Namibia is unlike any other African destination. Namibia is the ultimate African road trip destination for intrepid adventurers, with its almost otherworldly dune landscapes, ancient deserts, and amazing game viewing opportunities.
| COST & VALIDITY | From ZAR 19 600.00 1st April 2021 – 31st October 2021 |
| WHAT TO BRING | Comfortable shoes Warm jackets Sunhat and sunglasses Sun cream Cameras Personal belongings Personal medication |
| IMPORTANT NOTE | Namibia emergency number: +264 81 127 0564 |
| INCLUDED | 13 nights in a standard room 13 x breakfast 2 x lunch (at the &beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge) 10 x dinner (excluding Windhoek and Swakopmund) Activities as specified at the &beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge Information package with detailed route description and itinerary 2% Tourism Levy 15% VAT |
| NOT INCLUDED |
Flights to and from Europe and Windhoek |
Please note
Gravel roads make up more than two-thirds of Namibia’s roads. We suggest renting a 4×4. Since Windhoek, where most rental car companies are located, is 45 kilometers west of Hosea Kutako International Airport, you will need to make arrangements with your rental car company for a transfer from the airport to Windhoek. Alternatively, please contact us, and we will arrange for you to rent a car and move. Rates are available upon request.
When you arrive in Windhoek, drive to the capital. With 450,000 inhabitants, Windhoek is the country’s largest city and the political, economic and cultural center. The city lies at an altitude of 1 650 meters, nestled between the Auas Mountains in the south, the Eros Mountains in the northeast and the Khomas Highlands in the west.
After checking in at Hotel Thule, you have the opportunity to explore the city. Alternatively, you could book a city tour, where you will certainly learn a lot about Windhoek, Namibia and its history. The city tour visits the Christ Church, the Alte Feste, the gardens of the Ink Palace and the Klein Windhoek district and, as a contrast, the district of the Bantu-speaking population group – Katutura. You can also drive along Windhoek’s “boulevard”, Independence Avenue (formerly Kaiserstraße).
The rest of the day is at your disposal.
Breakfast and Overnight – Hotel Thule
After a leisurely breakfast, you leave the capital and head south. Your first stop is the Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch, which is located on the edge of the Kalahari Desert. This desert forms a large part of eastern Namibia and extends for about 500 kilometers from north to south. The Kalahari is commonly referred to as a desert because of its porous and sandy soil, which does not allow water to be absorbed. But, in reality, it is a very busy wilderness and huge herds of antelopes and other animals graze on its sparsely vegetated grassy plains.
After check-in and room occupancy, you have the opportunity to explore the area. There are several excellent hiking trails (self-guided). Alternatively, you could go on a sundowner game drive.
Once the sun has set and the stars are out, you will head over to the observatory where the local astronomer will show you the planets, the moon, star clusters and far away galaxies. The observatory has a state-of-the-art computer controlled telescope which will certainly bring the sky of the southern hemisphere within arms reach – or so it would seem.
Dinner, Bed and Breakfast – Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch
After enjoying breakfast at the Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch you continue via Maltahöhe, which was established in 1900. This small town lies 111 kilometers west of Mariental and was named after Malta van Burgsdorff, the wife of the Commander of the Garrison at Gibeon. More than 40 graves of the German “Schutztruppe”, who died in numerous battles against Hendrik Witbooi and in the Nama rebellion, can be seen at the graveyard to the east of the town.
Proceed to the luxurious &beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge, which is situated only 35 kilometers from the entrance gate to the Sossusvlei. Numerous activities are included during your stay at this beautiful lodge, including a Sossusvlei excursion, star gazing and e-biking and hiking trails.
Fully Inclusive – Sossusvlei Desert Lodge
You leave the lodge early in the morning for a guided tour of the Sossusvlei.
The Sossusvlei is a dune wonderland surrounded by a large, dried-up pan, with towering dunes rising up to 300 meters high. The rich tints of the dunes range from pale apricot to bright reds and oranges, and they stretch as far as the eye can see. The Tsauchab River flows into the pan during a successful rainy season, creating a haven for water birds. Oryx, springbok, and ostriches can be seen feeding on the sparse vegetation along the watercourse even during the dry season.
You can also explore the Sesriem Canyon, which is located near the entrance to Sossusvlei and features a 1 kilometer-long narrow gorge carved out by centuries of erosion. At the foot of the gorge, which plunges down for 30 to 40 meters, are deep pools of water which become replenished after good rains. The name Sesriem comes from the time when early settlers drew water from these ponds by tying six lengths of rawhide thongs together.
Sossusvlei Desert Lodge – All-Inclusive
It’s worth stopping in Solitaire on your way to Swakopmund to sample the bakery’s delicacies. The bakery’s apple strudel is well-known in the United States and even in South Africa. Then travel to Swakopmund along the coast through the Gaub and Kuisebpasses. After checking in at the Hansa Hotel, you have the rest of the day to yourself.
Swakopmund is a tiny, tidy coastal town with many lovely buildings from the German colonial period. The Hohenzollernhaus, the Woermannturm, the landing stage, the pier with the lighthouse and the naval monument, as well as other Art Nouveau structures, can all be found here. Many people speak German, and the small coastal town has a peaceful, relaxing atmosphere thanks to its numerous promenades, palm alleys, and parks. Take a walk along the kilometer-long secluded Atlantic beach or browse the wood carving market near the lighthouse. You might also pay a visit to the fascinating local history museum, maritime museum, or crystal gallery.
