Namibia Self Drive Safari – NENSD12
Delight in the pristine beauty of the Namib Desert and its magnificent dunes, discover night skies like you have never seen before in remote areas on this Namibia Self Drive Safari.
This extraordinary self-drive adventure takes you through the natural highlights of Namibia and rewards you with luxurious accommodations. From its rich wildlife areas to charming coastal towns and the wonders of the Namib Desert, this safari has it all. Experience intimate encounters with big cats at Okonjima and move on to the stark beauty of the salt pans and the rich wildlife of famous Etosha National Park. Venture into the rugged and rocky landscape of Damaraland, where fascinating desert species exist next to relics of ancient San Bushmen. Immerse yourself in the adventure activities and colonial charm of the seaside town of Swakopmund before heading off to explore an immense sea of sand in the depths of the Namib Desert at Sossusvlei.
Itinerary
Day 1 Windhoek
Upon your arrival at Hosea Kutako International Airport in Windhoek, you will be met by a representative who will get you on the road with your rental car and provide you with a quick briefing of your itinerary. Kick-start your adventure with an approximate hours’ drive to your accommodation in Windhoek.
Namibia’s capital, Windhoek is a bustling metropolis that is unexpectedly neat and orderly, though this is perhaps less surprising when one considers it was a German territory for many years. Situated in a pretty valley, Windhoek boasts buildings very much in the German architectural style. The German presence can be strongly felt in the food, restaurants – and, of course, the beer. The Namibian beer is said to be the best in Africa and is brewed in Windhoek.
Accommodations: Hotel
Day 2 Sossusvlei
After breakfast, drive approximately five to six hours to the Sossusvlei area, in the heart of the enormous Namib-Naukluft Park. Sossusvlei is a clay pan, only rarely filled by water, but a place of awe-inspiring beauty. Visitors to the region will be left spellbound by the magnificent ochre-coloured sand dunes, which rise over 300m into the sky – the highest sand dunes in the world.
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodations: Tented Camp
Day 3 Sossusvlei
Take scenic drives to encounter a variety of desert-adapted animals such as gemsbok, zebra, springbok, bat-eared fox, aardwolf, caracal and jackal. Optional activities are hot air ballooning, quad biking, nature drives, guided nature walks, helicopter and scenic flights.
Guided hikes visit ancient Bushman paints, while a variety of hiking trails are available and quad bike adventures in the dunes set the pulse racing. Photograph the fascinating petrified dunes and explore the massive boulders of Bushman’s Kopjes, haphazardly strewn one on top of the other. Explore the night sky under the guidance of a professional astronomer or try your hand at some photographing the stars.
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodations: Tented Camp
Day 4 Swakopmund
Today you will drive approximately five to six hours to Namibia’s seaside town of Swakopmund. This charming little coastal retreat on Namibia’s western coast retains a strong German flavour, from its cobbled streets and picturesque buildings down to its typical German restaurants and pubs. Swakopmund is an ideal place to relax after a few days in the desert; wash off the sand and sample some of the finely-brewed local beer and renowned fare, including fish, lobster and the utterly delicious Swakopmund oysters.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel
Day 5 Swakopmund
Set off into the dunes between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. The route runs between the soaring dunes and the waves of the Atlantic Ocean. Be captivated by dramatic vistas and get to know about the abundant geckos, rolling spiders, scorpions, lizards, snakes and chameleons that have made this desolate landscape their home. For an even closer encounter with the seals, visit the Cape Cross Seal Colony north of Swakopmund and marvel at the antics of one of southern Africa’s largest numbers of seals.
Choose from a breathtaking range of optional outdoor adventures. In Walvis Bay you can set off on a boat cruise that promises up-close sightings of a number of wetland bird species, as well as dolphins, whales and the seals at Pelican Point. Watch as the dolphins and seals shimmer and jump in the wake of the boat before returning to Swakopmund and touring its quaint city streets. Or, if you choose, take to the waters off Swakopmund on a deep sea fishing adventure.
