This is a 3 week self drive safari of Namibia that allows you to explore all of Namibia – from North to South. This is as comprehensive as it gets ! Within the framework of "Namibia Explorer“ we shall take you to some of Namibia’s highlights. Admire the deep gorges of the Fish River Canyon, climb the world’s highest dunes at Sossusvlei and discover that the desert “lives”. Allow yourself to be enchanted by the magic of Lüderitz and Swakopmund, two charming towns on the Coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Enjoy the drive to the rustic Palmwag Lodge and cross the world famous Etosha National Park from West to East before returning to Windhoek via the popular Okonjima Lodge.
Day 1 : Windhoek, Olive Grove Guest House Arrival at Hosea Kutako (Windhoek International) airport, where you will receive your rental vehicle. Once you have sorted out all the formalities for your vehicle, drive to Windhoek, the capital city of Namibia. After check-in at the accommodation establishment, you will be taken on a city tour.
Windhoek is a city of many contrasts. Modern skyscrapers blend with historic buildings dating from the turn of the century. Several buildings from the German colonial era have been preserved and restored to fulfil useful functions in the community today. Some of the sights you will see on your tour are the Ride Memorial, the Old Fort, the Parliament Building (also known as the “Ink Place”), the Lutheran Church, the Railway Station and many more.
Accommodation: Olive Grove Guest HouseMeals: Bed & BreakfastDay 2 : Mariental, Bagatelle Kalahari Game Lodge
After breakfast departure from Windhoek and drive via Rehoboth, the centre of Namibia’s Baster community into the red dunes of the Kalahari Desert to the Bagatelle Kalahari Game Lodge. Late afternoon you can participate in a guided game drive to learn about the flora and fauna of the
Kalahari Desert.
Accommodation : Bagatelle Kalahari Game LodgeMeals: Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Day 3 : Fish River Canyon, Canyon Lodge
A full day’s journey takes you south through the desert-dominated landscapes to a picturesque Quiver Tree Forest. This prehistoric tree reaches skyward with graphically forked branches, their trunks peel and form intricate patterns as the tree matures, these are rewarding subjects to photograph. Giant’s Playground is an impressive jumble of massive boulders; a virtual maze where time can be spent wandering through the extensive rocky labyrinth. You proceed to Keetmanshoop and thereafter continue via the Naute Dam, to the
Fish River Canyon, which is the second largest in the world.
Accommodation : Canon LodgeMeals : Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Day 4 : Fish River Canyon, Canon Lodge
Today you can view the spectacular northern fringes of the
Fish River Canyon from various vantage points. Here the impressive surrounding rock formation provides many interesting hours for enthusiastic nature lovers.
Partake (optional) in one of the various activities offered by the lodge, i.e. sundowner drives, walks, horse riding and magical scenic flights over the canyon.
Accommodation : Canon LodgeMeals : Dinner, Bed & BreakfastDay 5 : Luderitz, The Nest Hotel
The next leg of your journey takes you via the small historic village of Aus and through the vast barren expanse of the Prohibited Diamond Area, to Lüderitz.
Lüderitz is renowned for its old-world charm and distinctly German colonial architecture. Set around the bay, with their original gables, winding stairwells, verandas, turrets and bay- and bow windows still intact, these buildings have a unique character. After a short sightseeing tour of Lüderitz, enjoy an afternoon excursion to the Diaz cross where the daring Portuguese sailors erected a stone pillar in the 1480’s.
Accommodation : The Nest HotelMeals: Bed & BreakfastDay 6 : Helmeringhausen, Farm Landsberg
After breakfast visit Kolmanskop, a ghost town that was abandoned over 40 years ago and now gives a fascinating insight into the area's great diamond boom. A few of the buildings have been restored, but many are left exactly as they were, and now the surrounding dunes are gradually burying them. Again you have to travel through the Diamond Prohibited Area via Aus and Helmeringhausen to Farm Landsberg. Experience the daily life of a farmer in the south.
Accommodation : Farm LandsbergMeals : Dinner, Bed & BreakfastDay 7 : Sossusvlei, Kulala Desert Lodge
Today you travel through some of Namibia’s most spectacular sceneries. Vast expanses of yellow savannah are dotted with bushes and solitary camelthorn trees. Distant mountain ranges take on different nuances of purple and blue as the day progresses. En route you visit the Duwisib Castle, which was built by Baron von Wolff for his American wife Jayta in 1909. The furnishings and paintings were imported from Germany.
Your destination is the Kulala Desert Lodge. Situated south of the Sesriem gate at
Sossusvlei, lies the private 21 000 hectare Kulala Wilderness Reserve, the closest reserve to Sossusvlei itself. Kulala Desert Lodge is in prime location on the western side of the reserve. It offers magnificent dune scenery to the west and rugged Namib mountainous escarpment to the north and east with grassy plains and “fairy circles” filling the space in between.
