regions in Namibia. Open plains, grasslands, and distant mountains as well as a petrified forest of 260-millionn year old trees create the landscape. Damaraland habits Namibia's highest mountain, the Brandberg with its famous "white lady" painting and the most precious open-air rock art gallery in the world at Twyfelfontein. Game, which can be found in this area, is the desert elephant, black rhino, ostrich and springbok.

Swakopmund
A true oasis and respite from the solemn desert and its monotonous heat. A seaside holiday resort full of old-world charm and modern amenities, from the quaint German colonial influences to funky Internet café's. The tranquil setting includes promenades, palm trees and beautifully tended public gardens, the Swakopmund museum (covering natural history, mineralogy, botany, historical and ethnological aspects), the National Marine & Research Center, an aquarium, a public library, an Olympic sized, heated indoor swimming pool and a grassed golf course in a desert setting. This 'middle of the desert' feel is one of its attractions – one can enjoy the wild expanse of the adjacent desert and sea and yet be within easy reach of the creature comforts of Swakopmund's hotels, restaurants, bars and a much-needed laundries!

There is plenty to see and do and activities include quad biking, sand boarding, rock& surf fishing and skydiving. There is also a tannery, manufacturing well-known kudu leather shoes, a brewery producing fine beers in the German tradition.

Sossusvlei
The visual spectacular in the Sossusvlei area is unsurpassed. Amongst the continuous towering dunes as far as the eye can see is arguably the highlight of the Namib Desert, the Sossusvlei, an enormous clay-pan, enclosed by dunes. After a heavy rainfall, rare in this area, the vlei fills with water and, as the clay layers are virtually impermeable to water, a turquoise lake remains for quite some time.

The dunes and their rich tints vary from pale apricot to vivid reds and oranges, and contrast vividly with the dazzling white surfaces of the white clay pans, or lakes, below. During the rainy season one of the larger of these pans creates a haven for water birds, often including flamingos. Even during the dry season, Oryx, springbok and ostriches can be seen feeding off the sparse vegetation along the watercourses.

The dunes of the Namib Desert developed over a period of many millions of years and are shaped by strong-multi-directional winds. It is thought that the vast quantities of sand were carried into the Atlantic Ocean by the Orange River. The surf pushed the sandback onto land and coastal dunes formed. Dunes have subsequently shifted inland and northwards. Wind continuously re-stacks the sand of the huge shifting dunes of the Namib Desert. It tirelessly forces the grains of sand on the flat windward slope upwards to the crest of the dune. Here they fall down in the wind shade. The leeward slope, therefore, is always considerably steeper than the windward side.

Waterberg Plateau Park
The Waterberg Plateau Park can be found 280 km north of Windhoek and stands out from the thorn savannah with its lush vegetation at the lower slopes. This 20 km wide and 50 km long table mountain massif consists of porous sandstone which absorbs surface water which runs off on the southeast side of the plateau as springs, from which it got its name.

Historians may already have heard the name Waterberg. It was the area where in 1904 the devastating battle between the Herero’s and the German Colonial soldiers took place. The only reminder of this tragic event is a military graveyard near the entrance of the park.

Nowadays the Waterberg Plateau is a sanctuary for many endangered species. It hosts among others black and white rhinos, buffalos, various types of antelopes, giraffes, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, jackals, wild dogs and the only breeding colony of Cape Vulture in Namibia. Beside the big mammals several enchanting small ones can be seen as well, such as the Damara dik-dik or lesser bush babies. The plateau is said to be one of the most interesting geological sites in Namibia and disposes over a rich variety of flowers, trees and shrubs. You can encounter karees, lead wood and buffalo-thorn trees and weeping wattle with its yellow flowers appearing in the spring. Other attractions are the dinosaur tracks and petrified dunes. Unfortunately visitors are not allowed to explore the park in their own vehicles, but there are regular daily excursions organized by the park. The nights can be spent in a beautiful rest camp, which can accommodate more than 200 people, or at a camping site.

Windhoek
Windhoek is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia. It is located in the Khomas Region, has a population of approx. 230,000 and is a major trade centre of sheep skin. It sits on a sloping plain on the northern side of the Khomas Hochland (Khomas Highlands) at an altitude of 1665 metres. Windhoek was originally inhabited by the Herero, then became the centre of a Nama chief who defeated the Herero in the 19th century. Germany occupied the region in 1885, and the city became the seat of colonial rule in 1892 as the capital of the colony of German South-West Africa (Deutsch-Südwestafrika). During World War I Windhoek was captured by South African troops and became a South African Mandate under the League of Nations. Until the independence of Namibia was inaugurated in 1990, Windhoek was recognised as the capital city of South West Africa as administered by the South African government. It continues today as the capital city of the Republic of Namibia.

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