If you prefer the desert to the ocean, Alternatively, drive deep into the Namib on a quad bike, enjoying the pristine beauty of the soaring dunes or glide down their curved slopes on a sand boarding adventure. Fly down the sheer sides on a traditional Swakopmund sand board or try some fancy footwork on a snowboard adapted for the dunes. If you prefer a little less adrenalin on your desert adventure, set off on a horseback trail through the dry bed of the Swakop River into the rugged rocky gorges and plains of an area known as the Moon Landscape. For a unique sense of perspective, admire the desert landscapes from above with tandem skydiving.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel
Day 6 Damaraland
Hop back into your car for the approximately five to six hours journey to Damaraland. The breathtaking mountain region of Damaraland is situated on the eastern side of the Skeleton Coast National Park and southwest of Etosha National Park. An assortment of desert-adapted wildlife such as elephant, rhino, zebra and lion live in this near-barren landscape. A not-to-be-missed attraction is the picturesque Brandberg, Namibia’s highest mountain, which is home to thousands of ancient rock paintings, most notably The White Lady. Nearby, the rocky outcrops of Twyfelfontein feature exceptional Bushmen engravings, which are considered to be some of the best preserved etchings on the continent. View the Petrified Forest, which dates back millions of years and offers a haunting landscape of gigantic fossilized trees, some up to 30 metres (100ft) in length.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations: Bungalow
Day 7 Damaraland
Activities here include Elephant/Nature drive and Twyfelfontein, Burnt Mountain and organ pipes excursion. Set off into the dunes in search of the elusive desert elephant or choose to explore the area surrounding the camp on foot, getting an intimate glimpse into the vegetation, insects and birds of this rugged area.
Ask your guide to take you to see an ancient welwitschia plant, which may live up to hundreds of years. Marvel at age-old rock engravings at Twyfelfontein, visit the petrified forest or discover the twisted rock formations known as the organ pipes. Or simply relax and enjoy the absolutely tranquility and sense of peace of this serene destination from the comfort of the sparkling swimming pool.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations: Bungalow
Day 8 Etosha National Park – Central outskirts
Following a four or five hour drive, arrive at your lodge in Ongava, set on the central outskirts of Etosha National Park. Optional activities are game drives that explore the Okaukuejo area of Etosha, keeping an eye out for lion, elephant, gemsbok, springbok, red hartebeest and both white and black rhino. Enjoy the freedom of night drives and bush walks in Ongava, where you can track wildlife on foot in the company of experienced guides. Or choose to spend the afternoon at a tranquil hide overlooking a waterhole and wait to see what wildlife sightings the day will bring.
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodations: Lodge
Day 9 Etosha National Park – Eastern outskirts
Set off on a three to four hour self-drive adventure to your camp. Etosha is one of Africa’s great wildlife parks and Namibia’s prime wildlife conservation area. It consists mostly of grassy plains around a huge saltpan, which becomes a beautiful lake after heavy rains and attracts large flocks of pink candy-floss-coloured flamingos. Etosha hosts a vast array of animals, including the Big Five, lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant, as well as giraffes and rare and unusual species like the black-faced impala, Hartmann’s Mountain zebra or the smallest antelope in the world, the Damara dik-dik. Large herds of elephant can also be seen, while predators range from lion to black-backed jackal. The wildlife in Etosha congregates around the watering holes, making for exciting and productive game viewing. Optional activities at the camp, at additional cost, include morning or afternoon game drives into Etosha National Park.
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodations: Tented Camp
Day 10 Etosha National Park – Eastern outskirts
Explore the immense open plains of Etosha on morning and afternoon game drives or delve deep into the private game reserves found on its eastern edge. Depending on where you choose to stay, you may also be able to track desert rhino on foot or to take part in rhino research initiatives.
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodations: Tented Camp
Day 11 Okonjima Reserve
Take another three to four hour drive to the camp at Okonjima Reserve. The Reserve is situated just west of the renowned Waterberg Plateau Park, amidst the vast plains scattered with the remnants of ancient sandstone outcrops that skirt the Omboroko Mountains. A Herero name meaning “place of the baboons” this spectacular area is home to the world-famous AFRICAT Foundation, which supports the conservation of the world’s largest free-ranging population of cheetah and Namibia’s large wildcat population. Created as a refuge for rehabilitated predators, the reserve is a haven for cheetah, leopard, spotted hyena and African wild dog, as well as several species of antelope. Among the carnivores being researched and rehabilitated at AFRICAT are cheetah, leopard, lion, caracal, wild dog and hyena. Visitors to the area can embark on interpretive tours of the foundation as well as enjoying breathtaking nature drives.
Optional adventures include tracking cheetah and leopard on foot, bird watching and the opportunity to embark on the Bushmen Trail, where you can get a feel for a day in the life of a San Bushman. Night drives set off after dinner, providing a glimpse into the nocturnal life of the predators, as well as magnificent viewing of the star-studded skies. Keen hikers can set off into the majestic solitude of the desert on a selection of nature trails, while bird watchers will be sure to spot and photograph a number of colourful species.
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodations: Lodge
Day 12 Depart
Today, a 4 hour journey will take you back to Windhoek’s Hosea Kutako International Airport, where you will drop off your hired vehicle and board your plane for your onward flight.
Meals included: Breakfast
