Canyons and Red Deserts

Visit the Kalahari, Fish River Canyon, Luderitz and Swakopmund

Our 9 day scheduled Namibia Safari provides you with an in-depth tour of Southern Namibia. Not for the faint hearted this tour involves a lot of driving, but in the company of an experienced driver guide, allowing you to concentrate on watching the ever changing and impressive landscapes. As you travel south from Namibia, the first stop is the rolling hills and rippling sand dunes of the Kalahari, home to Springbok and Oryx.

From the Kalahari, you continue to the impressive Fish River Canyon, the second largest canyon in the world. From here you travel East towards the harbour of Luderitz, and the ghost town of Kolmanskop, which was once an opulent town during the diamond rush, but is now deserted as the dunes have risen and covered the town. From Luderitz you will continue to the Namib Desert and the famous Sossusvlei a clay plan surrounded by some of the highest sand dunes in the world. From Sossusvlei its on to Swakopmund and some time a leisure to explore this little holiday village, before returning to Windhoek for one night.

• Not for the faint hearted – this tour covers a lot of ground
  
• Concentrating on the Southern part of Namibia
  
• Escorted tour in the company of qualified & knowledge guides.
  
• Kalahari, Fish River, Luderitz, Namib Desert, Swakopmund
  
• Namibia is scenically spectacular.

Day 1: Windhoek, Kalahari Sands Hotel or Windhoek Country Club

This morning you will depart Johannesburg for your British Airways Flight to Windhoek. On arrival you will be me by a Rhino Africa representative and transferred to your Windhoek Hotel. Windhoek is the Capital city of Namibia and the seat of their parliament. The afternoon is yours at leisure to explore this vibrant and multicultural city.

Accommodation: Kalahari Sands Hotel (Standard) or Windhoek Country Club (Luxury)
Meals: Bed & Breakfast

Day 2: Kalahari Desert, Kalahari Anib Lodge or Intu Africa

After breakfast you will travel south through Namibia to the rugged mountain ranges surrounding Windhoek, following the green Auob River valley to the vegetated red dunes of the Kalahari Desert. Optional game drives and walks are available. This area is famous for the rolling dunes of the Kalahari; animals that you are likely to see in this area include Springbok and Oryx

Accommodation: Kalahari Anib Lodge (Standard) or Intu Africa Game Lodge (Luxury)
Meals: Bed & Breakfast (Please note includes Dinner at Intu Africa)

Day 3: Nama Karoo, Canon Village or Canon Lodge

This morning you will continue to travel into the Nama Karoo, through rocky plains and dolerite hills, the preferred habitat of the Quiver Tree. A chance to wander around the extensive rocky labyrinth of Giant’s Playground, an impressive jumble of massive boulders. Optional game drive/nature walk or horse riding trail are available at Canon Village and Canon Lodge.

Accommodation: Canon Village (Standard) or Canon Lodge (Luxury)
Meals: Bed & Breakfast (Please note includes Dinner at Canon Lodge)

Day 4: Fish River Canyon, Hotel Zum Sperregbiet or Nest Hotel

This morning you will explore the winding gorges of the Fish River Canyon, the second largest canyon in the world - some 161km long, 27km wide and about 550m deep. Travel down the Great Escarpment to the shifting dunes of the Prohibited Diamond area. Visit Diaz Cross before touring the harbour town of Luderitz. This quaint town with its German colonial buildings serves as a good base from which to view colonies of aquatic birds, seals and penguins.

Accommodation: Sea-view Hotel Zum Sperregbiet (Standard) or Luderitz Nest Hotel (Luxury)
Meals: Bed & Breakfast (Please note includes dinner at Nest Hotel)

Day 5: Namib Desert, Hammerstein Lodge or Sossusvlei Lodge

This morning after breakfast you will visit the famous ghost town of Kolmanskop, once an opulent town during the diamond rush days, but now deserted as the dunes are slowly rising and covering the town. Heading inland we travel into the heart of the Southern Namib Desert, gateway to the Sesriem Canyon and Sossusvlei.

Accommodation: Hammerstein Lodge and Camp (Standard) or Sossusvlei Lodge (Luxury)
Meals: Bed & Breakfast (Please note includes dinner at Sossusvlei Lodge

Day 6: Namib Desert, Namib Desert Lodge or Sossusvlei Lodge

An early start at sunrise takes you to the famous Sossusvlei, a clay pan surrounded by some of the highest sand dunes in the world. Time to explore the impressive sandstone gorges of the Sesriem Canyon, with its rock pools fed by the Tsauchab River.

Accommodation: Hammerstein Lodge and Camp (Standard) or Sossusvlei Lodge (Luxury)
Meals: Bed & Breakfast (Please note includes dinner at Sossusvlei Lodge

Day 7: Swakopmund, Strand Hotel or Hansa Hotel

Travel via the Gaub and Kuiseb Canyons towards Swakopmund, visiting Vogelfederberg, a granite mountain that has been eroded into a multitude of shapes over millions of years. We venture into the Swakop Valley in late afternoon to view the endemic Welwitschia Mirabilis, often referred to as a living fossil. Experience the unearthly Moonlandscape, an unusual landscape formed by the barren hills and valleys of the Swakop River.

Accommodation: Strand Hotel (Standard) or Hansa Hotel (Luxury)
Meals: Bed & Breakfast (Please note includes dinner at Hansa Hotel)

Day 8: Windhoek, Kalahari Sands Hotel or Windhoek Country Club

This morning is at leisure to explore this quaint historic town before returning to Windhoek arriving in the late afternoon.

Accommodation: Kalahari Sands Hotel (Standard) or Windhoek Country Club (Luxury)
Meals: Bed & Breakfast

Day 9: Day of Departure

Morning at leisure before midday departure to the airport for return flight back to Johannesburg.

Includes:

British Airways Flight BA 6275 Johannesburg 12h00 to Windhoek 12h55
Accommodation as indicated in the itinerary
Meals as indicated in the itinerary
Activities as indicated in the itinerary
All Transfers in Air-conditioned Minibus
Services of qualified driver guide
British Airways Flight BA 6274 Windhoek 14h00 to Johannesburg 16h50

Excludes:

Airport Taxes
Visas
Travel and Personal accident insurance
Tips and personal expenses such as telephone calls etc
Meals other than those indicated
Optional Excursions

Rates:

Standard Option
01 Nov 07 - 31 Oct 08            ZAR 12, 200.00

Luxury Option
01 Nov 07 - 31 Jan 08            ZAR 22, 155.00
01 Feb 08 - 30 Apr 08            ZAR 22, 285.00
01 May 08 - 31 Aug 08           ZAR 22, 155.00
01 Sep 08 - 31 Oct 08            ZAR 22, 285.00

Note:

This itinerary can be tailor-made to suit your individual needs. Rates are seasonally quoted. Going on a Namibia Safari, then it really does lend itself to Self Drive. This is an escorted tour – speak to your travel consultant about tailor-making an itinerary for you.