Desert Rhino and Elephant

An eight-day trek through a private concession in Namibia

A unique and rewarding adventure, this eight-day trek through a private concession in Namibia is accompanied by a camel train, rhino trackers and a passionate and knowledgeable guide.

The Desert Rhino and Elephant Expedition is an exemplary eco-tour in Damaraland, Namibia. For eight days you will walk through the 450,000ha Palmwag Concession on the trail of some of the world's last free-roaming black rhino. A camel train carries your supplies and the group is led by Gary Booth and his team of community trackers. You may well see desert-adapted elephant and a host of other fascinating creatures, plants and landscapes along the way. Accommodation is in basic serviced camps. With simple dome tents, mattresses and duvets, bush toilets, bucket showers, hurricane lamps and a crackling campfire; the emphasis is on the ancient wilderness that surrounds you. For an extra green star, some of the revenue from these expeditions is returned to the Save The Rhino Trust conservation group.

• Walk through the spectacular private Palmwag Concession
  
• Track desert elephant & rhino in places no vehicle can go 
  
• Fascinating desert  wildlife, plants & endemic birds
  
• Rustic serviced camps with the essential comforts provided

Day 1: Palmwag Lodge, Palmwag Concession

Palms rustling in the wind, ancient landscapes and surreal sunsets; the desert-adapted elephant and the rare black rhino - this is Palmwag Lodge, one of Namibia's oldest and most popular destinations.

The lodge offers 24 beds in 2- or 3-bed thatched bungalows, a fully licensed restaurant, swimming pool under shady palms and a small poolside bar.

We will meet our guide, Gary Booth, who will give us a full briefing for the days ahead.

Accommodation: Palmwag Lodge
Meals: Full Board

Day 2: Aub River, Palmwag Concession

After an early breakfast, we depart northwards by game drive to Mbakondja Camel Camp to meet the Save the Rhino Camel team.

Then we ride or walk south to the Aub River, to where our camp has been erected.

In addition to the tracking of desert-adapted elephant and black rhino, our guides reveal the sheer magnificence of nature’s survival strategies in this arid environment, concentrating on a variety of topics from birds, insects, medicinal uses of plants and viewing general wildlife.

Accommodation: Aub River – adventurer camp
Meals: Full board

Day 3: Barab River, Palmwag Concession

Our journey continues today with a walk to the Barab River, concentrating on the tracking of the elusive desert giants through a series of hills, rocky landscapes and diverse geology.

After even a little rain, the gravel plains are covered in long golden grasses that ripple in the wind.

Accommodation: Barab River – adventurer camp
Meals: Full board

Day 4: Kudu Springs, Palmwag Concession

After an early breakfast, we ride out further west through the Okomutati Springs to Kudu Springs.

This area is almost inaccessible to vehicles, an area of pristine wilderness where the sense of remoteness is complete. En route we also have the opportunity to see extraordinary plant life including the ancient welwitschia and several lichens.

Accommodation: Kudu Springs – adventurer camp
Meals: Full board

Day 5: Hunkab Spring, Palmwag Concession

Heading northwards, we move to the next popular drinking point for the Kaokoland’s diverse animal life, the Hunkab Spring.

Fresh drinking water in the desert forms the basis for seasonal animal movements and a surprisingly diverse range of animal life can be seen here.

Accommodation: Hunkab Spring – adventurer camp
Meals: Full board

Day 6 and 7: Hoanib Camp, Kaokoland

We bid farewell to the Save the Rhino Trust trackers and depart on a game drive from Hunkab, travelling through the concession to the ephemeral river of the Hoanib Valley. Here, in an area seemingly parched and desolate, we enter one of Namibia’s richest desert wildlife areas.

We stay at Hoanib Camp, and enjoy game walks, rhino tracking, game drives and night drives into the Hoanib River valley.

Our accommodation for the next two nights is in an elegant permanent camp close to the riverbed. The Meru-style tents have en suite bathrooms with flush toilets and heated bucket showers.

Accommodation: Hoanib Camp
Meals: Full board

Day 8: Palmwag Lodge, Palmwag Concession

After an early breakfast and game drive, we fly back to Palmwag Lodge, in time for lunch and the end of an extraordinary adventure.

Note: You can shorten or lengthen this tour according to your time and budget. And what's more, you can add this to an itinerary that goes to Victoria Falls, the Garden Route, Cape Town... you name it. Contact one of our expert consultants to design the perfect safari for you.

Includes:

Seven nights' full board accommodation in simple serviced pre-erected camps throughout Damaraland
Guided game drives, walks and rhino tracking
Air charter to Palmwag Lodge on the final day

Excludes:

Additional activities, purchases and gratuities

Note:

You can adjust this tour to suit your needs; it is available for small groups from four to eight. The tour starts and ends in Palmwag Lodge making it an excellent add-on to a safari in Etosha – talk to your travel consultant about the many exciting options.