Hansa Hotel – Bed and Breakfast
There are numerous activities in and around Swakopmund and Walvis Bay that you can take part in as an option. These include boat trips on the Walvis Bay lagoon, quad bike rides in the dunes, and kayak tours in Walvis Bay or the very interesting Living Desert Tour.
Bed and Breakfast – Hansa Hotel
We’re going back inland today after a few days on the coast. You can still travel along the coast to Henties Bay and then to Uis from there. From Uis, travel to Damaraland’s Camp Kipwe. The dry northwestern Namibian regions of Damaraland and Kaokoveld are part of the mosaic of ethnically diverse regions that make Namibia so varied and interesting. Damaraland was a secluded area until recently, with little change in the lives of the people who lived there over the centuries. It’s a land of stark contrasts, with high peaks, grasslands, and steppe. Those who are able to put up with the hot weather and bad roads will be rewarded handsomely in this hostile environment. On the one side, there is Namibia’s highest point, the Brandberg, and on the other, there are various rock paintings, including the famous White Lady. In Twyfelfontein, there is another open-air gallery to enjoy. It houses one of Africa’s largest collections of rock carvings.
In the afternoon, you can go on an optional excursion to Twyfelfontein to see the rock engravings. The name derives from the phrase “doubtful fountain.” It has the appearance of a big open-air art gallery. This treasure trove of stone-age artists’ rock engravings is known as one of Africa’s most valuable collections.
Camp Kipwe – Dinner, Bed and Breakfast
After breakfast you leave Camp Kipwe and drive to the southern border of the Etosha National Park today. Here you will spend the night in the interesting Toshari Lodge. In the afternoon you can do your first self-guided drive in this national park, or you can chose to spend the remaining day relaxing in the beautiful gardens of the Toshari Lodge.
Dinner, Bed and Breakfast – Toshari Lodge
The Etosha National Park is open to visitors today. This park in northern Namibia is one of Africa’s most stunning natural reserves. Governor von Lindequist proclaimed Etosha a nature reserve in 1907, covering an area five times the size of today’s national park. Etosha National Park is currently 22 270km2 in area. The national park is home to large herds of springboks, impalas, zebras, and wildebeests, as well as elephants, giraffes, tigers, leopards, cheetahs, and black rhinos, as well as a variety of birds and reptiles.
In the afternoon, you can depart from the Etosha National Park’s Von Lindequist Gate, which is located near Namutoni. You proceed to Mushara Lodge.
Mushara Lodge – Dinner, Bed, and Breakfast
Another day is free to you to spend at leisure in the Etosha National Park. You can do self-guided drives, or you can choose from either the AM or PM game drives offered by the Mushara Lodge.
Dinner, Bed and Breakfast – Mushara Lodge
The Okonjima Nature Reserve is your destination today. The AfriCat Foundation is based on this reserve.
The AfriCat Foundation was established in 1991 on Okonjima Nature Reserve, a private reserve dedicated to wildlife conservation. AfriCat is in an ideal location for conducting ecological research on a wide range of rare and endangered species. Since Okonjima is a closed nature reserve, one objective of AfriCat’s research is to better understand the ecology of leopard and brown hyaenas that live there, with the ultimate goal of developing knowledgeable, long-term metapopulation management guidelines for these species.
Okonjima Plains Camp – Dinner, Bed and Breakfast
The 2-night stay at the Hakos Guestfarm, which is home to the H.E.S.S telescopes, will be the highlight of your trip to Namibia. The farm is situated in a mountainous region between the Central Highlands and the Namib Desert, dominated by the Hakos Mountain range, which rises to a height of 2000 meters. Hikers are invited to explore the folded rock bands and formations in the rugged mountains. The vastness of this land is shown by the extensive views into the Namib Desert from here.
H.E.S.S stands for High Energy Stereoscopic System and also pays homage to Mr Victor Hess, who received a Nobel Prize in Physics in 1936 for his discovery of cosmic radiation. This system of telescopes investigates cosmic gamma rays. There are five telescopes which went into operation from 2002 to July 2012. The observatory is operated by more than 260 scientists from 13 different countries including Namibia, South Africa, Germany, France, the UK, Ireland, Austria, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Armenia, Japan and Australia.
Dinner, Bed and Breakfast – Hakos Guestfarm
A variety of activities are available at the Guestfarm, including 4×4 Farm Tours and hiking tours. A tour of the night sky is included.
Using a strong telescope, you will be shown the most striking objects in the southern sky during this trip. The gas planet Jupiter, with its asteroids, the rings of Saturn, and the bizarre crater landscape of our moon will all astonish you, depending on visibility. On Hakos, there are three observatories. The International Amateur Observatory (IAS) has a base on Hakos, providing amateur astronomers with access to the spectacular night sky in one of the best locations in the southern hemisphere, free of stray light.
Hakos Guestfarm offers dinner, bed and breakfast.
After a leisurely breakfast you will depart from Farm Hakos to the Hosea Kutako International Airport for your flight home.
13 overnights in the following (or similar) accommodation establishments:
General Terms
Please see your doctor for advice regarding vaccinations and malaria prophylaxis.