Accommodation: Kulala Desert LodgeMeals : Full Board including activitiesDay 8 : Sossusvlei, Kulula Desert Lodge
Activities are varied and numerous and include early morning guided game drives to the dunes (the journey takes you to the famous Sossusvlei, a clay pan surrounded by some of the highest sand dunes in the world), nature drives and walks on the private reserve. Day trips into the Namib Naukluft Mountains and early morning ballooning can be booked as an optional activity at an extra cost.
Accommodation: Kulala Desert LodgeMeals: Full Board including activitiesDay 9 : Swakopmund, Hansa Hotel
The route takes you north via the Kuiseb Canyon to
Swakopmund. Highlights en route include a drive to the “Moon Landscape” and the ancient desert plant, “Welwitschia mirabilis”. This quaint desert town with its old-world charm and relaxed atmosphere hedged by desert and sea, is enhanced by lush green lawns and palm trees
Accommodation : The Hansa HotelMeals : Bed & BreakfastDay 10 and 11 : Swakopmund
Two Days are spend in Swakopmund. The sweep of the coastline and desert hinterland offers many options for adventure and relaxation. Please speak to your Rhino Africa consultant about possible activities that you can do in Swakopmund.
Accommodation: The Hansa HotelMeals: Bed & BreakfastDay 12 : Damaraland, Palmwag Lodge
Departure from Swakopmund along the Atlantic Coast towards the North. Visit the lichen fields near Wlotzka’s Baken before continuing to Henties Bay, a small holiday resort. Onwards to the seal colony at Cape Cross. After visiting the seals, the journey continues via Ugabmund to the southern Skeleton Coast Park to inspect a shipwreck. You leave the Skeleton Coast Park in the early afternoon via Springbokwasser and can experience the harsh transition from the Namib Desert to the Damaraland highlands with its impressive landscape and ragged valleys.
Accommodation : Palmwag Lodge
Meals: Dinner, Bed & BreakfastDay 13 : Damaraland, Palmwag Lodge
The day is spent at leisure in
Damaraland. You can enjoy optional outings with the specialist guides of the Lodge. Take part in an Ovahimba Excursion, enjoy a tour in open 4 x 4 game-viewing vehicles into the concession area of the lodge, search for desert elephants in the Hoanib River or physically track amongst a wide variety of game – the mighty desert elephant and the threatened black rhino by 4x4 vehicle.
Accommodation : Palmwag LodgeMeals: Dinner, Bed & BreakfastDay 14 : Etosha National Park, Ongava Lodge
Leaving Palmwag Lodge, take a detour to visit the Petrified Forest, or travel directly via the Grootberg Pass to Kamanjab and further on the tarred road to the Etosha National Park. Afternoon arrival at the Ongava Lodge. Ongava Game Lodge is situated along the southern border of the Etosha National Park in the privately owned Ongava Game Reserve. Discover the mysteries of the African bush in Etosha National Park and in the private reserve of the Lodge. Your game ranger takes pleasure in trying to show you the diversity of Namibia’s fauna. Relax on the veranda of your room and delight in the comings and goings of a variety of game at the floodlit waterhole.
Accommodation: Ongava Lodge
Meals: Full Board plus Activities
Day 15 : Etosha National Park, Mushara Lodge
You travel east through Etosha past Fort Namutoni to the Mushara Lodge, where you spend one night. En route, you stop at the numerous perennial springs found along the edge of the salt pan in search of Lion, Leopard, Elephant and Black Rhino.
Accommodation: Mushara Lodge
Meals: Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Day 16 : Waterberg Plateau, Okonjima
After breakfast you travel via Tsumeb to the “Hoba Meteorite”. En route visit the Otjikoto Lake and the mine museum of Tsumeb. Continue to the Okonjima Lodge, home of the Africat Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to the conservation and protection of Namibian wild cats, in particular leopard and cheetah. Enjoy the opportunity to admire and photograph these predators. Okonjima is located in Namibia's Waterberg Plateau
Accommodation: Okonjima Bush Camp
Meals: Full Board Basis including Activities
Day 17 : Windhoek, Olive Grove Guest House
Return journey via Okahandja to Windhoek. Okahandja is an important centre for woodcarvers from the north. They practice their ancient skills at the Woodcarvers Market next to the main road. This is a good place to pick a last souvenir. Arrival in Windhoek with check in at the Olive Grove.
Accommodation: Olive Grove Guest House
Meals: Bed & Breakfast
Day 18 : Day of Departure
Depending on the departure time of your flight, you will have time for some last minute shopping before driving to the Windhoek International Airport in time to drop off the rental keys, take care of all formalities before check-in on your outbound flight. Bid farewell to Namibia!
Please Note : Rhino Africa specialise in tailormaking itineraries. Contact us to discuss your individual travel requirements.
